1 Timothy 6

1 Timothy 6:16 NLT

He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.

This is amazing!! GOD is so holy that we can't and will never be able to grasp him completely...it says here that we cannot even get to see him because he shines...he lives in light do brilliant that we can't even look at it. It does mention that humans can't look at him. I take it that this is just now in this life and not when we pass be wise I really long for the day that i can see my maker face to face! All glory to our God whom words can't even begin to describe!

1 Timothy 5

8 But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers

---Family is so important! God really wants us to honor our family members and to care for them. This includes our parents when they are old...and our children when we have them. This just kind of reminded me of Pastors Kids....How pastors sometimes tend soooo much to the church that they neglect their own families....this says that people who won't care for their relatives are worse than unbelievers! So it's definitely good to have balance in out lives!

25 In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.

This one is just neat. We don't have to parade around showing everyone the good deeds that we do. Someday God will reveal them and how much greater will that be?!

1 Timothy 4

8 “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

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TUGGERS! Physical training is awesome...the Bible says it. HAHA. This one is pretty cool because everyone knows how much I like to work out and eat healthy! But then again it says that what we do here is SOOO temporary and even though it is good, it does not have eternal significance. A godly life does! We need to live lives that are "worthy of the calling" as it promises benefits in this life and for all eternity! Let's look forward to eternity and not focus so much on the things of this world!

1 Timothy 3

1 This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be an elder,t he desires an honorable position.”

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It is interesting we are reading this today because it was just last Sunday that I came to the realization that I would really love to be an elder some day. I know that is a long time from now...but as I mentioned in the last post, I would really love to pray over people and be someone who helps run the church. It is a HUGE responsibility...and an elder must live by example. This chapter really carves out the path that I need to follow in order to get there one day. It is an honorable position and something that shouldn't be handed to just anyone according to the scriptures. I just pray that God will lead me down the right path so that some day I might be able to serve him and others through a position of leadership such as an elder, To God be the glory!

1 Timothy 2

1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

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Prayer Prayer Prayer! This chapter really brings out the importance of prayer. Just last week I realized that I have a passion to pray over people..I can't help but want to pray over people who come forward during alter call in their suffering, searching for God. I, however, do struggle with constantly praying for people. We are called to be intercessor on EVERYONES' behalf. We should be praying for the lost as well as those who belong to Christ. Challenge yourselves! Next time you tell someone you will pray for them...make sure you mean what you say...If you mean.."I'll think about you for about 10 seconds later on today"....then say that instead! I'm guilty of this...I'm sure I'm not the only one! Can I get an Amen?

1 Timothy 1

Sorry about not posting until now! I could have sworn I opened this up last night. It didn't go through! So here we go broskies!

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5 The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. 6 But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. 7 They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.

This really stood out to me because sometimes we get caught up in the religious discussions/debate for no reason but to prove a point. This is so meaningless! Paul said that the purpose of his instruction is for all believers to be filled with love that comes from a pure heart and a clear conscious and genuine faith! Some people just turn away from these things and continue on meaningless discussions..lacking love. They want to hold a reputation and want people to say "Oh wow...that man is a man of God...he knows what he is talking about"...when really that is the opposite of what God's purpose is for us. Are you letting pride get in the way? We need to start questioning our motives when we discuss the things of the Lord! I thinks it's better for us to shut our mouths than to go down a meaningless path that causes more harm to the unbeliever/believer than good! Lord, help us be humble!

2 Thessalonians 3

5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

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This whole chapter was incredible...I really liked the them about not being lazy and making sure we are picking up our own slack when we are in the ministry...Shows that God is not a lazy God and he wants us to reflect him as a responsible/loving/caring/considerate God. This verse however stood out to me because I pray this for myself and all my brothers all the time...that God will lead our hearts into a full understand and expression of the love of God! It is this understanding that will keep us on the right path...It is important to know God, because when we know God, it becomes easy to live for him and to resist all temptation because he gives us the patient endurance that come from Christ!

2 Thessalonians 2

8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.

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The splendor of his coming will defeat Satan! Can you believe it? It's Christ's holiness, his presence itself that will defeat the enemy! Isn't that awesome?! IT's even greater to know that that same power, that same holiness lives inside of us through the Holy Spirit! What an amazing gift.

2 Thessalonians 1

8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.

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I know this one is a bit morbid today...but do we really believe that the people who don't know about Christ will burn in the flaming fire of God's judgement for all eternity. Worse than that...do we really realize that they will be separated from the very presence of God entirely?! We need to spread the gospel...we need to spread the truth! Some will refuse it, of course...but people need to know...how will they know, if we don't tell them!

Love you guys!

1 Thessalonians 5

4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.t 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.7 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk.8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

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So, this one is really serious. No one knows the time or date that Jesus is returning. But are we acting like he is going to return? Like he can come at any time?! Probably not to our fullest extent! It's like what we discussed in my d-group this week. There is a man on an airplane who is told that at any moment, the plane that he is on can crash...they offer him a parachute that will save him when that happens. The man gratefully takes the parachute and clings to it, knowing that this will happen. He puts it on and doesn't matter how uncomfortable the situation is, because he knows that on his back, he has what will save his life! Then the plane flight gets longer and longer...and maybe he isn't reminded about the fact the the plane WILL crash...so he starts to get uncomfortable and people have been looking at him like he's a weirdo all along! And now he starts to care...so, he unbuckles the parachute...not really focusing on the reality/Truth that the plane will crash! The plane ride gets longer and still... he is uncomfortable. Unconsciously, he makes the decision in his head that that plane isn't really going to crash...so he ends up taking the parachute off...ten minutes later, then man loses his life as the plane crashes and there was not enough time to put the parachute on...The thing is, the man lost focus on the TRUTH...which was: the plane was going to crash!

We do the same thing! We can lose sight of Jesus, because we think we are immortal...no one really thinks that they are going to die today, or that Jesus will return today. That's why we make plans for tomorrow...but the truth is, we don't know what tomorrow holds!! Only our God. So let's start living for him! Let's realize that this plane/life as we know it...is going to crash and the only thing that can save us is the the armor of faith and love and the helmet that brings us confidence of our salvation. Brothers! Let us STOP doing meaningless things and start living for God!

Love you guys!

1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thessalonians 4:11

Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

This is an incredible passage. It reminds me to stay humble. Why do we want to live with and have so much? We need to live peaceful and simple lives. This is hard because I like to have things...and awards...and recognition...but as I learned today during prayer and as God has been speaking to me recently...I need to make sure that my motives are right and that I'm doing everything for his glory and honor...not mine. I love how it says that its good to work and living a simple life is a great testimony to non-Christians...I need to dwell on that one a little more, because I need to understand what that looks like.

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1 Thessalonians 3

vs. 5: That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.

Check up...follow up...accoutnability...That's what this verse yells out to me. Paul was worried about people falling away. So he sent Timothy to go and check up. I think that we really have to start checking up on people and keeping them accountable. Paul said he couldnt bear it any longer..it was his passion to see people living for Christ! Let that be our passion and let us not be lazy but reach out to our brothers and keep them accountable!

1 Thessalonians 2

2 You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.

Kind of going off of yesterday...When these guys received the gospel, they received it fully. They had no reservations. So when they suffered, they understood that it was just what they had to go through as disciples of Christ instead of asking God "Why me?!"....God gave them the courage through the Holy Spirit to make it through and preach the Good News in spite of everything that was against them...it even says later that Satan prevented them from doing the things they wanted to do...which is very interesting. But they never lost their praise! Can we say the same thing?

1 Thessalonians 1

5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurancet that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.

Have we received the gospel with all assurance? This is a question we need to continuously ask ourselves. I believe that if we did, we would be able to conquer all temptation and will be able to get through any trial! I feel that this is the underlying verse in this chapter...The people of Thessalonica had the fruits of the spirit and it was because they accepted the word of God fully, without any reservation...Their seed landed on good ground! Where has the seed of the Gospel landed in your life?

Colossians 4

Last day! Tomorrow we start Challenged #4! Stick with me guys! It's going great. If you are going to invite someone to the challenge...please let me know! 1 Thessalonians! (Five day commitment)!

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I chose a passage from today's because it really stood out to be...verses 2-6:

2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.

THIS IS INCREDIBLE! Do you guys ever notice that Paul doesn't ask people to pray for him to escape from jail? That is very interesting. What does he ask his brothers and sisters? HE asks for them to pray for him...that God will give him and his servants an opportunity to speak about Christ!! And that the message will be proclaimed as clearly as possible! What are we asking for in prayer...are we asking God to take us out of a situation or a place in our lives that really seems like an imprisonment, instead of asking God how can he use us while we are in that place? Paul sets such a high example of what it means to live for Christ! Let's follow that!

5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractivet so that you will have the right response for everyone.

This is awesome! We need to be wise in our friendships with non-believers...it is very evident that those friendships can be fragile and we need to have wisdom so that when we interact and speak to them...they will have the right response for everyone! Make the most of every opportunity! And that is to represent and proclaim Christ!

Colossians 3

1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

This is just awesome. We really need to shift our focus from the things of this world to the things of heaven. We have written it again and again...we need an eternal mindset! It is easy to get caught up with the worries of today, but if we were to truly focus on our promise of an eternity with Christ...nothing can come against us...nothing can harm us! Paul wrote these letters, many times from prison...he was eternity focused and that is what changed his life! That is what allowed him to press on!

Colossians 2

I'm going to start opening up the post the night before in case I sleep in and you guys want to have early morning devotional. Remember to give God the first fruits of your lives.

I know the following verse is talking specifically about tithes, but I think that each day, each breath that we take... is something that is given to us and we need to offer our Lord the first fruits of the day!

29 "You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me."

God wants our first-fruits. Now I'm not trying to make this challenge harder...and I know many times we have so much to do...but think about what God deserves...does he really deserve for us to come to him when we are half asleep..giving him, the last fruits of the energy he has given us to get through another day? Check yourselves brothers and seek Him! I love you guys! Thanks for being part of this challenge...I'm really proud of you guys!

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Now for today's Blog!!

16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.

This one was just awesome...I love how he hits legalism in the face in this chapter and really shows us what really matters in our lives! Legalism is a hard life to live...it describes that it brings self-denial and pain to the body...and I am so glad that the Lord has freed us from that. The main thing that stood out though, is the fact that it mentions the Sabbath...and I've been praying to God lately to show me why we don't keep the Sabbath holy anymore...I've been reading in Isaiah about the sabbath and how it should be kept holy...why is it the only commandment we don't follow anymore? This is a question I have been trying to find the answer for.

Colossians 1

Welcome New Guys!! Challenge #3 Here we go!

28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfectt in their relationship to Christ.29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

This verse screams accountability and discipleship! We hold such a responsibility to others and to God. We want to present others to God perfect in their relationship to Christ...what does this mean for us, the believers? It also means that we too have to present ourselves perfect in our relationship to Christ! This chapter is incredible! So Gospel and Eternity focused! Let us work hard and struggle hard in order to do God's will...which is spread the great news about his deliverance and live lives worthy of the call!

Philippians 4

Wohoo! We made it! Another challenge.. Good job yesterday guys! I didn't even really have to remind anyone. The next challenge will start tomorrow and we are going straight into Colossians! It's gonna be awesome. Another short challenge...now on top of that, I need you guys to get one broski to commit to doing this. Tell them to let me know who that person is, so I can get in touch with them! Please do this and begin challenging your brothers! It's awesome!

vs 3 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement.

Okay...so how many people have we held a grudge against..or are currently holding a grudge against...or maybe they are just holding a grudge against us, but we are not stepping out and seeking to settle our disagreements with those people...This is sooo challenging as it says...because we belong to the Lord, we are to settle our differences...ask yourself, "how does this apply to me right now?"

also... I love the verse 13- For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength...love it cuz he is specifically talking about when he had nothing! He was going hungry... and he still relied on God! This should be our anthem when times get rough! Trust in Jesus!

Philipians 3

Okay! So I had to cheat for today...this was just too good.

3 For we who worship by the Spirit of Godt are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort...

This really spoke to me today! Sometimes we get distracted by our "doings" or what we want to do for the Lord that we lose sight of what really matters. We must rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us and put our confidence in Him rather than what we do. I think that when we focus on what we do so much, it just brings worry to our lives rather than peace. It's the opposite of what Jesus provides.

18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.

Okay guys! Wake up with this one! Enemies of the cross?! That's really strong...but what are we living for in this world? Are we living to brag about worthless things and have our minds, hearts, and souls focused on earthly things that are here today and gone tomorrow? This can be applied to many things in our lives. If Paul is in tears about this situation...how do you think our Lord and Savior feels about it?

--God let us be focused on you. Give us an eternal mindset...that we may pursue you above everything else in this life!

Philippians 2

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

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Andy and I were talking about the name of Jesus and the name of God the other day. I feel that we've come to a time when the name of God is not revered anymore...and the very name of Jesus is disrespected left and right. Here it says that God gave Jesus the name above all names and that even at the mention of the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. Do we really revere the name of Jesus and hold it above all other names. And more importantly do we revere Jesus himself with our lives? This is all for the glory of God our Father!

Philippians 1

Here we go guys! Challenge #2!

18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.

This verse has stood out to me in past because it really shows the power of God's word! Here, he is talking about those who preach Jesus out of selfish ambition and I would say, are the "hypocrites" of the church. I love Paul's attitude about the situation--"what does it matter? Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice." Sometimes seeing hypocrites in the church is something that tries to take your joy away...but we need to have the heart of Paul and rejoice, regardless of the situation...because it is Jesus that we put our trust in, not "mere" people.

Ephesians 6

12 For wet are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

This is powerful. Guys...we the world we cannot see is the world that is more real than the world that we can see. We need to put on the full armor of God and prepare for the attacks of the enemy...this means we have to be in the Word of God..this means we have to be careful what we allow to enter our minds and our hearts! Be on your guard at all times because we are dealing with the mighty powers in this dark world and the evil spirits...this is real stuff and we don't want to let it have a foothold in our lives! Cover yourselves with what God has to offer and don't miss out, because it is dangerous without him!

Good job guys! You have completed the first challenge! Look out for the new challenge! Starting tomorrow. I will email you!