The Hope of Glory

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. — Colossians 1:27-28 

Christ is in me, the hope of glory.

He is the one we proclaim.

God has chosen. us to tell about the glorious riches of the mytery of Christ in us.

He calls us to teach everyone with His wisdom.

So we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

Growing in the knowledge of Him.

The Truth Shall Set You Free

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:31-32

Jesus spoke to the Jews who believed Him.

And He speaks to us today.

If we stick to His teaching, we are His disciples. Really.

Then we will know the truth.

And the truth will set us free.

Jesus, the truth, will set us free from sin. 

All Scripture is God-Breathed

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. — 2 Timothy 3:16-17 

God's Word is useful for teaching me how to live.

And for rebuking me when I stumble and fall.

And for correcting me when I start to wander away from God.

When I read it thoughtfully, it trains me in righteousness.

Not just certain verses, but all Scripture is useful.

Helping to equip me for every good work.

And doing so thoroughly and in truth.

Do Not Forsake Your Mother's Teaching

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. — Proverbs 1:8-9

We pray that our daughter will listen to her father's instruction.

After all, He is a disciple of Jesus and he has years of wisdom.

And I was careful to listen to my mother's teaching.

I loved late-night discussions with her.

She also had the mind of Jesus and years of wisdom. 

I still miss her, even though it's been over 20 years since she died.

God gives us a wonderfu promise when we listen to our parents. 

Their teaching will be a garland to grace our heads.

And a necklace to adorn our necks.

We will live in beuaty and grace.

Today I made scones to celebrate my coworkers' two-year anniversary.

The catch was that they had to be gluten free, dairy free, and sugar free.

So they aren't as good as the cream scones - I made some of those too!

But they'll do in a pinch.

My Father Will Love Them

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. — John 14:23 

Jesus tells us that anyone who loves Him will obey Him.

And that person will also obey Jesus' teaching.

God the Father will love them.

And we will come to them.

We will make our home with them.

This is Phil Wickham, who we saw in concert last week.

It was a powerful worshipful experience.

We Proclain Him

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. — Colossians 1:28 

Jesus is the onee we proclaim.

Admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom.

So that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ Jesus.

Our Lord and Savior.

Who took the penalty we deserved for our sin.

So that we may present everyone fully mature.

Sound Teaching

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. — 2 Timothy 1:13-14

Saturday we went to the Brandon Lake and Phil Wickham concert at SDSU.

It was more a worship service than a concert.

And it was fun to attend as a family.

Singing praise songs together and praising God.

And watching hundreds of people sign up to sponsor a child with Compassion International after hearing the testimony of a mom who was sponsored by Compassion when she lived in the Philippines.

A wonderful time a worship.

Thanks be to God!

You Are Really My Disciples

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:31-32 

When we believe in Him, Jesus calls us His disciples.

And He commands us to keep His teaching.

Not an easy thing to do.

But reading Scriptures and holding to His teaching, helps us to know the truth.

And the truth of Christ is what sets us free.

Free from the chains of darkness and death.

All Scripture Is Useful for Teaching

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. — 2 Timothy 3:16 

God's Word is inspired by the Lord.

It is God-breathed and true.

All Scripture is useful for teaching.

I love His Word.

It gives me light and shines in the darkness.

It is useful for rebuking and correcting me.

His Word guides my life.

God uses His Word to train me in righteousness.

I love His Word.

Do Not Forsake Your Mother's Teaching

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. — Proverbs 1:8-9 

My mom was a strong mentor to me.

She would stay up late when I was in high school so I could ask her all kinds of life questions.

And as I grew older, she would give me sage advice on everything from starting a retirement account when I got my first job, to choosing our first home, to raising our daughter.

She was not overbearing or opinionated, but she let me know her views on politics - don't vote for anything that will raise our taxes - to faith, to relationships.

Her teaching was a garland to grace my head and a chain to adorn my neck.

I miss her wisdom and her delicious cooking.

But at the same time,  I'm grateful that she was such a large part of my life and that of my family.

We Proclaim Him

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. — Colossians 1:28 

First Presbyterian Children's Choir 1986

My choir friends sent me this photo from 1986 last week.

Their oldest son is on the right.

And that's me conducting the children's choir at our church.

This was just two years after Kirk and I were married.

And I think the accompanist was my friend Susan.

Hard to believe those children are now grown up with kids of their own!

God is the one we proclaim.

We teach everyone with all wisdom.

So we can present everyone fully mature in Christ.

The Pattern of Sound Teaching

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. — 1 Timothy 1:13-14 

Today is Labor Day, so I have the day off.

A welcome rest from the work week.

Yesterday, our pastor gave an inspiring sermon from 2 Thessalonians 2.

And our Sunday school teacher encouraged us to share the gospel with others by getting to know them personally.

A rich day of teaching from God's Word.

God asks me to keep His Word as the pattern of sound teaching.

To hold fast to the faith and love of Christ Jesus.

To guard the good deposit that was entrusted to me.

To guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in me.

Help me, Lord.

You Are Really My Disciples

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. - John 8:31

Jesus says that if we hold to His teachings, we are His disciples.

It's not always easy to keep to His teachings. 

The temptations of this world are continual distractions.

As His disciples, we follow His teaching.

And we look to His Word for guidance.

 

Here's Mary Magdalen Church in Camarillo, where Kirk grew up.

Still an active congregation worshipping God each week.

Sound Teaching

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. — 2 Timothy 1:12

Today was another beautiful day in sunny San Diego.

And Kirk golfed another 83!

Very impressive.

He also trimmed our Crape Myrtle tree and got a lot of yardwork done.

Abby went to the Padres game and cheered them on to victory!

Also very impressive.

And a fun evening.

What we hear from God in His Word, we keep as the pattern of sound teaching.

WIth faith and love in Christ Jesus.

Singing with Thankfulness

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. — Colossians 3:16

Yesterday we made modge podge flower pots.

Our Bible study theme was "bloom where you are planted."

And Josie took this picture of the finished pots.

They really turned out beautiful.

And each one is unique.

Just as God's creation shows His beauty and glory.

We praise Him with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

Singing with thankfulness in our hearts to God.

His Words Had Authority

Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. — Luke 4:31-32

Jesus taught with authority.

After all, He was and is the Son of God.

He is the Word and the Light of the World.

The people were amazed at his teaching.

Because the words Jesus said had authority.

Help me to read your word, Lord, and to hear them and put them into practice.

Jesus Is the One We Proclaim

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. — Colossians 1:28

Today is the anniversary of 9/11.

Kirk and I were getting ready for work when Rita called to tell us to turn on the TV.

She wanted us to know that Kirk's brother Kyle was fine.

He was at the Pentagon that morning, trying to find out what happened at the World Trade Center, when the plane hit the other side of the building.

Some of his colleagues died that day.

What a tragedy for our country.

Even so, we proclaim Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.

Obey Jesus' Teaching

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. — John 14:23

It is not always easy to obey Jesus' teaching.

Especially since I don't even know the whole Bible by memory.

Even so, He asks me to get to know His Word, and I try to read it every day.

His Word guides me in the way I should go.

And His Holy Spirit lives inside me to guide and direct my thoughts and actions.

To convict me when I start down the wrong path.

And to keep me humble.

One way I can show my love to Jesus is to obey His teaching.

Help me, Lord, to obey.

Thanks Be to God

But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. — Romans 6:17

Kirk has been practicing creating some new drinks.

Here is his Piña Colada with a sprig of mint an a slice of pineapple.

Very refreshing, we sipped them outside in our courtyard on Monday evening.

Thanks be to God for his goodness.

He is teaching us His way.

And He is calling us to obey from our hearts.
 

Beautiful Floral Arrangement

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
— 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Today our daughter is throwing us a 35th wedding anniversary party.

She has done a ton of work to pull this off with about 70 of our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family.

We are so blessed to have each other and to have her.

Here is the beautiful arrangement one of our friends sent since she could not attend.

All of our favorite flowers in one bouquet.

And other friends are bringing some of their favorite dishes to share.

Still others are bringing some of their favorite wines.

Kirk and Abby have been studying Scripture so they may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

And I am the beneficiary.