Colossians 1:9-10

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Colossians1:9-10 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 

  Paul was a prayer warrior!  It amazes me that in the midst of all of the preaching and teaching that he did he still had time to pray unceasingly for others.  In just two short verses Paul lists four spiritual objectives for the Colossians.    Why did he pray? He prayed because of their wonderful testimony for Christ.  What did he pray for?

• That they would be filled with the knowledge:

1. of God's will
2. in all wisdom (which comes from God) Proverbs 2:6
3. in all spiritual understanding (also from God!)

He wanted them to know God's plan for their lives so they wouldn't be led astray by false teachers.

•  That they would walk worthy:

1. Of the Lord
2. Unto all pleasing 

He further explains this in Colossians 3:17; 23

• That they would be fruitful in every good work
• That they would increase in the knowledge of God 

Paul's prayer was specific.  There was no doubt about what he desired for the Colossians.  His desires were God's desires.  he wanted them to know God's will, to align their lives with God's will, to do God's will, and to continually increase their knowledge of God.

I know that there are many times in my life when I have prayed vague prayers for myself and others, or prayers that were only concerned with physical requests, wants, and desperate pleas for help.  Specific prayers for spiritual growth according to God's desires and eternal plan have definitely not topped the list.  Oh there have been times that I have prayed like Paul, but today my prayer life received a much needed overhaul.  I want to pray specifically, not what I want see in others, but what God truly desires to see in them based on His Word.

Visit these sites for more insight into God's Word:

Colossians 1:5-8

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Good Morning!  Isn't it awesome to wake up and run to the Word for spiritual refreshment?  This morning my focus was on Col.1:5-8.

Col 1:5  For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Col 1:6  Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Col 1:7  As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
Col 1:8  Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. 

Paul gives thanks for the hope awaiting them in heaven.  They had heard about this hope through the word of truth - the gospel.  The gospel came to them (through the ministry of Epaphrus) and from the moment it was heard and the grace of God was made known to them, they believed!  The gospel brings forth fruit!  The gospel is POWERFUL!  Epaphrus shared the Word of Truth which, when the heard it and believed, brought forth fruit in their lives.

We need to bear fruit through the True Vine - Jesus.  We will never be fruit bearers if we do not proclaim the gospel in our sphere of influence.  Do those around you know, truly know Who God is?  Do they know that because we have broken God's law a punishment awaits us?  Do they know that the only way to restore our broken fellowship with God is through the sacrifice of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins?  Do they know that their excuses will not be acceptable when they stand before Almighty God?  Do they know that you can tell them about THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE?

This passage really hit home with me, because the fruit that I want to see in other must first be evidenced in my own life.  The Colossians were commended for their: Faith in Christ - Hope in Heaven - and Love in the Spirit.  My faith is firmly placed in the finished work of Christ on Calvary.  My hope for the future is secure in knowing that I have a home in Heaven prepared for me.  My daily task is to be led by the Holy Spirit to show others the love of Christ, the gospel of Truth, which can forever change their lives. 

You see, I am not the vine, He is.  I am just a messenger of His love.  May God help me to use my sphere of influence to proclaim the gospel, the Word of Truth, bringing glory to His name.

The FRUIT is not mine, it belongs to the VINE!

New Bible Study!

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I am starting a new Bible study on September 17th, in Colossians in conjunction with the Good Morning Girls online group. GMG is a "tech accountability group" where we can encourage one another in the study of God's Word even though we live miles apart.
 The Bible Study will be 8 weeks long and will follow the S.O.A.P. method used by Good Morning Girls.  Basically, you write out the verses (two or three per day), then record your observations about the verses, record an application for your life today, and then a prayer for God to help you apply what you have learned in His Word.  As we travel, it is difficult to fellowship with other women around the Word of God, so I am excited about forming a group of girlfriends who are interested in studying God's Word together!  So fill up that cup of coffee and head on over to the Good Morning Girls website to find out more information. If you are interested in joining my group, please leave me a message!

Submissive or Subversive? Part 3

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His and Hers

Ephesians 5:22-23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing."

I remember washing our first load of laundry in our new home.  My wonderful, new husband was helping me fold towels.  He wanted to fold the towels one way, and I wanted to fold them another way.  Needless to say, it all went down hill from there.  Neither way was technically wrong, but sides had been taken and the battle was intense!  There came a point where we had to sit down like rational human beings and decide which method of towel folding was "best" for our new home.  We can look back now and laugh about it, but I remember thinking even then how something so trivial could have become a stepping stone to bitterness and resentment in our marriage.

Ephesians 5:22-23 presents two analogies to help us understand our God-given roles in marriage.

                                                husband: wife as Christ: church
                                                                    and
                                                 wife: husband as church: Christ

The husband is to be the head of the wife just like Christ is the head of the church.

The wife is to be subject to the husband just like the church is to Christ.

In the fallen, sinful world that we live in both of these pictures are often warped, but that does not mean that God's Word or His plan for our lives has changed.

His Responsibility-

• Be the head of the home (like Christ)
• Love his wife (like Christ) Eph. 5:25
• as his own body
• nourish and cherish her
• be one flesh

Her Responsibility-

• Be subject (Yeah, that means submit!)
• to your own husband (as unto the Lord, like the church is supposed to be) Eph. 5:22 
• Be one flesh (leave and cleave) Eph. 5:31
• Reverence your husband Eph. 5:33
• respect him 
• don't waste time humiliating him, degrading him, and complaining to others
• build him up with praise (Prov. 31:23)
• listen to his advice/seek it
• accept his final word in decision making
• pray for him to be a godly leader in your home
• pray for your own attitude to line up with God's Word

Eye to Eye Q&A- How do you measure up your God-given responsibilities?

The world's image of the home so often degrades the role of the husband to the point that we are tempted to believe that our lives were meant to be in the same constant state of turmoil that we see around us.  Men are portrayed on television as being simple, inefficient, lazy, womanizing, selfish, etc., which is far from the Biblical image of the leader of the home.  It's time to change your WORLDVIEW!  God's commands to us as husband and wife are not based on conditional "if/then" circumstances.  God expects us to obey His Word.

What areas of God-given responsibility toward your husband do you struggle with the most?  Get it settled today!

Let the adventure begin!

Pin It Whew!  I finally made it into the world of blogging!  It has taken much prayer and much wading through computer jargon to get started, but here I am!  I am so thrilled about this new adventure that God has opened up for me, and pray that it will be useful for others as well.  My family is currently in the US traveling on furlough/deputation.  I have several ladies Bible studies in the works and will be posting about them as they become available.  Visit my Women of Wisdom page for a free download to get you started!