“Looking for More in Your Experience of God?” Celebrating Who God is and all He has done Greater Rochester Medical Community Christian Fellowship Saturday, October 18, 2014

LOOKING FOR MORE IN YOUR EXPERIENCE OF GOD? "You may have been frustrated in your Christian experience because you know God has a more abundant life for you than you have experienced so far. Perhaps you have been a believer for many years, but your Christian life has become dry and monotonous. Maybe you have heard others excitedly talking about what God is doing in their lives, and you long to have a dynamic walk with God too. Or you may earnestly desire God's directions for your life and ministry. You may have experienced tragedy in your life. Standing bewildered in the middle of a broken life, you don't know what to do." - Henry Blackaby in “Experiencing God”

4 Levels of Happiness (or Contentment) Level 1: Animal Happiness food, sleep, sex, shelter, health, money, things, porn, smoking, EtOH, drugs Can these things become boring and/or lead to unhappiness?

Level 2: Accomplishments (self focused) exams, awards, work, reach a goal, graduation, win a competition, complete your “To Do” list How long does this happiness last? Can it lead to unhappiness?

Level 3: Relationships (others focused) Spouse, significant other, kids, relatives, friends, co-workers, patients (giving to pts. beyond the call of duty) volunteering, donating, giving your 3 T’s: Time, Talent, Treasure We all have a need to be needed Can Level 3 turn into unhappiness?

What’s a big contributor to burn-out? 1. Animal Happiness 2. Accomplishments / Self 3. Relationships / Others 4. Foundation Physicians live in a world of constant stress – busy schedules, long hours, & the ever-present potential of malpractice claims. BUT – according to research on 700 marriages, these issues are not the basis of physician burn-out. Instead, physicians suffer burn-out “when their relationships with the people they work with and live with fill with conflict, causing tension, feelings of inadequacy, obsessive worry, or social anxiety.” - Dillow J and Dillow L, Intimacy Ignited. 2004, p55-56

GOD me spouse As you and your spouse (or other family member or friend) grow closer to God, you’ll grow closer together and strengthen your relationship. GOD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - me spouse

4 Levels of Happiness Level 4: Foundation (God focused) It’s your faith. It’s that part of you that no one can take away. It gives you purpose, guides you in uncertain times and helps you through the storms of life.

How do we strengthen our foundation and know God by experience?

ROOTS & FRUITS – Where is your focus? “Many people long for God to do a significant work in their life. However, they try to bypass the love relationship.” – Henry Blackaby in “Experiencing God”

To strengthen your roots and experience God in a new and refreshing way, I encourage you to read and answer all the questions in the “Experiencing God” member book (workbook) by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby and Claude King (www.Lifeway.com). It will be a faith lifting, life changing experience! The book is available today at cost - $19 (can pay later) I have no financial interest or other reasons to recommend this book. God has used it to make a big impact in my life and I just want to let you know about this useful resource. If you have any questions or if there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know. - David Holmes, MD 716-697-1884 dholmes@buffalo.edu

Prayer Journal help you with whatever you may be struggling with My prayer is that God will use the Experiencing God workbook and the Prayer Journal to: help you with whatever you may be struggling with renew you deepen your love relationship with God help you to hear and obey God when He speaks to you help you to experience God in new and refreshing ways

The 7 Realities that will help you to know God by experience are: God is always at work around you God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal God invites you to join Him in His work God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways God's invitation for you to join Him always leads to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing You come to know God by experience God as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you from “Experiencing God”

“We must make major adjustments in our lives in order to join God in what He is doing.” – 6th reality of Experiencing God Our schedule should reflect our love for God and our stated priorities. Therefore, consider using this diagram (in center of the Prayer Journal) as a guide when making your schedule. “Jesus said to them, ‘Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say?’” – Luke 6:46 We show our love for God by obeying Him and what He’s telling us to do “. . . by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, the church And circumstances. . .” - 4th reality of Experiencing God Then . . . “We will come to know God by experience as we obey Him and He accomplishes His work through us” - 7th reality of Experiencing God

Love Relationship with God Specifics: prayer and prayer walks Worship Bible reading spiritual journaling memorizing scripture going through “Experiencing God” workbook  

Church 5 key aspects of church involvement (essential responsibilities that help us grow): Worshipping Serving Tithing Encouraging Having close fellowship & accountability (small group) Specifics: attend church weekly serve regularly give $ generously take the initiative to greet & encourage others you see at church (not just friends) participate in small group Bible studies, youth group or groups for men/women

Family Goals love, respect, helping & serving each other, open & honest communication, responsibility, fun, spiritual and emotional growth Specifics: eat meals together speak with respect and a kind tone of voice share what’s going on in our lives be honest pray and read God’s Word together take the initiative to do chores and other things that need to be done clean up after yourselves do fun things together

Personal Responsibilities and Commitments Specifics: work ministry healthy eating exercise sleep school sports music lessons other activities

Personal Fun and Relaxation Specifics: time with friends leisure reading shopping electronics (TV, movies, phone, video games, Instagram, websites, etc.) other

R U Totally ? Committed to God Whatever God asks you to do, will you do it? 0 YES 0 NO 0 Maybe “Lord, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. Sever any tie but the tie that binds me to Thyself.” - David Livingstone, 19th century missionary in Africa

I commit to demonstrate my love for God and commitment to Him by . . . At the back of the Prayer Journal, please check whichever items you want to commit to doing and then sign at the bottom. If your goal is to love God with your whole being and to obey Him no matter what, then adjust your schedule to do whatever it takes to develop deep roots and have a close walk with God.

God is far more concerned with our walk with Him than He is with us getting a job done for Him. – Henry Blackaby paraphrased Focus on your roots, not your fruits