Dear Paul,
How did you know? How did you know exactly the encouragement I needed? Some days I feel so overwhelmed, so burdened that I don't know which way is up.
It's not that I don't love the work. And I think you know the passion I have for this new fellowship of believers. In all honesty though, I'm sure there are still plenty of times you'd like to give me a smack upside the head and tell me to get a grip.
How did you know? How did you know exactly the encouragement I needed? Some days I feel so overwhelmed, so burdened that I don't know which way is up.
It's not that I don't love the work. And I think you know the passion I have for this new fellowship of believers. In all honesty though, I'm sure there are still plenty of times you'd like to give me a smack upside the head and tell me to get a grip.
Grace arrives with its own instruction: run away from anything that leads us away from God; abandon the lusts and passions of this world; live life now in this age with awareness and self-control, doing the right thing and keeping yourselves holy.
Titus 2: 12 VOICE
I gotta tell you, Paul, sometimes it's just plain hard keeping a grip. You and I have traveled a lot, and worked with a lot of diverse people, but some of these folks are totally off the chain.
I know you put a lot of confidence in me, and I appreciate that. It's a huge blessing that my knowledge of languages allows me to translate for you. But, just so you know, being able to read and write in different languages doesn't always give me a leg up with the locals. (Somebody's crazy around here and I'm not sure if it's me or them.)
My dear friend, my mentor, my foster father, there are days when I'd blow this popsicle stand if anyone besides you asked me stay. In a place where lying, gluttony, and downright sinfulness run rampant, trying to teach new believers to accept and share the love of Christ feels like speaking pig-latin to a pig at times.
Good grief, would you listen to me? What a whiner! I am thankful for your letter, and promise to share it every chance I get with the church. And Paul, I'll really try to live with awareness, self-control, and holiness in such a way as to draw others to our Savior.
Your servant of Christ,
Titus
I know you put a lot of confidence in me, and I appreciate that. It's a huge blessing that my knowledge of languages allows me to translate for you. But, just so you know, being able to read and write in different languages doesn't always give me a leg up with the locals. (Somebody's crazy around here and I'm not sure if it's me or them.)
My dear friend, my mentor, my foster father, there are days when I'd blow this popsicle stand if anyone besides you asked me stay. In a place where lying, gluttony, and downright sinfulness run rampant, trying to teach new believers to accept and share the love of Christ feels like speaking pig-latin to a pig at times.
Good grief, would you listen to me? What a whiner! I am thankful for your letter, and promise to share it every chance I get with the church. And Paul, I'll really try to live with awareness, self-control, and holiness in such a way as to draw others to our Savior.
Your servant of Christ,
Titus
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Dear Reader, do you ever wonder how or why God calls you to serve in a crazy, wacked out mission field? Guess what? You're not alone!
Personally, I think God gets a kick out of calling His children to the crazy. How else would we ever fully discover who He is, and who we are?
Somehow, in ways only God could create, He is working callouses on our hearts to strengthen them, all the while massaging them into suppleness. Only His hand can shape our lives into the vessels of service and praise we were created to be. God's just flat out amazing, isn't He?
Personally, I think God gets a kick out of calling His children to the crazy. How else would we ever fully discover who He is, and who we are?
Somehow, in ways only God could create, He is working callouses on our hearts to strengthen them, all the while massaging them into suppleness. Only His hand can shape our lives into the vessels of service and praise we were created to be. God's just flat out amazing, isn't He?
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