think & recount

mmm thoughts in my head, this last day of 2007...

at home in vancouver this past year, the underlying theme was the fellowship of the believers, taken out of Acts. yesterday, the last sermon of 2007 wrapped it up. pj termed it 'habitual proximity' cause the fellowship was possible due to two things: consistency/regularity, and proximity. day by day they met. day by day they gathered, prayed, and broke bread together; their time was shared, and all was shared in that time. that's hard to find these days.

i realized just how lucky i was to have CCF in Kingston. we joke about how close we live to each other, and how 5 minutes away is too far. but really, we're all so blessed. To be able to live across the street from each other, the fact one door will always be open, that meals will be shared (heh esp. during exams), a listening ear, prayers even before you ask for them - these things are all God given.

here at home, or even with people from Queen's... when proximity isn't possible, it's your attitude that matters. your mind and soul will make up for the distance. the key component? glad and sincere hearts, taken straight out of verse 46.
if we bring ourselves back to the basics, taking what God gave us with glad hearts, and sending it back out to others sincerely, we will have a great church. we will have great fellowship. we will be a true family. we will lead great lives.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
- Philippians 4:8

the definition of think (thanks, dictionary.com) is this: to have a conscious mind, to some extent of reasoning, remembering experiences, etc. recounting the past, dwelling on situations or behaviours.

to lead a "great life" is perhaps a life of peace, of which God's is most important. if you're able to sleep well at night. if you're able to have clarity of mind. your life is great. to dwell on the traits that paul listed above... you've either got to learn from human examples, or put yourself into situations with these traits.

pastor justin made a good point... if you look back on the years past, in 2007. the things that you don't want to carry over in 2008, they aren't of these characteristics. but of all the things that you loved, that were memorable, that you want to cherish... those are the things that are true, that are noble, that are excellent and praiseworthy.

heh we did an activity during service. it looks like this:
___________2007_____________ 2008___________
true
noble
right
pure
lovely
admirable

i encourage you to do so. write down the things of the past year that were of these traits. they're all around you, from nature, to cell bio textbooks, to ministries to friendships to family.
think hard, ask God to remind you of such things. write them down, and carry them through onto 2008.

in the bible Paul finishes with this" whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."


if you're reading this, chances are you're one of the people i thank God daily for. you have been to me: true, noble, right, pure, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. and i give many thanks for that and how much
you've taught me.

i want to know God's peace. and i hope you'll be free and open to experience it too. let him surprise you and show you the truth.

Happy New Years (: