Author: joemarino (Page 46 of 53)
I’m nearing the end of the halfway mark of my first sabbatical. After seventeen years of following Jesus and fifteen of those years being devoted to lots of volunteer ministry that lead into full time vocational ministry for the last ten years, it was evident this last Spring that the time for a sabbatical of some sort was way over due.
Last week we talked about vivification. This week we are going to talk about sponsorship. The end goal of the program outlined in this study is to advance the Kingdom of God for the glory of God.
“Fellow citizens with the saints.”—Ephesians 2:19.
What is meant by our being citizens in heaven? It means that we are under heaven’s government. Christ the king of heaven reigns in our hearts; our daily prayer is, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
The last few months have been tough. Truthfully… the last few years have been tough.
Every year that goes by seems to be cluttered with difficulty and hardship and loneliness and pain. Seasons of loss and disappointment have left my soul feeling empty and shallow and thirsty.
Last week we talked about mortification. This week we are going to talk about vivification. “What is vivification?” To vivify is to give life to something or someone. The term vivification implies adding life, quality, or energy to something.
I love listening to preachers.
It’s been this way for me since I began following Jesus seventeen years ago.
My dad (affectionally known to me as Papa) was the one who fanned this love for preaching into a roaring fire when he encouraged me to listen to a local radio station with back to back preachers.
“The illfavoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven wellfavoured and fat kine.”—Genesis 41:4.
Pharaoh’s dream has too often been my waking experience. My days of sloth have ruinously destroyed all that I had achieved in times of zealous industry; my seasons of coldness have frozen all the genial glow of my periods of fervency and enthusiasm; and my fits of worldliness have thrown me back from my advances in the divine life.
Something I struggle with is putting my feelings on paper.
I’ve always thought I was a good verbal processor when it comes to my feelings.
That might be true.
Last week we talked about reconciliation. This week we are going to talk about mortification. Mortification means to put off or put to death the works of the flesh. It means the battle against sin.