7So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.
9I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christb—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
When you minister for our Lord Jesus Christ and other Christians work along side of you, you form a special bond with the slaves of Christ. When one cries you all cry, when one is sorrowful you all are sorrowful. When one rejoices you all rejoice. This is a special bond with your brethren and Paul experienced this also.
When I was volunteering as a chaplain at the Arizona State Veterans Home there was a group of us, chaplains serving the Lord performing visitations at the 120 room facility. I formed a special bond with these chaplains and they will always hold a special place in my heart.
I ask that YOU re-read these verses and insert yourself as though I wrote these verses about you. Then you will know my love for you!
Blessings, David
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Keep Your Eyes On The Prize. Hebrews 12:1-4 NLT
Hebrews 12:1-4 NLT
God’s Discipline Proves His Love
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
I use to be a "runner". I participated in track in high school and up until a few years ago, I continued to run for exercise. If you've ever been a runner you know it is not always easy, sometimes it's painful but you continue to do it for self improvement. You work to improve your time, your distance and your form. Competitive runners wear the lightest shoes and the lightest weight clothing available so they are not encumbered by anything to increase their speed. They know there is a prize at the end for the one who is the best.
Paul uses the "runner" analogy here in describing the Christian life. We strip off the sin that interferes with our relationship with Christ. We run with endurance,
"The fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way". Paul tells us to emulate Jesus. Jesus endured. Jesus knew the prize at the end of His race. Jesus knew His suffering was temporary and necessary for the reward of our salvation and relationship with God.
"The fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way". Paul tells us to emulate Jesus. Jesus endured. Jesus knew the prize at the end of His race. Jesus knew His suffering was temporary and necessary for the reward of our salvation and relationship with God.
What is your Christian race like? Are you comfortable? Is it easy? Maybe you're not working as hard as you should for improvement. Are you being tested and stretched? Rely on Jesus for strength, where He leads you, He will equip you. Are you searching for where you are to run? Wait with endurance, in His time He will reveal that to you.
Blessings, Cecilia
Phillipians 1 for we will see Him as He is.
Philippians 1 NLT
Greetings from Paul
1This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.
I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the elders and deacons.
2May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer
3Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Slaves of Jesus Christ, Gods holy people. Interesting description for Christians isn't it?
Paul goes on to say, may God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
How much better would this world be if everyone greeted each other like Paul did?
Paul goes on to pray for them:
Every time he thinks of them he gives thanks to God.
Whenever he prays, he makes all his requests with joy!
Praying for his partners in spreading the Good News!
"6And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."
Brethren, be content with what God has given you.
Use your talents and gifts for spreading the Good News.
Follow your heart wherever He leads you.
Follow Paul's example of greetings and prayer, and you will be shepherding souls towards heaven!
It is said when we leave this earth Jesus greets us as we enter heaven.
May He be standing at the right hand of the Father for you in that moment as He did for Stephen when he saw the heavens opened.
Acts 7:55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand.56And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”
May all the souls that you led to Jesus cheer you upon your arrival in heaven!
1John 3:2Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.
Blessings, David
Greetings from Paul
1This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.
I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the elders and deacons.
2May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer
3Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Slaves of Jesus Christ, Gods holy people. Interesting description for Christians isn't it?
Paul goes on to say, may God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
How much better would this world be if everyone greeted each other like Paul did?
Paul goes on to pray for them:
Every time he thinks of them he gives thanks to God.
Whenever he prays, he makes all his requests with joy!
Praying for his partners in spreading the Good News!
"6And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."
Brethren, be content with what God has given you.
Use your talents and gifts for spreading the Good News.
Follow your heart wherever He leads you.
Follow Paul's example of greetings and prayer, and you will be shepherding souls towards heaven!
It is said when we leave this earth Jesus greets us as we enter heaven.
May He be standing at the right hand of the Father for you in that moment as He did for Stephen when he saw the heavens opened.
Acts 7:55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand.56And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”
May all the souls that you led to Jesus cheer you upon your arrival in heaven!
1John 3:2Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.
Blessings, David
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Promises Of God. Hebrews 10:23-25
Hebrews 10: 23-25 NLT
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
I tried to see exactly how many promises of God are in the Bible but it seems no two people actually agree on that total number. My favorite promise that I cling to is Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it." NKJV. It doesn't say your children will ever wander or back slide or rebel, it says "when they are old". I cling to that promise for our son Jesus. I may never see it here on earth but God has promised Jesus will return to the Lord.
Please continue to pray for our son Jesus. He knows the truth of the Gospel but refuses to walk in faith at this time.
What promise of God do you cling to? Get
Blessings, Cecilia
Jesus SAVES!
Acts1:8 But you will receive power *and* ability when the Holy Spirit comes
upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in
Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”
upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in
Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”
JESUS SAVES is probably the most important message ever spoken. For many
who have never heard the name of Jesus, and then here "saved" for the first
time they think, saved from what? From hell, never ending torment, and the
biggest part is eternal separation from God. The gospel message in a
nutshell, 1Corinthians15:3... that Christ died for our sins according to
[that which] the Scriptures [foretold], 4 and that He was buried, and that
He was [bodily] raised on the third day according to [that which] the
Scriptures [foretold]. In Acts 1:8 it is said that believers are to share
the gospel message "in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to
the ends of the earth." For many believers, it is difficult to share, we
must think of the consequences of those that we don't share with. Time is
short, Jesus is coming back soon.
Douglas
Ephesians 6 Are you following Paul's example?
21To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work. 22I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you.
23Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters,h and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. 24May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
How do you want to be remembered? Like Tychicus?
A beloved, faithful helper in the Lords work?
As an encourager?
You still have time if you are reading this!
May we all follow Paul's example that he laid out for us in scripture.
Are you following Paul's example?
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/ivp-nt/Second-Application-Follow-Pauls-Ways
Brethren, peace be with you.
"may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. 24May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ."
I pray this for you in Jesus name. Amen
Blessings, David
23Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters,h and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. 24May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
How do you want to be remembered? Like Tychicus?
A beloved, faithful helper in the Lords work?
As an encourager?
You still have time if you are reading this!
May we all follow Paul's example that he laid out for us in scripture.
Are you following Paul's example?
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/ivp-nt/Second-Application-Follow-Pauls-Ways
Brethren, peace be with you.
"may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. 24May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ."
I pray this for you in Jesus name. Amen
Blessings, David
Monday, January 9, 2017
Pray For It Then Do It. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. 2 Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. 5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.
Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. 2 Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. 5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.
Usually when we pray, we pray for the needs of those around us. People with cancer, wayward children, safety for ourselves and others. Do we remember to include the spreading of the gospel? That's what Paul is asking the Thessalonians to pray for.
It is every Christians duty to spread the gospel. Jesus told His disciples “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone." Mark 16:15b
As a disciple of Jesus, that command includes you.
As a disciple of Jesus, that command includes you.
Pray for the Gospel, the Good News to spread and then go do it!
Blessings, Cecilia
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