In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. — John 1:1-2, 14
And He was the Word.
Jesus, the Word, was God.
And He was with God in the beginning.
Jesus is our Word of Life.
This week we traveled to Paso Robles.
This is Fratelli vineyards.
God provided us with a beautiful time to connect with friends old and new.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. — Colossians 2:6-7
A reminder that we are about to celebrate Advent, the coming of Jesus' birth.
God asks us to continue to live our lives in Him.
Rooted and build up in Jesus.
Strengthened in the faith as the Bible teaches.
And as our parents and Sunday school teachers taught us.
Overflowing with thankfulness for Jesus' sacrifice.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. — Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, we are thankful.
We love and serve God with reverence.
And so we worship God with awe.
We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
And we are praising God for His mercy and love.
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 3:17
Giving thanks in whatever I do.
And doing everything in the name of Jesus.
Being thankful in all of my words just doesn't come naturally.
And doing every deed in the name of the Lord Jesus takes more than I usually give.
But I thank God through Jesus for giving me His Word.
And for guiding me each day.
And for not giving up on me.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. — Psalm 100:5
He brings trials and blessings our way.
And He holds our hands to help us through whatever comes our way.
His love endures forever.
His faithfulness continues to all generations.
Praise the Lord!
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. — Psalm 100:5
A time to give thanks to God for His love and care for us.
Our friends brought a cheese board and homemade bread.
And the flowers our neighbors sent us were beautiful.
It was a perfect day to eat outside.
And when the sun went down and it got cold, Kirk, lit the firepit.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. — 1 Chronicles 16:34
And He has given us everything we have.
He is our Creator.
And our Provider.
Our Healer.
Today we give thanks as a country for our great God.
I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge. — 1 Corinthians 1:4-5
And for our beautiful creation - the world God has created for us.
There are other things I forget to thank Him for.
But He still provides everything I need and then some.
We are blessed beyond measure.
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. — Psalm 95:1-2
And shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Come before God with thanksgiving.
And praise Him with music and with songs of joy.
He is our God, and we will praise Him!
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[a] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. — John 1:18
Only Jesus has seen His Father.
And Jesus has made Him known to us.
After all, Jesus is the one and only Son.
He is himself God.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. — Psalm 1:1-2
This year we'll have some new faces around our table.
As we welcome some friends of our family.
And friends of friends.
We are thankful for the blessings we've been given.
And for the law of the Lord.
Help me to meditate on it day and night.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. — Psalm 119:105
It shines a light on the path I walk each day.
So I can see the way more clearly.
It acts like a lamp for my feet.
Our neighbors brought us these beautiful flowers yesterday.
They were a gift to thank Kirk for watching over their house while they were out of town.
How thoughtful!
We are thankful for those acts of kindness.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. — Matthew 6:6
Not to be obtrusive with our prayers.
Not to expect an earthly reward.
Yet the Lord knows what I'm going to ask well before I form the words.
And He knows what I need most, even when I can't see clearly.
Thank You, Lord, for hearing my prayers and for giving me more than I can ask or imagine.
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. — 2 Peter 2:15-16
What a fun show!
Thry even offered a signature cocktail.
So of course, we each had to try. one.
It is God's will that by doing good we should silence ignorant and foolish people.
God commands us not to use our freedom as a cover-up for evil.
But to live as God's slaves.
Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. — Colossians 1:9 |
And we ask God dto fill us up with His Holy Spirit.
And with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
Giving us the understanding that the Spirit gives.
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 1 John 2:15-16
But all have sinned tha fall short of His glory.
As ar result, everything in the world now comes from the viewpoint of sin.
Lust of the eyes, pride of life, lust of the flesh - all come from the sin of the world.
So God commands us not to love the things of the world.
Instead, to love God and His son, Jesus.
He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. — 2 Corinthians 3:6
His covenant with mankind.
With His Holy Spisrit.
Which gives us life.
Life everlasting through Jesus.
Here's a rendition of the ark of the covenant.
A reminder to us of God's love and promises.
God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ — Job 37:5-6
He speaks to us in marvelous ways.
And He does great things that we can't beging to understand.
He tells the snow when to fall on teh ground.
God tells the rain when to shower and when to downpour.
He is mighty and majestic.
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” — Joshua 24:15
Everyone else will need to choose who they will serve.
And whether they decide to serve the gods of other lands.
Or the one true God.
He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. — Ephesians 1:9-10
He purposed this in Christ.
To bring unity to all things in heaven.
And to all things on earth under Christ.
Yesterday my colleagues decorated my desk for my birthday.
And they gave me chocolates and a book I had looked at ordering for myself.
Nothing like celebrating all week long!
I am blessed.
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. — 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Even those who hate us and want war instead of peace.
Thank you, Lord, for each person.
Everyone is valuable and precious in your sight.
We ask for your intercession that wars may cease and conflicts may end.
So your peace will cover the world.
And so all will live in godliness and holiness.
Worshiping you as Lord and King.
He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. — 2 Corinthians 3:6
As ministers of a new covenant.
Not of the letter of the law, but of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit gives us life.
And encourages us to share that new life with others.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. — Ephesians 1:18
That we may know the hope to which Jesus calls us.
And the riches of His glorious inheritance.
The inheritance God gives us in His holy people.
We are in the process of calling a new pastor to lead our church.
That God would use that person to guide our congregation to know the hope of Jesus.
And to hear His calling for our lives.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. — 1 Peter 2:9
Just six of us showed up, but it was a gorgeous day.
And we had a fun time walking around various neighborhoods and over some fun bridges.
Plus getting to catch up and chat with friends old and new.
Walking by homes of some of our church members.
Ending in the rose garden at Balboa Park.
And then getting a picture by the fountain.
We are God's special possession.
Gifted to declare His praise.
He has called us out of darkness.
Into His wonderful light!
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. — Romans 13:1
We don't, but voters in Chula Vista will decide who fills the vacant City Attorney seat.
And voters in the county's fourth district will decide on their next supervisor in a run-off election between the final two candidates.
Yesterday I spent the day on jury duty.
I listened to potential jurors being questioned for a criminal trial.
A lady was charged with vehicular manslaughter in the death of a 17-year-old.
I was grateful to be released from serving.
Especially since they were going to have to look at autopsy photos.
I pray for the family of the victim and also for the lady being charged.
Apparently no drugs or alcohol were involved.
Kirk think she must have been speeding.
How horrible - I'd guess she would be remorseful for the rest of her life.
Even so, I think serving as a juror and voting are two important ways we can serve our city and recognize the governing authority that God has established.
