Quote from Forum Archives on May 5, 2003, 4:12 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Today's message comes from the Crosswalk.com Weekly Verses
mailing list for May 5, 2003. This week's theme is definitely
about our attitudes and responses toward our Lord - humble,
obedient, selfless, mindful of our position and circumstances,
people who are learning to live by faith.

Now I don't know about many of you, but for me, these are
attitudes, actions, and responses that I certainly aspire to, yet
at the same time, I am humbled, for I am merely a work in
progress. Though I have faith, sometimes my faith is weak.
Though I desire to obey, I don't always do so. Though I desire
to be selfless, sometimes I'm selfish instead. Can you relate to
me, or am I the only one willing to admit to having such
difficulties?

Even so, as I renew my mind through God's Word, I have hope. I
believe that He has been changing me, and He continues to do so.
I believe that He has saved me, and that is something that will
never change.

Can I act upon those beliefs? Yes, and I can stand by them.
Even when I falter, I can say, like Job, with confidence: "I
know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand
upon the earth." I know and believe that by believing in the
teachings found in the Bible, which I believe by faith. Job
believed that, not having seen the promised Savior, but through
believing in the eternal promises of God. Like Job, I sometimes
waver, I sometimes get discouraged, but just as Job foresaw and
believed, I also believe that no matter what difficulties come in
life (and there will be many of them) God will ultimately
prevail, He'll not only save, but He'll restore those whom He
calls His own.

Are you one of those? You can be sure. Know the God of the Holy
Bible, know what the Word says about Him who came to seek and
save that which was lost, realize that it is You and me whom He
came to seek and save, realize why (because we're flawed, we make
mistakes and sin), realize that we're still deeply loved and that
Jesus Christ is the One who was ordained, even before the
creation of the world, to be the One to provide that saving
sacrifice that was needed, a humbling, serving sacrifice.

We will never be without fault as living beings. But, given the
gift of the eternal hope we have in Christ, we may live like Him,
as people who are humble, seeking to serve one another out of
gratitude and the same deep love that Christ exhibits toward us.

Dear Lord,

I know that I offend others from time to time, and I've also
offended You. Please forgive me for my offenses against You and
against others, and please also grant me a forgiving heart, that
I may not hold the offenses of others against them. Instead,
restore to each of us the full joy of Your salvation, which comes
to us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Renew my mind, every
thought within me, that my attitude may be right before You, then
transform that attitude, so that I may humbly and gratefully
serve You through acts of kindness to others.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

____________________________________________________________

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Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.11697.1.293748

May 5, 2003

These verses are taken from Heartlight Daily Verse, by Phil Ware
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.11697.2.293748
~~~~~~~~~

MONDAY

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who,
being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the
very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And
being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and
became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!

--Philippians 2:5-8
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
"Lord, humble us gently." That is one of my friend's
favorite prayers. I like it, too. But thank God that Jesus
was not gently humbled. While I hate he had to go through
agony, his self-emptying humility the fact that was stark,
bold, drastic, and outrageous. But I am to have this same
attitude when it comes to reaching the lost and loving God's
children.

MY PRAYER...
God, you are all-powerful and yet you emptied yourself to
redeem me. May I be more selfless in my attitude and treatment
of others, like Jesus was with me. In his name, I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

TUESDAY

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will
stand upon the earth.
--Job 19:25
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Beyond what these words were first meant to convey, we know
today that our Redeemer will return as the Rider on the white
horse in triumph and victory. Hallelujah, what a day!

MY PRAYER...
Conquering King, Immortal God, I look forward to the day of
your ultimate triumph in our world. Until that day, I pray
that your Kingdom may be reflected in my church, my family and
my life. Through the Rider on the white horse, I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

WEDNESDAY

Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into
him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
--Ephesians 4:15
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Speaking the truth is hard enough. You mean I have to do it
in love? Yes, if I am to be Christ's man or woman, I must
speak to others as he did.

MY PRAYER...
Father, forgive me for the bitterness in my heart and
unfairness on my lips. Through your Spirit, help me better use
my speech to bless others and glorify you. May I speak your
truth with your love today in all my conversations. Through
him who is Truth and Love I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

THURSDAY

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone
who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he
rewards those who earnestly seek him.
--Hebrews 11:6
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
I believe! I believe that God not only knows me, but cares
about me. I believe that God not only created the universe,
but he knows the number of hairs on my head. I believe that
God not only sent his Son to save the world, but that he's
sending him back to bring me home. What's more, I believe that
God is pleased by my belief.

MY PRAYER...
Almighty, Most Holy Lord, I thank you for your steadfast
love and enduring faithfulness. I thank you for your grace and
mercy. I thank you for your might and power. I thank you for
your awesome holiness. I thank you... for being you and
choosing to reveal yourself to mortals like me. Through Jesus,
your final Word, I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

FRIDAY

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we
ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we
know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have
what we asked of him.
--1 John 5:14-15
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Confidence before God. Through the presence of Jesus at the
Father's right hand and the intercession of the Holy Spirit, we
can have confidence and come boldly before the Creator of the
universe and know that he not only hears us, but also cares for
us. Wow, what an audience! Oh, and one final thing, he also
ACTS on what we ask.

MY PRAYER...
Abba Father, for the grace of your listening ear I thank you
more than words can say. Through the authority of Jesus, my
brother, and by the grace of your interceding Holy Spirit, I
offer you my thanks and love this day. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

SATURDAY

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
--Romans 12:12
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Sometimes the key to survival is simply "setting our jaw"
and going on faithfully trusting that God is there helping us,
despite the outward circumstances. Choosing joy through hope
rather than despair, choosing patient endurance in times of
affliction, and choosing faithfulness in prayer are all
decisions of the will. We trust that God, who raised Jesus from
the dead, can also change our circumstances because he hears
our voice.

MY PRAYER...
Create in me, O Mighty God, a resolute and steadfast heart
so that I might persevere with joy no matter what the
difficulty. This I ask through your faithful Son. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

SUNDAY

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves
and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then
will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will
heal their land.
--2 Chronicles 7:14
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Humility is not our culture's biggest asset or most desired
character quality. But humility is what is demanded -- not so
much because it's commanded (thought that would be enough), but
because we've earned it. Every year brings another wave of
major failures in morality, character, and spirituality. Rather
than progressing culturally, we find ourselves slipping.
Humility is earned! So let's be humble and call upon the Lord!

MY PRAYER...
Holy and Almighty God, your deeds are awesome, your
faithfulness is overwhelming, and your mercy and grace are such
a blessing. Yet I come to you knowing that you hear me, despite
the incredible distance between you and I, between your worth
and holiness and my lack. I confess that I, and my culture and
country around me have made a mess of what you so wonderfully
blessed us with. I come humbly asking that you reassert
yourself in our nation in clearly recognizable ways. I ask this
in faith through Jesus. Amen.

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=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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