If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2

On Sunday, Joe spoke about Revelation chapters 18 & 19 where the destruction of a great and powerful city is viewed from two very different perspectives. Those on earth are crying, "Alas!" and those in Heaven proclaiming, "Alleluia!" 

This made me think of scriptures that have been burning in my heart since a marriage retreat Joe and I attended last November. According to Colossians 3, if I'm risen with Christ (proclaiming to be a Christian) then I am to set my sights and affections on the things above. So, whether I'm in a conflict with my children or husband (it happens, let's be real), or facing a Red Sea crisis, if I can just stop, turn my eyes to Heaven, try to see the other person or situation as Jesus does, then my cry too can be, "Alleluia!"

Now, am I always successful at this? Most times, not. It's difficult to look past the ominous storm clouds in our face to a rainbow that has not yet been revealed when we are in a crisis. 

Nevertheless, my answer is found, as always, in His Word. 

Colossians 3:15 speaks about  letting the peace of God to rule in our hearts. So today, I will try to look above, allow His peace and sing, "Alleluia!"

Praising Him,

Lori C.

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Acts 26:10;19-21 (NASB) And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them.

19 “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death.

Many people have said that when you become a parent you get “pay back” for all the things you did to your own parents. As my son was throwing a toddler tantrum today, and my daughter spit up all over me and the living room rug, it would be easy to think the same thing.  But taking care of my children is a calling and a blessing, not a punishment!

Paul persecuted the early Christian church before his conversion and he was later persecuted by the Jewish leaders himself. Was that payback? No, Paul’s journey from Jerusalem to Caesarea to Rome was part of God’s plan. His imprisonment ultimately led to God’s glory.

Let’s stop thinking about the challenges we face as punishment or payback, and start thinking about them as vehicles for God’s grace and opportunities to show God’s glory.

-Kevi

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1 Corinthians 10:14 (NASB) Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

My son has been doing a lot of climbing lately: he climbs on top of the table, he climbs on the back of the couch and tries to climb up the stair rail; he climbs into his sister’s crib…you get the idea. Whenever I catch him climbing to a dangerous height, I use all the urgency my voice can muster and tell him to “Get down—right now!” But he usually just laughs and continues on until I physically get him down myself. I want him to “flee” from danger, but he heads straight towards it.

I think the reason my son doesn’t “flee” from danger is that he hasn’t really experienced it yet. I’d rather him listen to me than learn from experience. Paul felt the same way. He warned the church at Corinth to learn from the mistakes the children of Israel made: “Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were;” 1 Corinthians 10:5-7a (NASB)

If we can recognize sin and its consequences in other’s lives, why can’t we learn to flee from it and avoid those same consequences in our lives? With the Holy Spirit’s help, I believe we can!

-Kevi

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Proverbs 2:1-5 (NASB) My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God.

The other day I was in the checkout line at the store and the customer in front of me sparked a conversation with the cashier about how we always get home and realize we forgot the one thing we actually came to the store for. I laughed about it with the cashier, and then I got home and realized I forgot the dish soap, the one thing I went to the store for! Wouldn’t you think that conversation would have helped me to remember it?

It’s like when I go to church and listen to the sermon thinking: “What a good message, I’m glad they are talking about that principle (you know, for people that need to hear it).” And then I get home and the Holy Spirit says: “You know, you needed to hear that too!”

If we want to hear what the Holy Spirit has to say, we need to do more than just listen, we need to “incline [our hearts] to understanding.”

-Kevi

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Hebrews 13:20-21 (NASB) Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

My son found a whistle today, but he’d never seen a whistle, and didn’t know how to use it. I showed him what it could do, and he eagerly took it back to try and make it whistle too. But instead of blowing into the whistle, he kept trying to make a whistle noise himself “Woo Woo.” He was trying to do it on his own, instead of letting the whistle do the work. Cute, but not effective!

This reminded me of how I often act with God. I work and work and don’t accomplish much, because I’m trying to do it myself. All God wants is for me to show up with my faith and my obedience and He will do the work in people’s lives. If I provide the air, He will make it whistle!

-Kevi

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Acts 20:2-24 (NASB) And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

When my son was just a few months old, I was carrying him across the living room and tripped over the dog (I knew the dog was there, but the lack of sleep with a newborn will get to you)! In those split seconds I did everything I could to make sure I took the brunt of the fall and my infant did not hit the ground. It worked: he wasn’t hurt but I was sure sore!

I’m sure I would have said from the day he was born that I would consider my son’s well-being before my own, but it wasn’t until that moment I knew what that meant. Paul said he put the gospel before his own life, and time and time again he acted it out. He knew there was danger awaiting him in Jerusalem but he followed the Holy Spirit there nevertheless.  

We may not face circumstances as dangerous as Paul did, but there will be times when following Jesus will call for us to put the gospel ahead of our own comfort and our own will. I hope my reaction is always as decisive as Paul’s was.

-Kevi

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Acts 18:24-28 (NASB) Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

My toddler wants to be independent, so he is always trying to put his shoes on by himself. He has some clog-type shoes that are still too big, but they slip on, so he can manage to put them on himself.  Today I saw him trying to put them on the wrong feet. I told him to switch feet, but he couldn’t get it on the correct foot right away, so he went back to his original plan and got them both on the wrong feet. I can’t imagine it was comfortable, but he wore them that way for a few hours.

When Priscilla and Aquila explained to Apollos that he didn’t have all the information, that there was more to be told about Jesus, he could have ignored their advice and continued preaching the baptism of Jesus. But he chose humility over pride and was able to continue on, preaching the whole Gospel and leading many to Christ.

My toddler has an excuse to be stubborn (I think that’s in the definition of toddler) but when I don’t listen to the wise counsel God places in my life, I don't have such a good excuse.

-Kevi

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2 Corinthians 2:17 (NASB) Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

Today is my birthday. I got a lot of happy birthday texts, Facebook messages and emails from friends and family. I also got emails from businesses; like my dentist office and the eye doctor that I’ve only been to once several years ago. While it is a nice gesture for the dentist office to send me a birthday greeting, it doesn’t come with the same sincerity as the birthday wishes from my friends and family. I can tell it was automatically generated, and no one there actually knows it is my birthday today!

Paul reminds the church at Corinth that God is using each of them, along with himself, to spread the Gospel message to others. And with such an important message, it is important to be sincere in our delivery. People can usually tell the difference.

I pray my faith is seen as sincere by others, so my words will sound sincere as well.

-Kevi

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Romans 16:20 (NASB) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

While going for a walk around our suburban neighborhood, I noticed what I thought was a bird statue in someone’s front yard. And then the statue moved! It was a hawk, a larger bird than I normally see in our neighborhood, and it flew off with its lunch in its claws. While it appeared to be so peaceful I thought it was a statue, it was actually a raptor ready to devour its prey.

Paul refers to God as the “God of peace” while saying that he “will soon crush Satan.” It seems contradictory, but it is consistent with the nature of God. He will ultimately bring peace, but He will first have to bring judgment on the wicked.

I want to be on the side of the God of peace when it is time for the judgment!

-Kevi

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