As we continue making our way through Lent, keep in mind the 3 disciplines of the season: Prayer, Fasting and Giving.
Enjoy this guest post on prayer by Sowmya Gali.
“Catch me, Daddy!” When a child is about to jump off the table, he/she expects daddy to catch, a belief that every child has. A reckless belief with which they come into this world, engraved into their DNA. Is it possible to have such faith in our Lord, our Abba Father? In the One who created us?
Monday, March 30, 2015
Monday, March 23, 2015
Lent: Prodigal Son
Excited to have guest blogger Meredith Ainley share her thoughts on Lent with us! Enjoy!
I have recently been thinking a lot about Luke 15:11-32, commonly known as “The Parable of the Prodigal Son.” This is because of class assignments and because our church community is reading short excerpts from Henri Nouwen’s writings throughout the season of Lent. The author is especially associated with this season because of his book, The Return of the Prodigal Son, and he talks about the profound effect Rembrandt's painting had on him, especially the embrace of the father and son.
I have recently been thinking a lot about Luke 15:11-32, commonly known as “The Parable of the Prodigal Son.” This is because of class assignments and because our church community is reading short excerpts from Henri Nouwen’s writings throughout the season of Lent. The author is especially associated with this season because of his book, The Return of the Prodigal Son, and he talks about the profound effect Rembrandt's painting had on him, especially the embrace of the father and son.
Monday, March 16, 2015
What IF:Gathering Meant to Me w/ Sowmya Gali
If you missed the IF:Gathering, you missed big! Don't worry, we plan to participate again next year. Here Somwya Gali shares what the experience meant to her:
Growing up I attended children’s retreat at my church in Hyderabad, India every January. During animportant Hindu festival, schools were closed for three days. My dad’s aunt who used to stay with us used to accompany me and my sister to this retreat. We used to pack our lunch boxes and head out every morning. All our Sunday school teachers and close to 200 kids used to gather in the big sanctuary.
‘The Ten Commandments’ was the theme every year. All the teachers use to divvy up the Ten Commandments among themselves and a lesson was taught on each commandment. Kids who accepted the Lord as their personal savior would share their testimonies. We were taught new songs by older kids. Little skits were performed by teachers. Prizes were given for memorizing all the Ten Commandments. Sometimes quizzes, competitions and fun games were also conducted. This was what retreat meant for me. As I grew older, I was tired of the same old commandments repeated year after year. I felt I was too old for such childish things. Every attempt to skip the retreat in my 13th & 14th years drew the ire of my folks. However, in my 15th year, I skipped the retreat due to an important examination at school. Ever since, I never attended a retreat again. Until IF, that is.
Growing up I attended children’s retreat at my church in Hyderabad, India every January. During animportant Hindu festival, schools were closed for three days. My dad’s aunt who used to stay with us used to accompany me and my sister to this retreat. We used to pack our lunch boxes and head out every morning. All our Sunday school teachers and close to 200 kids used to gather in the big sanctuary.
‘The Ten Commandments’ was the theme every year. All the teachers use to divvy up the Ten Commandments among themselves and a lesson was taught on each commandment. Kids who accepted the Lord as their personal savior would share their testimonies. We were taught new songs by older kids. Little skits were performed by teachers. Prizes were given for memorizing all the Ten Commandments. Sometimes quizzes, competitions and fun games were also conducted. This was what retreat meant for me. As I grew older, I was tired of the same old commandments repeated year after year. I felt I was too old for such childish things. Every attempt to skip the retreat in my 13th & 14th years drew the ire of my folks. However, in my 15th year, I skipped the retreat due to an important examination at school. Ever since, I never attended a retreat again. Until IF, that is.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
IF Gifts: Part 3 - Got Skillz
Did you identify some skills? Did you spend some time reflecting over how God developed them in your life? Would love to hear about them in the comments!
Now - how to use them...
Bezalel and Oholiab were asked to use their skills for 3 reasons. Let's examine those and see what that has to say about how we use ours.
What were they building? A tabernacle. Exodus 25:8 says:
"Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them."
Now - how to use them...
Bezalel and Oholiab were asked to use their skills for 3 reasons. Let's examine those and see what that has to say about how we use ours.
What were they building? A tabernacle. Exodus 25:8 says:
"Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them."
image source unknown
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