Beloved, as we continue our study through the Book of Colossians, we must remember that Paul is praying from prison. He is locked up and certainly has the time but also the incentive and acknowledgement that the Lord hears our prayers!

Prayer is powerful and necessary for our survival as believers. We remember that great promise found in Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

As Paul prays, he combines his prayers with thanksgiving. Beloved, we have many things to be thankful for. Whether in prison or at home may we pray without ceasing as we acknowledge our tremendous need of our Savior. He is sufficient!

Blessings-
Pastor Joe

Beloved, as a young man growing up, I would relish the day that I got to take home my report card. Most of the time I would bring home a good report card. My parents would look it over, sign it, and then return it to me so that I could give it back to my teacher. I think I may even have some of my old report cards.

My Dad would say, “good job! It seems that you are going to school not just to look at the girls and eat your lunch!” True enough though I did participate in those two things my Dad mentioned.

Here in Colossians, Paul is writing the Colossians a letter in response to a report he heard about them. Epraphas brought to Paul some information concerning the Colossians and overall it was a good report, though there were some thing that would be addressed.

This leads us to ask the question concerning our Christianity: how would our report card read? My prayer is that we would each have a good report of faith, hope and love in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and for those in our lives!

Blessings-
​Pastor Joe

Good Morning Beloved! Today we start studying a new book of the Bible, the Book of Colossians. The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Colossians to combat a heretical teaching which had crept into Colossae namely Gnosticism.​

The method which Paul used to combat this heresy was to focus on the supremacy of Jesus Christ. In fact, that is the theme of the Book of Colossians, the Supremacy of Christ. My prayer is that as we study this book together it will solidify our believe that Jesus is all we need. He is to be the passion and purpose of our lives.

I look forward to spending the next couple of months together as we unfold this glorious book of Colossians. May all glory go to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is supreme!

Blessings-
​Pastor Joe

Beloved, the Book of Acts ends rather abruptly. What happened to Paul? Where did he go? Did he ever get to Spain? How did he die? Those are all questions that the ending fails to answer. It has been said that if any movie would end this way, we would be upset. Who ends a movie this way? Who ends a book this way?
 
But God knows that the Book of Acts is an open-ended book. I am not telling you that we are going to add to the Bible. That would be heresy. But I am going to tell you that the Book of Acts ends abruptly because the Lord expects our lives to fill out the last Chapter.
 
The Lord left the Book of Acts open ended because we are to continue His work of building His Church! The Book of Acts is about the Church. How it began, how it grew and how we are to continue to help it to grow!
 
Beloved, God has a role for all of us to help build His church. Remember the promise that Jesus gave us in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Hence, our role is to continue to build His Church. Jesus said in John 9:4- “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” Beloved, the story continues. Will you fulfill your part?!

Blessings-
​Pastor Joe

Beloved, there are many different types of callings in this world. God calls some to be lawyers and others doctors and others teachers. God calls some to be evangelists and others pastors and others bus drivers. But I do not believe that there is a greater calling than that of a mother. If God has called you to be a mom, it is a special calling indeed!
 
A Mom will love you when the entire world hates you! A Mom will believe in you when everyone else thinks you stink. And a mom will care for you in your deepest darkest times with love and care and compassion.
 
Today we’ll look at a young lady called to be a mom and ever more than that, called to be Jesus’ Mom. Mary certainly had a unique call on her life, and she fulfilled it very well. You also have a unique call on your life and God will fulfill it as you trust in Him!
 
By the way- Happy Mother’s Day

Beloved, Paul had hope. In fact, with the world in chaos around him, with himself being jailed and chained, he still had hope. Paul wrote in Acts 28:20, “It is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”
 
Certainly, Paul’s hope was in the person of His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Hope of Israel. Jesus Christ is the hope of Israel and the world!
 
Because Paul had hope, Paul wanted everyone to know the hope that he had. He wanted everyone to have a personal relationship with the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This is why he would endure such harsh conditions, such as being jailed and chained. Paul especially wanted his own people, the Jews, to know the Hope of Israel.
 
For 3500 years the Jewish people have awaited their Messiah. Woven through every book of the OT is the Messiah. For 3500 years the Jewish people have prayed this prayer: “I believe with perfect faith in the coming of Messiah and though He may tarry yet I shall wait for Him every coming day.”
 
That Messiah has come. Paul knew that but yet many Jews did not know and still do not know that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Do you know the Hope of Israel and the World? DO YOU KNOW JESUS?

Blessings-
Pastor Joe

Beloved, it has been reported that Sir Ernest Shackleton had placed this ad in an English newspaper: “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.”
 
What Sir Shackleton envisioned was becoming the first to make a trans-Antarctic crossing from sea to sea. The expedition began in 1914 and ended uncompleted in 1917.
 
The reason that Ernest Shackleton has been lauded as a great leader was that all 28 men aboard the vessel, Endurance, made it back safely. Through trial and toil and severe winters, they all made it out alive.
 
Beloved, as we study this portion of Scripture, we must note that on the way to fulfill Paul’s desire to reach Rome he ended up shipwrecked. That shipwreck could have easily defeated Paul and left him with utterly depressed.
 
However, Paul did not give up. He executed endurance, and continued to press on! Beloved, on your way to your destination, you may end up shipwrecked. Remember the shipwreck is only part of the journey. Do not give up but persevere!

Blessings-
​Pastor Joe

Beloved- what you need during a hopeless situation is a courageous stand! According to Charles Stanley there are six purposes that motivate God for allowing the storms of life:
 
(1)    Cleansing: to get our attention Psalm 119:67, 71
 
(2)    Companionship: God desires that we walk in an intimate relationship with Him.  We must be reading His Word, listening to Him; talking to Him and seeking His mind and heart to find His will for our life. Psalm 57:1-3
 
(3)    Conformity: conforming us to the likeness of His Son.
 
(4)    Comfort: God does not always want to just do something IN us, but often His ultimate goal is to do something THROUGH us.  But if you want to be a blessing to others, you have to be broken.  A vessel that's unbroken has very limited use. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
 
(5)    Convictions: pain and suffering solidifies your conviction that God is sufficient, He is with you and will care for you.
 
(6)    Change: Paul is a great example of one who changed when God got his attention on the Damascus Road.
 
Remember, the deeper the valley, the darker the storm and the more intense the pain, the greater the preparation of your heart to be a blessing to other people.

Blessings-
​Pastor Joe