Continued from yesterday CLICK HERE

FUEL for the RACE

God’s Word is a constant source of fuel everyday. Let me put it simply with a questions: Would you rather eat or read God’s Word?

Matthew 4:4

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ “

Revelation 2:3-5 (New International Version)

³You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. ⁴Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. ⁵Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

I had the privilege of performing a wedding ceremony this weekend. The weekend of love. When you marry two people you have the best view in the entire place. Everyone else is seeing the backs of their heads. But I get to see every tear, every smile and hear every whisper. The joy, the excitement and the love is so tangible. The look in their eyes tells of their hopes and dreams. As I did the ceremony I shared an all too familiar voice found in 1 Corinthians 13. I hope as you watch this video that you allow these words to sink past your thoughts and into your heart. I pray that this passage will shape your life.

Matthew 5:44

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

I got a GPS for Christmas. For those of you who did youth ministry with me you know I can’t find my way out of a paper bag. My first youth group trip I took four kids on a hike. We got lost in the forest. Now when I say we got lost we left around noon with no food, no water, and no clue of where we were going. After about a half hour my four junior highers wanted to go back–no problem. I am sure camp is ahh, mmm over there! To make a long story short, my kids got dehydrated, several hours later we had the search and rescue team looking for us and me their fearless leader trying endlessly to find my way back to camp. Eventually we found another camp and someone (praise God) new the way to our camp. So a GPS is much needed. 

I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life…to put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
~Henry David Thoreau

What are you known for?  Take a moment to read Colossians 1:3-4 and note what the people of Colosse where known for:

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— Colossians 1:3-4

Sometimes the Bible is hard to understand.  Even the Apostle Peter made note that when Paul spoke Peter sometimes had a tough time trying to understand Paul’s message.  If you have ever come across passages like that and wrestled, you know what I’m talking about.

Other times however, God’s Word is pretty simple.  You read it, you get it, now you have the joy of living it out in your life.  John 14:15 is one of those passages.

One of our passions at Tenth Dot Ministries is to encourage you to spend time with God not just learn about God. This week we want to encourage you to read through the book of Philippians. It’s a short 4 chapter book. If you have questions, prayers or thoughts write them in the comment section. Wrestle with God. Ask questions about your life. Let His Word speak into your life.

One of my Bible professors once gave me a great definition of kindness:  “Kindness” he said, “is love in action.”  I’ve never forgotten that simple, yet accurate, definition of kindness and we’ll explore it further in today’s Tenth Dot.

*This is part 6 of a 10 part series on the Fruit of the Spirit that started on November 23, 2009.  You can access past material by using the calendar archive button on the right side of the screen.

What is Love?

*This is part 2 of a 10 part series on the Fruit of the Spirit that started on November 23, 2009.  You can access past material by using the calendar archive button on the right side of the screen.

The mind never thinks without a picture.

-Aristotle

We are an image driven culture. There are thousands upon thousands of images that we are drowning in everyday. I believe this is why God continues to reveal Himself in tangible and visual ways. 

This is one of my favorite passages.

Ephesians 3:14-21

¹⁴For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ²⁰Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Don’t just go to the next page. Make this into a prayer, your prayer. (i.e. "Heavenly Father, I pray that out of your incredible, vast riches that you might strengthen my family with your power. Jesus, teach me to embrace the depth of Your love . . .")