Quote from Forum Archives on November 27, 2000, 10:46 am

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

The time right after Thanksgiving in Christian circles marks the
beginning of "Advent", which is a time of preparation. You might
ask, "Preparation for what?" In the context of our faith, it
means to prepare our minds for whatever God may be saying or
wanting to say to us. When we become extremely busy, it becomes
difficult, if not impossible, for anyone to say anything
meaningful at all to us, and have it permeate our thoughts. Far
too many other things are on our minds for yet another thought to
enter in.

But that is precisely what Advent is all about. It is important
to decide which things we allow into our lives, and which things
we allow to affect the way we think, act, and respond - to God,
and to those around us, too.

I believe this message is germane to many people at this very
point in time. Far too many of us (I include myself in that
list) have allowed the busy things of life to distort the more
important issues that are calling out to me. Some times, I have
been so ignorant of this issue, that even as I have studied
things, such as "The Tyranny of the Urgent" and scripture
passages that directly remind me of where to place my priorities,
it has somehow managed to slip right by me.

Today's message has some points in it about forgiveness and
dealing with imperfections. If you have not directly dealt with
these issues this very day, I urge you to pause and think about
your relationships right now, and make it one of your top
priorities (if not THE TOP PRIORITY) to deal with any situations
where there is or has recently been some kind of conflict.

This is not a matter about who is right or wrong; Jesus was
wronged by others throughout His entire life. This is about
gaining the proper perspective about life, and about a true
loving servant heart attitude. Being right is not even on the
top ten in such a list.

Dear Lord,

I see strife all around me, and I have personally experienced far
too much anguish of my own, all because I have failed to seek You
first in all things, to keep a short account with others, to let
go of my own desire to control the things around me, and to allow
Your Spirit to be what is in control of my life. Please forgive
me for my attitude, and renew me once again today. I know that
my life is in You. I am willing to accept what You have for me
today... no, I am eager to accept what You offer. Thank You for
loving me, in spite of my hardened heart. Renew me once again,
and bring healing everywhere there is hurt, but especially deep
within the mind of those who feel that they have been wronged.
May Your Spirit replace whatever loss has been experienced, and
Your eternal peace dwell richly in all who call upon You today.
Amen.

Brother Brian

From: "ChristianNet" <admin@christiannet.org>
To: Word For Today mailing list <wft@welovegod.org>
Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2000 21:46:56 -0000
Subject: [WFT] Mon 27 Nov 00 - Acceptance!

WORD FOR TODAY with Bob Gass - Monday 27th November 2000

Acceptance!

"AND THIS IS MY PRAYER: THAT YOUR LOVE MAY ABOUND
MORE AND MORE"

PHILIPPIANS 1:9

When you can forgive yourself and others, you've finally come to
terms with your own humanity and learned to be at peace with your
own imperfections. It's what you've been through, plus the grace
of God, that's made you what you are today! Recently, I came
across these wonderful words by Vernica Shoffstall and I think
you'll want to read the more than once:

'After a while, you learn the difference between holding a hand
and chaining a soul; you learn that life does not mean leaning
and company does not always mean security; you begin to learn
that kisses are not contracts and presents are not promises; you
begin to accept your defeats with your head high and your eyes
ahead, with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child. You
learn to build all your roads on today, because tomorrow's ground
is too uncertain for plans and futures have a way of falling down
in mid- flight. After a while, you learn that even sunshine burns
if you get too much. You learn to plant your own garden and
decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring
you flowers; and you learn that (by God's sustaining grace) you
can really endure; that you really are strong; that you really do
have worth!'

(c) Bob Gass Ministries 2000 (used by permission)

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Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
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