And Let There Be Peace

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him," (Colossians 3:15-17 NIV). 

This scripture is filled with wisdom for believers and it seemed so appropriate for this time of the year. We come off of Thanksgiving where our focus was on being grateful. These verses say to be thankful and to sing with gratitude in our hearts, and to give thanks to God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.

This scripture prepares us for the Advent season by calling the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts, reminding us that as members of one body we are called to peace.

This scripture speaks of our duties as members of one body that include admonishing one another with wisdom, and worship with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts to God.

Whatever we do, whether in word or deed we are to do it in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Let us focus on the wisdom of these verses as we enter the Advent season. Let us be encouragers to others and lift them up with thanksgiving for the things they do well. Let us fill our hearts with gladness as we sing songs with thankfulness in our hearts. Let us sing the Christmas carols we love with joy in our hearts. And let there be peace this season in our hearts. Amen.

Thankful For Family

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus," (1Thessalonians 5:18 NIV).

Our plates were full on Thanksgiving Day. We gave thanks to God that twelve of us were able to feast together on a cold but sunny Thanksgiving Day. We had an evening meal that filled our bellies with plenty and more. 

God has richly blessed us with a wonderful family and a family that is growing. It's a nice problem to need an extra table and chairs to help seat everyone. We'll squeeze a little closer when Christmas comes and the whole family will be together. 

We had lots of laughter and fun exchanges. And that's the way it is supposed to be with family. There was also a lot of getting-to-know-you-chatter that benefited us all.

God created family as the best way to care for each other and wasn't He wise! Family works so well, even when pieces come apart and others join in. Family works like a puzzle, when the pieces come together they always fit. And that's a good feeling. To know you belong. God is indeed very wise. Thank you God, for family.

Thankful for Friends

"Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song," (Psalm 95:2 NIV). 

When I moved to Ankeny I didn't know anyone here. We moved to be closer to our youngest grandchildren in Grimes. Then, with John's encouragement, I started going to aqua fitness at a local fitness center. There I have made many friends. I'm so thankful for friends. It is nice to see a friendly face when I arrive and nice to have friends who share my desire to exercise in warm water. Unfortunately the water isn't always warm so together we complain briefly, then get to work.

When we found a church to attend we were blessed by new friends. Attending a Bible study helped me make new friends who share the love of Jesus. Just as I've found many of my aqua fitness ladies also share.This is what makes a tighter bond between friends, I've found. I'm so thankful for new friends.

I miss my old friends from the Marshalltown area. There are many I stay in touch with. I'm thankful for those I still see occasionally from my Bible study group and from my former place of work. Life changes and so do our friends. I especially miss those special church friends we left.

It is important to have friends I can share things with and who care about me, as I care about them. Thank you, friends.

"A friend loves at all times," (Proverbs 17:17 NIV).

Thankful for His Love

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations," (Psalm 100 NIV).

This psalm fills my heart with love. It is about joy, gladness, singing, knowing whose we are, thanksgiving, praise and love. God's faithfulness endures forever through all generations. (Praise God!)

This is the time of year to gather all our thoughts and give thanks for the many blessings we have in our lives. Gratitude fills every inch of my heart as I consider how gracious God has been to me in the past year. I hope your heart is as full as mine. God is so good. He loves me more than anyone else ever could. I'm so grateful for His love. God created me to be who I am and He loves me that way. I hope you know He loves you so much that He gave His Son to die on the cross for you. That is a great love!

If your heart is aching, due to COVID or something else, consider how much God loves you and thank Him for all He has done for you. A grateful heart sings praises and worships God. Life isn't always easy but if you walk hand in hand with God it is bearable. May God give you comfort for whatever is hurting in you. God's love surpasses all understanding and it endures forever. 

Glory to God in the highest!

The Spirit of Power

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner," (2 Timothy 1: 7-8a NIV).

Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter to Timothy, offering encouragement and directions on how to be a good Christian leader. Paul gives good advice to us, as well. He says not to be timid but use the power of the Holy Spirit to fill us with love and self-discipline. Then we will be the leadership God wants to find in our churches.

These verses speak to me, Miss Timidity. I've always been shy and timid when meeting new people though I've gotten better as I grow older. I'd still say I am shy. The scripture says God has not given us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power. With God I can do all things! 

I am not ashamed to testify about our Lord. That's what I do in every one of these blogs. I hope to bring God alive and closer to each reader. My purpose in writing this blog is to encourage each believer.

Paul also encourages Timothy not to be afraid of being arrested for his faith. Paul wants him to be brave and use the spirit of power God has given him.

Be brave today, all Christians, use the strength God gives us and proclaim that God is alive within us, making us powerful and filled with love and self-discipline. Amen!

Stumbling Blocks

We just returned from a week with our grandchildren in Virginia. We learned some of the roads they frequently travel to school and to soccer practice and games as we took our grandchildren there. The roads in Virginia are lined by trees so it was hard to find markers to help find our way. Eventually, some locations became familiar but the trees seemed to make it difficult. I love the trees. It is so different from Iowa where you can look for miles over fields. 

We depended on GPS to get us where we were going but our grandson Graham was even better at steering us in the right direction. He knows his way around any where we wanted to go. (He turns 11 today on 11/11/21.) The same way his dad knew his way around Iowa when he was a boy. 

As Christians we often find ourselves facing stumbling blocks on our path of life. The stumbling blocks can be sins, temptations, greed, or an evil tongue. They get in our way of achieving perfection. That's why we need Jesus. Jesus brought us forgiveness.

"We all stumble in many ways," (James 3:2 NIV). 

May all your stumbling blocks be small and insignificant as you walk through your day. God bless you.

Immeasurably!

What a wonderful word. Immeasurably. Think about that word in relationship to God and you. What a wonderful word it is. Without measure. Without bounds or edges. Unable to measure, it is so massive. That's what God can do! Beyond what we can ever imagine! And His power is available to us, in us, and through us. God works immeasurably. I love that word.

It is expansive, majestic, wonderful, exciting, hope-filled, and marvelous. Like the sand on the shore and the water in the sea, and the stars in the sky! God gives us His all!

The poetic scripture from the Bible that follows, tells us of His ability.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen," (Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV).

And because God is so giving and withholds nothing from us-when it is in His will, we will praise Him with our whole heart. We will give Him glory for all of the "immeasurably more" that He can do. Let us give God the glory for ever and ever more. Amen.

November Arrives

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 4:4-7 NIV).

What a wonderful welcome to November! Our oak tree leaves sparkled like gold in the sunshine yesterday. The leaves of all the trees have finally gotten their fall color and are truly beautiful.

This is a month of thanksgiving and the scripture reminds us that we can turn to God with all our petitions in prayer, with thanksgiving. It is a good month to pause and give thanks for all that is good in our lives. And that's a lot. Rejoice!

Scripture tells us to be gentle, and not to be anxious about anything. That is a good reminder for this time of year. With the busy holidays ahead.

Let's take time during this month of November to rejoice in the Lord always, to be gentle with others, and to pray. Then the Lord, our God of peace, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. What a precious gift to have during November and always.

May God bless you and keep you with His peace that passes all understanding.

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