1 Thessalonians 1 - 7.30.25

Scripture

I Thessalonians 1:2-3

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation

Today I start my day with thankfulness for my amazing Desert Streams family!

Application

I am so grateful for the people that God has placed in my life – people who love me, pray for me, encourage me, and support me. I am surrounded by people who love God and love others, people who run hard after God and encourage me to do the same.

I Thessalonians 1:4-5 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.

Philippians 1:4-6 I’m thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy. I’m glad because of the way you have been my partners in the ministry of the gospel from the time you first believed it until now. I’m sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus.

I pray blessing and honor on you today!

Prayer

God, help me to focus on others more than myself. Help me to love others like you love me – faithfully and unconditionally. Thank you for the community you have placed around me. Thank you for my partners in ministry! Remind me daily to pray for my church family, to lift them up and encourage them, to meet needs where I can, and to let them know how much I love and appreciate them.

- Debbie Dunn

Colossians 4 - 7.29.25

SCRIPTURE:  COLOSSIANS 4:6

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

OBSERVATION

Paul is writing to give instructions about Christian conduct. In this scripture, he highlights how we should speak to others.

He highlights how our conversation should always be full of grace. When we speak, our words need to come from God’s grace of love, forgiveness and full acceptance. Although we are all undeserving of His grace, our speech can emulate this grace when we speak with kindness, love, and gentleness.

Our speech should also be seasoned with salt. Today we know that salt serves a variety of purposes but the most common use is to bring out the flavor in food. If you’ve ever tasted something without any seasoning, you know it’s bland and not appealing. It serves no purpose and leaves the wrong impression. When it comes to our speech, “seasoned with salt” can mean our words are enhanced as a benefit to the hearer. Each word Is savory and leaves the hearer having a closer understand of Christ’s love.

When our conversation is full of grace and seasoned with salt, this implies that our words should be thought out to give the proper account of our faith. Using grace in conversations means we need to wisely choose our words so the other person is uplifted, encouraged and edified. Salt allows for our conversations to be savory, interesting, morally wholesome and acceptable to the hearer.

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15-16

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29

APPLICATION

It’s easy to apply these principles to people we love but what about how we talk with acquaintances, neighbors, and anyone else we encounter in our day-to-day life? Are we showing God’s mighty grace, His wisdom, His love? Is the content and manner we speak giving God glory or point to the world’s view?  Our words matter in so many ways. They can build up or break down. Someone can be edified or crushed to their core. Is our speech showing God’s love and forgiveness or our frustration in the moment?

Part of our reading today included Proverbs 18. This section had some correlating topics on using words and the outcome of using them in the wrong way:

Proverbs 18:2 - Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.

Proverbs 18:4 - The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.

Proverbs 18:6-8 - The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.

Proverbs 18:13 - To answer before listening —  that is folly and shame.

When I think of our ability to use words to glorify God, share the Gospel, encourage others, and leave a lasting impression, we’re using and choosing our words with grace, just the right amount of salt, and can give an answer to everyone regarding our faith.

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for your everlasting word. Help me to live out everything to your glory. When it comes to my speech, I pray it always points to you, is encouraging, and benefits all those who are listening. Please forgive me for those times where I’ve said things that have caused the other person to be hurt. Help me to be mindful of your Spirit’s leading when speaking to others. Lead me to say what you want to be shared – not my words but your words. In Jesus name. Amen!

- Mary Oberg

Colossians 3 - 7.28.25

Scripture

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” -Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” -Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” -Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation

Paul speaks to the church in Colossae about what living a changed life in Christ looks like. In verses 5-8, they are told what to put to death and then in verses 12-14, they are told what to put on instead, to replace the old life. In verse 2, it is a basic summary on how they will be able to put on the correct identity and that’s by focusing their minds and hearts on eternity, not on this world.

Application

Live in our NEW identity, not the OLD.

I think it’s interesting how all of the traits that we need to put on (even those we need to put off) has to do with our character and heart. True and lasting compassion, kindness, humility, love and forgiveness does not come from something learned outside of ourselves. It comes from our heart. It’s impossible to make those changes in and of ourselves. It can work temporarily, but not in the long run.

Therefore, the first step in putting on the right “clothes” is to focus on Jesus; to set our minds not on our temporary, earthly dwelling place, but rather, our eternal dwelling in Heaven with Him. Once our hearts are aligned with His and we are aware of how He chose us and loves us dearly, the overflow will always be us putting on the correct “clothes.”

We work for Jesus and must represent Him well. We are His servants not just at church, but while we work our jobs in the marketplace; while we do chores at home; while we take care of our kids and spouses; while we interact with our friends, family and neighbors; and even while we scroll/post on social media!

“And WHATEVER you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” -‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for choosing us and loving us so much! Help us Holy Spirit to always be clothed with Your compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love, instead of everything else that You have described as idolatry in Your Word. Change our hearts and minds to focus on the eternal and not on temporary things here on earth. All things will pass. You won’t allow anyone or anything to take Your place.  I pray we would focus on You and spend time with You daily through Your Word and Worship so that we wouldn’t fall into the enemy’s traps. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi