Hebrews 4:16

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

 

¹⁶ Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.



Prayer is our approach to God, and we are to come "with confidence." Some Christians approach God meekly with heads hung low, afraid to ask Him to meet their needs. Other pray flippantly, giving little thought to what they say. Come with reverence because He is your King. But also come with bold assurance because He is your Friend and Counselor.



Joe

2 Timothy 4:5

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

⁵ But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.



To keep cool when you are jarred and jolted by people or circumstances, don't react quickly. In any work of ministry that you undertake, keeping your head makes you morally alert to temptation, resistant to pressure, and vigilant when facing heavy responsibility.



Joe

2 Timothy 4:2

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

 

² Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.



"Be prepared in season and out of season" means to always be ready to serve God in any situation, whether or not it is convenient. Be sensitive to the opportunities God gives you.




Joe











 

1 Timothy 6:11-12

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

 

¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

 

 

Paul uses active and forceful verbs to describe the Christian life: flee, pursue, fight, take hold. Some think Christianity is a passive religion that advocates waiting for God to act. But we must have an active faith, obeying God with courage and doing what we know is right. Is it time for action on your part? Don't wait - get going!




Joe















 

1 Timothy 6:8

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

⁸ So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.




It is helpful to distinguish between needs and wants. We may have all we need to live but let ourselves become anxious and discontented over what we merely want. Like Paul, we can choose to be content without having all we want. The only alternative is to be a slave to our desires.




Joe























 

1 Timothy 3:4-5

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

 

⁴ He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. ⁵ For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?

 

 

 

 

 

Christian workers and volunteers sometimes make the mistake of thinking their work is so important that they are justified in ignoring their families. Spiritual leadership, however, must begin at home. If a man is not willing to care for, discipline, and teach his children, he is not qualified to lead the church. Don't allow your church responsibilities to distract from your family responsibilities.

 

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Timothy 2:5-6

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

⁵ For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. ⁶ He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.

 

 

 

 

We human beings are seperated from God by sin, and only one person in the universe is our mediator and can stand between us and God and bring us together again - Jesus, who is both God and man. Jesus' sacrifice brought new life to all people. Have you let Him bring you to the Father?

 

 

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Timothy 1:15

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

1 Timothy 1:15

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)



 

¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.






Paul calls himself "the worst" of sinners. We think of Paul as a great hero of the faith, but Paul never saw himself that way, because he remembered his life before he met Christ. The more Paul understood God's grace, the more he was aware of his own sinfulness. Humility and graditude should mark the life of every Christian. Never forget that you too are a sinner saved by grace.









Joe



















 

2 Thessalonians 3:11-12

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

 

¹¹ We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. ¹² Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.



A "busybody" is a gossip. An idle person who doesn't work ends up filling his or her time with less than helpful activities, like gossip. Rumors and hearsay are tantilizing, exciting to hear, and make us feel like insiders. But they tear people down. If you often find your nose in other people's business, you may be under-employed. Look for a task to do for Christ or for your family, and get to work.




Joe

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

 

 

¹⁶ Be joyful always; ¹⁷ pray continually; ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.




Our joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not fluctuate with our circumstances or feelings. Obeying these three commands - be joyful, pray continually, and give thanks - often goes against our natural inclinations. When we make a conscious decision to do what God says, we will begin to see people in a new perspective. When we do God's will, we will find it easier to be joyful and thankful.





Joe


















 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

The Message (MSG)

 

 

 

5 ^1-3 I don’t think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master’s coming can’t be posted on our calendars. He won’t call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would. About the time everybody’s walking around complacently, congratulating each other—“We’ve sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!”—suddenly everything will fall apart. It’s going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.

 

 

 

 

Efforts to determine the date of Christ's return are foolish. Don't be misled by anyone who claims to know. We are told here that no one knows and that even believers will be surprised. The Lord will return suddenly and unexpectedly, warns Paul, so be ready! Because no one knows when Jesus will come back to earth, we should be ready at all times. Suppose He were to return today. How would He find you living? Are you ready to meet Him? Live each day prepared to welcome Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

 

 

 

¹¹ For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, ¹² encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.






By his words and example, Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to live in such a way that would be worthy of God. What do people think of God from watching you?








Joe



























 

Colossians 3:23

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

 

 

 

 

²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.




Since the creation, God has given us work to do. If we could regard our work as an act of worship or service to God, such an attitude would take some of the drudgery and boredom out of it. We could work without complaining or resentment if we would treat our job problems as the cost of discipleship.



Joe

Colossians 3:13

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

 

 

 

¹³ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.





The key to forgiving others is remembering how God has forgiven you. Is it difficult for you to forgive someone who has wronged you a little when God has forgiven you so much? Realizing God's infinite love and forgiveness can help you love and forgive others.



Joe
































 

Deuteronomy 7:18

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹⁸ ... remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.







Every night when I get comfortable in bed and close my eyes, I begin to pray to relax my body to sleep. Monday evening when I began this ritual, my prayers and thoughts went to the upcoming Bible lesson that Pat and I would be teaching next Sunday (I had begun to review the lesson before bed). January is our month to teach in "Kid's Central", our Sunday school program at Northlife Community Church here in Wilmington. The last 2 weeks we were teaching about Moses and the 10 plagues of Egypt. This week we will be covering the "Parting of the Red Sea", the "Manna from Heaven", and the "water from the stone". As I was praying of ways to enact these events to give the kids a more "hands on" lesson, I heard the Voice of God whisper to me. He said, "you know, I am still the same God that did those things".
I needed that reminder! Sometime we get comfortable and forget that God's awesome power is at our disposal. I have personally seen God's power at work, but sometimes I forget.
Take some time today and think about how God's power has worked in your life. Don't forget, he is always there waiting for us to cry out to Him for help.












Joe



















 

Colossians 3:1-2

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Rules for Holy Living

3 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.


Setting our hearts on things above means striving to put heaven's priorities into daily practice. Setting our minds on thing above means concentrating on the eternal rather than the temporal.


Joe

Colossians 2:20-23

The Message (MSG)

 

 

 

^20-23 So, then, if with Christ you’ve put all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? “Don’t touch this! Don’t taste that! Don’t go near this!” Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention? Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and ascetic. But they’re just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important.




To the Colossians, the discipline demanded by the false teachers seemed good, and legalism still attracts many people today. Following a long list of religious rules requires strong self-discipline and can make a person appear moral, but religious rules cannot change a person's heart. Only the Holy Spirit can do that.







Joe
























 

Colossians 2:7

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

 

⁷ Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul uses the illustration of our being rooted in Christ. Just as plants draw nourishment from the soil through their roots, so we draw our life-giving strength from Christ. The more we draw our strength from Him, the less we will be fooled by those who falsely claim to have life's answers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Philippians 4:9

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

 

⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.





It's not enough to hear or read the Word of God, or even to know it well. We must also put it into practice. How easy it is to listen to a sermon and forget what the preacher said. How easy it is to read the Bible and not think about how to live differently. How easy it is to debate what a passage means and not live out that meaning. Exposure to God's Word is not enough. It must lead to obedience.




Joe























 

Philippians 4:8

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

 

 

 

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.




What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions. Paul tells us to program our minds with thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Do you have problems with impure thoughts and daydreams? Examine what you are putting into your mind through television, books, conversations, movies, and magazines. Replace harmful input with wholesome material. Above all, read God's Word and pray. Ask God to help you focus your mind on what is good and pure. It takes practice, but it can be done.





Joe






























 

Philippians 4:6-7

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

 

 

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.





Imagine never being "anxious about anything"! It seems like an impossibility - we all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school. But Paul's advice is to turn our worries into prayers. Do you want to worry less? Then pray more! Whenever you start to worry, start to pray.







Joe




































 

Philippians 3:12-14

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

Pressing on Toward the Goal

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.





Paul says that his goal is to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ has in mind for him. This goal absorbs all Paul's energy. This is a helpful example for us. We should not let anything take our eyes off our goal - knowing Christ. With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christians. What is holding you back?





Joe








 

Philippians 2:22

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

²² But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News.

 

 

 

 

 

Just as skilled workman trains his apprentice, Paul was preparing Timothy to carry on the ministry in his absence. Who are you apprenticing for God's work?

 

 

 

 

Joe (Happy 78th birthday to my Mom!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Philippians 2:21

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

 

²¹ All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

Paul observed that most believers are too preoccupied with their own needs to spend time working for Christ. Don't let your schedule crowd out your Christian service.

 

 

 

 

 

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Philippians 2:14-16

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

¹⁴ Do everything without complaining and arguing, ¹⁵ so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. ¹⁶ Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.



Why are complaining and arguing so harmful? If all that people know about a church is that it's members constantly argue, complain, and gossip, they get a false impression of Christ and the gospel. Belief in Christ should unite those who trust Him. If your church is always complaining and arguing, it lacks the unifying power of Jesus Christ. Stop arguing with other Christians or complaining about people and conditions within the church and let the world see Christ.




Joe














 

Philippians 2:5

The Message (MSG)

 

 

 

^5-8 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.





Jesus Christ was humble, willing to give up His rights in order to obey God and serve people. Like Christ, we should have a servant's attitude, serving out of love for God and for others, not out of fear or guilt. Remember, you can choose your attitude. You can approach life expecting to be served, or you can look for opportunities to serve others.






Joe






















 

Philippians 1:27

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

 

²⁷ Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.





Paul encourages the believers to be unified, as they "stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith." How sad that much time and effort is lost in some churches by fighting against one another instead of uniting against the real opposition! It takes a courageous church to resist in-fighting and to maintain the common purpose of serving Christ.




Joe

Philippians 1:14

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

 

¹⁴ And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.

 

 

When we speak fearlessly for Christ, or live faithfully for Him during difficult situations, we encourage others to do the same. Be an encouragement by the way you live.

 

 

 

Joe

Ephesians 5:11-14

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴ for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

 

 

 

It is important to avoid the "fruitless deeds of darkness" (any pleasure or activity that results in sin), but we must go even further. Paul instructs us to expose these deeds, because our silence may be interpreted as approval. God needs people who will take a stand for what is right. Christians must lovingly speak out for what is true and right.

 

 

 

Joe

Ephesians 5:1-2

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

 

5 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.



Just as children imitate their parents, we should imitate Christ. His great love for us led Him to sacrifice Himself so that we might live. Our love for others should be of the same kind - a love that goes beyond affection to self-sacrificing service.





Joe (Happy Birthday to my beautiful wife Patricia!)























 

Ephesians 4:1-2

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 

 

 

Unity in the Body of Christ

4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.



God has chosen us to be Christ's representives on earth. In light of this truth, Paul challenges us to live lives worthy of the calling we have received - the awesome privilege of being called Christ's own. This includes being humble, gentle, patient, understanding, and peaceful. People are watching your life. Can they see Christ in you? How well are you doing as His representative?

(Being Christ's representative is "pleasing to the Lord". Ephesians 5:10)





Joe







 

Ephesians 5:10

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)


 

¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord.



Monday morning as I was praying and seeking the Lord while driving to work, this verse came to mind. I was praying about 2013 and asking the Lord what I need to do to know Him better in the coming New Year.
I believe He was telling me that in everything I do, I should be doing things that are pleasing to Him. I need to be mindful of Him as I go about my daily routine. I need to test the things that I do by saying, "will this please God?
Will you join me in 2013 as we "find out what pleases the Lord?




Have a blessed New Year!



Joe