A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

You will see the Lord save you today.
— Exodus 14:13a

If one were to look for something the Lord has done in one’s life everyday, it is amazing how many blessings there are from Him to us. Whether it is the life of a new baby, the kisses and hugs of a three year old who is too young to think more than one kiss and hug is enough, the compassion of a friend when in need, or the direction that all children need from their Father, no life is more blessed than the one who lives for God through Christ.

Many look for the meaning of life. I don’t know that life itself has a meaning to us outside perhaps the meaning we give it. The gift of life is complicated and while we don’t think about it everyday we may have our moments when we reach out and wonder, “Why?”

Someone thought getting a degree would make them happy, another married and had children. They both proclaim happiness but in a sense, it is not what they imagined. It wasn’t true happiness. Have they missed true happiness or did they just misunderstand it? Maybe true happiness is just being happy in whatever we find in our life, whatever hand we’ve been dealt.

We can find something important and find meaning in it. One thing that is important to me is the Bible. His greatest gift after Christ is the Bible. I find a few minutes everyday can bring one the greatest peace of mind. Everyday, you can visit with a good friend, be reminded of grace and mercy. Some days I might not be able to see what God has done in my life, but it is comforting enough to be reminded that He is doing something. While I may not find true happiness in everything, moments reflecting on the word and remembering what Christ has sacrificed for us brings peace of mind that I can be happy in all I am given.

May God continue to bless us all through His word.

Is there such a thing as true happiness? Do we give life meaning? What’s your favorite Bible? What time of day do you set aside to study or just read and reflect?

HOW DO YOU LOVE GOD THIS MORNING?          *By maintaining a worshipful heart          *By faithful church attendance          * Having prayer everyday…*Have you taken down the emotional barriers?    of self protection          *Have you rid yourself of anger and bitterness?          *Are you showing unconditional love to others?          *We have a tendency to show love and care when it is             convenient. As we look at our scriptures we see that one of the components of LOVING GOD IS FORGIVENESS When we have an intimate relationship with JESUS it allows us to love, trust and forgive those human relationships that have been harmful to us in the past.   Forgiveness is an outflow of loving God and involves trust and grace.  Vs. 1-3Our scripture opens with The Apostle Paul, imprisoned writing a letter to Philemon on behalf of a runaway slave named Onesimus.   Paul’s letter although mainly addressed to Philemon includes Philemon’s wife Apphia as she would be a party offended by Onesimus and it was proper to include her in a letter of forgiveness and reconciliation.   He also then includes Archippus who was a minister in the church of colosse, Philemon’s friend and co-pastor.  Paul is wise in including him as possibly he might be able to assist in furthering the good work of peace-making and forgiveness. WHO WAS PHILEMON PHILEMON was a wealthy slave owner, *a beloved friend and a convert of Paul’s.    *A believer. *He was the owner of a large house as the Colossian church   who met  there. * He was probably the pastor of the Colossian church *Paul refers to him as a fellow worker and as Agapetos, meaning beloved.  ONEISMUS   * Was a runaway slave (punishable by death) AND HE         WAS from the household of Philemon  *He was a thief, a criminal – a worthless slave  *He violated the trust of his master Philemon by depriving him of his services. Slaves were not actually considered persons under the law, but the chattel property of their owners.

Q……How do we steal in our relationships – jobs

Only 25 verses long the book of Philemon is all about love and forgiveness. They go hand in hand. OUTLINE OF PHILEMON 1-25      Paul writes to his friend Philemon on behalf of       Oneismus (1-3) In these short verses we see the      following nuggets of truth.          I.                   Spiritual character of One who forgives (4-7)II.                Spiritual Action of One who forgives (8-18)III.             Spiritual Motivation of One who forgives (19-25) Forgiveness is best understood through what James wrote – “judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy (James 2:13 Proverbs 19:11 says, “A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.” Love is only understood within the context of God’s unconditional love for humanity and how He showed that love by the sacrifice of His Son on the cross.  God offers us GRACE….His unmerited favor and with outstretched arms welcomes us as His child. When we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we are adopted as God’s sons and daughters.                                                                      Page 1                            In Romans 8:15 we read “You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father”. In Galatians 4:6, “Because you are sons/daughters, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out “Abba, Father.” ABBA, FATHER – referring to God is a cry of the heart for intimate belonging.  ABBA, DADDY In our relationship with Jesus we are to show one another AGAPE LOVE, *It is spiritual, *It is selfless love.  *It is unconditional.  *It is not feeling based or self centered.   *It focuses on what will benefit the person that is loved.   *Agape says, I love you unconditionally, no matter who you are, no matter what you do.”  It works in difficult situations and difficulties. *It loves even when it receives nothing in return.   

*It is the way God loves us.  He poured out His love for us even while we rejected it.  He sent His Son to give His life for us even while we claimed we did not need a Savior. 

What do you think of when you read this?

Are Christian marriages in trouble? No more so than a secular marriage. In 2004, The Barna Research Group found the divorce rate nearly equal between born-again Christians and the general public.

Getting married is a big job. Working at a Christian marriage should be an easier job. If a Christian marriage isn’t working what can you and your spouse do?

Determine why the marriage is in trouble. Christians and the secular population get divorced for different reasons. While seculars divorce for incompatibility, Christian marriages usually fail for one of three reasons; adultery, abuse and abandonment.

If you have a Christian marriage in trouble, and are a devout Christian, you can consider Christian counseling. Please take the time to recognize if you are in a bad situation, suffering from physical or emotional abuse. If so, make sure that you (and your children) are safe from harm.

What makes Christian counseling different from secular counseling when trying to save a Christian marriage? The Bible.

The Bible is recognized as the authority, the final word, on many issues. Scripture will be a part of the counseling process along with traditional psychology. Be prepared to look into yourself to address your obedience to God and his will. To make a sincere attempt to save your Christian marriage you have to be open to God’s word.

To read more about the Barna Research Group and the dilemma in Christian divorce rates, visit Christians Divorce at Same Rate as Others But for Different Reasons at John Mark Ministries. You’ll find a great list of reading resources on the topic which you can find from Zondervan.

It is interesting to note that the number one Christian book sold on the market today is Gary Chapman’s The Five Love Languages. If you are having some problems, and maybe are not feeling quite ready for counseling, consider reading this book or another that you would feel more comfortable with.

The Five Love Languages was first published in 1992 and to be the number one best seller on the Christian book list says a lot. Perhaps some new strategies can shake up a stagnant Christian marriage and offer you new hope for the future.

Does the Barna report equate to Christian marriages having failed? What can we do to save a Christian marriage? Are there some Christian marriages that should not be saved?

2 Timothy 2 has some important messages about peace. It is a call to be mature, pursue things that are right with righteousness, faith, love and peace. More than just in God, we can apply peace to our daily lives. In 2 Timothy 2:22-23 says:

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.”

The Peace Podcast

To read along…

Do you find it easy exemplifying Timothy’s commandments outlined in 2 Timothy 2? What are your struggles in keeping the peace?

Today I recount a personal joy and from what I’m learning about joy it is definitely an experience that relates having a faithful relationship with Jesus and knowing that we are not alone. We are given joy and can find it when we need it.

Fruit of the Spirit Joy Podcast
…and if you’d like to read along I’m reading Psalm 30 from the New King James Version of the bible.

Have you found joy in similar circumstances, as a profound gift from Jesus that is inexplicable? Is it always there and we just need to accept it as the gift from the Holy Spirit or is it something we have to seek?

Love, He said the greatest of these is love. In my reflection it does seem that without love it is hard to accomplish any of the fruit of the Spirit.

Love is crucial to carrying out the remainder of the fruit of the Spirit. Isn’t it easier to forgive someone when we love them? We find ourselves more patient with those we love, in particular our spouses, children and our elderly relatives. Take any other fruit of the Spirit and add love to it and see how it changes the expectations of your actions.

To me, love doubles joy and peace and when someone who loves me follows through on acts of kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in seems more genuine when done in with a loving heart.

While it is hard work we should strive to nurture the fruit of the Spirit. Utilizing this gift helps us to grow and deepens our relationship with God. The starting foundation is love, genuine and generous. Love cannot be ignored, when it is apparent, it cannot be denied.

So, after loving God and loving ourselves, we love our neighbors. Not the ones that we like alone, but even the difficult ones that challenge us. Maybe they’ve never known love, maybe our turning of the cheek would be the first act of kindness, goodness or gentleness they have ever known.

How would that make you feel to make a different that like in someone’s life? Like offering food to a homeless man, you could be offering love to a neglected heart. You could even be bringing someone to God’s house.

I know that when I’ve felt down sometimes, love has come from the most unexpected of places. And on a daily basis the love the unconditionally flows from my family and friends is an incredible gift to me, strengthening me to carry on even when times are difficult.

How do you expect to be treated by those who “love” you? Do you think the love you share with others projects a Christian life and enhances the gift the Holy Spirit has given you?