Insightful  … cute … smart … funny … quixotic!

Think of words you’d use to describe yourself. Would you ever consider describing yourself as a “most holy thing”? Me either, but God does. Because of the cross, we have been washed clean (sanctification) by the blood of Christ. The process of sanctification is not a quick fix. Sanctification continues as long as we continue to draw breath.

Thankfully, we are not responsible for our sanctification. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit work together to wash away every sin and stain. Our sanctification is accomplished by His word, circumstances, prayer, and discipleship. Operation Sanctification … God’s going deep!

To do 1 Thessalonians A Life of Faith, Part 15: Operation Sanctification, please click on the link below.

A Life of Faith, Part 15: Operation Sanctification

“ … and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith.”

Co-workers can be a wonderful blessing. When I was in college, I used to work at a popular pizza place. I had a wonderful co-worker. We were so close we often rode to work together. My co-worker and I covered for one another at work, traded clothes,  shared our hurts and dreams and often saw each other apart from work. Clothes and dreams weren’t the only things we shared, however. On one of our many long trips to work, my co-worker shared the Gospel with me. It is because of her witness that I became a Christian.

Our verse above states, ” He [Timothy] is our brother and God’s co-worker.” Well, my co-worker is “my sister and God’s co-worker.” As a matter of fact, we are sisters and still co-workers today; true co-workers, laboring together as God’s co-workers to bring the message of the Gospel to a lost and lonely world.

You too, can be God’s co-worker. First you must lay down your life, pick up your cross and follow Him.

To do part 11 of The Life of Faith Thessalonians study, please click on the link below.

1 Thessalonians A Life of Faith, Part 11: God’s Co-worker

“… as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,  that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. “

1 Thessalonians 1:11-12   

Walking is the oldest mode of transportation known to mankind. Before the wheel, the horse and buggy, and the car, mankind walked. There is something very satisfying, and very thought provoking about walking. Walking provides time to meditate, reflect and pray about problems, challenges and plans.

Walk is the term God uses to describe our relationship with Him …  a walk with us every step of our journey.

As a runner, I know it is important not just to run a race, but to run well. The same applies to ourwalk worthy of the Lord? Does the phrase walk worthy refer to training, style, techniques and form or is it really a matter of the heart?

To continue your study in 1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith, please click on the link below.

A Life of Faith, Part 9: Walk Worthy

Welcome to part 4 of 1 Thessalonians: A Life of Faith. I pray God richly blesses you for your diligence to His Holy Word.

Proverbs 22:1 states,  “A good name is is to be desired more than great wealth.”

A good name is very important. Indeed, parents expend great amounts of time and energy in choosing the perfect name for their progeny.  A poorly chosen name can mean a life of frustration for the the one who bears it. Names serve not only as markers of identity, put they become indicators of character as well. Say the name of a well-loved individual and everyone’s face will light with favor. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true; the mention of a bad name produces discord and murmuring.  There is one Name that stands above every other name. At the sound of  The Name, every knee must bow and tongue that Jesus Christ is Lord!

To continue 1 Thessalonians: A Life of Faith, please click on the link below.

A Life of Faith, Part 4: The Name

Peace out. Peace on earth. Peace of mind.

What comes to your mind when you think of peace? According to www.globalissues.org, the world spends about $2 trillion dollars every year to keep the peace. We only have to listen to the news for a few moments to realize that our peace plan is ineffective. A life of peace cannot be bought with earthly currency; it is only purchased through faith by the blood of Christ. The world continues to rage, and we continue to face hardships and challenges. But when we live a life of faith, God gives us His grace so we can live in peace with Him.

To do today’s Bible study, please click on the link below;

1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith: Grace and Peace

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

This famous quote by by Emma Lazarus is on the Statue of Liberty. Everyone is welcome to find a better life in the United States. Jesus extends the same invitation–Come, find a better life by becoming a citizen of the Kingdom of God. To do Ephesians Part 5, please click on the link.

Image courtesy of Bill Longshaw / FreeDigitalPhotos.net