I closed the message last night by saying "thus ends the epistles of Thessalonians AD 55 and begins the epistles of the Thessalonians 2009 AD. We are a living epistle read by the world around us and we are the best translation the world reads. So, what is the number 1 lesson God has taught you that you want to live in your life? Tell us by way of a comment.

In last night's message I poked a little fun at the students of prophecy who make it their job to speculate. There is and always has been among us as Christians an interest in prophecy especially when it relates to what is happening around us. Yet we do need to be careful that we don't replace what God has revealed about something with something that we think he revealed. Hitler was a prime target for such thinking, he was proven to be the antichrist for many of the years he was alive and even now a few think he might be resurrected to become this character.
It's best to remember that God said He would unveil this person and we won't know who it is until God chooses to do this. In the mean time it's better to "abide in Him, so that when He comes, we'll not be ashamed at His coming" (1 John 2:28). Prophecy allows us to see the end so let's believe what God has said and allow prophecy to be used of God to give us endurance, growing faith, and abounding love. (2 Thessalonians 1:1-5) "Come quickly, Lord Jesus!"

It was good this weekend to learn about the stars and the mighty God who created them and cares for them. It seems so easy in the day by day routine called life to forget to lift up our eyes and behold Him who created all this. When we do we receive a new appreciation of the greatness, might, and awesomeness of God. It's amazing that this great God who created also cares. Such was the great nature lesson of the book of Job who, when it was over, said "I know You can do everything". So take a look at the stars tonight and remember the one who created them is mighty enough for any problems we may have and cares enough to bear them (Matthew 6). Wonderful, isn't it?

One of the blessings I have seen as a pastor is the truth that God works in and through us so that we can be doers. The list in 1 Thessalonians 5 would be impossible if it wasn't for the Lord. Just remember that so many times when we know God wants us "to do" and we say "I can't" it's really our self will coming through saying to our enabling God "I won't"! I hope this week you will come back to God's list and let God enable you to become a doer. You will be blessed, God will be glorified, and others will receive good. (Galatians 6:1-10)

The two words that caught my attention yesterday in 1 Thessalonians 5 were comfort and edify. As I thought about these things I began to realize that to do this isn't hard but it does take time and heart. If I really "come alongside" of someone I will be opening my heart to them to allow God's love to flow out to them and that would be good. So I need to pray that the Holy Spirit would open my eyes to the need around me and act before being asked. Yet the big issue is time. If I reach out in love I will have to part with some precious time (maybe a lot) and that is where we often hesitate. Maybe I should see time in the light of love and it would be easier to find to time to care. Agree??

During the message yesterday I used my pen to write down some notes. It is a good thing to do as I can go back now and review in my mind and in the Scriptures the things I learned from the Word. It is a good thing to do everything possible to sow the Word in our hearts and review is a good tool. The next step is to share it with someone else and let them be blessed too. What will you do with what you heard yesterday?

As I prepared and preached yesterday's message, I couldn't help but wonder just how much of my Christian life is "ought to" but seldom "roundtoit"??? Does anyone else have that problem in your Christian life?