Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Love is...

Sunday morning during the service as our Pastor continued his study through the book of Colossians, he parked on this verse…

Colossians 3:14
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

At one point he made the following statement: "Love is the circulatory system of the Body of Christ." Now whether that came as his own thought or as a quote from someone else, it gives much room for consideration. It is one of those heart hangers for me.

The circulatory system is an organ system that passes nutrients, gases, hormones, blood cells, etc. to and from cells in the body to help fight diseases and help stabilize body temperature and pH to maintain homeostasis (which is the property of a system, either open or closed, that regulates its internal environment and tends to maintain a stable, constant condition).

As you reflect on information above from a spiritual perspective ask yourself this question:

Is your local Body of Christ healthy? Is Love… flowing in such a way as to fight the lies and deceptions of the enemy? Is Love… flowing in such a way that the body temperature is one of putting others first? Is Love… flowing in such a way that gossip, malice, anger, slander, etc. do not have a chance to grow there?

And here is the bigger question… are you personally part of the healthy part of the circulatory system of your church or part of the disease that has invaded the system?

One thing I know for sure. Apart from Christ there is no way for any of us to be a healthy part of that system. The more we become like Him the more we walk out the truths of His Word, the more we walk out those truths of His Word the more the world sees the Power of the Blood!

His,
vickie

Monday, July 12, 2010

Let Go of the Peanuts...

Our Pastor is taking us through the book of Colossians. He has been parked in Chapter 3 for several weeks. If you recall it has a lot to do with putting off and putting on.

Colossians 3:5-17
5Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Yesterday, he camped out on verse 13 “forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

In the counseling ministry I see many lives that turn sour because of unforgiveness. I see marriages, families, friends, churches and work relationships go under because of unforgiveness. Our pastor gave an illustration of what it is like to hold unforgiveness in our hearts. You may have heard it before but if you haven’t please ponder its meaning…

In countries where they eat monkeys, hunters will hollow out the inside of a coconut shell (just enough for the monkey to get its hand in) and put peanuts down inside. The coconut is tied to something to keep it stationary. Once the monkey puts its hand inside the coconut and grabs the peanuts he is unable to get his hand out because grabbing the peanuts turns his hand into a fist. The monkeys are caught because they WON’T let go of the peanuts.

I give you the same challenge our Pastor gave us as a church. What in your life are you holding on to that keeps you from being available to move forward in your marriage, family, church, etc.? LET GO!!!!!!!

His,
vickie

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Thoughts to ponder on Family...

“The family is the most basic unit of government. As the first community to which a person is attached and the first authority under which a person learns to live, the family establishes society’s most basic values.” CHARLES COLSON (1931–)

DWIGHT LYMAN MOODY (1837–1899) quoted the following… “I believe the family was established long before the church, and my duty is to my family first. I am not to neglect my family.”

I would like for you to look back at what Colson stated in his quote. As the first community to which a person is attached and the first authority under which a person learns to live; the family establishes society’s most basic values.

How many parents have a clue their home environment is the first time a child is exposed to community? Furthermore, how many parents truly understand how they teach, train-up, discipline and exercise authority in the home environment prepares the child to step out into the community of friends, church, school, activities, etc.

If you are the parent of a young child please ponder these truths. If your children are older and/or grown then we can’t go back and train them up. However, we can start speaking these truths into their lives so when they have families of their own, they will consider the consequences of not giving attention to these principles. Oh, the consequences? Look around you.

Deut 6:4-9
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

God had strong words to say about family matters. Shouldn’t we?

His,
vickie

Friday, July 2, 2010

Coming in late...

Greetings in Christ,

I know this is coming in late this week, but I just returned from Springfield, Missouri spending time with my dear friends Jim and Sharon Smith. If you remember, about two or three months ago, I asked you to pray for the Smith family as their son Zac was battling the last stages of cancer. I attached a blog sight for you to go to and hear his testimony. Recently Zac went to be with the Lord. His video is being played all over the world. His mom and dad told me they are amazed at how God is using Zac’s video to reach the lost when it isn’t even an evangelistic video. As I shared with them, we know that God’s Word tells us if the name of Jesus be lifted up, He will draw all men unto Him. This video is a testimony of JESUS in the life of a yielded young man! If you didn’t see it, I encourage you to go to youtube.com and type in Zac Smith. Click on the video titled.. “Cancer is the best thing that happened to me”.

Even in his final hours of physical suffering “NOTHING” could turn his eyes way from his Lord and God! Please remember his wife and children, mom and dad, sibling, and grandparents as they continue the joys and battles of this world. May each of us be encouraged to “stand strong in our darkest hour” for the things of Christ Jesus our LORD and Savior.

I told his parents that I believe Zac’s greatest ministry is in the days ahead because of what he lived for and left behind, JESUS.

His,
Vickie