1 Thessalonians

Pursuing a life of Purpose (1 Thessalonians 4-5)

9:00 PM


This year is almost coming to an end and I believe it’s time for us to take the time to slow down a bit and meditate in how many ways we’ve been blessed by our Heavenly Father throughout this ending year.

So many people become so busy thinking about the celebration of the holyday season: the food, the gifts and decorations. The commercial advertisements are continually trying to convince us we need to buy more to make this season special. So many people live these days in busyness and anxiety. Trying to be “Merry” according to family or cultural traditions, but we could easily fall in the trap and forget the “reason for the season”!  Paul encourages us (the Church) to focus on what truly glorifies the Lord:

“Finally, believers, we ask and admonish you in the Lord Jesus, that you follow the instruction that you received from us about how you ought to walk and please God (just as you are actually doing) and that you excel even more and more [pursuing a life of purpose and living in a way that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]” (4:1) (Emphasis mine)
“9 Now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write you, for you have been [personally] taught by God to love one another [that is, to have an unselfish concern for others and to do things for their benefit]…. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, that you excel [in this matter] more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to live 
quietly and peacefully,” (4:9, 11a)


-To excel more and more: this means that Christian maturity is never finished on this side of eternity. No matter how far a Christian has come in love and holiness, they can still abound more and more.

-We need to live a quiet and peaceful life so that we can really take the time and give the attention to listen to God and get to know Him better. We need to live not only for our time in this world, but prepared for eternity (4:13-18).

Paul is calling us to be awake, sober, and watchful: “So then let us not sleep [in spiritual indifference] as the rest [of the world does], but let us keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled, calm, and wise]. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we [believers] belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope and confident assurance of salvation. (5: 6-8 AMP)

Paul used in this verse the image of a soldier's armor to illustrate the idea of watchfulness. A soldier is a good example of someone who must watch and be sober, and he is equipped to do that with his armor. Isn’t that awesome?

-Putting on the breastplate (to protect our heart) of faith and love, and as a helmet (to protect our mind) the hope of salvation. “We need the spiritual armour, or the three Christian graces, faith, love, and hope. Faith; if we believe that the eye of God is always upon us, that there is another world to prepare for, we shall see reason to watch and be sober.” M.Henry

By taking Paul’s following instructions we will be not only sober and alert, but live with joy:

“Rejoice always and delight in your faith; 17 be unceasing and persistent in prayer; 18 in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” (5:16-18)

Not only rejoicing in happy situations, but in sorrows also. Paul reminds us to rejoice always because our joy isn't based in our circumstances, but in God. Circumstances change, but our God doesn't! “Laying our concerns at our Lord’s feet with thanksgiving, reminds us that someone greater than us is concerned about what we are going through.” (iWorship Bible)

I encourage you to continue these final weeks of 2018 putting on “your armor” and with an attitude of thanksgiving. Here are some quotes on gratitude:

"When joy and prayer are married their first born child is gratitude." (Spurgeon)

"It is not joy that makes us grateful, it is gratitude that makes us joyful." *

"Small seeds of gratitude will provide a harvest of hope." *

"Gratitude is the best attitude." *

"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings. Turn routine jobs into joy. And change ordinary opportunities into blessings." —​ William Arthur Ward

"Today be thankful and think how rich you are. Your family is priceless, your time is gold and your health is wealth." *

"For each new morning with its light, for rest and shelter of night, for health and food, for love and friends, for everything thy goodness sends." —​ Ralph Waldo Emmerson

"Let our hearts be full of both thanks and giving." *

"Gratitude turns what we have into enough."  *

"I'm thankful for so many things, but mostly, God. Without him I'd have nothing else to be thankful for." — Unknown *

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice." — Meister Eckhart






1 Thessalonians 1-3

Nurturing New Believers (1 Thessalonians 1-3)

2:23 AM



Paul wasn’t just a preacher of the gospel who proclaimed the salvation of God and then casually moved on to the next town. Paul was a minister of the Gospel. He truly cared about nurturing the faith of new converts. This is very evident in his letter to new converts of the church of the Thessalonians. As we reach out to others to disciple them, we can learn a lot from the example of Paul’s letter. 

Paul was grateful and celebrated that others had become believers in Christ. He didn’t forget his new brothers and sisters in Christ but remembered them in his prayers. 
As he reflected upon the church in Thessalonia, he remembered these 3 important qualities they possessed. FAITH-HOPE-LOVE. 
Specifically, faith that was evident in their works, labor that was fueled by Christlike love, and hope in Christ that could endure. 
“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1:2-3)

Paul was confident that these new believers were not just responding to the words he had proclaimed but had actually been impacted authentically by the convicting power of the Spirit of God.  “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” (1:4-5)

Paul had set the example of standing up boldly for his belief in the midst of conflict and danger. He had taken risks because of his genuine concern for the souls who were in need of Jesus. 
“But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.”(2:2 )
He saw this same faith and courage in the new believers who also faced risk, trial and potential persecution. 
“And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,” (1:6)

Paul sets an example to us of how important it is when witnessing to others to be personable and genuine vs pushy and overbearing. We must take the time to get to know others and spend vested time and interest in them. 
“But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” (2:7-8)
God wants us to build others up vs tear them down. 
“we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. (2:12)

Each soul won for Christ was special to Paul. He realized the importance and significance of securing souls for eternity“ For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.” (2:19-20)

Paul was with the Thessalonians 3 weeks before conflict necessitated that he leave. He rejoiced in their genuine conversion but he was not satisfied without knowing that their faith was growing. He knew that Satan would target them just as he targets all Christians to wound and hinder their spiritual growth and strives to keep them from  being effective witnesses.  “For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.” (3:5)

How uplifting it was to Paul to learn that this young church continued to persevere in their faith and influence those around them. A seed planted was growing and thriving, empowered by God’s Spirit. “for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.” (3:7-8)

heart

Words By Roxanna ~ How to Refresh Your Mind, Heart and Soul

9:03 AM

The former televangelist, Jim Bakker, in his autobiography I Was Wrong, tells the story of his descent into ignominy, impoverishment and imprisonment. He lost his freedom, his sanity, his dignity, his confidence in his faith, and eventually even his wife. Inmate 07407-058, one-time confidant to presidents, had hit rock bottom.

At his very lowest point, a prison official came to him and said, ‘Billy Graham is here to see you!’ He thought, ‘Billy Graham has come here ... to this place ... to see me.’ When he walked into the room Billy Graham turned towards him and opened his arms wide.
He said at that moment he felt total acceptance and love. ‘I will never forget that the man who had just been voted one of the most influential men in the world and who has ministered to millions of people took time out of his busy schedule to come minister to one prisoner.’ He describes how in the midst of his depression, flu, filth and hopelessness, Billy Graham’s visit refreshed his heart and boosted his spirit. ‘I felt as though Jesus Himself had come to visit me.’
Refreshment means restoring strength, energy and vigor. A light snack is sometimes referred to as a ‘refreshment’. Physical refreshment can also come, for example, from sleep, rest, or exercise.
Paul tells Philemon that he has ‘refreshed the hearts of the saints’ (Philemon 7). Later on in the letter, Paul asks him to ‘refresh my heart in Christ’ (v.20). But how do we refresh our minds, hearts and souls?
Blessings Roxanna

Christ

Styling {Colossians 3-4}

8:00 PM



I couldn’t help but think back to my freshman year of high school when I read what Paul writes about here in chapter 3:
 “Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ. So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.”

Did you also find it strange that Paul is addressing our inward being like putting on clothing? We often judge others by what they’re wearing don’t we?

I flew home, after living for years in a third world country, only weeks before I began my freshmen year of high school. While living in this country, we only had the Sears catalog or the clothes our mothers made us to wear. Fashion wasn’t on anyone’s minds back then; we simply wore what we could find. Can you imagine then having to enter a school where fashion was the key to being accepted? You not only had to wear all the right name brand clothes, but you also needed all the right accessories!

My parents would only allow me to wear “dress slacks” once a week when everyone else was wearing jeans with patches! And the more patches the better! I never could convince my parents to let me sew patches on my jeans, but I did eventually talk them into letting me wear jeans---- on occasion. Needless to say, I’m surprised I ever made any friends, but I did eventually.  

Life was changing for the church in Colossae as well. It was out with the old ways of thinking and acting and in with the new! Only now they would no longer be judged by outward appearances; no longer would they be known as slave or free, Jew or Greek and so on, but they would all be accepted in Christ Jesus! How wonderful that must have seemed at that time, especially to those who struggled up until then to be accepted!  

In this new life we’re to be clothed in love, and our accessories are to be compassion and kindness, humility, quiet strength and discipline. But we’re not dressing up the outside to cover up what's within; we’re to be dressing from the inside out!

Seems rather strange doesn’t it? How do we go about doing that exactly?

I believe it's by letting the words of Christ dwell in us richly, for a man who is rich has far more than he needs, right? So let’s dwell in His word until we’re filled to overflowing.

For what we feed will naturally grow, and what we starve will eventually die away. And what we work to beautify on the inside will never fade away with age!!

Christ

The Mystery of our Faith {Colossians 1 - 2}

12:30 AM

Image result for colossians 1:27

Tuesday, November 27, 2018


When Paul uses the term “mystery” he is referring to the truth that was partially revealed under the old covenant but is now on display in all its fullness to the new covenant people of God.  “This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to his own holy people.” (v. 26).

When you were young, did you ever play or participate in a “club” with the children in your neighborhood?  Or perhaps you joined a sorority in college.  Either way, you had to perform certain rites and rituals in order to be accepted into the club.   I think we all take it for granted today that the gospel is for all people and that those who believe in it, become full citizens of the kingdom of God; heirs to all the promises that the Lord has made to His people throughout history. 

In the first century however, this was a radical idea.  Strict interpretations of the purity laws in the Torah (Genesis through Deuteronomy), made it difficult for the earliest Jewish Christians to believe Gentiles could remain Gentiles and become faithful servants of Yahweh.  We still see that today in some religions.  Some require you to make public appearances to convince the rest of the congregation that you “belong”.  Some have to take classes and convince a group of people they are worthy. 

There is only one sin that is unpardonable – the sin of unbelief.  God has provided a means for eternal salvation – Jesus Christ, and His death on the cross, for “whoever believes in Him” (John 3:16).  And the only condition under which forgiveness would not be granted is those who reject the only means of salvation.  Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).  This makes it clear that He and He alone is the path to God and to salvation.  To reject the only means of salvation is unpardonable, and in that sense, is the greatest sin of all.

As Paul continues to explain to the Colossians that the Gentiles are full-fledged brothers and sisters, he makes it clear that Jesus, by His Spirit, dwelling in all believers, no matter their background, makes Jews and Gentiles full citizens in the kingdom of God (1:27).  We are all so identified with Christ that it is impossible for any Christian to be a second-class citizen.  And we can add to this grace the fact that our hope of glory in Jesus has present and future aspects.  In the present, we are assured that we belong to Him and will persevere so that in the future we will enjoy the full benefits of redemption – life in a resurrected body before the presence of God in the new heaven and earth (Rev. 21).

So the next time you find yourself thinking of other people as lesser Christians than yourself because of how they dress, or what they eat and drink, or how knowledgeable they are about the finer points of theological arguments, or a number of other factors, bow your head and remember that Christ dwells in ALL who truly love Him, and He has given us all the same rights in His kingdom.


Goals

Keeping Your Eyes On The Prize {Phil. 3:1-4:23}

9:24 PM




The church in the city of Philippi was a constant source of support for Paul. And in this letter to the Philippians, written from a Roman prison, he not only thanks the people for their help, he also encourages them to come together in unity, guard their hearts and minds, and never become complacent in their relationship with God. A goal Paul Himself never stopped striving to achieve. Even with his many credentials and accomplishments, Paul remained passionate about growing in his relationship with the Lord and becoming a reflection of Jesus to the world around him; always keeping his eyes focused on God’s promise of eternal life to all believers. And following in  Paul’s footsteps, we too should aim for a goal of a deeper bond with God and becoming more Christlike in all we do.

In speaking of his goal Paul says, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and teaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (vs. 3:12-14) In these words, Paul gives us some wisdom on how, like him, we can achieve the goal of becoming who God wants us to be.

Practice Humility- Paul was the first to admit that he was far from perfect. And even with all of the great things he did for God’s kingdom and as far as he had come, he was humble enough to know that he wasn’t yet where God intended him to be. It’s when we arrogantly believe that we’ve already arrived that we become complacent in our relationship with Him. For as Proverbs 18:12 reminds us, “Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, but humility goes before honor.”

Be Diligent- We all have times when we feel like we just can’t take one more step. I’m sure, being persecuted and imprisoned, Paul had a few of those moments himself. Yet instead of giving up he pressed on, trusting God to carry him through his weakness. When we too are feeling weary and down trodden, God promises that when we are abiding in His will He will supply the strength we need to move forward in achieving our goal. In Deuteronomy 31:8 He declares. “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” 

Forget The Past-Paul gave no mind to his victories, lest he grew proud, nor to his defeats, lest he grew bitter. He understood that dwelling in the past can keep us either stuck in perpetual guilt from our mistakes, or stuck in nostalgia for days gone by; both preventing us from “reaching forward to what lies ahead”.  We, like Paul, need to realize the value of letting go to get ahead. For as he says in verse 3:8, “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish.” 

Keep Your Eyes On The Prize-Paul loved Jesus, and the one thing that kept him going through every circumstance and hardship was knowing that one day he would dwell with Jesus for eternity. The joy of that prize kept him determined to reach his goal of knowing and becoming like the Lord. Because Paul trusted God to fulfill every promise, he knew that nothing he suffered for the Lord was in vain. And so it is with us. When we keep our eyes fixed on the prize of an eternity with Jesus, we can find victory in obtaining our goal. We serve a faithful God and are encouraged by the author of Hebrews to , “hold fast the confession of our hope for he who promised is faithful.”

When it comes to reaching our goals, there is no better example to be found then Paul. The steps he took, he did so confidently knowing they would lead him to receiving the “resurrection of the dead”, resulting in rising with Christ and sharing in His glory. And such a prize surpassed any earthly hurt or suffering. So be like Paul who encourages us to, “join in following my example and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” (vs. 3:17) Set heavenly goals, step out in faith, and keep your eyes on the prize!




Jesus is The Key

Words By Roxanna ~ Jesus is The Key

9:08 AM

  • Madonna said, ‘When I was growing up I was religious in a passionate way. Jesus Christ was like a movie star, my favourite idol of all.’
  • Novelist H.G. Wells said, ‘I am an historian, I am not a believer. But this penniless preacher from Galilee is irresistibly the centre of history.’
  • Napoleon Bonaparte said, ‘I know men and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man.’
Even people who would not describe themselves as followers of Jesus recognise that there is something extraordinary about him.

The key to life is Jesus. The key to understanding the Bible is Jesus. The key to understanding God’s character is Jesus. The key to getting our lives sorted out is Jesus. No one, not even angels, can compare to Jesus (Hebrews 1:1–14).
If we want to know what God is like, we need to look at Jesus. He said, ‘Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father’ (John 14:9). Everything we read and understand about God through the Bible needs to be read through the lens of Jesus. He is the ultimate revelation of God.
Blessings Roxanna

burden

SoulSearching Sunday~Adopted by God

12:00 AM

Sunday, November 25, 2018


Week Forty-seven...

Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

Our reading this week was Galatians 1 - Philippians 2...

 1. Reflect on the following statement: Shared joy is doubled joy; shared sorrow is halved-sorrow. When have you found this to be true? Thank God for the strength He provides, and ask Him to show you where you can help carry someone’s burden today.

 Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)

 2. Read Ephesians 1 - 2 again. List all the privileges you have as a child of God that you find in these two passages. How does that make you feel? Thank your Father for what He has given to you.

 (no verses this time)

 3. When do you usually pray? What would it mean to live your whole life as a prayer to God? Ask Him to teach you to be spiritually alert and awakened to His will at all times.

 Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere. (Ephesians 6:18)




Chives

Mashed Potato Puffs

8:51 AM



Mashed Potato Puffs 

2 cups mashed potatoes
2 large eggs
3/4 cup grated cheese plus more for topping
2 tbsp. chives, minced
1/2 cup sausage crumbles 
1 clove minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste 

Heat oven to 400. Spray the cups of a mini muffin pan with non-stick spray or coat with olive oil. Mix together, mashed potatoes, eggs, cheese, chives, sausage, garlic, salt and pepper. Top with additional shredded cheese. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the potato puffs are set and golden. Let cool and then remove from pan. (About 24 mini muffin puffs)

Faith

Scripture Saturday~Righteousness

12:00 AM

Saturday, November 24, 2018



Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

This coming week's memory verse is Philippians 3:8,9...

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. (NIV)

 Have a blessed and precious day and week everyone!

Africa

He is able {Ephesians 3:1-4:32}

2:33 AM




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,- Ephesians 3:20

This verse, teaches us that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond all we could dare to hope, ask, or think, according to His great power that is in work in us.

it's important to remember that it's His Power but it's THROUGH US, so it implies that we must cooperate with Him.

This means that we need to be daring in our faith, taking steps out of our comfort zone and stretch our faith out!

This has been such a beautiful reality in my life.

Let me share with you a little bit of what God has done in my life and how this Scripture has turned into a reality in my life.

When I was about 8 years-old, I remember being taught in school about continents in the world in my geography class.

 The moment we studied Africa, something sparked inside of me. Not sure what it was, but all of the sudden I knew I wanted to go to Africa. I wasn't sure if I was to go as a missionary or just as a tourist, the main goal was to visit Africa...from there I dedicated my young years to watch every single documentary from National Geographic or Discovery Channel, I would buy books (even recipe books about African Cuisine), magazines , etc.

Little did I know that fast forward the years, I would meet a young handsome African man online, whom I would start a friendship with and later after would become my husband and father to my children! my African children!!

How we meet, what we went through in our Long Distance relationship, the trials and joys are way to many to put here in a single blog post... it's a different story! 

What I really want to highlight... or what relates to today's scripture is the fact that God gave me that dream and desire for Africa, He created me for Africa, but leaving my country (Mexico), culture and most importantly my family was not easy at all... it's still not easy. There's not a single day in which I don't miss my parents and my siblings... I also miss my friends, and my food!! But when I left home God promised to take good care of me. He promised me to surround me with family, with moms, aunts and sisters to look after me. and it blows my mind away to see that He has not only done that but He has exceeded all my wildest dreams and expectations.

Every time I have gone through trials, difficulties, pregnancies and birth of my children God has always surrounded me with beautiful and God fearing ladies, whom have looked after me with so much love and care...whom have adopted me just as part of the family, just because!....just because of God's grace and promises that are YES AND AMEN!

God has a way for us to do everything He places in our hearts. He doesn't put dreams and desires in us just to frustrate us. We must trust in God all the way through the end, not just for a little while and then give us and the mountain looks way to big for us!

God does not usually call people who are capable; if he did, He would not get all the glory, but He usually chooses those, who, are ready to stand up and take bold steps of faith as they receive direction from the Lord.

We usually want to wait until we feel "ready" to take action but if we feel "ready" then we will tend to lean on ourselves rather that in God.

Let us learn to know our weaknesses and know God... His strength and faithfulness.

He is definitely able to do "superabundantly, far above and over" everything we could ever dare to ask or think...if only, believe and take a step out of obedience and faith.

Let Him surprise you :-)

Here some of my favourite pictures of my African- Mexican family... and my African life :-)

To give testimony and glory to my father who has definitely been faithful to His Word and promises.







Also, I pray this song ministers to you today, He alone is able!




Becky Austin

With Thankful Hearts (Ephesians 1-2)

2:31 AM





Today is Thanksgiving Day, a day of reflection on the many blessings we have and a day to offer our humble thanks for those blessings to God, our loving Father. In Ephesians 1-2, Paul reminds us of some of those wonderful blessings and encourages us to have a heart of gratitude as we offer up praise to God. 
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” (1:3)
How did He bless us?  “ IN Christ”. 
Christ is the reason we have acceptance in God’s eyes. And having Christ grants us the Grand Prize Package so to speak because “in Christ” we get it “ALL”- “every” spiritual blessing is ours! 

Just think about how much God extended to you. 
God loved you before the beginning of time. He knew long before you were born that you would need a Savior and he sent Christ to make you worthy of a status change. 
“even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.  (1:4-5)
How amazing is that! You are adopted into God’s family. But there’s more.  God chose to lavish us with His grace.  Lavish means “to bestow something in generous or extravagant quantities upon.”
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight”(1:7-8)

Paul talks about how the first believers, like himself, were given an inheritance by believing in Christ. But, this extended beyond the chosen Jewish nation to ALL people who would choose to believe. That includes you. “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (1:13-14 )
The Holy Spirit teaches you, comforts you, and empowers you.  Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? (1 Corinthians 3:16) What a blessed gift you have been given to have the Holy Spirit, with you always.

Life is the most important of blessings.  I’ve heard this quote recently “Jesus Christ did not come to make bad people good but to make dead people alive. “.  You should be grateful for your physical life, certainly, but what far exceeds physical life is Eternal Life!  Because of Christ, you have the greatest blessing of all.”
Paul reminds us that we were spiritually dead.  “in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” (2:2-3)
But, Praise God, we were given New Life....eternal life! 
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace, you have been saved—” ( 2:4-5) 
Paul reminds us this is “a gift of love”. You don’t deserve it. You don’t earn it. You don’t perform to keep it.  It is a freely offered gift of love and grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”(2:8-9)

What a great gift to be thankful for. Part of our thankfulness should be to allow God to extend what He has blessed us with in service to others. God wants to use our lives to glorify and honour Him. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (2:10)
Today is a great day to show our thankfulness and appreciation for what God has blessed us with but every day affords the same opportunity. Thanksgiving shouldn’t just be a day but a way of life!


diet

Celebrating our Freedom in Christ! {Galatians 5-6}

8:00 PM


Recently I decided it was time to start changing my eating habits! Have you noticed all the diet plans out there lately?? We have Paleo, Clean, Gluten Free, Sugar, Dairy, and Grain Free… Low Fat… Low Carb… just to name a few! The truth is, as good as these programs may be, they won’t work if you don’t stick to the plan. And that’s my problem! I’m usually pretty good for a few days...until the weekend arrives!

 This is definitely one instance where following all the rules can pay off, but let me ask you, have you, or do you know someone who has followed the plans completely, no cheating…ever!? Their entire life!? It’s good to have a plan until you stop following it!

Following a list of rules and regulations can make our journey easier at times, but when it comes to choosing a list of rules over following Christ it becomes “legalism”. What exactly is legalism?

The best definition I could find was, pursuing “good works” with the intention of earning God’s favor.  John Piper explained it this way: “The essence of legalism is when faith is not the engine of obedience”. Essentially, when we work toward earning God’s favor, we are not choosing to walk in faith. Instead, our actions seem to convey that we believe it’s all about “faith plus works”. Jesus’ work wasn’t enough, and therefore we must work to somehow gain God’s approval.

I was taught this growing up until someone showed me Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” These two verses tell us that there is nothing we could ever do to earn God’s favor and therefore, there is also nothing we can do to loose it. That’s freeing!

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery!”- Galatians 5:1


Jesus came to set us free! We discovered in the Old Testament that the Israelites were forever breaking The Law and choosing to follow other gods and other ways, and God promised, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you,” the Lord promised. “I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezek. 36:26–27).

The first evidence of this new heart, or the Spirit’s presence in our life, is that we will have a deep love for God and desire to please Him, BUT will we obey Him and His commands completely?

 No. In this life, even the holiest have not been perfect. No believer is completely pure, but we now possess the beginnings of purity. Each of us, once we accept Christ, we posses the beginning of, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…”(Gal 5:22-23).  These "fruits of the Spirit" are evidences of who is now large and in charge in our life.

Each day of our Christian life we are offered fresh opportunities for the life that God has begun in you to grow stronger; along with the promise that when you stand in the presence of God, what He has begun in you will be complete (Phil. 1:6).

We have the freedom to know we’ll never be perfect this side of heaven, but we’ve been given the freedom to journey through this life with a Friend who will promises to stick closer than a brother and has the power to perfect what God began in you!