Holy and Dearly Loved People

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. — Colossians 3:12

We are God's chosen people.

He loves us.

He makes us holy through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus.

God calls us to clothe ourselves with compassion.

And to put on kindness.

He commands us to be humble. 

He humbles us when we start to get proud.

The Lord shows us gentleness and mercy.

And He calls us to be gentle and merciful to others.

God is patient with me and asks me to be patient with those around me.

Marvelous Ways

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 

God's voice thunders and roars.

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.

God's People

All God’s people here send their greetings. — 2 Corinthians 13:13

And all God's people show their love to others.

They support and uphold each other.

Providing comfort in times of sadness.

Rejoicing together in times of joy.

And all God's people send their greetings to Christians far and wide.

We Are Fellow Citizens With God's People

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household. — Ephesians 2:19 

As children of God, we are no longer foreigners.

We are no longer strangers.

Now we are fellow citizens with God's people.

And we are also members of His household.

He has adopted us into His family.

And He has a wonderful plan for each of us.

Plans to prosper us and not to harm us.

Plans to give us hope and a future.

The Faithful and True Witness

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. — Revelation 3:14, 20 

John was commanded to write to the seven churches.

These are the words of the one true God.

The Amen and the faithful.

The true witness.

The ruler of God's creation.

Our Lord and Father.

My Only Aim Is to Finish the Race

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. — Acts 20:24 

My one goal is to finish the race God has given me.

To complete the task the Lord has set before me.

The task of testifying to the good news of Jesus.

And God's grace and mercy for me.

My life is worth nothing in comparison.

My Savior is the giver of life.

Clothe Yourselves with Compassion

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. — Colossians 3:12 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

— an Irish Blessing

Your Word

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. — Psalm 119:105

God's Word is a lamp that lightens my way.

Shining His radiance on my way so my feet can see where to go.

Scripture lights my path so I don't have to stumble in the darkness.

When I'm not sure which direction to head, God's Word helps illumine the right way.

Guiding me in the direction He would have me go.

Shining the light and love of Jesus into my life.

A Royal Priesthood

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

On Friday, my wonderful coworkers took me out to lunch.

Here we are at UTC - most of our marketing team plus a friend who drove over from another building to join us.

A beautiful afternoon in sunny San Diego.

God has blessed me with fun coworkers who enjoy having a good time together.

We are a royal priesthood, a chosen people.

As Christians, we are a holy nation, God's special possession.

Called to declare His praises!

Love All of God's Family

And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more. — I Thessalonians 4:11 

Paul urged the people of Thessalonica to love all people in God's family.

And to continue to do so more and more.

Tonight I sang with our San Diego Street Choir.

We praised God together and worshiped Him through song.

Our orchestra accompanied the choir.

The choristers were overwhelmed with blessings from the music.

They were so appreciative to have three of us there from our choir.

Sunday we'll have even more.

God urges us to love others more and more.

Help me, Lord, to do just that.

All People Will See God's Salvation

Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation. — Luke 3:5-6

We are hiring a social media specialist at work.

But in this time of COVID-19, not too many people are ready to move to a new job.

We have received fewer applicants than usual.

Even so, I know God will provide us with just the right person.

So I am asking for His wisdom as we search.

The mountains we encounter in life will be made low.

God will provide us with a straight path and will guide us along the smooth road.

Eventually everyone will see His salvation in Jesus.

Rejoice Always, Pray Continually

Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. — 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

Next week we celebrate Thanksgiving.

It will probably be just our family this year as we social distance for covid-19.

Even so, we will have a chance to give thanks to God for all the blessings He has given us.

We give thanks each day, praying continually.

In all circumstances we rejoice.

Knowing this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus.

No Longer Strangers

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household. — Ephesians 2:19

We are fellow citizens with God's people.

And we are members of His household.

He calls us friends.

No longer strangers.

No longer foreigners.

God has claimed us as His own.

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are adopted into His family.

Giving Thanks for You

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. — Ephesians 1:15-16

I am thankful for my friends who are praying for me and my CT scan today.

And for the nurse Bela who managed to get the IV in my arm after a couple of tries.

She even prayed when it didn't work the first time, and I joined her.

She told me about a doctor she used to work with who also prayed for his patients.

What a blessing!

I should have the results in a couple of weeks.

If everything is ok, they will send me a letter.

My doctor said I'm probably fine, but we just needed to make sure so we don't worry since I have a slightly swollen area in my neck.

I have not stopped giving thanks for my friends and family members and prayer warriors, remembering them in my prayers.

Free People

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
— 1 Peter 2:16

God calls us to himself.

When we follow Jesus as our Savior, He frees us from sin.

So God tells us to live as free people.

But that does not mean that we use that freedom simply to cover up evil.

Instead, we are slaves to God, following His will in our lives.

Here we are, celebrating Thanksgiving together as a family several years ago.

We are thankful to God for the freedom He has given us.