word

Not Without the Word, 1st John 1

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I use paper notes, sticky notes and lists, calendar reminders (electronic) and grocery lists I email to myself. I use paper bookmarks or binder clips to organize my place. I have my own scribbles for shortcuts and secret passwords and not so secret or secure computer and social media platforms. We trust much to memory, but what if we forget? We even sign on for a text message backup for authentication.

We use planner agendas, reminders and minute-taking at work too. We study org charts for people’s names, CVs for the information of their work pedigree and social media for maybe a photo. We know that electronic records are important to save, and even if it’s all electronic, our paychecks are the equivalent of cold hard cash… We read into numbers all the time, we read into conversations and communications, over read and stress ourselves out by reading in between the lines…

We are read as much as we read.

How’s our life in the Lord? We have the best read, the Bible, to be in the Word, mindful of the Word, covered and convicted by the word. Judge against the Word by the Word, as it’s sharp sword of truth trims our dead branches of unfruitfulness. And how are we covered and blessed? That also by the Word, in forgiveness and grace, direction and leading, rescue and restoration. We are saved not by the letter of the law, but the fulfillment thereof, by Jesus sacrifice and righteousness, by the WORD WILLING TO WORK.

Jesus, as in Lord God Almighty and Spirit Saving, is our fulfillment and we are His, so He had written us down in His Book of Life from the beginning and won’t erase without a chase, God will pursue us (Psalm 139), find us to find Him, and not nail us down, but have us resurrected in His Righteousness, by fulfillment of His Word. 

Nothing in ourselves can be complete without the Word. We live in parts, and don’t live complete without Him. Not without the Word. 

Let us hold to His Word, and our fruitfulness be held dearly on His “to-do” list. 

1 John 1 NKJV

What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

Fellowship with Him and One Another

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

What is IN the WORD? JESUS!

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A conversation I had last night reminds us that we are in ministry not for ourselves but for those who don’t yet know Jesus – we discussed what I saw time and time again this summer at VBS – the kids don’t know the difference between Christmas and Easter…

VBS – I do it because it is fun, yes, but I help because it matters – it really matters…

VBS, what an amazing time to share God’s Word with both young and old… The conversation I had was also about how the kids who come to VBS are usually the kids who don’t get to church much because their parents don’t get there and because it is hard to bridge that gap between rowdy kids and solemn worshipping people (or at least people who just like order and quiet). At the beach boardwalk church this past Sunday – they had a summer area just for the kids. and at the Great Tabernacle church, they had a whole other building that housed kids that started service 15 minutes earlier…

Yes – if we don’t raise kids in the Word, how on earth will the Word be heard?

I was thrilled that a VBS volunteer, in 2 of my VBS experiences this summer, each brought their neighbor’s kids. What a tremendous way to foster love and this is also loving your neighbor! The kids loved it and experienced the AGAPE love of God thru the many volunteers!

The Word is IN IT to SHARE!

What is IN the Word?

Jesus.

What is OF the Word?

Jesus.

What IS the Word?

Jesus.

Jesus and His Gift and His Love and His Hope and His Message and His Mission.

Get IN the Word and get the Word IN and get the Word OUT!

AMEN!

Drink Fluids

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It is not uncommon for little phrases to hit my ears just at the RIGHT time – and if it is at the same time when I am thinking of God or reading a scripture, well, let’s say that God has a Word for everything we need… His Word IS Himself, and we need Him!

Instead of the many noises we hear being bounced off sounds – we can catch small little phrases – small whispers. Let us let the whisper work – yes, we REALLY should listen when God speaks, and yeah He hopes it sinks in. Let it sink in. Give Him one of those double sinks to double flow to you.

So, for example, as I was looking up all these suggested scriptures for a talk I am going to give at a later date, I was thinking that it was SO IMPORTANT to read them and digest them prior to the final text version of my talk – that naturally it will modify and solidify my talk because God’s Word changes lives. So, what was the phrase that the TV commercial (for whatever malady medicine advertisement at the moment) used just then while I was cutting and pasting? “Drink Plenty of Fluids” –  Ahhhhh… Amen to that!!!

If we are open to listen and then make our journey feasting on His Truth, the Word is HYDRATED and so palatable to us. It delights us and often gives us peace. Now, if it’s hard to swallow advice, when it’s God’s Word that corrects, well take that too, take just a moment to ask for that LOVING LIVING hydration help.  “Drink Plenty of Fluids” with the medication of the Great Physician. 

Drink Fluids – meaning Living Water fluids – which is the Word – which IS JESUS. Jesus IS God – Who along with the Holy Spirit and God the Father will guide us towards Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Yes, God is paving the way and then filling the souls with Living Water.

If we don’t read the Word and live the Word and share the Word – then how can we ourselves understand why the Word IS the Word? – The Word IS the change that is so needed in the world.  In other words, there are no other words – because it is THE WORD which and Who IS the ONLY WORD – Jesus. 

Jesus – Alpha and Omega – all the letters in and in between – it is what Jesus said – what Jesus IS – what Jesus wants us to know. Let it SINK in.

Drink Fluids and Live Life

Jesus knows the Way.

Amen

1John 4:9-16  (a recently replicated scripture (again) to me these past few days)

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

Ephesians 4:11-16, 21-24 NIV

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

– … you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.