Colossians 2:6-7 (MSG) ^2:6 My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. ⁷ You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

Some people never grow up in the ways of the Lord.  I watch their lives and wonder when they will finally “get it.” Yes, they have their moments of victory but it seems that the ways of the world just keep popping up in their walk and lifestyle.  They will go strongly with the Lord for a while and then will fall into some old habit or sin bringing themselves down again.  Paul’s admonition here is that its time to get with it.  It’s time to really live the life that God has for you.  You’ve been trained and instructed in the ways of the Lord – but it is now time to live it out.  It’s time to grow up and be the Christian God wants you to be.

Colossians 1:18-22 (NLT) ^1:18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. ¹⁹ For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, ²⁰ and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. ²¹ This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. ²² Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

We don’t’ worship some faceless god who makes a lot of promises that can’t be delivered.  We serve the King of Kings who has sacrificed his life that we might life.  We worship a God who is able to step in our lives and actually make a difference.  He did every thing possible that we would make our way to Him and find true peace for our souls.  As I ponder what Christ has done for me on the cross – I am overwhelmed at the mercy and grace of God in my life.  I don’t deserve to be here today.  I don’t deserve to be blessed in the way that I’ve been blessed.  I now stand before Him today blameless, without a single fault because of the shed blood of Christ on the cross.  He has redeemed me and has taken away all of my sins.  I have a purpose and a meaning for my life and for my ministry.  I have the joy of being part of my family’s life – seeing them grow and mature in the Lord and seeing them face difficulties and battles and wining them decisively through the power of the Lord.  I have the joy of seeing miracle after miracle and victory after victory.  This truly is the day of the Lord today.  We are so blessed.

Ecclesiastes 11:1 (NIV) Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NIV) Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

In many parts of the world flooding takes places every spring.  For some, that is the time of planting seed.  It’s a dilemma.  Do I take what I have in my hand and throw it on the water or do I keep it for my daily needs right now.  But the only way that seed will get dispersed is to throw it on the water. As the water recedes it will deposit the seed in the ground bringing a great harvest. It is the way of faith.  On the other hand, the farmer has to decide every day whether he is going to plant his seed or not in his field.  If he’s always watching the weather – he will make many excuses and will never end up working his soil.  He must diligently get up every day and work his fields in order for a crop to spring forth later.  It is the way of faith.  You and I make choices every day that have far reaching effects in our lives and that of others.  My decisions are not about just now but they are for the future also.  How are you dispersing your seed right now?  Are you being generous or are you being stingy.  This present economy doesn’t dictate my giving habits.  All the more right now – I should be planting seeds knowing that it will bring a harvest later.  It also is the way of faith.

Ephesians 4:1-4 (NLT) ^4:1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. ² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. ³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ⁴ For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

People often wonder what it is that God wants them to do in regards to walking the Christian life.  In this passage Paul gives us some direction that will make our walk to be most fruitful:

1. Lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
2. Always be humble.
3. Always be gentle.
4. Be patient with each other.
5. Make allowances for each other’s faults because of your love.
6. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit.
7. Bind yourselves together with peace.

As I look over this list I recognize that there are areas that I need to work a little hard in regards to.  My vertical relationship with God should translate into a horizontal relationship with one another.  The fact remains that we have to continue to deal with people while we are on earth.  It should be the goal of each and every one of us to lead that life that continues to please God in all that we do and say.

Romans 15:13 (NLT) I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Wouldn’t that be great if all Christians would be filled completely with joy and peace because they trust in him?  Just think about how we would treat one another and how we would walk on this earth.  Think about the confidence that we would exude because of the hope that we have in Christ.  Paul prayed this for the people he was dealing with and we should pray it for those that are in our life also.  He prayed that they would overflow with confident hope.  This only comes through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  I want this for my life and I want it for the people I serve.  Let’s be bold in praying specifically that this aspect of God’s grace would fill each and every one of us.

Proverbs 24:16 (MSG) No matter how many times you trip them up, God-loyal people don’t stay down long; Soon they’re up on their feet, while the wicked end up flat on their faces.

When a person becomes a Christian he is filled with one of the greatest gifts ever – hope.  Just as Christ was resurrected from the dead – we have been granted that same power in our lives to help us overcome the sins in our lives.  It doesn’t mean that we are perfect – we are far from that!  But it does mean that we are living with the power of Christ to help us be over comers and victorious.  Yes… we will trip and sometimes it will be quite hard.  But if Christ is in our lives – we get up, dust ourselves off and get back on track.  Christ gives us the power to do so.  Life is filled with many ups and downs.  It is filled with many obstacles and roadblocks.  But I am not subjected to those things.  I am under the rule and reign of Christ.  Even though I have had many setbacks in life – I know that God will always help me to get back on my feet.  We are victorious today through Christ!

Proverbs 20:27 (GW) A person’s soul is the LORD’S lamp. It searches his entire innermost being.

Within every man is a God designed element called our soul.  Some might call it our conscience.  It’s the part of us that can make decisions in our life.  It’s also the part that Holy Spirit communicates with to reveal whether we are doing things right or wrong.  In a way – it’s like the red light that goes on in our cars warning us that something is wrong.  People can ignore this or they can fully embrace it saving them so much time and energy.  It’s that which helps us to stay on track and in the center of God’s will.  It is the way that God has wired us.  It is on 24 hours a day.  It’s like being “on-line” all the time with God.  But there is a downside also.  It can get hacked into by Satan and His cohorts who send side by side messages making it a little confusing to those not trained in understanding the ways of the spirit. It is so important that we take care to maintain and keep this line clear so when God does speak to us – we will know His voice and not be confused about God’s will for our life is

Romans 11:29 (GW) God never changes his mind when he gives gifts or when he calls someone.

It’s interesting how many times people come to me and tell that at one time they felt called into ministry or felt called to do something for the Lord.  When asked about why they weren’t doing it – a whole myriad of excuses begins to come forth.  God is serious about His calling on your life and the gifts He has endowed us with. We often become very flippant and don’t realize that God gave them those gifts to us for a reason. When you or I am not using our gifts we are short changing ourselves and we do harm to the body of Christ.  I am most fulfilled when I’m doing what God has called me to do.  God gave those gifts to me for a reason.  We must trust Him that He knows what is best for us and step out and use what He has given us.  It is then that I am most fulfilled and blessed!

Proverbs 5:15-19 (NLT) ^5:15 Drink water from your own well— share your love only with your wife. ¹⁶ Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? ¹⁷ You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers. ¹⁸ Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. ¹⁹ She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love.

In just a few days, I will celebrate my 37^th wedding anniversary to the wife of my youth – Denise.  It’s hard to fathom being married that long.  We met in High School and dated until our second year of college.  Together, we have learned the joys of just being together and enjoying the company of one another.  Our journey has allowed us to pastor three wonderful churches.  It has allowed us to be the parents of two beautiful daughters who walk with Jesus on a daily basis.  We have had the privilege of being grandparents to Jonathan, Kyle, Caleb, Cassidy and another grandson to be born in early November.  We’ve had some wonderful highs and have traveled to many places in the United States and abroad.  We’ve also endured some tough times, hurts and disappointments.  Through it all we have been able to lean into and trust in God almighty.  We are truly each other’s “best friend.”  It has been my pleasure to call her my wife and BFF.  I look forward to many more years of waking up next to her and enjoying the smile that she has no matter what.  I am truly a blessed man today.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) ^3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. ⁶ Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

As a young child – this was one of my favorite verses in the Bible.  I memorized it and I lived it out in my life.  God has never been unfaithful to me and has always led me in the right path to take.  I can’t say that I’ve always been obedient to in following Him but I have for the most part lived by the principles of this verse – to just trust the Lord with all my heart and to not follow my own understanding.  Life is always filled with twists and turns.  It throws obstacles at you in every way possible.  Without the Lord’s help – we would be lost and wandering aimlessly.  As we seek God – He promises to lead us and show the right path to take on a daily basis.  God is such an awesome God.  I am overwhelmed with His love, grace and mercy.  Today is a new day and He promises to walk with me and to take my hand and lead me through.  I praise Him for who He is and what is has done and what he will be doing.