Thoughts & Reflections

"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong...." Romans 1:11. Any empowering gift that we share with others is a gift that God's Spirit has shared with us. #exploring-gods-story #dirkscornerapp

"I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you." Romans 1:10. Praying in God's will saves us a lot of time uselessly chasing our own will.

"𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘮 𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘰𝘯..." 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴 1:9 Serving can be a spiritual thing, if we trust the one we serve. Circumstances may sometimes force us to serve unworthy leaders, but leaders who inspire genuine spiritual service are a rare, Godly treasure.

"𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵, 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘮𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥." 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴 1:8 What a delightful thought that people would discuss a church's faith rather than their failure. What must we do to change the conversation? #the-story

"𝘛𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦..." 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴 1:7 God's love comes with a calling, to live holy lives. Holy people not always perfect, but they are devoted, consecrated to serve the one who calls them into holiness. He defines our life purpose. #the-story

"And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ." Romans 1:6 The calling of Jesus is a call for everyone to be loved. He does not care what religious or cultural box people try to trap us in. Human definitions do cannot disqualify us from His love.

“ Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name's sake. ” Romans 1:5. Obedience is easier when we can trust the One leading us. Serving as an ambassador for that Leader is then a priviledge, even when we are challenged.

“ ...the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures.... ” Romans 1:2. God chose to reveal His Good News in Story form, over centures, even millenia. Thousands of human stories comprising a kaleidoscope, one big story pointing us all towards one Person.

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle.... ” Christ insists that we see ourselves as servants before we see ourselves as leaders. Authority in His community is only given to serve.