Patterns: Ways to Develop a God-Filled LifeZondervan, 2003 - 182 pages A good pattern progressively builds you up. A bad pattern relentlessly erodes your humanity. Patterning is a focused commitment to making a few habits and character traits the normal, the daily, the consistent. All life is built in patterns. Nature has its orderly patterns, from the bee building its honeycomb to the DNA encoded in genes. The Bible offers patterns for living a godly life. There are also patterns in every human life. As children of God, we have the power to choose the patterns we wish to follow. We can build patterns of behavior into our lives that shape our character, form our reputation, and determine our satisfaction in life. 'Anything we do in life with any kind of repetition is a life pattern---whether it builds us up or tears us down, ' says author and pastor Mel Lawrenz. 'Being unaware of our life patterns is about the biggest gamble any of us can take.' Patterns looks at two essential sets of biblical patterns that can help you create a God-filled life. First come the building blocks of character: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Then the book looks at devotion patterns: the acts that draw you closer to God, such as prayer, spiritual reading, and worship. You'll see how the different patterns relate to one another, and how you can become more aware of your own life patterns so you can make a conscious choice to develop a richer, more vibrant relationship with God. You'll learn how to practice good life patterns that offer a design for spiritual health and strength, order for spiritual direction, and consistency for an intimate dialogue with God. Patterns challenges you to cultivate habits of life deeply rooted in the love and grace of God. Lawrenz says, 'The idea of patterning is that if we follow the designs God has described in great detail, if we follow those blueprints and keep steady in those rhythms, we will experience life with a fullness and soundness that comes only from God---just like building a home according to the plan of a master architect.' Patterns is a handbook for spiritual development that encourages you to discover the patterns of your own life---and how you can nurture God-inspired life patterns that build and strengthen your Christian faith. |
Contents
Goodness | 73 |
Faithfulness | 79 |
Gentleness 888 | 85 |
SelfControl | 88 |
PART 3 | 92 |
Devotion Patterns | 95 |
Devoted | 97 |
Sweeter Than Honey | 105 |
Common terms and phrases
antipatterns apostle Paul begin believe better Bible biblical blessed book of Revelation called character patterns Christian church comes Corinthians 13 D day develop devotion patterns Dionysus empty faith Father feel fellowship fill focus friends fullness of Christ gentleness give God's Gospel of John grace and truth habits happen heart heaven Holy hope human imitate Jesus keep kind knew koinonia living a God-filled look Lord Lord's Prayer love in action means meditate mind mountain ness never passage patience peace PERSONAL REFLECTION praise Psalm read Scripture reality realize relationships rience Scott O'Grady Sea of Galilee self-control sense September 16 serve shape solitude someone sometimes soul spiritual step talk taste teaching tell Testament things thoughts trust U-boat understand voice wait walk week wife words worship