Category: Colossians

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Standing On Solid Rock

It’s interesting to look back. Yesterday I was in the hot tub with our oldest daughter Kim and two of her friends. I was telling them about when we first got our hot tub. It was four years ago on December 26.

So why am I using an image of a rock pile this morning? I’m glad you asked. Talking about that reminded me it was only a few days after the hot tub was in that we took delivery of 20 tons of rock. We then spread it across our front and back yards. I’m not sure how anyone else would relocate and spread 20 tons of rock but we did it by filling the wheelbarrow, literally hundreds of times, dumping it and then leveling it with a rake. It was one of the hardest physical project I have ever done.

It took days!

When we are going through things like this, things that try our patience and our stamina , we sometimes loose sight of the big picture. We are tempted to complain, take short cuts and quit. But if we persevere, if we continue to labor on, the rewards are great!

The same holds true for our spiritual lives. God has chosen to do a work in us and He won’t quit, He won’t give up until He has accomplished what He set out to do.

“And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy. 5 This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it. 6 God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:4-6 CEV

This is the good work that God is doing in our lives.

“God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. 13 Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. 14 Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together.

15 Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.” Colossians 3:12-15 CEV

These verses from God’s word are the foundation that we should be building our lives on. Jesus said that His word was the solid bedrock for our existence and that when we are built on His word we will be able to stand secure in life’s storms.

“Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. 25 Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on solid rock.” Matthew 7:24-25 CEV

When God makes us a promise it will last forever. God cannot lie and once He has given His spoken Word he doesn’t change.

“God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. 19 This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls.” Hebrews 6:18-19 CEV

Let me take you back to that 20 tons of rock that we had delivered. Before it was brought in, our yards were a mess after every rain. The soil in our area is clay based and so it makes a very sticky mud. It’s almost impossible to wash it off your shoes when you walk through it. However, once the rock was spread over it that has no longer been a problem. We have sure footing even in the heaviest monsoons of the year.

“I love you, Lord God,  and you make me strong. 2 You are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector,  the rock where I am safe, my shield, my powerful weapon, and my place of shelter. 3 I praise you, Lord! I prayed, and you rescued me from my enemies.” Psalm 18:1-3 CEV

Take time to look back today. What areas have been a sticky mess for you? Let God’s word be your rock, claim His promises which last forever, and stand firm in the storms.

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Pondering Christmas

This morning I’m sitting alone and enjoying the thoughts of Christmases past. Remembering times when the kids and grandkids were little. It’s a blessing of life to remember.

Very soon the tree and all the decorations will come down but the memories will remain. In the last few days we have visited with the kids and grandkids on the phone, learned of presents that were opened, traded texts and emails with those we love and then saw on social media the pictures that so many have shared.

With a heart filled with love, I began to think of Mary. Everyone of you mothers can remember what it was like to wake up the day after one of your children were born. Going over and over in your heart the emotions of the day, those that came to visit and once again holding that tiny child in your arms – counting every finger and toe.

What do you imagine must have been going through Mary’s heart that morning after Christ’s birth? She’s in a stable, with a man who has shown her unconditional love and she has a child in her arms who is God’s gift to mankind. How blessed – how in awe!

“And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:16-19

All through the night hours my thoughts have been filled with what Christ has done for me! I was unworthy of God’s love. I have done nothing to deserve His mercy and His grace. That’s what makes it so amazing!

Mary must have had these same thoughts. What did I do to deserve God’s favor; why was I chosen to birth the Messiah? It was all by God’s grace – giving to us the goodness of His love that we can’t earn and don’t deserve.

“But God is rich in mercy, and he loved us very much. 5 We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against him. But he gave us new life together with Christ. (You have been saved by God’s grace.) 6 Yes, it is because we are a part of Christ Jesus that God raised us from death and seated us together with him in the heavenly places. 7 God did this so that his kindness to us who belong to Christ Jesus would clearly show for all time to come the amazing richness of his grace.

8 I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. 9 You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about. 10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.” Ephesians 2:4-10 ERV

We are the recipients of a wonderful gift; the gift of God’s grace. That gift came to us in the form of a baby, Jesus Christ. God did this to show His kindness to all who are in the world. This gift is available to all.

My life, the blessings and all the good that is in it, is because of God’s love for me. It’s almost beyond words. I am overwhelmed by His goodness.

“When you became a Christian, you were set free from the sinful things of the world. This was not done by human hands. You were set free from the sins of your old self by what was done in Christ’s body. 12 When you were baptized, you were buried as Christ was buried. When you were raised up in baptism, you were raised as Christ was raised. You were raised to a new life by putting your trust in God. It was God Who raised Jesus from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins, you were not set free from the sinful things of the world. But God forgave your sins and gave you new life through Christ. 14 We had broken the Law many ways. Those sins were held against us by the Law. That Law had writings which said we were sinners. But now He has destroyed that writing by nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:11-14 NLV

These are the things that I dwell on each day. God’s goodness and love!

What will you “ponder” in your heart today? Is Christmas over and now it’s on with the daily routine or will you take time today to be thankful that Christmas has life-changing, glorious meaning for every day of the year?

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Life in a Fish Bowl

I love going to aquariums. Places like Sea World and the Monterey Aquarium fascinate me and I could spend hours there, moving from one aquarium to the next.

I even enjoy going to BassPro or Cabela’s and seeing the large tanks that they have in the center of their stores. It’s fascinating to watch the fish in a near-natural environment.

But what if the fish, looking out, became discontented with its environment. What if it decided it didn’t want to be cloistered and became jealous of those strange-looking creatures on the other side who could walk on two legs and could come and go as they please.

Sounds like a good plot for a Disney movie, right?

There is real truth to be found here at the aquarium. In the giant tank the temperature is right for optimal growth and comfort. The water pH is balanced which keeps micro-organisms from breeding too quickly or too slowly. Although contained, aquarium life provides the maximum benefit for each creature in its ecosphere. To attempt life outside of this housing would certainly mean death.

The same premise holds true for those of us on the outside of the glass enclosure. For us to attain a life of aquatic liberty would be disastrous. Our lungs are not equipped to extract oxygen from the water nor is our skin adapted for a continued exposure to it.  We were created for a different purpose.

I am amazed at how often some judge our lives as Christians as too confining, restrictive and limited. Some think that because we are Christians we aren’t allowed to have any fun or experience the fullness of life. Their judgement is that we are isolated and out of touch. However, that perspective is completely wrong. When we live our lives “in Christ” we are able to experience life at its optimal level.

“You must depend on Christ only, drawing life and strength from him. Just as you were taught the truth, continue to grow stronger in your understanding of it. And never stop giving thanks to God.

8 Be sure you are not led away by the teaching of those who have nothing worth saying and only plan to deceive you. That teaching is not from Christ. It is only human tradition and comes from the powers that influence this world. 9 I say this because all of God lives in Christ fully, even in his life on earth. 10 And because you belong to Christ you are complete, having everything you need. Christ is ruler over every other power and authority.” Colossians 2:7-10 ERV

There is no life that has greater fulfillment that the life that we have in Christ. In Christ, we have everything we need to live life to its fullest, much the same as the fish who live in the aquarium. I know that’s an inadequate comparison but I think you see my point.

When the Apostle Paul was preaching in Athens he noticed that they had built a shrine for “the unknown god”. This is what Paul said to them.

 “He is the God who made the whole world and everything in it. He is the Lord of the land and the sky. He does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 He is the one who gives people life, breath, and everything else they need. He does not need any help from them. He has everything he needs. 26 God began by making one man, and from him he made all the different people who live everywhere in the world. He decided exactly when and where they would live.

27 “God wanted people to look for him, and perhaps in searching all around for him, they would find him. But he is not far from any of us. 28 It is through him that we are able to live, to do what we do, and to be who we are. As your own poets have said, ‘We all come from him.’” Acts 17:24-28 ERV

Verse 28 is also translated to say “ For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” (KJV)

In Him we find our very existence; the reason and purpose for our lives. Our belief and adherence to God’s word isn’t restricting us; it’s giving us the ultimate expression of life!

In Christ we have a great, full, overflowing life!

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Tired & Cranky

You understand what I am saying here, tired and cranky? We all have those times when we just want to throw a fit and get away with it. Right?

Monday morning I received a text from our youngest daughter telling me that our little granddaughter had just cut 3 new teeth. My first response was “that explains her mood on Thanksgiving, she was hurting”.

We excuse some crankiness when children are little and don’t  know how to tell us what’s going on. But we should be giving them instruction that selfish actions aren’t right. The problem comes when we are teenagers or adults and we have these same outbreaks of self-centered frustration.

“Remember this: There are some terrible times coming in the last days. 2 People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud and boast about themselves. They will abuse others with insults. They will not obey their parents. They will be ungrateful and against all that is pleasing to God. 3 They will have no love for others and will refuse to forgive anyone. They will talk about others to hurt them and will have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 People will turn against their friends. They will do foolish things without thinking and will be so proud of themselves. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. 5 They will go on pretending to be devoted to God, but they will refuse to  let that “devotion” change the way they live. Stay away from these people!” II Timothy 3:1-5 ERV

These verses are a description of many of the attitudes and actions that are going on in society today. There’s an entitlement mentality that says I deserve it; I should have more and better things, not because I have worked hard or sacrificed but because I’m entitled to better.

I really wanted to be cranky yesterday. I did. I was tired, hadn’t slept much the night before and I “felt” that I deserved to be treated with more consideration. I wanted to be entitled. I was being selfish. I was thinking about me and what my needs were and what I wanted.

It only took a few minutes for the Lord to step in and correct me.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, keep looking for the good things of heaven. This is where Christ is seated on the right side of God. 2 Keep your minds thinking about things in heaven. Do not think about things on the earth. 3 You are dead to the things of this world. Your new life is now hidden in God through Christ.” Colossians 3:1-3 NLV

and

“ Whoever wants to be first must serve the rest of you like a slave. 28 Do as I did: The Son of Man did not come for people to serve him. He came to serve others and to give his life to save many people.” Matthew 20:27-28 ERV

Pity parties have a very small guest list; me, myself and I. When we look at Jesus and how he lived, keeping our minds focused on how things are done in heaven, we will see that we have been given a higher assignment. We are to be an example of self-control and self-sacrifice.

“ God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. 24 And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. 25 God’s Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit. ” Galatians 5:22-25 CEV

Probably no one else has to deal with keeping their feelings, emotions and thoughts in line but just in case you are like me I thought I would share this with you today.

Let’s live like the Apostle Paul said here in verse 25. Let’s follow the Spirit. Life will certainly be better.

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Grateful for What Knots

Last night Dave and I were watching a show on television and one of the family members said, “We will plant vegetables and what knots”.

I looked at Dave with a smile and said, “I don’t think I have ever seen a recipe for what knots. I wouldn’t know how to cook one.” We both laughed and I knew then that I had the topic for this morning’s blog.

This morning I searched the Scriptures and was unable to find a verse about what knots but I did find some about “whatever”.

“Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. 9 You know the teachings I gave you, and you know what you heard me say and saw me do. So follow my example. And God, who gives peace, will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9 CEV

These whatever’s are very good. They are true, pure, right, holy, friendly, proper, worthwhile and praise worthy. These what knots are our thoughts. Have you ever stopped to think about this? Every action we do and every word we speak starts with a thought.  We don’t just act or react spontaneously without thought; action is guided by thought. Words never just come tumbling out of our mouths, they are formed by thought.

If we want our what knots to be good our thoughts must be good.

Here is another whatever that Jesus gave us. It’s the whatever of answered prayer. Jesus was speaking to His disciples right before He was taken to be crucified. These are some of His final instructions.

“Ask me, and I will do whatever you ask. This way the Son will bring honor to the Father. 14 I will do whatever you ask me to do.” John 14:13-14 CEV

“You are sad now. I will see you again and then your hearts will be full of joy. No one can take your joy from you. 23 “When the time comes that you see Me again, you will ask Me no question. For sure, I tell you, My Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive. Then your joy will be full. ” John 16:22-24 NLV

Jesus says in one verse to “ask me” and in a verse a few chapters later “ask the Father in my name”. Before Jesus was crucified his disciples asked and received what they needed from Jesus and this brought honor to the Father. After He was crucified, we ask the Father for what we need based on what Jesus has done for us. Jesus had honored the Father with His sacrifice.

The result is the same in both these verses. Whatever we ask for we receive because of who Jesus is and what He has done.  Does that mean we can just ask for any selfish or rebellious what knot we want?

“We can come to God with no doubts. This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us), God cares about what we say. 15 He listens to us every time we ask him. So we know that he gives us whatever we ask from him.” I John 5:14-15 ERV

We can ask for whatever we know pleases God and have confidence that He will give it too us. If we’re not sure if something we are asking for pleases God, all we have to do is search it out in His word. God is honest and He tells us what is pleasing to Him. His word reveals His will to us.

“Let the teaching of Christ and His words keep on living in you. These make your lives rich and full of wisdom. Keep on teaching and helping each other. Sing the Songs of David and the church songs and the songs of heaven with hearts full of thanks to God. 17 Whatever you say or do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through the Lord Jesus.” Colossians 3:16-17 NLV

I hope you have enjoyed this brief search for some of the what knots of Scripture. They are good for us and we can use them to help others.

I am grateful for the whatever’s of God’s word.

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Wipe It Clean

If you’re my age or close to it, you will remember wiping the chalkboard clean when you were in school.

It was one thing to use the eraser to remove the Math problems or the sentences written for Grammar instruction but the real fun came at the end of the day when we got to use the teacher’s chamois to wipe the boards completely clean.

When I was a girl we sang this song in church, Calvary Covers It All. I was thinking about that song this morning. How thankful I am for Calvary!! Thankful that the blood of Jesus covers my sin!

In the Old Testament the priest would offer a lamb once a year for the forgiveness of sin. The priest would lay his hands on the head of the lamb, signifying a transfer of the sins of the people to the perfect lamb of sacrifice. And when this transfer was complete the Israelites could experience freedom and cleansing for another year. The blood of the lamb “covered” their sins but never completely blotted it out. Each year they would have to come again, offering another sacrifice, to receive their forgiveness.

“The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn’t the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices that are offered year after year. 2 If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. 3-4 But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next.” Hebrews 10:1-4 CEV

Jesus Christ is our lamb of sacrifice  and only had to be offered once for the forgiveness of sin! We, who have accepted that sacrifice don’t just have our sins covered but can rest knowing those sins are completely blotted out.

“You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God’s people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins. 14 God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. 15 There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.” Colossians 2:13-15 CEV

Now this is significant. If something is just covered, we could lift the covering and find what was being hidden. However, if it’s blotted out or wiped clean. There is nothing to be found.

I know it’s  crude to use the illustration of cleaning the chalkboard but it gives us a visual that we can all identity with.  The blood of Jesus is so much greater than a chamois eraser but I think you get the point.

“The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God’s right side, 13 and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. 14 By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God. Hebrews 10:11-14 CEV

We have been wiped clean by the blood of Jesus. There is no longer any evidence there to show our sin and failings. Jesus set us free forever. Let’s not  allow our mind or well-meaning people  to hold us captive to our past.

Jesus blood has wiped out and removed all trace of our sin. Hallelujah!

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What’s Humility Look Like

Have you been hurt or judged wrongfully? Have your good intentions been misunderstood?

I want to encourage you this morning.  Jesus was often misunderstood and ridiculed.

“think the same way that Christ Jesus thought: 6 Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain equal with God. Instead he gave up everything and became a slave, when he became like one of us. 8 Christ was humble. He obeyed God and even died on a cross. 9 Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored his name above all others.” Philippians 2:5-9 CEV

What does Humility look like? It looks like Jesus. He gave up all the glory of heaven and His place at the right hand of God the Father to come to earth. There was no room for pride in His life.

Jesus played with children, gave comfort to the grieving, befriended rough and burly fisherman, spent His time with lepers, lame, blind and societies outcasts. He never compromised His deity but He never lorded His position over those He was teaching.

The Apostle Paul gave this instruction to Christians in the early church.

“God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 13 Don’t be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:12-13 ERV

A humble person doesn’t need to be in the limelight. They help make others look good and feel elevated. A humble person is one who encourages others, someone who isn’t afraid to get in and help out where needed. They don’t need the praise of others, they do the right thing because it’s right.

“All of you young people should obey your elders. In fact, everyone should be humble toward everyone else. The Scriptures say, “God opposes proud people, but he helps everyone who is humble.” 6 Be humble in the presence of God’s mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes. 7 God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.” I Peter 5:5-7

A meek or humble person will be misunderstood and even be treated wrongly. Look at Jesus, he was despised and hated by the religious rulers of his day because He didn’t measure up to their ideals. He ate with sinners, showed compassion to harlots, healed on the Sabbath. In the face of their objections, He continued on.

Isn’t it better to be humble and know we are pleasing God than to measure up to all of societies ideals and expectations? Yes, it is. When our lifestyle reflects humility we may offend some, we may be passed over because we don’t have the “leadership” skills necessary. If that’s the case, so be it.

“ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10 NIV

I love that verse! The Lord will lift us up. Our loving Father will pick us up in His arms and give us a big hug. Or He’ll come in and wrap His arm around our shoulder and encourage us to continue on with what we’re doing. We’re acting like Him.

Thank  you Father for coming to our aid and taking our cares. We rely on you.

 

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Enriched Living

All this week I have been back to work on the book I am writing. It is filled with Scripture and each time I include another verse the Holy Spirit reminds me of the time that verse became a reality to me and not just words on a page.

I cannot begin to explain how choosing to live according to God’s word and His promises have enriched my life.

Some of you know me well and others only through these words on a page. I feel I need to say this, in case you have the idea that I never know struggles or disappointments. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It has been in those times that I have dug deeper into God’s word to find the answers I needed and the unshakable foundation that He has promised.

When the Word of God lives in our hearts we can give thanks to God in whatever we do. You see, if we have His word we have His wisdom, His strength, His power, His blessing.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Colossians 3:16-17

I am particularly drawn to the phrase in the verses above “dwell in you richly”. Over my lifetime I have stayed in many different hotel rooms. Anything from the Mom n Pop, small town motor courts to the luxury view rooms in large cities. And I’ve stayed in some real dumps, places you wanted to have someone standing guard at the door as you slept. I prefer to stay in the ones where I can dwell richly.

The beds are bigger, the pillows softer, the showers are heavenly and they are so spacious that I don’t trip over the furniture when I get up in the middle of the night. It’s nice.

That’s the atmosphere I want God to feel He has in my life. I don’t want Him to be forced to “dwell” in a life that pushes Him to the back room or the broom closet. I want Him to come in and feel welcomed. I want to roll out the red carpet and make Him the honored guest of my heart. I desire to give His word pre-eminence over everything and everyone.

I have folks ask me don’t you ever get down and I answer “yes, but it’s only when I have my eyes on myself”. If I am looking at God and His word, I see that He loved me before the foundation of the world; He sent His Son to die so that I will have a new & abundant life; He is ever-present to be my help and strength; He has blessed me with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places so how could I possibly be down? I have to give Him praise!

Jesus, who is The Word, said He came to give us a life overflowing. That’s the same picture that King David paints for us in Psalm 23 when he said “my cup runs over”.

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 AMPC

I am so blessed in my overflowing life; it’s luxurious to have overflowing love, joy, peace, strength and provision. I’m not being a greedy or materialistic; I have the heart of a grateful loving child. When we’re offered a wonderful gift, we accept it with a grateful and thankful heart. To do any less would be an insult to the gift giver.

Receive from our Father today. Let His word bring richness to us, heart and soul.

 

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Fully Persuaded

I’ve always been an optimist. Never really seen things 1/2 empty but have looked at the best in people and the situations that I find myself in.

I believe that God the Father and Jesus are the ultimate optimists! They see everyone through eyes of love; always thinking the best, always willing to forgive, always going the extra mile.

When we accept the sacrifice that Christ made as payment for our sins, they see us as new creatures in Christ – we are forgiven, sins blotted out and created in their image.

We are going to look at a few verses today and see the fullness that God has blessed us with. Relationship with God is not something that leaves us half empty.

“Be sure you are not led away by the teaching of those who have nothing worth saying and only plan to deceive you. That teaching is not from Christ. It is only human tradition and comes from the powers that influence this world. 9 I say this because all of God lives in Christ fully, even in his life on earth. 10 And because you belong to Christ you are complete, having everything you need. Christ is ruler over every other power and authority.” Colossians 2:8-10 ERV

Paul, who traveled the world telling people about Christ, had the same message everywhere he went. Without Christ we will never be good enough to win God’s favor. But when we accept that Christ became our substitute sacrifice, dying for our sins to restore us to relationship with the Father, we are made new. We have open access to the Father.

“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 18 God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.

19 What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace. 20 We were sent to speak for Christ, and God is begging you to listen to our message. We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God.” II Corinthians 5:17-20 CEV

Did you notice these words in the verses above; all, complete, everything, fully, and new? God doesn’t help us with part of our new life and leave us to flounder and do the best we can. No, it’s by His wonderful, loving-kindness (grace) that we are saved. We can’t do it on our own.

“I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. 9 You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about. 10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10 ERV

The Apostle Paul spent a lot of his time praying for the Christians in the different areas that he went to. Those prayers were recorded in the Bible so that we can also pray them and profit from them.

“I want you to know that I am trying very hard to help you. And I am trying to help those in Laodicea and others who have never seen me. 2 I want them to be strengthened and joined together with love and to have the full confidence that comes from understanding. I want them to know completely the secret truth that God has made known. That truth is Christ himself. 3 In him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are kept safe.” Colossians 2:1-3 ERV

There are those words again – full, completely, all, confidence. I hope you are being as encouraged as I am in reading that God has provided for us, through Christ, all that we need.

“And we have a great priest who rules the house of God. 22 Sprinkled with the blood of Christ, our hearts have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. So come near to God with a sincere heart, full of confidence because of our faith in Christ. 23 We must hold on to the hope we have, never hesitating to tell people about it. We can trust God to do what he promised.” Hebrews 10:21-23

We CAN trust God to do what He’s promised he would. He’s never lied and He never will.

I know this is a simplistic illustration but how many of us have  helped our children or grandchildren learn to ride a bike? They were wobbly, uncertain, they don’t want us to let go. So we ran beside the bike, all the time telling them “you can do it, you’ve got this”. We were instilling confidence.

God, our Father, does the same. He repeats these precepts time and again, building our confidence. He has given us everything we need to live this life in victory. He sees us as He saw Christ, complete in Him.

Fully persuaded, full of confidence, full of faith, full of hope – letting God live fully in us!

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Never Alone

“Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.”

The above is a quote from Helen Keller referring to companionship.

However, we have a promise from the Lord that we never walk alone, not in the dark of night or the light of day.

Thank you Lord that You walk with us each and every day through all circumstances. When God is with us we have light.

“Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take.” Psalm 119:105 CEV

Have you ever been where it’s really dark? The stars are obscured, no street lights, no flashlight, no cell phone glow – real darkness. If you have then you know that one little light, the weakest flicker can seem like a spotlight.

Dave and I used to start out on our road trips very early in the morning, long before the sun came up. The headlights would illuminate the road in front of us but not what was off to the sides. It was important that we stay on the path.

One morning driving through Texas, we could see off in the distance a faint light. Of course, the closer it came the brighter it got. At one point it was a bit alarming because it appeared to be coming right at us. It was! At what seemed to be the last minute, the light turned and passed us on the right.  It was a train, the tracks ran parallel with the road. Our headlights weren’t bright enough to show us the train tracks but they did show us the road ahead was clear.

Trust the light!

“Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.” John 8:12 CEV

God’s word and His promise to never leave us or abandon us will light up the darkest of nights. Yes, light will dispel darkness. God’s word will mark our path with clarity.

Not only does He walk each step with us, He will give us wisdom in each situation when we ask. Are you asking? When our natural minds seem at a loss, He knows the answers.

“If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. 6 But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm.” James 1:5-6 CEV

Ask and listen for His voice. Then follow through with the instruction he gives. He will NEVER lead us astray.

Everything we do, everything we say can and should bring Him glory.

“Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him.” Colossians 3:17 CEV

Day or night we are never alone when we follow the Lord. We will always walk in the light.

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