October 8

It’s Wednesday and I’m dragging out winter clothes! All day yesterday we ran inventory at the store and this morning, we will finish step two before we open. Counting. Counting. And counting some more. 


I think about all the thing Paul counted—steps, towns, islands, converts, but most of all, I think he counted his blessings and those blessing were people. 


“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬


Paul loved people. And he explained why he loved over and over. 

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬


When he first hit Macedonia, he came to Neopolis by the sea. This port city, was the gateway for Paul to bring the gospel in to Europe. Neapolis (which means New City) began around the 6th century BC and is located in eastern Macedonia. It was established to take advantage of the nearby gold and silver mines (more than 300 tons of gold were taken from here.) The early settlers (the Thessians) perfected the art of gleaming gold crumbs from the streams by straining it through fleece that trapped the tiny gold flecks (Golden fleece). 


The Apostle traveled through this wealthy city a few times during his journeys. And for me, it is surprising that this illustrious city with all its beauty and wealth is merely a footnote in Paul’s writings. But then, when you remember the Apostle and what was important to him, it obviously wasn’t silver and gold. 


When we travel and visit places, what are the first things we tell of? The people we meet or the beauty and splendor of a place? For me, i love to tell of what I’ve learned there—the history or the significance. But Paul’s example is to love people—to care for and reach people for Jesus. I’m afraid I fall woefully short. 


Lord Jesus please teach us to care more for people than we do for wealth or things or even sights. Help us to practice making people our priority and our focus. We know you love us with a crazy, overwhelming love. We want to be able to share that with others—to let them know that same never-ending love is available for them. We pray to be more like you yet, this one thing, the thing most important to you is the first place we fail. Show us how we can really be more like you and let your love and concern for others flow through us. Praise you Lord for your mercy and grace abounds to us. We love you and adore you and today, we now before you. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear friend,

Pam


Pictures of Theopolis (and Kavala) are on Facebook. 


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