The Fullness of God

     God sees us at home in heaven. We are written in His book of life. Our temporary, earthly existence is our opportunity to bring glory to Jesus. Living or dying for this purpose makes everything worthwhile.

If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:8

     What comfort this offers us! We belong to Jesus. He is holding you right this very minute, in His Almighty hand, with His unfailing love. He is faithful and kind, slow to anger. He abides with us.

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies. Psalm 36:5

But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15

Jesus,

Your love and faithfulness will abide with us through life and death unto eternity. We praise You for Your unfailing love and for the way you meet our daily needs.

Amen

See you right back here on Tuesday, July 7^th! Enjoy these summer days.

The Fullness of God

     Jesus is able and willing to fill the gaps in your wounded soul. He will be the absentee parent. He is called the bridegroom. He binds up our wounds, not with a band-aid, but with full and complete healing from the inside out. He is sufficient. Rely on Him, rather than the things of the world or even another person, to fill you to the brim until you overflow with His love, peace, joy, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness and self-control (see Galatians 5:22)

And God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  2 Corinthians 9:8

Lord,

You do bless us abundantly, meeting our every need. You know us more intimately than we know ourselves. Sustain us with the full measure of Your love.

In Jesus name,

Amen

  

The Fullness of God

    Having faith and putting Christ in charge of our lives takes complete trust and a letting go. As we pray for guidance and for His will, we will find ourselves living in more and more peace and joy. Look for a sense of God’s peace when you need to make a tough decision. Watch for a confirmation in hearing a familiar Scripture or in the kind word of a Christian friend. God works in a myriad of ways to show us His way. He has full access to everything in creation. His authority and power are available to us through His Son, Jesus and through His shed blood on the cross.

He is before all things and in Him all things hold together. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:17, 19-20

Jesus,

You gave us Your righteousness by paying the price for us. You give us access to heaven and freedom to become Your children. We step into that peace and joy as we give you control. Guide our lives and help us to live according to Your perfect will.

Amen

The Fullness of God

     God has full power and authority over all things. Imagine what Christ has given us! The fullness of God through Him is available to us when we believe. Our faith in Him is all we need.

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. Colossians 2:9-10

     As you read through the following Words, remember all you have available to you out of His riches. You are strengthened with His love and power. Christ dwells within you! Let Him meet your needs. May you be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Receive this prayer for you from the Holy Scriptures:

I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith and I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! A

The Fullness of God

     Christ was given all things by God. In Christ we have everything we need. The fullness of God. Let Christ fill you with every good gift today. Where you are empty He will fill you with His grace.

Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. John 1:16

For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him.  Colossians 1:19

     Jesus will never run out of exactly what we need. Run to Him for more grace. He gives us grace upon grace abundantly. And it is sufficient to get us through this day.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Jesus,

Fill us with Your grace. It is sufficient for us today and everyday. Give us the fullness of that grace today. Let it rest on us in our weakness.

Amen

Hidden in Christ

     Did you know our Father in heaven sees Christ when He looks at you? Once we have believed in the birth, death, burial and resurrection of Christ, we are dead in our sin and we are hidden in Christ. Can we avoid the pitfalls of following our flesh and continue to live in the Spirit? Paul gives us a guide on how to do just that.

Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  Colossians 3:1-3

     Our eternal, forever home, is just a breath away. Don’t get too caught up in the things of this earth. They are temporary. We have already died and have been raised in Christ. God no longer sees our sin, but Christ in us. Give glory to Him today, by listening and walking with the Spirit. Keep your minds and hearts on things above.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

Jesus,

We set our heart on You today, on things above. Keep us in step with the Spirit. Keep us from falling into temptation and protect us from the evil around us.

Amen

al>     Jesus found you and called you. He will never let go.

Amen

     The dictates of the flesh often bring about suffering. 

Be Prepared

     Following the dictates of the flesh often brings about suffering. The alcoholic hits rock bottom. The thief sits behind bars. The greedy and powerful lose their position. The busy and bustling find themselves laid up with sickness or a broken bone. And the fear, the regrets, the loss, the silence bring about deep questions. Is there a God? Where is He? And many times, that is just where God meets us.

     God knows beforehand where we will be and He will provide the people and the Words to heal. We will have opportunities to answer some of those deep questions. Be prepared and watchful.

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord, always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.  1 Peter 3;15

      Jesus does the work. He knows each of us better than we know ourselves. He understands our motivation, our moods, our mistakes and our minds. He will give us what we need.

Jesus,

As we revere You above all else, You will guide us to show compassion and love to the hurting world around us. Let our suffering and the suffering of others be redeemed by Your unfailing love. Bring meaning and blessing from our trials.

Amen

Press On!

     The Apostle Paul wrote most of the New Testament. The Words inspired by the Holy Spirit give us great wisdom and understanding. Paul writes about this battle between flesh and Spirit. Do you see yourself in these words?

                                                                                       

For I do not do the good I want to do, but the eveil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing.  Romans 7:19

     We just can’t figure it out on our own. Paul gives us motivation to continue on with Christ.

Thanks be to God, who delievers me through Jesus Christ-our Lord! Romans 7:25a

     Jesus never gives up on us. Feeling down and out? He will pick you up. He will turn you around. Lift up your eyes to heaven, our true home and press on!

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at the goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12

     Jesus found you and called you. He will never let go.

Amen

     The dictates of the flesh often bring about suffering. 

Flesh vs. Spirit

     My flesh is crying out this morning, a bump on the head after a vase hit me when rearranging furniture. A few hours later my back cried out with a burning tear after pulling some weeds. Perfect timing this week as we look at the battle between the flesh and the Spirit. The Holy Spirit within us battles against our own flesh. I can sure relate. Can you? I often think or say or do the wrong thing, even when I know it’s wrong before a word comes out of my mouth.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:16-17

     Remember the word “Holy” before the Spirit of God. His work will mold us into a Godly image. Will there always be a battle to fight? I’m afraid so. Each of us has our own weaknesses and desires apart from God and Satan is aware of each and every one of them. But walking with the Spirit brings about hope and joy and peace. Look for and expect the Spirit to let you know when you are heading for danger. Heed the warning. He always wants the very best life for us. I think I will rest the flesh today and look in the Words of the Spirit.

Father,

We want to listen to you rather than our own selfish needs and desires. You will lead us in the path of righteousness. Your Son Jesus, will keep us safe if we listen. Let Your Spirit lead us completely today.

Amen

A Sound Mind

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18

     The Bible gives instruction and power for our lives. If only we would heed the advice and listen to the warnings. Being a baby boomer, I have seen the destructive consequences of over-indulgence in alcohol; car accidents, loss of relationship and even death.

     Some translations of the verse above say, “too much wine,” or “in excess.” We know Jesus turned the water into wine. It was His first miracle and it was at a wedding celebration. In the Psalms, David reminds us that wine, “gladdens the heart.” The Spirit guides and teaches and if we put God first, He will be our focal point, above any substance or lust. Let’s be filled with the Spirit of the Lord. Paul tells us the type of Spirit we have at our disposal.

For the Spirit God gave us is not one of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

     The Spirit gives us His love. He gives us His power. And He gives us a sound mind, a self-disciplined mind. He doesn’t want us out of control, killing those precious brain cells He has given us. The lusts of our flesh that make us feel good and powerful can often lead us down the wrong path. Ask the Spirit to keep you strong and filled, so there is room for nothing destructive. We only have this very short life to live. Pray for those we love suffering from addictions of any kind for their healing and for hope.

Jesus,We see the repercussions of abuse in all of its forms. Help those we love to be filled with Your powerful, loving and disciplined Spirit.

Amen

In All Things

     Light, love, power, joy and peace. Those attributes belong to us through the Spirit that Christ gives to His believers. Fill up on His love today and feel His light wash over You. If you are going through a dark time of suffering whether physically, emotionally, relationally or financially, His light can penetrate. Even a tiny glimpse of light in a dark cave brings hope and comfort. Allow Him to bring that to You today. He loves You enough to die for you.

     If this is a time of comfort and happiness, praise Him for health and wellness, for loving relationships, for food and shelter, for the breath of life. Let His peace and joy indwell you through the good times and the hard times and everything in between. Getting to know Him will allow you to trust Him in all things. He gives us the power to persist through it all. And we know the end of the story. Glory and love forevermore.  He gives us all we need.

He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all-how will He not also along with Him, graciously give us all things?

Father,

You did not spare Your own Son, and You have given Jesus all things to share with us. I pray for us to be willing to rest in Your care, no matter where we are today, no matter our worries or our suffering. We place it all in Your capable hands.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Spirit Provides

     Stop for a minute today and ask yourself what you would tell others about Jesus? What has He done for you? How would you share a testimony? As you think about an answer to those questions, think about everything the Bible promises us about the Holy Spirit when we become believers. He is with you every minute of every day. If you have some time, read through the following verses and take in the presence of the Spirit. He will give us the words and actions we need when we need them.

The Holy Spirit first:

Convicts: John 16:8

Seals: Ephesians 1:13-14

Testifies: Romans 8:16

Creates: John 3:5  2 Corinthians 5:17

And the Spirit continues His work in us (Philippians 1:6) with:

Strengthening power: Ephesians 3:16

Teaching and Counseling: John 14:26

His truth: John 14:16-17

Intercession: Romans 8:26-27

Gifts: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4

And brings forth and grows the fruit: Galatians 5:22

     Feel the Holy Spirit’s comfort and intercession for you as He teaches and guides you into all truth. He will provide what we need every single day. Jesus is enough. He gives us all things.

Jesus,

We praise You for the work of the Holy Spirit. Help us to listen for Your voice through Him today and please comfort and strengthen those in need on this day.

Amdn

Ever Brighter

     We have seen the Holy Spirit’s role in pointing to and glorifying Jesus. As the Holy Spirit within us continues His work in us, our image become more and more like Christ. It is a miraculous and, sometimes, painstakingly slow process! You may notice a check in your spirit after an angry word, or a compassionate heart for someone you used to despise. You find youself with a new hunger to read the Bible. The slow progress is not our work but God’s work in us. Let that give you freedom. And let the following words encourage you as you live out the rest of your life. We are only getting closer to true life, not death.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces, contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  2 Corinthians 3:17-18

     Let that inner glory shine today, remembering it will be on the increase as we age. I look forward to that. I pray these words will take away any fear of aging. Our inner life will grow ever brighter as we get closer to the full glory of God.

Jesus,

You tell us You are the light of the world, and as Your body in the earth, we reflect that glory. Show us how. Continue Your transforming work in each of us as we await Your coming.

Amen

  

Glorifying Jesus

     Jesus explained the purpose of His Holy Spirit:     

But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own. He will speak only what He hears and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me, because it is from me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you.  John 16:13-15

     Never forget. As believers, the Holy Spirit lives in us and dwells with us. In these Words from Christ to us, we witness all that we have been given. The Spirit will guide us into all truth. He speaks what He hears from Jesus. He glorifies Christ in all He does through us. He makes known to us everything that belongs to our Father in heaven.

     Our bodies may fade away, but the Spirit brings life. One day our bodies will be redeemed into bodies that will last forever. Our spirits will never die. They will transition on the day we meet Jesus face-to-face. In the meantime, the Spirit sanctifies us to become more and more like the One we glorify.

Father,

The Triune God is impossibly more than we can imagine. Father, Son and Holy Spirit make up the One true God. Help us to glorify the Son, the One who redeemed us.

In His name we pray,

Amen

Pointing to Jesus

      Charles Spurgeon said, “It is the Chief office of the Holy Spirit to glorify Christ.” Get to know Jesus through His Word and through prayer and through other Christians and allow the Holy Spirit to pour out the love of Christ as you walk through life.

     Jesus finished the work on the cross. It is done. The Bible is complete.  The Bible gives us instruction for everything we need.

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 3:16-17

     The Word points to Christ. The Holy Spirit points to Christ. Since the Holy Spirit resides within us, our lives should point to Him, too.

Father,

Thank You for the Word and the Holy Spirit. They both point to Your Son, Jesus. Let our lives point to Him.

Amen

Faith Comes By Hearing

     Over the past two weeks we have looked at some of the verses God uses to share the Gospel, the Good News available to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We will end with one of my favorites. It is a basic, simple-to-understand, synopsis of the Gospel message.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

     It can’t be stated more clearly and simply than that! Speak your faith in the Lord Jesus, believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. That’s it? That’s it. You will be saved.

     We stress over it. We make it more complicated. We try to work our way into heaven. We state, “But I’m a good person.” All of us fall short of the glory of God. Every single one of us. But while we were yet sinners, Jesus came to earth. Call on His name. Believe it in your heart. And join the family of faith in Christ. You are heaven bound!

Jesus,

Your name is above all other names. The name of Jesus is to be honored and praised. We worship You today for all You have done for us. We pray for those who do not understand Your sacrificial love. Help us to represent You with honor and integrity.

Amen

Faith Comes By Hearning

     When we accept Christ as our Savior and believe in His death, burial and resurrection, we are sealed forever. Hearing the Gospel and believing for the first time is the greatest gift anyone can receive! Take this verse to heart. You are sealed with the Spirit of the living God.

And you were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13

     You are marked with a permanent seal, etched on your heart. Let this news take away your fear of death and give you comfort. You are an heir of heaven, a child of God, You have been washed clean and stand firm in the righteousness of Christ. Peter will tell us about our inheritance.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.  1 Peter 2:9

Jesus,

We are included in You as we hear the Word and believe. We are marked forever. Thank You for Your saving grace and mercy.

Amen

Faith Comes By Hearing

     The verses we will look at today are some of the most straightforward Gospel verses in the Bible. Paul tells us:

                                                                                                  

For what I received, I passed n to you as of first importance, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:3-6

     Early church historians, some of them not Christian or Jewish have written about Jesus. He showed Himself to more than 500 witnesses after His resurrection, including the disciples. It is no wonder that the same followers who ran away at the cross were transformed into preaching His Gospel with boldness and urgency.

     Ten of the original twelve disciples were martyred for their faith. John lived to be an old man and wrote the final Revelation of Christ when he was in his nineties. The Bible has proven to be completely true. The eye witnesses of His death and resurrection were chosen to write the New Testament.

     The life and death and resurrection of Christ is the Good News. Pass it on. Jesus changes everything.

Jesus,

Your story is the greatest story ever told. It is non-fiction, bigger than life, God made in the image of man, glory steps into time as a baby in a manger; a sinless life given up, forsaking the glories of heaven to humble Himself as a servant. We look to Your return in all of Your heavenly glory when every eye will see and bow down before You.

Amen

Faith Comes By Hearing

     Jesus did not retaliate. He could have commanded 10,000 angels to come to His rescue. He entrusted Himself to God’s will. Can we do the same? God Himself knows the number of our days. He knows what we will say before one word is spoken. (see Psalm 139) Trust Him with the rest of your days. Surrender to the One with no sin, the one who died for you. He gives peace and life and hope and eternity.

     Our world is moving steadily away from Him. He asks us to reach out. Trust Him with the words to speak. Trust Him to give you loving words to the unlovable. Saving one soul would make our life worth living. If you know Him, share the Gospel with others. Show them a different life, a new way, a life of peace and joy. Trust Him.

Jesus,

You gave Yourself totally to the will of God and you suffered the agony of our sins. You gave everything, even though there was no sin in You. The verses that plant the seeds of the Gospel are meant to be shared. Teach us how and when to do just that. Take away our fear and show us.

Amen

Faith Comes by Hearing

     If faith comes through hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, we need to be aware of the Gospel verses. I love reading through them time and again, never tiring of the message that saves. The finished work of the cross. Jesus offers eternal life to everyone and so many will turn away. Let’s continue this week with more of the message of the Gospel. I love these next verses. Paul is writing to one of the leaders of the church and to all of us.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

     Some verses are packed with so much Holy Spirit power, we need to sit and soak them in. There is absolutely nothing; no hard labor, no duty served, no self-sacrificing good deed can bring us eternal life. It is only through the kindness and love of God through Jesus and His death, burial and resurrection. His love was poured out for us generously on that cross, and through Him we are washed clean, renewed and reborn in the Spirit.

     Quite the exchange. Death for life. Judgment for forgiveness. Lost to found. We have become heirs to the kingdom of heaven.

     I’ll take life with Christ. How about you? Spread the Word.

Jesus,

These beautiful Words give us renewed minds and spirits as we remember Your everlasting gift of life. We praise You and thank You for what You have done.

Amen