Pursue

In Paul’s closing remarks to Timothy in 1st Timothy 6, Paul gives Timothy a list of things to pursue. Paul writes, “…Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness (1st Timothy 6:11). When we are told to pursue something it typically means that it won’t just come easy. For example when a man pursues a woman, it’s not easy! It takes work, it takes time. I mean you actually have to talk on the phone for longer than 30 seconds. That’s just not like a man. The question that I have to ask myself and anyone reading this is “What are you pursuing?”. Because it can be very easy to get thrown off track and begin to pursue things of no value. Endless hours can be wasted seeking after things that are not of God. Ephesians 5:16 says, “making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” My hope is that we make the best use of our time by pursuing after the things of God.

Brett

Access Granted

This past Sunday, a few minutes before service began, as I stood in the back of the gym looking across the people gathered together I saw something that will stick with me for a long time. Almost directly in the center of the gym was a father with his two oldest daughters sitting on either side of him. Both girls were leaning onto his shoulders, playfully pulling his ears, and ruffling his hair with broad grins and laughter; and although I stood directly behind him, it was evident that his smile was a big as theirs. And as I laughed and soaked in this scene I was reminded of the fatherly love that the Lord has for us as His children. (John 1:12, Romans 8:16, I John 3:1)

But not only did this scene give me a shadow of the beauty of God as Father but it helped to illuminate and remind me of what we have been given as children of the Living God. Romans 5 speaks of how after we have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ we have peace with the God but not only peace but access into His grace as well. The access of those two girls to their father in the midst of dozens of other people was a beautiful picture to me of the access that we have to the Father through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Children have unique access to parents, in joy, in pain, in fear, in love etc. What a much greater and deeper access do we have through Christ Jesus to our Father in Heaven? (Ephesians 2:18, Hebrews 4:16)

So as God’s children, justified through faith in the blood of the cross, being sanctified by the Spirit, may we be a body of believers that boldly enters into His throne of grace, knowing that we have not only peace with the Father but access as well. It is imperative that we continue to see God as loving, perfect, self giving Father desiring to give us more joy than we ourselves desire who desires us to run to Him and not as a rule checking, list keeping, balance carrying, counter of good and bad deeds, whom we run away from. And may we show others, the beauty in God as the loving Father who is beckoning, calling, pleading with all to come to repentance, offering peace, joy, and access to Him through Christ Jesus. Let us be sons and daughters of God who run quickly into the arms of the Father in times of joy, in times of sorrow, in times of triumph, and in times of stumbling.

Extol Christ Alone.

Skylar

Avoid…

What pre-occupies you? Who or What has your attention right now as you are reading this blog?

Paul prescribed to Titus, as he was leading and establishing leaders in Crete, to take the highest care in devoting themselves to good works and to avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law…” WHY? “for they are unprofitable and worthless”. (Titus 3:9)

Paul also mentioned to his other protégé, Timothy, to teach the doctrine of God’s truth and not to “devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 1 It is possible to have an “unhealthy craving for controversy and quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant frictions among people”. 2 Paul, again reminded Timothy of the fact that he was to “have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; knowing that they breed quarrels” 3; this is the very antithesis of our trademark to the world as disciples of Jesus to a dark, depraved, and lost world – to manifest love to one another. 4

Life comes at us with both barrels…seducing us to entangle, wrestle, and lock horns on carnal venues; instead we are to war for control in the spiritual forces of evil by God’s provision of His Armor. All of the sudden, it is worth prayerfully gearing up with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, gospel peace treds, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit! 5

Ask yourself: Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? 6 Am I being transformed by the renewal of my mind to discern God’s will? 7 Am I walking after the flesh or in the Spirit? 8 Am I redeeming the time by wisely conducting myself with those in culture? 9 Am I growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus? 10

These pursuits and passions will show off the salvation of Jesus. (Titus 2:10)

Let’s press on toward peacemaking; reconciling people to Jesus! 11

ScottC

1. I Timothy 1:4; 2. I Timothy 6:4; 3. II Timothy 2:23; 4. John. 13:35; 5. Ephesians 6:12-18; 6. Acts 16:31; 7. Romans 12:2; 8. Galatians 5:16-25; 9. Colossians 4:5; 10. II Peter 3:18; 11. II Corinthians 5:19

Good Friday… What makes it so Good

Think about the name Good Friday. We along with 2 billion other christians celebrate it, we rejoice in it, and we praise God for it. But what makes Good Friday so good? Think about it!
Put yourself in the shaking sandals of the disciples. If you had been present on that first Good Friday it was anything But Good. It wasn’t good Friday it was bad friday, fearful friday, or freaky friday!
For faulty expectations on behalf of the people had turned into false accusations on the part of the religious leaders, which Led to a the fatal termination- of Jesus Christ

The one that had taught them, healed them, and touched them….
The one that they had desired to follow and make a their king…
The one they said they would never deny….
The one they said they would never be offended By…

Was now taken, tried, torchered and tacked to tree. He was Taken by one of his own, betrayed with a kiss,
tried before a court who had to conjure up a couple of false witnesses, I mean even the judge himself found no fault in this man.
HE was tortured… They Spit in his face….
Blindfolded him and Beat with Fists,
plucked out his beared Lashed with flagellem,
Platted a crown of thorns upon his Brow
He carried his cross upon open wounds
and they went to the place of the Skull where they
Tacked Him to a cross as they pierced his hands and his Feet-

How could this be day be called good for centuries to come
When in it there is so much bad
When it represents the darkest day in All Humanity
FOR JEW OR GENTILE as they are both portrayed as being
Damnable and DEFILED, DILLUTED, and degenerate
Torturing, and tormenting the very God- that created them-

SO Why do we call it GOOD-
Faulty expectation, False accusation,
fatal termination, humanity in a state of damnation,

Why do we call This bloody Death Good-
1. Because the Cross purchased for me my SALVATION-
in Old Testament when Sin was committed a bull a goat or a lamb had to be offered.
Sin had to be covered, and the only way sin was covered was by death, by blood.
Sin is Brutal, Sin is deadly, as heb 10:4 we cannot just have a goat or a bull we need a man without spot or blemish…We need God! Heb-9:22-28- God did just that taking our place on the cross as a sacrifice for sin. This is why upon that Cross Jesus declared IT IS FINISHED DONE completed-
The Cross- happened according scripture preplanned-
Here my God purchased my salvation, and now all call upon name Lord saved.

2. The Cross Portrays a Wonderful Illustration-
wonderful illustration-its bloody its brutal- so how can this be wonderful.

Listen in this life I hear it all the time, if there is a God why is there so much bad, so much evil.
Why is there false accusation, false expectation, why is there death.
In a world like this how do we know there is God, and if there is a God in a world like this,
that God must be brutal, he must be hard and harsh.

The Cross shows something Different! The Cross definitely shows that this world is pretty gross, for it shows me that SIN sin is destructive, its bloody, and it is deadly.
It also shows me, THAT GOD LOVES ME! How so you may ask?

Because God became one of us, walked with us,
experienced fallout of sin around us- went through more then us-
tempted all points such as we are-
He died giving himself for us-

In this Death the words of Love protrude from the stains of blood upon the wood and on the ground-
In death we see the culmination of the Love of the Father—
In death we see these final words I LOVE YOU- signed by GOD

Like Jackson Tuskes:
Hernando County is home to some of the most challenging cave diving sites in the world — and some of the most dangerous.

In 1987, Jason Tuskes died while diving near Jenkins Creek. Before he died, the 17-year-old Springstead High School student used a knife to scratch a message to his parents and brother on his tank: “I love you Mom, Dad and Christian.”

We to have been given a final Message in His hour of death
What is that message—It is those three simple words
that the world so desperately searches for-

Those 3 words that we wait a lifetime to find-
Those three words that make you want to look good, be cool, put on your groove. In our understanding of those words those 3 words have to be earned-

You gotta look the part, act a certain way-
oh to get those 3 words you have to do your best to impress– what are those 3 words-
I LOVE YOU— we want it we need it-
CROSS IS THE ILLUSTRATION OF IT! CROSS IS GOD SAYING I LOVE YOU!
Cross is the Culmination of those Words-
He didn’t love you at your best- While you were worshiping, walking, or serving!
Loved you at your Worst

Read Romans 5:6-11
When we were lame—when you were lame acting lame, and when you were without strength at your weakest point, when you where cursing at Him calling out Crucify Him
Just as they were His words to you were Father FORGIVE THEM THEY NO NOT WHAT THEY DO-

In that moment Christ died—HE DIED for You!
You are not a righteous man, your not even a good man, but for every bad man on every bad Friday,
Christ died for you!

Not when you where trying to do good, or trying to get right He died for you before that.

Why- Romans 5:8- Proved his Love- His love which is unconditional-
No strings attached not based on what you do or don’t do!

We have been reconciled to God on that Good Friday, and on that Good Friday he made atonement for sin-
Which means we are going to heaven, and we have access to heaven!
There is nothing I have to do or try to prove to make Him love me more- He just loves me-
Proved on the Cross-

Why would he love me that much- why would he give me salvation
1 John 4:8 Says that GOD IS LOVE- not something he does- Who He is
When I get this It is wonderful- I don’t have to be or look for his approval- I don’t have to try to achieve or impress him for more love- He Loves me – Here is what happens WHEN I SEE THIS I realise

4: 9-10 In our Past He has Taken OUR PLACE-
Forget what is behind press towards mark- LET THE PAST GO- forgiven- Proven at Cross

4: 11-12 In the Present I am to Love— its what I am called to do-
Love Like 1 Cor 13 calls us to- Be patient Kind- not envy boast
But How Loren- By His spirit 5:22—
By being in LOVE-
When your in LOVE no one can wrong you- you can get cut off on 97 you could care less….
When your not- People Cut you off you lay on horn, and maybe a few other unkind gestures!

4:17-18 Future- Be bold- whatever may come our way tribulation- or day of judgment- because of love we have confidence in God-
Its because of what we have seen and heard-
that we can face whatever comes our way knowing that God Loves us-

Truly it was a Good Friday-
The day My sins were forgiven and I have received salvation
The day which I was given the greatest illustration of How much God loves me-

I now can in turn love him and others around me!
Praise God for Good Friday!

Burkina Faso/ Final Post from Krista

“Je voudrais une coca, si vous plait.” (Meaning: I’d like a Coke, please)

Coke is a big thing here. I’ve never been much of a Coca-Cola fan, but nevertheless, I’ve had many cokes this week. When we visit people, we either bring coke for them or they offer it to us. When people visit where were staying, we bring out the coke and offer it to our guests.

Marcel said when he was in America, it was like we had endless fountains of coke! (He was referring of course to the free refills at McDonald’s, in which the supply is pretty much endless). We’re like the land of milk and honey, but with coke. Coke has also indirectly humbled me this week. It’s not cheap for the people here and it’s not often drank by them. We have been offered a coke (or a Fanta) many times, and it humbles me that these kind people would offer us what is so precious to them. They could probably feed their whole family a dinner of sagabo (their millet staple) with the money it takes to buy us coke. In fact, most people drink one coke a year, at Christmas, when people often get it as a special gift.

When Nicholas spoke last week at a church, they rushed us offstage afterwards to sit us down and offer us coke. I was so thankful, not just for the cold fizzy beverage on a hot day, but for the heart behind it. The generosity and selflessness that goes into supplying the white people with coke astonishes me. It reminds me of the widow that gave out of her poverty, all she had in the two small copper coins, not out of her abundance, as I know I usually do.

Coke is not the only thing that has humbled me this week. We have so much stuff in America, yet many (even Christians) lack real joy. The Christians here have much less material stuff, yet their joy is evident in their daily lives! We have many distractions in the States that draw us away from focusing on the Lord. We usually know where our next meal will come from and we can afford to put gas in the car. When kids are sick we don’t think twice about taking them to the doctor, and we have so many books and Bible study aids that we don’t know which to pick up and read. None of these are innately bad things. I thank God that my cupboards are full and that health insurance covers a trip to the doctor.

I also know I need to have some layers stripped away. I need to be bare and exposed so that God can work in me.

Waiting in the Paris airport to fly here, I noticed flight entertainment listed on the screen. The French translation was “Le distraction”, so accurately depicting what entertainment is: a distraction. We distract ourselves from real life. I get so easily distracted by what people think, by my comfort and safety, and relying on my own ability. We have hobbies, careers, television, and so many other things that make us believe we can do everything on our own. Not that there are none of these things in Africa, but we have them to such a greater extent. I don’t even necessarily feel like I need to come home and sell all my things, in order to send all the money to Africa. There is indeed great need here, but I don’t want to give them an American lifestyle. They have a Burkinabe lifestyle, simple and devoted to the Lord. The people we’ve met eat one good meal a day and have a Bible per family. They have livestock to care for or a church to shepherd. They know Jesus and love Him with all their heart. They know daily how much they need Him. Do we really know that every day, that without Him we’d be completely lost and incapable of anything?

What I want, as I return to America, is to find the pure simplicity of loving Jesus when I’m home. Despite being immersed in an over-stimulating culture, I want to be stripped of complexity and filled simply with love for Him and love for others.

-Krista