Star Wars IV

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
‍- Psalms 116:1-2

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1. Favorite sins  
2. If I had cherished sin… Psalm 66:18
3. Refusing forgiveness  
4. First go and be reconciled…Matthew 5:23-24
5. Ignoring the poor  
6. Whoever shuts their ears…Proverbs 21:13
7. Inconsiderate husbands  
8. …be considerate as you live with your wives…1 Peter 3:7
9. We ask for the wrong thing  
10. You don’t know what you are asking… Mark 10:38

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“There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers.”  
– St Teresa of Avila

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Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”
- Daniel 10:12-14

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Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Mixer

What has been your most memorable family reunion?

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Neighborly - Daily Devotional

To get the Daily Devotionals delivered to you every morning, text ‘dailydevotional’ to 97000.

1. In Pastor Pam’s, 7/9/22 entry, In Charge of My Attitude, she reminds us that David is not unlike us: living in a fractured world with an enemy who cheers at our defeat and division. How much have you really considered that the strain between you and another person is not really the other person.... but the result of an enemy (Satan) happy to be dabbling in the middle of it? How have you played into his game with your relationships, and why? David teaches us that if we change our attitudes it changes the whole playing field. What are the things that Romans 12:18 (living in peace) inspires you to do in a strained relationship this week?
2. In Impact Director, Kyle’s, 7/13/22 entry, I’m Tired, You’reTired , Everyone is Tired, she points out our tendency to skip worshiping God when we’re a little busy and tired. How is this statement true in your life and what have you noticed in your person? If you have a good rhythm of regularly praising God, like David, what are the differences you have experienced between the two? Kyle gives us the solution to getting back to God: setting ourselves aside and prioritizing being with, loving, and actively caring for others. What is that first step you can take this week?

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Sermon Questions

Scriptures: Psalm 116:1-2, 66:18; Matthew 5:23-24; Proverbs 21:13; 1 Peter 3:7; Mark 10:38; Daniel 10:12-14; 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

1. What impacted or challenged you in today’s message?
2. Like Luke calling out to trusted Obi Wan for help, we too, have an open communication line with God. What barriers do we struggle against in communicating with (praying to) God? How could your expectations of God be re-set if you saw Him as a Father who bends His knee to meet you where you are?
3. Pastor Jared described his teenage experience of learning to pray aloud. Have you experienced the pressures of the monologuing performance or competition for content with prayer? If so, how did it impact your prayer life? What is different today?
4. God’s goal is that we would be praying people, but our goal often is to get God to “wield His light saber” and do what we want. Why are the two positions in opposition to each other? How might our prayer content be different if we consider that God has expectations for what we should be praying about?
5. What did today’s message reveal to you about God’s response to your prayers when all you hear is silence?
   • God hears you. How do you know this is true? (See Psalm 116:1-2)
   • There are things God is not going to do. Why not? What past prayer are you glad God did not say yes to? (See 2 Corinthians 12:8-10)
   • There are things going on on God’s side of the curtain. What are they, and how might you find peace in your prayer life? (See Daniel 10:12-14)
   • How does God respond to unspoken prayers? What encourages you to not leave anything on the table?
6. Pastor Jared said that God is a Father who corrects - and we sometimes show up with our asks to find out He wants to talk about something else (you). Are any of these points below getting in the way of God’s work in you? How can changing these draw you closer to communing with Him?

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Serve

Check out our summer + ongoing Impact Serving Opportunities!

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Pray

Give thanks for God’s goodness, grace and faithfulness in your life, and in your family’s life. What will you ask of Him for the future, while calling upon His reputation?

“But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.

They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.”

Psalm 77:11-12 (NLT)