The Beauty of Scripture

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance ~ 2 Peter 3:9 God’s workings do not flow in our time – ever. We may want Him to work in our time, and in our way, but God is God! He is supreme in His knowledge and understanding, and sees so much more than we ever can or will. When we want something to happen today or tomorrow, we desire to put that in place. It may not be the right time for that to happen, and a cause and effect comes about that need not have. We then realize the plans were ours, and not God’s. God is the God of the 99 th hour, some say. That may be so, and I have seen and witnessed that aspect, God is a God of faithfulness, and His promises are fulfilled often, it seems, in the last moment. It is then we realize God had everything under control, though we doubted and worried. We look around our world and we see everything going helter skel...

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God ~ Colossians 3:1 Paul is writing to the church in Colossae, but he may as well be writing to us here. Heresy has entered the church, and Paul wishes to address it. Contrary to what some believe, heresy is not total preaching against the Gospel, it is the over-emphasizing of one aspect of the Gospel while leaving another part of it out. The prosperity preachers listened widely to on Television are heresy preachers. They preach God wants everything good in your life, that there should be no hardship, and that if you financially give God will multiply and return that financial gift. God does want to bless us! Yes! But, we are to expect hardship. We are still in the world, though we are not of the world. Prosperity preachers forget that aspect. God is justice, God is righteous, God is our provider, God is love. We cannot forget one aspect of God and lea...

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me ~ John 15:4 Jesus spoke in words to reach into the very understanding of those gathered in listening. Who can better understand what He was saying about cultivating than those who were familiar with it in their daily life? So, He talks about being connected. Here, it is a vine connected to its source of life, the branch. The vine, rooted in the ground, receives nourishment and life giving waters, then passes this on to the branch. The branch in return brings forth budding, and flowers, and ultimately, sweet fruit. If we are not rooted in studying God’s Word, in prayer, in Bible reading on a daily basis, there is great difficulty in staying connected to the branch, namely, Jesus Christ. Life is too powerful a tool! It grabs our attention, our sustenance, and our worries. Being disciplined in spiritual matters takes energy! And ...

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal ~ 1 Corinthians 13:1 Paul had been speaking to the Corinthian church about spiritual gifts, and how they were to use their gifts to bring unity and edification to the larger body. You are all a part of one body, says Paul. Unfortunately, the Corinthians had begun to quarrel about whom had the greater gift – was it prophecy, or shepherding, or was it speaking in tongues? Paul began a lengthy written argument which, in the end stated he would show them the best gift to ask for and to receive – love was his answer. We can be highly gifted people, have all the prophetic knowledge in the world, we can be great teachers and leaders with wise strategic plans, but if we use these gifts to “lord it over” others, when they come to us for a glass of water and we refuse, our gifts are worthless. Love is the only way forward. Love is the only way to use what God has given us...

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven ~ Matthew 5:14-16 Remember that children’s song? This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. (The kids hold up their index finger and move it in a circular motion.) Won't let Satan blow it out. I'm gonna let it shine. Won't let Satan blow it out. I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. (When the kids sing "Won't let Satan blow it out....they blow on their finger.) Let it shine til Jesus comes. I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine til Jesus comes. I'm gonna let i...

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling ~ Philippians 2:12 Paul commends the church for following the principles taught through him which stem from the teachings of Christ. In following Paul’s teachings, they are obedient to God. Not only did they follow when Paul was with them, but even more remarkable is they have continued strong in the teachings during his absence. They have not fallen by the wayside, or brought in other teachings of heresy which would make Paul ashamed of them. There is no reprimand here for this church, such as what Paul has had to do with others he had planted. They are not told to begin to work out their salvation, but to continue in it, which is Paul’s second commendation. They are striving forward in becoming more like Christ. What this means for us is not to work for our salvation, that can never be accomplished. We a...

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 from your hearts ~ Colossians 3:16 What joy it is to wake up and know we belong to the Lord! What special wonder it is to know that we will join together in community to sing praises to our Lord and God, to read His Word together, to sing from our spirits of rejoicing! Do you feel that way? Do yo u wake up in the wonderful knowledge that the message of Christ is Good News for the world? That the air you breathe in today is a gift from God, that the life you live is remarkable process of moving closer to Him? Oh friends, too often, and I speak to myself here, the day moves on just like yesterday and I forget the amazing gift I have through the Spirit to live like Christ. I have the gift of being His hands and His feet, I have the gift of receiving His wisdom and discernment, and I have the gift of speaki...

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them ~ Matthew 18:20 This is our promise from the Lord, for when we gather "in HIS name", He is there and present. Our worship time is filled with His presence. Our prayer time, our conversation, our very interaction when it welcomes into its midst is blessed with the presence of Another. But, I do not believe Jesus meant this to say that only when two or three are gathered together is His presence there, but if we are alone and welcome Him, He is there within us too! I heard a story a long time ago about a single person who when sitting to eat would set two place settings; one for Jesus and one for them. The omnipresence of Jesus is with us always as believers, as persons who have given our heart to Him. For we are filled with His Holy Spirit! Invited Him in! Invite Him to your table! Your heart will be warmed by His presence and love. Devotion by Pastor Julia

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way will fulfill the law of Christ ~ Galatians 6:2 Jesus taught that He was the vine and we are the branches. It is a beautiful image of how the brining of two make strength in one. When we carry each other's burden, we act in the stead of Christ, to help and not hinder another's journey in this life. Too often we ask, "How are you?" but do not really expect a long, informative answer. The responder has become accustomed to saying, "I'm fine," or "It's too long a story to tell," and they both part ways. We need to start asking the question expecting and waiting for an answer, and not leaving until we get it. Empathy is needed, it is necessary, if we are to carry each other's burdens. The other's sorrow and joy must become our sorrow and joy, not that we fall into the pit with them if it is sorrow, but so that we can hear them, understand them, listen to them. And if it is joy, th...

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbour as yourself" ~ Galatians 5:14 If I truly love myself, I will respect me, I will trust in me, I will believe in me. If I truly love myself, I will hold on to my integrity, my wholeness, and my health. If I truly love myself, when I fall down or miss the mark, I will gather all I can muster to pick myself up again and carry on. I will not condemn myself, or put myself down, or put myself above others. If I truly love myself... If I do not truly love me, I will be condemning, untrustworthy, prideful, abusive, I will sell myself short emotionally, physically and sexually. And then, I will do all this to you. Jesus is the healer of our self image. He will heal us from our past: from the words spoken to us and over us, from the mistakes and choices we have made, from the family sins which we carry on into the future and He will break them forever. Only by knowing the true and wonderful love Jesus ...