Unity and Uniqueness

Ephesians 4:11-16

Ephesians 4:11-16 (New International Version, ©2011)

¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
 ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 

We have a life worthy of the calling that God has placed on us. We are one Spirit, one hope, one faith and one unity. I am supportive of you being a conquering hero using your spiritual gifts to continue to preach the gospel.  How do we move from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity? How will we build the church and grow in Christ? As the body grows so does our love for the goal of unity. As we continue to search for meaning and purpose to our gifts, we must not forget to use our gifts. God loves us and wants us to know that we are powerful beyond recognition. Our unity is our strength. Our uniqueness distinguishes our accomplishments. United we Stand, Divided we Fall. Together we can do anything. I stand with you and I support you. I believe you deserve nothing less than respect. Whatever I can do, I will. Whatever happens, we are united. You are loved so much. Stay encouraged.

Suspended

So what does that mean?

What are we to think and do now? What do you want?

Accepting Others

God I pray that I am more discerning about my attitudes towards others who challenge me.Lord I know sometimes I avoid situations that place me in conflict with others beliefs, misconceptions, and attitudes. Sometimes people push you by mistaking your kindness as a weakness. Thinking that they can take advantage of the situation because you have reacted passive as oppose to aggressive. There is a time to be more assertive and to stand your ground. Know that you are powerful and that you can be who you are even if its different from who they are. Focus on what's relevant. Remember who you are and that you have been justified by faith in God.What nonessential customs, suggestions, and ideas are we forcing on others or is being forced on us? Do we have to justify every accusation relating to our life? When does a difference really make a difference? Just how prejudice are we in regards to someones success? Do we make waves just to make waves because we can?When do we believe?
Galatians 2:16
 ¹¹ When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. ¹² For before certain men came from

James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. ¹³ The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.  ¹⁴ When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
 ¹⁵ “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles ¹⁶ know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in^[a] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

Footnotes:

1. Galatians 2:16 Or but through the faithfulness of … justified on the basis of the faithfulness of

Lovable

You are so lovable, who wouldn't forgive you. I don't even know what the problem was to begin with. 

Happy Resurrection Day!

Damned if you do and damned if you don't

You would think I was making a good decision to step back and not be a factor in your decision making process. There is nothing different in the behavior. God hasn't taught me how to wait forever very well. Instead I am under the impression you think its a bad decision. I'm wrong. I'm double minded-minded, insincere, backstabbing, inconsistent, hurtful, deceptive and manipulative. I have never wanted anything for you but good. I pray for you daily to make the right decisions, to be lead with a strong and fair heart and mind. To stay true to what is right and to reflect and display an image and purpose that is strictly for God. I have no ill will, I only want the best for you. I believe you can land have lead people to become more powerful and decisive in their community. You ahve given people their voice, and shown us that there is power in our voices. I don't know what the best thing is to do but this is one way to release you from some of your stress. I don't want to be a factor in any stress in your life. 

Life

Ecclesiastes 9:1-6 (New International Version, ©2011)

Ecclesiastes 9

A Common Destiny for All

 ¹ So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them. ² All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad,^[a] the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.    As it is with the good,
   so with the sinful;
as it is with those who take oaths,
   so with those who are afraid to take them.
 ³ This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead. ⁴ Anyone who is among the living has hope^[b]—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!
 ⁵ For the living know that they will die,
   but the dead know nothing;
they have no further reward,
   and even their name is forgotten.
⁶ Their love, their hate
   and their jealousy have long since vanished;
never again will they have a part
   in anything that happens under the sun.

None of us know our future. We can plan and pray that our plans don't go awray. Christ's death and Resurrection gives us hope for this life and the one to come. I stay firmly planted in the knowledge that as a prophet, you are needed on a much greater scale and by more people than me. Your history and legacy will guide the future of many, many individuals and organizations. I pray for nothing but good and positive influences in your life. I love you and care about you. I want you to remember who you are and the legacy you will leave for the future. Go get em tiger. Leave your mark on the world.

My Loss

I know that in order for the greater good of the community we sometimes have to give up something that we want dearly in order for others to grow.I believe I have to let you do what is right for you. Staying where h=you are is the best thing for all those concerned. It looks as if that will be the case and it truly should be. You are a leader for many many people. Without you, where would we be? While I know you won't be there forever, you are a bright shining light for all that has been done and all that needs to be done. The job is not over.. While I don't believe your platform for influencing people to come together to do what is right for those in need.I feel selfish when I write about a relationship for us. Who am I to ask you to chose and why should you? I don't want to be an obstacle for you. If I don't write, they you are not thinking about me and I am not a factor to distract you. I don't want to be a problem for you. I don't want you unhappy and distracted, wondering if you have made the wrong decision. I leave it u to the Lord. I pray that I am made ready for what ever is to come. I pray for hope for an uncertain future. We never know what is going to happen so we must live our lives without a preoccupation on the earthly things and try to stay sensitive to the spiritual realities that will require us to stand before the Son of Man. So I believe we have to live our lives to the best of our abilities and know that we have all been called to sacrifice for the greater good. If giving you up is my sacrifice then so be it. 

Luke 21:34-36 (New International Version, ©2011)

   ³⁴ “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”