All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

Christine's Blog – January 2010 Archive (20)

Of diets and divisions ~ 1 Corinthians 3.1-4

We all come into the world drinking milk.

And then, someone gives us cereal . . .

Next, the exciting world of Gerber plums and peaches, and sweet potatoes…

Finally, with teeth, we get something a little more interesting.

By the time we get to solid food, it means we have teeth. . .

it means we are maturing.

Of Diets and Divisions - 1 Corinthians 3.1-4

Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I… Continue

Added by Christine on January 31, 2010 at 10:18pm — No Comments

For such a time as this

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

Good Day~

This morning at Women of Passion we got into a lively discussion about how the Holy Spirit works in our lives, and how and when he shows himself to us. That opened the door for a couple women to share from a sacred place in their hearts, which was very edifying for all of us. Here is what I noticed: each softened her voice as she began, and I think we all knew we were standing on holy ground; the women had been in painful situations when… Continue

Added by Christine on January 28, 2010 at 10:35pm — No Comments

Spirit takes us deeper ~ 1 Corinthians 2.10-16

Spirit takes us deeper ~ 1 Corinthians 2.10-16

But God revealed it through his Spirit, for the Spirit explores all things, even the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of the man unless the spirit of the man which is in him? So no one ever knew the things of God except the Spirit of God. It is not the spirit of the world that we have received, but the Spirit which comes from God, so that we may know the things given to us by the grace of God. The things we speak we do not… Continue

Added by Christine on January 27, 2010 at 7:31pm — No Comments

The Wisdom of Narnia ~ 1 Corinthians 2.6-9

THE WISDOM of NARNIA - 1 Corinthians 2.6-9

True, we speak wisdom among those who are mature—but it is a wisdom which does not belong to this world, nor to the rulers of this world whose extinction is inevitable. But we speak the wisdom of God in a way that only he who is initiated into Christianity can understand, a wisdom which up to now has been kept hidden, a wisdom which God fore-ordained before time for our eternal glory, a wisdom which none of the leaders of this world knew; for, if… Continue

Added by Christine on January 26, 2010 at 8:41pm — No Comments

Keep me near the cross

Jesus, keep me near the cross, there a precious fountain~

Free to all, a healing stream, flows from Calvary's mountain.*

Good Day . . .

The Cross – it has stumbled some, repulsed others, and caused them to say, ‘no way’. Have you ever stood at the foot of the cross, and looked up? What did you see there? Did you see a man who gave up his royal robes for you, and took your place? It is ironic that so many of the Jews rejected him because they were most equipped to understand… Continue

Added by Christine on January 25, 2010 at 9:17pm — No Comments

Doorway to wisdom is humility ~ 1 Corinthians 1.26-31

Doorway to wisdom is humility

Brothers, just look at the way in which you have been called. You can see at once that not many wise men—by human standards—not many powerful men, not many high-born men have been called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise men; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the strong things; and God has chosen the ignoble and the despised things of the world, yes, and the things which are not, to bring… Continue

Added by Christine on January 24, 2010 at 10:00pm — 2 Comments

Stumbling over the Cross ~ 1 Corinthians 1.18-25

STUMBLING OVER THE CROSS

For the story of the cross is foolishness to those who are on the way to destruction, but it is the power of God to those who are on the way to salvation. For it stands written: ‘I will wipe out the wisdom of the wise and I will bring to nothing the cleverness of the clever.’ Where is the wise? Where is the expert in the law? Where is the man who debates about this world’s wisdom? Did not God render foolish the wisdom of this world? For when, in God’s wisdom, the… Continue

Added by Christine on January 21, 2010 at 9:19pm — No Comments

No divisions among you ~ 1 Corinthians 1.10-17

NO DIVISIONS AMONG YOU.

Brothers, I urge you through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you should make up your differences and that you should see to it that there may be no divisions among you, but that you should be knit together in the same mind and the same opinion. Brothers, it has become all too clear to me, from information that I have received from members of Chloe’s household, that there are outbreaks of strife among you. What I mean is this – each of you is saying: ‘I… Continue

Added by Christine on January 20, 2010 at 8:54pm — No Comments

Paul thanks God for what he has done

PAUL THANKS GOD for what he has done. 1 Corinthians 1.4-9

Always I thank my God for you, for the grace of God which has been given to you in Christ Jesus. I have good reason to do so, because in him you have been enriched in everything, in every form of speech, and in every form of knowledge, inasmuch as what we promised you that Christ could do for his people has been proved to be true in you. The result is that there is no spiritual gift in which you lag behind, while you eagerly wait… Continue

Added by Christine on January 19, 2010 at 9:10pm — No Comments

Greetings from Paul ~ to Corinth, to us 1 Corinthians

[From] Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and Sosthenes, our brother, write this letter to the Church of God, which is at Corinth, to those who have been consecrated in Christ Jesus, to those who have been called to be God’s dedicated people in the company of those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus – their Lord and ours. Grace be to you and peace from God, our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1.1-3

Good… Continue

Added by Christine on January 18, 2010 at 9:45pm — 2 Comments

On to Corinth . . .

ON TO CORINTH

Today, we walk into the little church of Corinth, located in a city by the same name in southern Greece, about 50 miles from Athens. If the church was representative of the people of Corinth, it was no doubt quite a colorful community!

Corinth was established several hundred years before the time of Christ, but has been destroyed and rebuilt many times since. Her location attracted travelers by land and sea, which accounted for her bustling population of 80,000+,… Continue

Added by Christine on January 14, 2010 at 10:36pm — No Comments

Where do we find ourselves now?

Good Day . . .

Where do we find ourselves now?

More than 2,000 years after Jesus Christ was born, he is still the most influential man who ever walked the face of the earth. True Christians endeavor to live as Jesus would have us, so far as we understand his life and teachings in Scripture, which truly shows the power of his influence, doesn’t it? When Paul was converted from Judaism to believing in Jesus, he completely gave himself over to telling others that Jesus was indeed… Continue

Added by Christine on January 13, 2010 at 10:07pm — No Comments

THE END - 2 Thessalonians 3.6-18

THE END - 2 Thessalonians 3.6-18

Good Morning.

In December, we stepped away from Paul’s writing to the churches in order to discuss Christmas. Then with the opportunity of a new year in front of us, I challenged you to grow your Christian faith with renewed commitment and disciplined vitality, and many of you have let me know, you are taking me up on the challenge . . . so exciting, isn’t it? But now, let’s go back to close out Paul’s two letters to the church of… Continue

Added by Christine on January 12, 2010 at 6:45pm — No Comments

"You are Mine"

“You are mine”

“I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you.

For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior . . .

You are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you . . . Fear not, for I am with you . . . I have blotted out like a thick cloud your… Continue

Added by Christine on January 11, 2010 at 9:01pm — No Comments

This might offend you - not for the faint of heart

On spiritual growth . . . not for the faint of heart

Good Day.

One other thought keeps creeping in—is there any room?

When I decide to get physically fit, I must make room in my life for exercise and giving attention to proper nutrition . . . and the same thing applies if I want to get spiritually fit. I must make room. I mean, really, you invite God “in” and give him what—a little corner of yourself? ‘Come on in, God, change me, grow me—I’ve given you this little bit of… Continue

Added by Christine on January 10, 2010 at 7:58pm — No Comments

An Appetite for Prayer

AN APPETITE FOR PRAYER . . .

So, let’s see . . . we have purposed to make spiritual growth a priority in our lives, understanding that growth does not happen by osmosis. To choose positive change will require discipline on our part, a commitment to make a daily appointment with God, and then keep it. Truly, growing our relationship with God best happens by spending time in his presence and in his Word, and through communicating with him—i.e., praying! I discussed the life-changing book… Continue

Added by Christine on January 7, 2010 at 7:28pm — No Comments

Why pray?

WHY PRAY?

Everybody has their own experience with prayer . . . how they do it, why they do it, and what happens when they do. I’m no different. I can’t say prayer has come easily to me—oh sure, the elementary-style prayers of my youth were fine—but the deeper stuff was different.

My deeper trek into the far-reaching regions of prayer began in 2000, when my pastor in Northern California suggested a particular book. He said it would ‘jump-start my prayer life’. He was right. It… Continue

Added by Christine on January 6, 2010 at 9:47pm — No Comments

DISCIPLINED for a change

DISCIPLINED for a change

Having heard from a number of you, that while you desire to spend time with God, you are just unsure of what to do—and from a few others of you who just have an ‘on again, off again’ quiet time, always stretched for time, today’s briefing is my response to both. If we were in a battle, (and actually we are), when breakthrough is near, there is often a request for reinforcement. To grow spiritually, you will need reinforcement, dear ones. So, first we must… Continue

Added by Christine on January 5, 2010 at 9:54pm — No Comments

What if????

WHAT IF?

Yes . . . what if you did?

What if you really did want to grow?

What if you really did want to grow spiritually in 2010?

Yesterday, I suggested that you might go into training, just as an Olympic athlete does. The training that nets spiritual dividends most certainly would include Bible study and prayer, and should include worship of God, service, and giving. While some might stifle a yawn at the thought of Bible reading and prayer, I want to… Continue

Added by Christine on January 4, 2010 at 9:18pm — 1 Comment

A New Year . . . so, let's grow!

One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Paul, Ephesians 3.13,14

Happy New Year! >This would be a good briefing to print, and respond in writing~

What will this year hold for you? There will be smiles, struggles, sin, satisfaction--the stuff our lives are made of. While nothing magical happens when we turn the calendar page to… Continue

Added by Christine on January 3, 2010 at 9:07pm — 3 Comments