Fca 2/23/12

http://bible.us/Ps84.1.NLT How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of Heaven’s Armies. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the LORD. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God! What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. Interlude What joy for those whose strength comes from the LORD, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem. O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, O God of Jacob. Interlude O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield! Show favor to the one you have anointed. A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.

This was the main passage we looked at, Psalm 84. Its beautiful, and the one verse that stuck out, although I've heard it before, was that verse, I'd rather spend a single day in the presence of the Lord than a thousand anywhere else. I was kinda thinkin about your lent and giving up sweets and praying for you and that verse just comes to my mind. It could be interpreted like, one minute in His presence is sweeter than a thousand minutes tasting chocolate haha. Its a stretch...

There were three main points last night though, that we ought to 1. Desire God 2. pursue God and 3. enjoy God. I was focused on the enjoying part because it reminded me of the leadership article you sent me and that advice to wake up and ask the Lord to fill you with His joy before doing anything else. Desiring God goes back to your heart and motives, its not about performance. And even though it isnt about performace, obedience and perserverence through the reading of His word and prayer are how you pursure Him!

It was a real good week greeting everybody too and welcoming them to FCA :)