Good morning Saints and Happy Wednesday!

As we enjoy this “hump” day or middle of the week day, let’s count our blessings and name them one by one!

1 Thes 5:16-19
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire…

So with joy, let’s give thanks for good times as well as challenging times.

Lets give thanks for:

1. God’s unfathomable love for us demonstrated on the cross.
2. The precious gift of the Holy Spirit.
3. Mercy—undeserved forgiveness.
4. Grace—the power to do His will.
5. Our church family bound in unity and love.

Of course, we are thankful for our spouses or future spouses, children, siblings, parents, cousins, grandparents, and all blood relatives.

Let’s give thanks for provision and health. Let’s also give thanks for various trials that strengthen our faith. We give thanks for faith that allows us to face trials with joy.

Indeed God is good—all the time.

Good morning Saints!

In the beginning God said to
humankind to be fruitful and multiply. He gave them everything they needed to succeed. He still wants us to succeed as new creations in Christ.

2 Cor 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

As new creations in Christ, He still wants us to be fruitful and multiply by making disciples. His Spirit enables both salvation and fruitfulness leading to more salvations and fruitfulness.

Jn 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

The Spirit is the Giver of all gifts. Let’s keep discovering them and continue to produce fruit in keeping with our salvation, serving God and others, and making disciples.

Eph 3:16
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being…

Good morning Saints!

Our Creator God flawlessly designed the heavens and the earth so that we could succeed. He served man by giving us authority and everything needed to rule over the earth. As rulers we are to serve, in turn, by helping creation to be fruitful and multiply.

Gen 1:28
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Our purpose in life hasn’t changed. Once we have been redeemed by Jesus, we are to serve others with the view of helping them to be fruitful and multiply—to succeed!

Eph 2:10
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Let’s do what God planned for us. Let’s focus not on how I can succeed but on how I can help others succeed. It’s losing our lives so we can find them!

Jer 29:11a
For I know the plans I have for you…

Good morning Saints!

What does it mean we were created in the image of God?

Gen 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Being in God’s image means that humans were created to share in God’s nature, that is, in His love, truth, wisdom, holiness, and justice. We were designed to have the capacity for spiritual fellowship with Him.

Jesus perfectly reflected the image of God.

Col 1:15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

As followers of Christ, when we become more like Jesus we bear His image. We love, speak truth, walk in wisdom and holiness, and act justly and with mercy.

Let’s do what we were created to do! Let’s reflect the image of God. When people see us, do they see Jesus? Do they see love and wisdom?

Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Good morning Saints!

We read that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Why? What motivated God?

I believe He was primarily motivated by love since He is love (cf 1 Jn 4:16). He served man by making man’s home perfect, beautiful, and giving Him authority to rule.

Gen 1:26
“Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

When creation was cursed by man’s sin, Jesus came to earth to redeem it and us from the curse of sin. He served us by reversing the curse of sin. He’s renewing all things. Once again we can live in harmony with God, looking forward to a new heaven and earth.

Jesus wants us to serve others with love. Let’s commune with Him, hear His voice and serve others. Let’s proclaim the Good News!

Gen 1:31
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

Good morning Saints!

Lyrics from “Only From You” by Jason Upton states, “Creation is such a powerful thing.”

In the beginning was the time the earth was created. It was without form. There was chaos. But God said, “Let there be light!”

Gen 1:3-4
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

In a similar way, without Jesus, the Light in our lives, there is spiritual and often physical chaos.

Jn 3:20
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

Let’s embrace the Light our Father has given us. Let’s follow the Light that brings peace, direction, purpose, and most of all love into our lives.

Jn 1:4-5
In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Light always overcomes darkness so let’s live in the Light. Let’s live life to the full!

Good morning Saints!

As followers of Christ, we must be eagerly anticipating the return of our Lord and Savior—our Best Friend!

Phil 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

As we await the return of Jesus we prepare per His instructions.

Mt 24:45-47
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

So let’s get ready. With the Spirit’s help, we can love Him by loving our neighbors. We can do random acts of kindness. We can read and study the Bible, pray, give, and fellowship to grow stronger as a Body. We must be ready to share the hope we have in Christ.

Mt 24:44
So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Good morning Saints!

Today is September 11th. We remember this special day because on 9/11/2001, terrorists hijacked planes and flew them into the World Trade Center Twin Towers and the Pentagon, killing thousands of innocent people. Additionally, plans for another hijacked plane headed for Washington DC were derailed by a group of heroic passengers led by Todd Beamer. They wrestled for control of the plane from the hijackers and caused the plane to crash into a field in Pennsylvania. Although they lost their lives, they saved many others who would have died had the plane reached its target.

Most people who lived during these terrorists attacks remember where they were that day. I was in South Bend, Indiana, at our church when the spouse of a daycare worker called and said to turn on the TV. I watched in horror as the attacks took place.

I wondered about God. Why was He allowing this?  Then my faith arose and I knew that no matter what is happening, God is always good and His plans are always good.

Isa 55:9
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Lisa Beamer’s  hero husband, Todd, rushed the cockpit on the plane heading to Washington DC and successfully thwarted  the terrorists’ plans.  He was killed as the plane crashed instead into a  Pennsylvania field.

Lisa shares, “God says, ‘I knew on September 10, and I could have stopped it, but I have a plan for greater good than you can ever imagine.’” She says, “I don’t know God’s plan, and, honestly, right now I don’t like it very much. But I trust that He is true to His promise in Romans 8:28.”

Let’s trust God and His ways, even when we do not agree or understand them. One day we will fully understand His good and perfect plans.

Isa 55:12
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Good morning Saints!

As  followers of Jesus, we are commanded to make disciples.  This command assumes we are faithful followers since we cannot teach what we do not know.

Mt 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

By God’s grace, let’s learn the ways of Jesus and emulate Him.  Let’s deny ourselves and take up our crosses daily. Then we will make Jesus disciples, fulfill our destinies, and help bring America a new heart for God!

Phil 2:6-7
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

1 Jn 2:6
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Good morning Saints!

When trials inevitably happen, we can view our challenges as opportunities for growth and blessing.

Jam 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

James calls us not to simply endure hardships but to persevere with purpose and hope, knowing that our trials have a positive role in our walk with Jesus.

In persevering, we don't just passively withstand; we actively engage in the process of transformation. Each trial forges our faith as it is tested and strengthened. It molds us into individuals who reflect Christ more clearly.

2 Cor 3:18
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Let's recognize that our trials can reflect Jesus. Through them we will know deeper the love of God that surpasses understanding!

Good morning Saints!

As the signs of the times seem (emphasis seem) to indicate, we are in the last days.

Jd 1:18-19
In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

Certainly there are plenty of scoffers these days. Scoffers are those who mock or ridicule faith in Jesus Christ. Personal gratification is sought over self-sacrifice and selfless love.

We must not let the self-gratifying message of our culture divide us. Instead we should seek every opportunity to fellowship and encourage each other to follow Jesus by denying ourselves daily and taking up our cross.

Jd 1:20-21
…build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Let’s love like Jesus, love the lost and build each other up in our most holy faith!

Good morning Saints!

As followers of Christ, we should want to live below our means. For example, if our income is $100, we will tithe $10 and ensure our expenses are below the remaining $90. This approach helps us avoid debt by living responsibly.

However, there is one area where debt is encouraged—the debt to love others.

Rom 13:8
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.

This "debt of love" suggests that while we should satisfy financial obligations, love is a perpetual requirement that never truly ends. Paul emphasizes that when we love people, we fulfill the essence of God’s law. This aligns with Jesus' teaching regarding the Great Commandment which highlights that all God’s commands are rooted in loving Him and others.

Let’s continually seek out ways to love others. It must be our ongoing pursuit as love is the fulfillment of the law (cf Rom 13:10).

Good morning Saints!

While studying church history, I learned that the Church had unprecedented times of growth during persecution.

1 Pt 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Often during times of persecution, our faith grows as we resolve to follow Jesus. We prioritize fellowship and developing a strong sense of purpose and love.

Rom 5:3-5
…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

The Church grows as we wholeheartedly follow Jesus. As one, we know He is worth it all!