In Colossians 3:16-17 The Apostle Paul encourages people to “sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God” with hearts that are filled with gratitude . . . “whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
If you look to the Book of Psalms in the Bible…..
If we are the leaves perhaps then Jesus is the Tree who sets us free for healing the nations
Rev. 22:2
How can we heal unless we are first healed? And what kind of healing is this verse about? Is it only about physical healing or is it more about healing of our belief systems? healing of our minds? healing of our thoughts? healing of our…..
Observing how people respond to the change of seasons is rather interesting. It seems that we all have our favorite seasons, don’t we? Sometimes when we talk about the seasons of our lives it seems we all have different favorite seasons of our own lives as well. The good Lord provides people with certain spiritual and practical gifts and skills so we can have and be helpers…..
“What I’m trying to say is that as individuals, we have thoughts and attitudes that need to be overcome — thoughts of hatred or extreme dislike toward ourselves and other people when instead we should feel dislike toward behaviors. We also have extreme attitudes toward outward appearance that needs to be overcome. If you look at the life of Jesus, you…..
These verses wrap up the Sermon on the Mount bringing it full circle.
The kingdom of heaven gives to the poor in Spirit, filling them up so they may share the kingdom with other people who either have never heard of God’s love and a heavenly kingdom, or those who know but are depleted. Even Jesus went away to…..
Reading about the merciful in the Sermon on the Mount connects me to Jesus’ later teachings about forgiveness. In the Lord’s prayer he taught his disciples to pray, ‘forgive us …. as we forgive others.” In forgiveness there is great mercy, but in order to receive something it must be given to you. A hard-hearted person struggles with forgiveness……
Perhaps you’ve heard someone say: “He/She’s so meek.” More than likely you were thinking that in terms of emotional or social weakness of some sort – maybe being shy. But the biblical meaning of the word meek is different than what this generation of English speaking people understand it to be. When Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount the word meek meant humble…..
Have you ever asked yourself this question and sit still long enough to let it sink into your soul? Sometimes when you become familiar with a certain verse or verses of Scripture you begin using it without giving it much thought or putting true empathy into the giving of a card, plaque or poster to another person. We read something, look at…..
FHS
There is a group of women, members of DOK, who often use these letters when they sign letters or notes that they send to other people. After sending encouraging notes for a period of time to someone who was struggling, she asked me – What does FHS stand for? You use it every time you send me a note.
FHS stands for “For His Sake.” When I sign the notes I’m sending you with FHS it reminds me of…..
By the mercies of God, Paul asks the church members to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.
When I read the opening lines of this letter written by the Apostle Paul I can’t help but think about his conversion. From being a man who had been hurling murderous threats against the church to now asking it’s members to become ‘living sacrifices.’ It’s a remarkable transformation! Proof that people can change and that the power of…..