Keys to Growing Relationships: Forgiveness

In the conversation for Sunday, February 11, 2018, Pastor Stuart Nice continues the series titled, Keys to Growing Relationships, focusing this week on forgiveness. In this talk, he shares with us how love covers a multitude of sins. 

Sacred Reading 00:00-26:00, Conversation 26:00-59:45

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

Sacred Reading

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading. Below are the guidelines for each of the four readings of the practice. 

• Read: Read the passage and receive it as God’s message to you.
• Reflect: Read the passage again and look for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart.
• Respond: Take the highlighted words and make them a prayer.
• Rest: Rest your heart on God’s promises.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. 
Colossians 3:12-15a (NLT)

Keys to Growing Relationships: Confession

In the conversation for Sunday, February 4, 2018, Pastor Stuart Nice begins a series titled, Keys to Growing Relationships, focusing this week on confession. In this talk, he addresses the practices of self-examination, self-revelation, and humbled prayer. 

Sacred Reading 00:00-20:00, Conversation 20:00-53:25

You should get into the habit of admitting your sins to each other, and praying for each other, so that you may be healed. Tremxendous power is made available through a good man’s earnest prayer.
James 5:16 (PHILLIPS)

John Wesley's Holy Club Questions
The Litany of Humility

Sacred Reading

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading. Below are the guidelines for each of the four readings of the practice. 

• Read: Read the passage and receive it as God’s message to you.
• Reflect: Read the passage again and look for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart.
• Respond: Take the highlighted words and make them a prayer.
• Rest: Rest your heart on God’s promises.

Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.
James 5:16-18 (MSG)

The Life of Promise: Three Steps to Life Change

In the conversation for Sunday, January 28, 2018, Pastor Stuart Nice shares an encouragement to take care of our physical bodies. Using the parable of the sower, he shows us the process to make positive changes for our physical bodies.

Sacred Reading 00:00-23:35, Conversation 23:35-01:03:09

“The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.”
Matthew 13:23 (MSG)

Sacred Reading
A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading. Below are the guidelines for each of the four readings of the practice. 

• Read: Read the passage and receive it as God’s message to you.
• Reflect: Read the passage again and look for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart.
• Respond: Take the highlighted words and make them a prayer.
• Rest: Rest your heart on God’s promises.

“Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.
“The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.
“The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.
“The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.”
Matthew 13:18:23 (MSG)

Living the Promised Live in 2018: Soul Care

In the conversation for Sunday, January 21, 2018, Pastor Stuart Nice shares an encouragement to take care of our souls by scheduling regular times for self-care and by identifying things that either fill or drain our souls. Soul care requires that we become intentional in our practices that lead to health and walk away from things that keep us from health. The Lord can lead us in the appropriate practices for our soul care.

Sacred Reading 00:00-16:20, Conversation 16:20-47:07

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Sacred Reading

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading. Below are the guidelines for each of the four readings of the practice. 

• Read: Read the passage and receive it as God’s message to you.
• Reflect: Read the passage again and look for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart.
• Respond: Take the highlighted words and make them a prayer.
• Rest: Rest your heart on God’s promises.

Living the Promise: Intentional Living in 2018

In the conversation for Sunday, January 14, 2018, Pastor Stuart Nice shares a few strategies for living a more intentional life in the new year.

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)

Sacred Reading 00:00-10:00, Conversation 10:00-50:18

Sacred Reading

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading. Below are the guidelines for each of the four readings of the practice. 

• Read: Read the passage and receive it as God’s message to you.
• Reflect: Read the passage again and look for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart.
• Respond: Take the highlighted words and make them a prayer.
• Rest: Rest your heart on God’s promises.

Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
Galatians 6:1-3 (MSG)

You Can Do It! – Shawn & Damaris Smith, Now Is The Time Mission

In the conversation for Sunday, December 3, 2017, special guests, Shawn & Damaris Smith, share with us an update on the impact of last summer’s mission to Guatemala and issue an invitation for the mission this summer 2018. Shawn also encouraged us that if we are feeling like we can’t do a missions trip, the truth is, “You can do it!”
“Now is the time for missions, because there is never a good time to go.”

Sacred Reading 00:00-21:44, Conversation 21:44-01:09:22

Sacred Reading

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading. Below are the guidelines for each of the four readings of the practice. 

• Read: Read the passage and receive it as God’s message to you.
• Reflect: Read the passage again and look for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart.
• Respond: Take the highlighted words and make them a prayer.
• Rest: Rest your heart on God’s promises.

     “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
     “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
     “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
Matthew 25:24-29 (NASB)

The End of Complaining

In the conversation for Sunday, November 26, 2017, Pastor Stuart Nice encourages us to choose gratitude over complaining. In this talk, he explores why we complain, the dangers of complaining, and turning our complaints into empowerment.

Sacred Reading 00:00-12:00, Conversation 12:00-44:07

Do everything without complaining and arguing.
Philippians 2:14 (NLT)

Sacred Reading

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading. Below are the guidelines for each of the four readings of the practice. 

• Read: Read the passage and receive it as God’s message to you.
• Reflect: Read the passage again and look for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart.
• Respond: Take the highlighted words and make them a prayer.
• Rest: Rest your heart on God’s promises.

In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them. Hold tightly to the word of life, so that when Christ returns I will be proud that I did not lose the race and that my work was not useless.
Philippians 2:14-16 (TLB)

Three Thoughts on Spiritual Growth

In the conversation for Sunday, November 5, 2017, Pastor Stuart Nice shares with us three thoughts on spiritual growth. 

Sacred Reading 00:00-17:15, Conversation 17:15-49:36

1. Spiritual growth will bring us to a wall that only God can bring us through.
2. Trinitarian relationship with God – the Holy Spirit is given within us to help us grow spiritually and accomplish God’s will for our lives.
3. You get what you focus on, scarcity or abundance. If you want to see God, focus on God. If you want to bless the world, ask God where to focus your giving.

You know that God anointed Jesus from Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Jesus went everywhere and did good things, such as healing everyone who was under the devil’s power. Jesus did these things because God was with him.
Acts 10:38 (GW)

Sacred Reading

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading. Below are the guidelines for each of the four readings of the practice. 

• Read: Read the passage and receive it as God’s message to you.
• Reflect: Read the passage again and look for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart.
• Respond: Take the highlighted words and make them a prayer.
• Rest: Rest your heart on God’s promises.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:7-12 (NIV)

Connecting to Compassion

In the conversation for Sunday, October 29, 2017, Pastor Stuart Nice encourages us to acknowledge a need and allow our emotion to draw out the compassion to do something about it. 

Sacred Reading 00:00-14:45, Conversation 14:45-39:03

You know that God anointed Jesus from Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Jesus went everywhere and did good things, such as healing everyone who was under the devil’s power. Jesus did these things because God was with him.
Acts 10:38 (GW)

Sacred Reading

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading. Below are the guidelines for each of the four readings of the practice. 

• Read: Read the passage and receive it as God’s message to you.
• Reflect: Read the passage again and look for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart.
• Respond: Take the highlighted words and make them a prayer.
• Rest: Rest your heart in God’s promises.

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
John 14:12-14 (NIV)

What Is Keeping You Down?

In the conversation for Sunday, October 22, 2017, Pastor Stuart Nice shares with us the truth about guilt and its power to keep us down if we let it. He also played two songs to help us to see how to live into and embody the freedom of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sacred Reading 00:00-14:30, Conversation 14:30-40:47

Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
Romans 7:24-8:2 (NLT)

Sacred Reading

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading. Below are the guidelines for each of the four readings of the practice. 

• Read: Read the passage and receive it as God’s message to you.
• Reflect: Read the passage again and look for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart.
• Respond: Take the highlighted words and make them a prayer.
• Rest: Rest your heart in God’s promises.

So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith. Consequently, it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” How different from this way of faith is the way of law, which says, “If you wish to find life by obeying the law, you must obey all of its commands.” But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
Galatians 3:9, 11-13 (NLT)

Stuck in Transformation

In the conversation for Sunday, October 15, 2017, Pastor Stuart Nice shares some strategies for aligning our perspective regarding transformation, which is the first step in getting unstuck in the process of becoming more like Jesus in our daily lives.

Sacred Reading 00:00-12:55, Conversation 12:55-42:36

When I want to do good, I don’t. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. But if I am doing what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it. It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin?
Romans 7:19-24 (NLT)

Sacred Reading

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading. Below are the guidelines for each of the four readings of the practice. 

• Read: Read the passage and receive it as God’s message to you.
• Reflect: Read the passage again and look for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart.
• Respond: Take the highlighted words and make them a prayer.
• Rest: Rest your heart in God’s promises.

The truth is that no condemnation now hangs over the head of those who are “in” Jesus Christ. For the new spiritual principle of life “in” Christ lifts me out of the old vicious circle of sin and death. The Law never succeeded in producing righteousness—the failure was always the weakness of human nature. But God has met this by sending his own Son Jesus Christ to live in sinful human nature like ours. And, while Christ was dealing with sin, God condemned that sinful nature. Therefore we are able to meet the Law’s requirements, for we are living no longer by the dictates of our sinful nature, but in obedience to the promptings of the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4 (PHILLIPS)

How to Let God Transform You

In the conversation for Sunday, October 8, 2017, Pastor Stuart Nice helps us to see repentance as the pathway to change because to repent is to believe that it’s possible to change your life because God has the power to help restart your life.

Sacred Reading 00:00-15:50, Conversation 15:50-46:52

From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:17 (NASB)

Sacred Reading

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading. Below are the guidelines for each of the four readings of the practice. 

• Read: Read the passage and receive it as God’s message to you.
• Reflect: Read the passage again and look for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart.
• Respond: Take the highlighted words and make them a prayer.
• Rest: Rest your heart in God’s promises.

The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luke 4:17-21 (NIV)

Rest Stop: Finding Rest in Your Hectic World

In the conversation for Sunday, October 1, 2017, Pastor Stuart Nice shares with us the benefits of rest and how rest can positively impact our home life, work life, and spiritual life.

Sacred Reading 00:00-11:04, Conversation 11:04-40:23

“Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:29 (NLT)

Sacred Reading
A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading. Below are the guidelines for each of the four readings of the practice. 

• Read: Read the passage and receive it as God’s message to you.
• Reflect: Read the passage again and look for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart.
• Respond: Take the highlighted words and make them a prayer.
• Rest: Rest your heart in God’s promises.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

How to Invest in the Eternal

In the conversation for Sunday, September 24, 2017, Pastor Stuart Nice leads us in exploring an eternal perspective when it comes to investing our resources.

Sacred Reading 00:00-12:13, Conversation 12:13-45:04

“Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal. Your heart will be where your treasure is.”
Matthew 6:19-21 (GW)

Sacred Reading

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading.

“Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal. Your heart will be where your treasure is.”
Matthew 6:19-21 (GW)

Community Huddle: Engaging Topics

In the conversation for Sunday, September 17, 2017, Pastor Stuart Nice addresses two topics with the VLC community, investing in children’s ministry and living a healthy lifestyle.

Sacred Reading 00:00-13:45, Conversation 13:45-1:02:27

“But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:17-18 (NASB)

Sacred Reading
A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter —
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”
Isaiah 58:6-9 (NIV)

New Adventures in Prayer: The Prayer of Awareness

In the conversation for Sunday, September 10, 2017, Pastor Stuart Nice shares with us the nature of temptation and the power of awareness to help us pass the tests we encounter in our daily lives.

Sacred Reading 00:00-24:45
Conversation 24:45-56:04

“And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:13 (NIV)

Sacred Reading

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
James 1:13-16 (NKJV)

New Adventures in Prayer: Cultivating a Heart of Forgiveness

In the conversation for Sunday, September 3, 2017, Pastor Stuart Nice shares with us the power of forgiveness to bring freedom and blessing for us and others.

Sacred Reading 00:00-16:25
Conversation 16:25-54:17

“And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Matthew 6:12 (NIV)

Sacred Reading
A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:12-15 (NIV)

New Adventures in Prayer: A Return to Dependency

In the conversation for Sunday, August 27, 2017, Pastor Stuart Nice shares with us our need for dependence on God in all areas of life. When we discover God as our source, we will also discover that our needs are sufficiently met, which then empowers us to share in the lives of others.

Sacred Reading 00:00-13:20
Conversation 13:20-47:42

"Give us today our daily bread."
Matthew 6:11 (NIV)

Sacred Reading
A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading.

The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalms 23:1-4 (NASB)

New Adventures in Prayer: The Tension of Prayer

In the conversation for Sunday, August 20, 2017, Pastor Stuart Nice shares with us some insights on the kingdom and will of God and the tension we experience when we say to the Lord, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

Please note: There is a 4 minute silence at 32:30 in the talk where Pastor Stuart invites us to sit quietly in prayer. We left the silence in the recording to give you an opportunity to engage in the exercise as well.

New Adventures in Prayer: The Tension of Prayer

Sacred Reading 00:00-06:56
Conversation 06:56-39:32

“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:9-10 (NIV)

Sacred Reading

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading.

Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning;
For I trust in You;
Teach me the way in which I should walk;
For to You I lift up my soul.
Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;
I take refuge in You.
Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Psalms 143:8-10 (NASB)

New Adventures in Prayer: The Magnetic Pathway

In the conversation for Sunday, August 13, 2017, Pastor Stuart Nice shares with us that adoration is integral to the prayer life of a Christian. Adoration is what helps us to focus our lives in a Godward direction. When God is in focus, the rest of our lives are in focus.

New Adventures in Prayer: The Magnetic Pathway

Sacred Reading 00:00-20:00
Conversation 20:00-52:16

“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,”
Matthew 6:9 (NIV)

Sacred Reading

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:
The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading.

When I am in trouble, I call out to you
because you answer me.
No god is like you, O Lord.
No one can do what you do.
All the nations that you have made
will bow in your presence, O Lord.
They will honor you.
Indeed, you are great, a worker of miracles.
You alone are God.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
so that I may live in your truth.
Focus my heart on fearing you.
I will give thanks to you with all my heart, O Lord my God.
I will honor you forever.
Psalms 86:7-12 (GW)