- Pursue holiness with Jesus every moment of life. Seek God's presence continuously. Love God & honor Him. Every moment you are awake you are worshiping someone or something.
- All of life is sacred. Treat every person as a sacred object since they were created in God's eternal spiritual image. People are to be loved and cared for; never used. Honor God by treating all of His creation with respect for Him.
- Don't get off track by the busyness of summer. Flee temptation, isolation, alienation, loneliness, fear, worry, doubt, self-pity... We cannot take the summer off from growing in Christ and expect to stay close to The King. We need rest with and in Him; not from him. Be wise how you live, speak, think, rest, play and recreate.
- Serve and pray for one another. Focusing on self and your own fun or issues at the expense of relationships with others helps no one. Erwin McManus is right, "It is through serving that we are healed." The more we analyze ourselves, the more warts we see and dislike grows into large decaying trees of discontent. Take your eyes off yourself, look longingly and lovingly unto Jesus treating all people how you would Him.
- You do not go to church. How are you doing at being the church? Serve, love, pray for others, bear fruit, gather together, share the good news of Jesus & His cross... The main difference between Christianity and all other faith and religious groups is the cross: God became man in real flesh to die for our sin and appease the wrath that God has toward sinners--God reached down to make a way for a restored relationship with Him. No other way works.
- Love & Respect your spouse, future spouse, family, neighbors, co-workers, strangers, brothers & sisters in Christ, enemies...
- Pray for unity in our local churches. This is spiritual warfare. Be a unifier. The Acts4 prayer gatherings in Washoe County Nevada are a small attempt at being the answer to Jesus' prayer in John 17. Since these started, many different churches with a variety of musical styles and spiritual views on grace gifts have gathered to pray for the unity of all believers, revival in the churches, awakening of lost people being brought into the Kingdom of God and for sin and demonic activity to be defeated. There is progress and the battle is real. The enemy hates these prayers and has been viciously attacking the people made holy by Jesus. Keep praying boldly.
- Know you are loved and wanted by God and His children. We all need each other.
I agonize over you and long to serve you so you know and follow Jesus completely and radically,
Scott
