Thursday, October 31

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019

"In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.  Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family.  So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters....

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.  For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants.  For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.  Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." (Hebrews 2:11,12,14-18)

At the outset of Hebrews, the author establishes the superiority of Christ over the angels and over Moses.  In this passage above, the author explains the fullness of Jesus's humanity.  In becoming human and suffering in our place, He opened the possibility of holiness for those who would receive and follow Him.  By His poverty, He made many rich.  By His stripes, we are healed.

Furthermore, vv. 14-18 underline how Jesus served faithfully as a high priest, making a once-for-all sacrifice to "make atonement."  By atonement, the Scriptures mean the "setting aside of wrath by an offering."  The offering here — the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ — sets aside the wrath of God intended as the rightful punishment for sin.  This sacrifice proves perfect because, in Himself, Jesus was both fully human and fully God.  He could therefore bring lasting forgiveness, whereas the only human priests of the Old Testament sacrificial system could not.

In addition, Jesus's humanity connects Him to His followers in another important way:  in overcoming temptation.  As Thomas Chalmers noted, we may find intermediate victory over temptation by replacing it with a greater, godly desire.  We recognize that, whatever the circumstances, the Lord Jesus Christ is familiar with our temptations and struggles.  The promise echoes:  "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (13:5)  Even in temptation, we are never alone.

The full humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ allowed Him to bring victory through the Cross and strengthening to His people in times of trial and temptation.Come, Lord Jesus, and draw near to us today.  Give us Your heart and Your love for those around us.  In Your holy and might Name, amen!

October 26: Of Unworthiness

Jeremiah 49:23-50:46
Titus 1:1-16
Psalms 97:1-98:9
Proverbs 26:13-16

I looked this up.  It turns out, Titus was his only name.  There is no truth to the rumor it was a surname, and that his first name was "Hepa".  (I couldn't resist.)

It is interesting wondering how Paul's words to Titus would be received today.  My guess?  They'd start by calling him a "hater", someone bigoted towards the Cretans.  Then they'd accuse him of hypocrisy, remind him of his past - "remember where you were when Stephen died?" - and threaten to discredit him by dredging up his past if he didn't stop calling out the Cretans' sinfulness.  

We see that a lot today, don't we?   People who demand perfection of others, who insist that the imperfection of a person's past renders them unqualified to speak, specially if they are speaking out against sin, against the world's influence.  Sadly, there are many - myself included, I am sorry to admit - who let the fear of the world prevent me from speaking out as I believe God would want.  

The fact is, perfection isn't a prerequisite for us to be of use to God - if that were true, then the Bible would be the four Gospels and nothing more.  When we start to believe the world's lies about our unworthiness, let us remember the company we have among the unworthy - Moses, David and Paul were murderers, David was also an adulterer; Abraham and Peter were both cowards who hid behind lies, and Jacob was a thief who betrayed his brother. When they chose to do so, they all served God pretty well.

Father, when we start to believe the world's lie - that to be worthy to serve You, we have to be perfect - remind us You do not call the qualified,  You qualify those whom You call.  Instead of the doubt the world would have us harbor, give us instead the confidence, the courage and the strength to speak Your words as You instruct.  

October 25

Psalm 95

 A remarkable thing happened in Fremont, California a few years ago. A 17-year-old girl named Karen Cheng achieved a perfect score of 1,600 on the SAT and a perfect score of 8,000 on the tough University of California acceptance index. Never in history has anyone accomplished this intellectual feat. It is staggering to even contemplate how intelligent this young girl is.

When the news broke nationally and a reporter interviewed Karen, he asked her the following question, "What is the meaning of life?" Karen looked at the reporter and said, "I have no idea. I would like to know myself."

No disrespect is intended for this gifted girl, but while she had the ability to answer all the "what" questions of life, she failed miserably on the "why" question.

This is not just true of Karen; it is also true of many people today. We live in a culture drenched with facts, polls and Alexa answers, but most people have no idea "why" they have been given another day of life.

The late philosopher and author Dr. Francis Schaeffer said it like this, "The damnation of this generation is that it doesn't know why it has meaning."

I can't write your mission statement, but I would like you to consider five words to put at the very beginning: "I live to worship God." Why these five words?  Because God has put "eternity" in all of our hearts and our lives won't have any significance unless we are worshiping the "eternal one."

The core of the "why" question has to do with worship. This is the way the Psalmist put it in our reading today: 

"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."

Make time to worship the Lord today. Sing him a song, play a musical instrument, shout out his praises, kneel before him in frontline prayer. This is the "why" to your life.

 

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, October 24

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2019

 

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

 

 

In the verses above, Paul emphasizes the authority and usefulness of the Scriptures in life and ministry.  God’s Word takes a prime place in revealing God and His purposes for this world and for us.  As Charles Spurgeon explained, “if you wish to know God, you must know His Word; if you wish to perceive his power, you must see how he work[s] by His Word; if you wish to know His purpose before it is actually brought to pass, you can only discover it by His word.”

 

Given the context, Paul underscores how the Old Testament Scriptures -- those available to Timothy in his youth – “are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”  Put another way, Paul emphasizes that the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ echoes through the Scriptures:  the hope of Messiah, fully revealed in the New Testament and in the Person of Jesus.  Because the Scriptures are “God-breathed,” God will use His Word powerfully in the lives of all people at all times, but particularly for bringing them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

 

In another passage, Paul discusses a key part of Christian maturity:  taking every thought “captive.”  To do so, we submit our thoughts under the lens of Scripture, asking:  “How does Scripture speak on this topic?  How could I place these thoughts under God’s authority?  What is God calling me to do?”  Doing so proactively will reduce our tendency to become swept away in our minds -- and away from trusting and remaining rooted in Christ.

 

How do you take in God’s Word?  Do you graze?  Or do you feast?  In our 40-day period of Frontline Prayer, may we seek God faithfully through His Word so that we and others might know Him better.

 

 

Lord God, thank You for the powerful Word that You have given us.  Enlighten our hearts by Your Holy Spirit so that we might understand Your purpose for us and our place in Your story.  Deepen our knowledge of Your Word and help us to hide it in our hearts.  Speak to us today.  In Jesus’s mighty Name, amen.

 

 

________________________________________________________________________

596 Glenbrook Road, Unit 13 | "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection

Stamford, CT  06906-1423    |  and the life.  He who believes in me will

(C) 203.820.1741            |     live, even though he dies; and whoever

(H) 203.355.9374            |   lives and believes in me will never die.

(E) swe@edwa.info           | Do you believe this?'"    -- John 11:25,26

 

October 23

Psalm 92

This Psalm is a song for the Shabbat, the Sabbath, when all the Jewish people would traditionally come home on Friday night and before sunset, dinner was eaten, dishes were washed and put away, and eyes, hands, and praise was lifted up to God. Charles Spurgeon put it this way: ""The Jews have for a long while used this Psalm in the synagogue-worship on their Sabbath, and very suitable it is for the Sabbath-day; not so much in appearance, for there is little or no allusion to any Sabbatic rest in it, but because on that day above all others, our thoughts should be lifted up from all earthly things to God himself." Colossians 3:2 tells us to "set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."  Giving thanks to God in all circumstances, despite what they might appear to be, is a good thing, (although not easy), for many reasons. Praise takes our eyes off of us and puts our focus on God. God is our Creator and if that were the only reason, it is appropriate to give Him thanks. "All was created through Him and for Him. He exists before everything and in Him all hold together" (Col.1:17)  But there's more. It is also fitting to give thanks as He is our Redeemer. In His loving kindness and faithfulness, God blesses and delivers us. Give Him praise. Heartfelt praise bring honor to God. We have been hard wired by God Himself to worship, but sometimes life gets in the way and our wires get crossed. Let's take a moment before we start the day and worship together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7sslCfl0XY

Randi

October 19: Of Rejoicing Amidst Trial

Jeremiah 33:1-34:22

1 Timothy 4:1-16

Psalm 89:1-13

Proverbs 25:23-24

Think of what the people of Judah were facing - Babylon, enslavement, the loss of life and livelihood - and it is easy to understand how difficult it would have been for them to listen to Jeremiah speak of "voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord, saying 'Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; His love endures forever.'"  Perhaps you have greater faith than I, but I confess it would have been too difficult for me to look beyond the impending disaster and see God in control, to trust in His promises.  

Heck, forget enslavement.  If you are like me, it is hard to recognize God when struggling with more mundane, more ordinary situations.  It's tough to see God when you are quarreling with your spouse, or your child is disrespectful, or your parents don't seem not to believe in you.  It's tough to see God when bills are due and the bank account is empty; when your parents are ill; when the your offspring is in a bad relationship and you can't seem to get them out of it.

I hope that when tough times come, I remember today's psalm and declare that His "love stands firm forever, that You have established Your faithfulness in heaven itself. "  I hope that I can "sing of the Lord's great love forever", that I can "make Your faithfulness known through all the generations."  Father, give me the strength I do not have, the strength to do so.

October 18

1 Timothy 3 

I read a book on the work of elders, written by David Dickson from the early 19th century. Here is a paragraph on the most important qualification of an elder.

"The office and work being spiritual, it is necessary that elders should be spiritual men. It is not necessary that they be men of great gifts or worldly position, of wealth or high education; but it is indispensably necessary that they be men of God, at peace with him, new creatures in Christ Jesus; engaged in the embassy of reconciliation, they must be themselves reconciled. We must love the Master, and the work for the Master's sake."

In other words, an elder must love God supremely. He must also love working for the Master because it is difficult and trying work.

I thank the Lord for the elders we have at Grace church. They have a heart for God and have given their lives to serve him. I encourage you to pray daily for these men as they lead the church. And may we all use the elder qualification list as the goal of what we are aiming for in our walk with the Lord.

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, October 17

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:1-6)

Have you ever received good news?  How did you react?  Did you unwittingly keep it to yourself?  Or did your smile immediately give away your joy?  How many times were you willing to recount the back story?

Just as with other forms of good news, we have the privilege of receiving and sharing the Gospel message.  It centers on the good news that God has given us the opportunity to receive eternal life through the ransom paid by Jesus Christ.  While our sin had trapped us and separated us from God, Jesus gave His life so that we might be set free.

Also, Paul emphasizes here that we may pray for anyone, including kings and all those in authority.  Underlying this idea, Paul implies that God's power and authority extends to every person.  We have substantial evidence from the Old Testament Scriptures to confirm these realities.  Reflecting on these statements underscores the confidence we may have in God's concern, from the great and mighty to the lowly and humble.

With whom would you like to share the good news of the Gospel?  For which rulers or authorities could you pray?

Lord God, thank You for showing us Your sovereignty, both in this call to prayer and in the now-revealed mystery of the Gospel.  Give us opportunity to share Your truth with others.  Please direct the hearts of our leaders to seek You and to follow Your Word.  Bring peace in our hearts, in our city, and in our nation.  In Jesus's mighty Name, amen.

Sept. 16

1 Timothy 1:15-16

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:  Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life".

Here we have it, the gospel summed up in two sentences. We're sinners and Jesus came to save us. Paul considered himself the worst of the worst when it came to being a sinner. I'm not so sure about that. It's not up to any of us to judge who is the "worst", sin is sin and we're all included. What I think Paul might have been trying to convey is that if God had patience for him, then God has patience for anyone, and that includes you and me. David captures it well in verse 5 of today's Psalm, "You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you". The message is so simple. There's forgiveness at the cross, all we have to do is call on God. This might not change the immediate here and now, but it certainly changes the destiny of our souls. While living a life in Christ is filled with mystery, the message of love and salvation remains simple. I pray someone we will be able to share this with someone today.

Blessings,

Randi

October 12: Of Jeremiah and the Anti-Prosperity Gospel

Jeremiah 19:1-21:14

1 Thessalonians 5:4-28

Psalm 82:1-8

Proverbs 25:9-10

The prosperity gospel : a belief which can be summarized as "God wants you to have a lot of money." It isn't new - one of its earliest proponents in 1915 is reported to have preached "I say you ought to be rich; you have no right to be poor."

Small wonder, then: while the average congregation size on Sundays is 75 participants, and a megachurch begins at 2,000 participants, some prosperity churches are much bigger.  One, whose pastor urged the congregation to buy him a $65 million private jet, has 15,000.  The most prominent proponent, based in Texas, has 52,000.

How different from Jeremiah.  His wasn't his own message of wealth, it was God's message of woe.  "Hear the word of the Lord…I am going to bring disaster on this place…for they have forsaken me and made this a place of foreign gods….".  And he preached it at great personal cost: the priest in charge of the Lord's temple had him beaten and put in stocks.  Jeremiah himself acknowledges the price he has paid - "So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long."

Why did Jeremiah do it?  Because it was God's word, however unpopular.  Because he knew God's word did not change to conform to the people's wishes.  Because he knew God wanted people to aspire to Him, not to earthly things.  Paul says as much in today's reading from Thessalonians.  He calls us to "be awake and sober" to God's truth, "putting on…the hope of salvation as a helmet".  Salvation - not financial prosperity.  

The prosperity gospel is simply yet another sin against the first commandment.  However well intentioned - "Why shouldn't we want a comfortable life?" it's proponents ask - it puts wealth above God, and violates the command "thou shalt have no other gods before Me."  And it isn't the only example of well intentioned sin in churches today.  There are many that conflate loving the sinner with accepting various sins. 

How are we to respond?  Thankfully, again, we have Paul's guidance.  He tells us to acknowledge those "who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you."  Despite the despair we might feel at the propagation of this thinking, Paul calls us to "rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances" because this is God's will.  And he calls on us not to "treat prophecies with contempt, but to test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil."

I might add that when we "reject every kind of evil", we should be prepared to receive the same treatment Jeremiah and Paul received.  We see it today, in the contempt so many have for believers in what they call an "ancient, out of date book" and "fairytales".  We see it today in the lawsuits filed against those who believe in the order of God's creation.  And we see it today in the opposition, sometimes the violence, visited upon those who believe in the sanctity of life, however young.  

Father, when we are tempted by the world's enticements, defend us, and give us the strength to cleave to You and Your word, whatever the earthly cost.  Through it all, help us to pray, to give thanks, and to rejoice.  

Oct 11

October 11, 2019

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12  Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

This seems like an oxymoron: ambition…. quiet life. Usually ambitious people are loud and pushy. Eugene Peterson translates this phrase with two words: "stay calm."  We the people of faith make it a goal to "stay calm" in life.  The world's way is splashy, self-centered, pulling your own strings and looking for ways to stand out. We have a choice in pathways, our choice makes for dramatic end results. "Work with hands" for the most part, the Greeks despised manual labor. Most of the work was done by slaves. Paul of course, was a tentmaker; and he was careful to set the example of hard work.  

Unfortunately, some of the new believers in the church misunderstood the doctrine of Christ's return and gave up their jobs in order to wait for his coming. So, they walked up to the mountain top, unfolded their Coleman chairs, sipped their lemonade and sprayed mosquito repellent on as they waited. This meant when they came down from the mountain top, they didn't have jobs. Subsequently they lost their testimony with unbelievers.  

Work is a blessing from God.  Work is not a curse. God gave Adam work to do in paradise. It is the toil and sweat of work that belongs to the curse and not the work itself.  Find your passion and get paid doing it.  The goal is to be a good testimony to the people in our community. Pay your bills and don't gossip or be a busybody, don't meddle in the affairs of others.

Pretty straight forward guidance from the Lord.

 

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, October 10

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019

"But Timothy has just now to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love.  He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.  Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.  For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.  How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?  Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith." (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10)

How do you react upon hearing good news from or about your friends and family?  It brings a smile to your heart, right?  You might even experience a warm sensation of tenderness and an immediate closeness with the person being discussed.

Paul expresses similar emotions upon receiving Timothy's encouraging report about the faithfulness and loving nature of the Thessalonian believers.  From Acts, we understand that Paul had spent approximately three weeks in Thessalonica, having encountered heavy persecution that drove him from town.  Now, Paul is figuratively returned to his friends, rejoicing in God's presence because of them.  Paul celebrates their faith and love, having mentioned in Chapter 1 that their faith had rung out throughout Macedonia and Achaia as an example to others.

Paul's tenderness towards the Thessalonians imitated that of a father and mother (Chapter 2).  Having poured out his life for these brothers and sisters, he may rejoice in their healthy faith.

Reading through Paul's letters, we recognize that he viewed his life as an investment:  a drink offering to be poured out for the sake of the Gospel and the glory of God.  Deploying his investment proved costly for Paul, leading to persecution and other physical hardships.  Nonetheless, he found his satisfaction in knowing "to live is Christ."

How are you investing your life?  As we go before the Lord during our 40 days of frontline prayer, how is God speaking to you about your calling and purpose?  How could you invest your life differently in this 40-day period and beyond?  The rewards of such an investment could be changed lives, healing for broken hearts, and greater glory for the One Who deserves it all.

Lord God, thank You for giving us relationships with others and opportunities to share our lives.  Help us to invest our time and lives in people and Your Word.  Give us courage to organize our life's priorities according to Your Word.  Give us great joy as we see others flourishing under Your care.  We celebrate the life You have given us in Your Son, in Whose Name we pray.  Amen.

October 9

Jeremiah 14

In this passage, Jeremiah gets a word from the Lord about a "drought", which, by definition, is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water. As I was reading this I started to think that a drought can be both physical and spiritual. In the passage, Jeremiah is giving us a picture of Judah's situation. The people have "turned away", a term used for, drifting, defection or backsliding. Those words stung a bit as I read them.  A physical drought where there is no water for a long period of time is totally out of our control, but what about a spiritual drought?  What about those times in our lives when we can unintentionally cause our own spiritual drought and begin to drift?  I doubt any of us wake up in the morning with this being our intention, and just like people in Judah, we "didn't see it coming", but it can happen. Remember, we are not fighting a physical battle as much as we are in a spiritual one and sometimes we are led into places not of our choosing. So what happens when we wake up late and miss our prayer time? What happens when are finances are tight and we don't tithe, or the week got really busy and we didn't have a chance to read? As we go through the next 40 day Frontline Prayer series, I pray for our all of us that we breakthrough whatever barriers we have that are keeping us from hearing God's voice. I pray for revival in our hearts, and a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit to take us out of any drought we might find ourselves in. I pray for spiritual and emotional healing. I pray that God touches the hearts of  those who have walked away and their spirits are awakened to the grace and redemption found only at the cross. I pray that the Lord guards our eyes, our hearts, and our minds from any distractions that might lead us astray.  I pray on this day of Yom Kippur, (the Day of Atonement), God's covering of Shalom over our families and that hearts are reset and renewed, and we grow deeper in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. I will be fasting through the Frontline Prayer series. Please e mail me if you would like me to pray for you, it would be a privilege to go before the Lord on your behalf.

Blessings,

Randi

October 5: Of Jeremiah, Josiah and Today’s Asherah Poles

Jeremiah 4:19-6:15

Colossians 1:18-2:7

Psalm 77:1-20

Proverbs 24:23-25

Jeremiah started to preach a message of God's anger during the middle of Josiah's reign.  When I read that, I was surprised.  How to reconcile "Oh, my anguish, my anguish!  I writhe in pain.  Oh, the agony of my heart!" with the reign of Josiah, who reminded Israel of God's words and deeds, and led her in repentance?  In 2 Chronicles 34:33, we see Josiah "removed all the detestable idols…and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God."  Why then the prophecy of suffering and exile?

Perhaps it was because God knew man was incapable of sinlessness.  True enough, while "as long as [Josiah] lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their fathers."  But when Josiah died, Jehoahaz took over, and he "did evil in the eyes of the Lord", as did his son Jehoiakim, and Jehoiachin and Zedekiah after him.  And as the leaders went, so did the people.   This is why Jeremiah called it a "horrible and shocking thing", that the "prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and [God's] people love it this way."

This is why, though Paul was in prison, had suffered much and suffered long, and believed he was close to the end of his life, he continued to "strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me", why he continued to work so hard at ministry for the Colossians, "for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally."

Is what we see today so very different from what God saw during Jeremiah's time?  We see priests and pastors substituting earthly acceptance for Godly repentance, preaching earthly wealth instead of eternal joy.  You read the words of priests who demand we accept not just the sinner, but their sins as well; you hear the words of pastors who preach that God wants us to be financially wealthy today, but disregard the spiritual wealth of eternity.  

In the face of such an earthly onslaught, it was difficult enough for me to recognize, to begin to realize, who God is.  It remains difficult for me to live according to that realization.  Things have only gotten worse; how much more difficult must it be for our children today?  And how much more difficult will it be for our grandchildren?  

Father, we look at today's worldl, and like the psalmist, cry out to You for help, for You to hear us.  We seek You, for we are in distress over the world and what it preaches.  We consecrate the next generations into your care, and beg You to give us the strength You gave Paul, so that we might continue to contend against all the earthly influences, from wherever they might come, so that like the Israelites under Josiah, we might set aside our asherah poles and remain with You. 

Thursday, October 3

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2019


"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:4-9)


In these "final exhortations," Paul imparts some tremendous wisdom on experiencing joy and peace. If you look closely at the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22,23, it quickly becomes apparent that we cannot produce the fruit ourselves. Paul's letter to the Philippians mentions joy many times, including the call to "Rejoice!" We also find Paul's thoughts on finding peace -- both through prayer and godly thought, centered on "noble" things.

How may we rejoice during difficult moments? Paul makes it clear that joy comes from recognizing God's presence and trusting Him through those moments. Knowing that we are not alone, we find confidence to walk with God through troubling situations. We may rejoice in His lovingkindness and sticking with us. How could you rejoice today?

Furthermore, Paul urges "prayer and petition" and godly thoughts as sources of peace. Peace again cannot come solely from within; rather, God grants us peace as we trust in Him and thankfully welcome His presence. This peace also serves as a great witness for God's love and care for us. We find peace in anchoring our heart in trusting God. We preserve and strengthen this peace through submitting our minds to noble thoughts.

As we observe every day, this world is deeply troubled. We may rejoice in knowing that God desires and provides for our peace and joy. We experiencing these realities by turning to Him and embracing His sovereignty.

What noble thoughts could you consider today? How about the beauty of God's creation in the fall? How about the tremendous provision He has given us through friends and family?


Lord God, thank You for sending Your Son so that we might find ultimate peace with You. Bring joy and peace into our lives in increasing measure, both for our benefit and as an opportunity to show Your love to a watching world. We love You and honor You today. In Jesus's Name, amen.


________________________________________________________________________
596 Glenbrook Road, Unit 13 | "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection
Stamford, CT 06906-1423 | and the life. He who believes in me will
(C) 203.820.1741 | live, even though he dies; and whoever
(H) 203.355.9374 | lives and believes in me will never die.
(E) swe@edwa.info | Do you believe this?'" -- John 11:25,26

October 4

Colossians 1

Do some critical thinking with me this morning. What is the most affluent and prosperous nation on the earth? Let's even open this to the entire history of planet earth. What society of people has had the most benefits, greatest medical care, greatest access to food, clothes, sanitary living conditions, employment opportunities, political freedom, religious freedom, education, running water, recreation, and leisure time in the history of planet earth?   In what historical epic did these people live?  What location? If you guessed right here in the USA, right now, you are correct.

Yet, in the midst of this prosperity, what most characterizes our culture? We are people who are given to complaining and whining.  It is so easy for us to focus on all the things that are wrong and end up in the junk yard of complaining and ungratefulness.

The apostle made his first note of thanksgiving to be people. He thanked God for their faith and love for all the saints. He saw the good qualities in these people. Do you think these people had problems?  Idiosyncrasies? Blemishes? Conflicts? Shortcomings? Blindspots? Of course, they did. There were plenty of broken people in this church. But Paul was thankful for the roses and not the focusing on the thorns.

So, let's all play detective today and find something rose-like in every person we meet. Then tell them, "I want to thank you for…."  It may take a little detective work, but it will be worth the effort. It will change them and you.

 

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Blog post October 2nd

Blog Post October 2nd

Isaiah 66:1-24

Philippians 3:4-21

Psalm 74:1-23

Proverbs 24:15-16

Getting to know Christ

Have you ever felt like where do I come from? or I want to learn more about our family history.

We often spend time referring to  the past. Our credentials, credits and successes and they can often can be the main topic of conversations. After Paul had considered everything he had accomplished in his life. He wrote it all off when he compared it with the greatness of knowing Christ. We should value our relationship with Christ more important than anything else. To know Christ should be ultimate goal. How do we get to know Christ better?

We can start off by studying the life of Christ in the Gospels, See how Christ lived and responded to people. As you worship and pray let the Holy Spirit remind you of Christs words, learn from Christs suffering. To do these things we must make changes to our lifestyle and thinking. Are you willing to change your values in order to know Christ better? Will you fix or rearrange your crowded schedule in order to set aside a few minutes each day for prayer and bible study? Will you change some of your goals and plans in order to conform with what you learn about Christ? Whatever  we must change or give up, having Christ and becoming one with him will be more than worth the sacrifice.

We see in Psalm, Gods anger against Israel had grown due to the many years of sin and idolatry. If you fall into sin and quickly seek Gods forgiveness, His mercy may come quickly and his anger may leave quickly. Let us not be self sufficient and proud in our own journey in life but humble ourselves and have a profound reverence for Gods messages.

 I myself want to learn more of the history of Christ and what better way to gain this knowledge is by reading the word. Today in my Political science class the discussion of separation of Church and state came up, I was shocked to see just how many people are trying to erase God from traditions in our public life. We must do what we can to maintain a Christian influence  and not become discouraged when others appear to make great strides in eliminating all traces of God- they cannot eliminate his presence among believers.