For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19
A couple of weeks ago we had what we called a Family Sunday. We stepped out of the comfort of our usual order of service for an interactive time of prayer, games, and fellowship. Our goal was to build relationship, unity, and teamwork in the family unit and in our larger church family unit. In this day and age, the importance of the family has been devalued. The Biblical precedent of passing down wisdom and knowledge has largely been lost in our culture. We are called to step into that role and be a family unit that is supportive and a blessing to each other.
We’re all related. We all share in the same riches, grace, love and blessings and are all anchored in the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We’re filled and continuing to be filled by the Holy Spirit with the fullness of God. We are so rich! But all of these blessings transpire in the middle of God’s family. The is where we all belong , we are all needed, and we are all valued. We are God’s keys to unlocking the Kingdom for those we serve. Praise God for His grace. As we sow into future generations, we’ll see everything of God’s kingdom released and growing.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Colossians 3:15-16
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:15-16.
Peace is a choice. Worry, fear, and unrest come because we choose not to believe God. He hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind. He can be trusted and has your best interests on His mind and heart. When we choose to believe Him, His character, His Word, and His promises are yes and amen to us. As we grow in grace, we also grow in thanksgiving and appreciation for His body of believers. This heart of thanksgiving and peace reflects the heart of God. Let’s choose to believe Him. As we do, let’s watch the peace of God rule in our hearts.
Peace is a choice. Worry, fear, and unrest come because we choose not to believe God. He hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind. He can be trusted and has your best interests on His mind and heart. When we choose to believe Him, His character, His Word, and His promises are yes and amen to us. As we grow in grace, we also grow in thanksgiving and appreciation for His body of believers. This heart of thanksgiving and peace reflects the heart of God. Let’s choose to believe Him. As we do, let’s watch the peace of God rule in our hearts.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Genesis 2:7
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.” Genesis 2:7, 18, 21-23
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel.
Genesis 4:1-2
These verses are about the first family. If you read on you’ll find that in this family is where the act of murder comes on the Biblical scene. Family can be a difficult thing, or it can be a joyful, refreshing part of life. There’s nothing like a family for giving joy and laughter and there’s nothing like it for inflicting pain. The devil hates family and works to destroy it wherever possible. But God’s purpose for family is that within it He would be honored and loved. There’s just no way to comprehend God’s design for family unless we truly know Jesus and His Word. I’m not talking about who does what work within the home, I’m talking about honoring God and His Word in our hearts so that what He has purposed for us is embraced. God’s plan is to heal, and that means healing for our families as well. Once we begin to live out His purposes for us, we will begin to see His purposes realized within our homes and families.
Today we choose to celebrate family - both our individual family units and our church family. God designed the church family to be a mirror to individual family units. We are to be bonded together, loving, supporting and helping each other, but most of all rejoicing in the presence of God and enjoying fellowship with each other. Let’s embrace His wholeness and allow His love to pour through us to one another so that we all would be bonded, joined and functional in a way that would cause the world to know Him and us to rejoice in Him.
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel.
Genesis 4:1-2
These verses are about the first family. If you read on you’ll find that in this family is where the act of murder comes on the Biblical scene. Family can be a difficult thing, or it can be a joyful, refreshing part of life. There’s nothing like a family for giving joy and laughter and there’s nothing like it for inflicting pain. The devil hates family and works to destroy it wherever possible. But God’s purpose for family is that within it He would be honored and loved. There’s just no way to comprehend God’s design for family unless we truly know Jesus and His Word. I’m not talking about who does what work within the home, I’m talking about honoring God and His Word in our hearts so that what He has purposed for us is embraced. God’s plan is to heal, and that means healing for our families as well. Once we begin to live out His purposes for us, we will begin to see His purposes realized within our homes and families.
Today we choose to celebrate family - both our individual family units and our church family. God designed the church family to be a mirror to individual family units. We are to be bonded together, loving, supporting and helping each other, but most of all rejoicing in the presence of God and enjoying fellowship with each other. Let’s embrace His wholeness and allow His love to pour through us to one another so that we all would be bonded, joined and functional in a way that would cause the world to know Him and us to rejoice in Him.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
1 Timothy 2:1-5
Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-5
Praying for our leaders is a directive from the Word. We need to pray for those who are in authority over us. It doesn’t matter what our party affiliation is or if we agree with the politics of the person, we still need to pray for them. In fact, it isn’t just about what our authorities will gain or lose if we pray, God assures us that there’s something in it for us as well. When we pray for our authorities, we reap a life of peace, godliness, and reverence. God approves of our prayers and He loves thanksgiving in all men. Let’s be a united body of believer and pray for our president. Let’s pray that he’ll have a close and intimate walk with God, through His Son, Jesus Christ. And let’s pray that he’ll make Godly decisions, that he would be open to Godly council, and that the enemy would have no influence over him.
We also need to be praying for each other. We need the church to be a real, living body of believers. We know that God wants us to touch the world as Jesus did and through Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we can. But, as the scripture says, first comes supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks. As we live out this directive, let’s rejoice in the Lord and know that God loves answering prayers that are in accordance with His heart. Let’s pray for the nation, pray for the church, and believe for a great and powerful release of God’s abiding and transforming presence.
Praying for our leaders is a directive from the Word. We need to pray for those who are in authority over us. It doesn’t matter what our party affiliation is or if we agree with the politics of the person, we still need to pray for them. In fact, it isn’t just about what our authorities will gain or lose if we pray, God assures us that there’s something in it for us as well. When we pray for our authorities, we reap a life of peace, godliness, and reverence. God approves of our prayers and He loves thanksgiving in all men. Let’s be a united body of believer and pray for our president. Let’s pray that he’ll have a close and intimate walk with God, through His Son, Jesus Christ. And let’s pray that he’ll make Godly decisions, that he would be open to Godly council, and that the enemy would have no influence over him.
We also need to be praying for each other. We need the church to be a real, living body of believers. We know that God wants us to touch the world as Jesus did and through Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we can. But, as the scripture says, first comes supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks. As we live out this directive, let’s rejoice in the Lord and know that God loves answering prayers that are in accordance with His heart. Let’s pray for the nation, pray for the church, and believe for a great and powerful release of God’s abiding and transforming presence.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
John 15:11-14
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:11-14
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart. 1 Peter 1:22
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 1 John 4:12
When we’re born again and embrace our salvation, we receive resurrection power and life. When we’re forgiven, we have the joy and privilege of forgiving those who have wronged us also. How could we keep a record of wrongs when we know that God has forgiven us for so much? When we practice forgiveness we open up our hearts so that we can love like Jesus does. We can be God’s heart, hands, and mouth extended to those who are His creation.
It’s amazing to me how simple the Word really is. There is always a very simple answer with our Father; it’s us who complicate things. We can sometimes stretch and twist God’s Word or argue with it when our flesh cries fowl. If we can die to our desire to have it our way, give up the need to have all the answers, be willing to sacrifice a bit of ourselves, then God’s Word is so simple. We can love others the way Jesus loves us. Let’s ask God for a greater infilling of the Holy Spirit so we can love others. Let’s forget the things that are behind us and press toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus, rejoicing that we belong to our Savior and we are His love extended to a world that needs Him.
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart. 1 Peter 1:22
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 1 John 4:12
When we’re born again and embrace our salvation, we receive resurrection power and life. When we’re forgiven, we have the joy and privilege of forgiving those who have wronged us also. How could we keep a record of wrongs when we know that God has forgiven us for so much? When we practice forgiveness we open up our hearts so that we can love like Jesus does. We can be God’s heart, hands, and mouth extended to those who are His creation.
It’s amazing to me how simple the Word really is. There is always a very simple answer with our Father; it’s us who complicate things. We can sometimes stretch and twist God’s Word or argue with it when our flesh cries fowl. If we can die to our desire to have it our way, give up the need to have all the answers, be willing to sacrifice a bit of ourselves, then God’s Word is so simple. We can love others the way Jesus loves us. Let’s ask God for a greater infilling of the Holy Spirit so we can love others. Let’s forget the things that are behind us and press toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus, rejoicing that we belong to our Savior and we are His love extended to a world that needs Him.
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