Col. 3 :12-14

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14 NIV)

Boy it's easy to be hard on each other for how they act or what they do.  Truth is - all of us fall short of the glory of God.  How dare we judge each other and attack each other because we feel justified!!!   Rather , we should clothe ourselves with humility, love, patience and kindness so that Christ love will be known.    Isn't that how we want to be treated?  Don't settle for justifying your behavior but rather surrender your thoughts and actions to the one who loves and forgives you  .

2 Cor. 3:18

We all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image. 2 Cor. 3:18.

The outstanding characteristic of a Christian is this unveiled frankness before God so that the life becomes a mirror for other lives. By being filled with the Spirit we are transformed, and by beholding we become mirrors. You always know when a man has been beholding the glory of the Lord, you feel in your inner spirit that he is the mirror of the Lord’s own character. (Oswald Chambers) 

We want our lives to be mirrors of His glory.  To be like Him in all that we say and do.  Let us test every action and every word against the nature of our God and let His transforming power lead the way.  

Psalm 33:20-22

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. (Psalm 33:20-22 NIV)

What is your hope in?  Money? Stocks? Lottery? Your position?  Your financial status ? Your popularity?

What is hope? Anticipation.....your feelings of what is to come....expectation of something good or better coming your way. 

Jesus gives us hope in our salvation for sure through eternal life but also a daily hope that brings us peace each day we live.   That hope is what we have and what others need.  The local church is the hope of the world.  If you are not involved with a church you are missing out on extending hope to the world.  What a beautiful thing!!!

Jeremiah 2:2

“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: “This is what the Lord says: “ ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown. (Jeremiah 2:2 NIV)

Oh how we get lazy in our love towards God!!!   What does God recall of you today?  Were you once in love where you would do anything that He asked - go anywhere - be anything to anyone because nothing deserves your attention like Him.  Does God long for you to get back there?  Has your heart become cold and in a regiment of daily duty?  Are we full of joy because He gives us life no matter what hardships we are going through or have we lost our joy because we've forgotten his precious gift and are distracted with our tough times?     Have we've been kind to God through our reputation ?   Whoa!  Good question!!!

2 Corinthians 2:14

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. (2 Corinthians 2:14 NIV)

We cannot know all of God in our lifetime, however we can know as much as we want of Him!!! There is always more of Him to know. 

The apostle Paul said "that I may know Him" and we believe he meant loving God more not head knowledge.   Less of us , more of Him is a deeper walk with Him.  For sure KNOWING God's word 

is important to knowing God, but not for the purpose of showing people you have knowledge.  

Knowing God should make you more and more like Him in all you do!!!

So that we may know HIM better. 

That's it!!!

Psalm 145:4,10-13

One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.

All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. (Psalm 145:4, 10-12 NIV)

So generation to generation.  As we talk about His goodness to us.  As we tell our testimony of His love in our lives we are passing His love and passion on from generation to generation.   

It's quite exciting to see how one persons life affects another.  Passing the baton and keeping the faith alive.  Kadin said it's sort of like paying it forward - indeed it is - it's just the ultimate pay it forward !!!!   Leave a Legacy!!!

Mark 4:10

When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. (Mark 4:10 NIV)

The disciples constantly asked questions but they really didn't understand Jesus' answers until they received the Holy Spirit.

There is stubbornness and ignorance to be revealed by the Holy Spirit in each one of us , that only happens in our time alone with God.   Are we alone with Him now?  Or are we taken up with little fussy notions even within God's service. (OOuuch!!!)

Jesus cannot work on us if we never give Him alone time. If we intend to stay passionate and real we must die to our self and surrender daily!!!