Sundays in Danderhall

I am Filling in for a fellow missionary pastor in Danderhall which is a little borough in Edinburgh.

I will be teaching for 5 weeks. 

Patti will be leading worship.

Last Sunday went really well I think. The fellowship is a small group of mature believers.

It was a real joy to hear them sing out in worship... especially the hymns.

My goal is to teach through the letter to the Colossians... but then...

You know what it means when a pastor says  "We will be going through chapter 1 tonight"... absolutely nothing.

I taught through the first 14 verses. 

You know there is enough to teach in those 14 verses to take up the entire 5 weeks with no problem. anyway... it was a real blessing... especially as I looked at the prayer Paul prays for  the church in Colossi. 

Paul Prayed that this group of believers would have, NO... Be Filled, with a deep knowledge of the will of God. 

I have been praying this for a number of the folk that are on my personal list. I have been praying that they would have a deep agonizing hunger to know God and His character.  

I believe that the better we understand the character of our Loving, Merciful, Gracious, Righteous Heavenly Father, the more we will understand how to do that which would bring Him pleasure. 

The scriptures plainly tell us that His will for us is to be thankful, don't do what is evil, and to do what's right... But I want to know Him, and I want others to know Him, in such a way that when I have a decision to make or see an opportunity to pursue I don't have to stop and think...

"Would Dad like this?"

I would rather it be like when I see something in a store and I say "Wow that is Patti... She would so love that" 

Do you catch my drift? 

I know what she likes... I have know her intimately for 33 years. There are some things I just don't have to ask about... 

Oh to know My Lord that way in all things... "Filled" as Paul put it... in all spiritual wisdom and spiritual understanding... the ability to gather the information from God's Word and assimilate it, flesh it out, make it practical, and then apply it and walk in it.... Hmmm!

So... If you are being tried in patience (perseverance in circumstances), long suffering (dealing with difficult people), sorry it may because I am praying that you have the power to do so and do it with joy because your eyes are on the prize... knowing full well that He gives you the grace and the power to see it through... that is enough to bring you joy... but oh what a prize He has in store for you....

Blessings