Monday, June 30, 2025

word

Colossians 1 

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
    He existed before anything was created 

and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything
    in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
    and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, 

kingdoms, 

rulers, 

and authorities in the unseen world.
    Everything was created through him 

and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
    and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
    which is his body.
He is the beginning,
    supreme over all who rise from the dead.
    So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
    was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
    everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
    by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

21 This includes you who were once far away from God. 

You were his enemies, 

separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 

22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself 

through the death of Christ in his physical body. 

As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, 

and you are holy 

and blameless 

as you stand before him 

without a single fault.

Sunday, June 29, 2025

don't worry

Philippians 4 

Don’t worry about anything; 

instead, pray about everything. 

Tell God what you need, 

and thank him for all he has done. 

Then you will experience God’s peace, 

which exceeds anything we can understand. 

His peace will guard your hearts and minds 

as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. 

Fix your thoughts on what is true, 

and honorable, 

and right, 

and pure, 

and lovely, 

and admirable. 

Think about things that are excellent 

and worthy of praise. 

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me;

everything you heard from me and saw me doing. 

Then the God of peace will be with you.

Saturday, June 28, 2025

living by faith

 Paul compares here his former life as a Pharisee to his life as a follower of Jesus...


Philippians 3

though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!

I was circumcised when I was eight days old. 

I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel 

and a member of the tribe of Benjamin;

a real Hebrew if there ever was one! 

I was a member of the Pharisees, 

who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 

I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. 

And as for righteousness, 

I obeyed the law without fault.

I once thought these things were valuable, 

but now I consider them worthless 

because of what Christ has done. 

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 

For his sake I have discarded everything else, 

counting it all as garbage, 

so that I could gain Christ 

and become one with him. 

I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; 

rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. 

For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 

10 I want to know Christ 

and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. 

Friday, June 27, 2025

2 short passages

Philippians 2 

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
    he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

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14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 

15 so that no one can criticize you. 

Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, 

shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Psalm 139

 Psalm 139

Lord, you have examined my heart
    and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
    You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
    and when I rest at home.
    You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say
    even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
    You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too great for me to understand!

I can never escape from your Spirit!
    I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
    if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
    and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
    and the light around me to become night—
12     but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
    Darkness and light are the same to you.

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
    They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
    they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
    you are still with me!

19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
    Get out of my life, you murderers!
20 They blaspheme you;
    your enemies misuse your name.
21 Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?
    Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
    for your enemies are my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
    and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

armor

 Why do Paul's words here feel so appropriate in these chaotic & dangerous days...?


Ephesians 6 

10 A final word: 

Be strong in the Lord 

and in his mighty power. 

11 Put on all of God’s armor 

so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 

12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, 

but against evil rulers 

and authorities of the unseen world, 

against mighty powers in this dark world, 

and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor 

so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. 

Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 

14 Stand your ground, 

putting on the belt of truth 

and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 

15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News 

so that you will be fully prepared. 

16 In addition to all of these, 

hold up the shield of faith 

to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 

17 Put on salvation as your helmet, 

and take the sword of the Spirit, 

which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. 

Stay alert 

and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

living in the light

Ephesians 

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, 

because you are his dear children. 

Live a life filled with love, 

following the example of Christ. 

He loved us 

and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, 

a pleasing aroma to God.

Let there be no sexual immorality, 

impurity, 

or greed among you. 

Such sins have no place among God’s people. 

Obscene stories, 

foolish talk, 

and coarse jokes;

these are not for you. 

Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 

You can be sure that no immoral, 

impure, 

or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. 

For a greedy person is an idolater, 

worshiping the things of this world.

Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, 

for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 

Don’t participate in the things these people do. 

For once you were full of darkness, 

but now you have light from the Lord. 

So live as people of light! 

For this light within you produces only what is good 

and right 

and true.

10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 

11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; 

instead, expose them. 

12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 

13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 

14 for the light makes everything visible. 

This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”


15 So be careful how you live. 

Don’t live like fools, 

but like those who are wise. 

16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 

17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, 

but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 

18 Don’t be drunk with wine, 

because that will ruin your life. 

Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 

19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, 

and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 

20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Monday, June 23, 2025

unity

Ephesians 4

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, 

for you have been called by God. 

Always be humble 

and gentle. 

Be patient with each other, 

making allowance for each other’s faults 

because of your love. 

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, 

binding yourselves together with peace. 

For there is one body and one Spirit, 

just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

There is one Lord, 

one faith, 

one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all, 

in all, 

and living through all.

However, he has given each one of us a special gift

through the generosity of Christ. 

That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”

Notice that it says “he ascended.” 

This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 

10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, 

so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: 

the apostles, 

the prophets, 

the evangelists, 

and the pastors 

and teachers. 

12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work 

and build up the church, the body of Christ. 

13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, 

measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. 

We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. 

We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 

15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, 

growing in every way more and more like Christ, 

who is the head of his body, the church. 

1He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. 

As each part does its own special work, 

it helps the other parts grow, 

so that the whole body is healthy 

and growing 

and full of love.

Sunday, June 22, 2025

a word from prison

 Remember that Paul wrote his letter to the followers of Jesus in Ephesus while in prison in Rome , an imprisonment that ended when he was executed by Nero.


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Ephesians 3

14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 

16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 

17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. 

Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 

18 And may you have the power to understand, 

as all God’s people should, 

how wide, 

how long, 

how high, 

and how deep his love is. 

19 May you experience the love of Christ, 

though it is too great to understand fully. 

Then you will be made complete 

with all the fullness of life 

and power 

that comes from God.

Saturday, June 21, 2025

ravens & lilies

Luke 12 

22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, 

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life;

whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 

23 For life is more than food, 

and your body more than clothing. 

24 Look at the ravens. 

They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, 

for God feeds them. 

And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 

25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 

26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, 

what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. 

They don’t work or make their clothing, 

yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 

28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, 

he will certainly care for you. 

Why do you have so little faith?

29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. 

Don’t worry about such things. 

30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, 

but your Father already knows your needs. 

31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, 

and he will give you everything you need.

32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. 

For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

Friday, June 20, 2025

keep on...

 "keep on..." are the 2 words God has echoed through my spirit ever since He hit me with these 2 verses many years ago...


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Luke 11

“And so I (Jesus) tell you, 

keep on asking, 

and you will receive what you ask for. 

Keep on seeking, 

and you will find. 

Keep on knocking, 

and the door will be opened to you. 

10 For everyone who asks, 

receives. 

Everyone who seeks, 

finds. 

And to everyone who knocks, 

the door will be opened.

Thursday, June 19, 2025

LGLO

Luke 10 

25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: 

“Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

27 The man answered, 

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, 

all your soul, 

all your strength, 

and all your mind.’ 

And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

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Boil that down? Love God, love others - LGLO