The Secret of Life is One Thing January 5, 2014

What would make 2014 “happy”? More money? A new job? A new relationship? Losing 5 lbs?

What would make 2014 “happy”? More money? A new job? A new relationship? Losing 10 lbs?

What would make 2014 “happy”? More money? A new job? A new relationship? Losing 25 lbs?

What would make 2014 “happy”? More money? A new job? A new relationship? Losing 25 lbs? Or is there something more? One thing that could make all the difference??

The Secret of Life Is One Thing

The Secret of Life is to follow Jesus wholeheartedly To know Him intimately To love Him dearly To go with Him wherever He leads

Our Vision for Chartwell As we follow Jesus with all our hearts we will become people who: Live by Faith Develop intentional relationships that draw people to God and his church Invest in the mission of the church through our time, treasure and talent Share struggles, challenges and prayer needs in an open and honest way Make risky decisions that flow from a wholehearted trust in God Are known by Love Open our homes and lives generously to people who are different from us Participate in mission, as we serve, welcome and care for others Welcome and include guests in all areas of church life Build ongoing relationships that draw people out of isolation and into community And are a voice of Hope Love people enough that we won't give up on them or leave them where they are Understand and share Jesus’ teachings and the good news with others Share across generational, ethnic and socio-economic divides Proclaim our love and obedience to Jesus through our gathered times

The question: How do we become like Mabel? Is it by our efforts? Or by God’s work in our lives?

Matthew 7 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Training not Trying 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (1 Cor 9:24-25) 7 … train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1 Tim 4: 7b-8)

Growing in Faith We live as if growth happens like this: LearnLoveFollow

Growing in Faith But perhaps its really like this: LearnLove Follow

Matthew 6 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Jesus’ model for prayer Pray daily, in the quiet of your room D eclare God’s praises S urrender to God’s will A sk for provision Don’t Start off Asking

The Secret of Life is to follow Jesus wholeheartedly To know Him intimately To love Him dearly To go with Him wherever He leads And we can actually do it