(By Pastor Jean)

Colossians 3 verses 15, 16 and 17 all end the same way with an encouragement to be thankful. In Col 4:2 we are told to be persistent and focused in our prayer life with an “attitude of thanksgiving” (AMP). (See also Phil 4:6). 1 Thess 5:18 teaches us, “In every situation (no matter what the circumstances) be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (AMP). We read here that it is God’s will for us to be thankful so that means we should make it a priority to develop an attitude of gratitude. Again, when speaking to the Thessalonians Paul tells them that they are to live a life in a way that shows gratitude to God (1 Thess 4:1). We also read a lot about thanksgiving in the Psalms, for example,” Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name” (Ps 100:4; NKJV). The verse after that tells us why we should be thankful; because God is good, His love endures forever and He is faithful. Not only that but we know from reading the New Testament that God in His love, sent Jesus to die for us and give us eternal life (John 3:16). He saved us by His grace and we didn’t have to do anything to deserve it (Eph 2:8,9). He gives us His peace (John 14:27), His joy (Rom 15:13) and all good gifts (James 1:17) and much more! Have you ever noticed that grateful people are a pleasure to be around? Let’s always be looking for something to be thankful for, in both the ups and downs of life!

(By Pastor Norman)

As a Christian, we are, “the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus” (2 Cor 5:21; NKJV) and “the righteous are as bold as a lion” (Prov 28:16; NKJV). Righteousness is to be in right standing with God, this is how God sees us. Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins (Col 1:14) so we could receive God’s forgiveness, be born again spiritually (Eph 2:1) and have renewed fellowship with God. By His sacrifice we were sanctified or set apart for God’s service (1 Cor 6:11). Jesus paid a terrible price to redeem us or rescue us from the results of sin in our life, such results as poverty, sickness, failure and separation from God (Heb 9:26). Redemption allowed us to receive God’s righteousness (2 Cor 5:21). Our Christian life is a journey of faith (Rom 5:1-2), growing in and manifesting all Christ died for us to walk in (John 10:10b). How do we do that? We need to get into the word and let the Holy Spirit reveal God’s promises to us (John 16:12-15); this causes our faith to grow (Rom 10:17). As we grow in faith the Holy Spirit can change us and give us the power and boldness to be God’s ambassadors, and witnesses (2 Cor 5:20). Wow, what Jesus won for us should make us as bold as lions in wanting to share it all with others. Our changed lives will be a witness and as we boldly share Jesus with people the Holy Spirit will accompany our words with signs, wonders and miracles (Mark 16:15-20). We are Gods righteousness and “The righteous are as bold as a lion.”

(by Pastor Jean)

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ has also laid hold of me” (Phil 3:12; NKJV). Paul talks here about “pressing on” and he tells us how he does this in the next verse, by forgetting the past and focusing on the future. Then in verse 14 he uses the term, “press on” again and explains why he wants to “press on” and it is because he wants to receive the “heavenly prize” (Phil 3:14; NKJV). He also spoke something similar to the Corinthians when he compared the Christan life to a race and told them they should run to win the prize. What exactly does “pressing in” mean or involve? I believe it means pushing past all obstacles in an attempt to grow and mature as a Christian, to get closer to God and hunger for more of Him. Paul’s whole Christian life is an example of someone who pressed into God; to him nothing was so important as getting to know Jesus more and more deeply (Phil 3:8). King David, in the Old Testament, had this desire also, “” My soul followeth hard after Thee” (Ps 63:8; KJV). (See also Ps 84:10). Jesus taught about “pressing in” in Matt 11:12 when He said that “violent men seize it (the kingdom of heaven) by force (as a precious prize)” (AMP). In other words, we need to make pursuing God and His kingdom a priority in life. (See also Matt 6:33).

(by pastor Norman)

“The Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11; NKJV). God’s compassion for us is a tender, caring pity and sympathy for the misfortune of others and a strong desire to eliminate their suffering. In the Old Testament God’s people, Israel, strayed from His ways and fell into the hands of their enemies many times however, when they called out to God, He showed great compassion and rescued them (Isa 54:10, Zech 10:6, Ps 778:38-30). In His ministry on the earth, Jesus looked with compassion at the crowds of people lost and without a Shepherd (Matt 9:36). “He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick” ((Matt 14:14; NKJV). In compassion, Jesus miraculously supplied bread and fish to hungry people (Mark 8:2-3). I love the account of the widow of Nain; her only son had died, and was to be buried. Jesus “had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep” (Luke 7:13; NKJV). He raised the son from the dead. Jesus illustrated how ordinary people are to show compassion in His account of a Samaritan tending to a stranger on the roadside who had been robbed and wounded (Luke 10:33). The greatest example of God’s compassion for us is the sacrifice of Jesus so we could be forgiven and have eternal life with Him (John 3:16). How should we respond? The apostle Paul wrote, “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Col 2:12; NIV).

(by Pastor Jean)

In writing to the Ephesians, Paul told them that the reason God chose them was so that they would be, “holy (that is consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose driven) and blameless in His sight” (Eph 1:4; AMP). The need to be holy is a theme that is repeated through the whole Bible. We read in Lev 19:2, “You shall be holy for I the Lord your God am holy” (NKJV). In Leviticus 20:26, God explains to Moses that He wants His people to be holy because they are God’s people and they are to be separate from other people. The word used for “holy” in the Old Testament scriptures means “set aside for holy purposes.” In the New Testament the Greek word, “hagios” is translated as holy with a similar meaning – consecrated and set apart for God. Peter uses this word in 1 Peter 1:15,16 when he says, “You also be holy in all your conduct because it is written, “Be holy for I am holy” (NKJV). As we see from this scripture, holiness is to be reflected in our behaviour. This is also reiterated by Paul in 2 Corinthians 7:1, “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (NKJV). Holiness is to be a way of life which is different from the way the world lives. This includes purity, moral uprightness and attempting to live blameless lives. (See Eph 4:1). It means watching what we look at, listen to and what we speak. If we are to live holy lives, we will need to imitate God because only He is perfectly holy; the more time we spend with God, the easier it will become!