teresakedwards

YES! YES! YES! The sentence that says "since we have heard it we have not ceased to pray for you" This type of passion in prayer "lights me up" with a "God light" This verse is the cry of my heart right now. This prayer offers that I can not earn the right to walk worthy of the Lord....it says that i "may" walk worthy in the Lord....as if, me the child of God, has permission to walk worthy in His sight.....along with the permission that "I may walk worthy in the Lord" it says, "being" fruitful in every good work" and "increasing in knowledge of the Lord".......It is almost like a command in its self....."YOU MAY WALK WITH THE LORD" and then "YOU WILL "BE" certain things (ie: fruitful) - not saying one day I will, or soon I will, but "I WILL BE" and (and I say very excitedly) I will be "INCREASING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD" YES! YES! YES! It is my opinion that some one who "ceases to pray" has a real understanding of the reality of being delivered from the darkness of satan.

Paul has focused on the hope we all have in Christ as the ground or fountain from which flow both faith and love. He really is speaking of the days we will be in heaven and the hope of us having this time of being with our Father. At this place the "hope" is being "heard". This direction that is given to us in these two verses are not to be used for "tolerance" of today's world...but more importantly, for the gift after this world. It is leading us to the place of forgiveness and hope in that forgiveness. "Hearing" the Gospel is where the Colossians are, but Paul has a much larger picture. Turning from sin for the greater reward, found after death. It is my opinion that some that "hear" the teaching will be offended, but the lack of appeal is partly from the laziness that occurs from hearing to living. satan would like for us all to remain asleep. Paul displayed such tenacity in his teaching, thwarting off the opposing forces and just from my experience, it takes much energy and time to continue with the fervor as he did when the opposing audience only "heard". Yet again, the Gospel saves and delivers and heals. This beginning of Paul's "words" to the people can not be easily dismissed. The "words" and Paul's proclamation is and has been for many years life-giving, soul-saving, and comprehensible truths that allow the "hearer" to be saved, ultimately transforming the heart, renewing the mind and governing the steps APPLAUDS TO PAUL!

Faith....for me personally, faith is a process that takes nurturing-tending to, if you will.... i began this journey, with the hope that faith would be a true "something".....to find out-as the seed took root, that it is a "big" something, today, after the planting of faith, the nurturing of faith, the pruning of faith, the result of all that to faith, I "DO" believe faith is connected tot the spirit inside of me, and when I "feed" my self the Word, my faith grows....similiar to what "miracle grow" does to plants...... Faith .... Thank GOD for teaching us about faith!

We were created to do good works, but not for "rewards" ....the favor is already given to us.

I was born a sinful creature..... I believe in my heart that Jesus is Lord, and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead, and I get the same grace, "raised from the dead, sinful, creature I once was...SAVED!

A mature understanding of grace compels us-motivates us-to live graciously. It makes us WANT to obey God's laws, to do all we can to live in ways that please Him. It makes us want to do all we can to act and think in ways that show we understand God's grace. When we talk "justice" everyone understands....when we talk "grace" ....people are leary...GRACE is an absolutely undeserved, totally UNFAIR gift, that we are given.

We are dead in sin.... BUT ....there is a savior! TELL EVERY ONE !!! the Spirit leads us to tell the person in the grocery line...the person at the post office.... Share the...HOW

Holy ..... this appears very very bright to me, I can strive, and grow toward this, but only GOD is holy!, now BLAMELESS....what a RELIEF! Jesus blood covers me, so that, I can stand in the presence of the HOLY one!

Predestination to me is like looking right into a blindingly bright light, for me, in the beginning I could see the light very far off, as I searched , read the bible, got into relationship with the Holy Spirit, I came to see the light blindingly bright, then...without me being able to "express" or describe in words what exactly happened ..... the light surrounded me, encompassed me, was in AND around me, It took me out of fate...... and set me into faith...... WOW! I love that...didn't get it until you prompetd it...or God prompted it....I "do" LOVE IT!!

Its like this, (to me), think of your favorite melody, let it dance in your mind for a moment.........now push the pause button....pick a "note" ....any note, G, perhaps F..... now take that note out, and listen to that favorite melody again..... Its missing something..... When we are all together, in our "spots" (because not all of us are "c" notes) God's favorite melody is playing, .......This to me is "in Christ"...?!?! The implication is my closeness to God, safety, joyfulness, knowing...

Hi, I am so excited to be learning God's word! Thank you all VERY much!