The House You're Building

[17] Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. [18] They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. [19] They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. [20] But that is not the way you learned Christ!—[21] assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, [22] to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, [23] and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, [24] and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.   [25] Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. [26] Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go...

    Family.  It is a word that stirs feelings of affection to some and memories of pain for others.  One of the reasons I love the church is that God has always provided spiritual mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers.  There is a kinship among the gathered body that transcends blood--a bonding that comes when people house the Spirit inside them.  The outside world looking in doesn’t understand why the church must meet, as those who have found joy in fellowship understand the connection that occurs in the physical presence of those who have the same Father.     Unfortunately, just like our families of origin are the cause of heartache, the church can duplicate the experience.  So much division would be avoided if we would live out Peter’s words to the church in chapter 3 verse 8 as we interact with each other.     Unity of Mind To have unity of mind means to be focused on the same goal, be around ...

                                   When you think of who you are, what first comes to mind?  We’ve all been at parties making small talk and often, the first thing people say is “what do you do?”  It’s easy to express your value, especially at an acquaintance level, which focusing on the outward.  It’s awkward to share who you are inside.  Now I’m not advocating we all go out and share our truth with everyone we met.  Be wise and know that privilege is earned by those who over time have earned your trust.  But honestly, I think most people don’t share who they are because they don’t know who they are.  The human race endlessly chases things on the outside to try to define who they are on the inside.     The Bible in 1 Peter 2:9-10 describes who we are in a world searching for identity.     But you a...

Last night I got to participate in a zoom meeting with a group of close friends.    Utilizing technology to connect with others is becoming more common as we seek to spend time with those we love by practicing social distancing.    This is my tribe, my life-group, friends who have been together +20 years in fellowship.    These are the people you call when you are moving, when you have something to celebrate or to grieve.    I hope all of you reading this have those kinds of friends and have had a chance to process the new reality we find ourselves living with them.    We needed to laugh, to cry, to share worries and how the shelter in place is affecting our lives.    We needed to pray.    To see facial expressions and hear voices was a comfort.    A few of us brought a word of scripture to share.    One friend followed up on last night’s digital hang out with a prayer via email.  ...

A Personal and Powerful God who Sees Me He has a plan for you that is good… For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the  Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) He dries your tears… He has saved me from death,      my eyes from tears,      my feet from stumbling. Psalm 116:8 (NLT) He thinks of you often… Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count. Psalm 40:5  (NASV) He made you…intimately… For you created my inmost being;      you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Psalm 139:14 (NIV) You are never alone…   I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back ...