I was having my quiet time this morning, and it was full of distractions. Work issues were occupying my thoughts, even though this was time officially dedicated to Me & God. Almost as an afterthought, at the very end of my allowable time, I asked the important question. "God, what's on your heart today?" Then I opened my Bible at random, and I was staring at this passage, Colossians 1:9-12. in The Message. When I say random, I really MEAN random. Usually I open my bible in the middle of the binding, which drops me in the books of Isaiah or Jeremiah, which I love! But I almost NEVER open to the edges, where Colossians is. Right on the end. But here we are. And this passage, THIS one, was the one God pointed out.
"Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you will live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do YOUR work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul-- not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. IT IS STRENGTH THAT ENDURES THE UNENDURABLE AND SPILLS OVER INTO JOY, thanking the Father who makes us STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE PART in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us."
So friends, this is what I am asking for from you. That you would pray the blessings of this passage over me and my family when you think of us.
that we would have a thorough understanding of the ways God works
that we would make the Master proud as we work hard in his orchard
that we will have the STRENGTH to stick it out over the long haul (this is a big one! Fatigue is kicking my butt, and can overwhelm me in SECONDS!) "It is the strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy." So far, this cancer journey has been relatively easy, but it's about to get a whole lot harder for me. So we are going to need this Joy. ALL OF IT!
that the Father would "make us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that He has for us."
Can you pray that for us today? Much appreciated.
Pete
I chose this image because it is of the Endurance, the famous ship of the Shackleton Expedition, which was recently found! Read about it at https://www.npr.org/2022/03/09/1085432575/endurance-ship-found-ernest-shackleton
And if you don't know the story of the Shackleton Expedition, look it up! Absolutely inspiring.
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