Category: Christian

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”
~ Ephesians 1:15-17 (NIV)

It was hard for me to just pick a little Snippet out of the reading from Ephesians 1 for this week’s Sunday post. Paul’s letters to the churches are so rich…He truly had the heart to share the good and bad with the churches, without offending them.

So, why are we so easily offended when members of different denominations ‘critize’ us? Not sure. As long as the critic is done in love and it is supported by Scripture, I have no problem.

This Blog’s purpose With His help I try to build each other up in “The Way”. I know that my sisters and brothers of different denominations have quite different views on baptism, women in ministry, hierarchy in churches…(heck, even my own denomination has split in many ways because of different interpretation of His Word). I always look at the ‘common denominator’ in my faith walk ~ the unity we have in Christ. I can glean something very profound from my Baptist sister or Methodist brother, if I am willing to listen to him or her.

You see, that is the problem we have with each other. Sometimes we just need to listen what they have to say and than go back to His Word and examine what it tells us. Maybe I was wrong? Maybe I have to get a fresh perspective on a particular issue? I think as Christians, we need to be open to listen. Just as we listen to His Word ~ we should listen to each other…

So next time you are ready ‘to blow your top’ because you read something that is against your own belief, go back to Scripture, pray and maybe than leave a comment. If you would like to see how women of faith can ‘blog’ with/next to each other, check out Blogging with CWO…Yes, we have different backgrounds, but we look at our Common Denominator to help us get over our different views…

Be blessed today by someone who as a different view on a particular issue and listen…

As I mentioned last week, I would like to share my own personal thoughts (not based on any denomination) on Snippets from the Word. I am so glad that Darlene added it to the Enzine :razz:…Today I would like to share with you some thoughts on Saturday’s reading ~ 1 Thessalonians 5…

“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10 (ESV)

It is a dog-eat-dog world out there. It is so hard to stay focused on the race He has set before us ~ to be the light. Have you noticed that the attack on Christians gets more fierce? I read a bumper sticker the other day that read: “I like your God, but I don’t like His Christians”. Ouch! Why do you think that is? Is it because we don’t stand as one? Is it because we fight amongst each other? Even have lawsuits against each other? I know it is true for ‘my’ own denomination. The lawsuits I mean…So sad!!!

Brothers and sisters in faith, remember that we belong to the light and not to the darkness. Attacking each other is what the devil wants us to do. He wants to put a wedge between followers of the Truth. We all sin; we all fall short of the Glory of God, but through His blood we are cleansed. We stand righteous before Him. Don’t grieve His Spirit fighting against each other but encourage each other in the walk…

Lord, let Your light be evident to all who come in contact with me. Let my words be few, but my actions talk about Your righteous. In Jesus’ precious name I pray. Amen

Since Darlene started “Snippets from the Word“ on CWO, I would like to share with you my own personal thoughts on Sundays. I have to admit that I am not a Bible-Scholar or even much theologically trained (except for some theological courses I had taken several years ago). I want to share with you some personal thoughts, not supported by any doctrine or specific church body…If you care to share with me your own thoughts, I would be thrilled…This week I would like to reflect with you on Colossians 1 (reading from August 17)…

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
~ Colossians 1:9-14 (NIV)

Have you ever had the privilege to lead someone to Christ? I don’t know if I have, but I pray I did. But what truly happens to the person we were able to share His gift with? Do you continue to pray for them? Or do you step back and say: ‘Well, now it is up to them to get more knowledge about God and what His plan is for them’…

Did Paul leave the churches to themselves? No, he did not. He continued to encourage them through letters and visits. He prayed for them and did not leave the new converts to themselves and their old ways of thinking. We are made new in Christ, but we are certainly not a finished product. You see, we will never be finished, not until we are glorified with Him in heaven. So in order for new converts to grow, and even our own spiritual growth, we need His Holy Spirit to guide us in the way that is pleasing to Him. So we need to lift each other up in prayer and encourage each other to stay close to His Word.

Will you stand with me this coming week and pray for new believers, no matter if you know them in person or not? And that we will fill the need to help new believers to grow in their walk? If you know of someone who just received Christ as their Lord and Savior, would you send them an encouraging note or email. Let them know that you are praying for them.

Lord of Heaven and Earth. We lift up all new believers to You this morning. You know where their need is. Lord, would You send someone to help them to stay close to You. Would You give us the wisdom to guide Your new followers. We pray this in the precious name of our Lord and Savior, we pray in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

Have a blessed Sunday…