Friday, March 4, 2011

Loving and Caring for One Another as the Church

I will come back to this post in the next several days, but I wanted to put forth some Scripture as it stands right now.

Lately, these have been the scripture verses on my heart.

Philippians 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.


1 John 2:7-11

7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sisterb]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[b] is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sisterc]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[c] lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.


1 John 4:7-21

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.


Ephesians 4: 29-32

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.


Until next time

"Where I Belong"- Cory Asbury

My Mom once gave me a dinstinction between different types of musicians that made much sense to me and has become what I hold to be true. There are hearers and doers. Though a musician all of my life, my instinct has always been to almost drown myself in the lyrics, the beats, and the emotions of the music by listening, rather than playing. As a kid and an adult I have had talent, but not the motivation to become a serious instrumentalist or vocalist. Though, I would like to sing in a community choir or play in a community band. I am a listener. I am a hearer of music and love to bury myself into the lyrics through songs that are meant to touch the soul and heal it. I believe that this is the core purpose of worship music, to help the persons leading worship and those listening by leading them into a more meaningful experience with the Lord. A core purpose of healing wounds through the Word in song, and to deeply touch the souls of those who need it most. Today is one of those days where my thoughts aren't so easily taken captive and I fall back into some of my old patterns. So as I struggle through my day, "Where I Belong" speaks the words of my heart and reminds me to seek after only the Lord. For He is my rock and my strength. He does not change His mind about the plans He has for us. His promises never fail.


‎2 Corinthians 1:20

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

Lamentations 3:22-24

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him."


‎1 Samuel 15:29

He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind."


So, without further adieu.


Where I Belong


Cory Asbury

Your presence is all I am longing for, here in the secret place.

Your nearness is all I am waiting for, here in the quiet place.

Here in the secret place.

My soul waits for You alone,

like the watchmen wait for dawn.

Here I’ve finally found the place where we’ll meet, Lord, face to face.

I’ve finally found where I belong

I’ve finally found where I belong: In Your presence.

I’ve finally found where I belong is to be with You, to be with You.

I am my Beloved’s and He is mine

So come into Your garden and take delight in me. Take delight in me.

Delight in me! Delight in me!

Here in Your presence, God, I find my rest. Here in Your presence God.

Amen.