Thought Life

I've missed the last couple of weeks of "Friday Thoughts."  To be honest, I was going to take the summer off.  But, it doesn't seem the right thing to do right now.

 

Throughout the summer I'm going to continue to think and write in the area of our current sermon series, "Brain on a Leash."  I'd like to keep us focused on our thought life... I'd like to keep me focused on my thought life.

 

Why?

 

1. God knit me together with a thought life so that I could be more aware of him.

This is a tool God has given me that is so easily unused or misused, but it is a gift of God.

 

2. There's gold in them thar' hills.

I think my thought life is an untapped arena of richness, strength, and God's grace.  I want to learn how to tap into them and more.

 

3.  My design is hidden under the stuff.

What if a clear awareness of who I am made to be is buried under the thoughts that don't belong?

 

So, this summer I'm going to continue to call us to growth in this area.  Even when the sermon series is done, I'd like to keep digging.  And, I'd like to hear from you.  How's the battle?  What works, what doesn't?

 

Fellow Servant,

 

Pastor Dave

 

Favorites?

People ask, "what's your favorite scripture?"  I've even heard people talk about a "life verse."  A verse that goes beyond being a favorite to be one that guides your life, impacts your decisions, and in a way defines you.

 

I read Colossians the 3rd chapter this morning.  As I was reading and underlining and thinking about key words I found myself thinking about the "favorite verse" issue.  Here's my conclusion on the best verses in the Bible.

 

The one God is teaching me about right now is my new favorite and is the best.

 

I just finished Ezra a few days ago.  That was my favorite last week.  I will finish Colossians tomorrow and then go to John.  Next week John will be my favorite.

 

Right now, it's Colossians 3.  It tells me what to seek (verse 1), where to set my mind (2), what to put to death (5), what to get rid of (8), not to lie (9), what the new life is doing (10), how to "clothe" my soul (12), bear with others (13), forgive (13), and to wear love (14).

 

But he wasn't done.

 

There are a multitude of things that I "let happen"  through the day.  Listen to the two things Paul told to church to let happen: "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" and "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."

 

After a list of things that I must actively do Paul tells me that there are a couple of things to let Someone else do. I need to let the peace of Christ and the word of Christ invade me.  Let it happen.

 

Based on that I must assume that the peace of Christ and word of Christ are waiting to do that.  Today.

 

Letting Christ be Christ in my life is how I am able to be what I am called to be.

 

"Lord, I will live the new life you call me to and I will surrender, letting you do what you long to do."

 

Today Colossians 3 is my favorite - can't wait until tomorrow.

 

Pastor Dave