All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

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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

Happy New Year's Eve

December 31, 2009. . .

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under Heaven

. . .a time to plant, and a time to uproot

. . .a time to tear down, and a time to build

. . .a time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them

. . .a time to keep, and a time to throw away

. . .a time to be silent, and a time to speak. from Ecclesiastes 3

How eloquent are the words of the philosophical writer of… Continue

Added by Christine on December 31, 2009 at 8:07am — No Comments

Christmas Eve Greetings

Luke 2.10 ~ I bring you good tidings of great joy. . . today. . . a Savior!!

Christmas Greetings to you, dear friend~

I bring you good tidings of great joy this morning, from Jesus--

Dear child, maybe now that your preparations are through, you can make some quiet to be with me. You will have to take the time, it won't just happen. Just as the townspeople of Bethlehem missed my birth all those years ago, it would be easy for you to go through Christmas, and miss me,… Continue

Added by Christine on December 22, 2009 at 10:15pm — 1 Comment

Wise men seek him

WISE MEN SEEK HIM

After the angels proclaimed to the shepherds, ‘good news of great joy which was for all the people,’ the shepherds gathered their robes and hurried to the babe. Later, the Magi braved deserts and mountains to find him, bringing gifts. While we do not know how many wise men there were, we do know they brought three gifts . . . highly significant and symbolic gifts.

Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh. ‘With the exception of gold, the three gifts the Wise Men brought… Continue

Added by Christine on December 22, 2009 at 6:45am — 1 Comment

Where is God in our pain?

Note: If you haven't listened to a podcast, this would be a good day to 'give it a go'-- you will need to sign up for itunes, which is free, and then you will be able click on the icon and play each day's podcast. Today's podcast includes a moving, inspirational song.

GOD’S PRESENCE IN OUR PAIN

So, if “Immanuel,” (meaning “God with us”), was one of the names given Jesus, and Scripture promises believers he will never leave us or forsake us. . . well then, how do we come to… Continue

Added by Christine on December 20, 2009 at 10:13pm — No Comments

Are there things I do that silence God's presence?

ARE THERE THINGS YOU DO THAT SILENCE GOD’S PRESENCE?

Jesus Christ, our Immanuel, God with us. . .

Yesterday, I discussed how to feel God’s presence in and around you, but today I ask the question: Are there things I do, or might do, that would silence his presence?

I think so. . . while he will not go away necessarily, your ability to feel him will be dimmed. So, what can you do?

Refrain from activities that would “grieve” Him~

To grieve God is to hurt… Continue

Added by Christine on December 17, 2009 at 9:37pm — 3 Comments

How do you feel God's presence?

HOW DO YOU FEEL GOD’S PRESENCE? At Christmas time, or any time!

“The Lord himself will give you a sign:

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son,

and will call him Immanuel,”

spoken by Isaiah some 700 years before the birth of Christ. Isn’t that amazing?

Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus Christ includes the angel’s announcement to Joseph that his betrothed, Mary, was to bear a son. This was a fulfillment of the above… Continue

Added by Christine on December 16, 2009 at 7:56pm — No Comments

The old familiar story - Luke 2

Good Morning, dear ones~

The day we celebrate our Lord's birth draws nigh . . .

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a simple peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never had a family. He never owned a home. He never set foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born, and where he did go he usually… Continue

Added by Christine on December 15, 2009 at 9:38pm — No Comments

Cognitive Dissonance

COGNITIVE DISSONANCE

Sometimes as I am simply ‘doing life,’ I am aware of a dissonance, though not fully cognizant of just what I am seeing, until I mentally unpack it at a later time. Permit me to do that just now. . .

The first visual struck me late on a Thursday night, as my husband and I quickly strode past Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. Within just a few feet on our left was the beautiful, historic church . . . her steps filled with homeless people, trying… Continue

Added by Christine on December 14, 2009 at 9:58pm — No Comments

Ready . . . action! 2 Thessalonians 2.13 - 3.5

READY . . . Action! 2 Thessalonians 2.13-3.5

Good Day, Friends.

Everywhere we look in this passage, the verbs steal the action. God made the first move by loving us and choosing us to be his children . . . okay, how great is that? We were not born out of wedlock, so to speak, or by accident, but he deliberately chose us by name to be his children. The other day when we talked about ‘personal brand’, when you thought of the list of synonyms to describe yourself, was… Continue

Added by Christine on December 13, 2009 at 9:00pm — No Comments