Camping In Colossians

 

     Camping in Colossians has been good for me this week. If you remember, we started on Monday by setting our hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things. Not easy. How do we move our minds and hearts above and beyond what we deal with, what our bodies are feeling, what the next crisis might be and focus on God?

     Let’s move into another of my favorite books and chapters for just a minute to answer the question above.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petitions, with thanksgiving make your needs known to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

     Two of my go-to verses when anxiety creeps in yet again. Notice the formula Paul sets out for us. Don’t worry. Give everything to God. Thank Him in advance for the work He will do to meet your needs. Having done that, His peace will wash over us. And our hearts and minds?  God will guard them with His mighty power. I am ready to give it all to Him. Everything.

     Let’s end with one last verse from our camping trip.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17

     Yes, give it all to Him with thanksgiving!  Happy camping!

Lord,

We love You and thank You for Your word that sustains us and answers all of our needs. Guard our hearts and our minds as we give it all to You.

Amen

Camping in Colossians

 

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  Colossians 3:13-16

     Whew! We certainly need to camp here for a time. That’s a lot to take in. Yesterday we were clothed in kindness, humility, compassion and patience. Today we add forgiveness and peace. Did you notice what the Bible says to put on over all of these virtues? Yep, there it is again…love. Love binds them all together.

     And be thankful. I am thankful to God for so many things. I have been richly blessed in my life.  Wrap yourself first in God’s great love and then go share it with someone else. Share it with compassion and kindness, with humility and patience. And be thankful.

Dear Lord,

Every good and perfect gift is from above. We are thankful for Jesus and His ability to treat us with His great love and compassion.  We are dearly loved.

Amen

Camping in Colossians

 

     We have been gazing up and peeking through the stars right into the presence of Jesus. Our heavenly home is secure. What do we wear and how do we act as we continue to represent our Lord? Paul gives us an idea.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

     I don’t know about you, but all of these attributes are often the opposite of mine, especially the patience. How do we clothe ourselves with kindness, compassion, humility, gentleness and patience? Look back to our verse for today.

“…dearly loved.”  That’s you. That’s me. We are chosen and dearly loved by our Creator. Accepting His love and forgiveness means everything. You are dearly loved. Clothe yourself with that thought today. Wrap up in the warmth of the love of God and clothe yourself with all He has freely given.

Dear Father,

The full meaning of these beautiful words doesn’t always sink in. Your kind of love is beyond our capacity to understand, but with it we can move mountains.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Camping In Colossians

 

     Still looking up and focusing on things above? I hope so. Spiritually speaking, we will be alive forever. These old bodies will waste away, but our eternal bodies never will. Because we are united with Christ in His death, so too, are we alive with Him in His resurrection. Our earth-bound bodies and minds find this so hard to comprehend.

     God, the Father, sees only the righteousness of Christ when He sees us. As believers, The image of Christ stands in place of our sin and unrighteousness. Our names are written in heaven. We are seated with Christ forever. Feel the confidence of what this means. This puts our short lives into perspective, doesn’t it? Pitch your tent and camp there for a while.

For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:3-4

Jesus,

We have the kingdom of heaven available to us. You have given us great treasure. It is hard to accept all of these heavenly riches. Since we have been given the kingdom, we need to share it with others. There is more than enough to go around.

Amen

Camping In Colossians

 

     We all have a favorite verse, a favorite chapter or Psalm, or a favorite book within the Bible. I want us to camp out in one of mine; the 3^rd chapter of Colossians this week. Paul’s letters to the churches are full of wisdom and guidance through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit on how to live our lives.

     Pull up a chair next to the fire. Smell the woodsy, crisp air. Savor the melded flavors of the chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker combination. Listen to the sounds of the evening and as your senses begin to take in the atmosphere around you, tilt your head and look up. Appreciate the stars and the one that spoke them into being.

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.  Colossians 3:1-2

     Notice the first verse says to “set” our hearts and the 2^nd verse says to “set” our minds on things above. As you gaze up at the stars, look beyond to the right hand of God. That’s where we are spiritually seated through Jesus. It doesn’t mean we are no earthly good. We just have a heavenly perspective from setting our hearts and minds on Him. Looking up keeps us in our place, in humble service to  and in awe of our magnificent God.

Father,

Teach us to fix our gaze on You, to determinedly set our hearts and minds on things above each and every day, understanding Your sovereignty over all things. Things above. Where Christ dwells beyond all we see, hear, touch, smell , taste and experience on earth.

Amen

Forever and Ever

 

     As we walk, run, stumble and crawl throughout our earthly lives, we need God through the days, through the seasons, through the sleepless nights, often relying on His grace minute by minute. He is there, always. Getting through the days without Him, would be impossible for me, even more and more as I age. His promises have held true, time and time again.

The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid and do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

Listen to His voice as He goes before you. Do not be discouraged and do not be afraid. He is watching over you now, tonight, tomorrow and forever.

The Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:8

     He is preparing a place for you. He knows the number of our days. He has overcome death for us! Take heart and believe in Him and His promises.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many rooms. If that were not so, would I have told you I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming back and will take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3

     Minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, night by night, year by year, decade by decade, season after season, closer and closer to home. He is preparing the perfect place for you and for me.

Father,

We wait with expectation for Your imminent return. There are days we long to be with You. Keep us steadfast, patient and working until we see you face-to-face. Forever and ever.

Amen

Into Old Age

 

     At a block party years ago, a young boy about 5, looked at an elderly neighbor and said, “You got old, didn’t you?”  She took the words well and smiled at him and said, “Well, yes, I sure did!”

     Not everyone will reach a ripe, old age. We all dream of living a healthy life into our 90’s and dying in our sleep. It doesn’t usually happen that way. For those of us who will reach old age as believers, God will continue to watch over us. He even loves our gray hair.

Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16”31

     A crown of splendor. Isn’t that great? If we are blessed enough to live into old age, God promises to watch over us.

Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He. I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4

     How do we remain strong and bear good fruit into old age. I believe the following verses will give us instruction and promise.

But whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on the law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1;2-3

     Staying strong, bearing fruit in the last season of life comes from delighting ourselves in the Word of God. His instructions are life-giving with streams of living water to quench our thirst, to give us renewed strength, to keep giving glory to God. May many of us be blessed with old age.

Lord,

We praise You for the older men and women of faith, planted like living trees among us, teaching us great wisdom in following You. Keep us firmly rooted in the vine of life. It is Jesus.

Amen