With Thanksgiving

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with 

thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2)

I want to move on, find something exciting that will grab my

readers and hold their interest. Some of you may want me 

to move on too. After all, it is such a small verse. However,

it is pregnant with life and so it has to be eaten in small bites.

How appropriate to find ourselves looking at the word, 

“thanksgiving,” the week we celebrate the holiday. It is 

a day set aside to celebrate, with gratefulness, all we have

received--and we are richly blessed.

Gratefulness means that we understand that we are the

recipients of kindness, and that we are ready to acknowledge

it. It takes humility to express gratefulness. Pride has need of

nothing and no one, but at the center of humility is the 

recognition that I need others because I can’t make it alone.

When the Pilgrims celebrated that first Thanksgiving they 

were giving thanks to God because they KNEW, they would

not have made it without Him. Half of them had died the first 

winter and without the help of a friendly Indian, they would 

have continued to die.

Glen and I have been in many third world countries. We would like

to bring their gift of hospitality so generously given, to this land, but

without having to give up central heating and running water!

Papa, As I think about the coming Thanksgiving Day when we will

gather with some special friends to eat our planned feast, I am so

grateful to you for the abundance I have received on so many levels.

I am especially thankful for the gift of eternal life. 

See “A Fairy Tale Wedding”

http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com/stories.html

Be Watchful

Yes, I am still on the same verse!!!

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with 

thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2)

Watchful means “to keep awake, to be vigilant.”

What are we to be watchful of? The government, our enemies, 

current events? No, that is not what Paul is talking about even

though the early church was under persecution.

I found a couple of verses that answer this question:

“Watch and pray, that you might not enter into temptation. The spirit

is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) 

“Be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around

like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (I Peter 5:8)  

Adam was told to watch over the garden. He had no idea what was 

coming his way. The snake took out his wife while he was getting 

a sandwich! The night Jesus warned his disciples about keeping alert 

was the same night he was arrested. The disciples fled and Peter denied 

he knew Jesus.  We as Christians find ourselves broadsided by attacks 

on a regular basis. Our fight is not against flesh and blood. However, 

do you notice that every time failure came God intervened? He lets us 

fall into the pit so He can rescue us! I love this about Him!

When I detach myself from the Vine, I start believing lies about my friends, 

myself, and my God. This combination leaves me feeling isolated and alone. 

As I try to work this out within me, I end up discouraged and depressed. I 

remember a blurb on TV that aired many years ago. It went like this:

“Does God seem far away?”

“Who do you think moved?”

Papa, I thank you that Your love covers my stumbles and failures, that

"All things work together for good to them that love God and are called

according to His purpose."

The time leading up to the wedding, REALLY happened. I know, I was

there!

http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com/stories.html

Prayer

“Continue steadfastly in prayer being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

(Colossians 4:2)

Prayer. What a huge subject! I am reminded of many years ago when

I struggled with the verse: “Pray without ceasing.” I could not imagine

how this was possible. At one point I attended a church whose goal was

to transform the city so we fasted and prayed all night in order to make

this happen. I went on a prayer journey to some very spiritually dark 

countries. What were the outcomes of these initiatives? God knows, but

I don’t.

In the last few years prayer has become something so natural, like breathing.

Often I am not aware that I am talking to God or that He is talking to me. It

can also be specific, urgent and emotional. The “steadfastly” part of the verse

means to me that I don’t stop praying, even while waiting years to see results.

My Dear Papa, My morning was so perfect today. There was the quiet sense 

of your presence as I went from one thing to another. How wonderful to 

experience this kind of prayer on the day I would be writing about it!

I pray for my readers. May they discover how much you desire their friendship 

and how you lean into them to listen when they speak. 

See “A Fairy Tale Wedding”

http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com/stories.html

Masters, Treat Your Slaves Justly

Paul does not let the Masters of the slaves off the hook.

"Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that 

you also have a Master in heaven." (Colossians 3:25)

I have been thinking about the makeup of the early church.

Slaves and their Masters, all of whom were hungry to know

more of God, would meet nightly to worship, share, pray and

listen to Paul teach. Paul never taught more than four months

before he was persecuted and cast out of the city. After that he

did not visit these churches without coming in by night. Years went

by between visits. So, who was in charge after he left the area? 

I can’t find that he named a master to be over the slaves in the 

congregation. They came into the presence of God as brothers 

and sisters, equal in the sight of God. Paul did write letters to the 

Holy Ones, to reinforce what he had taught to them and to answer 

their many questions. It would seem that questions came up as to 

relationships in the home and at work which is why Paul addresses 

these things to the Colossians. The churches were birthed out of a 

pagan world and there were lots of questions. Surely if they lived 

out what Paul was teaching, it would draw many into the kingdom. 

I have been in small groups where the focus was body life in Jesus. 

These were wonderful times! We saw God answer prayer in so many

lives. We would leave these meetings full, not empty. It was a little

taste of heaven!  I sense that the pressures of persecution and mis-

understanding toward the early church provided the strong desire for 

the Believers to meet with each other in the evenings.

Wrong Doers Will be Paid Back

By now some of you may be muttering: what about the abusive

husband, wife, master? Does God notice, does He even care?

Why would God put such impossible demands on us? He is 

certainly not politically correct!!! I know that at times I react to

these verses--which are also in the book of Ephesians. But

listen again to verse 24:

(Do these things) “Knowing that from the Lord you will receive

the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has 

done, and there is no partiality.”

What an encouragement for me to “stay the course.” God does

see, God does know, the abuser of power will be punished, and

God does not show partiality to those in high places of authority.

God is a God of justice. Hallelujah! 

See “A Fairy Tale Wedding”

http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com/stories.html

Slaves, Obey in Everything...

“Slaves, obey in everything, those who are your earthly

masters, not by way of eye-service, as people pleasers,

but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you

do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing

that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as 

your reward. (Colossians 2:22-24)

The early church was filled with Believers who were slaves--men

and women who came under the domination of Rome and were 

taken into slavery. They had no worldly possessions, worked 

seven days a week, and died young. Paul did not tell them to rebel, 

or try to escape, but instead asked them to “obey in everything!” 

Rome was a terrible taskmaster. The word “justice” was irrelevant to 

Paul. Why? Because Paul was looking at something far bigger 

than their current circumstances. He told them to:

Work, not to please people, but fearing the Lord.

Work hard, but do it for the Lord and not for men.

You will receive your inheritance from the Lord--later.

Paul points out that our behavior, our work ethic, is not 

to come from outward pressure but from an inward 

attitude of the heart. I can’t help noticing that Paul puts

the emphasis of these verses and the ones prior, on the Lord.

It is not about me; it is all about Him. And... there is a promise!

I have a future no matter what happens here on earth.

See “A Fairy Tale Wedding”

http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com/stories.html

"Children, Obey..."

Children obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 

(Colossians 3:20)

“To Obey” in Strongs: To conform to a command. To be below in an 

inferior position. To hear; to understand.

(I find it interesting that Paul uses the word “submit” in terms of the wife, 

and not the Greek word for “obey.” God does not regard married women 

as inferior--single ones either.)

Children are to be trained to listen and obey their parents but, according to

scripture, the weight falls on the Dads, “Fathers, do not provoke your 

children lest they become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:21)

Obedience does not come naturally to children. They too want to be in 

control and the toddler age depicts the battle very well. I saw this while 

visiting my children and grandson.

I watched Noah implode just before bedtime. His mother asked him to pick up 

his toys.  I watched as she picked him up and said:

“Noah, look at me”

(Noah looks away and screams.)

“Noah, I want you to look at Mommy.”

(Noah looks down and continues to cry.)

The words are repeated and the mother lifts his chin.

“Are you ready to stop crying?”

(The crying begins to subside and Noah nods slightly.)

“Are you ready to put away your toys now?”

( A “yes” follows--a word stretched out beginning low and ending high-- 

and Noah smiles)

See my NEW story:

http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com/stories.html