I heard a Minister plead with his audience today to receive JESUS, that HE had died for them.
Immediately a thought landed hard.
Are lost folks actually moved when we say to them that JESUS died for them?
Is there so much death and destruction in this culture that we are jaded to death?
And if so what can we do about it?
As I type Joyce is ministering “Why am I in a bad mood?” Click HERE for a link. Lets watch. Lets listen.
Blessings!
Kathie
It’s a pretty Monday as I sit to prepare something for our Tuesday time together. And on this pretty Monday I’ve begun to look forward to Sunday when I again, LORD willing, get to lead another Sunday School/Bible Study Class. Our prescribed Text is Colossians 1:21-2:7. It will be good!
Verse 22 in the NASB version has a word that I am looking at with you.
Colossians 1: (New American Standard Bible)
22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach–
via Colossians 1:22 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.
Reconciled.
At first blush we would say reconciled means to bring into agreement. Like reconciling our check book with the Bank’s records – we want them to ‘agree’. And when there is agreement, there’s an understanding. I know how much I have to spend, the Bank knows how much and we are both held to that amount.
Think about that enough, applying it to your relationship with ABBA and you’ll get way excited!
Moving on — the definition of reconciled is even broader. Like this:
rec·on·cile (rkn-sl)
2. To become compatible . . . .
via reconciled – definition of reconciled by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia..
JESUS came to earth to make man compatible again with the Creator. He is still doing this.
When we believe, when we trust, when we receive the Gift of Eternal Life given only by JESUS CHRIST, we become compatible with GOD.
What happens when two are compatible? As Southerns say: they get along together. They enjoy each others company.
Are you enjoying GOD’s Company today? Are you and He getting along today?
If not you need to find out why.
There can only be one reason for you and me to not enjoy DADDY GOD’s company — SIN!
And what’s right in the middle of sin?
When Believers who have received JESUS within are not enjoying His company, the problem is I. Their focus is I. Their will is all about I. What I want. What I will do. What I won’t do. What’s been done to ME (I). What’s not been done for ME (I). And it’s a miserable way to live. Isn’t it?
So don’t do it.
Some other words in the verse are holy, blameless and beyond reproach.
Now that’s living!
So lets live today. In JESUS Name lets live!
Numbers 6: (New American Standard Bible)
24 The LORD bless you, and keep you;
25 The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you;
26 The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’
via Numbers 6:24-26 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.
I hope you are continuing to pray for all those on our Praying for These list. Our Ministry begins with, hinges on, and continues only by prayer. — In His Name, Kathie
ABBA, my prayer desire continues to be that You will heal Kerri; that You will stabilize and bring to normal her calcium levels; that You will give her a new lease on life here to love and care for her son and family. And my desires continue to be that You will bring Jenny to a full recovery; that You will heal Sandi Leon; that Cindy will see you faithful to her as she grieves – that each day she will more and more focus on what’s next with You. And our IDOK Troops, always remembering them, praying for safety and protection. And other matters too, You know. And, thank You for the gift of faith that keeps on trusting You. Thank You for hope that keeps on smiling up at You when life is hard. Thank You that we know You are good always. Amen and amen in JESUS NAME and only in His name we pray.
Lets be honest.
To some it’s not a Good Friday. It’s not a good any day.
Their hearts and lives are in shambles and their minds are filled with everything but hope.
It shouldn’t be so.
This morning I watched a moving video that ended with these words:
Change your words. Change your world.
DADDY GOD said it this way:
Proverbs 15: (New King James Version)
4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
via Proverbs 15:4 – Passage Lookup – New King James Version – BibleGateway.com.
It’s FRIDAY but SUNDAY’s a coming.
Let SUNDAY come today.
Change your words – change your world.
Speak wholesome words to others, about others, about YOURSELF and LIFE will spring up within you. Continue with perverse words and your spirit will continue in its brokenness.
Proverbs 18:21 (King James Version)
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: . . . .
via Proverbs 18:21 – Passage Lookup – King James Version – BibleGateway.com.
Life and death are in your words.
Choose LIFE.
JESUS died and rose again so you can.
1 Peter 3:(Holman Christian Standard Bible)
10 For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,
via 1 Peter 3:10 – Passage Lookup – Holman Christian Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.
Deuteronomy 30: (New International Version, ©2011)
19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
via Deuteronomy 30:19 – Passage Lookup – New International Version, ©2011 – BibleGateway.com.
On this Good Friday, CHOOSE LIFE.
Choose SUNDAY today. Choose to allow the LORD JESUS CHRIST to resurrect you today — don’t wait another day!
Oh my FATHER, the One and Only GOD, Your WORD shall not return void as You send it forth today in JESUS NAME. Amen and amen.
A Holy Resurrection Weekend to you,
Kathie
My Journey (A LifeWay Publication – click the word Journey for more information) reading for today generated some thoughts.
These are the excerpts I have been pondering:
“God wants you to be creative as you worship. He loves it when you illustrate what’s going on in your heart.”
So that’s it. Worship ‘styles’ are outward manifestations of what is happening within. Some folks are quiet. Some are not so quiet. I get it.
“What’s something that only you can do for the Lord? Make it for Him–not for anyone else. Draw. Paint. Sculpt. Take a hike and capture God’s intricate design on film. Write a song. Write a letter or a story. Knit a scarf.
Whatever is precious to you, give it to Him. If you’re a cook, make a meal in God’s honor–creatively using the flavors and textures that He made. And don’t worry if it isn’t perfect–just do your best and it will bring Him great, great joy.”
So worship is not just singing and raising your hands at church. Worship is also everyday stuff done for JESUS. And with my next thought, I knew I was approaching a new height in weird, even for me!
I kid you not, I thought about food! I thought about food choices, food portions, food enjoyment — acts of worship — hmm. Would that revolutionize food battles? What if eating was an act of worship for me? Would I eat the same things and in the same amounts if before I lifted my fork to my lips I said in my heart, LORD, I am eating this for You. I’m not eating this for my own pleasure but I am eating it to nurture and nourish this body WE live in?
Would it make a difference? In my spiritual maturity and my health?
Like I said a new kind of weird, even for me!
And then that line that says: “And don’t worry if it isn’t perfect–just do your best and it will bring Him great, great joy.” Well! all I saw was don’t worry if it’s not perfect! Are you kidding me?! Any worship offering of mine I’m gonna mother over it — no obsess is a more accurate assessment of what I do. And this I know, because of a very recent experience, it takes humility to do a less than ‘perfect’ job and not get upset about it. Just so you’ll know–there’s a leak in my humility tank.
But — 1 John 1:(New American Standard Bible)
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
via I john 1:9 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.
Thank You, ABBA, for forgiveness and righteousness and for perfection-maturity that keeps growing, sometimes steadily, other times slower but in You, we progress. You are so good to us. Again we commend our IDOK Troops and many others to you for healing and helps; safety and protection. Amen and amen in JESUS’ NAME.
And that’s about it.
Kathie
