Monday, January 31, 2011

Sometimes I wonder if God is trying to teach me a lesson but I am just too ignorant to listen.
Sometimes I wonder if something I perceive as a lesson from God is really no lesson at all.


In our Christian walks God calls us to leave the world behind and to follow him.  As hard as this is, sometimes it is necessary.  The trouble is discerning what is God calling us to leave behind and what cost are we willing to pay for that.  


I feel like sometimes things scream us in the face when they're ready to be gone, and sometimes it's worth letting it go because there's no use trying to fix it.  Despite my best efforts in life, I have learning that time really is the best remedy. Now if only I could remember that.


I have also realized that verses seem to come into my life and serve for a particular period.  This summer and last semester I would say that Ecclesiastes 3 and Ephesians 4 were big ones.
Now Colossians 3 is really speaking to my heart.



Colossians 3

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ
 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a]life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.



 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.


 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.


 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.