Day 7: Congregational excellence
Posted: April 30, 2013 Filed under: 40 Day Walk With God, Bishop's Blog | Tags: 40 day walk, bishop, bishop mcalilly, clarksville, colossians, mcalilly, memphis, Methodist, Prayer, tennessee, UMC, united methodist 3 Comments
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. As the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other. And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Colossae folks first heard the gospel from Epaphras, a beloved co-worker of the apostle Paul. Ever since the Colossians had received and understood the message of God’s grace, fruit and growth had taken place. Paul gives thanks for this church, reminds them of their rescue through Christ, and now, in this passage, Paul’s words are offered as encouragement for even greater things.
Prayer: O Lord, help us put on Love like a beautiful garment to wear! Thank you for setting us free from sin by love for love! We understand that this gift we receive is the same gift to be given.
In all our congregations, our sisters and brothers in faith, may we remember and renew this awesome work of your grace on our behalf: your compassion for us, kindness to us, humility, gentleness and patience with us, your forgiveness of us and this incredible experience of your love through Christ Jesus.
Considering all that you have done for us, may we now with joy do the same, not only with each other, but with ALL! AMEN.
The Rev. Karen Barrineau
Clarksville District Superintendent-TN Conference
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REFLECTIONS FOR THE DAY | Use a program on your computer, a traditional journal, or feel free to use the comment section of this blog post to record your reflections as a conversation with others…
READ – What spoke to me as I read today’s meditation?
REPENT – Where is God showing me that I have failed to be obedient to the call to discipleship today?
RECEIVE – What words of redemption and grace is God offering to me?
REMEMBER – Who and what is God calling me to remember in prayer related to today’s reading?
RESPOND – How is God calling me to respond today?
RESOURCES:
> DOWNLOADS – 40 Day Walk prayer guide (.PDF), 40 Days of Doodles kids journal (.PDF)
> CLICK HERE for sermon starters/suggestions
Greater Things Are Yet To Be Done 
For some odd reason I tend to attract those people whom others reject. Considering all that God has done for me, the least I can do is return His love by loving those who need it most. Thanks for this reminder.
How is God calling me to respond today? Since I had one of those delightful ‘2-cups-of-coffee-mornings’. . .I tuned in to a podcast with the late Jarislav Pelikan who was speaking of the the nature of creeds. Toward the end of the hour long program he spoke of God’s love for us and how, we in turn, respond to God’s love that ‘started in him and ended in him’ ~ “we respond in the service of one another, and humanity and also in the act of adoration.” Your prayer, Karen, was just that – ‘Considering all you have done for us, may we now, with joy do the same, not only with each other, but with ALL.” All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect thy rays. . .call us to rejoice in thee.
One of our Lords commandments is to love one another. We mush be able to forgive to love.