Abraham Connection

Abraham Connection

1. Pause & Pray: Netherlands

   

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

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2. Decisions, decisions... what's the cost?

   What's the cost? How will I benefit? These are common questions in daily life. We live in a contractual society that more often than not demands personal gain for our time, skills and money. Joey Graver, friend of Abraham Connection, reflects on the cost of following Jesus.

   Life has thrown a lot of decisions my way recently. Its forced me to consider a lot of things and actively choose to put Jesus at the centre of my life. As I reflect back, I realise that on one level following Jesus is incredibly simple, but on another it can be a very complex and difficult walk.

   One of the most important commands we are given is: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark12:30)

   This involves Jesus being at the very centre of everything we think, say and do... from here all else should follow. Over the past few months I have really had to learn what this means. Putting Jesus at the centre of your whole life does come with a cost in a worldly sense, but there is so much more to be gained.
   

   Following Jesus is a real adventure. Sometimes it feels quite daunting and I begin to wonder what Jesus will ask of me? This throws up a challenge to fully trust Jesus and not set parameters in my life as to where I let him in. Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)

   This is costly as we do not know what God may ask of us, or where he will lead us. What I do know is that He just wants our 'yes'. He will work with all that we give, in all its reluctance or eagerness, and transform us from the inside out and work in close relationship with us.

   
   The challenge to us all is not to ask what will I gain, but what can I give. Following Jesus isn't always an easy ride, but it does bring life in all its fullness. We were made by Him, to bring Him Glory. Lets be bold and give our all to him, putting Jesus at the centre of all our decisions.

3. Pause & Pray: Switzerland

   

   Will you pause and pray for just five minutes? Your prayers will make a difference... prayer works, pass it on!

   Join us in the prayer revolution, blessing the least reached nations living in Europe. This month we pause and pray for the Kurds of Switzerland.

4. Pause & Pray: Denmark

   Make a difference today... pause and pray for five minutes.

   Join us in the prayer revolution, blessing the least reached nations living in Europe. This month we pause and pray for the Iraqi Arabs of Denmark. Prayer works, pass it on!

   
   

5. Marked by ashes...
   Ruler of the Night, Guarantor of the day...
   

   This day - a gift from you.
   This day - like none other you have ever given, or we have ever received.
   This Wednesday dazzles us with gift and newness and possibility.
   This Wednesday burdens us with the tasks of the day, for we are already halfway home
   halfway back to committees and memos,
   halfway back to calls and appointments,
   halfway on to next Sunday,
   halfway back, half frazzled, half expectant,
   half turned toward you, half rather not.

   This Wednesday is a long way from Ash Wednesday,
   but all our Wednesdays are marked by ashes —
   we begin this day with that taste of ash in our mouth:
   of failed hope and broken promises,
   of forgotten children and frightened women,
   we ourselves are ashes to ashes, dust to dust;
   we can taste our mortality as we roll the ash around on our tongues.

   We are able to ponder our ashness with
   some confidence, only because our every Wednesday of ashes
   anticipates your Easter victory over that dry, flaky taste of death.

   On this Wednesday, we submit our ashen way to you —
   you Easter parade of newness.
   Before the sun sets, take our Wednesday and Easter us,
   Easter us to joy and energy and courage and freedom;
   Easter us that we may be fearless for your truth.
   Come here and Easter our Wednesday with
   mercy and justice and peace and generosity.

   We pray as we wait for the Risen One who comes soon.

   - Walter Brueggemann (b. 1933)