We have accomplished 3/4 of our journey of 100 Bible verses...can you believe it? Last week I was privileged to get to hear Pam Tebow, mother of football star Tim Tebow, speak at a fundraising event here in Amarillo. She spoke of the importance she had placed on teaching her children Scripture and that to help them remember the words, she would sing the verses to them.
This morning, I tried her method. It seemed especially appropriate for this past week's verse.
I sang...
Colossians 3:16 - Colossians 3:16 -
Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you
Teaching and admonishing
In all wisdom
Singing psalms
Hymns and spiritual songs
With gratitude in your hearts to God.
Throughout the day I found myself singing my self-composed tune to these wonderful words. I found myself smiling as I finished, and thinking, "what gratitude is in my heart today!" God's word is dwelling richly in me because of the past 75 weeks. And now it's time to move forward and complete these next 25 weeks, so that we will complete our journey.
Let's look back at the most recent 24 weeks and then we'll add another verse to our "Faith" section:
The Holy Spirit's Role in our Lives (6)
Ephesians 5:18 "And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in to the Lord in your hearts."
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."
Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you...guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."
Joy: God's Kind of Happiness (12)
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:5 "Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near."
Philippians 4:6 "Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."
James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
James 1:3-4 "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you will be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice always."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Faith: Trusting God and Resting in His Word (12)
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift."
Ephesians 2:9 "Not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
Our sixth verse of faith, and the third in our triplet of Colossians 3:15-17, is:
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
You know what word really stands out for me in this verse? "Whatever!" Whatever we do, we are to do it in the name of Jesus, in an attitude of thanksgiving because of Jesus. Wow - that has to indirectly place some restrictions on what we do, doesn't it? How can we do things that are not glorifying to God in the name of Jesus? We can't - it can't happen. As Christians, we are to limit our words and our deeds to those things that honor our Father. That really makes you stop and think about just what it is that you're doing, doesn't it? All the time. Every word, every deed, should be filtered through the consideration of how God views it. The only way this can happen is by asking for the Holy Spirit to rule in our lives, otherwise we will never "take every thought captive."
Our faith drives us to seek to please our Father, we seek to please Him because we are so grateful and thankful for what Jesus has done for us, that He has brought us back into our Father's household and family. Faith says, "Pay attention to what you're doing. God gave His best for you, now return to Him your best - in word, in deed."
Indeed!
This morning, I tried her method. It seemed especially appropriate for this past week's verse.
I sang...
Colossians 3:16 - Colossians 3:16 -
Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you
Teaching and admonishing
In all wisdom
Singing psalms
Hymns and spiritual songs
With gratitude in your hearts to God.
Throughout the day I found myself singing my self-composed tune to these wonderful words. I found myself smiling as I finished, and thinking, "what gratitude is in my heart today!" God's word is dwelling richly in me because of the past 75 weeks. And now it's time to move forward and complete these next 25 weeks, so that we will complete our journey.
Let's look back at the most recent 24 weeks and then we'll add another verse to our "Faith" section:
The Holy Spirit's Role in our Lives (6)
Ephesians 5:18 "And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in to the Lord in your hearts."
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."
Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you...guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."
Joy: God's Kind of Happiness (12)
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:5 "Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near."
Philippians 4:6 "Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."
James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
James 1:3-4 "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you will be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice always."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Faith: Trusting God and Resting in His Word (12)
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift."
Ephesians 2:9 "Not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
Our sixth verse of faith, and the third in our triplet of Colossians 3:15-17, is:
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
You know what word really stands out for me in this verse? "Whatever!" Whatever we do, we are to do it in the name of Jesus, in an attitude of thanksgiving because of Jesus. Wow - that has to indirectly place some restrictions on what we do, doesn't it? How can we do things that are not glorifying to God in the name of Jesus? We can't - it can't happen. As Christians, we are to limit our words and our deeds to those things that honor our Father. That really makes you stop and think about just what it is that you're doing, doesn't it? All the time. Every word, every deed, should be filtered through the consideration of how God views it. The only way this can happen is by asking for the Holy Spirit to rule in our lives, otherwise we will never "take every thought captive."
Our faith drives us to seek to please our Father, we seek to please Him because we are so grateful and thankful for what Jesus has done for us, that He has brought us back into our Father's household and family. Faith says, "Pay attention to what you're doing. God gave His best for you, now return to Him your best - in word, in deed."
Indeed!
2 comments:
I do, so much, want the Holy Spirit to take captive my life and rule my heart. I don't want to bring him shame. I am making every effort to love my enemies. After an awful thought, I am totally aware and ask forgiveness. We need to accept others as they are, just as Christ Jesus does of us. Thank you Lord for your love and strength and protection. Please guide me through this life in the path of your righteousness.
God has given me His best. Last night's bible study was so exciting. The new perspectives from what I was taught about the Old Testament. I wish I had the video and could listen to it again and again. I hope to become more confidant and able to speak more eloquently in front of others. The women shared such sweet nuggets of their lives. Thanks again Janice for all you do for the preparation, study and presenting the material. I will get a "thank you" sent to Lota and Puff also. Have a good day and I know God is blessing you, but - God Bless (anyway), love ya!
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