A warm reality...

God is with us

Our pastor is sharing sermons on the Holy Spirit....who He is....what work He does in our life's.
Jesus returned to heaven so He could give us the greatest gift of all....the Holy Spirit.
If we could fully grasp the magnitude of this, it would blow our minds. When we accept the 'work of the cross'....that Jesus paid the debt of our sin to bring us into a right standing with God....and then left us with the person of the Holy Spirit to 'dwell'  in us.....God living in me....God living in you....Wow...

Immanuel, God is with us!

Tis the season....the perfect gift!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I love Christmas....it was always the best time of year. We cooked and cleaned and there was always the anticipation of gifts under the tree....the expression of love in a physical component. Friends and family gathering together...songs and cookies and shared stories. I love to find the perfect gift to bring a smile to someone's face that I love.
As I was studying this morning, there was a question asked?
If you were to give a gift that would be suitable for the whole world ....what would you give?
Books....many people cannot read
Foods....different people eat different things in different parts of the world
Clothing.....climates are different
Money....not ever culture uses money

Only the Gospel...the Good News with its gift of eternal life is suitable for the whole world
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have Everlasting Life.

The gift of 'forgiveness'...being right with God our Creator...an eternal Home with our Heavenly Father...

God doesn't just meet our future needs but He meets our daily needs.....there is so much more when we accept that 'gift from God'.

A gift is given....it is up to us to open our hearts to receive it.

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace....God's unmerited favour.....

"I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene'.....this old man that graces my living room wall and I are amazed at the goodness of God. I couldn't have imagined a house this beautiful when I was praying for a place to live. God pours out His love for me and even gently draws me back into a loving relationship with Him. As I study this very short book of Colossians I am encouraged to put Him back in my life where He belongs....on the throne of my heart....

True or Truth

The word TRUE is your perspective of something.

The word TRUTH is universal and cannot be changed.

The Gospel....is the word of truth....Colossians 1:5
This means that it came from God and can be trusted...
The Gospel does not center in a philosophy, a doctrine or a religious system. It centers in Jesus Christ the Son of God.....
There are many messages and ideas that can be called 'true' but only God's Word can be called 'Truth

The 'written' Word of God' enlightened by the 'Holy Spirit' of God made possible by the 'Living Word' of God......a powerful life changing truth.....

“An unbelieved truth can hurt a man much more than a lie. It takes great courage to back truth unacceptable to our times. There's a punishment for it, and it's usually crucifixion.” 
― John Steinbeck, East of Eden


http://lifeinfocusblog.com/2013/06/23/true-vs-truth/
A great link that I found that had 'words of truth'
 

Melting pot or Mosaic

I love words and when I find a word I like to look up the meaning and 'ruminate' on it. This word came up in my study....Syncretism.....

Syncretism  is the combining of different, often seemingly contradictory beliefs, while melding practices of various schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merger and analogizing of several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, thus asserting an underlying unity and allowing for an inclusive approach to other faiths.

I love to learn and I love to listen to peoples stories of life changing moments. As I study Colossians I am challenged on my thinking....I know that I know that I know that the Bible is true and that Jesus is my Saviour....but am I becoming a melting pot in my beliefs....am I dethroning Jesus and robbing Him of His rightful place of pre-eminence.

Am I diluting my faith in a loving attempt to understand the beliefs of others?
Do I look to self help books, tv reality shows, yoga, meditation, magic rocks and crystals, angel worship, horoscopes.....on and on....
I want to put Jesus "back on the throne"
He is my 'all in all'
He has changed my life....
He is the Way....the Truth....and the Life

A Letter of Love

Winter is upon us and 'Baby its cold out there!" I am feeling the need  to take a walk down 'Memory Lane' and reconnect with God on a spiritual journey. I opened my Bible carrying case and discovered a study book on Colossians and it has a timely message for me....Be Complete....How to become the whole person God intends you to be.....

I love to take photos and I have found a partner who also loves to travel with me and take photos. We explore old buildings and this photo he took of me in an old barn. We learn a lot from travelling back in time and looking out the window with our life experiences behind us. Getting to that window was not easy....I had to walk through tall uncut grass....bypassing old junk and gopher holes....the barn had signs of 'creatures' living there....I couldn't reach the window so I found an old tire and climbed a dirt ridden shelf to get to the window to look out. My life is like that...I had to go through a lot of scary, unpleasant experiences to get to the place of looking out that window with joy. Life is a journey and I am learning to become the person God created me to be....Colossians is a letter of love and thanksgiving from Paul to the Colossians....Join me as I discover the truths God has for me!