ESV Col 1:9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Distractions!
It is the Monday before Christmas and all is . . . busy! Some family arrived home Saturday evening. However part of Saturday was spend putting up a Christmas tree, doing some decorating and in making gifts. Wonderful! Oh, I also did some sermon preparation.
Now it is Monday. We have had a snow storm. My driveway collected its share of snow and thus needed to be cleaned out. It has been cold as well. Wood needs to be brought in for the fire. Family is still here – they won't be living until after Christmas. That is a good thing.
Tomorrow another daughter and her boy friend are coming by. We haven't met him yet. They want to run across the border (Canada) to a chocolate shop. My wife, and others might go with them. My mother-in-law will probably opt out, or be opted out. So perhaps I will stay with her as she can not be left alone. So tomorrow, I will have to say hello to more people arriving and perhaps help out at home. A good thing.
Wednesday is Christmas Eve. Our family has some traditions we do together. This will take up some afternoon and evening time.
Thursday, Christmas. Yes, we have most of the family arriving, if they have not already. No distraction, Lord willing, as this will be a day of worshiping the Lord and family time.
Friday, not sure, some family will be leaving. We 'have to' say “good bye”. Anything else?
Sunday: an adult Sunday school lesson, Worship services. Will I be prepared? Well prepared to service God's Word?
I am at the church office. Not as many distractions here!
Pastors have a relatively free schedule. May the Lord grant that I stay focused on being His servant, whether at home or at work.
It is the Monday before Christmas and all is . . . busy! Some family arrived home Saturday evening. However part of Saturday was spend putting up a Christmas tree, doing some decorating and in making gifts. Wonderful! Oh, I also did some sermon preparation.
Now it is Monday. We have had a snow storm. My driveway collected its share of snow and thus needed to be cleaned out. It has been cold as well. Wood needs to be brought in for the fire. Family is still here – they won't be living until after Christmas. That is a good thing.
Tomorrow another daughter and her boy friend are coming by. We haven't met him yet. They want to run across the border (Canada) to a chocolate shop. My wife, and others might go with them. My mother-in-law will probably opt out, or be opted out. So perhaps I will stay with her as she can not be left alone. So tomorrow, I will have to say hello to more people arriving and perhaps help out at home. A good thing.
Wednesday is Christmas Eve. Our family has some traditions we do together. This will take up some afternoon and evening time.
Thursday, Christmas. Yes, we have most of the family arriving, if they have not already. No distraction, Lord willing, as this will be a day of worshiping the Lord and family time.
Friday, not sure, some family will be leaving. We 'have to' say “good bye”. Anything else?
Sunday: an adult Sunday school lesson, Worship services. Will I be prepared? Well prepared to service God's Word?
I am at the church office. Not as many distractions here!
Pastors have a relatively free schedule. May the Lord grant that I stay focused on being His servant, whether at home or at work.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Lessons from Christ prayer
John 17 and Christmas issues.
God willing we will finish our study of John 17 this Sunday. Also, this Sunday we are having our Christmas dinner after our service. YUMMY! During the worship service we will have some special Christmas music. However, the message will be from John 17.
While John 17 is not about the birth of Christ, it is clearly about Christ. Arguably we might say John 17 is more about Christ than some 'Christmas' messages might be, for in this prayer we get to see deeply into Christ heart.
Here are a couple of points which we will be developing.
In this prayer, less than 1/3 of the words are directly petitions and requests. Our own prayers are sometimes more like wish lists that kids might present to Santa. Christ prayer is not just a list. He inserts other words which show an understanding of who the Father is, in what and in whom the Father has an interested and of Christ's role in furthering God's interest amongst the people of God.
These words are connected to the people given to Christ by the Father. The given ones, their knowledge of God, their sanctification, their unity and their ultimate abode with the son are items of great interest to Christ, and of great interest to the Father.
Christ prayer is not worldly in the sense of offering petition for every man and woman and child that will ever live on the earth. He clearly prayers for the give-to-Christ-ones. He does so pray because his interest is in what and whom God has an interest. His confidence that the Father will answering him is in his ability to bring his own desires, words and actions into conformity with that of the Father, so he prays for those who belong to the Father. He seen no need, therefore, to pray that the ones-not-given-to-him might be with him in glory for the Father has no interest in these people, at least not in regards to Christ's work of salvation.
What do we see in Christ's heart? The Father! The more the Father, as revealed through Scripture, becomes our delight the greater will be our hope and confidence before him in prayer. One day when God fills all of the given-to-Christ-ones with himself we will find our joy is filled for we shall want nothing other than the Father and what he desires as well.
John 17 and Christmas issues.
God willing we will finish our study of John 17 this Sunday. Also, this Sunday we are having our Christmas dinner after our service. YUMMY! During the worship service we will have some special Christmas music. However, the message will be from John 17.
While John 17 is not about the birth of Christ, it is clearly about Christ. Arguably we might say John 17 is more about Christ than some 'Christmas' messages might be, for in this prayer we get to see deeply into Christ heart.
Here are a couple of points which we will be developing.
In this prayer, less than 1/3 of the words are directly petitions and requests. Our own prayers are sometimes more like wish lists that kids might present to Santa. Christ prayer is not just a list. He inserts other words which show an understanding of who the Father is, in what and in whom the Father has an interested and of Christ's role in furthering God's interest amongst the people of God.
These words are connected to the people given to Christ by the Father. The given ones, their knowledge of God, their sanctification, their unity and their ultimate abode with the son are items of great interest to Christ, and of great interest to the Father.
Christ prayer is not worldly in the sense of offering petition for every man and woman and child that will ever live on the earth. He clearly prayers for the give-to-Christ-ones. He does so pray because his interest is in what and whom God has an interest. His confidence that the Father will answering him is in his ability to bring his own desires, words and actions into conformity with that of the Father, so he prays for those who belong to the Father. He seen no need, therefore, to pray that the ones-not-given-to-him might be with him in glory for the Father has no interest in these people, at least not in regards to Christ's work of salvation.
What do we see in Christ's heart? The Father! The more the Father, as revealed through Scripture, becomes our delight the greater will be our hope and confidence before him in prayer. One day when God fills all of the given-to-Christ-ones with himself we will find our joy is filled for we shall want nothing other than the Father and what he desires as well.
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