02/16/07
Beauty Through the Dirt
Reading a billboard at the gym this week it said “Even a rose goes through
dirt”….Thinking on this I was touched on how true that is in life. The most
beautiful things have to go through the rough and the tough, bad and the ugly.
God doesn’t put dirt(trials) in our life just to see us struggle. Trials (dirt)
are the things that make us stronger and complete the beauty He placed in us to
grow into up and into. Often people will just sit in the dirt and think how
nothing is ever going
1 Peter 1
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, 2 who have been chosen according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for
obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy
he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or
fade--kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power
until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to
suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 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. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do
not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and
glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of
your souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to
come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out
the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing
when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they
spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the
gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into
these things.
***13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your
hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As
obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in
ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 17 Since you call on a
Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here
in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as
silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to
you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb
without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world,
but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe
in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and
hope are in God. 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth
so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from
the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of
imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
24 For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the
field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord
stands forever." 25 And this is the word that was preached to you.
In Christ
Kelli
03/23/07
I went to a funeral this week and it was amazing. I know that’s not
something you usually hear when someone goes to a funeral but it was amazing in
the love everyone had for this woman (my great aunt) because of the love she
showed in her life. She was known for her kindness and love. Every time some one
came over to visit her the first thing she would say is; “Are you hungry?” her
e-mail was even Areyouhungry. Everyone loved her because she loved everyone.
At this funeral it was also like a big family reunion because the hundreds of
people were all family, myself included. After the funeral there was tears of
sadness but even more of joy. The family was brought together and began to get
to know each other better and catch up. It was a reunion with the example of
love as the center piece which brought everything together.
I have encountered many situations where others are gossiping and slamming on
each other. We tend to choose who we are going to love, but what does the Bible
say about that? It doesn’t say; “Love whoever you choose for this is what I
did.” No it says love your neighbor as yourself as well as love those who hate
you and give a drink to your enemy hmmm…I don’t see choose those to love in
there. I don’t think Jesus only chose a few of us to love and bring to heaven,
He offers that to all of us, is He asking to much for us to show the same love
to our brothers and sisters who are part of the same body? No matter if its your
teacher, parent, peer, or that annoying new kid down the block, you need to love
them for the way God made them. When you gossip about people who are part of
Gods body you are stabbing yourself as well, because they are part of the same
body.
John 13:34 -
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must
love one another.
1Pe 3:8 -
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as
brothers, be compassionate and humble.
1Jo 4:7 -
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who
loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 Corinthians 12:27-
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
In Christ
Kelli