October 10- Final Post

This will be my final post from our Loren Street address.  Future posts will be from our new Delaware address.

I have mixed feelings about the move.  We are excited to be back in the old neighborhood, but I will sure miss the ease of living in a 1998 constructed home as opposed to a 1941 home.  So many hours of planning, planting and painting went into this home.  But as a friend told me, it is only a house.

As I was praying this morning, the James 1:22-24 came to mind.  These verses remind me that merely listening to or reading the Word of God is only the first step.  Unless what we hear/read creates a positive change in me, it is the same as looking in a mirror and forgetting what I look like.  I am afraid I fall into that category in a lot of ways.

This weekend we spent dozens of hours moving.  On many occasions, I was short, irritable and just plain disagreeable.  Because of this I robbed much of the joy from Kristi during what should have been an exciting, fun time.  It got to the point last night I lost any semblance of composure over the dryer vent.  (I hate flexible dryer vent tubing and sheet metal extenders!!)  All the hours of church, sermons and Bible study went right out the window.

My prayer is to become a joy giver, not a joy taker.  Exhort, not criticize.  Laugh rather than frown.  I need to ask for Kristi's and Seth's forgiveness.  But more importantly, I need to get on my knees in an attitude of repentance to my Heavenly Father for I have not been a "well-done-my-good-and-faithful-servant" Christian this weekend.

October 8- Colossians

^{Colossians 1:27} To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.


Our glory is Christ "in us".  Not believing that Jesus was a good teacher.  Not attending church on a regular basis.  Not going to Bible studies 4x a week.  Not giving Burmese rubies to the Salvation Army.  Not even believing in God.  Without the indwelling of Christ, we have no hope.

October 7- Colossians

The past.  The recent past.  The not-so-recent past.  Sins committed.  Righteous acts omitted.  I lied.  I gossiped.  I lusted.  I hated.  I sinned.  The letters "ed" are added to verbs to change the tense from present to past.  Past.  Already taken place.  History.

We all know that is it impossible for us to change what has happened or what didn't happen.  Until someone modifies a DeLoren in a Michael J. Foxesque manner, the past is just that.  Past.  Why then do we continue to allow all the "ed" parts of our lives to adversely affect our todays?  (I am one of the best at that.)  


In Colossians 1:22, Paul reminds Christians that through his death we are "holy in his (God's) sight, without blemish and free from accusation"!  Not only are we pure, but there is not even an accusation leveled against us. Not for our committed sins, our omitted sins or even our future sins.  HOLY, PURE, FREE FROM ACCUSATION.  That truth alone should make each Christian on the earth smile a bit wider, walk a bit lighter and praise a bit louder.


What a powerful witnessing tool that truth from Colossians could be.  A coworker depressed because his actions led to a failed marriage.  A family member a master at self-flagellation because she didn't insist the family attend church and now the son is out of control.  If we are a child of God, none of this is held against.  "Holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. . .that is the us God sees if we have accepted his Son as Lord and Savior.  What a liberating truth that is.


Dear Father,
Please help me to fully grasp and rejoice in this truth.  All my "ed"s are not held against me.  In your sight I am holy and without blemish.  Not through my own actions, but through the sacrifice of your Son on the cross.  Thank you Lord Jesus.


P.S.  How would my family life be different if I tried to apply this truth to Kristi and Seth.  Do I hold their "ed"s against them?  How much of the past differences, hurts and arguments do I hold against them?  
Hmmm. . .

October 3- Colossians

"For he (God) has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."  Colossians 1:13-14