Mundane (Genisis 1:1)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “mundane.”  I have been reading a bunch about the beginning of God’s Word lately. The more that I get into it, the more God amazes me, and the way that he decided to create this world.  And, we are a part of that grand design. It is pretty cool how we were made in God’s image, and that we get each day to live with Him.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” ~Gen. 1:1

There is nothing mundane about God, His creation, or the part that we play in it. My question is: with a new season of life upon us, what are you going to do to live with vigor and life, the way God intends? My prayer is that you understand that God calls you to something great. Each day you are given the opportunity to follow Him. As Christians, our lives are anything but dull. Live in God’s fullness today.

Praying for you,

MO

Deiform (2 Corinthians 3:7-18)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “deiform.”  I remember back in high school when I was in Latin class for my second language.  It was actually a lot of fun.  When we got into the honors program the last couple of years, we started to read stuff in Latin a lot to translate.  Some of that stuff was Greek mythology.  It was funny to read about how all of the gods used to fight and because of that bad things happened to humans down on earth as a consequence.  They were really full of themselves.  Well, lucky for us, we have a true God who makes us in his perfect image…

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” ~2 Cor 3:18

My question is: how do people perceive your image?  The good thing is, if you give God a chance, you have the ability to live and reflect his glory.  He gives you the opportunity, and you just have to respond.  My prayer is that you respond favorably today.  As we continually receive his ever-increasing glory, remember that we will one day solidify our deiform nature when we meet him face-to-face.

Praying for you,

MO

Ugsome (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “ugsome.”  Reading the apostle Paul as he gives instruction to young Timothy is always inspiring to me.  You can hear through the words written on this page that Paul really cared about the young man as he would one day be like Paul, a prisoner for Christ.  Paul knew that he had nothing to show for it in his own life except for the love that Christ bestowed upon him.  And that's why each of us can relate to these words.

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”

~1 Tim 1:15-16

My question is: what are a couple of ways that Jesus is showed his patients in your life?  This could be something in your specific walk with him, or maybe something that you were able to witness as a fellow Christian to another person.  My prayer is that each of you receives the mercy that God gives to us as sinners.  Remember to always love others above yourself and accept them, as Christ accepts them.  Although our sin is ugsome, the Savior looks beyond that and makes this part of his family.

Praying for you,

Mo

Habiliments (Ephesians 4:22-24)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “habiliments.” The church in Ephesus dealt with many situations like we do today. In fact, there was a ton of stuff going on and beliefs were often hindered by the teachings of others who were not in accordance with God's law. Paul reminds this church that as they were made in God's likeness, they must act accordingly and clothe themselves in righteousness and holiness.

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

~Eph 4:22-24

My question for you is: what are the two or three main things in your life that hinder you from developing a close relationship with God? I know that sometimes the evil one would like to make us feel as though we were not deserving of God's love. But the funny thing is, we already know that. My prayer is that each of you takes God's righteousness and holiness to be your own. Continue to be renewed by God's spirit and let your mind throw off all habiliments, putting on the clothes of God. Let your life be a representation of Christ's love for others. I believe in you!

Praying for you,

mo

Mawkish (Romans 14:1-12)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “mawkish.” Today's passage of Scripture highlights the fact that Christians are different in many ways. The way that people worship God can be different according to one's faith tradition, but when it really comes down to it most of us believe the same things when it comes to the important issues in the Bible. In this passage, the Apostle Paul is making a case to God's people about accepting one another for who they are.

For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’ ”So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

~Rom 14:9-12

My question is: are you an encourager in the lives of other people with whom you associate? I guess what I'm really trying to say is that we as Christians need to love one another for a whole bunch of reasons. For one, God commands it. But also we must realize that people on the outside of the Christian bubble are always looking in to see if they would like to be a part of our family, rather than making them have a mawkish, or bad taste, about the Chrstian life. My prayer is that you give them a reason to want to give God a try in their lives.

Praying for you,

Mo

Vine (John 15:5)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “vine.”  Farming and land and all that good stuff were used often in the OT and NT because that is what they dealt with on a daily basis. JC knew that to get the attention of those around him, he would need to help them understand that following God is like anything else in life.  We need to be systematic about the way we approach spiritual things.  In this particular passage, JC is telling his disciples what it means to follow him and the word given from God.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

~John 15:5

Here’s a question: do you rely on JC to make you a better Christian? I think that when we try to do stuff ourselves, and outside of his will, we tend to make life a bit more difficult.  We need to stay close to God through the Son, knowing the Jesus is necessary for us to bear fruit.  I pray that you are a witness to others around you, using God’s love as the catalyst. Remember that we only bear fruit when we stay close to the true vine… Jesus.

Praying for you,

mo

Consider (James 1:22-27)

 Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “consider.”  God is a big proponent of getting things done right the first time.  Unfortunately we do not always like to do it that way.  James gives a great analogy in this passage about what we look like when God’s word is studied but not applied.  The funny thing is that the peeps back then dealt with the same stuff that we do today. I am encouraged to know that if they were not able to stay on the straight and narrow all the time and God delivered them, then I have a chance J

“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”

~Jam. 1:26

I love how God wants to stay unpolluted by the world.  What a great way to put it. My question is: when you read the word of God and then go about your life, do you remember who you are in Christ?  That is the cool part about this journey – we have thousands of years of examples in the Bible.  We know what to do and what not to do. My prayer is that you would realize the freedom God has given you through JC.  Consider his favor upon you and live for him.

Praying for you,

mo