Tag: 1 Thessalonians

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A List for Living

 So, I was jumping around this morning looking for something interesting to share and I discovered this list of rules for living.  This is a pretty good list for how to treat others, and I thought it would be good to share.

  1. Warn those who are idle and disruptive
  2. Encourage the disheartened
  3. Help the weak
  4. Be patient with everyone
  5. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong
  6. Strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else
  7. Rejoice always
  8. Pray continually
  9. Give thanks in all circumstances
  10. Do not quench the Spirit.
  11. Test everything; hold on to what is good
  12. reject every kind of evil.

 What is really interesting about this is that it comes from 1 Thessalonians.  Yeah, really. Anyway, maybe you already live this way, if not.. consider this a pretty good set of guidelines to consider and to reconsider as you look at your days.

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70 Examples

Yesterday my Grandfather turned 96.  On that same day he and my grandmother celebrated 70 years of marriage. WOW!

In this day and age it seems we celebrate 7 years of marriage as a remarkable thing,  there sit my grandparents, married for 70 years as a beacon of the greatness and promises that a committed marriage can bring.

Its a really remarkable thing since they were married for almost twice as long as I have been married when I was born!

I often think about their lives – in the same house, on the same hill, in the same little town for all of those years.  My grandfather’s memory is fading now, but sometimes I wish I could ask him what drove him everyday and what purpose did he find as he headed down to take care of the books at the local glass factory.  I am not sure, but I wonder if he would point to the verse that I think of alot when I think of my grandparents

11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.  1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

They have lived a quiet life together, and but they gained great respect.  I hope you join me in celebrating their 70 years together, and that maybe you find some encouragement from their example as well!  And since I have you thinking, maybe consider for a moment, what your ambitions are?

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Rejoice

Well I woke up this morning with these words on my lips:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

You know it must be close to Christmas.

But really this is how our lives should be lived all year long.  We are free, because of the baby, because of his birth, and his resurrection.  What then can take away that joy?

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 (New International Version, ©2010)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5 (New International Version, ©2010)

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Paid in Full

I dunno about you but I hate paying bills.  It’s not so much about getting rid of the money ( although that part is stinky), is more about the accounting and making sure it’s paid on the correct date and getting the right amount and all of that stuff.  For those things that I don’t have automatically paid, it’s a struggle every month.  Usually there is a frantic middle of the night rush on the due date to pay the bill.  What a blessing on line bill pay is.

So isn’t it good to know that as followers of the Christ, there is no due date.  Well, there will be a judgement day, and for those not follower the Christ, that will be quite a problem.  But for those who have put on the grace and mercy of Christ, your sins will have been paid in full, and on the due date, your balance due will be a big fat zero!

23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (New International Version)

So, doesn’t knowing that you owe nothing and that its been paid for you provide some relief from the anxiety of the day and create a desire to repay that through your actions?  Get out there and impact those around you today.

Its freeeeeeeeeeeee!

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Happy Tax Day

Yeah right!  Tax Day and Happy just don’t go together do they?  I already posted something about that last week.  So looking past the obvious dark cloud of the day, lets focus on some other things.  April 15 is also the day the Titanic sank, the anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination, and the day the first McDonald’s opened.  and if that’s not enough, it also National That Sucks Day!

But slow down, its really not that bad, its National High Five Day!

(you really need to watch that video)

Yes National High Five Day (NH5D).  Let’s do that!  What an excellent way to move out of the doldrums that could happen on April 15 and move forward with power!

10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 (New International Version)

Get out there today and encourage others.  Use each encounter with a person to build them up. Make the other person better.  Show the love you have been given.  Strive to end each interaction with a high five.  I would love to hear of the joy this brings to you and to the people you meet.

Its National High Five Day, Sucka!