Quote from Forum Archives on October 30, 2001, 7:46 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

I shared these words with you recently:

I believe that what you think about has a great deal to do
with what your attitude will be and the effect it will have on
the way that you look at the things around you. I did not
always have this attitude. It came to me as a result of in
depth Christian counseling at a time when I had almost lost
hope.

Well, those days are gone. Yes, I still face many of the same
struggles now as always. Problems come and go. This year, I
have been out of work since June 29. That has not caused me to
waver one iota. In fact, the one thing that DOES seem to bother
me is a nasty cold or lack of sleep - almost anyone gets a bit
"cranky" under those circumstances. But my hope never wavers -
ever.

I am in a training program all week. I won't have the usual time
for extended "commentaries". Some of you may say, "Hurrah!" If
that's the case, let me know. Terseness of prose is not one of
my great strengths!

I pray that these messages will be an encouragement to you this
week. The primary theme this week is encouragment through The
Word.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

Reply-to: Weekly Verses <weeklyverses@lists.crosswalk.com>
Subject: Weekly Verses from Crosswalk.com -- 10/29/01
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 12:00:24 -0500

Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
www.crosswalk.com
10/29/01

These verses are taken from TODAY'S VERSE, by Phil Ware
< devotionals.crosswalk.com/TodaysVerse >

~~~~~~~~~
MONDAY

Carry each other's burdens and in this way you will fulfill the
law of Christ.

--Galatians 6:2
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
I feel so burdened myself, that sometimes I can't even see
others' burdens. But Jesus reminds me that if I am to be like
him, I will be a burden carrier. This is why he came, why he
died, and why his resurrection is so important -- to lift from
us the burdens of sin, death, and depravity.

MY PRAYER...
Compassionate Father, help me to see and respond to the
burdens in other lives around me. I want to be a blessing to
the broken and discouraged, so please help me find my place and
my way of serving to your glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

TUESDAY

A man finds joy in giving an apt reply -- and how good is a
timely word!

--Proverbs 15:23
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Knowing the right word at the right time is a great gift.
But even the best of speakers has to admit that the best of his
or her words are not nearly as good as those the Spirit gives.
Nevertheless, we must not excuse ourselves of insensitive
speech, unkindness, or even missed opportunities because we
were not paying attention to what was said, were not
spiritually in tune with the needs of our companions, or simply
did not know Scripture well enough to bless others with
gracious speech at the appropriate time.

MY PRAYER...
Loving Shepherd, I will spend much of my time today with
people. Some of them know you, but most do not. Please give
me wisdom to say things that lead people closer to you. Give
me words of help and hope for the broken. Give me words of
tenderness for the fainting. Give me words of direction for
the confused. Father, I pray that whatever words I say today
may reflect your will and be led by your purposes. In Jesus
name I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

WEDNESDAY

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge
of the Holy One is understanding.

--Proverbs 9:10
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
We pursue so many things, but only one pursuit brings
wisdom. Paul reminded the Athenians that God made us to seek
after him and find him (Acts 17). The wisdom of Proverbs keeps
leading us back to "knowing God" and having a deep and
reverential awe toward him as the source of wisdom.
Understanding of priorities, needs, purposes, goals, problems,
and issues can occur only when we first recognize who the Lord
is and know him in our day-to-day lives.

MY PRAYER...
Holy, Majestic, Righteous, and Eternal God. I confess that
I know you so much less than you know me. But your
faithfulness in my life, your power displayed in history, your
grace shared with so many through the cross of Christ, and your
promise to bring me home to you one day sustain me. I want to
know you so that my life can be lost in your will. Not for my
glory or gain, but for your praise, I ask that you make
yourself known to me in the things I do today. Through Jesus I
ask it. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

THURSDAY

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving
thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ.

--Ephesians 5:19-20
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Hearts full of thanks -- that's what makes for good singing!
With Jesus as the source of our salvation and center of our
future, how can we not sing! But singing is not just for us
and God. God wants our songs to bless others. It is our
ultimate spiritual talk.

MY PRAYER...
O Lord, my God, you are Awesome and wondrous. Your works
are magnificent and your deeds are beyond comprehension. May
the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart ever declare
your praises. May my heart be filled with thanksgiving for all
that you have done to save us from sin, shame, law, and death.
You alone are worthy of my praise, my songs, and my life.
Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

FRIDAY

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that
the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

--2 Timothy 3:16-17
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
God wants us to be prepared to do good works. Thankfully he
gave us the Scriptures. Today we have the Bible translated
into many different languages, dialects, and versions. Rather
than a threat, this is a great blessing. But we must remember
that the goal of Scripture is not to be learned but to be
lived. God intended his Word to be practical truth -- a gift
that prepares us to do every good work.

MY PRAYER...
Holy God, it still amazes me that you chose to speak to us,
your finite creatures, in our own words. May I never take for
granted the great gift of being able to read your Word and
learn your Truth. But Father, please give me the character and
the courage to put it into practical use and let it train me to
do your will. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

SATURDAY

The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and
spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes
of the heart.

--Hebrews 4:12
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
How often do you let God do major surgery on your spirit as
his Spirit uses the Word to encourage, judge, motivate,
convict, instruct, and inspire? With such a great tool so
readily at hand for most of us, let's not let a day go by that
we don't let God use his word on hearts.

MY PRAYER...
Almighty God, your will is my heart's desire. But I realize
that I need to be fed more consistently by your Word revealed
in Scripture. Give me strength and consistency in my walk with
you through your Word. Through your Spirit, inspire me to
change what needs to be changed and to be blessed and
encouraged in the areas that I need it most. I turn to you and
trust in your Word to point me in the way of life. Through
Jesus I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

SUNDAY

All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers
of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the
word of the Lord stands forever.

--1 Peter 1:24-25
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
As the seasons change, the leaves fall, and the grass dies,
we are reminded once again of how short our lives are. Despite
the rapid advancements of technology, our deepest needs are
addressed only by the eternal and proven will of God in
Scripture. Whether you get your Scripture off the Bible on
disk or from an old family Bible, access it today. Don't you
need a dose of the eternal today?

MY PRAYER...
As I age, I am constantly reminded, O God, of my transitory
stay on earth and your eternal reign in heaven. Give me a
sense of my place before you as I seek your will in your Word.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

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

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