NAVIGATING LIFE

navigation

When was the last time you used a compass for navigating?

Are you someone who is naturally gifted at navigating without the use of an external compass?

I have never been in a situation where a compass was critical for navigating.

Compass use for me has been more recreational than a necessity.

Navigating streets and trails is one thing.

  • What about navigating life in general?
  • How do you know you are on the correct path for your life?
  • Who is leading you in navigating life?
  • What does Matthew 6:13 share about navigating life?
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BE ROUSED!

be roused

What does it mean to be roused?

Some synonyms for be roused include, be aroused, be awake, and be awakened. (See Merriam-Webster.)

  • Which way do you prefer to be roused from slumber?
  • With the rooster or other birds chattering or from an alarm clock of some sort as shown in the picture above?
  • Do you use an alarm type sound or some sort of musical tune?
  • Is it easy for you to be roused, meaning you get up before your alarm or immediately upon hearing it?
  • Is it hard for you to be roused, meaning you repeatedly ignore sounds intended to awaken you?
  • What does it truly take for you to be roused?
  • What does Joel 3:12 have to do with these questions?
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SPEECH

speech
  • Is there a speech you have heard that you still remember even though it was years ago?
  • Why did that speech impact you so significantly?
  • Do you remember who delivered the speech or do you just remember the impact of their words?
  • Or maybe the words that impacted you were not part of a formal speech but  written in a book or letter?
  • Whose speech, whether spoken or written, do you place high value on today?
  • Why?
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OWNERSHIP

silverandgold

What does ownership mean?

Ownership is the state, relation, or fact of being an owner.

To have ownership means you have or hold a property or that you have power or mastery over something.

What do you have ownership over?

Most of us will immediately think about physical possessions such as a house, car, or maybe even fine jewelry or valuable furnishings.

Perhaps you have ownership of a business or intellectual property that you have a registered for a copyright or trademark.

How would you react if someone took what you own without your permission?

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TEMPTATIONS

Have you experienced temptations?

The Nibble Kettle in the picture above was a great temptation to me as a child.

Truthfully, it still is if it has my mother’s homemade Chex party mix in it!

Even today when I get the opportunity to visit my parents, I always check to see if the Nibble Kettle has Chex party mix in it,

The temptation was so strong as a child that I would sneak out to the fireplace where it was kept once my parents thought I had already gone to bed and steal pretzels from the mix.

As an adult I now favor the cashews and the wheat Chex but still enjoy the pretzels.

What does any of this have to do with our weekly study in Joel?

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JUDGMENT

judgment

In the picture above which words describe a positive judgment?

Which words describe a negative judgment?

When you read or hear the word judgment what is your immediate emotional response to the word?

When have you used good judgment?

When have you used poor judgment?

When have you exercised judgment about another person?

How do you make a judgment about a person or an event?

What resources do you rely on to aid your judgment?

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FORTUNE

fortune

Most consider fortune to be materialistic wealth in some form or fashion.

  • What do you consider a fortune?
  • If you consider yourself as having a fortune, how did you obtain it?
  • Was your fortune inherited or did you build it on your own?
  • Have you ever lost a fortune?
  • Does this talk of material wealth make you uncomfortable or excited?
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CALL

worship

Looking up the word “call” in the Merriam-Webster dictionary indicates the word may be used as a verb or a noun.

Within these categories for use the examples for “call” are extensive:

  • Call for help
  • Call for an investigation
  • Call of an animal
  • Call by telephone
  • Call to show hand in a card game
  • Call a square dance
  • Call to pay respects
  • Call out a number
  • Call the roll
  • Call a sport
  • Call to testify
  • Call to mind
  • Call to duty
  • Call a meeting
  • Call to wake up
  • Call for an offense
  • Call off
  • Call a spade a spade
  • Call for
  • Call it quits
  • Call names
  • And so on…😊

We will examine closely today two more examples not included above:

the transitive verb: “call on: defined as:1 : to call upon Is there anyone you can call on in an emergency?; and the noun form defined as :: a divine vocation or strong inner prompting to a particular course of action often referring to as being called or a calling.

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