Easter is a Reminder ... Do you remember?

Luke 24:6-8 records the angels at the empty tomb of Jesus telling the women, “He is not here; he is risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again. Then they remembered his words.”

It is hard to always remember things. I forget where I left my coat. I forget where I put down my cell phone. I have even walked out of the store and forget where I parked my car. In our busy lives, we forget. Easter is a yearly event which reminds of us the power in the one we trust. Just like the angels reminding the women, “He is risen,” we are reminded to take the resurrection of Jesus with us everyday!

So take these words with you today … “He is not here; He is risen!” ... may it remind you to celebrate Easter. 

You know I love ya, Don

Make Every Effort...Unity....Bond....Peace

"Make every effort" is a strong statement for the faith and is then followed with the command to "get along." Paul wrote it to the Ephesian church. He wrote: "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Every believer should make a quick note that it is not optional, but is a directive to live in harmony within the faith. 
It would have been easier if Paul had wrote that we should make every effort in fellowship meals or in cutting the church grass or in at least meeting every week but that is not the action Paul is calling us too...we are to make every effort in getting along and living love. A friend of mine wrote in her blog:

Do you make every effort to maintain the unity that already exists between Christians? We are extorted to make that our goal.

My sister, who had been a valuable model to me in maintaining excellent personal relationships, said one day, “I refuse to have a row with that girl – life’s too short to fall out with anyone.” We can refuse to have a row if we want to. That is making an effort to keep what we already have – unity. The problem is that if we have unity among ourselves, we sometimes ignore or neglect it. We start to work on it only when a relationship falls apart! But we must get to work before it falls apart. We must endeavor to maintain it. We do that by building an already good relationship into something even better. That takes time and effort.

We have good relationships on our church staff, but they can always be better.  We schedule regular times to eat, to have fun, and to pray together. It’s such a comfort and delight not to have to be a blessing but rather to meet with people on the same spiritual level as ourselves and enjoy a time of maintaining our unity!

I have a friend who often spends time with me – playing tennis, talking, shopping, or just relaxing – and she never fails to say before she leaves, “Let’s pray together.” It’s just a brief glance heavenwards, but what a bond of peace it adds to our relationship!

What practical things are you doing to maintain the unity of the Spirit? I am making it my new goal to put this directive in front of my life. I want to live love and I want others to know that I will diligently seek the unity of the faith through the bond of peace.

You know I love ya, Don

Do you make every effort to maintain the unity that already exists between Christians?  We are extorted to make that our goal.
My sister, who had been a valuable model to me in maintaining excellent personal relationships, said one day, “I refuse to have a row with that girl – life’s too short to fall out with anyone.”  We can refuse to have a row if we want to.  That is making an effort to keep what we already have – unity.   The problem is that if we have unity among ourselves, we sometimes ignore or neglect it.  We start to work on it only when a relationship falls apart!  But we must get to work before it falls apart.  We must endeavor to maintain it.  We do that by building an already good relationship into something even better.  That takes time and effort.
We have good relationships on our church staff, but they can always be better.  We schedule regular times to eat, to have fun, and to pray together.  It’s such a comfort and delight not to have to be a blessing but rather to meet with people on the same spiritual level as ourselves and enjoy a time of maintaining our unity!
I have a friend who often spends time with me – playing tennis, talking, shopping, or just relaxing – and she never fails to say before she leaves, “Let’s pray together.”  It’s just a brief glance heavenwards, but what a bond of peace it adds to our relationship!

What practical things are you doing to maintain the unity of the Spirit?

- See more at: http://justbetweenus.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=113281#sthash.hWHvkNla.dpuf

Unify...unity....joined....together!

Recently, I have had a many discussion about unity in families, in relationships, and in the church. It brought to mind the text from Ephesians 2:14-17

 For he himself (Jesus) is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

 Jill Brice writes:

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If the middle wall of partition has indeed been broken down by the death of Christ, why then do so many people inside the kingdom still meet a stone wall where true fellowship is concerned? Why does the wall still divide black and white, rich and poor, those with social status and those without? I believe it is because Christians have not been taught that the basis of their unity is belonging.

Unity begins when we get our theology straight. If the wall has been broken down and yet the wall is still there, it is because someone has been busy building it up again! What is a wall? It’s a barrier – something that includes others and excludes you. We sense it, though it be unseen, between people inside the church. We see different factions with religious and personal differences. Yet our unity is in belonging. For through Him we all have access by one Spirit unto the Father. He sees all of us kneeling down at our bedsides at the end of the day!

I must tell Jesus, “The wall will not be built by my hands!” I must not be a builder of walls. I must lay down my trowel and use my hands rather to reach out to my brother and sister in love. I need to keep acting as if the barrier isn’t there; I need to walk through it and speak into years of silence. I must write another letter and extend another dinner invitation. I must do what I can to make sure others know I believe in belonging!

I could not agree with Jill more...we must strive to remove the barriers that hinder relationships. In fact, it is our duty to live for the goal of loving God, loving each other, and loving life. 

You know I love ya, Don

If the middle wall of partition has indeed been broken down by the death of Christ (see Eph. 2:13-14), why then do so many people inside the kingdom still meet a stone wall where true fellowship is concerned?  Why does the wall still divide black and white, rich and poor, those with social status and those without?  I believe it is because Christians have not been taught that the basis of their unity is belonging.

Unity begins when we get our theology straight.  If the wall has been broken down and yet the wall is still there, it is because someone has been busy building it up again!  What is a wall?  It’s a barrier – something that includes others and excludes you.  We sense it, though it be unseen, between people inside the church.  We see different factions with religious and personal differences.  Yet our unity is in belonging.  For through Him we all have access by one Spirit unto the Father.  He sees all of us kneeling down at our bedsides at the end of the day! 

I must tell Jesus, “The wall will not be built by my hands!”  I must not be a builder of walls.  I must lay down my trowel and use my hands rather to reach out to my brother and sister in love.  I need to keep acting as if the barrier isn’t there; I need to walk through it and speak into years of silence.  I must write another letter and extend another dinner invitation.  I must do what I can to make sure others know I believe in belonging!

- See more at: http://justbetweenus.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=105816#sthash.Elfiw8lH.dpuf

And that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.  ~ Ephesians 2:16 - See more at: http://justbetweenus.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=105816#sthash.Elfiw8lH.dpuf

And that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.  ~ Ephesians 2:16 - See more at: http://justbetweenus.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=105816#sthash.Elfiw8lH.dpuf

United brings Him Glory!

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6

Have you ever served on a team or committee that has a hard time agreeing? Maybe it is only a team of two and it is still hard to find common ground? I don't know about you, but I have and it is very difficult in our society to find a common thread of united purpose. There is usually a great deal of compromise and people have to give and take and over-all the final product is just o.k. with everyone, instead of it being a spectacular final production.

This verse speaks to me about unity and the power of the Holy Spirit in uniting Christ-followers for the purpose of glorifying God. We are all very different and have many opinions and thoughts. Yet, when we unify our hearts, minds, souls, and our strengths for a "God-Calling" the results are amazing.

I often tell my church choirs that we are to sing so that it sounds like "one" voice. Why? First, it is pleasant to the ear and understandable to those listening. Second, it is a testimony that a diverse people with many opinions and bias backgrounds are working toward a single goal....glorifying the God they love. With all the diversity and lack of unity in our world today (just look at Washington D.C.), getting 30-40 people on the same page to sing and praise the Lord is a miracle of the Holy Spirit.

I love my job and I am very thankful for the service God has allowed for my journey...I am especially blessed by the willingness of Christ-followers to work together in "UNITY" while allowing God to encourage all of us to bring Him glory, honor, and adoration.

You know I love ya - Don

P.S. I don not believe in coexisting...there is only ONE way to true unity and it is through the power of the Cross and Jesus Christ. It is amazing when Christ-followers open their eyes and hearts to His love...anything else is just getting along.