Last night at The Rock of Roseville, Pastor Steve Gregor preached an impacting sermon about middle-class Christianity and how far short it falls from the lifestyle that Jesus preached. One part that particularly struck me was his encouragement to simplify our lives so that we can allocate more resources to the Kingdom of God. As he reminded us, "... to whom much is given, from him much will be required" (Luke 12:48, NKJV).
So the question I am asking is, how can I further simplify my life? Being among the richest people in the world (the American middle class), how can I use what I have been given to further God's kingdom instead of merely using it to make my life more luxurious? I tremble at these words:
"In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow ..." (Revelation 18:7).
This is not a new question to me. In fact, it was the major question in Paul and my hearts a few years ago when the Lord led us to sell our house, close our failing business, pay off our debts, and move into a less expensive rental. We also committed at that time to live with less "stuff" (something we are still working on living out), to make our cars last as long as possible, and to ask the Lord for direction in every financial decision. Then, about a year ago, we felt the invitation to go even further, stepping out in faith to adopt our daughter, Alana.
Yet, looking at our lifestyle, though we have simplified from where we were three years ago, I sense that there is more "fat" to trim. Jesus says, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind" (Luke 14:12-14). Yet, in September we will be involved in several events that include our friends and family but none that include the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind. How do we apply this?
Does you have any ideas that have helped you to live your life more simply?
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
The Rock of Roseville, 725 Vernon Street, Roseville, CA 95678
Women ... mothers ... wives ... who have set our hearts to seek God first, knowing that as we do, "all these things shall be added" (Matthew 6:33).
Who We Are
We are a group of moms who long for a deeper relationship with God and for fellowship with others of like heart. We meet from 8-10pm the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at The Rock of Roseville, 725 Vernon Street, Roseville, CA. First we spend an hour in the prayer room to spend time with the Lord and read a chapter of a book we're studying together. Then we meet together to discuss the chapter and pray with one another. We are always open to new members, so if you're interested, come check us out! (Child care is not available; babies are welcome.)
Current Study
- Sacred Influence: How God Uses Wives to Shape the Souls of Their Husbands by Gary Thomas
- (Updated 8/7/10)
Disclaimer
The viewpoints expressed on this site are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the The Rock of Roseville. This is a spiritual journey, and we hope to grow in understanding as we seek the Lord together.
Subscribe
If you would like to have new posts emailed to you directly, please subscribe here:
Posts
Labels
- encouragement (23)
- children (13)
- quiet time (10)
- mothering (8)
- mundane (8)
- pursue God (8)
- update (8)
- loving God (6)
- prayer (6)
- priorities (6)
- family (5)
- Bible study (4)
- work (4)
- hope (3)
- knowing God (3)
- obedience (3)
- photos (3)
- surrender (3)
- Proverbs 31 (2)
- armor of God (2)
- deep thoughts (2)
- faith (2)
- gratefulness (2)
- loving others (2)
- peace (2)
- prayer room (2)
- rewards (2)
- sleep (2)
- spiritual warfare (2)
- true love (2)
- Halloween (1)
- Justin Rizzo (1)
- Oswald Chambers (1)
- Sermon on the Mount (1)
- giveaways (1)
- journaling (1)
- just for fun (1)
- music (1)
- quotes (1)
- vacation (1)
History
Early in 2006, Michelle became desperate to learn how to pursue God wholeheartedly while being a wife and mommy. As the Lord began to answer her heart's cry, her desire grew to meet with other like-hearted moms. Thus was born Moms Pursuing God (aka "RHOP Moms"). Over the past year, longtime members Sarah and Ruth have stepped up to co-lead. We have been meeting nearly every Friday since May 2006, sharing our hearts, laughing, crying, praying, and forming lasting friendships. We would love for you to join us!
Leaders
Michelle was raised by parents who loved her and the Lord. After being sent around the world by the Air Force until she was nineteen, they returned to their home state of California. She married Paul in 2001 and came to The Rock in 2002, a few months before their first child was born. They now have four children and an ever-deepening desire to pursue the knowledge of God. Her hobbies are reading, taking walks, playing piano, board games, camping. She is a homemaker and home schooler.
Sarah grew up in Illinois and met her husband at a Vineyard church where they were youth/young adult pastors for a few years. She moved from Iowa to the Sacramento area with her husband and two children in 2005. They ended up at the Rock of Roseville in in 2006 and feel like this church home has been a huge part of the reason they ended up moving to the Sacramento area. Sarah is a stay at home mom for her two kids and is so desperate and grateful for the set aside time with God and other moms seeking Him at RHOP moms. She enjoys being outside: hiking, camping, being at the ocean or in the mountains, spending time in God's presence, loves reading a little too much, and baking.
Ruth grew up in Marysville and ended up in Sacramento. She married Jack in 1995, and spent 10 and a half years in Germany. In 2006, they returned to Sacramento and discovered The Rock and the Roseville House of Prayer. Currently she's home-schooling their two children and "holding down the fort" while Jack is spending the year deployed to Baghdad. Her hobbies are Alpine snow skiing, walking, biking, camping, swimming, and, when life slows down again, scrap booking. She is a homemaker and teacher. Her heart is that her biggest ministry in this season is to her husband and children.
Sarah grew up in Illinois and met her husband at a Vineyard church where they were youth/young adult pastors for a few years. She moved from Iowa to the Sacramento area with her husband and two children in 2005. They ended up at the Rock of Roseville in in 2006 and feel like this church home has been a huge part of the reason they ended up moving to the Sacramento area. Sarah is a stay at home mom for her two kids and is so desperate and grateful for the set aside time with God and other moms seeking Him at RHOP moms. She enjoys being outside: hiking, camping, being at the ocean or in the mountains, spending time in God's presence, loves reading a little too much, and baking.
Ruth grew up in Marysville and ended up in Sacramento. She married Jack in 1995, and spent 10 and a half years in Germany. In 2006, they returned to Sacramento and discovered The Rock and the Roseville House of Prayer. Currently she's home-schooling their two children and "holding down the fort" while Jack is spending the year deployed to Baghdad. Her hobbies are Alpine snow skiing, walking, biking, camping, swimming, and, when life slows down again, scrap booking. She is a homemaker and teacher. Her heart is that her biggest ministry in this season is to her husband and children.
No comments:
Post a Comment