Peace & Frustration

Colossians 3:15 (NIV) "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

This is a powerful statement to me. Negativity wants to rule in our hearts and minds. It wants us to feed our frustrations, stoke our anger, and succumb to our insecurities. Know that you are greater than all off these. God has made you in His image and brings you to glory. You are loved. You are valuable. You matter. Listen to what should rule us: the peace of God. How? It continues: be thankful.

I got pretty frustrated this morning. I missed my alarm because I didn't plug in my phone last night. Since I was later and it was raining, traffic was worse. There was construction all along the way with people that didn't want to slow down and look out for each other. But the extra time gave me the chance to clear my head and be thankful. I have a car that keeps me safe. I have a job to go to. I have a family that loves me and cares about me.

It took some doing, but when I prayed about it and thanked God for my blessings I really felt this sense of relief come over me. It felt like the peace of God was setting me free from a rough start to my day. Now I want to go out and accomplish what's before me. Now I can work towards my goals. It was like satan was there trying to drag me down but when I resisted and ran to God, I was freed.

Disciples Making Disciples: Building With Care

Study is an important part of the Christian life. Oh that we would have been so fortunate to be able to sit at the feet of Jesus and to listen to his teaching and preaching! Jesus had a way of explaining the Scriptures and revealing the truth hidden within them, even from the teachers of the Law, that I wish there could have been more of! We know that what is in our Bibles is just a taste, a sliver, of all that Jesus said and did (John 21:25).

Though Jesus is not here today in body, we are left with many of His teachings and His example (1 Peter 2:21-25). The accounts of Jesus's life are preserved for us in the Bible, as well as much more from the letters written to the various churches established in His name (Revelation 1:11).

Without study, we are left adrift in the sea of darkness (Ephesians 4:14). Without study, we have no one to guide us (Acts 8:31). Without study, we can be deceived by our own ungodly desires (Jeremiah 17:9, Proverbs 3:5-8). Without careful study, we can even be misled by those using the words of God! (2 Peter 3:16)

I hope you can join our study this morning as we look at some of the tools we will need to carry with us when we study. If we study with an earnest heart, an open mind, and careful consideration we will be greatly blessed on our discipleship journey (2 Tim 2:15).

Considerate