My Life Verse - Answering the Question "What Would Jesus Have Me to Do?"

Many years ago, I worked on Greensprings Farm, a dairy farm owned by Dale Clymer, a fellow church member.  I don't remember when I heard this particular verse, but I remember hearing it on the radio playing one afternoon as I planted some flowers along the barn.  Since then, I have made this my life verse:

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."
Colossians 3:23

This past Sunday, we were studying from I Peter 4:7-11.  It is neat how one portion of Scripture can remind us of another.  Here is verse 11:

"If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.  If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever.  Amen."
I Peter 4:11

Colossians 4:17 is also very similar:
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

May this be on our minds, even when difficult times come.  I know I struggle with my anger and get easily annoyed when others make unreasonable or incorrect statements or have unrealistic expectations.  I pray God can use these verses to bring not just my actions, but also my reactions closer to what He would expect.  After all, we should work as unto Him.  As Pastor Jeff shared a few weeks ago, let us not just only say "what would Jesus do", but "what would Jesus have me to do."

Some New "Old" Songs

I was searching for some new music this evening to help lead us in some songs and hymns we have not sung in a while - My Redeemer and He Is Lord.  While looking, I stumbled upon a song that reminded me a lot of something Pastor Jeff shared during this past week's sermon.

Here are the words to the song "He Is Able."

He Is Able

He is able more than able
To accomplish what concerns me today
He is able more than able
To handle anything that comes my way
He is able more than able
To do much more than I could ever dream
He is able more than able
To make me what He wants me to be

Written by Greg Ferguson and Rory Noland
© 1989 Maranatha Praise, Inc.

When I discovered "He Is Lord", I found an additional site that had extra stanzas.  Like many other creeds in the Christian faith, these extra stanzas help highlight portions of Christ's ministry here on earth we should not only believe, but learn to emulate.  As far as I know, these words were anonymously penned and public domain.  The words to the first stanza are based on Philipians 2:10-11; the following verses are based upon John 12:32; John 3:16, and I John 5:11, according to www.hymnary.org.

He Is Lord

He is Lord, He is Lord!
He is risen from the dead, and He is Lord;
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord!

He is King, He is King!
He will draw all nations to him, He is King;
and the time shall be when the world shall sing
that Jesus Christ is King!

He is Love, He is Love!
He has shown us by his life that He is Love.
All his people sing with one voice of joy
that Jesus Christ is Love!

He Is Life, He is Life!
He has died to set us free and He is Life;
and He calls us all to live evermore,
for Jesus Christ is Life!