This week we are talking about one of the most difficult issues of forgiveness and that is - how do you forgive others?  Yet the Bible says - just as God has forgiven us, so we also must forgive others. #forgiving #forgiveness #DCBowmanville

In reality, most people are not living forgiven - Christians, included.  We may never have accepted God’s forgiveness, yet even if we do accept God’s forgiveness, our lives don’t change.  We walk around with a lot of dead weight on our shoulders, a lot of baggage and a lot of hurt in our lives because we really didn’t accept His forgiveness. #forgiveness #baggage #DCBowmanville

God's Way is very different from man’s way. The gospel message is clear we are saved by God's grace, and cannot save ourselves. Through Christ, we have freedom from the bondage of sin and worldly principles that used to enslave us. Let us live by the Spirit, and take hold of our freedom in Christ. Scripture: Galatians 5:16-17, 1 John 2:16, John 14:6, Galatians 2: 11-16, Acts 5:29

Parable of the hidden treasure. This week Jonathan Douma-Wood will be sharing about the treasure found in Christ and how Satan tries to deceive us into accepting cheap alternatives to God's plan. Jonathan Douma-Wood Scripture: Matt 13:44 #treasure #thedevilslies #lies #deception

What does it mean to forgive myself?  How is it possible that we can forgive the wrongs that we have done to God and to others?  How can I forgive myself for what I have done?  It is the last question that we are going to focus on today.  It’s those few sins in our life that we know about that cause the guilt, that causes the shame, that causes the regret. #DCBowmanville #forgiveness #forgiveothers #forgive #f-word

“Forgiveness - The Original F Word”.  It’s a word that is misunderstood, mismanaged and malpracticed.  No one wants to admit that they need forgiveness.  It is rare that we seek it and we are often resistant to offer it.   Yet forgiveness is a universal need.  There is something inside of us that cries out to be forgiven and to give forgiveness. There is something innate in us that desires to receive forgiveness from our Creator. #DCBowmanville #Forgiveness

Politics, news, advertising…they all tell a story. Stories make sense of the world we live in and help us answer questions like “Who are we?” and “What’s the purpose of life?” The question for us is not whether we’ll live by a story or not, but rather what story will we choose to live by? 

Scripture comes to us as a collection of books that tell one unified story that points us to Jesus. Through these particular words, we can encounter the living God and be formed into His image. This rhythm is about immersing ourselves in the true story about God, humanity and our world. #readthebible #bible #youversion #DCBowmanville

Everyone feels a longing for fulfillment. In our culture, this longing often gets directed towards doing more. More work, more play, more experiences and more adventures, all amplified by social media. As we scroll through the accomplishments of others, our own insecurities and restlessness is magnified and the result is busyness. 

We need to learn to rest. Fortunately, woven into the fabric of creation is a day for this. Waiting for us each week is the gift of rest, the Sabbath. #sabbath #DCBowmanville #rest #slowdown

Despite all the rhetoric in our culture about self-love and self-approval, deep down we all know we need more than a pat on the back or a pithy cliche. We need a way to face our brokenness under the loving gaze of God and experience deep healing and transformation. 

The rhythm of self-examination is a way of detecting both God’s activity in our everyday lives, as well as our own sin. It’s a way of coming to see reality as it is with the Spirit of God, through examining our hearts in prayer. #prayerofexamine #DCBowmanville #searchmeohGod #psalm139

For an audio guide to the prayer of Examine follow this link. https://anchor.fm/discovery-church/episodes/A-Prayer-of-Examine-e187cjs

Allow Pastor Martin to lead you through this prayer.  Slow down...take a breath. Remember God is always present.

Like most spiritual rhythms, phones don’t help. Almost always they serve as a distraction. Put your phone away, find a time and place, ideally in the evening, to practice this rhythm where you won’t fall asleep. Though it’s tempting to try this laying in bed you probably won’t have the attentiveness to work through each movement. Find a spot to be still, attentive and quiet.

The prayer of the examen, or examination of consciousness, is a practice intended to bring us into a deeper awareness of God’s presence and leading in our everyday. It highlights God’s concern with the minutia of our lives: the big events and small, our thoughts and activities, what we do to others and what is done to us, and even our emotions. The examen acknowledges God’s willingness to use all of these to lead us into a deeper relationship with him and greater partnership in his kingdom. #DCBowmanville #Prayer #PrayerofExamine #selfexamination #Psalm139