Let the Word of Christ dwell in you.  When you read Scripture do you let it dwell in your heart at all let alone richly? Do you allow the wisdom of God breathed out onto paper teach you His divine will for your life? Do you surrender to His authority and correction? 

We are called out to not only accept the teaching and correction of Christ's words, but to surrender with joy and singing! And why shouldn't we? By turning our lives over to Christ we lose not only the ability but the right to control our lives.  We still have to do the leg work and follow His instructions, we do retain free-will; but now we have the wisdom and knowledge of the one who created the whole of the universe calling the plays. That is something to get excited about! Jesus Christ the Son of God is your personal savior and He wants to dwell 'richly' in your heart! I don't know about you, but I think that is something to sing about. Singing with songs of worship and praise to the one who has created this entire universe for sole purpose of having a relationship with you. 

That's quite the statement there isn't it? God created all things just so He could have a relationship with YOU. The meaning of life is our relationship with God. Let me break this down for you. You might agree or disagree as is your right, but I believe this with my whole heart:

• God created the universe because without the exact cosmic stresses our galaxy could not exist.
• Our galaxy is a perfect balance in the laws of physics and without it, our little solar system would not have been formed.
• If one planet in our solar system was not placed exactly where it is, then earth would not be able to hold it's stable orbit.
• If the earth was any closer or any further from the sun it would either freeze or burn. It is in what astrophysicists call the 'green belt' only here can life exist.

• The whole of the world was created for us. in Genesis God gave this planet to us so that we could flourish. 
  
• God sent His one and only son to die on the cross so that He could come into relationship with YOU.
• God formed each of us and knew us all before we were even in our mother's wombs.

God knows all of us and has designed the whole of time and space as we know it so that He can spend time with us, love us, have us love Him. Can you think of a better reason to thank Him with song and prayer?

I can remember making jokes about how "rain" and "snow" were four letter words that should be added in with all the other curse words.  Now, I said this because I was trying to be funny, but consider the marvel of rain.  God created the earth with its own built in irrigation system.  The earth pulls up water from one place, transports it to where God wants it and distributes it so that plants can grow. This system is designed in a delicate balance with so many moving parts it boggles the mind.

 Consider the grace and sophistication of a snowflake.  We all learned in school how each and every snow flake is different, but consider the elegance and purity of newly fallen snow.  The wonder of a gentle snowfall, almost glowing as it falls. The snowfall stores our water over the cold winter so that when it melts in spring, the world has the resources it needs to explode into new life. 

God, a glorious and wonderful divine being whose voice alone created the heavens. So immensely and infinitely powerful that He forged the heart of a star; designed the structure of each flake of snow so delicate that they melt on the end of your finger.  God has all of the power and strength of the entire universe, yet cares so much for us that He speaks to us in a still small voice.

God, we thank You today not only for the grand gestures of Your divine power, but also for the delicate and over-looked. The everyday miracles You bless us with that we need to survive. Lord we thank You for our daily provision, for the grass under our feet and the smell of autumn leaves. We thank You for the rains that cleanse the world as the sacrifice of Your blood cleansed our souls.  And we thank You for the snowfall of winter that brings with it the promise of the resurrection of spring.  Amen.

Timothy wrote this message for the early church as a direction towards prayer. Most of us in Canada forget how truly blessed we are.  We can practice our faith in full freedom in Canada with only a little harassment from a handful of saber-rattlers. This gives us the opportunity to be a bastion of Christianity, a launching point for missionaries, and a covering for expanding ministries.  The only reason we have this freedom is because God has moved the hearts of our nation's leaders.  Softened their hearts to His will. It is a command from God that we pray for our leaders so that they continue to make wise decisions that gives us the "peaceful and quiet lives" we need.

We will not always like or agree with our leaders or their decisions.  I am absolutely certain there are many who are reading this that would rather fire the bunch and start over, (I hear from them quiet often over coffee); but I challenge you with Christ's words: If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? (Matthew 5:46 NIV).

Where is your heart? 

Odd question right? Think about what you invest your time in.  Your family might be of great importance to you, or your job, or your hobbies. How much time do you invest in God?

A few months ago I was watching a commercial for a new cop drama that was coming out, I don't remember the name. The tough experienced cop looked at the young rookie and said, "Everyone has two dogs in them. The one that wins is the one they feed the most." So I ask you; where is your heart?

When you focus on God in your day to day life; when you pour your thoughts and energy into pursuits that honor Him, your relationship with God strengthens. When you focus your attention on things that do NOT honor God. Things that distract you from His will and detract from your life with Christ, it not only hurts your relationship with God but makes you a hypocritic in the eyes of the world. Before I turned my life over to God I hated Christians for that very reason. I would see people who spoke OF God, but did not appear to live FOR God.

You spend invest your time into what is important to you.  so I ask again; where is your heart?