I haven't listened to the video yet as my computer at home is having a fight between my foxfire and my need to download Adobe Flash Player. However, I want to comment on something from the service yesterday.

In Marc's prayer after his sermon, he said, "God, the only separation between us is the one I put there." WOW! Bolt of Holy Spirit "en-lightning" to my soul.

Father, why do I feel the need to have some separateness from You? What am I afraid of? Why am I not giving myself entirely to You? Is is pride and the need to have something separate that I am in control of? Is it fear of being taken to places I don't know about and therefore can't plan ahead for? Is it stubbornness (You know I've been told that I am a very stubborn women--am I?)? Is it my marriage with Rich and fear that giving myself to You will separate me from him? Or is it just habit? Whatever it is in me that I've been keeping back from you; creating separateness between us, I give you permission to take from me....gently or with force. Father, I yield myself entirely to You. Guide me this week as I make big and little choice that will aide this process. When I habitually choose the selfish path, make it obvious to me in some way that I will know. I love You, Father, and want to trust You completely. I am Your daughter. Create in me a clean heart, my Father, and renew a right spirit within me. Amen

I did the one thing last week too, but couldn't post a comment on the wiki. But now that is fixed, so i will reply. And wow... what i did today with the ACTS process, i have never done before. But its amazing what happened. I felt closer, and i felt like me writing it down made my prayer mean more. I pray every day, and writing that prayer down made it feel like more than a prayer i pray, but like a ongoing conversation with God. And when i did start writing, i didn't want to stop.
So doing this really made my circle one life feel much better. I probably wont just be praying my prayers now, but i will write them down also. I like to write, so writing out my prayers was a great experience for me. I will be adding this to my every day life now. I love this ACTS process.

Thanks for the feedback, Ethan. You know, I feel much the same way. When I'm just praying in my head, or even out loud, sometimes it can feel like words just vaporizing into the sky. And sometimes I can start to get really repetitive feeling. But writing my prayers out has always helped me focus more - which helps me hear God better, I think.

Great feedback Ethan. I don't like to write that much, but I do have the same repetitive feeling that Marc mentioned, so I'm anxious to try. I know from writing out prayers on the online bible study that they do tend to mean more. I also know the ACTS method of praying is very effective. I learned that 20+ years ago. I did it regularly for a while, but then I got lazy. So now it's time to get unlazy! Hopefully the writing will help and being involved here will make me more accountable. I'll check back in once I try that One Thing this week!

Yeah, i get that repetitive feeling too. But the ACTS process made everything different. It was great to do it.

This seems to be exactly the kind of thing I needed. Some structure, something more concrete, somethings that actually has a physical presence like written words. Just thinking about it made me aware of how my mental prayer seems to happen in a flash. It's not exactly short hand but when I pray for others or myself, or even try to be conversational with God it just seems to get shortened to not much more than "You know!" What more can I say when I realize God already knows what I'm going to say before I say it, and He already knows every thought, feeling, and motivation or desire that I experience as I go through my day.

Don't laugh, this is what really happens up in my head. When it comes to God, I don't consider it possible to lie or keep secrets. If I ask for something but don't feel enthusiastic about it or am ambivalent, or even hoping He won't really do it, I know He knows. So what's there for me to say. I guess I communicate with God in highly condensed mega bursts of thoughts and feelings. When I pray for someone, I just focus on what my heart desires for them to have without the long list of specific things He already knows they want and need.

So, looks like this exercise is going to give me the opportunity to be really eloquent and elegant with my words. hopefully it'l make Him laugh a little (or more likely, a lot (and loudly)). Will return after I've written some. I've never heard of the ACTS method but I LIKE it!

Hey Ethan, welcome. I am happy that you have chosen to join us in this great growth process. I share your enthusiasm for the writing process. It had a very expanding effect on me too.

Writing my prayer caused me to step out of my comfort zone. The idea of sitting down and taking the time to journal sends negative vibes throughout my body so it was hard for me to force myself to go to the store and buy a journal. I had to use some self discipline - yuk! Then, because of my stubbornness, it was hard for me to actually make the decision to use the journal. That took even more self discipline - more yuk! Then something interesting happened. I asked the couples group (not an official cell group) that meets in our house in Salem (all non-BCCC members except for Peggy and me) if they would be interested in using the One Thing as a spiritual subject each time we meet. They agreed and some were even enthusiastic about it. Well, that was good, but it meant I had to be even more accountable about journaling my prayer this week - even more yuk! However, I was wrong - no yuk at all. It was very enjoyable because I didn't rush my prayer. I gave it more thought by using the ACTS method and after spending at least three times as much time as normal, I had use self discipline to pull myself away from that time with God and go about the daily requirements of business. Ironically, that became the only real yuk! But even that yuk was greatly diminished because I had a much more meaningful start to my work day due to the extra circle one time!

Hi guys - I hope you don't mind a homesick Tennessean jumping in here. I've had some amazing experiences recently that have reminded me that God expects me to bloom where I've been planted (thanks again Jim!), I think "One Thing" will be a great addition to my process.

I didn't comment on last week's assignment, but if I had, I'd have talked about how much I love circle two - being surrounded by spirit filled worship, deliberate acts of honoring God in a group . . . it motivates and inspires me, it grows me spiritually and keeps me connected to God. I'd also have said that I love circle three - I LOVE being the church - I'm probably not the world's greatest deliberate witness, but when it comes to service, it isn't work for me, it's a kick, and a great big huge selfish blessing. BUT . . . of course there's a but - see that gap around me where there should be a circle one? Historically there has been a space there . . . little or no movement . . . some memorized behaviors, maybe some new inspirations and connections from time to time, but mostly just an uncomfortable gap full of "forsooths" and "in the name ofs" that I've never really filled well. So I took on the assignment.

Here's what I've learned so far. I am all about the Thanksgiving and the Supplication. As I journaled I had to do my "thank you fors" and my "please will yous" first. I was raised in a spiritual fishbowl, you worried a LOT about what folks thought - so you said your "thank yous" and you said your "pleases" - but you definitely did NOT confess things (someone might find out) - and easy on the adoration, you didn't want to be mistaken for one of them charismatic Christians! BCCC was the first place I developed any realization that you could have the whole package, and it didn't matter what anyone thought - but until now, I'd never deliberately applied the idea specifically to my circle one.

By about the third pass on this one thing, I discovered that while confession is still hard (gee, I don't know why it should be, it's not like He doesn't KNOW these things already!), it's doable. But I have to say, adoration is my new favorite part of prayer. As much as I love telling my loved ones how much I love them and how fabulous I think they are, I can't believe it never occurred to me to tell God how fabulous I think HE is!?! I mean come ON - he sacrificed his CHILD to save my life, I think that deserves a couple of stanzas of "you ROCK" . . . don't you? On three . . . yyyaaaaayyyyyyy GOD!!! In addition, the process gave a lot more meaning to thanksgiving and supplication. Instead of "thank you for Jason" and "please send me a job or a winning lottery ticket . . . quick!" - it's becoming very sincere and very deliberate, a time of commitment and honor instead of a rush to complete an obligation. I am grateful for Jason, and I do need a job, but those things aren't the sum of my life . . . my only blessings . . . or my only needs.

So I'm sticking with this one thing for awhile - to see where it takes me. I'm going to wear my circle one like a hula hoop . . . or saturn's rings . . . or Judy Jetson's skirt. I crack me up.

Hey Tamee - Welcome back. I may be a little off the three count, but yyyaaaaayyyyyyy GOD anyway!!! And you crack me up too! :-)

LOL - nice cheer Jim!! I hope you know how much of this yay God is on account of your loving intervention! . . . this is very real . . . . and I'm thankful!

Tamee, I wish I got to know you while at Bridge City and so all I can say is let's get to know each other online. I'll be praying for you to get a job :)

Thank you for sharing...I have to admit I'm not good at staying committed to talking to God on paper. It's a lot harder than I thought it would be. I feel like I can easily praise him in worship but not talk to him for very long, almost like he's an acquantence (sp?). That makes me sad that I don't really know my true father, almost like the same relationship I have with my real dad whom I do love a lot even after our rough times together. I want to learn how to have a real relationship with God and not just do it to make me feel better or feel like I'm better in His book but to genuinely have a connection. I feel God heavily in my heart wanting me to inspire others and change the world, that's how strongly I feel, yet I don't even know where to begin.

Thanks Rachel! While I was working on this journaling, In my head I spent a lot of time comparing the God of my heritage to the God I want to be best friends with - I'm astounded at how easily I make excuses for my indifference. I'm really working towards the feeling of this . . . I get to choose what relationship I have with God . . . so if I want to have a superficial "thanks" and "please" sort of relationship, I guess He's happy to be there, but I have SO many intense and life altering needs, so to be superficial with God all of a sudden seems SO artificial . . . especially when I'm learning that He really wants to make all of my dreams into realities. I've been married to Jason for going on 13 years, and TODAY is the first time he's ever sought God's intervention on our behalf - that is one of my dreams, to have a completely committed trilogy between my spouse and my savior. So that's where I'm going to begin for today . . . with gratitude for a moment of clarity with my spouse.

Welcome Tamee! Im so glad your in here with us.
I have been doing the ACTS prayer process every day now since started the one thing this week. And for some reason, its not repetitive every time. I always have different things to pray about in these areas. And its nice to have a good structured, and different way to pray every night.

- Jim, I am so excited for you. I know you have a heart that really desires God, and yet like me, you're a busy guy with lots of ideas and priorities. I am so excited to see how this process impacts your connection with God. Way to go taking the risk and getting started.

- Tamee, Welcome aboard! I am thrilled to have you in the mix with us. I'm also very thrilled with your realizations about your spiritual journey. God is showing you great stuff, and I know that as you dig into it - adoring Him, agreeing with Him about your heart (that's all confession really is), and bringing yourself to Him in a non-obligatory way, I know He's going to become more present to you. That's really something to look forward to. I hope you stick with it. Oh, and, Yeah God about Jason! How cool.

- Rachel, nice to hear from you here. I'm really interested to hearing where this goes for you. I know I've experienced what you talk about where it's easy to feel connected to God in gathered worship around other people, but then in private time to feel completely disconnected. I know that God wants to take you deeper, and I think this is the beginning of that. Thanks for sharing.

As for me, I'm plugging along. Been doing the ACTS prayer myself this week, and it's been oh so focusing. I don't think that God requires written out prayers from us, but it's so easy for my verbal prayers or inside-my-head prayers to just fog out into vague uncertainty and repetition. For me, at least, the process of writing becomes a focus, a little meditation in itself, so my mind stays on track. It's been good.

Hi everyone. I didn't get to the wiki before yesterday, so I'm late getting started with the ACTS prayer process. I woke up this morning and started thinking of the process and a song we've sung in church for years came to my mind. . . " Father, I adore you, I lay my life before you, how I love you. Jesus, I adore you, I lay my life before you, how I love you. Spirit, I adore you, I lay my life before you, how I love you." I used it for my Adoration part of the process and it was very meaningful for me. I want to lay my life before Him every day and get to know him in a deeper way. In the confession part of the process scripture came to mind "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." In the Thanksgiving part of the process I was reminded of God's promise to "never leave me nor forsake me" and I thanked Him for being faithful to that promise. Lastly, in the Supplication part of the process, God reminded me of this promise "I will contend with him who contends with you and I WILL SAVE YOUR SONS." I've recently learned that the power of our prayers is made stronger when we use God's word as a shield around us or as a weapon against the enemy. I was surprised how naturally that happened for me in this process. I also am looking forward to reading my journal several months or years from now to see my own growth and God's answers to my prayers. I think it's a great idea Marc! Thanks!!!

Hey Debra, Welcome! I'm glad you found your way here. I am looking forward to hearing how this stuff impacts you. You have a great heart, and I know that God is stretching you.

I did the ACTS prayer 2 times. I used my 5x7 art journal. I wrote out my prayer and then painted over it. The words went a direction I did not expect. It was very powerful. Then when I went back over the words with watercolor paint they went deeper into my heart. My favorite symbol was when I was in the middle of the second adoration page, my dog wanted to go outside. Frustrated, I took him out and gazed up into the sky. I saw the amazing golden harvest moon covered in clouds. It felt like God was powerful, protective, near, and interactive. Then as I went into the house I saw some pruning shears on the porch. I laid them on the bed and drew them on the confession page. I felt God asking me to let him cut into my heart, and the rusted blade was not fun as I saw what was there. I only wonder what the next 5 will bring.

Ahh, Cheryl.. you have such a way of taking things deeper. Thanks for sharing that. Hopefully it will remind people that this doesn't have to be a linear, left-brained, dry process. Thanks for bringing the sense of play and engagement to it.

This way of praying definitely helps me to prioritize and remember. So many times I pray and forget until the next time but I can see how doing this often would bring about change to the way I pray and the things I pray for. Not only that but in keeping a journal it would help me to remember the things the Lord has done over the course of my life. So that when my children and my children’s children ask why do you follow God I can point to places in my life where He has delivered me and brought about honest change in my life. Much like in the Old Testament when a leader would build an altar because of a certain thing the Lord did for them.

Same page for me. I can be really scatterbrained in my prayers. This definitely keeps things in order for me.