Thoughts ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZONPRTOFF dateof comment Look Inside Data Conditions:Order: Dateof Comment 03/18/2024 Paul was called to be a servant of many churches: Colossians 1:25 GNT 25 And I have been made a servant of the church by God, who gave me this task to perform for your good. It is the task of fully proclaiming his message, Paul said he was happy about his sufferings: Colossians 1:24 Good News Translation 24 And now I am happy about my sufferings for you, for by means of my physical sufferings I am helping to complete what still remains of Christ's sufferings on behalf of his body, the church. I said to myself that he would have to be a lunatic to like suffering. Even Jesus did not want it: Matthew 26:39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” God then told me to dig deeper into the life of Paul. I do know that even Peter was amazed on how much Paul knew about the things of God and he had an awesome understanding of Jesus Christ. He learned to love people at a high level, and he also understood that whenever he would do what his King asked of him that the enemy would oppose him at every turn. The enemy will not mess with you if you are outside of the will of God. But look out for what he will try to do to you if you are doing his will. Suffering is the greatest tool the enemy uses to discourage us and make us quit. They say that persecution makes strong Christians because the weak ones will abandon ship. Paul saw how his suffering was growing the various churches he wrote letters to. He also knew how you handle suffering also strengthens the body. He was joyous about the results his suffering was having on the churches. We should all love people like Paul did in a way that we would use our suffering to grow the faith of our brother and sisters. I may be wrong on this, but Paul was a great part of this: Colossians 1:26-27 Good News Translation proclaiming his message, 26 which is the secret he hid through all past ages from all human beings but has now revealed to his people. 27 God's plan is to make known his secret to his people, this rich and glorious secret which he has for all peoples. And the secret is that Christ is in you, which means that you will share in the glory of God. Up to this time there is only the Old Testament. I think all this he is talking about is revealed in the yet to be created New Testament that will be added to God's Word. We definitely need this if we are going to be servants like Paul was: Colossians 3:12 (New International Version) Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 02/13/2024 Paul new the importance of love and how it can empower a church and bring souls to Jesus Christ: 1 Corinthians 13 New Living Translation 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Man, look at all the things love entails: Love is patient and kind - I think of all the grandparents who have prayed for 30+ years for their children and grandchildren being patient and kind to their children with the faith that God will bring them home. This goes for wives who are praying for their husbands for that day of salvation. Putting up with people doing stupid things can challenge our patience and kindness. Only love can soften these feelings. There are times though when patience or kindness is not an option. Jesus demonstrated this when he threw out the money changers at the beginning and end of his ministry. They were degrading the temple which should represent the Father. Some of the spiritual battles we face may require our immediate attention also. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud- Jesus is the only one who can sit at the right hand of the Father, and he knew that place was for him. But he came to earth as a servant that washed feet. He spent his ministry bringing souls into God's Kingdom. The rest of the time he was training the disciples to take over when he had to be the last sacrifice for our sins. He did this while the best seat in the house was his. If only we could encourage people and spread the gospel with the attitude Jesus had. This is what love does. It does not demand its own way - I am not into basketball, but I have heard about one of the Denver Nugget players. He is extremely good at what he does but he has found out that using the skills of other players along with his talent makes him even look better. If you want a powerful church, then you need to learn to work with other people. God intended for us to combine our talents to further his Kingdom. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged- This is what the forgiveness of sins about. I have a lot of respect for a person when the action of one person cannot get under their skin. When we truly understand how we behave and how Jesus handles it, we can apply that principle to others who seem to get under our skin. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out - I do love this one, but God's timing and planning may seem like he is not doing anything about the truth coming out. I do believe we are going to see a lot of truth coming out in 2024. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance - People who are praying for other people face the attack of the enemy who wants us to quit and go to a place where God does not want us. This is not love but self -pity. True love is like praying for someone's salvation who continues to fight it. Like I have said before, some have prayed 30+ years with what seems like nothing is happening. It is so cool how they never give up. Their faith keeps their hope alive even if that person wants nothing to do with you. I have witnessed it in our ministry God gave me. There was a grandfather who was prayed for those 30+ years for salvation. When his granddaughter read one of these comments to him his barrier dropped. He is a different man serving Jesus now. Keep praying and there will be event that will change their world too. Never forget about the ultimate love verse: John 3:16 (New Living Translation) “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 01/17/2023 Paul wrote this one because he knows that God is not pleased whenever we complain. I can relate complaining with being ungrateful. Paul also knows that God does not like arguing either. But what determines what is an argument or speaking up against evil. The latter is required of us. If love is used like Jesus did and with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, everyone had difficult time challenging his logic. He also knows that man can be bullheaded and he did not stand there trying to beat us up with the truth. He speaks the truth and lets it go. Paul tells us how we can please God: Philippians 2:14-16 (New Living Translation) Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. People watch us every day to see what we are doing. They notice if our lives reflect those of Jesus Christ. Darkness will flee but those who God has called will want what we have. We then can share the good news with them. In the end we can say, "I am proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless." 10/06/2022 Proverbs 27:1 (New Living Translation) Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring. When my buddy witnesses to each gang, he would always mention the fact, "No one is promised tomorrow, not even me. This may be the only opportunity to give your heart to Jesus Christ." Tomorrow is a gift from God. It is even more exciting if we are serving Jesus. Don't take tomorrow for granted. But we all know that many times tomorrow brings unexpected circumstances. Things can break down, an investment can go sour, or even people can change the outcome of tomorrow. Whatever happens, tomorrow could be the start of a new trial. This is why many of the mature Christians start the new day out with prayer. It can bind the enemy from coming against us. It can bring wisdom to catch and solve problems. The coolest thing that could happen is when the people you are working with fit in with your plans. Always make sure God is part of any plan you come up with tomorrow and be willing to change them if he says so. He may be protecting you from pending disaster. As we all should, start out the new day with thanksgiving. This pleases God and he will be more likely to answer your prayers. Have a blessed tomorrow. 08/16/2022 Psalm 119:14 (New Living Translation) I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. This is an interesting verse in the fact that I would rather have his riches. After all the Pharisees went to school to learn about Gods laws. I am old enough that I do not want to do that. Even reading about the things about the law in the old testament was not the type of reading that excites me. One reason why I never became a lawyer. I am thankful that Jesus Christ came to free us from the bondage of the law. Everything placed in the law was designed to protect us from ourselves and to honor the true God. Gods own word can still guide us to live the life he wants. Man though has a tendency to do what he wants ignoring God's law. This always get us into trouble. One thing I have noticed is that those individuals who really love God get excited about reading his word. I have seen the excitement those people have finding new truth and wisdom from reading God's word. I am not a reader at all but I have to admit I have missed many things while reading. When they are Revealed later, I ask myself, "Why did I not see this before?" This is the way God invented his word. Even mature Christians have not discovered everything in God's word. Psalm 119 talks a lot about our attitude of what God commands of us. We need to have the attitude these people had towards God's word. Psalm 119:30 (New Living Translation) I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations. Psalm 119:160 (New Living Translation) The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever 07/24/2022 Psalm 119:60 (New Living Translation) I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands. Boy, I would love to say this was true for my life all the time. But a busy life can create delay. We were put on this earth to worship and serve God so lets not forget this. 02/24/2022 Proof God hangs out in the parks with the gangs and wants to bless them after their hearts are changed. Isaiah 66 1 This is what the Lord? says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place? ? 2? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine.[a] I, the Lord, have spoken! "I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.
