Without Holy Spirit AND Love... my ministry is NOTHING

Reading some materials reminded me that it is not ME that is doing the ministry for Jesus Christ. Christ through the Holy Spirit produces power, love, a sound mind through me. Christ helps me get it together. Without Christ, I am nothing. Along with love and under the control of the Holy Spirit, the power of love and Holy Spirit flows through me. The only way the spiritual gifts are going to operate is love. Love is the key. God is love. He gave us two commandments. We are to love God and others. With the Holy Spirit and love, I will walk in the Spirit, Christ produces the fruit. And out of that fruit comes whatever the ministry of the gifts Christ wanted me to use. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (The Message) God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. (NKJV) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (NLT) For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. Love is............ 1 Corinthians 13 (The Message) The Way of Love If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled. When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good. We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

My english, my grammar... my blogs may be subjected to be edited by.....

my wife.

Teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer

One thing that really impressed Carole and I about this local church we recently joined is that they encourage strong followship. Members and leaders of Northwest Presbyterian Church understands and seen that people are not just looking for a friendly church, but a place where they can make real friendship and meaningful fellowship. Church's mission statement: "Knowing and enjoying God that others may know and enjoy Him." On October 23rd church service, Pastor Mike Potts taugh us about what it means to be a "church". He will continue to explain more next sunday. Carole and I are looking forward to his next message. Notes from Sunday's message (also with inspired notes): Four Elements of local Church For this sermon: Acts 2:42 1. Doctrine: Bible Study, Theology, Sermons and many other sources 2. Fellowship: Participation, Small groups, sunday school, personal, family & etc. 3. Breaking of Bread: Following Jesus' Commands. Understand the Cross and understand Jesus. 4. Prayer: Intimacy with God. Pray to transfer my will to God's will. Have a personal relationship with God every day, every hour and even every minute when you are not busy doing tasks. Next week: Four Principles "Everyone was filled with awe and many wonders and miraculous signs were done"

Fretting about something...........

It appears that I do fret often. Often I think back of my mistakes such as slip of being too blunt or something I did which I regreted or something is on my mind (usually financial). I understand that fretfulness can rob me of my peace and joy of Christ. In our sinful society, I am easy prey to fretfulness when my gaze is fixed circumstances rather than upon God. Philippians 4:6 (The Message) Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. (New Living Translation) Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. (NIV)Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (NKVJ) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. God's timing is usually quite different from mine. I am reminded that my circumstances regardless how it is, whether its my mistakes or situations of my life, it is fully accords with His will and purpose. I have to wait patiently, faithfully wait for the Lord. As Philippians 4:6 is telling me that I lay my causes for fretting before God now and leave it there with Him. Knowing the Scriptures and knowing God will should cure my fretting spirit by giving me peace spirit. Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 7:15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.