United Christian Ministries @ NAU This Week's Text

---

Upcoming Activities Music Book Groups & Bible Studies Environmental Stewardship Today's Text Service Opportunities Sponsoring Denominations Local Congregations Another View Contacts/Directions In Flagstaff Home Links

Colossians 9-23 from The Message Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us. God rescued us from the dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating. And so at UCM, we pray and will continue to pray for you this semester. We pray that you too will live well and that as we learn more of how God works, we will learn how to do our work—individually and collectively. I especially like the phrase, “We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth, but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.” We are glad you are here! Peace, Kathleen

---

2007 September

United Christian Ministry, 500 West Riordan Road, Flagstaff, Arizona, U.S.A 86001