Tag Archives: Peace

Day 101: Belief

Daily Sheet: Day 101: Belief

Family Book: “I Believe: The Nicene Creed”

Unknown.jpeg

Travel: Congo

Map: Mary Kingsley’s Travels

Video: “Creed” – Rich Mullins (with introduction by Rich)

I hope I would leave a legacy of joy; a legacy of real compassion.  Because I think there is a great joy in real compassion.  I don’t think that you can know joy apart from caring deeply about people, caring enough about people that you actually do something.  But I have a feeling like if my life is motivated by my ambition to leave a legacy, what I will probably leave as a legacy is ambition.  But if my life is motivated by the power of the Spirit in me, if I live in the awareness of the indwelling Christ, if I allow His presence to guide my actions, to guide my motives, those sorts of things, that’s the only time I think that we really leave a great legacy.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.  My ambition to be a good guy is a fleshly ambition.  And when Christ calls us to take up our cross and follow him, a lot of us think that what that means is we’re supposed to lay down our vices, and we’re supposed to cling to virtues, but I think that unless Christ is Lord of our virtues, our virtues become dangerous to us and dangerous to the people around us.  I think that when Christ calls us to take up our cross, what He means is you must die not only to whatever vices are in your life, which he will eventually kill out, you must also die to whatever virtues are in your life.  Your life is not valuable because you are an articulate speaker, your life is not valuable because you are a generous person, your life is not valuable because of any of that.  If we empty ourselves of everything and allow God to be present, then it’s no longer us, it’s Him.  Then it becomes a spiritual thing.  And that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.  And that’s when I think Christianity really begins to make sense.

Video: “Creed” – Rich Mullins with Third Day (with Croatian subtitles)

 

Standard

Day 97: Tolerance

Daily Sheet: Day 97: Tolerance

Family Book: “The Relatives Came”

Unknown.jpeg

Travel: Seychelles; Mauritius

Song: “When It Was Over” – Sara Groves (with lyrics)

Oh love wash over a multitude of things, love wash over a multitude of things, love wash over a multitude of things; Make us whole.

There is love that never fails; There is a healing that always prevails; There is a hope that whispers a vow, a promise to stay while we’re working it out, so come with your love and wash over us.

Questions:

  • What are some different meanings of the word “tolerance”?
  • What is the difference between tolerance and acceptance?
  • What are some things we should not tolerate?  Why not?
Standard

Day 90: Contentment

Daily Sheet: Day 90: Contentment

Family Book: “Last Stop on Market Street”

51hEdFjUgNL._SX405_BO1,204,203,200_

Travel: Ireland

Hymn: “Amazing Grace” – Joey + Rory Feek

Amazing grace!  How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.  How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come; ‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me; His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, I shall possess within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’ve first begun.

Video: “Give Me Jesus” – Fernando Ortega (live)

In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus.

And when I am alone, give me Jesus.

And when I come to die, give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus, give me Jesus.  You can have all this world, but give me Jesus.

 

Standard

Day 88: Vision

Daily Sheet: Day 88: Vision

Family Book: “On the Oregon Trail”

Unknown-1.jpeg

Travel: Idaho; Oregon; Washington

Hymn: “Be Thou My Vision” – Chelsea Moon

Be Thou my vision, oh Lord of my heart.  Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.  Thou my best thought by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my wisdom and Thou my true word.  I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord.  Thou my great Father, I Thy true son, Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise.  Thou my inheritance, now and always.  Thou and Thou only, first in my heart.  High King of Heaven, my treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won.  May I reach heaven’s joys, oh, bright heaven’s sun.  Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my vision, oh Ruler of all.

Video: “Be Thou My Vision” – Fernando Ortega (set against images from the Hubble telescope)

Consider the following three translations of Proverbs 29:18:

Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.  (New American Standard Bible – NASB)

Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; But blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.  (New International Version – NIV)

Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.  (King James Version – KJV)

Questions:

  • Is vision important?  Why or why not?
  • What does Proverbs 29:18 teach us about vision?  Use the above three translations to explain.
  • How are vision and restraint linked?  How can you apply this in your own life?
Standard

Day 86: Obedience

Daily Sheet: Day 86: Obedience

Family Book: “The Other Side”

Unknown-1.jpeg

Travel: Ohio; Indiana; Illinois

Song: “When Will I Ever Learn” – Phil Keaggy

…You brought it to my attention that everything was made in God.  Down through centuries of great writings and paintings, everything was in God.  Seen through architecture of great cathedrals down through the history of time, is and was in the beginning and evermore shall ever be.

When will I ever learn to live in God?  When will I ever learn?  He gives me everything I need and more.  When will I ever learn?

…And up on the hillside it’s quiet where the shepherd is tending his sheep, and over the mountains and the valleys and the countryside is so green.  Standing on the highest hill with a sense of wonder, you can see everything is made in God.  Head back to the roadside and give thanks for it all…

 

Standard

Day 85: Community

Daily Sheet: Day 85: Community

Family Book: “A Place Called Freedom”

Unknown-1.jpeg

Travel: French Guiana; Suriname; Guyana

Video: “Peace” – Rich Mullins (Faces of 2010)

Though we’re strangers, still I love you.  I love you more than your mask.  And you know you have to trust this to be true, and I know that’s much to ask.  But lay down your fears, come and join this feast.  He has called us here, you and me.

And may peace rain down from Heaven like little pieces of the sky, Little keepers of the promise falling on these souls this drought has dried.  In His Blood and in His Body, in the Bread and in this Wine,

Peace to you.  Peace of Christ to you.

And though I love you, still we’re strangers, prisoners in these lonely hearts.  And though our blindness separates us, still His light shines in the dark.

And His outstretched arms are still strong enough behind these prison bars to set us free.

So may peace rain down from Heaven like little pieces of the sky, Little keepers of the promise falling on these souls this drought has dried.  In his Blood and in His Body, in the Bread and in this Wine,

Peace to you.  Peace of Christ to you.

Video: “Call It Dreaming” – Iron & Wine

…Where we break when our hearts are strong enough, We can bow ’cause our music’s warmer than blood.

Where we see enough to follow, We can hear when we are hollow.

Where we keep the light we’re given, We can lose and call it living…

Questions:

  • Discuss community as it relates to two similar words: communion, and unity
  • What do you think is meant by the following line?

Where we keep the light we’re given, we can lose and call it living.

Standard

Day 71: Goodness

Daily Sheet: Day 71: Goodness

Family Book: “Bless the Lord: The 103rd Psalm”

Unknown

Travel: Federated States of Micronesia

Hymn: “I Need Thee Every Hour” – Fernando Ortega

Video: “Add to the Beauty” – Sara Groves

Standard

Day 64: Courtesy

Daily Sheet: Day 64: Courtesy

Family Book: “Plume”

41g9BRe2LoL._SX343_BO1,204,203,200_

Travel: Puerto Rico; St. Kitts and Nevis; Antigua and Barbuda; Dominica; St. Lucia; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Barbados; Grenada; Trinidad and Tobago

Song: “Rewrite This Tragedy” – Sara Groves

Standard

Day 56: Peace

Daily Sheet: Day 56: Peace

Family Book: “Christmas”

61J329soLGL._AC_US160_.jpg

Travel: Georgia; Armenia

Song: “Peace that Passes Understanding” – Wayne Watson

Song: “This Peace” – Sara Groves

Video: “Peace, Peace” – Sara Groves (sung by 10-year-old Hope Livesay and her dad)

 

Standard