Library of Thoughts

Hbr 10:24-25  24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Jesus says, “He who has my commands, and keeps them, he it is who loves me...” In our community of believers, is our obedience to the commands of Christ being stirred up by: Deliberately thinking about, “How do I help this person to be a better follower?” Encouragement as we seek to live out the life of a Christ follower? You see, sharing life together should address the issues of daily life, in the context of loving Jesus! “In the midst of my difficult work relationships, how can I obey Jesus’ command to ‘let your light shine’?” “How, today, will I share a Jesus story with my neighbor?” “What can I say and do to set up a discussion about the kingdom we are living in, with my friend at the gym?” Deliberate, thoughtful comm...

2Ti 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Hbr 12:8, 11 NASB But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ... All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Spiritual Disciplines; those measurable habits that involve us in the attempt to obey His commands. " Abide in my Word..." " Pray without ceasing..." " Do not forsake the assembling together, as is the habit of some..." "...make disciples..." Powered by trust in the work of Jesus on the cross, and the inhabitation of the Holy Spirit, these vehicles of grace become imperfect conveyers of perfectly powerful promises. But what happens when we trust the discipline, not the Savior. Being disciplined in the spiritual disciplines can become...

Tolerance - Aug. 14 2013 " ...with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love" ... Eph. 4:2 In other translations, the word "bear with" (anecho) is translated literally "showing tolerance". Put more simply, we put up with each other. GK Chesterton said, "Tolerance is the virtue of a man without convictions." To put up with one another, we need a strong set of convictions, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians makes it clear that we put up with one another because... ... I believe at the heart level that same Christ working in me, is living and working in you. ... because we are one body, innately connected to spiritual health of one another. ... We are both being granted strength by His Spirit. Tolerance in the body of Christ assumes we are followers of Jesus.  It assumes we are trusting Christ, so that we can walk in a manner worthy of our calling. It assumes a set of convictions. ...