1 Thessalonians: Grace & Peace

Study of 1 Thessalonians

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:1

Grace: favor, disposed to, inclined, favorable towards, leaning towards to share benefitPeace: wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God's gift of wholeness). "The tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is."
http://biblehub.com/interlinear/1_thessalonians/1-1.htm

Note where the grace and peace are generated — "from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ". For only true grace and pure peace can come from God. 

How does this specific greeting impact the recipient? A greeting reminding one of the grace and peace that God offers and supplies freely, will calm the turmoil of the physical life and the soul. 

Grace and Peace. 
FROM God OUR Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

May you receive God's gift of grace and peace today. 

Grasping at Shiny Bubbles

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 96. Here is what I learned.

Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Psalm 96:6 (AMP)

Greatness and grandeur are in front of him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Psalm 96:6 (CEB)

Honor and majesty precede Him; strength and beauty infuse His holy sanctuary. Psalm 96:6 (VOICE)

Honour and majesty are before him. Men can but mimic these things; their pompous pageants are but the pretence of greatness. Honour and majesty are with him and with him alone. In the presence of Jehovah real glory and sovereignty abide, as constant attendants.

Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. In him are combined all that is mighty and lovely, powerful and resplendent. We have seen rugged strength devoid of beauty, we have also seen elegance without strength; the union of the two is greatly to be admired. Do we desire to see the "sublime and beautiful" at one glance? Then we must look to the eternal throne. In the Chronicles we read strength and gladness; and the two renderings do not disagree in sense, for in the highest degree in this instance it is true that "a thing of beauty is a joy for ever." Not in outward show or parade of costly robes does the glory of God consist; such things are tricks of state with which the ignorant are dazzled; holiness, justice, wisdom, grace, these are the splendours of Jehovah's courts, these the jewels and the gold, the regalia, and the pomp of the courts of heaven. The Treasury of David

How often am I intrigued by something that looks amazing? Yet, I am soon disappointed as I learn that what appeared amazing was only an illusion. 

So often, I become discontented with my life, situation. The “if onlys” begin. If only I had this, If only I had that, If only I lived there, If only..... the list goes on. But in reality looking for contentment in shiny things is futile, unsatisfactory, just plain pointless! 

In contrast, when I look to God for my contentment, and behold His majesty and honor and strength and beauty.... WOW! There is true substance in God, unlike the shiny bubbles of the world that pop just as I try to grasp them. God provides solid real and honest-to-goodness substance! 

To create a positive day, and truly be content, I need to stop grasping at shiny bubbles and reach for the honest-to-goodness substance that only God can provide 

Rest Contented

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 11 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 8. Here is what I learned.

I am already in the soft embrace of the Eternal, so why do you beckon me to leave, saying, “Fly like a bird to the mountains. Psalm 11:1 (VOICE)

I’ve already run for dear life straight to the arms of God. So why would I run away now? Psalm 11:1 (MSG)

I ·trust in the Lord for protection [find refuge in the Lord]. So why do you say to me, “·Fly [Flee] like a bird to your mountain. Psalm 11:1 (EXB)

Safety. Embrace. Happy. 

Yesterday, Max, my parakeet, accompanied me to my Doctor’s appointment. Throughout the office visit, Max sat on my shoulder talking and chatting. The Staff and Doctor went in and out of the door, and Max stayed contented on my shoulder. Why would he fly away, knowing that he was safe and secure on my shoulder? 

Throughout the office visit, Max talked and chatted. His favorite word was “happy”. My Doctored enjoyed Max’s visit, which was evident by her laughter. 

Max was so content and felt at ease on my shoulder, so much so, that he settled down and cleaned his feathers, walked around on my shoulder and chatted happily. Max’s actions displayed his contentment and security. 

I can think of no better place to be than in the arms of God. But there is a difference of being in the arms of God and fighting to be released, to resting and being content in the arms of God. 

Resting contented in the arms of God. I have to say that the past few months, I’ve been doing some fighting to get out of God’s soft embrace. Oh, I didn’t want to leave His embrace, but I was not content on where He “had placed me”. More pain, having to take more medications, struggling with the ‘whys’ of it all.... but thankfully, God didn’t let me break free of His embrace. Resting contented in the arms of God, knowing full well that He knows what He is doing and He has a well designed plan. I’m to simply rest and accept God’s hug. 

To create a positive day, I need to stop struggling and rest contented in the safe and secure arms of God.