Graves' This and That

I am finishing up 2 Corinthians and my focus today is on 12:7-10.  The Holy Spirit brought several thoughts to my mind and heart plus the commentarial thoughts of David Guzik from my online Bible program, E-sword which is free to download.  How pertinent and apropos Paul's testimony about his thorn.  I had never personalized that I may have a "thorn".  Thorn is that "which frustrates and causes trouble in the lives of the afflicted"...David Guzik.  In Paul's case, it was certainly of a greater magnitude than any piddling thorn I have experienced.   Here is Paul's retelling: " To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh , a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But He said to me, "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, my power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about...

  Watching Chip and Joanna Gaines has been a fun vicarious experience on HGTV because I can visually enjoy some demolish and rebuilding work in a 60 year old home where I have been some 30+ years. Chip loves demolition days...I would too if I actually had a real person responsible for doing the demolition and reconstruction.   As of late, getting older, seeing diminishing health among friends and an aged parent, and the passing of an adult child, I have begun to notice some "stones" being gathered in my mind.  I have experienced the "stones" before which represent different circumstances in my life.   The mind begins to hasty gather the stones and construct a stronghold, a "safe" place of arguments, opinions, pretensions, perceptions, debates, rationale, false beliefs, judgmental or critical thoughts to validate the building of the stronghold. Basically, here is "what I have experienced or am experiencing and I have a right to protect my self" ...

Upon reading 1 Corinthians 3, Paul concludes his thoughts with the Truth that we are "being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."   He further states in chapter 4, because of God's mercy, he has the ministry that God has called him, and "we do not lose heart." His statement of BOLD faith,  irregardless of the abuses he suffered for the cause of Christ and His kingdom.    When I hear of those who have abandoned their faith because of weariness, disappointment, misunderstanding in the Body of Christ, or anger that God did not answer prayer as hoped and asked, two thoughts come to mind.  Is the abandonment of faith out of a heart not truly belonging to the Lord or it is a prolonged loss of heart from unresolved hurts and misunderstandings? I do recognize that the strategy of the evil one is always active in either action.  As god of this age, he seeks to blind the hearts and minds of unbelie...

  I wonder, where have we gotten the attitude that to be a Christ follower is a life of ease with no tests, trials, or warring challenges? I cannot imagine why "Onward Christian Soldiers" was written and sung if the hymn was not pertinent to the walk of faith!  As I read the books of Acts and 1 Corinthians, I find that Paul, an ardent Christ follower was constantly "under the gun".  He did not seem to lose his focus even with the "bullets flying" at him and around him. For my heart and mind, he is a supra-hero for sure.  In jail, out of jail, being run of of town, being misunderstood, being stoned by "religious" peoples, or by beatings...He remained faithful to the Lord God.  In 1 Corinthians 16, among his personal requests to the church at Corinth, he encourages:  "Be on guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.  Do everything in love."  Paul seems to be reminding us to keep our boots ready to put on for...

My morning reading continues in 1 Corinthians.  Today, the reading is from the 12-14 chapters.  Chapter 12 concerns spiritual gifts, chapter 13 is the reminder that LOVE is the greatest expression of our gifts, and chapter 14, is an explanation of the gifts of prophecy and tongues.  (I choose not to enter into the argument that some of the gifts have ceased for today.  I have heard pros and cons for eons, and the Spirit of God has not prompted me to enter the fray.)  One of the greatest joys of my life as a Christ follower was when I came to understand that upon salvation, the Holy Spirit entered my life.  As a result, He had uniquely gifted me for the Body of Christ to express Himself through the spiritual gifts of prophecy, teaching, and service.  EACH CHRIST FOLLOWER IS UNIQUELY GIFTED BECAUSE YOU ARE UNIQUE!  The sole purpose of our gifting is to able the Body of Christ to function as Christ has purposed.  As a body , every organ, limb...

Several years ago when Tommy Teague was our pastor at our church, he used an Advent wreath with 3 purple candles, 1 pink candle, and 1 larger white candle.  I don't recall the Sunday, but a purple candle was lit and the procedure continued until the week of Christmas, the large white candle was lit. By then, all the candles were lit. It was a mystery to me, and I wanted to know. Then, a teacher friend of mine, posted her Advent wreath on Facebook.  Finally, I made my own Advent wreath after some Googling.   There is no "rule" about the color of the candles.  In Googling Advent wreaths, I found that several colors and even all white was used. On December 3, the first candle is lit and it symbolizes hope .  On the 10th, the second candle is also lit and it symbolizes peace .  On the 17th the third candle, a different color, pink in my case, is also lit and it symbolizes joy .  On the 24th, the fourth candle is lit and it symbolizes love .  On...

The Apostle Paul is such a stout heart!  As I read from chapter 6 of 1 Corinthians, I come away with rich solid food for the day.  In context of these verses, Paul is speaking of sexual immorality, but I am thinking there are some greater applications than just sexual immorality.  I find that the applications can be directed toward any of the sins which control  ME/us.  Any sin which CONTROLS me is actually an addiction.   Paul's declaration: "Everything is permissible for me-but not everything is beneficial.  Everything is permissible for me-but I will not be mastered by anything."    I love love his HUGE truth:   "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God?  YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN; YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE.   Therefore honor God with your body."  1 Corinthians 6:18-20  Paul further encourages in chapter 7, "Be careful, however, that the e...