1 Corinthians: Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
Today is the birthday of a long-time friend. Actually, this month is filled with the birthdays of many loved ones. I wonder how many know that they are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in them?
Once you have that knowledge, it is hard to put anything that is not clean and pure, blessed and revered into your mouth.
Last night, I went to dinner with a friend to celebrate her birthday and after, went to hear an Irish band named Dervish (great name, great band). When it came time for dessert, we decided to split a chocolate cake the waitress recommended. Lately, I've been avoiding sugar, mostly because I think there has been a bit of an addiction attached to it, also because I have been feeling great without it.
There was no hesitation in ordering it and splitting it. When it arrived, I was expecting the typical chocolate cake with flour and sugar, maybe frosting. When this arrived, it looked like a small chocolate puck. I honored each bite and it was worth it. Never have I tasted anything so delicious. An oreo cookie crust on the bottom, then almost a dulce de leche filling with mild chocolate covering. It was delightful and I know God's Spirit was delighted as well.
It could be when we honor God/Spirit in everything we do or say, taste or smell, touch or breathe, listen to or read, everything in our life becomes a blessing, an extension of God's Spirit.
March 16
Matthew: And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
Mark: So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);
Luke: John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
John: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
Acts: And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.
Romans: ruin and misery are in their paths,
1 Corinthians: Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
2 Corinthians: but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
Galatians: Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it does not say, “And to offsprings,” as of many; but it says, “And to your offspring,” that is, to one person, who is Christ.
Ephesians: I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit,
Philippians: Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.
Colossians: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
2 Thessalonians: Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.
1 Timothy: Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.
2 Timothy: All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Hebrews: Now who were they who heard and yet were rebellious? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses?
James: For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.
1 Peter: yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.
2 Peter: speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.
1 John: We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.
Revelation: So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.