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Life through Relationships
I thank my God
upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer making request for you all with joy for your
fellowship (relationship) in the gospel (Philippians 1:3-5).
When I stepped into a full-time ministry as a vocation this past March, I realized more profoundly what I have sensed for years:
Ministry is not about me doing good things for others, but ministry is all about the life of Christ flowing through personal relationships.
However, Christians can struggle when we fall for the temptations to try finding life through impersonal relationships with: chemical substances, our thoughts, our vocation, our circumstances, our own abilities, our feelings, our good works, etc.
Impersonal relationships are idols that always lead to conflict and frustration. Such relationships divert our focus from real personal relationships that nurture life.
In Romans 7:14-25, Paul testifies of his conflict and frustration with striving to live the Christian life. Paul cried out over and over for someone to tell him HOW he could overcome his struggle.
In Romans 7:24-25, Paul finally cried out for a real relationship: "WHO will deliver me in the midst of my struggle?" Paul was then free to proclaim: "I thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
Paul had, in effect, developed a relationship with his struggles and was seeking HOW to get out of that relationship. Life was manifested when Paul saw the reality of His personal relationship with Christ right in the midst of his struggles!
The presence of Christ in our lives is the victory, not the absence of struggles. Our relationships nurture the presence of Christ in each of us so that Christ in us is our strength and we minister Him to others.
The light of Christ is manifested through us to others in the darkness of our battles with temptations. Temptations are not sins, but are opportunities to trust Christ in us. This is when people witness that we are real (not religious) and that we have a real hope they can have, too!
Reflecting on how beautiful and full of life our relationships in the body of Christ are,
PS, I am so excited about the October 21st service that is based on personal relationships! Please pray for the beauty of Christ to be glorified through and to all who attend this service.
JOURNEY IN CHRIST
UPCOMING EVENTS
Journey in Christ Celebration Service
(see upper right)
Gregg chaplain at Boys Home of the South
Chapel on Hwy 25 near Belton, SC
Tuesdays 7:00 to 8:00 pm
Visitors welcome!
Gregg attending men's Bible study
Haven of Rest Men's Training Center Belton, SC
Thursdays 6:00 to 7:00 pm
Contact Gregg if you are interested in training to minister to men with addictive lifestyles
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LINKS AND MESSAGES |
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Your friends can subscribe to
Gregg's Weekly Rest Stop through sign-up forms
at the above websites.
I am a missionary
with Journey in Christ, Inc.,
a discipleship counseling
and training ministry.
Let me know if you'd like
to know more about being
a ministry partner with me.
I would love to hear from you!
Contact me at the following email link, phone, or address:
(864) 483-3201 (Gregg cell)
JOURNEY IN CHRIST
Attn: Gregg Gibbons
926 NE Main Street
Suite F-155
Simpsonville, SC 29681
Click here for
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Journey in Christ
Celebration Service
Gregg's Personal Presentation of the Discipleship Ministry
Thursday October 21
7:00 to 8:00 pm
Holly Ridge Baptist Church
Simpsonville, SC
Bobby Richardson speaker
Boys speaking by God's grace
Plus other personal testimonies
and worship music
How Beautiful is the Body of Christ
song by Twila Paris
How beautiful
are the hands that served,
the wine and the bread
and the sons of the earth.
How beautiful the feet that walked the long dusty roads
and to the hill of the cross.
How beautiful, how beautiful,
how beautiful is the body of Christ.
How beautiful the heart that bled that took all my sin
and bore it instead.
How beautiful the tender eyes
that choose to forgvie
and never despise.
How beautiful, how beautiful,
how beautiful is the body of Christ.
How beautiful the radiant bride
who waits for her Groom
with His light in her eyes.
How beautiful
when humble hearts give
the fruit of pure lives
so that others may live.
How beautiful, how beautiful,
how beautiful is the body of Christ.
And as He lay down His life
we offer this sacrifice
that we will live just as He died
willing to pay the price,
willing to pay the price. |
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