the heart monitor: March 2009

"Above all else, guard your heart. For it is the wellspring of life." -Proverbs 4:23

who we are & what we do

we are a focus group affiliated with the small group ministry of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Boise. we meet weekly in the comforts of a home for a more intimate experience of fellowship and growth. we desire to create a safe place for discussion, sharing, teaching, ministry, prayer, and lots of laughter. we encourage each other to grow in our faith and experience a deeper relationship with God. we are rather layed back in our approach. we gather around the dining room table for coffee & snacks while we study and then many times gather in the living room amidst comfy couches & chairs to view movie clips or relevant video teachings. our group is focused on applying Biblical principles to our daily lives...through the good times and the bad.

recommended books

24: Jack Bauer's Having A Bad Day by Tim Wesemann
Black, Red, White (the Circle Trilogy) by Ted Dekker
Captivating by Stasi Eldredge
Confessions of a Caffeinated Christian by John Fischer
Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard
Journey of Desire by John Eldredge
Revolutionary Leadership by Tri Robinson
Saving God's Green Earth by Tri Robinson
The Bible
The Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
The Heart of the Artist by Rory Noland
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R.Tolkien
The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
The Sacred Romance by John Eldredge
The Shack by William P. Young
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
Waking the Dead by John Eldredge
Wild At Heart by John Eldredge

what we learned through our Waking the Dead book study

*stop making agreements with the enemy of our hearts.
*we are not what we seem: we have vital roles in this upside-down Kingdom.
*our hearts are good: we are not blowing it & God is not holding out on us.
*open war is upon us, whether we would risk it or not: the enemy wants to steal, kill & destroy our hearts.
*our hearts are worth fighting for.
*we need each other: whatever comes thru those doors, we have a better chance of surviving if we all stick together.
*the glory of God is US fully alive!
*we're gonna make it, DAD knows the way home.

what we are studying

We are currently doing an indepth book study of "The Journey of Desire" by John Eldredge. We are using the workbook that goes along with the book to do some personal journaling as we read. This helps to prepare us for our discussions as a group. We are also taking the opportunity to utilize Scripture, movies, songs, art and other books to help illustrate points as we learn.

Here is a little bit of what the book is about:
"We all share the same dilemma--we long for life and we're not sure where to find it. We wonder if we ever do find it, can we make it last?...Our days come to us as a riddle, and the answers aren't handed out with our birth certificates. We must journey to find the life we prize. And the guide we have been given is the desire set deep within, the desire we often overlook or mistake for something else or even choose to ignore." -John Eldredge.

"This is an invitation to rediscover your God-given desire and to search again for the life you once dreamed of."

we pray: Lord hear our prayers

*for the world (that all may come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour)
*for the State of Idaho, and for our Nation
*for the Treasure Valley (Boise and all it's neighboring cities)
*for our church Vineyard Boise (the pastors, staff, leaders, and congregation)
*for our small focus group
*that our lives would reflect the glory of God
*that our hearts would have more than 20 clear days a year
*for protection from the war that has been waged against our hearts
*that we will allow ourselves to be loved
*that we will actively live in the joy and hope of who we are in Christ: as overcomers with transformed & renewed hearts & minds
*for financial freedom for many of us
*that the jobs we do will not define our identity
*for health & healing in our lives and those we know and love
*for those on the front lines in the war against terrorism
*for safety as we travel
*for those who suffer from depression, anxiety, addictions, abuse, or any other terrible infirmity or affliction, that they may find freedom in Jesus
*for the unborn child, for the children of the world...that they may be protected and provided for
*for our loved ones & those we do not know who do not have relationship with Jesus yet

the heart monitor

Monday, March 23, 2009

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