Titus

• Paul write to Titus
• Titus is appointing elders in towns; elders must have only 1 wife and believing children
• Elders hold onto what is true and can tell others when their ways are wrong
• Paul tells Titus to encourage the people: young and old; men and women - to be wise and true; to show they serve God and are waiting for hope and the coming of Jesus
• Don't speak evil and do goo
• Don't follow the enjoyment of your body, but remember the kindness and love of God and do good deeds
• Also Titus, help others teaching the Good News

2 Timothy

• Paul encourages Timothy
• Timothy comes from a family of faith
• They serve sharing the Good News
• Avoid evil and quarreling and do good
• In the last days, believers will turn away and turn to evil
• Follow the teachings, use the scripture to guide your life; keep the faith

1 Timothy

• A letter from Paul to Timothy
• Stay and tell them not to spend time on false teachings but on faith items
• God shows mercy when we believe
• Jesus is patient
• Don't shipwreck your faith
• Pray for believers and leaders
• Men: pray without anger or arguments
• Women: do good deeds, not fancy clothes
• Women should be quiet and not teach because of Eve, but saved through children
• What qualifies someone to be an elder and deacon
• Don't follow false teachers
• Serve other and serve God for it helps you in every way in this life and the future
• Treat others with respect as parents and siblings
• Care for windows who are alone, let families care for their own windows
• Families should care for each other so the church can care for those without family
• Don't share in others sin
• Some sins and deeds aren't easily seen until later
• Want of money leads you astray; serving God makes us very rich

2 Thessalonians

• Paul, Silas and Timothy brag of the Thessalonians to other churches for they stand in suffering and trouble
• When they Lord comes, non-believers will be punished
• Man of Evil will come and turning away from God by the people before the Lord will come again
• Man of Evil from Stan and will do false miracles, signs and wonders
• Stand strong and believe Good news teachings
• Pray the Good News keeps spreading
• Be willing to work for yourself, but don't treat those who don't as enemies, but warn them as fellow believers

1 Thessalonians

• Thessalonians believed and stopped worshipping idols and spread the Good News
• Paul uses his words to try to please God, not people
• Paul accepted them as the word of God, not just people
• Paul wants to visit again, but is glad when Timothy brings good news of them back to him
• Live a life pleasing to God, no sexual sin
• Take care of your business and you will be respected
• When the Lord comes again, those who have died first will go before those still living
• The Lord's coming will be a surprise but believers should be prepared and not asleep; faith, love and hope will protect us in the coming of the Lord
• Appreciate hard workers
• Live in peace
• Encourage the afraid
• Help the weak
• Be patient
• Don't return wrong with wrong
• Keep what is good, stay away from evil

Love Beyond Reason

This book took me awhile.  It had a more academic reading/feel to it and I had a more difficult time staying engaged and following along.  It's a busy season, and I'm tired in the evenings so my mind wanders and often falls asleep.  It certainly had good points in it, and I'm sure I missed some great points too as I lost focus on the reading.

Colossians

• Paul writes to the people of Colossee wishing grace and peace and thanking them for their faith, hope and love
• Christ is first; all things are created through Him and for Him; Christ first rose from the dead and made us friends with God again
• Christ is our only hope for glory; so we share all God's teachings with other people to bring everyone to God
• Paul in body is away from them, but with them in heart
• Be strong in faith as taught and thankful
• Don't be fooled by human teaching
• Don't follow rules of people about eating, drinking, feats; hold tight to Christ - the rules don't really control sinful desires as they aim to
• Paul tells of how you should live with your new life in Christ: think only of heaven, stop evil things for doing them is like serving a false God, forgive, love, everything you do, do for the Lord
• Treat other people well
• Always be kind and pleasant with talking with others
• Paul tells of the people whit him and who he sends to the people
• Share the letter with the church