Penetralia (Colossians 3.15-17)

Good morning ladies, 

The word of the day is “penetralia.” I think what sets Christians apart, or is God's intention to do so, is the understanding that we are called to be a people of peace that love other Christians, and nonbelievers. Today's passage talks about being thankful, which is very appropriate considering the fact that Thanksgiving is tomorrow. This is a great time for each Christian to take a moment and evaluate his or her relationship with God.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 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 in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” ~Col. 3:15-17

My question is: What are the parts of yourself that you set aside for God? I know that it is important for us to remember more often than not how God has bestowed his blessings upon us.  However, sometimes we fail to understand that as God’s people share an intimate connection with him.  My prayer is that you allow God into your life’s pentralia to be known and shaped by the Creator.  When he knows the innermost parts of us, we are more apt to move closer to him, building the relationship, and eventually living as a witness for his glory.

Praying for you,

MO

Taradiddle (Colossians 3.1-10)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “taradiddle.”  I love how the Bible talks about putting on the new self.  It makes me feel like I have been given the gift of a new and blameless life before God.  W see in today’s passage that the church was continually dealing with the struggle to be true to one another.  They were reminded that as they shed the old self and embraced the new, God was faithful to respond to them as both a people, and individuals.

“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” ~Col. 3:9-10

My question is: how do you act towards the people within your sphere of influence?  We must understand that as God calls us to be different and set apart, so must we remember to let our actions match our deeds.  The Lord has called us to be a people who live in his image. That means we need to love one another.  And as in the case of the people in the Colossian church, even the smallest taradiddle brings deceit within the church, because even those little lies fester and grow.  We must be more like Jesus.  Knowing him on a personal level is up to us and the way that we choose to move either closer to God, or further from him.  I pray that you continually renew your mind and the knowledge of God’s saving grace.  Take a moment the morning to thank and praise him.

Praying for you,

MO

Wamble (Colossians 3:1-5)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “wamble.”  Now that you're back and getting ready to acclimate to regular school life again, an important piece to the puzzle of success is focus.  The church at Colossae was dealing with stuff that was not out of the ordinary for what other churches face.  In fact, I'm sure that most churches go through those same problems.  Keeping people on track and remembering to live the Christian life can be difficult sometimes, when we are not headed completely in the right direction.

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

~Col. 3:2

My question is: what are the things that you focus on most?  Living like a Christian is great, but if your heart is not the right place then God will recognize that.  My prayer is that each of you remembers that the stuff that we deal with on earth is temporary, while the things above are eternal.  I know that the Lord has cool plans for each of you, and I hope that you do not wamble through your journey with God.  Stay the course and focus on things above!

Praying for you,

mo

Juju (Colossians 2:8-15)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “juju.”  When the church was very young the teachers of Christianity needed to make sure that they did everything in their power to help people to understand what it meant to follow Christ while at the same time shrugging off that which was not good teaching.  You can imagine how stressed out these teachers might have been, because all they had was the old scriptures to help them out.  The idea of Jesus and his Messiahship was relatively new and in many churches unstable.

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.”

~Col 2:8 

My question is: what are the steps that you are currently taking to understand a philosophy and theology that is consistent with what God will call you to live?  My mentor used to tell me that it was not enough just for me to read my Bible, but to question and challenge the ideas that I read.  I guess that is what made me decide to go into the ministry.  I pray that each of you solidifies your thinking concerning your beliefs in Christ.  This is not something to take lightly, as it is the foundation of our being no matter what our vocation or direction in life.  There is no juju in the Christian faith, only a real belief and understanding that Jesus is exactly who he was said to be.  Take hold of a relationship with him today, and see the change in your life.

Praying for you,

Mo