Quote from Forum Archives on February 14, 2005, 6:47 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Word for Today, Mon, 14 Feb 2005: God's Relationship with us

Today's devotional message comes from the weekly verses that I
often share with you. The verses in this week's collection are
concerned with the relationship between God and us, and how God
expects us to respond to Him and to one another.

Lord willing, I will be able to share some messages that follow
this theme, and if God grants me the time, I will write some of
my own thoughts in the days ahead.

Yours in Christ,
Brian
______________________________________________________________________

Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
www.crosswalkmail.com/hdsbea_opitmt.html

February 14, 2005

These verses are taken from Heartlight Daily Verse, by Phil Ware
www.crosswalkmail.com/rnrzla_opitmt.html

~~~~~~~~~

MONDAY

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with
actions and in truth.
--1 John 3:18
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
"Talk is cheap!" "You can tell me with your words, but I'll
show it with my life." "Put your life where your mouth is." We
know the slogans, now let's live love in truth. In a world
where barter has replaced sacrificial and steadfast love, let's
go against the grain and do the truth!

MY PRAYER...
Sacrificial Father, I confess to you that at times I am
selfish. Other times my intentions are good, but my follow-
through and faithfulness are lacking. Use your Spirit to
empower and enable me to be what I hope to become, to your
glory. May your love be seen in my actions of genuine concern
today. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~

TUESDAY

God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of
power, of love, and of self-discipline.
--2 Timothy 1:7
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Power! We like that concept. When it is godly power, might
does make right, because godly power is accompanied by love and
self-discipline. These three together make a person's life
effective. Live life to its fullest: not as a closet
Christian, afraid of standing true and firm, but one who lives
by God's power, shares God's love, and displays God's virtues.

MY PRAYER...
Holy God, you are without comparison in your majesty and
might. I have no right to come into your presence, and yet you
have invited me here by your love and your grace. You are my
Rock, my Fortress, and my Strength. I depend upon your
guidance and your mercy to sustain me through my storms and to
reclaim me from my stumbles. Holy God, you are without
comparison and I worship you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~

WEDNESDAY

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire
besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the
strength of my heart and my portion forever.
--Psalm 73:25-26
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
What can truly fulfill and sustain us? Maybe the best way
to answer that question is by asking another: What can we keep
when our bodies are placed silently in their graves at death?
Only our relationship with God and his people last beyond the
grave. If he is what lasts, then how can we displace him for
anything that doesn't?

MY PRAYER...
Mighty Yahweh, Strength of Israel, Keeper of the Covenant
and Fulfillment Maker of every prophecy--you are my hope, my
strength, and my future. I live this day in wide-open
amazement that the Keeper of the Universe knows my name, hears
my voice, and cares for me. Thank you for being my past, my
present, and my future, the Great I Am. Through my Savior, I
pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~

THURSDAY

He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will
come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I
have kept to his way without turning aside.
--Job 23:10-11
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
How we long for this to be our true confession. We are not
yet gold, but long to be. We are not yet fully following his
steps, but are trying. We have tried not to turn aside, but we
sometimes falter. Thank God for his grace until our intentions
and desires are fulfilled!

MY PRAYER...
Magnificent Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, I confess
my sin and my inablitiy to follow your paths. Forgive me. I
commit my life to serve you in holiness and joy. Thank you for
your grace, which covers my sin, and perfect in me the
character of Jesus. Through him I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~

FRIDAY

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my
ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts
than your thoughts."
--Isaiah 55:8-9
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
No matter how we try to perceive God, he is still God and we
are not. We must forever remember that the original, and still
primary sin was to try to become like God in terms of knowledge
and understanding. We are to know God, but we can never fully
know about him. We are to take on his character, but we cannot
approach his majesty. This is both exciting and frustrating.
But the promise remains that one day we will be like him and
see him as he is.

MY PRAYER...
Tender Shepherd, thank you for being so patient with me when
I cannot fully understand and appreciate your holy and
transcendent character. Thank you for sending Jesus so I can
know you better and trust you to know me better than I know
myself. I look forward to seeing you face to face when Jesus
comes to bring me home. Until that day, please know I love
you. Through Jesus I offer my thanks and praise. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

SATURDAY

Have not I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be
terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be
with you wherever you go.
--Joshua 1:9
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Never alone. What a promise. As Psalm 139 emphasizes
later, Joshua hears first hand. God will go with him, and us,
through all the seasons of life, through all our ups and downs,
through temptations and triumphs, even through death. So we
can take courage and feel his strength. We are not alone!

MY PRAYER...
O God who is and was and is to come, thank you for being
there and staying there when all others forsake and leave. You
are the one constant in my life, which is so full of change.
Help me become more steadfast and faithful in my commitments
and relationships to honor you and to learn more about you.
Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~

SUNDAY

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your
hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when
you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie
down and when you get up.

--Deuternomy 6:7
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Each day we are to begin with God. Each breath we take is a
powerful reminder that he has granted us another day of life to
serve him. Each heartbeat is God's drumbeat of love, reminding
us that we are blessed with another minute to offer him our
best. This blessing is so easily forgotten. We best remember
when we teach it, show it, and live it with and before our
children.

MY PRAYER...
Almighty God, Gracious Sustainer, and Undeserved Friend,
thank you! Thank you for this breath I take and for the
heartbeat that sustains my life. Make me aware as I travel,
talk, rest, and work that you are there and are worthy of my
intentional best. Through Jesus, my gracious sacrifice I pray.
Amen.

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

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