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Branchburg Park
Whole Measure of the Fullness of Christ
Ephesians 4 11-13. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Read, Reflect, Respond
A Tree and Its Fruit. Luke 6: 43-45. "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
Jesus
John 1: 3-5. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
Hope
Ephesians 1:18-20 “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,”
Peace with God
Psalm 15 1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?Who may live on your holy hill? 2 He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart 3 and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman
My Life Mission Statement - Patrick D Colgan
My Life Mission Statement
Patrick D. Colgan
I am a child of God who loves me and He has given me an amazing gift. All he wants of me is…ME! I will remember to be identified by who I am in Christ, not by my roles in life.
I have this gift because of Jesus Christ forsaking his deity, emptied Himself and suffered death on a cross and once and for all sealing my victory over sin. His perfect sacrifice and ultimate act of love justified me before God through my faith. I will live mightily in the Holy Spirit in order to understand the deeper ways of God and the unseen motives of man. My fervent hope is to do honor to Christ with fearless courage.
My life’s mission is to allow Christ to live through me (only a question of my will, not debate nor reasoning, but a surrender of my own will). A deep and abiding love of my God and my family will be my inspiration. I will align my personal values with examples of Christ’s life. I will discover these principles through daily prayer and study of God’s Word. I will set goals for my each of my life’s roles to develop my God given potential.
I am exceedingly grateful for my soul mate and wife, Chloe’. I am blessed with her love and her companionship bringing me happiness, contentment and fulfillment. I will love, honor, cherish, and protect her forever. She is blessed with an enormous heart overflowing with pure joy and precious purity of spirit that I lovingly harbor within me. Again, I will love, honor, cherish, and protect her forever. I am also blessed with the joy and excitement of our children and grandchildren. I love them and will faithfully come along side them in all their journeys through life that I am wanted.
I am grateful for my God given talents. I will conduct myself in a manner that honors God. My leadership responsibilities will be driven by my personal values. I will discipline myself to discern and grow new skills required for successful living.
I am thankful for our opportunity to live and volunteer in two different areas of the country. I will find opportunities to appreciate its natural, historic and cultural beauty. I will maintain a balance between all of the roles of my life.
Since the fruit of my life in part, depends on me continually improving my capabilities, I will take time to sharpen my saw in the physical, mental, spiritual, and social/emotional areas of my life.
Only God knows my future. My core desire is to have complete surrender (rest) in Him. Every moment I need His mercy and His grace. Every day, my hope is to be a channel of blessings from Him that flows through me to others to help lighten burdens, brighten outlooks and to keep hope alive for all. For me, this makes my life joyful and complete.
Revision: March 1, 2012
Bought with a Price
Psalms 131. My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.
Life "Rhythums"
A life lived in harmony with God. (I didn't think we would have life rhythms without "u").
1 Cor 13: 12, 13. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Faith
Love
Galatians 5:16, 17 & 22-25. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
The only safe investment
1 Timothy 6:7, 10, 18, 19. “Do you want to be truly rich? You already are if you are happy and good. After all, we didn’t bring any money with us when we came into the world, and we can’t carry away a single penny when we die. For the love of money is the first step towards all kinds of sin… Tell them to use their money to do good. By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven - it is the only safe investment for eternity.” The Way
Nothing but a Wisp of Fog
James 4:13-17. And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money." You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that." As it is, you are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil. In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil.
Gift of Grace
Romans 5: 15,16. But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
Luke 18:1-8.Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' " And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Selfless Servanthood
Mark 10: 42-45. So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Life in the Spirit
Romans 8:11. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Each of us is a Masterpiece!
Ephesians 2:8-10. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
A Community Group that works!
Ephesians 4:16. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Rhythm of Community Groups
Philippians 1: 6,9. And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns. My prayer for you is that you will overflow more and more with love for others, and at the same time keep on growing in spiritual knowledge and insight.
A, B, C's
1 John 4:7, 11. Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better. For though we have never yet seen God, when we love each other, God lives in us and his love with us grows ever stronger.
Live for Others
Ephesians 2:8-10. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Seasons of life
Jeremiah 7:7,8. But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
Wisdom from the Lord - Part 1
Jeremiah 17: 5-8. This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land."
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit."
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit."
What God really wants from us
Psalms 50:7-10; 14,15. "O my people listen! For I am your God. Listen! I have no complaint about the sacrifices you bring to my alter, for you bring them regularly. But it isn't sacrificial bullocks and goats that I really want from you. For all the animals of the field and forest are mine! The cattle on a thousand hills!
What I want from you is your true thanks; I want your promises fulfilled. I want you to trust me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you, and you can give me glory."
What I want from you is your true thanks; I want your promises fulfilled. I want you to trust me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you, and you can give me glory."
Heart Condition?
Hebrews 3:12-14. Beware then of your own hearts, dear brothers, lest you find that they, too, are evil and leading you away from the living God. Speak to each other about these things every day while there is still time, so that none of you will become hardened against God, being blinded by the glamour of sin. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as we did when we first became Christians, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
Power of God
1 Corinthians 1:17, 18. For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel; and even my preaching sounds poor, for I do not fill my sermons with profound words and high sounding ideas, for fear of diluting the mighty power there is in the simple message of the cross of Christ. I know very well how foolish it sounds to those who are lost, when they hear that Jesus died to save them. But we who are saved recognize this message as the very power of God.
Patience and Prayer - Wow!!
Romans 8: 25,26. But if we must keep trusting God for something that hasn’t happened yet, it teaches us to wait patiently and confidently.
And in the same way – by our faith – the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how to pray as we should; but the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that it cannot be expressed in words.
And in the same way – by our faith – the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how to pray as we should; but the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that it cannot be expressed in words.
God's Comfort for Us
2 Corinthians 1: 3-5. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
Joy Pathway
Nehemiah 8:11, "for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Heb 12:2, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Psalms 16:11, "in thy presence is fulness of joy"
Heb 12:2, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Psalms 16:11, "in thy presence is fulness of joy"
Looking ahead with humility
Jeremiah 10: 23, 24. O Lord, I know it is not with the power or man to map his life, and plan his course – so you correct me, Lord; but please be gentle. Don’t do it in anger, for I would die.
Rejoice!
Between tomorrow's dreams and yesterday's regrets, are today's opportunities. "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24.
Prescription for Heavenly peace in 2008
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
God's Great Gift for Us
1 John 5:1-4. If you believe that Jesus is the Christ – that He is God’s Son and your Savior – then you are a child of God. And all who love the Father love his children also. So you can find out how much you love God’s children – your brothers and sisters in the Lord – by how much you love and obey God. Loving God means doing what He tells us to do, and really that isn’t hard at all; for every child of God can obey Him, defeating sin and evil pleasure by trusting God to help us.
We Three Kings!
Matthew 2:9-11. After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
O Come All Ye Faithful!
Hebrews 4: 16. So let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive His mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen!
Hebrews 4: 9, 10. For there is a full complete rest still waiting for the people of God. Christ has already entered there. He is resting from His work, just as God did after the creation.
Joy to the World!
Hebrews 3:6. But Christ, God’s faithful Son, is in complete charge of God’s house. And we Christians are God’s house – He lives in us! – if we keep up our courage firm to the end, and our joy and our trust in the Lord.
Angels we have heard on high!
Hebrews 1: 13, 14. And did God ever say to an angel, as He does to His Son, ”Sit here beside me in honor until I crush all your enemies beneath your feet”? No, for the angels are only spirit-messengers sent out to help and care for those who are to receive His salvation.
Radiant Beams!
Hebrews 1: 2,3. But now in these days He has spoken to us through His Son to whom He has given everything, and through whom He made the world and everything there is. God’s Son shines out with God’s glory, and all that God’s Son is and does marks Him as God.
Celebrate fresh newness of the birth!
Romans 12: 2, 12. Don’t copy the behaviors and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always.
Celebrate the Messiah!
Romans 11: 34-36. For who among us can know the mind of the Lord? Who know enough to be his counselor and guide? And who could ever offer to the Lord enough to induce Him to act? For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by His power, and everything is for His glory. To Him be the glory forever.
Celebrate Christmas!
Romans 8: 1-2. So there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit, and the power is mine through Christ Jesus, has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death.
Thanksgiving - Peace in all circumstances
Romans 5: 1-5. Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Thanksgiving - Joy of Forgiveness
Romans 4: 3-5, 7. For the Scriptures tell us Abraham believed God, and that is why God cancelled his sins and declared him “not guilty” But did he earn the right to heaven by all the good things he did?
No, for being saved is a gift; if a person could earn it by being good, then it wouldn’t be free- but it is! It is given to those who do not work for it.
For God declares sinners to be good in his sight if they have faith in Christ to save them from God’s wrath. Yes. What joy there is for anyone whose sins are no longer counted against him by the Lord.
No, for being saved is a gift; if a person could earn it by being good, then it wouldn’t be free- but it is! It is given to those who do not work for it.
For God declares sinners to be good in his sight if they have faith in Christ to save them from God’s wrath. Yes. What joy there is for anyone whose sins are no longer counted against him by the Lord.
Pray for all
1 Timothy 2:1-4. I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
Week 6 - The Unlikely Route to Joy
James 1:2-8. Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
Week 5 - A Taste for God's Word
Philippians 2:3-11. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Week 4 - Entering God's Presence
Matthew 6:5-13 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
Week 3 - Personal Time with God
Luke 10:38-42. As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Week 2 - Living by the Spirit’s Power
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Week 1 - Growing Deeper in Christ
Hebrews 12:1-3. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people then you won’t become weary and give up.
Use your abilities
1 Timothy 4:14-16. Be sure to use the abilities God has given you. Put these abilities to work; throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone may notice your improvement and progress. Keep a close watch on all you do and think. Stay true to what is right and God will bless you and use you to help others. “The Way”
Hidden Treasures
Colossians 2:3,6,7 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Priorities
Proverbs 2: 1-8. My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.
Spirit of God
Mark 4:26-29. Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”
Salvation
Ephesians 2: 9,10. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Rhythm of Really Living
Mark 8:35 "If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live." The Way
Jesus Disciples
John 13:34-35. "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
Yikes!!
Luke 16: 19-31
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "
Generosity
Matthew 34-40. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'
Not Become Weary
Galatians 6:9-10. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Filled
Sure Footing
Psalms 119:165. Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
Read, Reflect, Respond Today
The Wise and Foolish Builders "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
About Me
- Pat Colgan
- Las Vegas, NV, United States
PatnChloe
Branchburg Park
1 comment:
Pat, Great start on developing a community groups blog. This is a good way of centralizing thoughts in one spot. Your life mission statement is God honoring and challenging!
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