Our call to emulate Christ is taken from Acts 28: 30-31, NIV which reads:

“For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.  Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” 

These two scriptures are the last passages in the Book of Act, the book which chronicles the birth and spread of the Church immediately following the death of Christ.  It also records the spread of the gospel through the witness of the Apostle Paul while on his missionary tours and while in prison.

By the time these passages are recorded, Paul finds himself under house arrest in Rome for the sake of the gospel.  It is remarkable to note Paul’s attitude while in prison.  He continued to preach and teach the gospel!  He did not let himself be constrained by his circumstances; but took every opportunity to share the good news with boldness!

While he was awaiting trial, he could have become discouraged, but instead he used his time to be an encouragement to others!  He wrote the Books of Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and Philippians (Prison Epistles) during his imprisonment in Rome.  Paul was a true marketplace minister!  This means a person who transforms his environment wherever he is (the marketplace) with the good news of Christ.  As a result many believed and lives were saved!  The marketplace was not the Church, or the synagogues or the temple; for Paul was 2,000 miles from home and in jail.  His marketplace became whatever venue he operated in!

Let’s not forget that Paul was acting in accordance with his commission from Jesus when He said “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”  (Acts 9: 15, NIV) and also “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”  (Acts 13: 47, NIV)

Like Paul, we too are the chosen instruments of God to carry forth his message of the gospel to this lost generation.  Jesus commissioned us when He said:  “All authority in heaven and earth has been given Me.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

However, we should ask ourselves, will I be like Paul and seize every opportunity to advance the Kingdom message?  Will I take a marketplace approach and make wherever I am a platform for spreading God’s good news!  Today our marketplace could be our home, place of employment, our neighborhood, school, or a bus stop while on the way to school!

Just as in Paul’s case, God will create the opportunity to preach the gospel, we just need to recognize them when they come our way and be bold and take them!  We must not let ourselves be constrained by our circumstances.  Pray that the Lord of Host ‘enable you to speak His word with great boldness’ (Acts 4:29, NIV) and to give you an attitude like Paul; so that you too can see your environment as your marketplace – full of limitless prospects to advance His kingdom  and bring Glory to your Father in Heaven!

 Copyright© 2011-2012 Colleen Holton All Rights Reserved.

I pray the Lord captures your spirit today with the verse found in Philippians 4:19 which says:

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” 

Here we are reminded that God is our ultimate resource in this life, and that He makes provisions for His people.   Oftentimes we become distracted in this world with focusing on the things that we don’t have instead of praising God for the blessings of His daily provisions.  Be wary of this trap of Satan, as it can rob you of your faith and the joy of the Lord.

This is made clear in the story of the Israelites in the desert in Numbers Chapter 11. God had provided Manna for the Israelites to eat while in the desert as they journeyed toward the Promised Land.  We all know that there is virtually no food in a desert; however, the Lord rained down food from heaven daily: “when the dew settled on the camp at night, manna also came down.” (vs. 9)   Verses 4-6 speak of how they began to complain about wanting to eat meat, desiring the “fish we ate in Egypt”.   How quickly they forgot that that food came with a price – bondage and slavery.  Their complaining even made Moses lose heart and doubt God’s ability to provide for them. (vs. 21-22)   God rebuked Moses and said “Has the Lord’s arms been shortened?” (vs. 23)

Moses and the Israelites let the circumstances of the moment ‘shorten’ their view of God’s capabilities to provide for their needs according to His riches and glory!  The Israelites were so busy being concerned about the meat they did not have that they missed the miracle of having daily ‘bread from heaven’!  All they had to do was fall out of their tents and gather up their blessing!  But soon that wasn’t enough. Because they thought they deserved something more, they forget what they had!  Sadly today, we often fall into the same trap.  Ask yourself:

Are you suffering from a ‘shortened’ view of God’s ability to provide for your needs?  Do you desire the things of the past life that God has freed you from despite His blessings of salvation?   Do you feel you deserve something more than what you have and overlook the bountiful riches He has provided?   Do you focus on things you do not have and miss the miracle of God’s daily provisions in your life and His bread from heaven in the form of His Word?

Here is a sure-fire way to ‘lengthen’ your view of God’s provisions in your life: COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!  You will be surprised!  The text above says that God will meet all of our needs, according to His manifold riches in His will.  Did you ever stop to think that some of the things we think we need are not what God knows we should have?   Saints, the sufficiency of God’s provisions are complete!  Praise Him for His daily provisions, our glorious riches in Christ and rejoice always because your Father is near to our hearts and all our needs!  (Matthew 6:8, NIV)

Copyright© 2011-2012 Colleen Holton All Rights Reserved.

Our call to hold on to our faith is taken from Genesis 1: 1, NIV, which reads:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

There is something about beginnings that stirs the child in us.  The beginning of a long deserved vacation, the beginning of your freshman year in college, the birth of your first child, the opening act of a play you have longed to see, the start of a friendship, the start of a new career opportunity, the birth of your first grandchild,   All irreplaceable starts to something special!

It’s funny but no two beginnings of anything are ever the same.  When we were kids, my 10-year-old sister’s version of our first 2-day, 1,200 mile road trip from Buffalo, NY to Eatonville, Florida by our maternal Grandfather, rolling around in the back of a hot 1963 Chevrolet Impala was quite different from my 8-year-old version.   But nonetheless it began a journey that has forever sentenced my family to the traditional road trip, forever in search of that blue ribbon sky; something my dear sister abhors!

In these first words of the Bible we see God in the process of creating, actively displaying His sovereignty over the universe and His unfailing love for all who call on His name.   We see the very character of God revealed, in all the splendor of His holiness and the majesty of His love!  Saints we see a grace so precious, one that invites us to begin our own personal journey to and with God through His Son.  “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  The life appeared, we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.  We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.  And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.”  (1John 1: 1-3, NIV)

We hold on to beginnings because  they anchor our hearts and give meaning to our future experiences.  That is why my heart is captivated each time my personal studies takes me to the beginning of the Word!  Oh, to meet God at the height of His significance to man, the creation of the heavens and earth, the beginning of life on earth, the beginning of sin, and God’s foretold restoration plan.  Here we meet the beautiful Elohim, the Hebrew name for God as Creator and Judge of the universe.  El Shaddai, our God Almighty!  “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.”  (John 1: 3, NIV)   We all have a choice to make, I pray you choose God, the Creator of heaven and earth, begin that journey and experience the wonders of eternity!

Copyright© 2011-2012 Colleen Holton All Rights Reserved.

Our words of encouragement are taken from Psalm 125: 1-2, NIV, which read:

“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore.”

This passage speaks of God’s blessed protection given to His Saints.  Those who trust in the Lord are able to remain strong despite the challenges of this day and age.  The mental picture of being surrounded by the Lord in all aspects of our lives stirs our hearts to joyful praise!   We can draw further comfort from the words found in His Word where it says: “The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”  (Psalm 121: 7-8, NIV)

Both of these verses speak of God’s constant protection, day and night, now and forever!  Saints no matter who we are or what we have accomplished in this life we can never out grow the need for our Creator’s protection; be glad that He watches over you and surrounds not only your life, but your hopes, your joy, your peace and your sadness!

Let the Redeemed of the Lord Pray:  I thank you Lord for watching over me, for being my constant source of comfort and joy!  And through all my trials, I praise you for holding me in the palm of your hand.  You guide me in your safety and surround me with your love, You are divine!  Keep my thoughts and heart focused on you, do not let me slip, but let me stand firm, unshakable as a mountain, enduring forever in your presence.   In Christ’s grace, Amen.

Copyright© 2011-2012 Colleen Holton All Rights Reserved.

Our song of praise is taken from Psalm 135: 1-3, 13, 21, NIV, which reads:

“Praise the Lord.  Praise the name of the Lord; praise Him, you servants of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.  Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good, sing praise to His name, for that is pleasant.  Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, through all generations.    Praise be to the Lord from Zion, to Him who dwells in Jerusalem.  Praise the Lord.”

Wow, what beautiful praises to our God, the Holy One of Israel!  How fitting that we call upon His name in the courts of the house of our God!  Will you sing pleasant praise in His temple?  For He is worthy, He is worthy of our praise!

Copyright© 2011-2012 Colleen Holton All Rights Reserved.