Deuteronomy Days Update
Dear Trinity Friends,
Jesus' grace. In mid-October I wrote to you, and on Sunday, October 19th, I preached about God's call to "Deuteronomy Days." These days are to be marked by a clear break from wandering in past regret, and a clear freedom from the future's anxiety. I felt like we were being called to a time when we intentionally make space in prayer and some kind of fasting for God to deal with us, and form us without distracted hearts. I wonder if you have any feedback from this time? Please write to me pastor@trinitysanpedro.org or pull me aside to let me know what God has been doing during these Deuteronomy Days in your life.
I have heard a couple common themes during these days.
Testing: We have had a few hard good-byes in our life together. We have had a series of memorial services, and others who have lost someone close to them. This has been difficult. Others have been tested severely in a relationship. Others financially. Some of us have been tempted to go back and live in the past, and others tempted to escape today by dreaming or worrying about tomorrow. God has called us to live today. It has been a test to live today.
Slowness: These days are correcting a false belief I have unknowingly held. My imagination told me that God was always frustrated with how slow I am, or his church is. The image of a God frustratedly looking over his shoulder at a slow disciple or a slow church is a false image of God. He is more patient than me. His patience is glorious (2 Peter 3.8-9). Do we take for granted how much the little legs of the younger, the walkers of the older, the various slow ways of each of us are not all burden, but help slow us down to God's patient pace? Relationships are slow. Character comes slowly. Recovery is slow. Grief is slow.
God's joy: God loves today! He is not pining for yesterday of chomping at the bit for tomorrow. As we have made space through prayer and fasting, we have connected with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and with Trinitarian JOY.
A Renewed Call for Corporate Prayer and Fasting: Friend, consider joining us for the next few weeks for this special season at Trinity. Consider how you will pray. Consider carving out some space through some kind of fast.
Our Deuteronomy Days focus will culminate on Thanksgiving Eve (Wednesday, November 26th at 7pm) in a service of prayer and praise with the theme of "Overflow" from Psalm 65.
Before that service, I'd like to call for a time of corporate prayer and fasting from Monday, November 24-Wednesday, November 26. If you are wanting to know more about the fasting, Campus Crusade, now known as "Cru," has a helpful website answering many questions related to fasting.
I plan to be in the Trinity Sanctuary from 6-7am on Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday (Nov 24-26). We will join in common prayer and finish by receiving the Lord's Supper as our true sustaining food-the very presence of Jesus. That Wednesday (Nov 26), the usual men's prayer will be open for all.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6.33
Jesus' peace! Nathan
Jesus' grace. In mid-October I wrote to you, and on Sunday, October 19th, I preached about God's call to "Deuteronomy Days." These days are to be marked by a clear break from wandering in past regret, and a clear freedom from the future's anxiety. I felt like we were being called to a time when we intentionally make space in prayer and some kind of fasting for God to deal with us, and form us without distracted hearts. I wonder if you have any feedback from this time? Please write to me pastor@trinitysanpedro.org or pull me aside to let me know what God has been doing during these Deuteronomy Days in your life.
I have heard a couple common themes during these days.
Testing: We have had a few hard good-byes in our life together. We have had a series of memorial services, and others who have lost someone close to them. This has been difficult. Others have been tested severely in a relationship. Others financially. Some of us have been tempted to go back and live in the past, and others tempted to escape today by dreaming or worrying about tomorrow. God has called us to live today. It has been a test to live today.
Slowness: These days are correcting a false belief I have unknowingly held. My imagination told me that God was always frustrated with how slow I am, or his church is. The image of a God frustratedly looking over his shoulder at a slow disciple or a slow church is a false image of God. He is more patient than me. His patience is glorious (2 Peter 3.8-9). Do we take for granted how much the little legs of the younger, the walkers of the older, the various slow ways of each of us are not all burden, but help slow us down to God's patient pace? Relationships are slow. Character comes slowly. Recovery is slow. Grief is slow.
God's joy: God loves today! He is not pining for yesterday of chomping at the bit for tomorrow. As we have made space through prayer and fasting, we have connected with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and with Trinitarian JOY.
A Renewed Call for Corporate Prayer and Fasting: Friend, consider joining us for the next few weeks for this special season at Trinity. Consider how you will pray. Consider carving out some space through some kind of fast.
Our Deuteronomy Days focus will culminate on Thanksgiving Eve (Wednesday, November 26th at 7pm) in a service of prayer and praise with the theme of "Overflow" from Psalm 65.
Before that service, I'd like to call for a time of corporate prayer and fasting from Monday, November 24-Wednesday, November 26. If you are wanting to know more about the fasting, Campus Crusade, now known as "Cru," has a helpful website answering many questions related to fasting.
I plan to be in the Trinity Sanctuary from 6-7am on Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday (Nov 24-26). We will join in common prayer and finish by receiving the Lord's Supper as our true sustaining food-the very presence of Jesus. That Wednesday (Nov 26), the usual men's prayer will be open for all.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6.33
Jesus' peace! Nathan
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