The Journey Church
Week 3 Devotional Pontaluna
Discussion & Reflection from our current series
Locations & Times
The Journey Church: Pontaluna Exit Site
6502 Schamber Dr, Norton Shores, MI 49444, USA
Sunday 9:30 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
Day 1: Facebook official?
When I was dating my wife, we didn’t have facetime, snapchat, even texting (yes, I know I’m old). We had to rely on long distance calls from a land line and letters put in the mail (have someone over 40 explain that if you don’t know what I’m talking about). One summer we wrote each other letters almost every day! It meant time, and effort, but we were in love and wanted to stay connected and share our hearts and lives with each other. When it comes to our relationship with God we can’t just occasionally look Him up on social media and plan to have a great relationship. It means time, connection, effort. Jesus even said that we need to stay connected to Him or we’ll never experience our best life.
Key Question: Are you remaining connected to Jesus by spending time with Him through prayer, Bible reading, connecting with other followers?
Bible Reading: John 15:1-8 (key verse: v. 5)
When I was dating my wife, we didn’t have facetime, snapchat, even texting (yes, I know I’m old). We had to rely on long distance calls from a land line and letters put in the mail (have someone over 40 explain that if you don’t know what I’m talking about). One summer we wrote each other letters almost every day! It meant time, and effort, but we were in love and wanted to stay connected and share our hearts and lives with each other. When it comes to our relationship with God we can’t just occasionally look Him up on social media and plan to have a great relationship. It means time, connection, effort. Jesus even said that we need to stay connected to Him or we’ll never experience our best life.
Key Question: Are you remaining connected to Jesus by spending time with Him through prayer, Bible reading, connecting with other followers?
Bible Reading: John 15:1-8 (key verse: v. 5)
Day 2: The Best Question Ever
You need to stop taking advice from stupid people. I can be frank with you, because I’ve done this too. We seek relationship advice from friends who are blowing up their relationships. We ask for financial input from someone who is in debt up to their eyeballs. We ask what we should do, from someone without the same values or beliefs. I’ve asked the opinion of people who couldn’t lead themselves out of a paper bag. The best question you can ask yourself is: What’s the wise choice? Not what choice do I want to make. Not what choice do I think others will approve of. What’s the wise choice? If you want to know what the wise choice is, then we also need to go to those with wisdom and ultimately to God, who promises to give wisdom. The very best way I know to begin making wise choices consistently in my life is to get to know God’s Word and follow that. God’s ways are the best ways.
Key Question: God promises to give wisdom to all who ask and He has primarily displayed that wisdom in the Bible. What is keeping you from studying God’s Word and doing what it says? So, what are you going to do about that?
Bible Reading: Proverbs 3:13-18, 24:3-7;
key verse: James 1:5-If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
You need to stop taking advice from stupid people. I can be frank with you, because I’ve done this too. We seek relationship advice from friends who are blowing up their relationships. We ask for financial input from someone who is in debt up to their eyeballs. We ask what we should do, from someone without the same values or beliefs. I’ve asked the opinion of people who couldn’t lead themselves out of a paper bag. The best question you can ask yourself is: What’s the wise choice? Not what choice do I want to make. Not what choice do I think others will approve of. What’s the wise choice? If you want to know what the wise choice is, then we also need to go to those with wisdom and ultimately to God, who promises to give wisdom. The very best way I know to begin making wise choices consistently in my life is to get to know God’s Word and follow that. God’s ways are the best ways.
Key Question: God promises to give wisdom to all who ask and He has primarily displayed that wisdom in the Bible. What is keeping you from studying God’s Word and doing what it says? So, what are you going to do about that?
Bible Reading: Proverbs 3:13-18, 24:3-7;
key verse: James 1:5-If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
Day 3: Which shoulder?
You’ve probably seen this play out on a cartoon, movie, or Saturday Night Live skit. A devil on one shoulder, an angel on the other shoulder. Both are trying to pull the person in their direction. I think we all face that in our lives, even if we can’t see the devil or angel characters. Our brain plays tennis with competing ideas, thoughts, and decisions. How we handle those moments will make all the difference between wise choices and pain. It helps me to step out of the situation and take a longer view. Who really has my best interest? What is really most important? Whose voice actually cares about me? Whose voice are we going to listen to? The voice that matters is the voice of the One who made you, and has a purpose and plan for your life.
Key Question: What can you do this week to listen and respond to God’s voice?
What trigger can you set up to step back from a situation & weigh what God has to say about it?
Bible Reading: Acts 4:1-22 (key verses: v. 19-20)
You’ve probably seen this play out on a cartoon, movie, or Saturday Night Live skit. A devil on one shoulder, an angel on the other shoulder. Both are trying to pull the person in their direction. I think we all face that in our lives, even if we can’t see the devil or angel characters. Our brain plays tennis with competing ideas, thoughts, and decisions. How we handle those moments will make all the difference between wise choices and pain. It helps me to step out of the situation and take a longer view. Who really has my best interest? What is really most important? Whose voice actually cares about me? Whose voice are we going to listen to? The voice that matters is the voice of the One who made you, and has a purpose and plan for your life.
Key Question: What can you do this week to listen and respond to God’s voice?
What trigger can you set up to step back from a situation & weigh what God has to say about it?
Bible Reading: Acts 4:1-22 (key verses: v. 19-20)
Day 4: You can’t do Both
Are you a worrier? You even get worried about how much you worry? I’ve heard that 90% of what we worry about won’t ever come to fruition. That’s a lot of wasted time. But, maybe you’re like my wife, who would say “so you’re saying 10% will come to fruition!?!”. My guess is, even if you’re a worrier, that you also want to grow in your trust of God. The problem is, you can’t do both (at least at the same time). They are opposites. Trust in God believes that He knows and cares about what we are facing and that it does not go unnoticed by Him, which means that whatever we go through, whatever we face, that it’s not outside of His ability to control and we’re never outside of His eternal protection. So much of our personal spiritual life and growth comes down to trust. Instead of worry, we’re called to pray. Turn your worry into worship. Give it to God and rest in His words that He is guiding us on our path of life.
Key Questions: What worry in your life do you need to turn into worship, praying about it and giving it to God? Where do you need peace in your life (that’s probably an area of worry)?
Bible Reading: Proverbs 3:5-6; Philippians 4:6-7
Are you a worrier? You even get worried about how much you worry? I’ve heard that 90% of what we worry about won’t ever come to fruition. That’s a lot of wasted time. But, maybe you’re like my wife, who would say “so you’re saying 10% will come to fruition!?!”. My guess is, even if you’re a worrier, that you also want to grow in your trust of God. The problem is, you can’t do both (at least at the same time). They are opposites. Trust in God believes that He knows and cares about what we are facing and that it does not go unnoticed by Him, which means that whatever we go through, whatever we face, that it’s not outside of His ability to control and we’re never outside of His eternal protection. So much of our personal spiritual life and growth comes down to trust. Instead of worry, we’re called to pray. Turn your worry into worship. Give it to God and rest in His words that He is guiding us on our path of life.
Key Questions: What worry in your life do you need to turn into worship, praying about it and giving it to God? Where do you need peace in your life (that’s probably an area of worry)?
Bible Reading: Proverbs 3:5-6; Philippians 4:6-7
Day 5: An Attitude of Gratitude
How thankful are you? Really? Gratitude shows growth. Why? Because when we show gratitude we realize that this world is not about us. We’re not “owed” anything. We don’t “deserve” anything. Everything is a gift. Every good thing comes from our Heavenly Father who loves us. Do you remember what you just got for Christmas? I’m sure you can remember everything, eventually. But in a few short years some of those gifts will end up in a garage sale or in the trash can. When we begin to realize that all of life is a gift, that every good thing we have is a gift, that our salvation, forgiveness and life with God is a gift that we don’t deserve, didn’t earn, and can’t win for ourselves, gratitude becomes part of our life. That attitude of gratitude shows growth. It shows a deepening understanding of God and our place in His world. It puts us in our rightful place and more importantly, God in his. I have, through the years, prayed through an acronym called ACTS. A is for adoration, C is for confession, T is for thanks, and S is for supplication (things I’m asking God to intervene in). As I pray the “A” and the “T” it helps me to develop my attitude of gratitude. Maybe it will help you as well.
Key Question: What specifically can you do to have an attitude of gratitude on a consistent basis?
Bible Reading: Psalm 103:1-5; James 1:17
How thankful are you? Really? Gratitude shows growth. Why? Because when we show gratitude we realize that this world is not about us. We’re not “owed” anything. We don’t “deserve” anything. Everything is a gift. Every good thing comes from our Heavenly Father who loves us. Do you remember what you just got for Christmas? I’m sure you can remember everything, eventually. But in a few short years some of those gifts will end up in a garage sale or in the trash can. When we begin to realize that all of life is a gift, that every good thing we have is a gift, that our salvation, forgiveness and life with God is a gift that we don’t deserve, didn’t earn, and can’t win for ourselves, gratitude becomes part of our life. That attitude of gratitude shows growth. It shows a deepening understanding of God and our place in His world. It puts us in our rightful place and more importantly, God in his. I have, through the years, prayed through an acronym called ACTS. A is for adoration, C is for confession, T is for thanks, and S is for supplication (things I’m asking God to intervene in). As I pray the “A” and the “T” it helps me to develop my attitude of gratitude. Maybe it will help you as well.
Key Question: What specifically can you do to have an attitude of gratitude on a consistent basis?
Bible Reading: Psalm 103:1-5; James 1:17
Day 6: Where to Begin
I don’t know about you, but the Bible is a pretty big book and can be fairly intimidating. Most people have read very little of the Bible. Yet, we claim that it is God’s Words to us and the primary way He communicates who He is, who you are, and who we are meant to be together. So, that seems like it would be pretty important to spend time in it, right? But where do I begin, and what do I do once I start reading? We usually suggest starting in one of the Gospels (which means “good news”). The Gospels are: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and are the first four books of the New Testament. So, today, let’s all do that together. I like the approach of Pastor Andy Stanley. He says that he begins reading and just reads until something strikes him. Then he reads it again, thinks about it, prays about it, maybe makes some notes. Some days it’s a couple verses, some days it’s a couple chapters. To help, you might want to also jot down a few notes (or highlight – it’s okay to mark up the Bible!). A couple possibilities: questions you have, commands made, promises made; who, what, where, why questions. So, let’s practice today.
Bible Reading: Mark 1. Just start there and read until something intrigues or sticks out to you. Ask and answer the best you can some of the questions we shared above.
I don’t know about you, but the Bible is a pretty big book and can be fairly intimidating. Most people have read very little of the Bible. Yet, we claim that it is God’s Words to us and the primary way He communicates who He is, who you are, and who we are meant to be together. So, that seems like it would be pretty important to spend time in it, right? But where do I begin, and what do I do once I start reading? We usually suggest starting in one of the Gospels (which means “good news”). The Gospels are: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and are the first four books of the New Testament. So, today, let’s all do that together. I like the approach of Pastor Andy Stanley. He says that he begins reading and just reads until something strikes him. Then he reads it again, thinks about it, prays about it, maybe makes some notes. Some days it’s a couple verses, some days it’s a couple chapters. To help, you might want to also jot down a few notes (or highlight – it’s okay to mark up the Bible!). A couple possibilities: questions you have, commands made, promises made; who, what, where, why questions. So, let’s practice today.
Bible Reading: Mark 1. Just start there and read until something intrigues or sticks out to you. Ask and answer the best you can some of the questions we shared above.
Day 7: Lessons from Yoda the Counselor
My counselor is kind of like Yoda, except the green, old and tiny part. And he doesn’t talk quite like him. But he seems to have a lot of wisdom, and when I put into practice the stuff that he mentions to me, I’m better for it. A while back he shared a thought with me about listening to God. I’ve never been great at being quiet and trying to “hear from God”. I start thinking about all sorts of things. But Henri Nouwen (who is really smart, and a lot like Yoda as well) once said “Prayer is first of all listening to God. It’s openness. God is always speaking; He’s always doing something”. If that’s true, then it would probably be good for us to listen for Him. So, Yoda my counselor told me about “guided prayer”, and it’s helped me a lot. You start with a question that’s been on your mind, some direction you need, and then you just give that to God. Don’t make the question a “Why?” question. “Why is this happening to me?”. Instead, ask “How?” or “What?”. Like, “How do you want me to handle that situation with my co-worker?” Or, “What do you want me to do about our financial situation?” Then set an alarm for 5 or 10 minutes and just be still. Remind yourself of that question. As you grow in this, start setting the alarm for 15 minutes, or even 20 minutes. It’ll get easier the more you do it. I promise.
Key Questions: Take some time in the next couple days and practice “guided prayer”. What question do you need God’s wisdom and direction on?
Bible Reading: Proverbs 2:1-5; John 14:26
My counselor is kind of like Yoda, except the green, old and tiny part. And he doesn’t talk quite like him. But he seems to have a lot of wisdom, and when I put into practice the stuff that he mentions to me, I’m better for it. A while back he shared a thought with me about listening to God. I’ve never been great at being quiet and trying to “hear from God”. I start thinking about all sorts of things. But Henri Nouwen (who is really smart, and a lot like Yoda as well) once said “Prayer is first of all listening to God. It’s openness. God is always speaking; He’s always doing something”. If that’s true, then it would probably be good for us to listen for Him. So, Yoda my counselor told me about “guided prayer”, and it’s helped me a lot. You start with a question that’s been on your mind, some direction you need, and then you just give that to God. Don’t make the question a “Why?” question. “Why is this happening to me?”. Instead, ask “How?” or “What?”. Like, “How do you want me to handle that situation with my co-worker?” Or, “What do you want me to do about our financial situation?” Then set an alarm for 5 or 10 minutes and just be still. Remind yourself of that question. As you grow in this, start setting the alarm for 15 minutes, or even 20 minutes. It’ll get easier the more you do it. I promise.
Key Questions: Take some time in the next couple days and practice “guided prayer”. What question do you need God’s wisdom and direction on?
Bible Reading: Proverbs 2:1-5; John 14:26