Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

September 30
Thursday


SWEET PRAISE

READ:
Colossians 3:12-17
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Let the Word of Christ
dwell in you richly...
singing with grace n
your hearts to the Lord.
__Colossians 3:16
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Several years ago, my husband helped to lead a work crew of high school students on a short-term mission trip to a Christian school in an urban community. Unfortunately, Tom had broken his foot shortly before the trip and was supervising the work from a wheelchair. He was discouraged because he wasn't able to get around as he had hoped.

While he was working on the ground floor, a few of the girls were painting on the third floor. He could hear them singing praise choruses in harmony as their voices echoed down the wide-open staircases. Song after song ministered to him. "It was the most beautiful sound I'd ever heard," he told me later. "And it lifted my spirits."

Colossians 3 reminds us, "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (v.16). Not only were those teenage girls giving sweet praise to God, they were ministering to a co-worker.

Whatever you're doing today, cultivate an attitude of praise. Whether it is through song or conversation, let your joy in the Lord reverberate to others. You never know who you might encourage.

__Cindy Hess Kasper
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`````````````````Our words of praise and songs of joy``````````````
```````````````````````Can be a welcomed gift```````````````````
`````````````````To those who need encouragement-``````````````
``````````````````Whose spirits need a lift. __Sper````````````````
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Hope can be ignited by a spark of encouragement.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Colossians 3:12-17**********

12 Therefore, as the elect
of God, holy and beloved,
put on tender mercies,
kindness, humility,
meekness, longsuffering;

13 bearing with one another,
and forgiving one another,
if anyone has a complaint
against another; even as
Christ forgave you, so you
also must do. 14 But above
all these things put on love,
which is the bond of
perfection. 15 And let the
peace of God rule in your
hearts, to which also you
were called in one body;
and be thankful. 16 Let the
word of Christ dwell in you
richly in all wisdom,
teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord. 17 And
whatever you do in word or
deed, do all in the name of
the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father
through Him.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Having prayed that the Colossian Christians would "walk worthy of
he Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work" (Col.
1:10), Paul then told them what a worthy walk looks like. It includes
having compassion (tender mercies), kindness,humility,meekness,
longsuffering, patience (v.12), a forbearing and forgiving heart
enveloped and motivated by love (vv.13-14). Elsewhere paul speaks
of these as the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). The constant theme
of Paul's exhortations (Rom. 13:8; 1 Cor. 13:13; 14:1; 16:14; Gal.
5:6,13; Eph. 5:2; Phil. 1:9); 1 Thes. 4:9) is that love is to dominate
and control the Christian's life (v.14). __SIM KAY TEE

[Daisy50]

Awesome!

Love what the Word says, "...Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts..."

I was having a crazy day today...Seems the laundry multiplies overnight and it overwhelms me. And it's at that moment that EVERYTHING but peace is ruling in my heart. But I take on the chore that is before me, and soon enough that pile of clothes dwindles down to a few pieces...I manage to get it washed, dried, folded and put away...and then I thank God....He washes over me a calmness, takes away that overwhelming...and allows me to ask forgiveness for those I have been upset with....it is then when I feel His peace.
The rest of the day goes well. Dinner gets on the table in time for us when my husband comes home from work after being on the road all week. Our dogs have had a good meal as well, and we settle into our "routine" of catching up with each others day before the sun goes down and the evening shadows play against the house. Then the streetlights come on, signalling another day ending, and a new day beginning....

God Bless,
Daisy