Rules for Holy Living

Colossians 3
Rules for Holy Living
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Redeeming the Time

Redeeming the Time
Ephesians 5:16
6/27/10

“Time is the only thing that cannot be recycled it is because time doesn't come back.”

Ephesians 5:16 making the most of you time, because the days are evil.
-Making the best of every moment

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.
-Unhook from the past. Do not feel guilty because it wastes time.

1 Timothy 1:15 IT is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save simmer, among whom I am foremost of all.
-get rid of past glories, grudges, and grief. Past glories keep us from focusing on today.
-rejoice everyday as we give Him the time.

Matthew 6:34 So, do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
-don’t worry about the future. God commands us to live in the present.
-for today we are called to serve.

1Corinthians 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit.

Psalms 55:22 Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
-Spend your time wisely.
-Spend time with the Lord in the morning.
-Accomplish what He wants us to accomplish

Psalms 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.

James 4:17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
-procrastinating is sin

Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
-We are not guaranteed tomorrow. Today we are to serve the Lord

1Thessolians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all conphrension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
. -always be thankful

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to hose who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
-prioritizing to His standards
-doing what He has called me to do

1. Today is a provided day. God gifted me the day. It is His. We are to be stewards of this day—what is His Will for today.
2. Is this the best? Am I giving Him my all
3. Work in the power of the Holy Spirit. He will work through you and give you the necessary skills to accomplish the task.
4. God is sovereign over this day.

People will always disappoint you, but God will NEVER!!!

One thing that I have finally learned and realized is that you can't put your hopes in people. People will always disappoint you, even the ones that you wouldn't expect too! Just because you have things in common and you are "suppose" to believe and old dear the same values, doesn't necessarily mean that what is important to you is equally as important to others. Just because you think that you would have done something different if the roles where reverse doesn't mean that they think of it that way. Just because you do whatever possible to be there for someone in need doesn't mean that when you are need that they will be there for you. God is truly the only one that is there with you all the time. He never disappoints and never fails you. We are all human and we are all imperfect. We will let people down and we will be let down, but God will NEVER let us down! He is always there for us and He will never disappoint us!!

I have never been the one that was in with the popular crowd, I always wanted to be and would spend many hours crying because I felt like I didn't fit in that there was something wrong with me. Well being a little older and wiser (I guess) and having plenty of disappointment and rejection from people, I truly know now that I was putting all that energy in the wrong place. God loves me and He is always there for me and He will never disappoint me. No matter what I do, I know that I can count on Him. If I have a party or function and no one shows, I know that God is there with me! He will never leave me alone!!! I have had a lot of "friends" come and go in my life, some that have stayed much longer than others but I can't truly say that I have had one person that has not disappointed me, one person that has been there for me when I truly need someone, one person that has not had a hidden agenda; but God is that person. He is that person that truly loves me unconditionally!

I remember how I would try SO hard in school to make friends. I always thought that there was something wrong with me. I had a few friends, but they weren't in the "in" crowd (sorry guys). I knew just about everyone that I went to school with because we all grew up together, but I could count on one hand how many where truly my friends (and thankfully we are still today). I remember when I was a sophmore in high school and my parents told me that we were going to be moving and if I was ok with switching high schools before my junior year. I was SO excited about leaving all the people I knew (though weren't friends with) and starting over to meet new people. I just knew I was going to get a fresh start and this time I was going to be in the "in" crowd.

Well guess what? That didn't happen!!! There were many many nights where I would go the the football games alone, go to the popular after the game hang out and sit in the corner alone, then I would cry all the way home!! Then finally, I just stopped going. My high school days would have to be the worse part of my life, but knowing what I know now, I would not have done it any differently! I just wish I would have realized that God had been waiting there for me the entire time. He would have saved me SO many tears but then I wouldn't be the person that I am today. I wouldn't know how gracious and wonderful He really is.

It was much longer after high school before I finally knew exactly how mighty and yet how loving He truly is. I have always believed in God but I went through the motions. It wasn't until Caden was born that I finally realized how much I need Him and how lost I truly had been! You know, we all take things for granted and it seems that (unfortunately) something bad has to happen before we realize that God is always there and He is ALL that we need. Still today, I do not fit in with the "in" crowd. I am not invited to the parities, dinners, get-togethers, etc., but you know, that's ok because I know that there is nothing wrong with me and if they don't want my company that is ok. They are the ones that are missing out on finding out what type of person I am; how genuine I am, how caring and loving I can be. All I need is for God to know that I am that type of person. I am that type of Christian that He can be proud to call His child!!

I am glad that I realized that my one true best friend has been with me my entire life and is only a pray away!!!