Quote from Forum Archives on May 12, 2003, 8:11 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Today I'd like to share with you a message from the Crosswalk.com
mailing list Weekly Verses, by Phil Ware, This week's
collection of verses and thoughts center around a theme of
thankfulness, gratefulness, and setting our hearts in the right
spirit, both toward God, and as a result, toward others as well.
This involves a healthy, regular self examination, after first
examining the scriptures, thinking about them, and asking God for
wisdom and guidance.

Will you respond to God, earnestly seeking Him, giving God credit
for all that He has done (instead of just being demanding of God,
insisting on this or that in prayers, without being truly
appreciative of what He has already done for each of us)? God
knows our needs, and He wants to hear from us, including our
needs, but God also desires grateful devotion, a joyful and
thankful heart, a repentant spirit when we do fall short, and an
eagerness to praise Him and draw near to Him.

Dear Lord,

Help me through each day, and enable me to be a disciple who is
not only willing to follow You, but one who is willing to serve,
to obey, to give, following Your wonderful humble example. Teach
me and help me to seek You first and love You with all of my
being, then help me to tap into the power of Your love. I
believe that once I appreciate You, the choices that I make will
flow out of a response to Your amazing love.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian
____________________________________________________________
AD | Find your Christian Soul Mate Today!
www.oneplace.com/newslink.asp?slink=2466
____________________________

Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.11830.1.293748

May 12, 2003

These verses are taken from Heartlight Daily Verse, by Phil Ware
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.11830.2.293748
~~~~~~~~~

MONDAY

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will
guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
--Philippians 4:6-7
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
God wants to hear our prayers, but to keep them from
becoming too self-focused, God wants us always to remember to
give thanks. It is so easy for us to turn prayer into a
request line. We are the ones who are left bereft when
thanksgiving and praise are robbed from our prayers.

MY PRAYER...
Gracious God, I have so many reasons to praise you. In the
face of trial and hardship I have your promises to reawaken my
hope. In the moment of victory I have you to thank for my
abilities. In the boredom of the routine, I have great joys in
your surprises. Thank you, God, for being so great and yet so
loving. In Jesus' name. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

TUESDAY

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that
you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful
and effective.
--James 5:16
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
To confess is to do two things with our sin: 1) to
recognize sin for what it is in God's eyes and 2) to get rid of
our secrets and be honest with another Christian. James'
language is powerful. He mentions that this confession doesn't
just bring forgiveness. It also brings healing.

MY PRAYER...
Holy Father, I have sinned. I now confess my own personal
sin of ____________. I ask for your forgiveness and for your
Spirit to strengthen me in overcoming temptation. I want to
live for you and not let my sin, any sin, entangle me and draw
me away from you. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

WEDNESDAY

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
--1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Where does your heart live? That's what these verses are
all about. Is there a constant awareness in your life that God
is present? Is he the unseen but always present companion in
all your ups and downs? Or is God here when it is convenient
and gone when things are busy? Joy comes from knowing we are
never alone. Prayer is the ongoing conversation we have,
Spirit to Spirit, with God. Thanksgiving is the great reminder
that we have been blessed no matter what the circumstances may
suggest.

MY PRAYER...
Precious and Righteous Father, thank you for being there.
Give me a deeper appreciation and a always more profound
awareness of your presence today. May my life reflect the joy
you have given me by saving me by grace. And may my heart
always find its home in you. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

THURSDAY

Make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be
always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know
how to answer everyone.

--Colossians 4:5-6
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
There are no random acts of kindness, only intentional acts
given the opportunity to happen. This is true not just in
deeds, but in words as well. But more than trying to avoid
poor speech, we are urged to use our speech to bless and help
others to come to know Christ.

MY PRAYER...
Father, forgive me for the careless words I have uttered
this week. I understand that these careless words are twice
sins -- a sin once when I committed it and a sin a second time
because I didn't see the opportunity to be redemptive. Open my
eyes Lord so that I may see what you have placed in my path.
Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

FRIDAY

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death.
--Romans 8:1-2
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
"Free at last, free at last, praise Lord God Almighty I am
free at last." Becoming a Christian means we have been
liberated from law-keeping. We now have God living in us,
through the Holy Spirit, to not only help us know his will, but
to live it. Through the Spirit's power, we can do what no law
could make us do: live up to God's standards of righteousness.

MY PRAYER...
Gracious father, thank you for all of your gifts to me.
Today, I want to especially thank you for liberating me from
law and empowering me with your Spirit. Fill me and empower me
today with your Spirit as I live my life for you. Through
Jesus my Lord I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

SATURDAY

If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault,
just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have
won your brother over.
--Matthew 18:15
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
The right thing is so hard to do sometimes. It is so much
easier to gossip, to mention another's wrong against us in a
prayer with others, to pass around innuendo. But only one
thing is the right thing to do! Go to the person who has
wronged you and try to keep the damage contained to just the
two of you.

MY PRAYER...
Lord God Almighty, forgive my foolish and selfish ways.
Through your Spirit, help me to be as forgiving as you are.
Give me courage to lovingly confront those who have sinned
against me, but if I cannot bring reconciliation, help me to
forgive as you have forgiven me. Through Jesus, the atoning
sacrifice for sin I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

SUNDAY

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you.
--Ephesians 4:32
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Be kind and compassionate, -- two qualities that seem to be
in short supply. Maybe its because we hold up the wrong heroes,
but these two qualities are often seen as a sign of weakness
rather than strength. To forgive as God forgave us requires
great courage and great strength. So let's be strong!

MY PRAYER...
Holy God, there is no way I can adequately thank you for
sacrificing so much to forgive me. So this day, I pledge to be
more like you, to share more of kindness and grace with those
who have wronged me. Today, I ask you to help me release my
bitterness toward _____________ and I ask you to bless this
person with your kindness and grace. By the power of Jesus'
example I ask this. Amen.

=== parable.com - WOW of the WEEK - parable.com ===

ONLY $4.99 for My Utmost for His Highest! Come see this
collection of My Utmost for all ages-kids, teens & adults:
www.parable.com/parable/group_1836&rid=868.htm

===================www.parable.com===================

____________________SUBSCRIPTION INFO_______________________

* Copyright (c) 2002 Crosswalk.com, Inc. and its Content
Providers. All rights reserved.

Crosswalk.com is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a
division of Salem Communications.

Please visit our other websites at:

Oneplace.com
www.oneplace.com

SermonSearch.com
www.sermonsearch.com

TheFish.com
www.thefish.com

____________________________________________________________

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

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.
search.yahoo.com