We are the Temple of the Living God!

"...what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?..."

2 Corinthians 6:11-18

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Put on a Heart of Compassion

Colossians 3:12-17

"So, as those who have been chosen of God, 
holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, 
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, 
whoever has a complaint against anyone; 
just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Beyond all these things put on love, 
which is the perfect bond of unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, 
to which indeed you were called in one body; 
and be thankful.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, 
with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another 
with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 
singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Whatever you do in word or deed, 
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

With Humility of Mind Regard Others

Philippians 2:1-18

"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, 
if there is any consolation of love, 
if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, 
if any affection and compassion,
make my joy complete by being of the same mind, 
maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, 
but with humility of mind regard one another 
as more important than yourselves;
do not merely look out for your own personal interests, 
but also for the interests of others.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, although He existed in the form of God, 
did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, 
and being made in the likeness of men.

Being found in appearance as a man, 
He humbled Himself by becoming obedient 
to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, 
and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, 
of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed,
not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,
work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
for it is God who is at work in you, 
both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent,
children of God above reproach in the midst
of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you appear as lights in the world,
holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ 
I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering 
upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, 
I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me."

God comforts us thus we can comfort others

A life filled with kindness, love, care, and compassion for family members glorifies God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our affliction

so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction 

with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Dustin
by Kelly and Parker

Honor, Love, and Compassion

Rose is Rose
-Brady

Freedom is not free

The American War cemetery of Colleville sur Mer, Normandy, France. 

The cemetery overlooks Omaha Beach, one of the landing beaches of 
the Normandy Invasion, and contains the remains of 9,387 American 
military dead, most of whom were killed during the invasion of Normandy 
and ensuing military operations in World War II. 
(AP Photo/David Vincent)

The kindness of God leads you to repentance

Romans 2

"Therefore you have no excuse...

...do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, 

not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?...

...There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek,  

but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, 

to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 

For there is no partiality with God.

For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; 

for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. 

For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus...

[this next part is speaking of outward and inward circumcision and what the LORD desires from us]:

...For indeed circumcision is of value...

...  For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, 

nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 

But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and

circumcision is that which is of the heart by the Spirit not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God."

Needed: Full Disclosure

Non-Sequitur 
-Wiley

Ephesians 5
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them;  for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 

But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper,

And arise from the dead,

And Christ will shine on you.”

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 

So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. 

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. [it is implied that both husband and wife leave and cleave]

This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband."

Happy Memories

This Pluggers reminds me of our 2nd home before it was repaired.  

The one living room wall was riddled with holes. Soon enough they were spackled and the walls were newly painted. 

As always, when we eventually moved away we left that dear home nail hole free!

Simply Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus

Jesus I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art
I am finding out the greatness 
of Thy loving heart
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee
And thy beauty fills my soul
For by thy transforming power
Thou hast made me whole.

Jesus I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art
I am finding out the greatness 
of Thy loving heart.

O How great Thy loving-kindness
Vaster broader than the sea
How marvelous Thy goodness
Thou bestowed on me
Yes I rest in Thee Beloved
Oh what wealth of grace is Thine
No uncertainty of promise
And hath made it mine.

Jesus I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art
I am finding out the greatness 
of Thy loving heart.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart,
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compass me round with blessings,
Thine is love indeed.

Jesus I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art
I am finding out the greatness 
of Thy loving heart.

Ever lift Thy face upon me,
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.

Jesus I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art
I am finding out the greatness 
of Thy loving heart.

--J. S. Pigott

Be Sincere