![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.hatfieldroadmethodist.org\/wptest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/stars1.jpg\")
<\/a> and yes perhaps sometimes numb. Our passage today is an exhortation to continued growth in our christian lives no matter where we are on our journey of faith. Though we are saved by the Grace of God, our response to that great gift, is to continue to fill ourselves with the love God has for us and which he commands that we have for others.<\/p>\nWhen we are full to overflowing with that love it shows in every aspect of our lives. The commandments, to love God and our neighbour become a way of life and not a burden that we have to bear.<\/p>\n
God places before us good works for us as believers to carry out. He bears fruit in each of our lives as we follow these tasks and provides us with the spiritual gifts we require to build up our churches. God’s message is one of unity and common purpose and we must pursue that with every iota of our beings.<\/p>\n
During this Advent season of preparation, make time to ask God for the tasks he has for you in the coming weeks, months and years. Ask for strength, courage and power to throw yourself into these things with all of your energy, creativity and faithfulness. Only then will we see growth within our fellowships, whether that be continuing spiritual growth or numerical growth.<\/p>\n
2 Peter 1<\/span> v 1 – 11 New International Version (NIV)<\/span><\/h1>\nSimon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,<\/span><\/p>\nTo those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:<\/span><\/p>\nGrace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.<\/span><\/p>\nConfirming One\u2019s Calling and Election<\/span><\/h3>\nHis divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.hatfieldroadmethodist.org\/wptest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/fruits-300x297.jpg\")
<\/a> own glory and goodness.<\/span> Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.<\/span><\/p>\nFor this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;<\/span> and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;<\/span> and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.<\/span> For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/span> But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.<\/span><\/p>\nTherefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,<\/span> and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/p>\nPrayers and Reflection<\/h2>\nHelpful Hymn:<\/h3>\n
Hymn: Singing the Faith – 566 – Take my life and let it be.<\/p>\n
Contemplation saying.<\/h3>\n
\u201c\u2026you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.<\/span>\u201d.<\/p>\nLet us pray together.<\/h3>\nContemplative Prayer.<\/h3>\n
Think of the saying in order to understand context and meaning,<\/p>\n
Feel the meaning of the saying with and in your heart,<\/p>\n
Pray, using the saying, for yourself or others. With only a name and without explaining the reasons or pre-defining any answers.<\/p>\n
Listen for God\u2019s voice in the quiet of your prayers.<\/p>\n
Pray using your own prayers or one of those which have been prepared below.<\/p>\n
Twitter Prayer<\/h3>\n
Lord, help me to grow in the way you have called me to that I may be an effective witness for you. Amen<\/p>\n
Facebook Prayer<\/h3>\n
Lord, thank you that we are called into your service, that we are all part of your Divine plan. Help us this Advent time to see the needs of our churches and those around us and help us resolve to become active solutions rather than passive bystanders. Amen.<\/p>\n
Full Prayer![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.hatfieldroadmethodist.org\/wptest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/what-if-300x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/h3>\nHeavenly Father, thank You that you used apostles and prophets to reveal yourself to your people. You continue to reveal your plans and purposes to us, through your Word.<\/p>\n
Thank You that we are able to come into your presence, by grace through faith in Jesus as our Saviour.That as our passage today states we are part of your Divine plan and each of us has a part to play in that plan, however small or large.<\/p>\n
In this season of Advent we pray that you will open us to all that you want us to hear. Give us the words we need to\u00a0 encourage others in their Christian walk. Help us to continually grow in our knowledge and love of you. We ask our prayers in Jesus name. Amen.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:<\/span><\/p>\n Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;<\/span> and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;<\/span> and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.<\/span> For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/span> But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.<\/span><\/p>\n Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,<\/span> and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n Hymn: Singing the Faith – 566 – Take my life and let it be.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.<\/span>\u201d.<\/p>\n Think of the saying in order to understand context and meaning,<\/p>\n Feel the meaning of the saying with and in your heart,<\/p>\n Pray, using the saying, for yourself or others. With only a name and without explaining the reasons or pre-defining any answers.<\/p>\n Listen for God\u2019s voice in the quiet of your prayers.<\/p>\n Pray using your own prayers or one of those which have been prepared below.<\/p>\n Lord, help me to grow in the way you have called me to that I may be an effective witness for you. Amen<\/p>\n Lord, thank you that we are called into your service, that we are all part of your Divine plan. Help us this Advent time to see the needs of our churches and those around us and help us resolve to become active solutions rather than passive bystanders. Amen.<\/p>\n Heavenly Father, thank You that you used apostles and prophets to reveal yourself to your people. You continue to reveal your plans and purposes to us, through your Word.<\/p>\n Thank You that we are able to come into your presence, by grace through faith in Jesus as our Saviour.That as our passage today states we are part of your Divine plan and each of us has a part to play in that plan, however small or large.<\/p>\n In this season of Advent we pray that you will open us to all that you want us to hear. Give us the words we need to\u00a0 encourage others in their Christian walk. Help us to continually grow in our knowledge and love of you. We ask our prayers in Jesus name. Amen.<\/p>\nConfirming One\u2019s Calling and Election<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a> own glory and goodness.<\/span> Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.<\/span><\/p>\nPrayers and Reflection<\/h2>\n
Helpful Hymn:<\/h3>\n
Contemplation saying.<\/h3>\n
Let us pray together.<\/h3>\n
Contemplative Prayer.<\/h3>\n
Twitter Prayer<\/h3>\n
Facebook Prayer<\/h3>\n
Full Prayer
<\/a><\/h3>\n