Good morning friends! Enjoy this rainy fall day - maybe some of the pollen will wash away. We can have sunshine inside our hearts even when it is dark and dreary outside! Excerpts from Psalm 150 - "Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." Lord. we come with great anticipation into your presence this morning! We need your presence every passing hour. We are so glad that you are in control in our lives. Help us to stay so close to you that we hear your voice as you lead and guide all our steps. Take full control in our lives and have your way with us. Make us bright lights in this dark and needy world. Let your great love overflow our hearts and attract others to you this day. AMEN! Colossians 1:28-29 "He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me." Paul says that he works very hard with all the strength that God has worked so powerfully in Him. Paul did the will of the Father, and lived his own words, "I can do all things through Christ who is continually strengthening me." He was proclaiming Christ, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that he could present everyone fully mature in Christ. He wanted the Colossians, and us by extension, to become fully mature in Christ. How do we become fully mature in Christ? Is it something that we have to work at? Does it take a lot of time? Christian maturity does take some time, and some become more mature quicker than others. But it has little to do with us working, and all to do with the work of God inside us. When a tree grows up, at first it is very small and can be pulled up easily by the roots. In time that little tree can grow into a great big tree that bears fruit and gives shade. The fruit comes from staying connected to the life source - the sap - running through the trees. The sap brings life to the tree and makes it bear fruit and grow. So it is in our lives as Christians. We mature and bring forth beautiful fruit as we continuously let the divine life of Christ flow through us. We need to spend time with Jesus and with His word. We need to get to know Him better each day. As we get to know Jesus better each day His love is spread abroad in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is His divine life flowing through us, bearing fruit in our lives, so that we point others to Jesus and His great love. We live in the divine life if the Son of God, so that we have abundant life. Out of our innermost being flows rivers of living water. We are a blessing and a light to others because His divine life flows through us, and makes Jesus attractive to others. It takes spending time with Jesus at the foot of the cross, getting to know Him better, in all His fullness. Walk with the King today, and be a blessing! I leave you with the hymn, "Oh to be Like Thee." Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer, This is my constant longing and prayer; Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. Refrain: Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art; Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart. Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion, Loving, forgiving, tender and kind, Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting, Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find. Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit, Holy and harmless, patient and brave; Meekly enduring cruel reproaches, Willing to suffer, others to save. Oh! to be like Thee, Lord, I am coming, Now to receive th’ anointing divine; All that I am and have I am bringing, Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine. Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading, Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love, Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling, Fit me for life and Heaven above.
Posted on: Thu, 10 Oct 2013 11:37:58 +0000
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