"The Blessings Of Gifts"

James 1:17  " Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father."

The best gifts are His grace and mercy. Cannot even imagine living without them. What Love! Considering how undeserving we are and our capacity for depravity. I am overwhelmed by His good and perfect gifts. I believe at our best we can reflect Him. In recent days and weeks l have been the recipient of kindness, generosity and love beyond measure. Thoughtful words, beautiful artwork by children and gifts both small and precious and large and leaving me speechless. I have been humbled, and am grateful and deeply touched. Makes me want to serve and to keep giving. Cannot outgive God, but Lord help me respond.

May He be glorified and His Kingdom advanced because people really can be wonderful and we serve an awesome God. Thank you Lord, first of all, for your kindness and generosity and then also for the blessings of your people.

In His Service with you,
Pastor Fred 

Daily Devotional "Launch Out In Faith" by Rick Warren
 

Then Joshua gave orders to the officers of the people... "Three days from now you will cross the Jordan River and take the land the Lord your God is giving you."
Joshua 1:10-11 NIV
 

There comes a point in life where you have to have to stop talking about and praying about a barrier in your life. You must step out in spite of your feelings, your fears, and your doubts.

Joshua and the Israelites had to take the plunge - literally. Once they crossed the Jordan River, they were going to begin a battle to take over the nations.

The Jordan River is not a very big river, except in flood season when it swells into a giant, rushing, torrential, and very dangerous river. The Israelites just happened to be right there during flood season.

They said, "How are we going to get across?" God said, "I'm going to do a miracle! But I want you to step in first. This is a test." So the spiritual leaders began to walk into the water, and God did a miracle. The waters receded, and the people crossed over.

What do you do when you know something is God's will, but you're scared to death to do it? You do it anyways! And once you start doing it, the faith will come. God doesn't do the miracle first. No. He wants you to step out in faith.

Face your fears. If you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done: "Those who wait for perfect weather will never plant seeds." Ecclesiastes 11:4 NIV

Devotion provided by Colleen Jilio-Ryan

"Therefore..." 
 
Colossians 3:12-17 " Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another and forgiving one another; if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

I come back to these verses today because l want to understand them better and be blessed by them more. This beautiful description of the character of Christian behavior is rich and deep and is a bottomless reservoir of thirst-quenching refreshment.  Drink with me as l try to plumb its depths.

Whenever a chapter or paragraph of verses begin with the word "Therefore", you must read the preceding verse or verses to find out what the "therefore" is "there for". Whenever l see a "therefore" l know the preceding verses are answering the question of why the author is saying what he is saying. The verse preceding our verses today in Colossians says... "Christ is all and in all"... meaning, He is everything and in each of us. Since that is true, we are the elect of God, holy and true,  because of what He has done for us and can and will do through us. We are elect, holy and true not of ourselves, but because of Him. That is why He can call us to this Christian character He demands, because He will accomplish it. He elects us and makes us holy and true. A great quote says that "God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called." Enough to consider today, more tomorrow.

In Him,
Pastor Fred 

Colossians 3: 12-17
"Therefore, as the elect of God holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another; if anyone has a complaint against another even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all things put on love, which is the bond of perfection, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord, and whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

The more I read this passage, the more l am digesting it. I am feeding on the truth herein. Today, a list for us of character traits. When l reformat scripture it is easier to receive it. I like lists. Check? Check. Ok... a checklist, even better. Here is a checklist of what Paul tells us to put on. Check it out!

□ tender mercies
□ kindness
□ humility 
□ meekness
□ longsuffering
□ forbearance
□ forgiveness
□ love
□ peace
□ thankfulness 
□ wisdom 
□ grace

All because we are the elect of God, holy and beloved and in the name of the Lord Jesus. Keep checking.  I know l am.

With hope in Him,
Pastor Fred 

Isaiah 26:12 "Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.
 
Everything emanates from the Lord. He is the initiator, the prime mover, the beginning and the end. He is supreme. He is the only Creator, Sustainer, and giver of life. The only true peace comes from Him. Peace is not easy to find nor maintain, but He is the Prince of Peace. Outside of Him, we do nothing redeemable. I pray that the Prince of Peace will establish His throne in your heart and that you will know that all you accomplish is by His power. Lord bring peace, establish it and accomplish it in our hearts, in your church, in this country and this world.
 
In His Peace,
Pastor Fred

"Kindness" 
 
Colossians 3:12-13 "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another. If anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do."

Kindness is so powerful. All of the character traits listed here are compelling and impressive. We can make such an amazing positive impression with just simple kindness. Kindness is contagious. All of these character traits are infectious. It is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance.(Romans 2:4)

We really should look at each of these virtues individually. They are desperately needed. In this season of brashness and mean-spirited negativity, the character traits of believers can be an overwhelming witness. The following quote touched me today... "Kindness is the universal language of Christian character, it allows others to see the Holy Spirit in your life without words."

With Hope,
Pastor Fred

"Drawing Near"

James 4:8 "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

When l wake up each day l am immediately aware that l am a created being. I am a living soul. I am a man in need of a Savior. When my eyes open and my thoughts begin to form l am immediately aware that l am not alone. God is with me and in me and of me and for me. I begin to consider who He is and what l am.

As l begin my day l think about how much God loves me, and how He has cared for me and blessed me. I think about what is real and true and important. I consider what is lovelly and true, good and precious. This is the process of drawing near to God. With this effort l sense His presence and His glory. I know He is near. I know He loves me and cares. When l pull in close to Him l feel Him closer to me. I know He is in me. We, He and l, will do this day together.

Thank you Lord for being so close. Help me draw near as often as l need to and especially at the beginning of each new day.

In His presence,
Pastor Fred