MAX ON LIFE

3. Who is God? How can I know what he is like? How can I trust that he is powerful enough to take care of me?

Who is God? How much time do you have?

God is unchanging. The weather changes. Fashion changes. Even change changes. God has not changed and cannot and will not ever change. He is always the same - yesterday; today; and tomorrow (Heb 6:17-18).

God is unparalleled. Nobody comes close to his power, creativity; wisdom, or love. Many arrogantly believe they are close, but all fall short. There is no one like him (Isa 40:13-14).

God is ungoverned. You and I have policemen, security guards, politicians, and homeowners' association board members telling us what to do. Not God. He holds the position of King of all kings (1 Tim 6:15-16).

God is unbelievable. Writers (like myself) try to encapsulate God with a thesaurus of adjectives, but still our fingers freeze up on the keyboard (as mine are now). He's just so.... well... (Job 11:17-18).

God is untouched. One wayward sneeze in my direction, and I am contaminated, sick with a cold and out for a week. No one can soil or stain God. No outbreak of sin can contaminate him. God is holy and righteous, no matter how sick the world gets (1 Sam 2:2).

God is uncaused. God has no "Made in...." stickers on his side. No birthday. No childhood. No influences listed on his resume. Since no one put God in power, no one can take him out (Ps 90:1-2).

God is unlimited. We are limited by brain capacity, time, relationship overload, responsibilities (one can be at only one baseball practice at a time), and patience. God has no limit to his time, power, knowledge, and love (Ps 147:4-5).

So can God take care of you?

I'll let you answer that.

By: Max Lucado

MAX ON LIFE

2. Some days I doubt God. I doubt his goodness, his nearness - and that he even exists. When I doubt him, does he leave me?

When I was seven years old, I ran away from home. I'd had enough of my father's rules and decided I could make it on my own, thank you very much. With my clothes in a paper bag, I stormed out the back gate and marched down the alley. Like the prodigal son, I decided I needed no father. Unlike the prodigal son, I didn't go far. I got to the end of the alley and remembered I was hungry, so I went back home.

Though the rebellion was brief, it was rebellion nonetheless. Had you stopped me on that prodigal path and asked me who my father was, I just might have said, "I don't need a father. I'm too big for the rules of my family. It's just me, myself, and my paper bag." I don't remember saying that to anyone, but I remember thinking it. And I also remember rather sheepishly stepping in the back door and taking my seat at the supper table across from the very father I had, only moments before, disowned.

Did Dad know of my insurrection? I suspect he did. Did he know of my denial? Fathers usually do. Was I still his son? Apparently so. (No one else was sitting in my place at the table.) Suppose, after speaking to me, you had gone to my father and asked, "Mr. Lucado, your son says he has no need of a father. Do you still consider him your son? What do you think my dad would have said?

I don't have to guess at his answer. He called himself my father even when I didn't call myself his son. His commitment to me was greater than my commitment to him.

So is God's.

Our God is no fair-weather Father. He's not into this love-'em-and-leave-'em stuff. I can count on him to be in my corner no matter how I perform. You can too.

By: Max Lucado

MAX ON LIFE

Hi Girls,

I got a book from my favorite Christian author, Max Lucado: Max on Life, Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions. The book has 172 questions which he has compiled over the years and his answers, based on Scriptures. I would like to share it with you, so I'll send you one each day.

1. I've been disappointed so many times by human love, and I think this has given me a faulty view of God's love. Can you help me understand how His love is different from human love?

Human love is convenient. It suits the needs of the person at the time and works into his schedule. God's love is eternal. You are always on God's itinerary. Come and go as you wish, but he's always there.

Human love is limited. It can love only as much as it wants to give. God's love is unlimited. He has ample amounts of love and even uses words like abundant when talking about pouring out his love on people.

Human love is emotional. Feelings dominate a human's love landscape. We feel as though we're in love, or we don't feel as though we're in love. Hormones, sleeplessness, worry, past hurts, Mexican food - all complicate these emotions. God's is committed. While God has feelings for us, his feelings don't increase or decrease his commitment. His love is a deeper and more secure love than the fluctuating Ferris wheel of feeling.

Human love is selfish. It must suit our needs and be there for us. To love, we must be loved. God's love is unselfish. In fact, if you never love God, he will still love you. Your love has no bearing on the amount of love he lavishes on you.

One thing human love has going for it is that you can see it - in the twinkling of your father's eye, in the smile of a spouse, in the joy in your children's voices. God's love is just as real but not as tangible. We will see it, in time and for eternity, as we gaze at the face of God and his Son, Jesus Christ, while we stand in his presence in heaven.

Our goal as Christians should be to express God's love in our human relationships so people will never make the statement you made. We should all have someone in our lives on whom we can look back and say, "I saw God's love in that person."

By: Max Lucado

Meeting Recap - June 23, 2011

CHB Ladies - we are blessed and "divinely" favored by God.

As we spent the evening poolside, basking in the evening's sunset, while brainstorming on our next assignment makes this Life Group worthwhile.  I'd like to thank all of you for coming last night and spending time fellowshipping.  I'm sure you realize by now that this group thing really has it's benefits.

As discussed and agreed, we will be moving the trip to the Holy Land to October or November.  We have a project ladies and through prayer and submission, God will give us the resources we need to help our sister out. 

Sundae Social with the girls of Pace..... Prayer about it, share your thoughts, ideas and concerns.

Maria - enjoy your cruise!

Catherine - enjoy time with the family - you have certainly earned the time to celebrate!

Kathy - continue updating us on the "Summer of George"

Martha - continue to seek God's wise counsel and every opportunity he gives you - spoil yourself.

Jean - enjoy your trip to visit family and be by your daughter's side with the birth of your new Grand bundle of joy.  Pray God's protection over the new arrival and we will agree.

Antoinette - we are with you my sister....keep in touch

Andreina - continue to "create" allow your gift of artistry to be a beautiful display of God's love for us.  (contact the church and see if there is something you can create to be displayed for services or events).  Thanks for being our group intercessor, MUAH!

Next group meeting in two weeks.....

Meeting Recap June 16th 2011

Thank you all for attending our very first Gospel of John study.  One thing about the bible and scripture, brings out much more than we expect.  Everyone has an amazing story to tell and the spirit of truth and deliverance was upon us.  One very challenging question is:

If there was someone out of this entire world(except Jesus), you'd like to spend a day with, who would it be?

Meeting Recap June 9, 2011

Just would like to thank Andreina and Kathy for contributing in such a powerful way at meeting and really showing love and comfort to our guests.  Kathy,  thank you for closing our group by reminding us that when 2 or 3 are gathered,  God is in the midst.  We pray that God meets the needs of the ladies (our sisters) who came tonight and give them that special healing as only he can do!

We discussed how important serving the community is for us as Christians women in West Palm.  With every opportunity we employ God's phenomenal power.  The young ladies at PACE will truly be blessed by our new roles  as "Ambassadors of Change".  We continue to wait on God's appointments to give us the direction he wants us to take.  Be prepared ladies, to take up your cross, and don't look back, but look towards the hills from which my help comes from (Psalms 121:1)http://www.biblegateway.com/

WOW

I attended the Women of the Word conference  last Saturday and shared an amazing time with other attendees and of course with inspirational  speakers brought to our area by Carole Elaine Ministries  Pastor Ruth Cooper the guest speaker introduced us to her "Ambassadors of Change" message, based on 1st Corinthians 12 http://www.biblegateway.com/learn your gift, work in your talent and seek God's amazing glory when you do.

 Pastor Ruth has been a vital part of  Florida's prayer movement for over a decade.  She has journeyed and taught in some of the most diverse regions including New York , Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Atlanta Georgia and United Kingdom.  Ruth founded a prayer house in Washington D.C. on Capitol Hill that facilitated non partisan prayer for political leaders.  Her most recent endeavor is preaching the ever living Gospel throughout the Gay and lesbian communities.

Saturdays event The ultimate goal of these meetings is to unite daughters, for the purpose of drawing upon their forerunners who have planted the seeds for revival.  These ordinary women fought, persevered, believed, prophesied all to fulfill the Great Commission.