Monday, January 25, 2021

 Godly Wisdom 

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17) 

 

 

Standing at a fork in life’s road 


At a loss on what to choose 


Lacking wisdom 


 

We look out and look up  


Seeking God 


For wisdom and direction 


  

His Word has promised us  


That if anyone lacks wisdom 


We should ask God 


Who gives generously without finding fault 


 

 

Wisdom from heaven 


Godly wisdom 


 

Is first of all 


 

Pure 


No mixed motives 


No selfish ambitions 


No calculated risks 


No manipulations 


No guile 


 

It is innocent 


As a dove 


As a child 


 

Then 


 

Peace-loving 


Actively seeking peace 


Peace between God and men 


Peace between fellow men 


Peace between factions 


Peace between discordant parties 


 

 

Considerate 


Thoughtful of others  


Choosing others over ourself 


Attending to others’ needs over our own 


 

 

Submissive 


Humble 


Relinquishing our rights 


Yielding our own desires  


 

 

Full of mercy and good fruits 


Cancelling of debts and payments 


Forgiving punishments due 


Forbearance of wrongs done to us 


 

Productive 


Abundance of goodness 


Proliferating blessings 


 

 

Impartial 


Objective 


Unswayed by sentiments 


Fair 


 

 

Sincere 


Genuine 


Truthful 


Trustworthy 


 

 

When we lack wisdom and need direction 


 

As we seek Godly wisdom 


 

The answer we receive  


Is it from us or from above 


 

The distinguishing key between 


Our own wisdom  


And the wisdom from above 


 

Is 


 

Does the answer reflect the attributes of 


Pureness 


Peace-loving-ness 


Consideration 


Submissiveness 


Fullness of mercy and of good fruits 


Impartiality 


Sincerity 


 

 

Heavenly wisdom 


Godly wisdom 


 

Awaits us 



Just for the asking 


Generously given to us 


Without condition 


 

From the Source of all wisdom 


 

God Himself 

 

Monday, December 28, 2020

 

Being One with Christ in Love

“I am the vine; you are the branches...as the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” (John 15: 5a & 9).

 

Oh the love of Jesus

His love for us

He is the Vine from Whom we obtain our sustenance

He is the Love that we could ever

Need

Want

Desire

 

When

We remain

In Him

 

And He in us

 

This flawless connection

This unstoppable flow

This constant union

 

Us with Christ

And He with us

 

Christ in us

We in Him

Intricately connected

 

Us becoming one with Christ

Just as Christ is one with God

One with the Holy Spirit

 

We become one

With The Lover of our soul

 

The most intimate of all intimacies

 

Being one

 

With Christ

Who died for us

 

So that we might

Become one with


God the Creator

Jesus our Messiah

Holy Spirit our Comforter

 

He is our constant companion

His life courses through our veins

His love sustains our every breath

 

Oh the

Fierce

Intimate

Passionate

 

Love of Christ

 

For us

 

 

Let us then

Run

Canter

Enter boldly

 

Into the Holy of Holies

The very presence of God

 

To partake

To lavish

 

This intimacy

 

His intimate


Loving

 

Presence

 

IMMANUEL

 

God with us


Intimately

 



"Oh, The Deep Love of Jesus" Epic Version

 

Acoustic Intimate Worship:

"First Love" by Kari Jobe

 

Song to draw us back to our first love:

"First Love Fire” by Leeland

 

 

Friday, December 25, 2020

 

Christ’s Departing Words of Love

John 15-17

 

These are direct quotes of Jesus’ love for us as He spoke his last discourse to the disciples, and as He prayed to the Father - right before He and His disciples continue toward the Mount of Olives, to the Garden of Gethsemane.

On this Christmas Day, may we ponder on His fierce love, His protective love, and His all-encompassing provision for us.

 

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” (John 15:9).

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (15:11).

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you” (15:16a).

“When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father…about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned” (16:8-11).

“Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (16:24b).

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (16:33).

“Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one” (17:11b).

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (17:15).

 “For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified” (17:19).

 “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity…you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (17:22-23).

“I…will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them” (17:26b).

 

"Amazed" by Phillips, Craig & Dean

“Goodness of God”

“A Letter From God”

“How Deep the Father's Love For Us” (Hymnal)

 

In honor of Christmas: God with us, Immanuel:

“Light of the World” by Lauren Daigle

“Noel” by Chris Tomlin featuring Lauren Daigle

 

Let us respond to His love through worship:

“Amen” by People and Songs

“Agnus Dei” by Michael W. Smith

“Revelation” by Kari Jobe

Monday, November 9, 2020

 

Binding and Loosing

 

Jesus tells us that whatever

We bind on earth

Shall be bound in heaven

And whatever

We loose on earth

Shall be loosed in heaven

 

For we fight not against flesh and blood

 Rather

 We are wrestling against

The spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms

 

 

Let us therefore

 

Take a stand together

On our knees and

 

Bind the spirit of violence

Bind the spirit of anarchy

Bind the spirit of division and divisiveness

 

As the election counts are in

 

And loose onto the United States of America

Into every state

Every county

Every corner

 

The spirit of peace and self-control

The Spirit of submission to the law of the land

The Spirit of unity and healing

 

Jesus said that

If two or three of us pray together

In Jesus’ Name

 

He will hear us

 

Let’s you and me together

In Jesus’ Name

 

Bind and loose

 

For the Kingdom of God

For the Will of God

 

To be done here in our neighborhood

Here in our county

Here in our state

Here in our country

Here on earth

As it is in heaven

 

That we might live peaceful and quiet lives

In all godliness and holiness

 

That the Gospel of Christ would spread

 

The Good News of Jesus Christ

Having come in the form of a human

Who died for our sins and paid all of our debts on the cross

 

He rose from the grave and conquered death

 

That we might live

In peace with God

And

At peace with one another

 

Lord have mercy

Christ have mercy

Lord hear our prayers

 

Kyrie Eleison