Tag: Faith

  • Kep Your Focus on Your Purpose

    Kep Your Focus on Your Purpose

     

    Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God our Father and Jesus Christ. Welcome to my blog! I hope the thoughts you find here will encourage you and inspire you to diligently seek God’s Kingdom. Today, I want to continue reflecting on our foundational verse for this year, 2025. I desire to seek God’s Kingdom first and His righteousness so that all these things will be added to me. This week, let’s look again at Matthew 13 for more insight. 

    Matt. 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? KJV

    I believe that any comment received without perspective leads to ruin. Often, people who are not owners of your purpose, who have no skin in the game, so to speak, will often have the wrong perspective about your purpose and context. Be careful whom you allow to define your progress. Be careful whom you allow to influence your perspective. The way you frame a thing depends greatly on whose purpose you are living by, and what word you establish your purpose on.

    This verse shows how people who have nothing invested in your purpose will question the value of your seed based on the weeds they now see. In verse 24, which is as much scripture as verse 27 is, it is clear that the man who sowed seed in his field sowed “good seed.” But people who are servants, not co-laborers, not invested in your seed, not part owners of your field, somehow have the audacity to question the value of your seed.

    Your seed is what God says it is. Your value is what God says it is. Because some “servant” does not recognize that you can have good seed, does not mean you should question your seed. They are focused on your enemies’ result and not your purpose. In verse 26, the scriptures said that blades began to sprout and brought forth fruit. So the intention of the seed is working, but servants will only focus on the intention of your enemies.

    Keep your focus on your purpose. Your seed is still good. God is not deterred by the actions of your enemy, and neither should you be. Keep moving forward. Keep expecting a harvest. Keep believing what God said to you, in spite of the evidence of tares. Tares do not define you; they define what your enemy wants for you. Hang in there. Believe God for your purpose and keep moving forward.

    Again, I would like to invite you to subscribe to the blog. I will be posting regularly, with an entry every Tuesday. You can subscribe at the bottom of this page.

    Remember to invite someone to church with you this Sunday. I look forward to seeing you there. Seek God’s Kingdom first.

    Yours Because I am His,

    Leo Colon, D.Min., M.Div.,

    In His Presence Family Worship Center

    http://www.ihpfwc.org

     

     

  • The Kingdom of Heaven is Like

    The Kingdom of Heaven is Like

    Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God our Father and Jesus Christ. Welcome to my blog! I hope the thoughts you find here will encourage you and inspire you to diligently seek God’s Kingdom. Today, I want to continue reflecting on our foundational verse for this year, 2025. I desire to seek God’s Kingdom first and His righteousness so that all these things will be added to me. I strive for a life that reflects God’s intention for me. I am learning that this is achieved by shifting my mindset from personal thinking to a Kingdom mindset. This means I must transition from my current mindset toward a Kingdom mindset.

    King James Version:

    Matt. 13:24 ¶ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

    There are always subtleties in scripture, and this verse is no different. Jesus takes the time to teach his disciples and the larger public what the Kingdom of God/Heaven is like. In this teaching, similar to much of Jesus’s pedagogy, he uses contexts familiar to the wider audience. In an agrarian society, Jesus discusses the farmer who sows his seed in his field. Naturally, many themes can be emphasized while developing your homily on this pericope.

    The Kingdom of Heaven is likened to a man engaged in sowing. Sowing involves taking action now to seek a return later. The kingdom is about investing in your future. Being kingdom-minded means thinking ahead. You should not be overly concerned about Friday; instead, we should plan for a year from now or even five years ahead. Do you have a plan? Kingdom-minded individuals should act based on a plan. Often, you plant or sow in March and expect a harvest around October, depending on what you plant. Are you truly kingdom-minded if your focus is consistently on the present and only concerned about today? Being a good steward often entails planning for a five-, ten-, or even twenty-year horizon. Do you have a plan?

    The Kingdom of Heaven is likened to a man who sows “good” seed. Are you deliberate about your seed? Have you examined your seed? Have you deceived yourself into thinking that because it is your seed, it is good seed? Your seed might be the business you want to bring to life. Have you written a business plan? Your seed needs a plan. Is your seed a viable one? Just because you like your seed does not mean it is a good seed. You and your friends may like your seed, but that does not make it commercially viable. Examine your seed. Define good outside of your emotional attachment to it.

    Last point: the Kingdom of Heaven is likened to a man who sows good seed in “his field.” Do you own your field? The Kingdom is all about owning the field you are planting in. As a mentor to many young people, I constantly challenge their ideas of success. A young person told me yesterday that he wants to be a basketball player. I asked him why, and he gave me a perfectly acceptable answer: he wants to make the kind of money these players are making. I had him then. I said, you know, all of those players you admire are paid. Someone pays them. Why not think about becoming a basketball team owner instead of a player? If they are making two to three million dollars playing, and the owner is paying them, imagine what the owner makes! Plus, the owner has maybe ten or eleven players on that team to whom he pays a lot of money to play. Our problem is that we are not exposed to those who own the field. We elevate celebrities who work on the field. God is calling us to own our field.

    I aspire to have a Kingdom mindset.

    Again, I would like to invite you to subscribe to the blog. I will be posting regularly, with an entry every Tuesday. You can subscribe at the bottom of this page.

    Remember to invite someone to church with you this Sunday. I look forward to seeing you there. Seek God’s Kingdom first!

    Yours Because I am His,

    Leo Colon, D.Min., M.Div.,

    In His Presence Family Worship Center

    http://www.ihpfwc.org

  • A Shifted Mindset

    A Shifted Mindset

    Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God our Father and Jesus Christ. Welcome to my blog, “From the Desk of the Pastor.” I hope that you will be encouraged by some of the thoughts you read on this site and that this will inspire you to be a diligent seeker of God’s Kingdom. Today, I want to continue reflecting on our foundational verse for this year, 2025. I desire to seek God’s Kingdom first and His righteousness so that all these things will be added to me. I aim for a life that reflects God’s intention for me. I am learning that this is achieved by shifting my mindset from personal thinking to Kingdom thinking. This means I need to transition from my current mindset to a Kingdom mindset.

    Living in a democracy, the concept of a kingdom may seem foreign to many of us. To truly understand Jesus’s message, we must let go of our Americanized view of the kingdom and embrace a biblical perspective. On Sunday at In His Presence Family Worship Center (IHP), I offered a working definition of the Kingdom that I believed would be beneficial for us as we pursue the Kingdom of God. This definition was drawn from Myles Monroe’s work:

    “A kingdom is… The governing influence of a king over his territory, impacting it with his personal will, purpose, and intent, producing a culture, values, morals, and lifestyle that reflect the king’s desires and nature for his citizens.”1

    This is a radical shift from a democratic mindset. In a democracy, one of the primary concerns is “my rights.” In a democracy, “my rights” are the main things that I and the law should focus on. Conversely, in a kingdom, the king influences his territory and impacts it with “his personal will.” This shift is crucial because I prefer to seek God’s influence over my life rather than my right to create chaos in it. The beauty of this perspective is that God’s influence is much more valuable than my right to make my own decisions. I am fallible, but God is not. His wisdom far exceeds mine, and the Bible repeatedly proves this. (NIV)

    Prov. 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart

    and lean not on your own understanding;

    Prov. 3:6 in all your ways submit to him,

    and he will make your paths straight.

    In God’s Kingdom, I trust God over my own understanding. If I am honest, so much of the mess in my life came from trusting my own wisdom. My life has proven to me that my wisdom is nowhere near as valuable as God’s. I have learned not to lean on my limited understanding of any situation; His knowledge far outpaces mine. The way God thinks surpasses my thinking. When I submit, my path is straight, and my way is clear.

    Is. 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

    neither are your ways my ways,”

    declares the LORD.

    Is. 55:9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

    In the Kingdom, I need to think more clearly. I must think like God to achieve His results. This means I need to consult God and His word to know how to think. There is a saying:

    “All that you achieve and all that you fail to achieve are the direct results of your thoughts.”2

    If everything I achieve, and even my failures, are a direct result of my thoughts, then improving my thinking will lead to the shift that I want my life to reflect. If my thoughts reflect God’s way of thinking, then I can look forward to God’s results. A kingdom mindset reflects the success that comes with doing things God’s way.

    Matshona Dhliwayo said:

    “What you think is a seed, what you say is the bud, and what you do is the fruit.”3

    I am convinced that I want fruit that comes from Kingdom thinking. If the Word of God is the seed of my thinking, then the fruit that I bear resembles God’s best. What I do then brings forth the harvest that brings glory to God and benefits me and my family. This shift in thinking helps me prevent the wrong/negative results I want to avoid. This shift in the Kingdom mindset is vital. Why?

    This shift is crucial because:

    1. The wrong mindset can hinder us from reaching the right goals

    2. It can lead to misguided decisions

    3. We may accept incorrect priorities, causing unnecessary stress

    I am seeking God’s help to think more clearly. Remember, “All that you achieve and all that you fail to achieve are the direct results of your thoughts.” I will improve my thinking. How will I think better? I will first seek the Kingdom of God. How? By reading God’s word more, mainly. Additionally, I am creating a “Book List.” You should too. This year, commit to reading more and thinking God’s way.

    I would again like to invite you to subscribe to the blog. I will be posting regularly, with an entry every Tuesday. You can subscribe at the bottom of this page.

    Remember to invite someone to church with you this Sunday. I look forward to seeing you there. Seek God’s Kingdom first!

    Yours Because I am His,

    Leo Colon, D.Min., M.Div.,

    In His Presence Family Worship Center

    http://www.ihpfwc.org

     

     

    1. Munroe, Myles. Kingdom Principles: Preparing for Kingdom Experience and Expansion (Kingdom series Book 2) (p. 31). Destiny Image. Kindle Edition. 

     2. 90 Quotes That Will Change The Way You Think – John Spence https://johnspence.com/90-quotes-change/ 

    3. Top 15 Powerful Quotes on Thoughts & Actions (by Matshona … https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-15-best-quotes-thoughts-actions-matshona-dhliwayo-dhliwayo 

     

  • A Shift in Decision Making

    Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God our Father and of Jesus Christ. You have made it to day number five (5). Well done! You are almost finished with your journey. We have the privilege of counting down now: “You have one day and a wake-up.” Congratulations! You are on your way to a marvelous 2025. We have been focusing on our foundational verse for the year, Matthew 6:33. Today, I want to explore one of the ways seeking the Kingdom of God impacts our decision-making.

    Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” KJV

    Seeking the Kingdom of God first means just that. Seeking the Kingdom first involves a change in our priorities. A change in our priorities signals that God is inviting us to shift our focus. We no longer rely on our instincts. We no longer prioritize our upbringing over God’s perspective. I have often told someone, “I can’t do that; that’s not how I was raised.” The way I was raised may be special and significant to me, but it cannot take precedence over God’s will for my life. It jeopardizes my purpose in God to use my past as the primary basis for my decision-making.

    Miles Monroe said:

    “The greatest mistake in life is to be busy but not effective. Life’s greatest failure is to be successful in the wrong assignment. Success in life is measured by the effective use of one’s time.”1

    I want to actively follow what God deems right rather than making my own choices and being ineffective in fulfilling my purpose. Therefore, when we prioritize seeking the Kingdom of God, our decision-making and priorities significantly shift, which will change our lives. Let’s examine three key points.

    When we prioritize God’s Kingdom:

    •We concentrate on God’s will and purposes instead of our own desires or worldly concerns.

    •Our decisions align with eternal values rather than momentary gratification.
    •We reflect on how our choices will glorify God and further His Kingdom rather than just benefit ourselves.

    I could write for days on these three points. I won’t take any more of your time, but I will discuss these issues in the coming weeks at In His Presence Family Worship Center. I invite you to be my special guest. Let’s seek the Kingdom of God together. We meet on Sundays at 2418 Church Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. Meet us at 10 AM. We would thrilled to have you as our special guest.

    Remember to drink plenty of water and have a bowl of soup after 3 PM. Create your prayer list for the year 2025. Today marks our last daily prayer for the fast. Join Pastor Dorothy Colon for her scheduled prayer calls on Tuesday and Thursday at 6 AM. Here’s the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/797700935

    Also, I would like to invite you to subscribe to the blog. I will be blogging regularly, with entries every Tuesday. Subscribe at the bottom of this page by entering your email.

    Remember, invite someone to church with you this Sunday.

    Yours Because I am His,

    Leo Colon, D.Min., M.Div.,

    In His Presence Family Worship Center

    http://www.ihpfwc.org

    1. Munroe, Myles. Kingdom Principles: Preparing for Kingdom Experience and Expansion (Kingdom series Book 2) (p. 25). Destiny Image. Kindle Edition.
  • You are important to God.

    Grace and Peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God our Father and of Jesus Christ. You have made it to day number four (4). Well done. You are more than halfway through your journey. We have the privilege of counting down at this point. Instead of saying we have three days left, our late Archbishop McKinley would say, “You have two days and a wake-up.” Congratulations to you. You are on your way to a marvelous 2025. We have been concentrating on our foundational verse for the Year, Matthew 6:33. Today, I want to contextualize what we have been looking at.

    Matt. 6:28 “And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin,

    Matt. 6:29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.

    Matt. 6:30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” NRSV

    God often uses comparisons to make his points clear to us, using references that would make sense to the hearer of his word. In verse 33, in the latter clause, Jesus states, “And all these things will be given to you as well.” NRSV

    When investigating the Kingdom of God, it is wondrous to see not only that God will perform a task but also how he will achieve it. This text invites us to examine his prior work in nature: the lilies. In the King James Version, it is rendered as “the flower”; in the New Revised Standard Version, it appears as “lilies.” Jesus says, “Consider the lilies of the field.” Lilies are beautiful, and all flowers, for that matter, are too! Whether in California, England, or Morocco, flowers and lilies are simply gorgeous. They come in various colors, and none ever fade. When you touch them, the petals feel soft against your skin. They are masterpieces of God’s creation. But let’s reflect on them. I have never encountered a rose with substandard petals. Never have I seen a rose that was anything less than exquisite. In fact, Jesus draws a comparison: King Solomon, the wisest king, made so by God, and one of the wealthiest kings in Scripture, also because God made him so, was known for the beauty of all his possessions, yet he did not compare to these lilies. It is said that the Queen of Sheba lost her breath when she beheld King Solomon’s court (1 Kings 10:4,5).

    This is how excellent King Solomon was. He impressed even other monarchs by the way his court was appointed. Not only his clothes but the robes of his servants blew Queen Sheba away. Yet Jesus said, Solomon, in all his glory, could not hold a candle to the lilies of the field. Then he makes the point, if God can do this for the grass of the field, “which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you?” It is not just about clothing you, but when he does it, you should expect God to do it in such a manner as to give you the best. This is how the Kingdom of God works. You should look for God’s best when he provides. You should not get used to meager fare. You are God’s child. You are a citizen of the Kingdom. Live that way.

    The Message Bible renders verse 30 like this: Matt. 6:30 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?”

    You are important to God. God takes pride in you. Live that way.

    Remember, drink all the water you can, and eat one bowl of soup after three (3) PM. Make out your prayer list for the year 2025. Join us tomorrow, Friday, for prayer at six (6) AM. Here is the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/797700935

    Remember, invite someone to church with you this Sunday.

    Yours Because I am His,

    Leo Colon, D.Min., M.Div.,

    In His Presence Family Worship Center

    http://www.ihpfwc.org

  • Implementing the Kingdom of God

    Today is day number three. You are doing amazingly. This is already a victory. Remember, you are attracting God’s attention. Make a point of praying throughout the day. Have your prayer list and be focused on what you need from God. Today, let’s go back to our primary scripture.

    Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

    We understand that we should seek the Kingdom of God first; we understand what it means to seek, but how do I apply this to my day-to-day living? Here are a few thoughts.

    Start your day with God. Take time to start your day with prayer. Make it a priority so that you are not disturbed by routine. What I mean is this: Get up an extra 30 minutes early to talk with God. I know I tend to want to wake up and get right to my day. That’s OK, but take the time to spend with God. Pray, and make that a necessary part of your morning.

    Meditate on God’s word. Even take the time to memorize scripture. This will help you envelop your mindset in the things of God. Practice taking time to think on His word, meditate, and consider how scripture can be the basis for how you think, feel, and engage your community.

    Play and listen to Christian content. Listen to a sermon, podcast, or devotional throughout your day.

    Try journaling. Set aside time to write down your ideas, thoughts, and reflections as you go through this year. Your faith journey is worth writing down. You could even turn this into a blog which can encourage someone else.

    Practice righteousness throughout your day. Before you make a move, find out how God would want you to behave, create, and deal with the issue before you decide what to do.

    Try these few things to practice seeking and functioning as citizens of the Kingdom of God. I am looking forward to your testimony. Try one of these things and make it a habit. It is said that you are making a habit when you do something consistently for 21 days in a row. Then, add another item that will help you keep your mindset on the Kingdom of God.

    Remember, Drink all the water you can, and eat one bowl of soup after three (3) PM. Make out your prayer list for the year 2025. Join us this week, Monday through Friday, for prayer at six (6) AM. Here is the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/797700935

    Remember, invite someone to church with you this Sunday.

    Yours Because I am His,

    Leo Colon, D.Min., M.Div.,

    In His Presence Family Worship Center

    http://www.ihpfwc.org

  • Seek Ye First

    Welcome to day two of the fast. Your dedication is commendable and is drawing God’s attention. Let’s focus on a key paradigm for our lives, found in Matthew 6:33:

    “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

    This imperative from Jesus offers a blueprint for success in God’s Kingdom. Miles Monroe said, to seek “means to pursue, study, explore, understand, learn, and consider. Seekers must have a desire to know, and possess a passion for the object of their search. To seek means to give diligent dedication to and to preoccupy one’s self with that which one is seeking.”

     As Kingdom citizens, we should align every aspect of our lives—clothing, food, conversations—with God’s principles.

    Studying the Kingdom of God helps us function as proper citizens, understanding its laws, economics, norms, and relationships. We need to explore what’s important in God’s Kingdom: its anthem, capital, governing body, and protection.

    The Message Bible translates Matthew 6:33 as: “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”

    Today, seek God’s Kingdom in everything you do. Ensure your clothes and speech represent His Kingdom. Pursue, study, and explore it diligently. Your life will be enriched as a result.

    Remember, Drink all the water you can, and eat one bowl of soup after three (3) PM. Make out your prayer list for the year 2025. Join us this week, Monday through Friday, for prayer at six (6) AM. Here is the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/797700935

    Remember, invite someone to church with you this Sunday. 

    Yours Because I am His,

    Leo Colon, D.Min., M.Div.,

    In His Presence Family Worship Center

    http://www.ihpfwc.org 

  • The Kingdom of God

    Welcome to our Yearly Beginning of the Year Fast.

    As we embark on our fast for the year 2025 at In His Presence Family Worship Center, I am filled with anticipation for what promises to be a pivotal year. Our theme, “The Kingdom of God,” is inspired by the powerful words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33:

    “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

    The Transformative Power of Seeking God’s Kingdom

    A profound shift occurs when believers actively seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. This transformation begins with a fundamental change in mindset, particularly for those of us accustomed to the American way of life.

    Shifting from Democracy to Kingdom Thinking

    Living in a democracy, the kingdom concept can feel foreign to many of us. To truly grasp Jesus’ message, we must release our Americanized understanding of the kingdom and embrace a biblical perspective. This shift is crucial because:

    1. The wrong mindset can hinder us from reaching the right goals

    2. It can lead to misguided decisions

    3. We may accept incorrect priorities, causing unnecessary stress

    The Importance of Kingdom-Aligned Decisions

    Making decisions that align with God’s Kingdom is paramount. As the saying goes, “When we are born, we look like our fathers. When we die, we look like our decisions.” This profound statement challenges us to consider:

    Do your decisions reflect the Kingdom of God?

    Embracing Kingdom Risk

    The wrong mindset can prevent us from taking risks because our normal defines our safety net. However, as Kingdom-minded believers, we should be willing to step out in faith. I would rather take a risk based on God’s Word than rely on the perceived safety of public opinion.

    Conclusion: A Call to Kingdom-Focused Living

    As we begin this fast, let us commit to seeking God’s Kingdom first. May we allow our minds to be renewed, our decisions to be guided by His righteousness, and our lives to reflect the values of His Kingdom. This year, let’s embrace the transformative power of Kingdom living and witness the fulfillment of God’s promise to add “all these things” unto us.

    Remember, Drink all the water you can, and eat one bowl of soup after three (3) PM. Make out your prayer list for the year 2025. Join us this week, Monday through Friday, for prayer at six (6) AM. Here is the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/797700935

    Remember, invite someone to church with you this Sunday. 

    Yours Because I am His,

    Leo Colon, D.Min., M.Div.,

    In His Presence Family Worship Center

    http://www.ihpfwc.org 

  • Please God

    Please God

    Today, I want to encourage you as we consider our New Year. We are making a point of “making the most of every opportunity.”

    Eph. 5:16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. NLT

    With an eye on this imperative, let’s consider this text as we approach this goal. Let’s look at the text:

    Eph. 5:10 ¶ Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. NLT

    The Apostle Paul teaches us from his letter to the Ephesians that we should consider what pleases God as a paradigm for our life. We should search the scriptures and engage in prayer and fasting to gain clarity on what “pleases God.” The nuance in the NLT version tells that we should “carefully determine.” Make a point of understanding fully, do not leave out anything, and do not trust people, especially when they have no relationship with God. 

    It is possible for you to find what pleases the LORD in your life is different from your brother or sister. Whatever you see, go after it with diligence. Pleasing God takes faith. (Heb. 11:6) Pleasing God means you believe God’s word and put it into practice. Remember, faith in God and in his word is not blind faith because God has always been faithful to us, and his word has always been right. Trust God, Believe God, and do what pleases him. I want to please God, do you? Remember, your orthopraxy is informed by your orthodoxy. Meaning that what you do is informed by what you believe. You will please God because you believe there is a benefit to doing what God wants and doing it his way. Please God!

    Yours Because I am His,

    Leo Colon, D. Min.

  • Be Perfect.

    Be Perfect.

    Grace and Peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our LORD. Today is day number two (2). You are doing very well. Remember, drink all the water you can today and have one bowl of soup after 3 PM. Let’s take a look at today’s scripture. 

    Matt. 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (KJV)

    Matt. 5:48 ¶ “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you. (Message Bible)

    If we are going to move on toward perfection, we owe it to ourselves to do it on purpose. Remember, our theme for the year of Moving on toward perfection comes to us from the text in Hebrew 6:1. Since we need at least two texts to form a doctrine, let’s look at this text in Matthew as a reference. What is God saying? 

    Matthew 5:48 Be ye Perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (KJV) 

    Again, the word in Greek for perfect is the word τελειος. Be mature, complete, an achiever, perfect as your God is perfect, complete, mature, an achiever. 

    In the Message Bible, it is iterated in four mandates for us.

    1. Grow Up.
    2. You’re Kingdom subjects- Live like it. 
    3. Live out your God-created identity.
    4. Live generously and graciously toward others. 

    Then he tells us the reason why we should, because it is “the way God lives towards you.”

    I will take the time to deal with each of these iterations on Sunday, so don’t miss church, but I will take the time to just say this. I need to consider how God lives towards me and remember that this Christian Life is not a joke. I need to do better, and I will. 

    Not just in my prayer life but in my business life. Imagine if I approached my entire life as if I wanted to honor God with my life. Are you seriously honoring God with your whole life? How did God live toward you? 

    I’ll wait. 

    Yours Because I am His,

    Leo Colon, D. Min., M.Div. 

    Pastor