13 As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 14 He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, 17 comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.
Tori's Comments:
Cling to the truth and stay strong. Even when the devil is throwing everything he has at you. Cling to what you know is true. Cling to God's promises.
Terrie's Comments:
I would love to have been there to hear what they had passed on in person. I am hoping that there is an instant re-play button when we get to heaven so that we can go back and see what actually unfolded and the messages that were preached.
In this passage we can glean more ways to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
"I thank can't help but thank God for all all you who are loved by God and chose to experience salvation through the Holy Spirit, who makes you all holy through your belief in the truth."
"I pray that my dear brothers and sisters will stand firm and keep a strong grip on what they have learned through the Holy Spirit and the servants of Jesus Christ who are preaching to them"
"May the Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort them and strengthen them in every good thing they do and say."
AMEN
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Monday, January 30, 2017
Day 11 - 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. 2 Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. 3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. 4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.
5 Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? 6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.
Terrie's Comments:
This seems like a dooms day message. Dig a little and you will find hope however. Just as the world was created by the words that proceeded from the mouth of God the end will come and evil will be destroyed the same way. With the breath of his mouth and the splendor of the coming of Jesus Christ.
In order for someone to refuse to love and accept truth it must first be presented to them. I always want to ere on the side of God and the truth rather than defending the world and it's logic no matter how much "sense" it makes to everyone around me.
I am glad that I am an ambassador for Jesus Christ and choose to believe the truth. May God in his mercy and grace keep me from "enjoying evil" rather than believing the truth He gives us.
Tori's Comments:
I think, with "the end is nigh" constantly making an appearance on my Facebook feed currently, that we should remember first and foremost that we are citizens of heaven. That we need not worry, that if we are faithful and do not fall asleep while we're supposed to be on guard, that we will be under that eternal blessing.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
5 Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? 6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.
Terrie's Comments:
This seems like a dooms day message. Dig a little and you will find hope however. Just as the world was created by the words that proceeded from the mouth of God the end will come and evil will be destroyed the same way. With the breath of his mouth and the splendor of the coming of Jesus Christ.
In order for someone to refuse to love and accept truth it must first be presented to them. I always want to ere on the side of God and the truth rather than defending the world and it's logic no matter how much "sense" it makes to everyone around me.
I am glad that I am an ambassador for Jesus Christ and choose to believe the truth. May God in his mercy and grace keep me from "enjoying evil" rather than believing the truth He gives us.
Tori's Comments:
I think, with "the end is nigh" constantly making an appearance on my Facebook feed currently, that we should remember first and foremost that we are citizens of heaven. That we need not worry, that if we are faithful and do not fall asleep while we're supposed to be on guard, that we will be under that eternal blessing.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Day 10 - 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
3 Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. 4 We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. 5 And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. 6 In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.
7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. 10 When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.
11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Tori's Comments:
The same church, the same strengths.
He repeats about what will happen when Jesus returns, interesting.
The way we live should honor God. In everything I do today, I need to think to myself, 'does this honor God?". And if not, should I be doing it?
If this is a view of such a successfully growing church, do I see the same themes in my own life? The same growths happening exponentially?
"your faith is flourishing" Is my faith at a standstill or growing? I often use my lack of faith YET as an excuse to why I don't trust God in certain areas of my life, but how will my faith grow if I never take a step out onto the water? Peter's faith definitely must've grown by walking on the water, but he didn't do that because he was finally ready, but because he was so focused on who Jesus was and wanted to believe so much he went for it.
"your love for one another is growing" This almost seems like a challenge. I think we get to a point where we draw our boundaries, saying we will love others this much, but any farther would be too much of a sacrifice. But Jesus loved us so much He sacrificed His life, and we're supposed to follow His lead. Take this as a dare. Always try to love harder, love more, with each day. If this were are goal, to love more today than we did yesterday, how different would the reputation of the church be?
Terrie's Comments:
"May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do"
When God gives us the power to accomplish his will in our lives then Jesus Christ is honored even more by our lives. When we live lives of faith and honor to God then in turn it bring honor back to God. It is all made possible through God's Grace... God's unmerited favor towards us because of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.
When we decide to honor God with our lives he empowers us to do that through His Holy Spirit that lives within us as believers.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
3 Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. 4 We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. 5 And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. 6 In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.
7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. 10 When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.
11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Tori's Comments:
The same church, the same strengths.
He repeats about what will happen when Jesus returns, interesting.
The way we live should honor God. In everything I do today, I need to think to myself, 'does this honor God?". And if not, should I be doing it?
If this is a view of such a successfully growing church, do I see the same themes in my own life? The same growths happening exponentially?
"your faith is flourishing" Is my faith at a standstill or growing? I often use my lack of faith YET as an excuse to why I don't trust God in certain areas of my life, but how will my faith grow if I never take a step out onto the water? Peter's faith definitely must've grown by walking on the water, but he didn't do that because he was finally ready, but because he was so focused on who Jesus was and wanted to believe so much he went for it.
"your love for one another is growing" This almost seems like a challenge. I think we get to a point where we draw our boundaries, saying we will love others this much, but any farther would be too much of a sacrifice. But Jesus loved us so much He sacrificed His life, and we're supposed to follow His lead. Take this as a dare. Always try to love harder, love more, with each day. If this were are goal, to love more today than we did yesterday, how different would the reputation of the church be?
Terrie's Comments:
"May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do"
When God gives us the power to accomplish his will in our lives then Jesus Christ is honored even more by our lives. When we live lives of faith and honor to God then in turn it bring honor back to God. It is all made possible through God's Grace... God's unmerited favor towards us because of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.
When we decide to honor God with our lives he empowers us to do that through His Holy Spirit that lives within us as believers.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Day 9 - 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28
23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 24 God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.
25 Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss.
27 I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.
28 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Terrie's Comments:
The peace of God is able to make us holy in every way! If I have the peace that passes all understanding that comes from God then I can be assured by the Holy Spirit that dwells inside of me that I am holy in God's sight.
I am wondering why Paul is praying for our whole spirit and soul and body to be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again? Does this mean that it is possible for us to not be blameless as Christians? Or is he praying for them to hold onto Jesus and deny their sinful nature so they will live by the Holy Spirit instead so that they will remain blameless... hmmm.
Tori's Comments:
Notice that God makes us holy, not ourselves. Nothing I do could ever make me righteous, could ever fill that gap between me and God. And the beautiful thing is that God desired to fix our problem, and by doing that He became human. That is a truth that I hope will never stop blowing my mind.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
25 Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss.
27 I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.
28 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Terrie's Comments:
The peace of God is able to make us holy in every way! If I have the peace that passes all understanding that comes from God then I can be assured by the Holy Spirit that dwells inside of me that I am holy in God's sight.
I am wondering why Paul is praying for our whole spirit and soul and body to be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again? Does this mean that it is possible for us to not be blameless as Christians? Or is he praying for them to hold onto Jesus and deny their sinful nature so they will live by the Holy Spirit instead so that they will remain blameless... hmmm.
Tori's Comments:
Notice that God makes us holy, not ourselves. Nothing I do could ever make me righteous, could ever fill that gap between me and God. And the beautiful thing is that God desired to fix our problem, and by doing that He became human. That is a truth that I hope will never stop blowing my mind.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Friday, January 27, 2017
Day 8 - 1 Thessalonians 5: 12-22
12 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13 Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.
14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20 Do not scoff at prophecies, 21 but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away from every kind of evil.
Tori's Comments:
"live peacefully with each other" This is something we see several times in the New Testament and yet rarely seem to put to action. Yes, I realize my opinion is important, but not more important than God's church. To be divisive in the church because of a trifling disagreement is a bigger deal than we seem to make it. We need to be humble, not in the sense of having low self-esteem, but in the sense of ONLY ever thinking of others, rarely spending a thought for ourselves and our opinions.
"live peacefully with each other" This is something we see several times in the New Testament and yet rarely seem to put to action. Yes, I realize my opinion is important, but not more important than God's church. To be divisive in the church because of a trifling disagreement is a bigger deal than we seem to make it. We need to be humble, not in the sense of having low self-esteem, but in the sense of ONLY ever thinking of others, rarely spending a thought for ourselves and our opinions.
Terrie's Comments:
As usual Paul packs a lot of good stuff into just a few lines. Where do I begin to unpack the wisdom in this passage?
As usual Paul packs a lot of good stuff into just a few lines. Where do I begin to unpack the wisdom in this passage?
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Day 7 - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. 7 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. 8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Terrie's Comments:
It will be at an unexpected time when Jesus returns... but we don't need to be alarmed by it. We walk in the light. We can choose to be protected by the armor of faith and love, wearing as a helmet the confidence of our salvation.
Since God chose to save us through Jesus Christ, who we have made our Lord we will live with Him forever. God chose not to pour out his anger on us for breaking his law but instead chose to give us grace (unmerited favour) through His son Jesus Christ!
Are we building each other up in this confidence? When we are together with our brothers and sisters are we speaking faith or speaking like children who still belong to the things of this world?
Tori's Comments:
"come unexpectedly"
When washing the dishes, are you ready?
When eating supper, are you ready?
Getting cut off in traffic, are you ready?
Losing a friend, are you ready?
Doing that secret sin, are you ready?
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. 7 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. 8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Terrie's Comments:
It will be at an unexpected time when Jesus returns... but we don't need to be alarmed by it. We walk in the light. We can choose to be protected by the armor of faith and love, wearing as a helmet the confidence of our salvation.
Since God chose to save us through Jesus Christ, who we have made our Lord we will live with Him forever. God chose not to pour out his anger on us for breaking his law but instead chose to give us grace (unmerited favour) through His son Jesus Christ!
Are we building each other up in this confidence? When we are together with our brothers and sisters are we speaking faith or speaking like children who still belong to the things of this world?
Tori's Comments:
"come unexpectedly"
When washing the dishes, are you ready?
When eating supper, are you ready?
Getting cut off in traffic, are you ready?
Losing a friend, are you ready?
Doing that secret sin, are you ready?
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Day 6 - 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.
Tori's Comments:
I'm so thankful this passage is here as it both gives hope and answers questions!
Are you ready?
Terrie's Comments:
HOPE!!!! that is a great word. I have no idea how people say good-bye without hope. I have hope as I look to my future that when I am finished on this earth my spirit will be in Heaven with Jesus. I have hope that this home here on earth is temporary and I am operating as a heavenly ambassador for Jesus Christ and His kingdom. I have hope that all those brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone ahead, I will see again in heaven.
This hope I have comes because I have a relationship with Jesus Christ. I have hope because I have the Holy Spirit living in me and working with power through my life. I have hope that I can come boldly to the throne of grace in prayer and I know that God hears me. I have hope because I have been adopted into God's family forever.
I have hope that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ can have an intimate relationship with Him today! It isn't about a religion... Jesus died so we could have a relationship with the one and only true God and live forever with Him starting today!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.
Tori's Comments:
I'm so thankful this passage is here as it both gives hope and answers questions!
Are you ready?
Terrie's Comments:
HOPE!!!! that is a great word. I have no idea how people say good-bye without hope. I have hope as I look to my future that when I am finished on this earth my spirit will be in Heaven with Jesus. I have hope that this home here on earth is temporary and I am operating as a heavenly ambassador for Jesus Christ and His kingdom. I have hope that all those brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone ahead, I will see again in heaven.
This hope I have comes because I have a relationship with Jesus Christ. I have hope because I have the Holy Spirit living in me and working with power through my life. I have hope that I can come boldly to the throne of grace in prayer and I know that God hears me. I have hope because I have been adopted into God's family forever.
I have hope that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ can have an intimate relationship with Him today! It isn't about a religion... Jesus died so we could have a relationship with the one and only true God and live forever with Him starting today!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Day 5 - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. 2 For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9 But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. 10 Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.
11 Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. 12 Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.
3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9 But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. 10 Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.
11 Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. 12 Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.
Terrie's Comments:
Living by God's Holy Spirit, which He has given to us and not by our own flesh anymore.... that can be a challenge in a world where we are surrounded by ultra sexual messages. God does not just tell us to remain holy and stay away from sexual lust but he gave us his Holy Spirit so that it would become possible for us to live in a way that pleases Him.
God Himself still teaches His people to love one another through the Holy Spirit who is within each one of us.
I LOVE verse 11 - "make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands" This means that for those of us who aren't on "the front lines" of mission work or doing something "big" for God ... we are still doing God's will and that is what matters to God. God saved us through His son Jesus Christ so we could have a relationship with Him. This is His desire... to be in an intimate relationship with you... just the way He made you! He made you to be unique and no one else can have the same relationship with the Lord that you can. No one can replace you in God's family. You were created to be one of a kind and no matter who you are God wants relationship with you. Then he wants to use you to help reconcile others back into a relationship with Him too. That is amazing!
Living by God's Holy Spirit, which He has given to us and not by our own flesh anymore.... that can be a challenge in a world where we are surrounded by ultra sexual messages. God does not just tell us to remain holy and stay away from sexual lust but he gave us his Holy Spirit so that it would become possible for us to live in a way that pleases Him.
God Himself still teaches His people to love one another through the Holy Spirit who is within each one of us.
I LOVE verse 11 - "make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands" This means that for those of us who aren't on "the front lines" of mission work or doing something "big" for God ... we are still doing God's will and that is what matters to God. God saved us through His son Jesus Christ so we could have a relationship with Him. This is His desire... to be in an intimate relationship with you... just the way He made you! He made you to be unique and no one else can have the same relationship with the Lord that you can. No one can replace you in God's family. You were created to be one of a kind and no matter who you are God wants relationship with you. Then he wants to use you to help reconcile others back into a relationship with Him too. That is amazing!
Tori's Comments:
Live for God. Not for man.
Something God has been prompting in me this year is monitoring what I put into my body, a resolution He's already been bringing difficult circumstances to strengthen. I've been able to definitely see the difference in my life that it makes, in how I act, speak, and even think. And all the while, I need to remember my goal isn't to reject everything worldly but to grow close to God instead.
Live for God. Not for man.
Something God has been prompting in me this year is monitoring what I put into my body, a resolution He's already been bringing difficult circumstances to strengthen. I've been able to definitely see the difference in my life that it makes, in how I act, speak, and even think. And all the while, I need to remember my goal isn't to reject everything worldly but to grow close to God instead.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Monday, January 23, 2017
Day 4 - 1 Thessalonians 3: 1-13
Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, 2 and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, 3 and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. 4 Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. 5 That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.
6 But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. 7 So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. 8 It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.
9 How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. 10 Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.
11 May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. 12 And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. 13 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.
Tori's Comments:
"we are destined for such troubles"
Verse 10:
-"Night and day" I can't say I've ever prayed so intensely.
-"asking God to let us see you again" Just noting the substance of their prayers.
-"to fill the gaps in your faith." These people didn't even know all the answers, and yet stood firm and were praised for it!
Terrie's Comments:
verses 2-5 seems to me could be one of those passages that could be read quickly and taken way out of context... context is key. "shaken by troubles" "we are destined for such troubles" "we warned you that troubles would soon come - and they did"
These statements could easily be explained as any and all kinds of troubles. If you are not careful you will miss the explanation about these troubles and how to avoid them (yes avoid them). Paul writes "I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you..." Did you catch it?? the troubles that are talked about in this passage are temptations from the tempter (our enemy the devil). So how do we avoid these troubles? Remain in the word... Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God... stay strong in the Faith! In Romans 8:1 it says we are to walk according to the Spirit and not walking in the flesh anymore.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."
Paul was concerned that the Thessalonians would remain strong in the faith. When Timothy returned there was rejoicing! It is encouraging to see the fruit of your labor in any job. It is also affirming to hear that someone that you invested in appreciates it and is looking forward to seeing you again. There are many positive and encouraging reports here:
"bringing us good news about your faith and love.", "you always remember our visit with joy "you want to see us as much as we want to see you."
As a result Paul and Timothy benefited as well:
"we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering", "because you have remained strong in your faith." "It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord."
As a result of being encouraged by the response of the Thessalonians it is turned into praise to God and continued prayer for the Thessalonian believers:
"How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.
May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. 13 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen."
What would happen if we would encourage those who encourage us and pray for those who we are called to mentor using Paul's example?? The church would be filled with happy, content, faith filled, encouraged, joy filled believers. It would be a place that those who aren't believers yet would be attracted to :-) One of my current goals is to pay closer attention to how people prayed in the Bible and pray scripture more often.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
6 But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. 7 So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. 8 It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.
9 How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. 10 Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.
11 May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. 12 And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. 13 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.
Tori's Comments:
"we are destined for such troubles"
Verse 10:
-"Night and day" I can't say I've ever prayed so intensely.
-"asking God to let us see you again" Just noting the substance of their prayers.
-"to fill the gaps in your faith." These people didn't even know all the answers, and yet stood firm and were praised for it!
Terrie's Comments:
verses 2-5 seems to me could be one of those passages that could be read quickly and taken way out of context... context is key. "shaken by troubles" "we are destined for such troubles" "we warned you that troubles would soon come - and they did"
These statements could easily be explained as any and all kinds of troubles. If you are not careful you will miss the explanation about these troubles and how to avoid them (yes avoid them). Paul writes "I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you..." Did you catch it?? the troubles that are talked about in this passage are temptations from the tempter (our enemy the devil). So how do we avoid these troubles? Remain in the word... Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God... stay strong in the Faith! In Romans 8:1 it says we are to walk according to the Spirit and not walking in the flesh anymore.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."
Paul was concerned that the Thessalonians would remain strong in the faith. When Timothy returned there was rejoicing! It is encouraging to see the fruit of your labor in any job. It is also affirming to hear that someone that you invested in appreciates it and is looking forward to seeing you again. There are many positive and encouraging reports here:
"bringing us good news about your faith and love.", "you always remember our visit with joy "you want to see us as much as we want to see you."
As a result Paul and Timothy benefited as well:
"we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering", "because you have remained strong in your faith." "It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord."
As a result of being encouraged by the response of the Thessalonians it is turned into praise to God and continued prayer for the Thessalonian believers:
"How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.
May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. 13 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen."
What would happen if we would encourage those who encourage us and pray for those who we are called to mentor using Paul's example?? The church would be filled with happy, content, faith filled, encouraged, joy filled believers. It would be a place that those who aren't believers yet would be attracted to :-) One of my current goals is to pay closer attention to how people prayed in the Bible and pray scripture more often.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Day 3 - 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
13 Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.
14 And then, dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution from your own countrymen. In this way, you imitated the believers in God’s churches in Judea who, because of their belief in Christ Jesus, suffered from their own people, the Jews. 15 For some of the Jews killed the prophets, and some even killed the Lord Jesus. Now they have persecuted us, too. They fail to please God and work against all humanity 16 as they try to keep us from preaching the Good News of salvation to the Gentiles. By doing this, they continue to pile up their sins. But the anger of God has caught up with them at last.
17 Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while (though our hearts never left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again. 18 We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us. 19 After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! 20 Yes, you are our pride and joy.
Terrie's Comments:
I can relate to Paul when he is talking about being thankful that the Thessalonians accepted his message as if it was direct from God and not just mere human ideas. I am thankful when I am given a word for someone from the Holy Spirit and it ministers to them. Because it is from God that word is able to live on and continue to work in those who believe that it is from God. I am humbled and so thankful that God chooses to use human vessels in this way.
Ok I am going to go personal here and a little sentimental! I do have an intense longing to see Tori again! Tori gives me hope and joy each time I see her. It is an honor to work with Tori and to mentor her! She my passionate sister in Jesus Christ and I can't wait to see her again soon :-)
Tori's Comments:
How do the Thessalonians have such a prized spot in Paul's heart? Interesting.
Suffering in this world is temporary. Praising God is eternal.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
14 And then, dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution from your own countrymen. In this way, you imitated the believers in God’s churches in Judea who, because of their belief in Christ Jesus, suffered from their own people, the Jews. 15 For some of the Jews killed the prophets, and some even killed the Lord Jesus. Now they have persecuted us, too. They fail to please God and work against all humanity 16 as they try to keep us from preaching the Good News of salvation to the Gentiles. By doing this, they continue to pile up their sins. But the anger of God has caught up with them at last.
17 Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while (though our hearts never left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again. 18 We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us. 19 After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! 20 Yes, you are our pride and joy.
Terrie's Comments:
I can relate to Paul when he is talking about being thankful that the Thessalonians accepted his message as if it was direct from God and not just mere human ideas. I am thankful when I am given a word for someone from the Holy Spirit and it ministers to them. Because it is from God that word is able to live on and continue to work in those who believe that it is from God. I am humbled and so thankful that God chooses to use human vessels in this way.
Ok I am going to go personal here and a little sentimental! I do have an intense longing to see Tori again! Tori gives me hope and joy each time I see her. It is an honor to work with Tori and to mentor her! She my passionate sister in Jesus Christ and I can't wait to see her again soon :-)
Tori's Comments:
How do the Thessalonians have such a prized spot in Paul's heart? Interesting.
Suffering in this world is temporary. Praising God is eternal.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Day 2 - 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
You yourselves know, dear brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not a failure. 2 You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition. 3 So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.
4 For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. 5 Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money! 6 As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else.
7 As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. 8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.
9 Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you. 10 You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. 11 And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. 12 We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.
Tori's Comments:
"God gave us the courage" I need to trust He will provide for my needs.
"Our purpose is to please God and not people." This is so easy to forget. Human praise? Who needs it? My Father, the creator of stars and fireflies, loves me. Me. That's enough.
We're supposed to share both the Good News AND our lives. I think sometimes this gets wonky. Just going to Sunday service isn't sharing your life. Celebrating our victory, encouraging each other in Christ, selflessly listening to each other.... that's sharing our life. It's not mine anymore, anyways. My life belongs to Christ now.
Terrie's Comments:
"God gave us courage" I am noticing over and over again how much God provides for us. We can have courage an boldness in the face of opposition while telling people about Jesus because God gives us courage to do so.
"Our purpose is to please God not people" I LOVE this... that we know what our purpose is and it is not impossible because of what Jesus did it is almost impossible not to please God when we place our faith in Jesus Christ as our savior and Lord.
When you love people you share the good news of Jesus Christ with them as well as your own lives with them.
When we are mentoring we plead, encourage and urge people to live their lives the way God would consider worthy. Because God has called us to share in his Kingdom and His glory!
This is one day when I am glad that I discipline myself to write my comments on the passage before reading Tori's comments. We both picked out the same parts of the passage to comment on... That is awesome :-)
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
4 For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. 5 Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money! 6 As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else.
7 As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. 8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.
9 Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you. 10 You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. 11 And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. 12 We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.
Tori's Comments:
"God gave us the courage" I need to trust He will provide for my needs.
"Our purpose is to please God and not people." This is so easy to forget. Human praise? Who needs it? My Father, the creator of stars and fireflies, loves me. Me. That's enough.
We're supposed to share both the Good News AND our lives. I think sometimes this gets wonky. Just going to Sunday service isn't sharing your life. Celebrating our victory, encouraging each other in Christ, selflessly listening to each other.... that's sharing our life. It's not mine anymore, anyways. My life belongs to Christ now.
Terrie's Comments:
"God gave us courage" I am noticing over and over again how much God provides for us. We can have courage an boldness in the face of opposition while telling people about Jesus because God gives us courage to do so.
"Our purpose is to please God not people" I LOVE this... that we know what our purpose is and it is not impossible because of what Jesus did it is almost impossible not to please God when we place our faith in Jesus Christ as our savior and Lord.
When you love people you share the good news of Jesus Christ with them as well as your own lives with them.
When we are mentoring we plead, encourage and urge people to live their lives the way God would consider worthy. Because God has called us to share in his Kingdom and His glory!
This is one day when I am glad that I discipline myself to write my comments on the passage before reading Tori's comments. We both picked out the same parts of the passage to comment on... That is awesome :-)
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Friday, January 20, 2017
Facebook Draw Happening!
We have decided that once we reach 50 page likes on our Christ Capp Facebook page that we will have a draw for a Christ Capp Challenge notebook. You can see a picture of this notebook on our facebook page.
The more you share, like, comment etc the faster our page will reach 50 page likes. Everyone who likes our page will be entered into the draw. Let's see how fast we can do this!
Go Here: https://www.facebook.com/christcapp/
Terrie and Tori
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
The more you share, like, comment etc the faster our page will reach 50 page likes. Everyone who likes our page will be entered into the draw. Let's see how fast we can do this!
Go Here: https://www.facebook.com/christcapp/
Terrie and Tori
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Thinking through Thessalonians! - Day 1 - 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
May God give you grace and peace.
2 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 3 As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. 5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. 6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. 7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.
8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, 9 for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God. 10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
Terrie's Comments:
After the Thessalonians heard the good news they took action. They turned away from idols in their lives... they didn't just cut back or spend more time with God than with their idols, they turned away from them. They realized that serving the one true God meant serving Him only. They were living in the Hope of Jesus Christ coming back and to their heavenly home.
They also couldn't stop talking about this hope. They were excited about the good news of Jesus Christ who saved them from the "terrors" of the coming judgement. They talked so much about it that Paul didn't have to say anything because people were telling him about the Thessalonians and the good news before Paul could open his mouth. These people were changed... inside and outside... They were looking forward to the second coming of Jesus Christ and everyone around them knew it!
So what does my faith look like? Am I so excited about the second coming of Christ and everything he has done for me that those around me hear about it? Do people even notice that I am a follower of Jesus Christ? Do I display that hope in my life?
This past Sunday in my Sunday school class I brought a box of chocolates to class. We were talking about God caring about what you are like on the inside (your thoughts, feelings etc) just as much as what you are like on the outside (your actions). A chocolate needs to taste good on the inside and the outside to be delicious. If a chocolate doesn't taste good on the inside then it isn't enjoyable to eat... if a chocolate doesn't taste good on the outside then it isn't enjoyable to eat. For a chocolate to be delicious and truly enjoyed it needs to be good on the inside and the outside. God cares that our insides are transformed so our outsides are an overflow of what is going on in our hearts and minds. God wants to refine us on the inside so we are delicious and attractive to the world around us inside and out.
Tori's Comments:
"We always thank God for you and pray for you constantly." Do I pray like this?
"ringing out from you to people everywhere" The word of God is infectious. It should be spreading. Do I notice that in my own life?
We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
May God give you grace and peace.
2 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 3 As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. 5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. 6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. 7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.
8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, 9 for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God. 10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
Terrie's Comments:
After the Thessalonians heard the good news they took action. They turned away from idols in their lives... they didn't just cut back or spend more time with God than with their idols, they turned away from them. They realized that serving the one true God meant serving Him only. They were living in the Hope of Jesus Christ coming back and to their heavenly home.
They also couldn't stop talking about this hope. They were excited about the good news of Jesus Christ who saved them from the "terrors" of the coming judgement. They talked so much about it that Paul didn't have to say anything because people were telling him about the Thessalonians and the good news before Paul could open his mouth. These people were changed... inside and outside... They were looking forward to the second coming of Jesus Christ and everyone around them knew it!
So what does my faith look like? Am I so excited about the second coming of Christ and everything he has done for me that those around me hear about it? Do people even notice that I am a follower of Jesus Christ? Do I display that hope in my life?
This past Sunday in my Sunday school class I brought a box of chocolates to class. We were talking about God caring about what you are like on the inside (your thoughts, feelings etc) just as much as what you are like on the outside (your actions). A chocolate needs to taste good on the inside and the outside to be delicious. If a chocolate doesn't taste good on the inside then it isn't enjoyable to eat... if a chocolate doesn't taste good on the outside then it isn't enjoyable to eat. For a chocolate to be delicious and truly enjoyed it needs to be good on the inside and the outside. God cares that our insides are transformed so our outsides are an overflow of what is going on in our hearts and minds. God wants to refine us on the inside so we are delicious and attractive to the world around us inside and out.
Tori's Comments:
"We always thank God for you and pray for you constantly." Do I pray like this?
"ringing out from you to people everywhere" The word of God is infectious. It should be spreading. Do I notice that in my own life?
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Day 9 - Colossians 4:10-18 - Last Day Collecting Knowledge Through Colossians!!
10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. 11 Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been!
12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. 13 I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14 Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. 15 Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
16 After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them.
17 And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.”
18 HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL.
Remember my chains.
May God’s grace be with you.
Tori's Comments:
So someone in the congregation was named Jesus too? I would definitely go by a different name as well :)
And that's the end of Colossians! Here are some of my main things I've learned and been reminded of the past few weeks:
-Our priorities have suddenly switched massively. Life's hard. I will suffer. But I have the Holy Spirit, the righteousness of Christ, the love of the Father all there for me when I do.
- The church is tied together in love, by strings that are none other than Christ himself.
-"Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us."
-NO TURNING BACK
-Peace must RULE in our hearts. Anxiety plagues, Jesus heals and frees.
-Just pray.
Now onto the Thessalonians!!!!
Terrie's Comments:
I am reminded once again by Paul just how precious it is to have other co-workers for Christ in your life. They provide comfort and back you up in prayer.
Let us not forget to pray for each other as we keep our eyes fixed on our heavenly home. Let us pray earnestly, asking God to make our fellow co-workers strong and perfect, fully confident that we are following the whole will of God!
Another awesome letter! I am looking forward to Thinking Through Thessalonians with all of you!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. 13 I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14 Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. 15 Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
16 After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them.
17 And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.”
18 HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL.
Remember my chains.
May God’s grace be with you.
Tori's Comments:
So someone in the congregation was named Jesus too? I would definitely go by a different name as well :)
And that's the end of Colossians! Here are some of my main things I've learned and been reminded of the past few weeks:
-Our priorities have suddenly switched massively. Life's hard. I will suffer. But I have the Holy Spirit, the righteousness of Christ, the love of the Father all there for me when I do.
- The church is tied together in love, by strings that are none other than Christ himself.
-"Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us."
-NO TURNING BACK
-Peace must RULE in our hearts. Anxiety plagues, Jesus heals and frees.
-Just pray.
Now onto the Thessalonians!!!!
Terrie's Comments:
I am reminded once again by Paul just how precious it is to have other co-workers for Christ in your life. They provide comfort and back you up in prayer.
Let us not forget to pray for each other as we keep our eyes fixed on our heavenly home. Let us pray earnestly, asking God to make our fellow co-workers strong and perfect, fully confident that we are following the whole will of God!
Another awesome letter! I am looking forward to Thinking Through Thessalonians with all of you!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Day 8 - Colossians 4:1-9
1 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
7 Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 9 I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that’s happening here.
Terrie's Comments:
Two parts in today's passage pop out at me... verse 2 and verses 5-6.
Being devoted to prayer... with an ALERT MIND and a THANKFUL HEART!
An alert mind... to listen to what God is saying to us... and to listen to the Holy Spirit telling us how we should pray... Prayer is not about emptying our minds it is a time to have a conversation with God. It goes two ways. We should always be prepared to hear from God. We should expect that He is talking to us and will be giving us direction and wisdom.
A Thankful heart... There are so many accounts in the Bible where praise has been a key to victory. Coming to God with a posture of Thanksgiving will place us in a place to be victorious as well. If we can't think of anything else to be thankful for... begin with God's grace that he gave us when he nailed ALL of our sins to the cross with His son! EVERY SINGLE SIN... PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE... they are ALL taken care of!! It is a gift from God that we choose to receive when we make Jesus Lord of our lives :-)
God wants to reach everyone. His message of grace needs to be heard by unbelievers. He cares about how we act and what we say to those around us.
Am I making the most of the opportunities I have to sow into the lives of unbelievers around me?
Tori's Comments:
"Devote yourselves to prayer" is still an area of work for me. And it's something I realize I need to stop saying I need to work on it and just do it. Just pray.
"make the most of every opportunity" can't forget this life isn't about me, that we tasked to spread the good news.
"attractive" was weird wording to me, as the Kingdom's message has not always been welcome but we've preached it anyways. Another phrase used here is "seasoned with salt" which, according to the esword app, could figuratively mean prudence or cautiousness.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
7 Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 9 I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that’s happening here.
Terrie's Comments:
Two parts in today's passage pop out at me... verse 2 and verses 5-6.
Being devoted to prayer... with an ALERT MIND and a THANKFUL HEART!
An alert mind... to listen to what God is saying to us... and to listen to the Holy Spirit telling us how we should pray... Prayer is not about emptying our minds it is a time to have a conversation with God. It goes two ways. We should always be prepared to hear from God. We should expect that He is talking to us and will be giving us direction and wisdom.
A Thankful heart... There are so many accounts in the Bible where praise has been a key to victory. Coming to God with a posture of Thanksgiving will place us in a place to be victorious as well. If we can't think of anything else to be thankful for... begin with God's grace that he gave us when he nailed ALL of our sins to the cross with His son! EVERY SINGLE SIN... PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE... they are ALL taken care of!! It is a gift from God that we choose to receive when we make Jesus Lord of our lives :-)
God wants to reach everyone. His message of grace needs to be heard by unbelievers. He cares about how we act and what we say to those around us.
Am I making the most of the opportunities I have to sow into the lives of unbelievers around me?
Tori's Comments:
"Devote yourselves to prayer" is still an area of work for me. And it's something I realize I need to stop saying I need to work on it and just do it. Just pray.
"make the most of every opportunity" can't forget this life isn't about me, that we tasked to spread the good news.
"attractive" was weird wording to me, as the Kingdom's message has not always been welcome but we've preached it anyways. Another phrase used here is "seasoned with salt" which, according to the esword app, could figuratively mean prudence or cautiousness.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Day 7 - Colossians 3:15-25
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.
20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. 25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.
Tori's Comments:
Peace must RULE in our hearts. Anxiety plagues, Jesus heals and frees.
A few days ago, I let it overtake me, and was reminded again of the beauty and importance of the church. When I broke down, one of my sisters in Christ was able to hold me up and encourage me. She was able to remind me of God and His love and His promises to us when they were clouded from my vision. And later on, I was able to do the same for her as we've been having a few rough days (hence my recent disappearance).
But when we remembered, there was such peace, joy, and love that we spread that it even confounded others. We remembered we had nothing to worry about, that God takes cares of us no matter what. We could, just like this passage, use our situation to point to God and we could sing of His goodness.
Terrie's Comments:
It is amazing how little words can mean so much. In this passage the little word "let" stands out as a word that changes everything. If you miss it you would also be mis-reading and misunderstanding the passage as well. We are to "let" the peace rule in our hearts and "let" the message about Christ fill our lives.
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.
This is not a passive message. It isn't rocket science to "let" something happen. If we are told to "let" something happen then we must also conclude that there are things in our lives that may prevent it from happening.
So today I must ask myself:
Am I "Letting" the Peace that comes from Jesus rule (above all else) in my heart?
And is it the message about Christ that fills my life in all it's richness?
Is there anything that is not "letting" these things happen?
I think that the rest of the passage is a result of letting the peace that comes from Christ rule in our hearts. Everything we do will be to the Glory of Jesus Christ and we will live a life that is full, rich and satisfying. We will learn, as Paul did, to be content in each and every situation because we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.
20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. 25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.
Tori's Comments:
Peace must RULE in our hearts. Anxiety plagues, Jesus heals and frees.
A few days ago, I let it overtake me, and was reminded again of the beauty and importance of the church. When I broke down, one of my sisters in Christ was able to hold me up and encourage me. She was able to remind me of God and His love and His promises to us when they were clouded from my vision. And later on, I was able to do the same for her as we've been having a few rough days (hence my recent disappearance).
But when we remembered, there was such peace, joy, and love that we spread that it even confounded others. We remembered we had nothing to worry about, that God takes cares of us no matter what. We could, just like this passage, use our situation to point to God and we could sing of His goodness.
Terrie's Comments:
It is amazing how little words can mean so much. In this passage the little word "let" stands out as a word that changes everything. If you miss it you would also be mis-reading and misunderstanding the passage as well. We are to "let" the peace rule in our hearts and "let" the message about Christ fill our lives.
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.
This is not a passive message. It isn't rocket science to "let" something happen. If we are told to "let" something happen then we must also conclude that there are things in our lives that may prevent it from happening.
So today I must ask myself:
Am I "Letting" the Peace that comes from Jesus rule (above all else) in my heart?
And is it the message about Christ that fills my life in all it's richness?
Is there anything that is not "letting" these things happen?
I think that the rest of the passage is a result of letting the peace that comes from Christ rule in our hearts. Everything we do will be to the Glory of Jesus Christ and we will live a life that is full, rich and satisfying. We will learn, as Paul did, to be content in each and every situation because we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Monday, January 16, 2017
Day 6 - Colossians 3:1-14
1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Terrie's Comments:
ONE FOCUS - Jesus Christ Alone!!
Focus on things of heaven, learn to know your creator (who is Jesus) and become like Him!
Jesus is ALL THAT MATTERS... and He lives in us.
Now here is the crux of the matter... some place that I feel like I could work on for sure... Making allowance for other people's faults and forgiving everyone who offends me...
This is a great theory but it is one of those theories that would be great if everyone implemented it on the exact same day at exactly the same time. It is so much harder to forgive everyone that offends me... especially when those that offend me usually do it frequently. But it isn't supposed to be just a theory so I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me make this theory more of a reality in my life day to day.
And once again Paul is talking about Love and unity! Clothe ourselves with love which binds us all together in perfect harmony... sounds like the kind of clothes I could use in my life!
Who else struggles with not taking offense, letting go of hurts and clothing themselves in love?? anyone?
Tori's Comments:
Be eternity-focused.
So the difference between abstaining from sinful things and religiously following the law is your heart. I've sacrificed those desires by deciding to follow Jesus. And by wanting to dabble in sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and so many other evil desires, I am looking back, similar to Lot's wife in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.
We need to 'put on' our new nature. We have to do it, consciously work towards keeping it on and remembering the freedom we've been given.
"Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us."
Sorry, one more time:
"Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us."
Wow.
And by putting on that new nature, we're putting on mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and most importantly, love. And if you ask me, I'll take that over lust, greediness, and anger any day.
So I'll move forward, farther into Christ.
No turning back.
Awesome reflections Tori!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Terrie's Comments:
ONE FOCUS - Jesus Christ Alone!!
Focus on things of heaven, learn to know your creator (who is Jesus) and become like Him!
Jesus is ALL THAT MATTERS... and He lives in us.
Now here is the crux of the matter... some place that I feel like I could work on for sure... Making allowance for other people's faults and forgiving everyone who offends me...
This is a great theory but it is one of those theories that would be great if everyone implemented it on the exact same day at exactly the same time. It is so much harder to forgive everyone that offends me... especially when those that offend me usually do it frequently. But it isn't supposed to be just a theory so I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me make this theory more of a reality in my life day to day.
And once again Paul is talking about Love and unity! Clothe ourselves with love which binds us all together in perfect harmony... sounds like the kind of clothes I could use in my life!
Who else struggles with not taking offense, letting go of hurts and clothing themselves in love?? anyone?
Tori's Comments:
Be eternity-focused.
So the difference between abstaining from sinful things and religiously following the law is your heart. I've sacrificed those desires by deciding to follow Jesus. And by wanting to dabble in sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and so many other evil desires, I am looking back, similar to Lot's wife in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.
We need to 'put on' our new nature. We have to do it, consciously work towards keeping it on and remembering the freedom we've been given.
"Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us."
Sorry, one more time:
"Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us."
Wow.
And by putting on that new nature, we're putting on mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and most importantly, love. And if you ask me, I'll take that over lust, greediness, and anger any day.
So I'll move forward, farther into Christ.
No turning back.
Awesome reflections Tori!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Day 5 - Colossians 2:13-23
13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. 18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, 19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
Tori's Comments:
We were dead. Empty and lifeless. God gave us life through His death. He put pep in our steps and joy in our hearts. Gave us purpose. And victory.
We're free from the spiritual powers of this world! Woohoo! And from the law that bound us! Double woohoo! :)
Interesting how this ends.... It makes me assume that you can't heal an internal problem externally, but I still am eager to read what comes next!
Terrie's Comments:
I absolutely LOVE that everything that God has accomplished and wants to accomplish through us is always done by Him. We are just putting our trust in Jesus and becoming a willing vessel for God to use.
We were dead in our sins... We were made alive again BECAUSE GOD nailed our sins to the cross with Jesus!
HE DISARMED rulers and authorities
HE SHAMED them publicly
Christ is the head of the body which grows as GOD NOURISHES it.
JESUS FREED us from the spiritual powers of this world.
It is in Jesus alone that we have ultimate FREEDOM FROM EVIL.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. 18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, 19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
Tori's Comments:
We were dead. Empty and lifeless. God gave us life through His death. He put pep in our steps and joy in our hearts. Gave us purpose. And victory.
We're free from the spiritual powers of this world! Woohoo! And from the law that bound us! Double woohoo! :)
Interesting how this ends.... It makes me assume that you can't heal an internal problem externally, but I still am eager to read what comes next!
Terrie's Comments:
I absolutely LOVE that everything that God has accomplished and wants to accomplish through us is always done by Him. We are just putting our trust in Jesus and becoming a willing vessel for God to use.
We were dead in our sins... We were made alive again BECAUSE GOD nailed our sins to the cross with Jesus!
HE DISARMED rulers and authorities
HE SHAMED them publicly
Christ is the head of the body which grows as GOD NOURISHES it.
JESUS FREED us from the spiritual powers of this world.
It is in Jesus alone that we have ultimate FREEDOM FROM EVIL.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Day 4 - Colossians 2:1-12
1 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. 2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. 3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. 5 For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
Terrie's Comments:
Paul states that he has agonized over believers he hasn't even met yet. He so much wants every believer to GET THIS! He wants us to understand without a doubt that we are no longer living in mystery about God. God's mysterious plan IS Jesus! Jesus lives in us and he will lead us into all truth.
It is all about Jesus... nothing more and nothing less. All power and authority comes from Jesus. We have been burried with Christ and our sinful nature has been cut away. We are raised to NEW LIFE when we trust the might power of God who raised Jesus from the dead!
Tori's Comments:
Sorry for my hiatus, but I'm back!
"encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love" We should love each other as passionately as Christ loves us... which is definitely saying something. And in this world of selfishness, I think this would play a big role in witnessing as our ferocious love for each other drowns out everything else.
And I really love the visual of us tied together, like we're all connected by strings that we can never let go of, even in the midst of disagreement or frustration. We're still connected. And Christ himself is the string that holds us together.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
4 I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. 5 For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
Terrie's Comments:
Paul states that he has agonized over believers he hasn't even met yet. He so much wants every believer to GET THIS! He wants us to understand without a doubt that we are no longer living in mystery about God. God's mysterious plan IS Jesus! Jesus lives in us and he will lead us into all truth.
It is all about Jesus... nothing more and nothing less. All power and authority comes from Jesus. We have been burried with Christ and our sinful nature has been cut away. We are raised to NEW LIFE when we trust the might power of God who raised Jesus from the dead!
Tori's Comments:
Sorry for my hiatus, but I'm back!
"encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love" We should love each other as passionately as Christ loves us... which is definitely saying something. And in this world of selfishness, I think this would play a big role in witnessing as our ferocious love for each other drowns out everything else.
And I really love the visual of us tied together, like we're all connected by strings that we can never let go of, even in the midst of disagreement or frustration. We're still connected. And Christ himself is the string that holds us together.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Friday, January 13, 2017
Day 3 - Colossians 1:24-29
24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. 25 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. 26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. 27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. 29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.
Tori's Comments:
Our priorities have suddenly switched massively. Just like the scripture we read recently about the secret to being content, we now realize what really matters in this life.
Life's hard. I will suffer. But I have the Holy Spirit, the righteousness of Christ, the love of the Father all there for me when I do. And when I think about that, it's all that matters.
This is a message that needs to be spread. A message that gives freedom and hope and everything you could ever need. And you hold it right in your hands.
What will you do with it?
Terrie's Comments:
AND THE SECRET IS FINALLY OUT...
Jesus Christ lives in us. Giving us authority, power and wisdom. Making us perfect in our relationship with God.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. 29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.
Tori's Comments:
Our priorities have suddenly switched massively. Just like the scripture we read recently about the secret to being content, we now realize what really matters in this life.
Life's hard. I will suffer. But I have the Holy Spirit, the righteousness of Christ, the love of the Father all there for me when I do. And when I think about that, it's all that matters.
This is a message that needs to be spread. A message that gives freedom and hope and everything you could ever need. And you hold it right in your hands.
What will you do with it?
Terrie's Comments:
AND THE SECRET IS FINALLY OUT...
Jesus Christ lives in us. Giving us authority, power and wisdom. Making us perfect in our relationship with God.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Day 2 - Colossians 1:15-23
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.
Terrie's Comments:
Everything is reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. We are at peace with God through Jesus Christ. We have been brought into the presence of God through Jesus Christ. We are Holy and Blameless without a single fault we stand in God's presence all because of what God did through Jesus Christ, His son on the cross.
We MUST CONTINUE to BELIEVE this TRUTH and STAND FIRM in it! Once you are sure about the Good News DON'T drift away from it.
It is so easy to drift in our busy lives. We need to remember who we are in Jesus Christ, what He has provided for us and all the benefits we have received through Jesus and His death on the Cross. We have assurance not based on anything we have done but all because of what Jesus did on our behalf!
God is always and peace with me, he always sees me as holy, blameless and without a single fault ... This stance is not based on anything I have done or will do but all on what Jesus has already done for me on my behalf. This is the Good News!!!
God is not condemning me so why am I so hard on myself? Anyone else harder on yourself than God is? Perhaps we need to stop that in 2017. Start seeing ourselves and others the way God does through Jesus Christ!
Tori's Comments:
I love this simple statement of who God is. It's a beautiful way to state how Christ fits into that and where we come in.
Enemy. God loved me when I had made myself His enemy. Loved me so much He died for me... even though I was the one who had pushed away...
We are holy and blameless, not bogged down by shame or guilt anymore!!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.
Terrie's Comments:
Everything is reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. We are at peace with God through Jesus Christ. We have been brought into the presence of God through Jesus Christ. We are Holy and Blameless without a single fault we stand in God's presence all because of what God did through Jesus Christ, His son on the cross.
We MUST CONTINUE to BELIEVE this TRUTH and STAND FIRM in it! Once you are sure about the Good News DON'T drift away from it.
It is so easy to drift in our busy lives. We need to remember who we are in Jesus Christ, what He has provided for us and all the benefits we have received through Jesus and His death on the Cross. We have assurance not based on anything we have done but all because of what Jesus did on our behalf!
God is always and peace with me, he always sees me as holy, blameless and without a single fault ... This stance is not based on anything I have done or will do but all on what Jesus has already done for me on my behalf. This is the Good News!!!
God is not condemning me so why am I so hard on myself? Anyone else harder on yourself than God is? Perhaps we need to stop that in 2017. Start seeing ourselves and others the way God does through Jesus Christ!
Tori's Comments:
I love this simple statement of who God is. It's a beautiful way to state how Christ fits into that and where we come in.
Enemy. God loved me when I had made myself His enemy. Loved me so much He died for me... even though I was the one who had pushed away...
We are holy and blameless, not bogged down by shame or guilt anymore!!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Collecting Knowledge Through Colossians! - Day 1 - Colossians 1:1-14
1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
2 We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.
May God our Father give you grace and peace.
3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.
6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
7 You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. 8 He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Tori's Comments:
Where does our love and faith come from? Our confidence in what Christ has done for us and the promises of God!
COMPLETE knowledge of His will? Kind of a scary prospect, no?
"you will grow as you learn to know God better and better." Our walk with Christ doesn't immediately stop once we become saved. Or once we've read the entire bible. We should be constantly be digging deeper, growing spiritually, learning more, and become always closer to God.
Terrie's Comments:
I feel like if I wanted to rev up my prayer life that Paul would be a great teacher. In each of his letters there are several prayers that he prayed for believers and unbelievers alike. Colossians is no different. I will show you what I mean. From the first 14 verses of Colossians I could learn to pray the following prayer regularly for my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ:
When you hear of a brother or sister that is faithful and extending love to God's people you can pray like this:
"I give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For I have heard of _____ faith in Christ Jesus and ____ love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from ____ confident hope of what God has reserved for ___ in heaven. ____ have had this expectation ever since ___ first heard the truth of the Good News."
As we pray for other brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ Biblically I believe that we will also go deeper in our understanding of God's grace toward us and how great His love is!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
2 We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.
May God our Father give you grace and peace.
3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.
6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
7 You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. 8 He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Tori's Comments:
Where does our love and faith come from? Our confidence in what Christ has done for us and the promises of God!
COMPLETE knowledge of His will? Kind of a scary prospect, no?
"you will grow as you learn to know God better and better." Our walk with Christ doesn't immediately stop once we become saved. Or once we've read the entire bible. We should be constantly be digging deeper, growing spiritually, learning more, and become always closer to God.
Terrie's Comments:
I feel like if I wanted to rev up my prayer life that Paul would be a great teacher. In each of his letters there are several prayers that he prayed for believers and unbelievers alike. Colossians is no different. I will show you what I mean. From the first 14 verses of Colossians I could learn to pray the following prayer regularly for my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ:
When you hear of a brother or sister that is faithful and extending love to God's people you can pray like this:
"I give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For I have heard of _____ faith in Christ Jesus and ____ love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from ____ confident hope of what God has reserved for ___ in heaven. ____ have had this expectation ever since ___ first heard the truth of the Good News."
For all of our brothers and sisters in Christ you can pray like this:
"I ask God to give ___ complete knowledge of his will and to give ___ spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way ___ live will always honor and please the Lord, and ____ lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, ___ will grow as ____ learn to know God better and better."
and like this:
"I also pray that ______ will be strengthened with all his glorious power so ____ will have all the endurance and patience ___ need. May ____ be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled ___ to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins."
As we pray for other brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ Biblically I believe that we will also go deeper in our understanding of God's grace toward us and how great His love is!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
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