Singles

Discipline

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time but painful. Later on, however, it produces harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."(Hebrews 12:11)

As we know, life is full of trials that we face day in and day out. Some trials may be big, some are small. Many times these trials, these interruptions in our lives, are opportunities that God is providing to give us life lessons. When God interrupts your life, how do you respond? Do you get frustrated and get stuck in self-pity, asking why this is happening to you? Do you run the opposite direction when God calls you in a direction that you hadn’t planned? Or do you respond by accepting these trials as an opportunity God has given to you to see something that could glorify Him more?

Think of it this way: God is our Father; we are His children.  Part of the process of a Father teaching a child is disciplining that child.  For example, when his child doesn’t clean up his/her room as asked, that child is disciplined to show him/her the value of why he/she was asked to do it in the first place. The father disciplines his child because he loves his child.  The same is true of our Heavenly Father. He disciplines those he loves in order to help us see the places He needs us to be. Disciplining us can result in us seeing the areas in our lives where we were once blind, but through His discipline we now can see. I know a lot of us don't understand God in this way; we end up getting stuck in the misery of the circumstances around us instead of looking at these circumstances as an opportunity to strengthen us, and bring us closer to Him.

Hebrews 12:5-11 describes how He disciplines those He loves and wants us to endure the hardships that we experience so that we can see the good that He is bringing into our lives.  He is actually shaping our character and making us stronger for the challenges that we face. He wants us to sacrifice our lives, just as His son Jesus did when He took on the cross for us.   By disciplining us, He is showing us how to glorify His name because of what His son has suffered for us to be free.

I encourage you to change your perspective on the trials that you are facing.  You can do this by focusing all you can on God instead of on yourself.  Everything that comes across your path is an opportunity that God has given you to learn and grow more like Him. He brought you to the trials that you are facing.  He is a God of His word; He will bring you out of these trials as a stronger person.  He is walking right alongside of you, soaking in all the pain that you are experiencing and is ready to catch you when you fall.  He can carry you and be your strength when you can't seem to do it yourself.  He will open your heart and fill it with more of His unconditional love.  He will open up your eyes to see these interruptions, or trials, as His way of asking you to be on board with Him. That's right; God is choosing you to be a part of His amazing story!

Take some time to read through Hebrews 12, pray about the challenges that you have faced or will face, and ask God to guide you through trials and help see them in a different perspective. God is in control, and once you let Him lead and learn to trust in what He has planned, He will begin to help you experience all the beautiful things that He is creating in this journey. He is creating a journey that will bless others and enable them to come to Him;  your story is a part of that! Always remember God loves you so much that He is willing to discipline you to teach you a lesson and draw you closer to Him.

New Studies Starting This Week!

The Tuesday and Sunday night single's groups are starting new studies this week.  Everyone is welcome!  Simply show up and we'll take care of the rest.  Check out the line up below.

Tuesday Group

According to the Barna Research Group only 9% of professing Christians have a Biblical worldview.  The Truth Project is a 13 week small group curriculum designed to help you understand what a Biblical worldview is and how to live it daily.  

The Tuesday single's group meets in the chapel at Prairie Lakes Church (Cedar Falls Campus) at 6:45 p.m.  This study starts January 10th, 2012.  Here's a link if you'd like to know more about The Truth Project.

Sunday Group

1. Sermon Based Curriculum.  This small group will meet to dig deeper into the current Prairie Lakes Church sermon series which is titled Rescued.  Find out more here.
2. Parental Guidance Required by Andy Stanley & Reggie Joiner.  This dvd study/small group will help you to enhance, advance and influence your children's relationships.  
3. When Life Is Hard by James MacDonald.  This dvd study/small group will help you to manage the trials in life from a Biblical perspective.  

The Sunday single's group meets in the chapel at Prairie Lakes Church (Cedar Falls Campus) every other week at 6:00p.m.  These studies start January 15th, 2012.  

Welcome to 2012

A new year gives us another opportunity to reflect on the good and bad, and apply what we have learned to the new year. We start each year off trying to improve on the things that we didn’t do well last year, or accomplish something that we’ve always wanted to achieve.  New Year’s resolutions and goals can bring great changes, but often that isn’t the case. We start well, but then give up when we aren't getting instant results.  Most accomplishments in life don't come easy, they often take hard work and committment.

Consider these thoughts as you work towards your 2012 goals.

• Don't let fear of failure stand in the way.  Sometimes you have to fail a few times before you succeed.  Life is all about learning from your experiences and mistakes.  You have to fight through the fear and believe that you can achieve the goal. If you don’t believe in what you are trying to accomplish, then you will stay stuck in wondering if you'll ever suceed.  
• Don’t listen to the people who are telling you that you can’t.  At the end of the day it’s you and God. God is in control of your life and he has a plan and a purpose for all of us on this earth.

See, we aren’t even supposed to worry about tomorrow because today already has its own troubles.

Proverbs 27:1 “ Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what that day may bring forth”

It's so true. We are only promised today and we never know if we are going to wake up to the life we’ve been living or we will wake up seeing the face of God.  

• Say "I love you" to the ones that are in your life!
• Be thankful for the gifts that you are provided!
• Reach for the dreams that have been placed inside of you to live out! 

Live in a way that hopes for a future and looks forward to the things you want to accomplish, but also as if it is your last.  

God is control of your destiny and he leaves you with choices to make.  You can either listen or keep drowning in the same things you keep running into. God is love and he has more love to offer you than you can possibly imagine.  He will help you through this path as long as you let him lead. When you try to figure everything out then that’s where things get complicated.  Stress will start to sneak in, but if you pray, be patient and wait on God’s timing, then you will live a much simpler life.

Let this be the year that you start living each day as a gift that was given to you. When you wake up in the morning, count your blessings instead of thinking of the things you don’t have. Get a journal, jot down the things you are grateful for each day, hold your loved ones close, treat God as a relationship, pray to him, talk with him, use his son Jesus as your guide.  

It’s time to step out in faith and start living boldly so that we can glorify His name while we are here.  Be in awe of the beautiful things that He has placed in your life.

May God bless you in this New Year!  Lets be Jesus with skin on and be thankful for every moment that we get to live out this path.

Potluck & Game Night Jan 1st

You don't want to miss this fun evening on Jan 1st, 2012 from 6-8 p.m. in the chapel at Prairie Lakes Church (Cedar Falls Campus).  Pass the word and invite a friend!  Just bring a dish to share, your own drink and your favorite game if you'd like.  Meat and silver/plate-ware will be provided.  For questions call John Church at 319-266-2655 ext 128.  

Christmas Time

“The reason for the season”…..a cliché saying that Christian’s often use this time of year. Because I’ve worked in retail for the past three years Christmas it’s easy to get sucked up into the materialism of  “Christmas”….celebrating santa, elves, reindeer, and the newest gadget that you think you have to have.  Seeing the rush and desperation of people trying to fulfill their children’s every want leaves everyone a little empty inside and they seemingly forget what happened in that manger 2000 years ago. In all actuality we don’t celebrate Christ’s birth at the right time of year even…..but it’s a good reminder to everyone that a Savior for our sins was born for us! I myself don’t enjoy the hub-bub of the this time of year….the one thing I do enjoy though is the music, the old hymns that sing of Christ’s birth reminds me what he did for us and gets me to focus on the real reason we celebrate Christmas! So what ever it is for you that makes you pause and think and thank God for sending his son remember to do that this season.

 

Christmas is almost here! What's your group doing?

Christmas is a time to celebrate Jesus' birth and the relationships in our lives—including our small-group friends. With Christmas right around the corner, it's a good idea to begin thinking about what your small group will do together for Christmas.  Read this for ideas!

It is Well With My Soul

It is Well With my Soul!

When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
What ever my lot you have taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well, with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

Horatio G. Spafford wrote this memorable hymn, that is one of my all time favorites to sing when I’m happy or sad.  This man is an example of someone who was faithful to God even when things didn’t go as planned. He was a successful attorney in Chicago, but in 1871 the Great Chicago Fire destroyed much of his fortune because of the fire.  A short time after that his only son died of scarlet fever. He and his family planned a trip to Europe, and he being detained by business stayed behind and sent them ahead.  The ship in the early morning hours collided with another ship and sank two hours later killing 226 people including all of his daughters and only his wife survived. His wife cabled him “Saved Alone”….he joined his wife in Europe and on the way there wrote “It is Well with My Soul.”

Even in troubled times this man relied on God to be his strength in time of need.

It was well with his soul that the will of God be done….even if it meant grief, tears, and heartache.

The story of this man strikes me as someone deeply devoted to God and who leaned into his faith when something so grievous happened.  Though I have troubles it helps me realize that my issues are nothing compared to the things this man went through. 

God is a God of comfort as it says in 2 Corthinians  1:3-5 "Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ."
 

Fall Fest 2011

What: family fun get together with games, food and activities

When: Saturday October 29th, 4:30 p.m. to whenever it ends

Where: 6728 Viking Rd in Cedar Falls, contact Rob Zey at 319-415-5772 for directions

Schedule of events:

• 4:30 p.m. = hay ride to the pumpkin patch for carving pumpkins
• 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. = pumpkin carving for all ages, bring your own carving equipment
• 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. = roasting hot dogs (chili, cheesy potatoes, buns, hot dogs, plates, cups and plastic ware will be provided)
• 7:00 p.m. to whenever = field games under the lights, night hay ride and whatever else we come up with :)  bonfire will depend on weather

You can bring a snack to share, drink, lawn chair, pumpkin carving tools, outdoor games and a friend (everyone is welcome!).

RSVP to Rob Zey at 319-415-5772 for a head count on pumpkins and hot dogs.

Generosity, it's a spiritual discipline

As we move more and more towards a culture of generosity around Prairie Lakes Church we shouldn't forget to laugh along the way.  Watch this funny video!  If you can't see the video click here.

 

God's Purpose for Your Life.

Christian’s often speak of God’s will for their lives and trying to understand and seek him for knowledge, wisdom, and purpose to their lives. Satan often puts things in our lives such as doubt, fear, and confusion and it gets in the way of God’s plan for our lives.  Many of us are prideful when we think of our purpose and service to God.....that we would be a greater person serving him....but oftentimes we and I am humbled by God's actual purpose in life.  What if God calls you to be a man like Job? He was humbled before God, had everything taken from him yet he still remained a righteous man in God’s eyes. God can use circumstances, people, and jobs to direct us to a greater purpose in life.  Often times I catch myself thinking, “Am I fulfilling my purpose on this earth?” Or am I just living in fear, doubt, and confusion…the way Satan would like me to live?  I think everyone struggles with these thoughts, even non-Christians.  If not knowing your purpose is evident right now simple passages in the Bible make life a little clearer.

God calls us to rely on him. Matthew 4:4 “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.””

God calls us to evangelism. Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Our sole purpose on this earth is to witness to the lost so they may know God and be saved by Jesus’ atoning sacrifice.

God detests the lukewarm people and puts in plain words what our purpose is. Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see y our good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

God calls us not to worry. Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important that clothes?

God wants to take our burden from us  (our burden of sin, and burden of life). Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

God calls us to have FAITH! Matthew 17:20 “Because you have so little faith.  I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.

So if direction and purpose in life is something that you’re struggling with at this moment or have in the past these passages clarify and simplify things.  Often times people get caught up in the burden of life and let too many things stand in the way of a clearer purpose.  Jesus clarified it for us in scripture….and he holds the answers to life.