Titus 1:1 "Servants of the Word" (October 31)

Titus 1:1 ~
We are Servants of the Word of God
for the Faith of His People and
for the Knowledge of the Truth
which Leads to Godliness
Changed Lives!

2 Tim 4:3 "Itching Ears" (October 30)

2 Tim 4:3 ~ Itching Ears accumulate their own teachers. 
Am I listening to those men and women who only scratch where I itch---who tell me what I want to hear.  Like everything is going to be all right.  Like everything is going to work out fine.  Like you are going to be an overcomer from all these trials.  Who is preaching repentance from the things that grab your heart that is not God.  Lovers of this world---repent.  Lovers of pleasure---repent.  Who is preaching repentance? 

2 Tim 4:5 ~
Be sober.
Endure suffering.
Do the work of an evangelist.
Fulfill your ministry.

2 Tim 3:11-12 "God Rescued Me" (Oct 29)

Heartless.
Lovers of Pleasure
rather than
Lovers of God.
Repent
Endure...

2 Tim 3:11-12 ~ From ALL persecutions, my LORD rescued me.  All who desire to live will be persecuted.  My share of persecution has been small in the scheme of things but, as always, it has loomed large in my vision at times.  I can say with all my heart that my Beautiful God has rescued me from every one, to this day.  And forevermore.

So, continue in what you have learned and what you firmly believe.  Continue, o my soul!

2 Tim 2:7 "God Will Give You Understanding in Everything" (October 28)

2 Tim 2:1 My child, be strengthened by God's Grace. 
2 Tim 2:15 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything...and rightly handle the Word of Truth. 

There is something that stirs deep within me when I read both of these verses.  Something about God calling me tenderly, My Child.  Something about knowing that God will give me understanding IN EVERYTHING.  Everything!  My husband has been a very faithful man over a lifetime.  I don't have understanding of how we have reached the place where we are.  We long so much to be in the ministry we so love!  And we wait!  We wait for no man.  We wait for a Good God.

2 Tim 1:6 "Timothy's Tears" (October 27)

Paul remembered Timothy's tears.  I wonder what Timothy's tears were for?  I find it very tender that Paul holds this memory of his friend so dear.  He encourages Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God, which is already in Timothy.  God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.  That's just beautiful news. 

I Tim 6:12 "Fight the Good Fight" (October 26)

I Timothy 6:12 ~ Fight the good fight of the faith.
Jesus Christ has already won the battle.  It is finished.
Yet, every day we are in a battle for our faith.
Will we believe a Good God though circumstances disturb and deter?
What does it look like this day to fight a good fight of faith?

I Tim 5:6 "Self-Indulgent: Dead While Alive" (October 25)

 I Tim 5:6 If I am self-indulgent, I am dead, even while I live.  What do I choose to indulge in?  Being right.  Wanting peace.  Craving attention.  Being lazy.  Harboring jealousy.  Wonder why I don't indulge in things of eternal value?  Who wants to live like a dead person?

I Tim 4:8 "This Present Moment" (October 24)

I Tim 4:8 ~ Train yourself for godliness....it holds such promise for this present life and the one to come. Not for the solution to all our problems. This present moment. It's really all I have. Am I living in the present? Satan wants us to live in the past or in the future and will do anything to get us away from dealing with this present moment.

I Tim 4:15 ~ Immerse yourself in God's teachings. Keep a close watch on yourself. Take care of your own business and leave your friends and family in God's Hands.

I Tim 3:16 "The Mystery of Godliness" (October 23)

I Tim 3:15 ~ Paul knew that he was close to death.  He writes to Timothy to tell him how they are to behave in the noble tasks in the church, the Pillar and Buttress of the Truth. Paul just wrote that his evaluation of himself placed him in the column of the chiefest of sinners. We can never rid ourselves of our sinful nature.  It will always be there. This isn't about getting better, or wiser, or stronger.  This is about surrender to the Truth.  How will we live differently today, a repentant heart?  Hold the Mystery of Faith with a clear conscience. Great indeed, we confess, is this Mystery of Godliness ~ I Tim 3:16.

 

I Tim 1:16 "Chiefest Sinner of All" (October 22)

Christian tradition says that Paul was beheaded in the mid 60's A.D.  The book of I Timothy was written after 64 A.D. to encourage Timothy how to really live.  Paul knows that he is near death and what does he write to Timothy in I Tim 1:15 but that Christ came to save sinners and he was the chiefest sinner of all. Paul sees his own heart and it's the end of his life and maturity---he sees how far off he really is.  Paul says God had mercy on him.  The King of Ages.  Immortal.  Invisible.  The Only God.  Have mercy on all of us, O God. I pray for my friends I Tim 2:2 that they live a peaceful and quiet life.

I Tim 1:1 "See God Walking on the Sea" (October 21)

I Timothy 1:1 ~ The first verse of I Timothy says that our hope is God.  It is not in the fulfillment of our dreams or desires or deadlines.  We live for this moment not for honors or graduations or weddings or benchmarks.  Oswald Chambers wrote:  "We tend to think that if Jesus Christ compels us to do something and we are obedient to Him, He will lead us to great success....We have the idea that God is leading us toward a particular end or a desired goal, but He is not...God sees the process as the goal itself...God's purpose is for me to depend on Him and on His power now... What He desires for me is that I see "Him walking on the sea" with no shore, no success, no goal in sight, but simply having the absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see "Him walking on the sea." It is the process, not the outcome that is glorifying to God."  My Utmost for His Highest ~ July 28th

I Timothy 1:5 ~ The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

2 Thes 3:1 "Pray that the Word Speed Ahead" (October 20)

Problems existed in the church in Thessalonica.  Idleness.  Lack of Faith. Weariness in well doing.
Pray that the Word speed ahead and be honored, however, just like it did in Thessalonica. 2 Thes 3:1
The LORD is faithful.  He will establish you and guard you against the Evil One.  May God direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. 2 Thes 3:5. 

May the LORD of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. 2 Thes 3:16.

2 Thes 2:16 "Good Hope" (October 19)

<sup>2 Thes 2:15-16 Stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught, either by spoken word or written word.  May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who gave us Eternal Comfort and Good Hope through Grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

All the saints have good hope through grace and that is great consolation to anyone who is needy.  Our hope is not based on our own achievement, our own merit, but we have free grace, paid mercy, good hope.  The more that we put our hope in the word and works and ways of God, the more we will persevere with good hope.  Life is all about what happens to us along the journey, not when we arrive.  It is about the present free grace, free mercy, free hope.</sup>

2 Thes 1:11 "Boasting About Your Faith in Afflictions" (October 18)

When Paul and his workers preached to the heathen gentiles in Thessalonica, the people believed God.  They trusted a Good God, even when they went through suffering.  They knew they would have to suffer.  They were a church of close friends who grew and thrived on the grace of God.  2,000 years later, we read in both of these books about what church is all about. Back in 50 A.D., they wrote:

2 Thes 1:4 ~ We boast about you for your steadfastness and faith in the afflictions you are enduring.  I wonder today if we are boasting about how strong people are rather than steadfast; boasting about how to get rid of our problems rather than endure.

2 Thes 1:11 ~ May God make you worthy of His Calling and may He fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His Power so that He may be glorified in you, and you in Him...

I Thes 5:2 "Thief in the Night" (October 17)

I Thes 5:2 ~ The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night but we won't be shocked like the horror of a robber with a gun to our head.  No, we expect the Thief in the Night...that's The Day we live for, The Day we wait for. 

Keep Awake
Be Sober in Faith & Love & Hope
Test Everything
Hold Fast What is Good
Abstain from Every Form of Evil

I Thes 5:23 ~ NOW, May the God of Peace Himself,

Sanctify you Completely
May your whole spirit & soul & body be kept...

I Thes 5:24 ~ He Who calls you is Faithful;
HE will surely do it! 
And that's the theme of this book ~~~
the Power at work in you will make you holy
at any cost to you, any cost to Him!

I Thes 4:11 "Aspire To Live Quietly" (October 16)

Walk and please God,
just as you are doing,
do so more and more ~ 4:1 
Love one another,
do this more and more ~ 4:10

Aspire to live quietly
Mind your own affairs ~ 4:11
Be dependent on no one ~ 4:12
do so more and more.

I want to live way too loud
and make a difference
and leave a legacy
and be proactive
rather than leaving the results to God.
If I make something happen,
Who am I doing it for?
These verses are in context---
it is God at work in you!
Will I live quietly or live loud?

How do I aspire to live this day?
Distant, dreamy, detached, deliberate, demeaning or
Quiet Surrender, Solitude, Serenity to the Sovereign One.

I Thes 3:11 "Established Hearts in Holiness" (Oct 15)

Paul wanted to know about his friends in Thessalonica.  Had the Tempter tempted them? I Thes 3:5

I want to know about my friends.  Is the Tempter tempting you?  He so tried to show up during my drive to College Station last night that the absence of initiative in the lives of former friends loomed way too large.  I felt so uncared for.  So what do we "do" with that.  Surrender to the Wonder not the Whispers.  The Wonder of a Beautiful God Who adores me and draws me to Himself in my little afflictions of feeling like a nobody, an unloved nothing.  Oh no to the tempter (no capitalization on purpose) for my God rules my heart and sends what is for my good, always.

May God send people today to supply what is lacking in your faith.  He has for me as I sit at the breakfast table across from Annette.  I Thes 3:10-11

May God direct their ways to you.  May God make you increase and abound in His Love, being a giver not a taker.

May God establish your heart in holiness a little bit more this day than yesterday.
He's coming for you.

I Thes 2:13 "The Word is at Work in You" (October 14)

I Thes 2:13 And we thank God constantly that when you received the Word of God, you accepted it not as the Word of men but as what it really is, the Word of God, which is at work in you.  It is not because of what someone convinces or persuades or delivers.  It is the Word at work in you.

I Thes 1:5 "Places in My Heart Have Never Heard the Gospel" (Oct 13)

I Thes 1:5  ~ The gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.  I am haunted by the words of an amazing Christian woman, Paula Rinehart:  "There are places in my heart that have never heard the Gospel."   Praying this day that the Power and Spirit of God would move in full conviction.  On Monday of this week, two of my very good friends were diagnosed with stage II and stage IV cancer while two of my good friends passed away from cancer and I attended the most amazing funeral for Charlotte's husband----they lost their home/possessions in the wildfires last month, and Charlotte lost her husband to cancer this month.  Oh my!  Crabb wrote today in an email:  "We want the good time of enjoying godly kids, of making a difference in people's lives, of involvement with close friends, of experiencing God's peace.  So we invent biblical strategies for seeing to it that our dreams come true.  We call them models of godly parenting and disciplines of spiritual living and principles of financial stewardship----all designed to give us a legitimately good time."  There's something wrong with that picture.  There are places in my heart that have never heard the Gospel.

Col 4:6 "Speech Imbued with Wonder & Work of Grace" (October 12)

Colossians 4:6 ~ Let your speech always be gracious,
Seasoned with salt,
So that you may know how
you ought to answer each person.

Speech imbued with the Wonder and Work of Grace.
Speech sprinkled with Salt, the Love of our Redeemer.

Take life into your heart
And live it out in your behavior ~ Matthew 23:2.
We cannot live Col 4:6 by living it out in our behavior
unless it is coming from a good place in our hearts.
Take a look at how many people try to change their behavior.
They actually end up doing penance or works-righteousness.
Live from the Fray of your Heart.  No Formulas there.

Col 3:15-16 "Peace Rules/ Word Dwells" (October 11)

~ Put on compassionate hearts (3:12)
~ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts (3:15)
~ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (3:16)

Col 2:18 "Let No One DQ You" (October 10)

Col 2:8 Let no one take you captive by philosophy...according to human traditions.  The first third of my life I was held captive by human traditions.  The second third of my life I chose to be held captive by philosophy of others who appeared to be oh so smarter than I.  And I was told how much I didn't know, even by really well meaning good friends.  And I have a Seminary education.  People are puffed up proud about their knowledge.  But, are they alive to God?  Are they really free?  Everyone must answer for themselves.  The last third of my life, I no longer am held captive by philosophy, by the tradition of men.  I am who I am, by the Grace of God. I am alive in ways I've never been before.  I am free!

Col 2:18 Let no one disqualify you...hold fast to your Head.  You are growing with a growth that is only from God.  Praise God!  Are you growing?  It seems as though I am growing by leaps and bounds and it is so very exciting to be in the place where I am that appears to be one of failure in the world's eyes yet every day, I am marked by evidence of His Holy Work of Grace and Growth.  Hallelujah! 

Col 1:29 "His Energy Powerfully At Work in Me" (October 9)

May we be known for our Faith in Christ and
Love for the saints because of
the Hope we hold in this world----
No, the hope we have in the next world ~ Col 1:4.

We ask that you may be filled with the Knowledge of His Will
in all Spiritual Wisdom and Understanding
to Walk Worthy of the LORD, fully pleasing Him,
bearing Fruit in every good work
increasing in the Knowledge of God.
May you be Strengthened with all power,
according to his glorious might ~ Col 1: 9-11

He has delivered you from the Domain of Darkness and
transferred you into His Kingdom ~ Col 1:13

For this, I struggle with All His Energy
that HE powerfully works in me ~ Col 1:29

Phil 4:5 Reasonableness (October 8)

May your reasonableness be evident ~ Phil 4:5

You can do all of this
because of Him
Who gives you
Strength ~
Surreal
Splendid
Surrender
Speechless.

Phil 3:15 "If I Am Wrong" (October 7)

Phil 3: 10 ~  that I may KNOW Him and the power of his resurrection

Phil 3:14 ~ that I may PRESS ON toward the goal for the prize of the call of God

Phil 3:15 ~ that I may THINK rightly and if in anything I am wrong, God will reveal that to you. 

Phil 3: 20 ~ that I REMEMBER that my citizenship is in heaven

God is taking care of me and you.  As we know Him, it's His Power that is released through us and that's the only way we can press on with any degree of certainty and purpose.  And if there is anything we are doing that is of a different attitude than Christ, He will reveal it to us---we just need to be listening well. 

Phil 2:12 "Work Out Your Own Salvation" (October 6)

Phil 2:12 ~ Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His Good Pleasure.

Our labor is not in vain.  Surrender what we are wealthy in and where poverty has taken over us.  It's a little harder to surrender what we don't have but the disciples did it in John 6. Jesus asked Phillip:  Where can WE buy bread not where can YOU buy bread.  We may be working out our own salvation but we are not acting alone.  It is His Power at work in you.  The disciples had nothing to give to feed the 5,000 men (20,000 people total).  A little boy gave what he had:  2 fish and 5 loaves of barley.  Surrender your poverty this day to the One Who is mightily at work in you. 

Phil 1:21 "For Me To Live Is What?" (October 5)

Phil 1:9 ~ And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment ... to the Glory of God.

For me to really live is what?  Fill in the blank.  Is life when my ministry reaches thousands?  Is life when my children turn out more than I could ask?  Is life when circumstances work in my favor?  Is life when health issues turn out to be "no worries."  Is life when relationships work out well?  Is life when I have all the money I need to live?  Is life when I am recognized as a significant substantial person?  Is life when I achieve my goals?  Is life when I have a successful family, church, life, etc? 

No, Phil 1:21 says it all: For to me to live is Christ.  May we all abound more and more with discernment to know how to really live.

Eph 6:12 "Having Done All, Simply Stand Firm" (October 4)

Ephesians 6:12 ~ For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

It is daunting to know that there are cosmic powers over this present darkness.  I wouldn't expect to fight that on my own, would I?  If God doesn't take care of us, we are defeated.  God is calling us to stand up, take up the whole armor, not just a piece of it.  Stand to withstand, and after you have done everything in the world that you know to do---ALL---just keep standing firm.

Sometimes all we can do is to stand firm. 

Eph 5:33 "Submit In Everything" (October 3)

Wives should submit in everything...and...let the wife see that she respects her husband ~ Ephesians 5:33. There is an Energy at work to accomplish the mystery of marriage ~ Col 1:29. May God do abundantly beyond what we think according to that Power that works within ~ Eph 3:20.

Eph 5:15 "Look Carefully How You Walk" (October 2)

Ephesians 5:14 ~ Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

Ephesians 5:15 ~ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

It was a world without hope.  Ephesus.  Corinth.  Galatia.  Phillipi.  No hope apart from the Gospel.  A world, in a lot of ways, just like our world today.  Bankrupt in Hope.  Yet, like us, Jesus was not longer present in body, but they had the Old and New Testaments.  Everything that needed to be said had been written, inspired by God.

Fast forward 2,000 years later where there has been no additional Inspired Voice from God.  It's all been said in the Bible.  Awake, O sleeper.  Awake, O my soul.  Arise from your deadly doings.  Look carefully, then, how you walk. 

Eph 4:2 "Walk Worthy of Your Calling" (October 1)

Ephesians 4:1 - Paul,
a prisoner for the LORD,
a prisoner of Hope,
urges you and me this very day
to walk in a manner worthy of our calling
with humility, gentleness, and patience
bearing with one another in Love,
eager to maintain Unity,
the bond of Peace.

Wonder what it looks like
to walk worthy of our calling
to talk worthy of our calling?
God, please meet us here today!