Colossians 2:6-7 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” A thermometer is designed to reflect the temperature while a thermostat is designed to set the temperature. How often is the “temperature of our hearts” set by how we feel about the world around us instead of the truth of God within us? Paul challenges the Colossians to walk in God’s word. So allow the truth of God to fill our minds and heart that the abiding result is thanksgiving. God help us this week to stop complaining about everything – in fact – can we ask God to help us go one day without complaining about anything! Instead let us saturate our response to life with God’s word. Have a great day in the Word – praising God each step of the way! Pastor Tony P.S. This Pastor’s E-note was originally sent out the week of April 2013. Karen and I are traveling this week and are scheduled to be back on the Outer Banks this weekend.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” When pondering the never ending changes and challenges of life Solomon concludes that life only works if God is our reason and reality. The reason for our life is God as revealed in His presence and His commands. The reality is that we all must give an account of our choices. Those we make in public and in private. Today, let us live in the light these truths. Not out of fear, being punished for our sins. For all of us who have trusted Christ as our Savior live in the blessed light of eternal forgiveness. But with reverent surrender to God’s plan for our life day by day as we live in His reason and reality!

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established” We live in what could be characterized as unstable times. Many things around us are changing at an alarming rate and in many cases in a negative direction. Yet as believers we can, and should, be able to live with a mind that is not pushed around by all the stuff around us. How? By committing all we do and all we are to the Lord. Today, let us place our confidence in the Lord and turn all our efforts at life over to Him! Let our minds be stabilized by God’s desire and ability to take our lives, in the time in which we live, and do great things!

1 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. Have you ever been discouraged, disappointed or ready to give up? If so, you’re in good company. Timothy struggled throughout his ministry with the challenges that come when any of us seek to serve God over the long haul. Paul constantly was encouraging him to not give up but to stay faithful to the task at hand. Today let us follow the exhortation to make the most of the abilities and callings God has place upon our lives. Stop allowing the environment in which we serve God to sidetrack us. Do your best with what you have where you are – and then trust God to work everything out for His glory!