For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. — 1 John 3:11
We have written it in our hearts.
And bind it around our foreheads.
And post it on our doorposts.
So that at all times we can be reminded to love others.
Just as God has commanded us from the beginning.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. — 2 Corinthians 5:19-20
We had the pool almost all to themselves.
What a beautiful day.
God was reconciling us to himself in Christ.
He wasn't counting our sins against us.
We are Christ's ambassadors.
God calls us to be reconciled to Him.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. — 1 Corinthians 1:18
It reminds us of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice for me.
The pain and agony Christ suffered so I can live with Him in heaven some day.
He paid the price that I owed.
He paid my ransom.
And He rescued me from death.
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who don't Jesus.
But to those of us being saved, it is the power of God.
His amazing power and grace.
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. — 1 John 3:11
And we have known it from the beginning.
He has written it in our hearts.
But we still manage to ignore it.
God commands us to love each other.
Even those who appear to be unloveable.
Help me, Lord, to love others.
My friend Lainie created this garden installation in her yard for Valentine's Day.
Too cute!
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. — 2 Corinthians 5:19-20
Instead, He reconciled the world to Himself in Christ.
He reconciled me to Himself through Jesus.
Before I ever turned to Him, God had a plan for my life in Christ.
He has committed to me the message of reconciliation.
So I am now Christ's ambassador.
Just as though God made His appeal through me.
So Paul implores me to be reconciled to God.
This is Paul's message on behalf of Jesus Christ.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. — 1 John 1:5
God is light.
In Him there is no darkness at all.
One day last week we headed over to this pool.
We arrived about 9:05 in the morning, and we had the whole pool (three of them, actually) to ourselves.
I went over to another pool to swim laps while Kirk and Abby enjoyed floating around this one.
God is good.
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ. — Colossians 4:3
That God will use us to proclaim His message.
That He will give us the words to share the gospel of Jesus.
And the mystery that is His mercy and grace.
Paving the way for us to live with Him in heaven one day.
Yesterday, Abby and I went over to the Y to swim after church.
This was the first week we didn't need reservations to swim.
And even though there were lots of families, there were 3 lap lanes free when we arrived.
So we each had our own lane.
The water was warm and refreshing.
The sun was shining.
God gave us a beautiful afternoon together.
Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. — Colossians 3:16 NLT
And richness.
He wants us to let Christ's message fill our lives.
So our lives in turn can be a place that glorifies him.
When happens, it helps to have a wise counselor nearby.
God commands us to teach and counsel each other.
Not with our own wisdom, but with the wisdom that God alone can give.
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ. — Colossians 4:3
If so, it would be at stage 0.
So hopefully she would need just radiation, no chemo.
We are praying that everything will be clear.
She will have a biopsy to confirm.
I know what an unsettling time this can be, not knowing.
Praying for God's comfort and peace for her and her family.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. — Colossians 3:16
We love singing psalms and songs from the Spirit.
God has given us the voice to sing his praise.
Through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.
Singing to God with gratitude in our hearts.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly.
With all wisdom as we teach and admonish one another.
The sunflower is a great example of God's love shining on us.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ. — Colossians 4:2-3
Not only that, but telling them devote themselves to prayer.
That's really hard to do with all of the demands of a busy life.
But devoting ourselves to prayer and praying throughout the day/evening/night helps me to be thankful.
Even or especially in the midst of stressful times, God is with us to guide and direct us when we talk with Him in prayer.
We have lots of friends and family we are praying for today:
Rudy - for healing for his leg and foot infection after his release from the hospital
Beth and Mike with health concerns for their parents
John in the loss of his sister
Sheri in the loss of her mom and the health issues her dad is experiencing
Peggy for upcoming surgery
Dave for upcoming hip surgery and his wife Kathie who has been experiencing anxiety
Bonnie as she cares for her husband who has health issues
Paige's sister with triple - breast cancer who is beginning a new round of chemo
Mari's anxiety and lack of sleep
My coworker Ginger who has been up nights caring for her elderly dog
Sandy's friend Wendy from Iglesia Presbiteriana Emmanuel whose friend was killed by a teenager who had stolen a car and ran into her at an intersection
... and many more.
God knows these needs before I do and asks me to devote myself to prayer.
Thank You, Lord.
You became imitators of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. — 1 Thessalonians 1:6
We are blessed that we have not.
Even in the midst of suffering, these friends live out the Gospel with joy.
They live out joy given by the Holy Spirit.
They are imitators of the Lord.
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ. — Colossians 4:3
Someday we will live with Him in heaven, but for now we "see through a glass darkly."
We need our friends and family members to pray for us.
I need you to pray for me.
That God will use me.
That He will open a door for His message.
That I can proclaim the love and mystery of Jesus.
Not through my words or beliefs, but through my actions.
Lord, help my unbelief.
We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people — the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. — Colossians 1:4-5
Who have shown love for all God's people.
They have humbled themselves and have become servant leaders.
They have passed on the true message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We have heard of their faith in Christ Jesus and have seen it in action.
