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Due to lack of resources as well as a personal computer, there will be a 3-4 week lack of blog posts. Sorry to let you down,

This scripture tells us to think on whatever is true, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Teachers, including myself encourage people to think on these things for their own good, And that is appropriate.

But the is an added benefit when we think on these things. Because we are more positive, more aware of God’s goodness, we are more prepared to encourage our brothers and sisters. We don’t have to work to be a positive influence. We are naturally a positive influence,

This note is to remind us all that though scriptures are for our personal good, they are for transforming us so we can more easily do good for others. We are part of a Community of Love and Grace.

Note: As I allude to scriptures in this post you will notice no reference information. Find these verses as an exercise in Bible study. Every declarative statement about God and Scripture can be found in the Bible often more than once.

A Book

Scripture is clear that the Word of God is more than ink on pages.  But usually the approach to scripture by theologians and seminaries is strong on the reasoning side and weak on the revelation side of things. In the Beginning the Word was with God and the Word was God…as written scripture is more than just a book about God things. Scripture makes clear that the Holy Spirit is to be our teacher of things regarding the Word. So we have words on paper, given by God, superintended by the Spirit.

What we can’t get by approaching the Bible as mere ink on paper we can receive from Jesus Christ, the Living Word and the Spirit who leads us into all truth.

Life in the Bible

Reading the Bible is not only a way to learn but a way to fellowship with God.

In your next time of study approach the Bible as more than just another book. Approach it knowing God id watching over it and that His life can flow through it.

Grace and Peace to you.

Tim

The first half of James 4:8 says “Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.” Who is this that will draw near to you, become intimate in your life?

Do you want to be close to God? Isaiah identifies Him as Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Do you want this One to draw near to you?

John identifies Him as The Bread of Life, the Great Physician, the Intercessor, the Restorer. Do you want this one to be close to you?

Many more descriptions of our Savior fill scripture. The is the Lion and the Lamb, the Good Shepherd, the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End, the Almighty. Do you want Him close to you?

If you do, draw near to Him and He and all that He is will draw near to you.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK CLOSE TO HIM.

There are so many beautiful locations in this world! As Christians we often seek our happiness or fulfillment by looking to be in the right place. The right place can be very important. We want to be at the right job, attend the right church, live in the right town or city.

But if we look for our happiness or fulfillment because of a place we will also blame our sadness or frustrations on a place. Though there may be some cause and effect but it should not be our main focus,

.Seeking first the Kingdom of God gets us calibrated spiritually to make right decisions about those other places. Sometimes in the past when I’ve felt I was in the wrong place, I was. Other times I was not. And when I drew near to the Lord in obedience His peace would show me how unimportant those other concerns were and that I was fine where I was.

Have a good vibrant relationship with the Lord. Love and seek out His presence in worship, church, fellowship, and His Word and lovingly do what He says and you will be in the best location. And from there He will lead you on to life abundant.

God bless and keep you.   Tim Elliott

These two well known scriptures should give us a real insight to the heart of God. John 3:16-17

16: For God so loved the world he gave his one and only son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

17: For God did not send his son to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

We often read through scriptures we know without seeing some thing of value that are there.

The Depth of God’s love: God so loved that He gave, He sacrificed. What an understatement! God’s love is a love, a real love cannot stay inactive.

The offer and God’s commitment to human freedom: Whosoever believes indicates human volition is involved and the gift of eternal life is not forced on the unwilling. It is our enemy who forces, binds and coerces, not God.

Saving us from perishing: The purpose is to save us from something that is already happening, perishing because of sin. God did not do this because He wanted to prove himself “big man on campus,”‘ He did it because He cared and because we needed it.

Not to condemn: God gets a bad rap as the condemner. That is not His heart. That is not His desire. His desire is to save us from our spiritual death and reconcile us with Him. His purpose is not to condemn but remove us from our sin and its condemnation.

These are things we should already know but it is good to be reminded of them.

Have a great week!

Things I wish I had said

• The worst moment for the atheist is when he really is thankful and has nobody to thank. Dante Gabriel Rossetti
• O Lord that lends me life, Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness. William Shakespeare

Thanksgiving Proclamation

We have been a most favored people.

We ought to be a most grateful people.

We have been a most blessed people.

We ought to be a most thankful people.

Calvin Coolidge

I like this prayer by George Herbert.

Thou who hast given so much to me, give one thing more-a grateful heart.

One day when I was homeless, living out of my car I was feeling sorry for myself, thinking of all that I didn’t have. The more I considered them the more depressed I got. I cried out to the Lord and I heard in my heart “Don’t you have anything you can be thankful for?” It brought me up short. OK what did I have? I had the car, I wasn’t sleeping in a cardboard box. I had gas so if the temperature got too uncomfortable I could turn on the engine and fix that, I had snack food. I had my health… and as I started to think about those blessings more came to mind. A spirit of thankfulness came on me and my emotions became more and more positive.

Sometimes in hard times it is easy to forget the good times. When we suffer lack it is easy to forget our blessings. But the good times happened and the blessings exist. Remember, “God is good” is not a catch phrase. It is reality.

BE THANKFUL

YOU’RE BLESSED

Sometimes we find ourselves too busy too fellowship as we should. We Christians are a family and we need to interact with one another.

Many times after church I see my brothers and sisters and we fellowship’ We fellowship music, works sports teams…..just about anything you can imagine. It’s good to fellowship these things.

We need to take time to interject The Lord into our fellowship. Just something as simple as God provided that for me this week or I felt His love when I was going through a hard time.

Fellowship is fellowship. Christian fellowship should include the Christ.

I do not mean be a hyper religious knot head but some one who finds it important to share God’s goodness in the context of everyday live.

Remember, praising God should not only be done on Sunday. His praise should be shared with people during our week…not preachy, just thankful.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is just hang in there. When God has promised but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen we often get discouraged and change our doctrine. Often we don’t need a new doctrine but a new determination to believe God and His Word.

Joseph is a great example. In Genesis 37 he received a dream about his future. But things did not go smoothly in a straight line to the dream’s fulfillment. He was thrown in a pit by his brothers. They decided not to kill him…a ray of hope. But they sold him as a slave and so he was a slave in Egypt. He had favor with his master…a hopeful sign. But the his master’s wife falsely accused him of assaulting her and he was put in prison.

In prison he interpreted dreams for a chief baker and a chief butler. The latter was asked to remember Joseph when he was released… a ray of hope.  But the man forgot him and two more years passed.  Who would blame Joseph if he got mad, bitter, or disavowed the dream.  We have no record that he responded in such a way. When Pharaoh  needed a dream interpreter Joseph was able to help and was able to step into the role God had for him…the second most powerful man in Egypt!

In an instant gratification society we need reminders that not all things that are true are instant.

While trusting God, waiting, and working for better things let’s pause and enjoy some of His creation.

The sun rises over the clouds in front of the summit of Haleakala volcano in Haleakala National Park on Hawaii’s island of Maui, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. Park officials say the sunrise on Haleakala attracts over a thousand people a day, resulting in an overload of visitors and creating a safety hazard. As a result, anyone wanting to see the sunrise on the summit will now be required to make reservations in advance and pay a small fee. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) ORG XMIT: NY301

Blessings to you all. Hang in there.

Tim has been unable physically and technologically able to blog these last two weeks. Tim says Keep Smiling. He’ll be back next week.