I'm NOT Torn

Scripture: Philippians 1-3
Unlike Ephesians, there is almost no historical debate that this Letter to the Church at Phillipi was written by Paul.  It centers around Paul delivering his knowledge of Christ (Christology was the word we used for it in Seminary!) to this European Church.  


For more information see:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistle_to_the_Philippians


Observation:  This passage stuck out to me (1:22-24), "If I continue to live in this world, I get results from my work.  But I don't know which I prefer. I'm torn between the two, because I want to leave this life and be with Christ, which is far better. However, its important for me to stay in the world for your sake". 


Anyone else get the feeling that between 2 Corinthians and the sorrows and this that Paul is depressed.  Which, I mean he is under persecution and jailed so I understand.  But, does it seem that way?  I get similar feelings when I sing "I'll Fly Away".  I love that song--maybe mostly because I love banjos and fiddles.  But when I sing it I always wonder, am I really ready to fly away?


Application:  Now, don't get me wrong.  I believe that heaven will be great.  That I will be with Jesus and my grandparents and my loved ones passed.  But I'm not ready to be there.  I'm not torn over whether I want to be in heaven or on Earth.  I want to be here.  With you.  Ready to make a difference for God's kingdom.  Paul, I love you, and think you are amazing, but I'm not torn.


What about you?  Are you torn?

Prayer:  God, Let us live lives holy enough for heaven, but powerful enough not to get there tomorrow. Amen


Blessings!
Pastor Emily

Armor and Anger

Scripture:  Ephesians 3-6


Observation:  I love how in these chapters the writer of Ephesians seems to remind us of how we keep evil out of our lives and our beings.  That we don't just do good to do good, but we do good to help keep evil out.  that we choose what is right to keep evil from taking over us.


He says in 4:26-28, Don't let anger over take you!  We often think being angry in and of itself is sinful.  The sin isn't in the feeling, but in the ACTION!  He says in 5:4, if you are choosing bad things, you can't be as fully thankful as I need you to be.  He says in 5:11-13 "Don't give into the dark, for the light will always win.  Choose your team carefully!"


But then the end is so great!  The whole armor of God in 6:10-17!  Put it all on!  Put on the breastplate of justice and the belt of truth! Put on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit!  How wonderful is that! We can protect ourselves from evil with the light and good of God!


Application:  Where is evil creeping into your life?  Where are you slipping into ways you shouldn't?  Where are people rioting against you or speaking evil?  What places do you need to put on the armor of God?  What great questions!  Put those things on your heart and mind today!


Prayer--
O God of Protection--Protect the ones I love today.  Let them put on your armor to protect them from evil.  Let your light in them banish the darkness.  Change their hearts and protect them from the evil one.  Thank you for all your grace, mercy and protection!  In your name we pray!  Amen!


Blessings--Pastor Emily 

Wonder of Wonders

Scripture--Ephesians 1-Ephesians 3

 

Did you know we were already on the 10th book of the New Testament?  That means we're getting to the end! Can you believe we are more than 2/3 done?  Save the date for Sunday 9/11 at 4 pm for an ice cream social and wrap-up.  Lets meet together, see each other's faces and talk about our experiences!

 

Ephesians is the first book that we've come to that has some scholarly question as to Paul's Authorship.  Tradition credits it to Paul, but historians aren't so sure.  They date it instead to some of Paul's later followers.  Either way, its an important piece of scripture that details the unity and reconciliation of all creation under Christ's authority!  This is another short book!  Lets do this!

 

Observation:

I love these verses (1:18-19)  "I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God's call, what is the richness of God's glorious inheritance among believers, and what is the overwhelming greatness of God's power that is working among us believers."

 

Application:

I don't know about you--but I have felt God's call and power in the last few weeks.  It seems like in the last month God has breathed new life into my life and into our church.  Have you felt it?  A huge box of school supplies.  A buzz about going to Nicaragua.  A prayer tower coming out of the ground.  A new building.  A new worship service.  An amazing revival.  A five week sermon series in July that really seemed to affect change.  Things seem to be moving in new ways, and I feel God's presence everywhere I turn.

 

So these words seemed to mirror the prayers I've been praying for our church.  That the eyes of our heart will have enough light to hear where God is nudging you.  To see the wonderful blessings God has in store for you.  To see the overwhelming greatness of God's power at work.  When I teach my confirmation class on "Gifts of the Spirit", I talk about someone with the gift of miracles being someone who sees the miraculous in what we would see as ordinary.  The person who sees God's power in the "every day".  That's my prayer for you--that you would see God's miracles every day!

 

Prayer:  Miraculous God--Open our eyes to your miracles.  Let us see your power.  Let us be changed by your love.  Amen.

 

Blessings--

Pastor Emily

 

August 6--Ephesians 4-Ephesians 6

August 7--Philippians 1-Philippians 3

August 8--Philippians 4-Colossians 2

Bearing Fruit

Scripture--Galatians 4-Galatians 6

Observation:  I can't talk about these chapters without talking about 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this." 

Application:  Why do you do good things?  Why are you patient and kind and loving and gentle?  Is it because you are that amazing?  Because you work hard to be that way?

Sometimes, yes, I think its because you are wonderful and work hard.  But I give credit for all the good I am to God.  I am patient because God is patient with me.  I love because God loves me.  I am full of joy because God fills me with God's Spirit of JOY!  Its a key to our belief that we don't do good things of our own accord, but we do good things because God loves us.  We are good not by ourselves, but because God loves us.  

For too many years we have been taught that we must do good to be loved.  But its clear that the fruit of loving God and being loved by God is the cultivating of character!  Wondering how close you are to God right now?  Wondering about how the spirit is working in you? Then examine how self-controlled you are.  How good you are.  How loving and faithful you are. When you start to bear those fruits--you will know God is working in you.

Prayer:  Jesus our Christ--Thank you for your infinite mercies.  Thank you for your infinite love.  Whatever we have is yours.  Whoever we are is yours.  Continue to let your fruits show through what we do.  Show through how we act.  Do a good work in us, so we can spread your love to the world.  AMEN!

Blessings!
Pastor Emily 

August 5--Ephesians 1-Ephesians 3

August 6--Ephesians 4-Ephesians 6

August 7--Philippians 1-Philippians 3

August 8--Philippians 4-Colossians 2

People Pleaser

Scripture--Galatians 1-Galatians 3

Galatians is written to "the churches in Galatia".  Where exactly this is is of some debate, but most scholars agree that its somewhere in Asia Minor.  It is however clear that Paul is writing this as a rebuke.  There is much debate over a Gentile's role in Christianity, and Paul is ready to set the record straight.  "There is nether Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (3:28) 

For more information see:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistle_to_the_Galatians 

Observation:  So hard today!  I loved 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me!" or 3:2 "Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the Law or by believing what you had heard?" or the quote from 3:28 above.

But what stopped me in my tracks was 1:10, "Am I trying to win over human beings or God? Or am I trying to please people?  If I were still trying to please people I wouldn't be Christ's slave."  Ouch.  

Application:  I am the original people pleaser.  I cringe to think of the stories my mother could tell you!  I want people to be happy and safe and wonderful.  But then I get to that verse.  And I remember that doing what is right isn't always easy.  I want people to be happy, but I'd rather follow Christ.  I'd rather help people than please them!  I needed that smack in the face this morning.  

Prayer:  O Spirit of Truth, let me never forget that loving you is more than always being "nice".  Let me never forget that pleasing people isn't always pleasing to you.  Let me take the authority you've given me to conquer demons and learn to say no.  Let me remember to be nothing more than your servant, following your ways.  Amen! 

August 4--Galatians 4-Galatians 6

August 5--Ephesians 1-Ephesians 3

August 6--Ephesians 4-Ephesians 6

August 7--Philippians 1-Philippians 3

August 8--Philippians 4-Colossians 2

Examine Yourselves!

Scripture--2 Corinthians 13

Observation:  Wallace often says, "I can't expect unless I inspect".  And although we like to cut up, I am keenly aware that Wallace says many brilliant things.  This is one I will keep and use!  See, we try hard to be good. We work hard to be Christian. But sometimes its easy to put yourself into autopilot.  How do we know if we are loving enough if we don't check sometimes.  Now, this whole book has been about admitting our weaknesses, about letting God be strong in us, about remember that we don't have to be perfect.  And I agree with that.  I'm weak so Christ can be strong.  I am saved by God's grace, not by my works.  I do good BECAUSE God loves me.

With that being said, there's also something to be said about checking yourself.  So this verse hit me:  (13:5) "Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith.  Test yourselves".

Observation:  Have you tested yourself lately?  Have you checked your "faith-meter"?  How is it going?  Are you feeling close to God?  Have you heard Jesus speak lately?  The spirit move?  Have you spent time in prayer and reflection?  Time praising God?  Then today is the day to start!  Examine yourselves, don't worry, we won't fail the test! 

Prayer:  God of great love, We want to be closer to you.  To love you more.  Show us the way.  Teach us to pray.  Love us as we walk along the way.  With open hearts we offer ourselves to you!  In your amazing name we pray.  Amen.

Blessings!Pastor Emily

August 3--Galatians 1-Galatians 3

August 4--Galatians 4-Galatians 6

August 5--Ephesians 1-Ephesians 3

August 6--Ephesians 4-Ephesians 6

August 7--Philippians 1-Philippians 3

August 8--Philippians 4-Colossians 2

Strength in Weakness

Scripture--2 Corinthians 10 -2 Corinthians 12

Application:  I know I said it in the introduction to 2 Corinthians, but I've been so struck by Paul's discussions of his weaknesses, failures and sorrows.  It amazes me how sad he was in this whole book.  Sad but hopeful.  But still sad.  

The section that got me this time was here (12:8-9)  ^"I pleaded with the Lord three times for it to leave me alone. He said to me, “My grace is enough for you, because power is made perfect in weakness.” So I’ll gladly spend my time bragging about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power can rest on me."

Observation:  I know that feeling.  That I'm not good enough.  That I'm too tired or too busy or not enough.  But guess what--that's where  God works best!  When we give things up to God, that's when God can work.  When we try to be strong and boast of our greatness, we leave no room for God to work!

What can you give up to God today?  What can you let God have?  Where can you admit your weakness so you can boast in God?

Prayer:  All-Powerful God--You are strong and mighty.  All that I have is yours.  Remind me of that.  Make me weak so that you can be strong.  Amen.

Blessings!

Pastor Emily 

August 2--2 Corinthians 13

August 3--Galatians 1-Galatians 3

August 4--Galatians 4-Galatians 6

August 5--Ephesians 1-Ephesians 3

August 6--Ephesians 4-Ephesians 6

August 7--Philippians 1-Philippians 3

August 8--Philippians 4-Colossians 2