Mission Flows Out of Intimacy
by John on Feb.02, 2010, under Spiritual Formation
I do not subsist on activity and mission – God, my Father, energizes me. My life in Him and His in mine, this ignites my activity and mission. Intimacy with God is what comes first – empowering, clarifying and sustaining my role in partnering with him in his mission.
Works based mission flows out of a “performance based mindset”. For example, Jihadists benchmark intimacy with their god based on mission (aka Jihad/holy war). On the other hand, Christ followers base mission out of relationship with God. Genuine Christian mission always flows, first, out of intimacy with God - the God that sacrificed his Son Jesus.
Happy 75th Mom!
by John on Jan.25, 2010, under People
Today is for honoring my mother (Phyllis Palmieri) (Eph. 6:2). Not too many people know that my mom became an orphan at age 4. She was adopted into a very abusive family and after one too many beatings she ran away at the tender age of 16 — never to return. I can’t tell her story as effectively as she can, but I do want to take time to thank her. Mom, I can’t find the right words to express my gratitude for reaching through your wounded-ness and touching my life. I know that there isn’t another person in the world who feels as deeply for me as you do. Your love is relentless, sacrificial, consistent and passionate. You’ve loved from the heart of an orphan – one who is acquainted with sorrow, abandonment, loss, and loneliness. You taught me how to love. The saying; ‘he who loves much hurts much’ is surely true in your life. All your pain will one day make sense and the journey of your life will be seen as significant…for your hands and smile have touched many. You’ve done this by serving the ‘least of these’ (Mat. 25:40). People who know you, I mean really know you; don’t need to be convinced that you are a very special person. I love you mom and I’m proud to be called your son!
21 Days of Fasting and Prayer
by John on Jan.23, 2010, under Spiritual Formation
As many of you know our church has decided to dedicate the first three weeks of 2010 to fast and pray. This is a significant time…a time of beginning –the first of 2010 and also the first of a new decade. In prolonged seasons of praying it is not uncommon to be led to a specific passage of scripture that resonates with your spirit. For Chris (my wife) and I Psalm 66 was the passage for us. I’ve enjoyed a solid season of praying this Psalm into our lives, marriage, and children. I was particularly struck by verses 10-12 (Psalm 66:10-12) – the idea of God bringing us to a “place of abundance” after a season of being refined as silver. The Lord is so faithful and good…no matter what your trial…he brings us through it, he can be relied upon and on the other side we more clearly reflect his image.
Psalm 66:1-5
Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah
5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
-
Hi! Welcome to JohnPalmieri.com!
Thanks for dropping by! Feel free to join the discussion by leaving comments, and stay updated by subscribing to the RSS feed. See ya around!
John’s Playlist
- (To pause music, scroll right arrow down, then click middle button.)
What Others Are Saying