[T]rain yourself for godliness;for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

 1 Timothy 4:1-10

[T]rain yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:7b-8

I completed my quick study of Jude (given it's only one chapter), and this morning, for one more time, before I jump into a new study, I pause to dive into 1 Timothy 4:1-10, text that is basis for our church's sermon today and our subsequent small group time.  My focus is how to "train for Godliness" as the affirmative commandment in vv7b-8. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Everything created by God is good - v4.  This is of course referencing food in v3 "that God created," but it can be extended into all of Creation because God is the Creator of all things.  Training in Godliness "is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (v8).  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: People train themselves for various purposes, including physical and bodily training - but how often do they train themselves in Godliness.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to avoid silly myths that add to/subtract or twist the Word to suit a worldly point of view or one that suits a personal preference vs that of God. Claim the promise that "Godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." Follow the example of the Bereans from Acts 17:11 who "received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."  Hunger and thirst for righteousness.  Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of the mind "that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Endure: "[L]et us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame[;]" Hebrews 12:1-2. 

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for saving me, and for giving me Your Word, prayer, corporate worship, the church, brothers and sisters in Christ - spiritual disciplines that I can use to train myself for Godliness. I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[P]ut on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Colossians 3:1-11

[P]ut on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Colossians 3:10

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today my focus is Colossians 3:1-11, where Paul builds on text from chapter 2:13 where he shares that believers are "alive in Christ," and as such we are to "seek the things that are above."  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V1: Christ is in Heaven, "seated at the right hand hand of God." See also Luke 24:50-51 and Acts 1:9-11 where scripture shares how Jesus ascended to Heaven 40 days after the resurrection.  This command repeated in v2 and in both the affirmative and the negative by sharing that we are not to set our minds "on things that are on the earth." V3 reminds us that our old self has died and we have been reborn (regeneration) - alive in Christ and our life is "hidden with Christ in God." The implication is that we cannot see this life hidden in Christ in God as it is above in Heaven - this could be the eternal life that awaits believers upon death or Jesus' second coming. V4 shares that what is hidden will appear and based on the doctrine of glorification our new self that is progressively becoming more like him (sanctification) will be complete and we will be in Heaven with Christ "in glory." Vv5,7-9 describe the sin that is to be put to death and v6 shares how "on account" of this sin God's wrath is coming - end times and judgement day when Christ's assured victory over sin and death will be complete.  This is a warning to be prepared for this day. V11 shares how Christ "is all and in all," encouraging us to share the gospel with all tribes and nations (Great Commission) and that we should acknowledge that sin is great equalizer among humanity - we all sin and fall short of the glory of God - see also Romans 3:23 and 1 John 1:8.      
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv5,8-9: Paul calls us various sins, including "sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry[,] anger, wrath, malice, slander, ...obscene talk from your mouth[, and] ly[ing]."  Vv9-10: These sins represent our old self and our new self (reborn and alive in Christ) "is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."  This renewal of our minds is further described in Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 4:23.
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to put to death sin in our lives, including but not limited to the sin described in the text today.  We should claim the promise described in the doctrine of glorification that all of us will be in Heaven with Christ again and the glorification process will be complete.  Follow the example of Christ who saw beyond the cross, set His mind on things above and endured the cross.   

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for my salvation, for giving me new life, renewal of the mind, and for making me more like You.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.

Ephesians 5:1-21 

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Ephesians 5:11-14

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 5:1-21 where Paul warns us against various sin and exhorts us to imitate God and to walk in the light to "expose" sin.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V1: God is Father and believers are His children - adopted into His family - see also John 1:12-13.  Just as children model their behavior after their parents, we are imitate our Heavenly Father. V2: Christ loved (still does) us and died for us - His sacrifice was pleasing to God (obedient to the Father's will). V5: Those who willfully demonstrate a pattern of sin have no inheritance (salvation) from Christ, and V6 instead are subject to His wrath upon judgement day. Vv8-14: Christ is described as Light and believers are children of Light and our actions must reflect light as we are to be a light to others (exposing sin - not as judgement but as contrast to the world of darkness) - see also Matthew 5:14-16, John 8:12, 9:5. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: There is much sin and darkness in the world and Paul outlines this in V3 (sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness), V4 (filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking), V17 (foolishness), and V18 (drunkenness and debauchery).  Paul's exhortation is that we "[t]ake no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them (see above)."  Believers are warned to not be deceived (with empty words v6) and not to become partners with those who demonstrate willful patterns of sin (v7).  This of course does not mean that we avoid unbelievers but instead that are careful not to allow their patterns of sin to influence us - which should cause us to limit how we spend our time with them.  Broadly, in light of sin, we are to make "the best use of the time, because the days are evil," echoing 1 Peter 5:8.  To make the best use of our time, we should understand God's will (see Romans 12:2), be filled with the Holy Spirit (God's Word, prayer, etc.) (v18) and to address other believers in psalms, hymns, and songs (v19) - our interactions with others should be pleasing (dare we say harmonious) in the same way.  Finally (vv20-21) we are to give thanks always (see also 1 Thessalonians 5:18) and to submit to one another (believers) out of reverence to Christ.        
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to avoid being "yoked" to sinful influences in our lives.  Claim the promise we are children of God and follow the example of our Heavenly Father Christ.  We should seek His will via renewal of the mind and walk in the light - attracting others to Christ through the light of Christ that shines through us.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that is Light in a world full of sin and darkness.  Thank You for being the Light of the World and for adopting me into Your family allowing Your light to shine through me...and for my salvation. Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

Ephesians 3:1-6 

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. Ephesians 3:4-5

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 3:1-6 where Paul continues to emphasize the theme of unity between Jews and Gentiles.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V3: The mystery of God is made known through His revelation.  He hardens and softens the hearts of those according to His will - this is certainly a mystery - that He choose some to be saved and others not to be saved.  We should also be aware that there is both general and special revelation.  V5: This revelation of Christ was not made known to Israel in the Old Testament, but was through the apostles (including Paul) through the Holy Spirit.  V6: The mystery of Christ includes how Gentiles are "fellow heirs" of the Jews, "members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus[.]"  The text reinforces chapter 2 where Paul emphasizes the unity of the church - Jews and Gentiles together form the church.
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V1: Paul describes himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.  Another way of describing this "captivity" is how scripture describes us as either slaves to sin or slaves to God.  Some may believe that they - on their own accord - can produce an enlightened mind that is free from sin, yet this is a fallacy and wrong thinking.  Only God and the Holy Spirit can do this.  Romans 12:2 describes how the mind can be renewed, and this renewal is by and for God as the text shares how once our minds are renewed we are aligned with God's will. God thoughts and ways are not like ours (Isaiah 55:8) but He will make them like His.  2 Corinthians 10:5 describes how we then take thoughts captive to "destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God."  V2: Paul also describes himself as a steward of God's grace - implying that such grace is something to used carefully and wisely - for use in sharing the Good News and for building up the church.       
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We should avoid thinking that our human efforts can produce righteousness - no, Christ alone saves and renews our minds.  We should claim the promise that all believers are heirs to a rich inheritance (eternal life) that is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14).  We should follow the example of Paul and be a good steward of the grace given to us by God.  In return we should share the Good News, and through our testimony show grace to others by working with God and the Holy Spirit to save others. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who revealed Himself to me and gives me mercies that never cease and are new every morning.  Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I know my faith is not of my own doing and I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me.

Numbers 22

Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. Numbers 22:31-32

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 22 - we see one of the more odd passages of scripture where God works through a donkey to deliver His message to the pagan prophet Balaam, who was hired by king Balak to curse Israel.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: In v12, God is clear to Balaam that Israel is blessed and that Balak’s desire to curse Israel will not be allowed.  We must understand that once we know God’s will, nothing we can do will thwart God’s will.  To emphasize that God is at work in chapter 22, we see God refer to His will as “angel of the LORD” ten times in the text. It rarely is clearer that God is at work – when we see God at work so clearly, we must pay attention – perhaps there are distractions that blind us.  In fact, we see Balaam disobey God in v21 and leave on his own accord.  In v22, God shows his anger for this disobedience, and in vv23-30 we see God work through an angel of the Lord and Balaam’s donkey to prevent movement.  God even goes to the extent of speaking through the donkey to be clear to Balaam.  This apparently was not enough for God to get his message (and will) across to Balaam.  So in vv31-35, we see God open the eyes of Balaam so that there is no question that God does not want Balaam to pass. In v33, we see God’s great mercy as He shares that Balaam deserved to die (as we all do as we all sin and the wages of sin are death – Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8, Romans 6:23). 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: God’s will is pervasive in scripture, including the ten commandments (Exodus 20), and the most important of these commandments – to love God, and to love others (Matthew 22:34-40).  When we understand God’s will in our lives, we better be sure to follow His will.  When we willingly controvert His will, be prepared for harsh punishment – God will do what it takes to get your attention.  When you don’t have clarity regarding God’s will, saturate yourself in the word – see Romans 12:2 where Paul encourages us to be transformed by the renewing of the mind “that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Study God’s Word, wrestle with it, pray for wisdom (as Solomon did in 1 Kings 3:9), and practice spiritual disciplines (corporate worship, fellowship with other believers, etc.).
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): If God’s will is clear, do not willfully disobey Him!  Claim the promise that renewal of the mind will help you understand God’s will.  Follow the example of Solomon who asked God for wisdom.  Love God – and if you love God obedience to God’s commands are not burdensome (1 John 5:3).

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves, saves, and is full of mercy that never ceases, providing new mercies every morning.  I am not deserving of Your mercies nor my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues…daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.

Mark 10:32-45

But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. Mark 10:43-44

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:32-45.  Excerpts from the commentary's third (of four) division (vv41-44):

• The title of the third division per the commentary is "Consider the Conflict in Being a Servant." 
• The other disciples are angry at James and John, likely because at least some of them also want glory for themselves and certainly do not want James and John to experience more glory than themselves - jealousy is aroused.   
• Yet Jesus shares that more power in His Kingdom results in more service to others - more power from God brings great responsibility to a good steward of this power in service of His will, not one's own.  The commentary points us to Romans 12:2 where we must seek not conformation to the world but renewal of the mind to understand His will. 
• "You want to be great, do something great for God? You want to please and honor the Lord Jesus with your life? Then become a diakonos (servant; v43), a doulos (slave) of all (v44). Become a table waiter, a household servant. Become a slave. Such a person will have the mind of Christ, esteeming others better than himself, not giving attention to their own interests, but to those of others (Philippians 2:3-5)."

It's not about us - we exist to bring all praise, honor and glory to God.  It is through us that others may see God and be drawn to Him. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves - as You laid down Your life for me so that I could live now with fullness, and forever in Heaven with You.  The greatest gift of all time - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.   

The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Exodus 14:14

The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

I continue my study of The Character of Jesus.  For this morning, I focus on chapter 15: The Firmness of Jesus where I highlighted in my Kindle version the following excerpts:

• "The majority of mortals are not strong enough to be themselves: they become echoes of their neighbors and walk in paths marked out by others. There is a spirit of the age which leaves its impress on every mind. Even the mightiest men cannot free themselves entirely from it."
• "But when we come to Jesus of Nazareth we are in the presence of a man whom nobody swerved or dominated, who is so free from the bias of his race and so clean of the spirit of his age that he seems to belong to all races and all ages. He is not the Son of David but the Son of Man, just genuinely, supremely human. He is not a citizen of the first century only, but the contemporary of each succeeding generation. Immersed in an ocean of mighty forces which beat upon him furiously through every hour of his career, he resisted them all successfully by the indomitable energy of a victorious will, living a life unique in its beauty and achieving a work unmarred by the limitations either of time or place. That he was not insensible to the dominant forces of his time, he himself has told us in the story of the temptation." See Matthew 4:1-11.
• "Who is a man that he should set himself against the expressed wish of a nation? Is it not through the people that God makes his wishes known, and what is it but egotism or insanity which would lead an individual to set his judgment against the judgment of the people ? This is the argument whose sharp edge many a leader has felt, and Jesus of Nazareth felt it too. Wherever he went he heard the people clamoring for a king, a king who should rise to supremacy over the wrecked empire of Caesar.  The nation was ripe for revolution. A word from him would, like a spark, have kindled a mighty conflagration. Expectations had been built up by men anointed by Jehovah, and these expectations were glowing hot, and how could Jesus hope to win the attention of his people or control the current of their life unless he fell in with their ideals and attempted to carry out the program on which their hearts were set? It was a great temptation, so terrific that he told his apostles all about it.  He assured them that in this temptation he had been wrestling with the very prince of infernal powers, but that notwithstanding repeated assaults he had come out of the conflict victorious. In choosing the road which led to supremacy by way of Gethsemane and Golgotha, he renounced the ideals of his countrymen and disappointed their dearest expectations, but so firm was he that the hosts of hell speaking through God's chosen people could not move him from his place. The nation hurled itself with frantic force against him, but he did not budge. He was the Rock of Ages. When we study his life with attentive eyes we see it was one long resistance to the forces of his age."
• "There were many reasons why Jesus should have conformed to the ideas and customs of the church, but he firmly resisted all the voices which urged him toward conformity, standing out alone in defiance of what the best men were doing and saying, notwithstanding his nonconformity seemed to the majority impiety and to many blasphemy. For a godly man to be classed among blasphemers is one of the bitterest experiences which the heart can know. But Jesus paid the price and continued firm."
• "Jesus could not be manipulated. He refused to be used. One party after another tried to work him into its scheme, but he was incorrigibly intractable and went on his way independent, unshackled, free. All the seductions offered by the men who sat on thrones could not swerve him from his course, and although his steadfastness made him enemies and finally nailed him to the cross, he was everywhere and always a man who could not be moved." 
• "Jesus could not be manipulated even by his friends. He had many friends in Nazareth, but he never gave up his principles to please them. They had their prejudices and superstitions, but he never surrendered to them."
• "The most tender and gracious and obliging of men is compelled to resist not only the prayers of his countrymen but the wishes of his family and friends. He stands like a rock in the midst of a troubled sea, and all its billows dash themselves against his feet in vain. There was something inflexible in his will, something granitic in his soul. When he found a man whom he thought worthy to be the first member of his church he called him "rock.  Are we to infer from this that it is the rock-like quality which is indispensable in the building of an institution which shall endure? It is certain that Jesus loved stability in others, and what he loved in others he had super-abundantly in himself. Firm himself, he loved men who could not be moved."
• "Salvation could not be offered to any one who did not endure to the end. It is in this tenacity of will that we find an indispensable element of Christian character. Men are to resist exterior forces and form their life from within. They are not to be swayed by current opinion, but by the spirit of the Eternal in their heart. They are not to listen to the voices of time, but to live and work for eternity. We like this steadfastness in human character, and we also crave it in God. Men have always loved to think of Him as the unchanging and the unchangeable, the one "with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning." And what we desire in God we find in Jesus of Nazareth."
• "From age to age he is about his Father's business, and in the midst of all nations and kindreds and tongues he goes about doing good." 

While the commentary provides ample evidence of Jesus’ firmness in scripture, the Holy Spirit guides me to additional examples in scripture of how we as believers must also be firm.  An unwavering faith – resisting temptations to either lack trust in God to provide and protect, or to act outside of God’s commands in the face of worldly temptations and persecution –  demonstrates firmness consistent with Jesus’ own character and what He commands and expects from us.  Two examples where firmness was not displayed - even among biblical heroes - was when Peter denied knowing Jesus upon Jesus' arrest (see Mark 14:66-72), and Abraham lying that Sarah was his sister (see Genesis 20:1-2).  Believers know that temptations will arise and that the only way to battle these temptations is with the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20).  Exodus 14:14 tells us to be "still" or "silent" and to trust in God vs falling prey to temptations where we seek to take things into our own hands (acting outside God's counsel). Philippians 1:27 and Romans 12:2 urge us to stand firm in our faith and not to conform to the patterns of this world - instead we are to be transformed by the renewal of our mind so that we know God's will for us. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and is always there with Your Word, the Holy Spirit, brothers and sisters in Christ and more to help us to be firm and from falling prey to the patterns of this world.  Thank You Jesus for the full armor of God.  I am not deserving of how richly You save and bless!  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.