1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
1:3 And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.
1:4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
1:5 God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. And there was evening, and there was morningthe first day.
1:6 And God said, Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.
1:7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so.
1:8 God called the vault sky. And there was evening, and there was morningthe second day.
1:9 And God said, Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear. And it was so.
1:10 God called the dry ground land, and the gathered waters he called seas. And God saw that it was good.
1:11 Then God said, Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds. And it was so.
1:12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
1:13 And there was evening, and there was morningthe third day.
1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years,
1:15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth. And it was so.
1:16 God made two great lightsthe greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.
1:17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth,
1:18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.
1:19 And there was evening, and there was morningthe fourth day.
1:20 And God said, Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.
1:21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
1:22 God blessed them and said, Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.
1:23 And there was evening, and there was morningthe fifth day.
1:24 And God said, Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind. And it was so.
1:25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
1:26 Then God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.
1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
1:28 God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.
1:29 Then God said, I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
1:30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the groundeverything that has the breath of life in itI give every green plant for food. And it was so.
1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morningthe sixth day.
Phillipians chapter 2
2:1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
2:4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
2:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
2:7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross!
2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
2:11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyednot only in my presence, but now much more in my absencecontinue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
2:13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
2:14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing,
2:15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
2:16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
2:17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
2:18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.
2:20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare.
2:21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
2:22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.
2:23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.
2:24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
2:25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.
2:26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.
2:27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.
2:28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.
2:29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,
2:30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.
Phillipians chapter 3
3:1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
3:2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.
3:3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh
3:4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:
3:5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;
3:6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
3:7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
3:8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christthe righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
3:10 I want to know Christyes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
3:11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
3:13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
3:15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
3:16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
3:17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
3:18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
3:19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
3:21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Phillipians chapter 4
4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
4:2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
4:3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableif anything is excellent or praiseworthythink about such things.
4:9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in meput it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
4:10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
4:14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
4:15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;
4:16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.
4:17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
4:18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
4:20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
4:21 Greet all Gods people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings.
4:22 All Gods people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesars household.
4:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Colossians chapter 1
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
1:2 To Gods holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
1:3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
1:4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all Gods people
1:5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel
1:6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole worldjust as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood Gods grace.
1:7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
1:8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,
1:10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
1:11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,
1:12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
1:15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
1:16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
1:19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
1:21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
1:22 But now he has reconciled you by Christs physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation
1:23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
1:24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christs afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
1:25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness
1:26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lords people.
1:27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
1:28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
1:29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Colossians chapter 2
2:1 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.
2:2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
2:4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
2:5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
2:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,
2:7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
2:10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
2:11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ,
2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
2:14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
2:17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
2:18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.
2:19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
2:20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:
2:21 Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!?
2:22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.
2:23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Colossians chapter 3
3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
3:4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
3:6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
3:7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
3:8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
3:9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
3:11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
3:12 Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
3:16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
3:17 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.
3:18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
3:21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
3:24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
3:25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
Colossians chapter 4
4:1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
4:3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
4:4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
4:5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
4:7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
4:8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.
4:9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
4:10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)
4:11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.
4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
4:13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.
4:14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.
4:15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
4:16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
4:17 Tell Archippus: See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.
4:18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
Closing Prayer; We pray that you help bring compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience to our lives. (3:12). 20. Give us a forgiving heart and patience with others, remembering how You have forgiven us (3:13).
Prayer of Salvation: Which is how you ask to become a child of Our Heavenly Father. Lord Jesus, I confess my sins and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Take complete control of my life and help me to walk in Your footsteps daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord for saving me and I know you will answer my prayers. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
You can reach us through
email: raynettekweissministries@yahoo.com.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/raynettekweissministries
Phone: 202-603-1821.