Savor the Savior Week 2 - True Vision

Savor the Savior
Week 1 Wrap Up

I think the most amazing and important focus of our discussion last week centered around the noise in our life. Through our discussion it was pointed out that we cannot control the volume at times but we can control how we respond and react to that volume. No matter how low we turn down the volume on a radio even in a quiet room our ears will adjust to pick up the static or what is being played. We have to know how and when to turn the radio off completely. Life is the same way. We have to know how to unplug and rejoice in Christ and His grace daily and let him direct us in responding and reacting to the noise we cannot control in our lives.

Our main reference from Week 1 centered around Abraham. What an amazing man of pure faith he was. Abraham was far from perfect just like we are, but when it came to his time with God he believed and lived his faith in Him like no one since Christ. Abraham was special because he lived before the law and before Jesus. He was totally on his own with God. There was no direction in the Ten Commandments and there was not the grace of Christ for him to turn to in time of failure and need. It was just him and God. He was the first to show us how God wants the I in Savoir to be.


Savor the Savor Week 2
Vision is Our Greatest Enemy

When you look at us as God's perfect creation, you have to be in awe.

I love sports and healthcare. Two very odd things I know, but when you think of God's design of our bodies and how they function for every day tasks it is simply amazing. You add to the mix what a superior athlete can do with his or her blessings and you can truly see our body and health is one of the greatest gifts He will ever give us.

But with this gift there comes a price at times. If you don't treat it and care for it, things can happen. You can also be in perfect health and the enemy can attack it in unimaginable ways. Even when all is well, Satan can use our abilities against us.

Take our vision for example.

Websters defines Vision as the following:

Vision 

1
a : something seen in a dream, trance, or ecstasy; especially: a supernatural appearance that conveys a revelation

b : a thought, concept, or object formed by the imagination

c : a manifestation to the senses of something immaterialvision

s, but at realities — Edith Wharton>
2
a : the act or power of imagination

b (1) : mode of seeing or conceiving (2) : unusual discernment or foresight vision>

c : direct mystical awareness of the supernatural usually invisible form3
a : the act or power of seeing : sight

b : the special sense by which the qualities of an object (as color, luminosity, shape, and size) constituting its appearance are perceived through a process in which light rays entering the eye are transformed by the retina into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve4
a : something seen

b : a lovely or charming sight
Yes indeed our vision is one of the greatest tools we have at our disposal, but it is also one of our greatest weapons as well.

Think of the last time you were walking up a large hill. If you keep your eyes focused on the top the whole time at some point your mind and your body will cause you to stop. Because you look and SEE where you are headed you begin to believe you will never get there.

But if you take that same hill and you simply look down at your feet, how far do you think you can go?

If you never look up to see how much farther you have to go or look back to see how long you have been walking your vision is limitless. Just like God wants us to come to him to savor life. Exactly like God wants us to be disciples of the Savior.

Daniel is an key figure when it comes to visions in the Bible. There was no one like him and God used his talents in an amazing way.

Let's take a look at some of God's Word at this point:

• Daniel 8:15-27

I find verse 17 especially interesting? Think about that verse and come prepared to talk about it on Sunday or comment on this post.

We often refer vision in worldly terms as innovation. Taking a dream and making it a reality. There have been many great visionaries of this world. But there has been none like Daniel.

So as you prepare for this weeks discussion, ponder the following thoughts.

1. Are you focused on your vision of your future by constantly staring at the top of the hill?
2. Are you terrified of your future because all of your visions have to do with the valley below the hill?
3. Can you have hope and faith in God enough to lead you without looking forward and without staring back?

Remember God knows what you need in the future; You don't. You cannot truly SEE until you understand this. You cannot truly SAVOR the SAVIOR without His Vision.

Read the following verses as well:

• Deuteronomy 30:19
• Exodus 24:17-18
• Exodus 25:9
• Mark 9:23-24
• James 1:5
• Hebrew 8:5
• Hebrews 12:18-20
• Acts 7:44
• Colossians 2:17

Have a blessed rest of the week!

Savor the Savior

There is simply too much noise in the world. Don't you agree?

When was the last time you were not rushing to pay a bill, get to a meeting, figure out what's for dinner, change the oil in the car, walk the dog before it rains, make sure the uniforms are clean before the next game or finding time at 1 a.m. to catch up on your favorite reality TV show.

Sounds like days we all have and a rut most of us loathe with all of our being. Somewhere along the way we have forgotten how to truly savor our days.

We are searching for ways to improve our situation, get more time with our husband or wife, practice ball with our kid and how to push the right button to get the big raise you believe you deserve at work.

In other words, we are searching for the right spice to give awaken our senses. The perfect ingredient to spark our days. The one victory that once again gives us favor.

Too often we run ourselves ragged trying to find this missing piece. We fill our palate with all the wrong flavors. We mix the ingredients we think are right and then convince our mind and heart we finally have found what we are looking for.

But how should we define our days? How should we define who we are? What do we need to do to once again savor life?

Savor and Savior have a common bond that rests in the added I. It is that perfect and pure relationship God wants with us all. Are you forcing your agenda in defining who you are to try and make your life full and happy? Or are you letting God lead you and completely give you the living water in telling your story through the Savior.

This will be the focus of the next month of columns and posts as God leads me to uncover how to truly enjoy the riches He has blessed us with. We will take a look at praying for authority in His Power while finding ways to give in to our stubborn selves by taking a look at various people in the Bible through their stories. God told them to have faith and patience and is telling us to fully Trust in Him and Savor all that the Savior has sacrificed to give us every day.

To prepare our path for Study this Sunday read:
Luke 6:17-26
Romans 4
Daniel 5

Please make some notes as you read and study. Underline where God spoke to you.

Now read this story about Pastor Strawberry who thought he had everything life had to offer only to realize he had nothing until his story became one with the Savior. Here is my take on it.

Feel free to comment below and add to the conversation if you can't be in class on Sunday!

Have a blessed weekend!