Enjoy Fellowship

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7

We are to fellowship with other Christians.  This means, though we may have some different interpretations of the Bible, we agree that our sins are forgiven by Jesus, and we are all entitled to all the blessings of salvation, and an afterlife in heaven.

It does not matter if we are Catholic, Baptist, United Methodist or any of the myriad of other Christian denominations, the truth is God loves us all, and we therefore should love one another.  

Enjoy fellowship with one another

 

May Things Go Well With You

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

3 John 1:12

I don't know about you, but I try to pray for all my family members every day and I pray for their good health.  I also pray that they will be kind and know kindness, and be brave and fearless knowing the right thing to do and doing it.   

Is that a lot to ask from God?  Yes.  But I know that God is interested in all our lives and that we can boldly ask for the things we think others need.

I pray for you that things will go well for you and that you will be in good health. 

 

Righteous Indignation

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

James 1:19-20

For some of us, like me, we are quick to fire off our mouth when we hear something or see something we do not like.  We can get angry quickly and, sometimes this gets us in trouble.  It may cost us friendships when a disagreement escalates. 

Knowing we are inclined to do this requires some extra effort on our part to remain silent and think before we speak. 

It is about recognizing that the righteous indignation of man does not product the righteousness of God.

Angels Watching Over You

For He will give His angels charge concerning you,

To guard you in all your ways.

They will bear you up in their hands,

That you do not strike your foot against a stone.

Psalm 91:11-12

Remember this, God is on your side and His angels watch over you.  

Get Lit Up

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus does not speak passive words to us; He speaks words that call us to action.

Jesus challenges us to live in a way which demonstrates our Christian beliefs by doing what is good and right. It is easy to sit by and complain about the state of the world, it is more difficult to get up and do something. When we help people we demonstrate God’s love. We may think we are only saying encouraging words or feeding a few poor people and debate what difference our actions make. But the truth is when we step out in faith and do something, we unleash the love of God upon the world.

Light up your light so all may see God.

God Is Waiting For You

 

"Come now, and let us reason together,”

Says the Lord,

“Though your sins are as scarlet,

They will be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They will be like wool.”

Isaiah 1:18

God desires for us to come to Him.  He is not the one to judge us, but the one to forgive us.  None of us are beyond the forgiveness of God.

 God is waiting for you, run to Him.

We Are God's Sons and Daughters

 

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God….

Romans 8: 14-16

When ask Jesus to be our Lord, Master and Savior, we are ushered into the family of God. God sent Jesus to rescue us from our sinful ways and to restore us to our right relationship with Him – that of His children. We are full partakers in God’s love and generosity.

We are not mere associates of God; we are His sons and daughters.

Be A Stepping Stone

 

So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or stumbling block in a brother’s way.

Romans 14:12-13

Sometimes new Christians and even old Christians make poor choices.  Rather than criticize or belittle people for their actions, we are to gently help them find a way to do better.  

We are called to be a stepping stone, not a stumbling block for other Christians.

Wisdom Is Our For The Asking

 

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5

Did you ever notice that some of the most unlikely people seem to consistently make good decisions? How can that be?

I think this scripture answers that question. We do not have to be rocket scientists to make wise decisions. Wisdom is the ability to understand and evaluate the options and act in accordance with the best one. The best one may not be our favorite one, but the best one will produce good results, and isn’t that what we want in life?

God did not create us to stumble through life. He created us to be victorious and that is why when we ask He will give us wisdom.

Not As Bad As You Think

For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ, we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.

To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

1 Corinthians 4:9-13

So, you think you are having a bad day? The Apostle Paul gives us a glimpse of what every day was like for the apostles. Yes, they had their church friends, but they also had a world full of enemies who killed all of them except John the Beloved.

What does this teach us? It teaches us that it is not always easy to be a Christian and to act in a Christ like manner. It teaches us that even when we do what is right, there will be people who will criticize and torment us for doing the right thing.

And, heaven knows, should we do something wrong, there will be people who know nothing of the forgiveness of God, who will yell at us and spread the word of our shortcomings.

So, all this stuff happens; so what. We know our faith rests in God and that we are called by God to do His work. Therefore, we keep on working for God and sharing the Gospel.

If Paul and the apostles did it, we can too

We Are Here For Each Other

 

Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

When we have big problems, we help each other along. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are there to pray with us, encourage us and to help us.

We should not be timid about asking for help and we should not be timid about extending help. It is what we do for one another.

There is no burden which is too heavy to bear when others help us carry it.

Curl Up With The Good Book

All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

One of the ways we get to know God is by reading the Bible. I understand that reading the Bible can be a difficult; however, there are modern versions of the Bible, which make the Bible more readable. I would suggest the Contemporary English Version (CEV) Bible or the Modern English Version (MEV) Bible to get a jump start reading and that you start with the Book of John, since it is full of the grace of God.

Get reading and get equipped for every good work.

Look To God

"...We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You."

2 Chronicles 20:12

One of the powerful things about prayer is that it opens us up to direction from God.  

When we don't know what to do, He shows us the way.  

Roughed Up

 

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10

How do we respond when we are roughed up for no reason at all?  Or for being a Christian?  

The Apostle Paul was no stranger to this kind of treatment and he said he was content.  Content?  What does that mean we are just supposed to take it?  I think so, because often saying something does nothing but to stir the pot and encourage our tormentors.  

The end result is that those who are watching will see our strength.  And, when we are asked how we stand it, we can say, "My strength is in knowing God will take care of me." 

Be strong.

God Loves Us

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God.

We have come to know and believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in the world.

We love, because He first loved us.

1 John 4:15-17, 19

No matter what happens in life, God loves us. He does not love us because we are good. He loves us because He is good.

God’s love is unconditional and does not vary because of our success or failure. God sees each one of us as belonging to Him and loves us just as we are. When we realize this truth, it shakes us to the core and produces in us an amazing reaction.

We love, because He first loved us.

Get Over Past Sin

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Just as God through Jesus let go of all the judgement and wrath that He stored up for us in our sinful state, we need to let go of judging one another based upon our past ungodly behaviors and celebrate the new beings we have become.

When Jesus saved us, He created for us a future of which He is the center in which His words and teaching guide us so that we can share in fellowship with Him and share with others the love of God through service in His name.

Pick Your Battles

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Romans 12:18

I think this means that sometimes we need to keep our mouths shut. If we disagree with what someone is doing or how someone is doing something, and it is something that does not matter, we should keep quiet and maintain the peace.

There are plenty of worthy battles. You will know them when you see them. Save your fight for those.

Yes Means Yes

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either my heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

James 5:12

A good reason to always speak the truth is that you never have to remember what you said. We don’t have to say any more and we don’t have to defend the truth, because it is what it is and nothing can change it.

Redeemed? Act Like It

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Ephesians 5:1-2

Let the redeemed of God act like it.

Everybody Is Doing, Is A Reason Not To Do It

Beloved do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God, the one who does evil has not seen God.

3 John 1:11

As children when we wanted to do something that our parents did not think was a good idea we all heard them say, “If everybody is jumping off a bridge, are you going to do it too?” They wanted us to understand that “everybody’s doing it” might be a good reason not to do it.

God does not want us to be led astray by people who do not have our best interests in mind. God wants us to think before we act and do what is right. It is never the wrong time to walk away from evil.

God wants us to do good.

Salvation Is For Everyone

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Romans 1:16-17

The early Christians had a magnificent revelation from God that salvation through Jesus was for everyone. Jesus, the Messiah, did not come as a political leader as the Jews expected, but as a spiritual leader who broke the barrier of sin which separated man from God.

The power of the Gospel is that through Jesus, God extends His forgiveness and love to everyone. No one is too good or too bad. We are all candidates for forgiveness.

All we have to do is ask Jesus to come into our lives, forgive us and to declare Jesus to be our Lord, Master and Savior and we are forgiven.

When we have faith, God does the rest.

 

Help People Help

He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need.

Ephesians 4:28

Every day the Church faces the dilemma of how best to serve new Christians who have criminal pasts. One way is to help them get a jobs so they can earn money to live and support their families. This is no easy task, but by forming job clubs and recruiting employers who are willing to give those who want to change their lives an opportunity to do so, the Church can minster to those who are often under-served by the Church.

And, enable those helped to help others who are in need.

He Mends Broken Hearts

Praise the Lord!

For it is good to sing praises to our God;

For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;

He gathers the outcasts of Israel.

He heals the brokenhearted

And binds up their wounds.

He counts the number of the stars;

He gives names to all of them.

Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;

His understanding is infinite.

Psalm 147:1-5

Be Thankful

 

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

When stuff is going wrong, remember to be thankful for all the things that are going right.

 

Waiting Around

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:8-9

This we cannot escape, God is patient and deliberate in His actions.  Therefore, when we trust God we need to exercise patience and trust what God is doing is for the best.

Relax and trust God.

God Know Where He Is Going

Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.”

They said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?”

And He said to them, “When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters. And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there.”

And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

Luke 22:7-13

I am in the midst of having a spiritual ah-ha moment. I have been highly agitated the last few days because somethings have not been going in what I consider to be the right way or even in a way that most normal people would consider to be within the boundaries of not the best, but O.K. I am angry that God allows for people to do stupid things which impact innocent people. I must confess I been doing some serious yelling at God.

Then I am reading this scripture about the preparations for what we know as the Last Supper – which is perhaps one of the biggest events chronicled in the Bible. The Disciples did not spend weeks on the telephone booking a venue; they did what Jesus told them to do and everything was just as He said it would be.

I am thinking that I need to make less of the circumstances of the moment and trust God that the final outcome will be a greater testimony to the power of God than if everything was done the way that I consider to be the right way.

Follow the man with the water jug, because God knows where He is going.

It Is Not Over

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Romans 11:29

We all know someone who has fell away from God. There are famous people and there are ordinary people who for some earthly reason, walk away from God. And, we may be the one of them.

But God does not let us just walk away, He stands, ready and waiting for us because He has called us and He has plans for us, and although we may think our ministry is over, with God nothing is ever over. Those who God calls are His and He will not relinquish them.

If you are standing at a distance from God, come back to Him. He is waiting. His gifts and call for you are irrevocable. God has work for you to do.

Snatched From The Fire

And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.

Jude 1:22-23

Several years ago, I ran into a friend who proceeded to tell me about his new found faith. The more I listened the more I realized that he was being manipulated by a cult. He had shreds of truth, but the bulk of what he said was far outside the truth of Christianity.

I felt panicky about what I should say. I said the first thing that popped into my head; I said, “Hey, why don’t you come to the church I go to on Sunday?”

At first he balked, but then he agreed to come. The next Sunday, he and his family came to church and he and his wife accepted Jesus as their Lord, Master and Savior. Over the next few weeks they discovered that they were not judged by their past mistakes, but were accepted and loved as part of the church family.

This is the mercy we are to have; mercy that extends the love of God and the truth of the Gospel to everyone.

Be brave; snatch someone out of the fire.

Hope Brings Joy And Peace

 

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

We must not loose hope.  Our faith in God brings us the knowledge that no matter what God is on our side.  When we trust in God, we can rest assured that He is working for us.

And, we will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  

 

Things Will Get Better

 

And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him. Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.”

Mark 11:22-24

Jesus tells there is hope.  Nothing is beyond God's power. We pray and God hears us and answers us. 

Never give up.

Things will get better.