Cafe Chat (Please Participate Everyone..)

Well, I would love to say that I came up with today's question because it is a good one, but I found it in a book I am currently reading. I thought the question was too good not to ask it to one of my favorite online communities.

The question comes from the book, "Did You Think To Pray?" by R. T. Kendall. A verse from Exodus 33 had Kendall really pondering about the situation Moses was in. (Feel free to read Exodus 33, and/or you could purchase Kendall's book to read more about the story if you would like). The question Kendall came up with is very thought provoking, and he asked the question to his friends as well. So today, I ask you a similar question (I changed it slightly).

If God told you that He would answer any one prayer request today, what would it be? Why, this request? (Again, I give all credit to R.T. Kendall for today's question)

I can't wait to read your responses.

Cafe Chat

To do or not to do...that is the question
Do you ever find yourself measuring how good you are doing in your relationship with God by the things you do, or the things you don't do? In the last couple of weeks, I have found myself looking at the things I am NOT doing, or shall I say some things I have given up (or tried to) because they were not things that were drawing me to Jesus, or helping me in my relationship with Him.
For me, I think I am discovering that if I look at my "DO NOT" list, it is pushes me a bit toward legalism, and causes me to focus in on my works more than I should. So today I want to see where my sisters in Christ stand on the "to do or not to do" dilemma.


Do you focus in more on what you are doing for Jesus, or on what you are not doing for Him? Is there a balance? Do you think this is even a healthy approach when you are examining yourself in regards to your relationship with Christ?

I am looking forward to seeing your answers this week.
Blessings

Cafe Chat

Is there a situation in your life that you feel ill equipped to handle? If yes, would you be willing to surrender this situation to God, and let Him work through you? If no, why not?

I asked this question this week, because I have a situation that I definitely feel ill equipped for... But as I started to feel this way, I realized that God is fully capable of equipping me to do the work He has purposed in my life. Now that is encouraging! Blessings, Kim

(I will post my answer later, but feel free to leave yours now. Make sure to click over to the Cafe for more interaction)

Cafe Chat

Jealousy...


I know, not a great choice of a word to start out our discussion today, but I think it is a good topic for a "Cafe Chat" question. One definition from Dictionary.com states that jealousy is
"jealous resentment against a rival, a person enjoying success or advantage, etc., or against another's success or advantage itself." For today I think this will be the definition that we use to answer our question.

Jealousy is a sin that all people struggle with from time to time in their lifetime. Some will struggle greatly, and for some it can be something they might deal with in specific situations. In my past, I would categorize myself in the "struggle greatly" category, but now with the Lord's changing power I struggle with jealousy less often.

Today I would like for you to tell about a time that you dealt with the sin of jealousy. If you can, give details. Then I would like for you to share how you worked through the situation with God's help.

If you are struggling with jealousy ruling in your life, then I would like for you to write some reasons why you think that is. Would you be willing today to ask God to begin the process of destroying this sin in your life?

Again, always feel free to post anonymously. I will make sure to post my answer this week at my blog. If I ask you the hard questions, I have to ask them to myself. I hope this week's question will encourage all of us to seek God when it comes to the sin of jealousy, and any other sin :) Blessings, Kim

Cafe Chat

I am back from my vacation, and my "Cafe Chat" break. For the last several weeks I have been re posting some of my previous "Chat" questions. Thanks to all who participated in this meme during my hiatus. I missed interacting with you weekly, but hope to start visiting your blogs/websites again weekly.

"Comfort Zone". Two words or a phrase that has become very popular in our everyday language for years now. I remember when people first started talking about going out of their comfort zone. It wasn't long after that I would hear that phrase in the everyday chit chat of my circle of friends, as well as using the phrase myself.

Today I want to use this phrase as part of my question for our community. However, I would like to add a word to the beginning of the phrase. Let's think in terms of our "spiritual comfort zones". Let me explain a bit further. We could use the phrase comfort zone for many things that don't really have anything to do with our spiritual lives, and when I say spiritual lives, I am specifically referring to our Christian walk with Jesus. It could be out of our comfort zone to attend a function alone, but that situation would really have nothing to do with our Christian walk.

On vacation I experienced something that I would say was out of my "spiritual comfort zone". When thinking about the question this week I came to believe that as a Christian I should almost always, maybe always, be out of my "spiritual comfort zone" when it comes to life. If I am operating out of my "comfort zone" than that means that Jesus can work through me to do something that either I can't accomplish, or at least something that fear holds me back from accomplishing through Jesus. When Jesus operates through me to perform something I cannot do, then He gets the credit and the Glory. That it how is should be.

So today I ask you to tell me about a time you operated out of your "spiritual comfort zone"? If you are finding it hard to come up with an example, why do you think that is the case?

(FYI: Today I used the term "spiritual comfort zone"... I am using the term lightly to ask a question, not to develop my own phrase) Blessings, Kim

PS. If you have time, look at the post below... I would love to hear your questions :)

Cafe Chatters... Some info for you...

Hey Friends,

Just wanted you to know that the "Internet Cafe" is still in existence, but they are having big technical issues right now. I know the site's owners are working on fixing the issue. If you would they have asked us to lift up a prayer on getting the site back up just like it was, and not having to start all over again. Thanks, and hopefully the "Cafe" will be back up again soon.

Cafe Chat

This week I was listening to my favorite Christian radio station and the host quickly mentioned the “fruit of the Spirit”. So today’s question was inspired by what I heard on the radio. First, let’s take a look at the verse in the Bible about the “fruit of the Spirit”.



Galatians 5:22-23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.


After looking at the verse in Galatians, what specific “fruit” (love, joy, peace…) do you find yourself lacking in your daily life?

Give an example if you can.What circumstance in your life shows your weakness with the specific “fruit” you mentioned above.


I know I am always talking about the things we are struggling with, but I do it for a good purpose. I truly feel that we learn more through our struggles and defeats than through our victories.This week’s question is meant for me as much as for all of you. Recently, I feel like I have come to a place where I see that through all my life’s circumstances, especially the tough ones I have an opportunity to become more like Christ.Through my life circumstances, I get to practice dying to a very "selfish" self. To think of others more than I think about myself. To practice self denial when my flesh cries out to indulge. To show love when I don't feel at all loving. I could keep going with my "to" list, but I will stop here, and leave you with one final thought. If you are at all like me, or maybe even a little like me; I want to challenge you to see whatever "life circumstance" you named above as a great and wonderful opportunity to become more like HIM, our sweet and lovely Jesus.


Thank you so much for answering these tough questions with me each week. You make my job a joy!Blessings friends, Kim