From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "C & P Greene" <greenehouse72@juno.com>
Subject: Sunday Greetings
Date: Sunday, July 23, 2000 7:29 AM

The great Apostle Paul, writer of 13 (some add Hebrews making it 14) Books
of the New Testament wrote the following to Timothy,

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He
considered me faithful, putting me into service; even though I was formerly
a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.  And yet I was shown
mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was
more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.  And
yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost,
Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those
who would believe in Him for eternal life.  1 Timothy l:12-16

We know that this Paul was Saul, a persecutor of Christians, who was "in
hearty agreement with putting Stephen to death."  "And Saul began ravaging
the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he
would put them in prison."  Acts 8:1 & 3
"Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord"
[Acts 9:1] got authority to go after and bring back to Jerusalem those who
belonged to the Way in Damascus.

This Saul met Jesus on the Damascus road and his life was forever changed.
Please read on in Acts to refresh yourselves with the rest of the account of
Saul who became Paul, the Apostle.

As we read in the above verses, Jesus made Paul into a living
example of not only His patience, but of His great love, grace, mercy,
kindness, gentleness, faith and  goodness.  As He was to Paul so too is He
to each
of us.  Paul's life as a bondservant, one wholly submitted to Christ,  is an
example set before us.

As Paul desired, do we desire too?
"That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship
of His sufferings..."
"...I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was
laid hold of by Christ Jesus."  Philippians 3:10 & 12

And this?  We sing the following verse, but is it reality to each of us; do
we
really live now by the faith of Christ?
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
faith of the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me."
Galatians 2:20

Let's thank the Lord for His Word that is a light unto our path and for the
example of His people whom He has set before us in His Word; He Himself the
standard.  We thank Him, also, for those He has set before us in our daily
lives.  Like Paul, let's submit ourselves to Him  that He may have His
perfect way in our lives.
How thankful we are that He has made us His own.