You Know Me

We all want to be known. We want people to remember our names. We want to be heard.

Have you ever been in an important conversation with someone and they continually look at their phone - as if the phone is far more interesting than what you have to say?

As a teacher, I find students just want to be heard. There is a lot to be said for getting to say what you want to say... even if someone disgrees with you. At least they heard you.

How many times have we told our children, "Listen to me. Listen to me NOW!"

We all want to be heard. We all want to be known.

I was preparing worship for this Sunday, listening to the offertory - "You Know Me." I began to cry, because in every human scenario, we clamor to be known - to be heard.

But Jesus ALWAYS hears.

And He knows us in ways we don't know ourselves.

And there is something about being known.

Especially by Him.

The Cost of Following Jesus

Last night in our Wednesday Night Bible Study, we were studying the first chapter of David Platt's book, Radical. As we ended the study and I began to pray, the Spirit spoke to me in a very strong way.

"How has following Jesus COST you something, Carrie?"

We whine, we cry, we think we've taken risks, we complain about finances, we look at our lack of having things (which really isn't a lack at all), we "comment" on church policy, we give our opinions about what should and shouldn't change...

But is it really costing us something?

I thought about the guilt I feel when I don't answer a text, a Tweet, a Facebook message right away. Because of the immediacy of our culture, we feel that we should be able to access one another at all hours of the day and night. I mean, I "TEXTED" you! Why didn't you answer right away?

A friend talked about putting down her iPhone - not looking at it for a day.

Those are the "costs" we're having to pay. But are we even paying them?

As I was praying at the end of that study, the Lord tapped me on the shoulder. I was thinking about that text, that Tweet, that Facebook message I thought I needed to answer because... "What would they think?"

The Lord gently said, "How many times have you ignored me?"

I began to cry.

Countless Christians are giving their lives, their families, their homes, their money... they risk themselves every day for the cost of Christ.

And I can't put my phone down.

"And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."  Luke 14:27

The weeks to come...

The weeks to come…

The process doesn’t end here. If something didn’t happen in your heart this week, then maybe you need to start at the beginning of this guide and walk through it a second time. As you finish, you need to look in your heart and listen to what God is telling you.

Maybe He’s telling you to do just that—start over and walk through the guide again. Sometimes it takes time to forgive and out love in ways we’ve never imagined.

Maybe you’ve seen miracles in your relationship.

Maybe your eyes have been opened to your own selfishness.

Whatever it is, the plan is yours from here. Use the tools in this guide for another person if you want, but God never wants us to keep what He’s given us to ourselves. He wants us to learn to love like HE loves.

Please post about your experience, and don't forget to check in with your accountability partner. Where are you? What have you learned? What now? Just

Keep OUT LOVING in EVERY WAY!

www.outlove-overflow.blogspot.com

Day 7

DAY 7

Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-2

If you do not have love...what are you?

Read 1 Corinthians 13: 4—7

List all of the attributes of LOVE:

Now, in your journal, list each attribute. How are you going to make choices to continue loving the people in your life? How are you going to continue to OUT LOVE?

Second, how has God opened your heart to OUT LOVE the person you chose? What has He changed in your heart this week as you’ve intentionally chosen to OUT LOVE?

Pray those verses out loud again. Ask God to show you those attributes in your life. Ask God to show you where those attributes are missing.

DAILY CHALLENGE #7:

Choose one of the following:

Take a new step with this person. You know what you need to do.

Write a letter of love to this person.

Do something BIG for this person.

Day 6

DAY 6

Read Luke 6:31

The Golden Rule.

Read John 15:13

Lay Down Your Life.

Romans 12:9

Sincerity.

Which of these verses is most difficult for you to carry out with your OUT LOVE friend?

Which of these verses do you struggle with the most?

Choose that verse and pray it out loud. Ask God to change your heart in this verse and make it a daily choice.

DAILY CHALLENGE #6:

Open your eyes to ways you might have hurt or disappointed the person you are out loving. What have you done in the past? How can you remedy this for the future?

Have you forgiven? Have you let go?

Write about it in your journal.

Keep OUT LOVING in EVERY WAY!

Day 5

DAY 5

Read Proverbs 17:9

Generally speaking, we have all “repeated the matter” at times when it wasn’t
necessary. When we are praying for someone, it makes it more difficult to speak
negatively about them. We want to “foster love” today.

How, in your daily life today, can you FOSTER LOVE? Not just with the person you are out loving, but with your LANGUAGE?

Today, intentionally think about how you are FOSTERING LOVE rather than the
opposite. In everything you do, think about that phrase.

At the end of the day, write your thoughts and observations in your journal. How did you foster love? What changed when you intentionally made the choice to do so?

DAILY CHALLENGE #5:

As you are living intentionally and fostering love, do so with the person you are out loving as well. Talk to OTHERS about that person in a positive, uplifting way. Help others see that person the way GOD sees them. You can do this through conversation, text, Facebook… any way you can UPLIFT them to others.

Keep OUT LOVING in EVERY WAY!

Pray that these choices to OUT LOVE will open new doors in relationship with the person you are out loving. Pray that God will show them HIS love through you.

DAILY CHALLENGE #4:

Choose one of the following:

Do something in secret for this person

Give them a small gift or token

Leave them a text or Facebook message

Write down all the POSITIVE things you see this person trying to do

Keep OUT LOVING in EVERY WAY!

Day 4

DAY 4

Read Matthew 25:40

In your journal, write about a time someone did something extremely meaningful for you. Something that really “hit” you at your core.

After writing, take some time to thank God for the messenger He sent you that day—the meaningful love that was shown to you. 

Read Luke 6:35

As you are out loving, it can be difficult not to have an expectations. Write this verse on a notecard and put it somewhere close to you for your reference throughout the week. If you are supposed to love your ENEMIES without anything in return, imagine the love we should show our CLOSEST friends and relatives!

Pray that these choices to OUT LOVE will open new doors in relationship with the person you are out loving. Pray that God will show them HIS love through you.

DAILY CHALLENGE #4:

Choose one of the following:

Do something in secret for this person

Give them a small gift or token

Leave them a text or Facebook message

Write down all the POSITIVE things you see this person trying to do

Keep OUT LOVING in EVERY WAY!