Faith Weekend WOD - 3/30/2012 to 4/1/2012

Add to your knowledge...

Commit this passage to memory:  "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

⁹ Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ 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!" (Matthew 7:7-11)

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Faith WOD - 3/29/2012

After setting & reviewing our goals - what about the things we CANNOT control?

List 3 things that are directly involved with your goals over which you have NO control.

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"To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue. ² All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.  ³ Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans...⁹ In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps." (Proverbs 16:1-3, 9)

Faith WOD - 3/28/2012

Review your physical fitness goals.

Then, meditate on our third theme verse: “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.  This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:7-8)

How does this mindset help you achieve your physical goals?

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Spiritual WOD - 3/27/2012

Review your social and intellectual goals (Fellowship & Career/Academic).

Then, meditate on our second theme verse: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight..” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

How do your goals involve the Lord's guidance in these areas?

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Spiritual WOD - 3/26/2012

"And Jesus grew in wisdom"(Luke 2:52)

Goal-Setting - Step #6 (Career/Academic Goals)

1 - Record 3 tangible ways you plan to improve your career or academics in the next 3 months

2 - Record 3 long-term goals

*Share one of your goals on Comments.

"If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, like Shakespeare wrote poetry, like Beethoven composed music; sweep streets so well that all the host of Heaven and earth will have to pause and say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper, who swept his job well.'" (Martin Luther King Jr. - March 18, 1968, to a crowd of street sweepers in Memphis, TN)

Spiritual Weekend WOD - 3/24/2012 to 3/25/2012

Before moving to the last category, let's review our spiritual goals (personal faith, family faith, outreach).

1 - Meditate on our first theme verse: "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." (Proverbs 3:3-4)

2 - Consider how your goals encourage commitment to "love and faithfulness."

3 - Commit the passage to memory.

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Spiritual WOD - 3/23/2012

Goal-Setting - Step #5 (Fellowship Goals)

1 - Record 3 tangible ways you plan to make your friendships grow closer in the next 3 months

2 - Record (or adjust) 3 long-term fellowship goals

*Share one of your goals/plans on Comments.

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24)

Spiritual WOD - 3/22/2012

"And Jesus grew...in stature." (Luke 2:52)

Goal-Setting - Step #4 (Physical Fitness)

1 - Record 3 specific physical fitness goals you want to achieve within the next 3 months

2 - Record (or adjust) 3 long-term physical fitness goals

*Share goals on Comments.

“Resisting adversity causes some folks to break, others to break records."

What does the Bible say about physical fitness?

Spiritual WOD - 3/21/2012

"And Jesus grew...in favor with man." (Luke 2:52)

Goal-Setting - Step #3 (Outreach)

1 - Consider 3 specific ways you can be used to impact others by your faith within the next 3 months

2-Enter the specifics in the OUTREACH section of the chart

3-Consider 3 outreach endeavors you want to pursue in your lifetime (big dreams)

4-Enter the specifics in the long-term goal section of the chart

*If you are comfortable sharing, post one of your goals to Comments

“I would not give much for your religion unless it can be seen.  Lamps do not talk, but they do shine." (Charles Spurgeon)

Spiritual WOD - 3/20/2012

"Jesus went back to Nazareth with his parents and obeyed them." (Luke 2:51 - CEV)

Goal-Setting - Step #2 (Family Faith)

1 - Consider 3 specific challenges to your FAMILY'S faith/spirituality you want to conquer together within the next 3 months

2-Enter these goals in the Family Faith section of the chart, including a note about any necessary plans to achieve these goals

3-Consider 3 specific challenges to conquer within your lifetime (big dreams) & enter in the long-term goal section

*Share thoughts on Comments.

“The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, is in its loyalty to each other.” – Mario Puzo

Spiritual WOD - 3/19/2012

It is time to renew our goals...

"Jesus grew...in favor with God"- Luke 2:52

Goal-Setting - Step #1 (Personal Faith)

1 - Print or Save Goal Chart from the Getting Started Section

2 - Consider 3 specific challenges to your faith/spirituality you want to conquer within the next 3 months

3-Enter these goals in the Personal Faith section of the chart, including a note about any necessary plans to achieve these goals

4-Consider 3 specific challenges to your faith/spirituality you want to conquer within your lifetime (big dreams)

5-Enter (or adjust) these goals in the long-term goal section of the chart

*If you are comfortable sharing, post one of your short-term goals to Comments

Spiritual Weekend WOD - 3/16/2012 to 3/18/2012

Add to your knowledge...

Commit this passage to memory:  "Come and see the works of the LORD,  the desolations he has brought on the earth. ⁹ He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. ¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  ¹¹ The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." (Psalm 46:8-11)

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Spiritual WOD - 3/15/2012

Identify one person in your life who needs encouragement.  Remind them of the reasons they should have confidence.

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“Be careful how you live; you will be the only Bible some people ever read.” (William J. Toms)

Spiritual WOD - 3/14/2012

Name the greatest example you have witnessed in maintaining confidence through adversity - past or present.

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"For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. ⁶ From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you." (Psalm 71:5-6)

Spiritual WOD - 3/13/2012

When you are disappointed in your performance today, instead of dwelling on the negative - immediately think of how this can be an opportunity for a blessing.

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"...we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5)

Spiritual WOD - 3/12/2012

List the 3 top excuses you find yourself using when you confront challenges in your life.

*Share list on Comments.

"I am only one, but I am one.

I can't do everything, but I can do something.

And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." - Edward Everett Hale

Spiritual Weekend WOD - 3/9/2012 to 3/11/2012

Add to your knowledge...

Commit this passage to memory: "Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. 7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!  People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light." (Psalm 36:5-9)

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Spiritual WOD - 3/8/2012

On the hour, every hour...thank God for the things you listed on Monday that increase your faith.

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"For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers." (Ephesians 1:15-16)

Spiritual WOD - 3/7/2012

Catch yourself saying, or thinking, the words "have to" -  and substitute "get to" every chance you can.

Example:  "I HAVE TO go to this meeting!"

Substitute:  "I GET TO go to this meeting!"

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"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³ Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." (Romans 6:11-14)

Spiritual WOD - 3/6/2012

Find a "picture of grace" - carry it with you all day today.  Let it remind you how blessed you are.

*Share your picture on our Facebook page.

"Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. ² You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. ³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. ⁴ Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD.  ⁵ May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, ⁶ and may you live to see your children’s children.  Peace be upon Israel." (Psalm 128)

Spiritual WOD - 3/5/2012

What, or who, do you see every day that increases your faith in God?

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"A man can banter with his friends and colleagues about whether God exists.  But a father looks at his daughter and knows." (Meg Meeker - Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters)

"You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other. ³⁶ From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire. ³⁷ Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength, ³⁸ to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today. ³⁹ Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. ⁴⁰ Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time." (Deuteronomy 4:35-40)

Spiritual Weekend WOD - 3/2/2012 to 3/4/2012

Add to your knowledge...

Commit this passage to memory: "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." (James 1:19-21)

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Spiritual WOD - 3/1/2012

Reflect on your list of temptations from Tuesday's workout.  Can you identify a specific situation that makes you susceptible to each temptation?

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"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)