The First of Octember

Anyone know where that title comes from?  Only a book that Husband Jared and I must have read a thousand times or so to the little Things, "The First of Octember", by Dr. Seuss.  His books were their favorites.  All the stories that took an hour to read, just to prolong bedtime.  What I wouldn't give for them to ask for me to read to them again.  I treasure those story times snuggling in bed. 

I digress, so sorry.  It seems with the changing seasons a certain nostalgia is always pricked in my heart.  The Things just seem so grown up and independent these days.  Don't get me wrong, we absolutely love the stage we are in parenting these four.  Truly. 

 

Well here I was prepared to write about community, overused word today in the church if you ask me, and all that goes with it and I am writing once again about four Things.  Can't help it.  What I really wanted to do today was share a verse with you.  It is from First Thessalonians and in it Paul is addressing the church in Thessalonica.  This was intended as encouragement for the people there being persecuted for their beliefs, for having resolve and confessing the Lord as their Savior.  Despite the trials Paul was facing and his own thorns, if you will, he chose to spur his fellow believers on.  All for the sake of the Gospel.  Amen brother.  Amen. 

This is not where I delve deep into the Word and share any of my personal understanding or revelations that have been shown to me from this passage.  I simply am exploring and learning in my quiet time lessons specific to me.  Learning how to go beyond ME, how to be quiet, how to listen and frankly if that doesn't bring me back to the Gospel than it is for not.  Beautiful to contemplate, challenging to live out.  So sweet friends, read the words below the picture, let them sink in and stay there a while with them.  There is power there.
 

Let us go about His business, not our own.  Let us do so in love, out of love and with love.  To those that have heard, those that are waiting to hear and those standing beside us persevering.
 

 

 

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.

Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.

Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

Be joyful always; pray continually;

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

I Thessalonians 5:11-28