Hey Stirfri,

Thank you Raymond for leading word time and Joyce and Jireh for providing dinner.
Thank you everyone for your contribution in making the small group leader appreciation dinner a success. The leaders were all (most) surprised and I know were touched by the thoughtfulness. Shout out to Raymond, Vincent, and Joyce for their poem readings. =) Thank you also Vincent for being such a great liason in helping with coordination and keeping us in connection and communication with the larger body of BASIC.

This week's highlights:
Passages references: Psalms 63: King David yearns and longs for God
Romans 8:19-23: Even creation groans for Jesus to come
Questions?
Do we yearn? Why are we so easily satisfied? Why do we not not long for God?
What stirs your affections for Jesus? (mornings, coffee...)
What robs your affections of Christ? (sports, t.v...)

Why pursue God? To know Him
How do you desire someone without getting to know them? Let us hold each other accountable in our pursuit of getting to know God through personal devotion.
We were encouraged not to get caught in secondary pursuits- doing things we think will make us "presentable" to God, but rather we should be loving Him, growing in Him and pursuing Him.

Tree house gang message commentary: =)
changing your mindset on personal/instant gratification. More Godly intent and motives in worldly duties, patience in God.

Prayer requests
[google docs]

Thanks for sharing and praying guys!

-michelle

p.s. I haven't gotten everyone's prayer requests, but i wanted to get this out, so people can pray. for those prayer requests missing, please have someone from the group send to all of us. thx guys!

This morning a patient felt dispirited and I sighed with her, agreeing that life is often harder than I'd like to admit. But tonight I was encouraged twice. Someone said he's seen how much I've grown and, to my surprise, I was almost overcome by emotion just from the reminder of how this past year God truly has confirmed this "blessed assurance" (song written by a blind woman).

Also, a speaker shared how a group had requested that The Hope be translated into the Haitian Creole (not simply French) language. A few weeks after the project was complete, the 2010 earthquake hit and missionaries alongside medical and relief teams were able to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Praise God!

Is the Imago Dei (image of God) in each person you meet (from Friday's Philippians 2)? And, from Sunday's John 6:1-15, do we remember that what we have is from God, He invites us to join in His work, He multiplies what we do decide to give back to Him, and He provides this abundantly with excess?

Listening to this energized me today‏


http://itm.edgeboss.net/download/itm/audio/radio/2012/itm20120507.mp3

I love Charles Stanley Sermons!!!


lynn

Hey guys,

Thank you Raymond for leading word time, and Amy T and Lynn for providing dinner!

This week's passage: Philippians 2:4-20

Highlights:

• v. 4 Do not look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others
• We are to imitate Christ as he was obedient to even death on a cross
• v. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing
• This will prove us as children of God and help us be lights in the world
• v 19-30 Paul sent Timothy to Philippi, someone who was genuinely concerned for their welfare, and Epaphroditus who was longing for them.

Questions:

• Do you genuinely care for people, do you live life so that you're uncomfortable so that people can be comfortable?
• How much do you think about yourself?
• Do you see people that you encounter every day as people who have souls?
• What is the source of grumbling?

Summary:

• Check our motives, ask God to reveal areas of pride in our hearts
• We have Christ to model after- He became obedient to the point of death

Prayer Requests

[google docs]

Thanks for sharing and praying guys!

-michelle

Hey guys,

Thanks James for leading word time and Melanie and Matt for dinner!

This week's passage: Phillipians 2:1-4
We are to be selfless and humble, considering others and their needs more significant than our own.
Questions: How do you see pride and entitlement in your life? How do we cultivate an attitude of humility?
How do you fear God and approach His throne with confidence? We can approach His throne knowing that Jesus paid it all and that it is finished. 

[google docs]

Thanks for sharing and praying guys!

-michelle

Oh, for us to echo Paul that "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21)! This Sunday I was told an indigenous Chinese takes 7 weeks to seize the opportunity to share the gospel compared to the average American who will take 22 years. I definitely confirm the latter statistic.
But how encouraging God willingly struggles with us (John 4:43-54). Minister Jason Tarn quoted Bruce Milne in that real faith that saves has its own time of gestation. Then whether you first encounter God through power or truth, ultimately you must declare your allegiance--you must experience the decisive crisis of birth. And as you grow through small steps of obedience in unity, striving side-by-side, towards fearlessness (Philippians 1:27-28), before long your whole "household" will believe! That last part is also encouraging to me :) 

This Friday we will continue through Philippians 2:1-4 and Luke 1:39-55. Please read beforehand and RSVP (for providing dinner purposes). Happy Administrative Professionals Day!

Hey Stirfri!

Hope you guys are doing well and are having a good beginning of the week.


Prayer requests:

[google docs]

Thanks for praying and sharing guys!

-michelle