Quote from Forum Archives on August 7, 2000, 9:15 am

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

I don't know about you, but my view of things around me is not
always clear. Sometimes I think I have a good view of things,
other times I know that I do not. Today's message reminds me of
the reality - I really do not see all things clearly. Yet there
are certain things I can see, even if not completely clearly.
That's what today's message is about.

(By the way, "The Message" is a really neat, modern "paraphrase"
of the Bible. While not strictly accurate, in a literal sense,
it often opens up new thoughts, even about verses we thought we
knew completely. I advocate reading multiple translations and
paraphrases of the Bible. I have never seen the Bible contradict
itself, even when read in different dialects and translations,
but I have gained new insights by reading carefully, meditating
on what I've read, and asking God to open my eyes to His truth).

My prayer today is that I will continually be reminded of these
encouraging words to remember that God knows me and sees me
clearly, even when my own sight is foggy, I am loved and
accepted, and I can make it through the day because He is the One
who gives me "Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow" (a
line of truth from the classic hymn, "Great is Thy
Faithfulness").

Have a great week, everyone!

Brother Brian

(Attached below is a devotional message for today, followed by a
list of short scriptures and prayers for the entire week).

Subject: Daily Devotional for Monday, August 7, 2000

PCCWeb Daily
Monday, August 7, 2000
Today's Devotional

Looking Back
1 Corinthians 13:12 - We don't yet see things clearly. We're
squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long
before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it
all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him
directly just as he knows us! (The Message)

Galatians 6:9 - So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued
doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we
don't give up, or quit. (The Message)

Philippians 4:12-13 - Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make
it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. (The
Message)

It was a gorgeous summer raspberry-picking day! My daughter and I
packed up our containers and motored away. Disappointment
awaited, however, as the patch had been almost picked out. Still,
we had travelled a fair distance to our destination, so we
decided to "give it a go". After working one row, intently
searching for enough berries to fill my pail, I turned around and
worked backwards. I was pleasantly surprised to discover many
"new" berries on the already-gleaned bushes! Of course, the
berries weren't "new" at all. I just hadn't seen them from my
previous position.

This incident brought to mind Paul's word in Corinthians: we
don't yet see things clearly. Within our limited earthly view, we
often struggle to understand or "see into" our earthly
experiences, only to be disappointed with our scant
understanding. At such times we must especially walk by faith. We
have already travelled a fair distance toward our heavenly
destination, and we must therefore continue to keep "giving it a
go" -- not in our strength, but in His. For if we do not allow
ourselves to get fatigued doing good, if we don't give up, or
quit, at the right time we will harvest a good crop.

Life is not always clear or fair. But God is always faithful. He
will see us through the picked-over, picked-out moments of our
lives!

Prayer: Lord God and wonderful Father, thank you that you are
faithful. Thank you that you see and know us perfectly and can be
trusted to "see us through" until we know and see You just as
clearly. Bless us this day with your grace and strength to
continue to walk by faith. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Lynne Phipps lphipps@muskoka.com Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada

Today's Canadian Bible Society Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel
18:1-33

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SUPPLEMENT: Short Scriptures and prayers for the week:

WEEKLY VERSES <listreplies@crosswalk.com>

Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
www.crosswalk.com
8/7/00

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

~~~~~~~~~
MONDAY

To all who received him, to those who believe in his name, he
gave the right to become children of God -- children born not
of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will,
but born of God.
--John 1:12-13
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
We live in a time and culture of rights. "It's my right to
___." Just fill in the blank. But there is one thing we
don't have a right to be: God's child. We are given that right
by grace through Jesus' coming to earth, living, dying and
being raised from the dead. We appropriate it through faith,
through which God gives us new birth when we are baptized and
reborn through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-7). To
be born of God, to be born from above, to be born again is the
gift of adoption into God's family and entitles us to all the
rights of heirs in God's house (Galatians 3:26-4:7).

MY PRAYER...
Abba Father, thank you for including me in your family. May
my life today reflect your influence, character, mercy,
holiness, compassion, righteousness, and love. I want to be
like you, my Father. So just as I was born into your family by
the power of the Holy Spirit, please fill me with your Spirit
today so that I will more closely reflect you in all I do and
say. Through Jesus I pray. men.

~~~~~~~~~

TUESDAY

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who
conducts his affairs with justice.

--Psalm 112:5
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
We are pushed by our culture, and often by our own greed, to
look for an angle, to get the upper hand, to try to use others
for our own benefit. We are reminded today that our benefit is
only found when we benefit and bless others.

MY PRAYER...
Oh God, you have been so gracious to me. May I reflect your
graciousness to others today in all I say and do. Through
Jesus I ask it. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

WEDNESDAY

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.
--James 1:22
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
What we know and even what we believe are not that
significant if they don't show up in the way we live. Pure and
simple, faith not lived everyday is not faith, it is facade.

MY PRAYER...
Holy God, help me put into practice what I know is your will
and your truth today. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

THURSDAY

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks
at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
--1 Samuel 16:7
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Have you ever wondered how many friends you may have lost
simply by judging them on their first appearance or impression?
I'm amazed at how the first impression very seldom tells us
much of substance about another. We're not really going to be
able to evaluate people properly until the Lord reveals at
judgment what is really in their heart. Don't you think that
we should give them time for their heart to show before we make
a decision about them, too?!

MY PRAYER...
Father, who alone knows each heart, help me be more patient
with others before forming an opinion about them. Please give
me eyes to see them as Jesus does. Through him I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

FRIDAY

This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who
formed it and established it -- the Lord is his name: Call to
me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable
things you do not know.
--Jeremiah 33:2-3
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
In a universe of billions of stars, think of the power of
the God who made them and knows each of their names. Think of
all he knows that we don't. Think of all he has seen that is
not in a history book. Think of all he has done and can do.
Add to this that he invites us to speak to him about the things
of our heart.

MY PRAYER...
Almighty God, there are so many things I am simply ignorant
about. There are so many things in my world that I can't
understand. There are so many things about you that I long to
know but I can't begin to comprehend you. Please, dear Father,
please give me more of you, and about you, that I may know you
better. You are beyond me, so deal gently as you reveal
yourself. I look with anticipation at the thought of knowing
you, the Unsearchable, the Almighty, God, my Abba. Through
Jesus I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

SATURDAY

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding
to the simple.

--Psalm 119:130
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Sometimes the right path is not so difficult to find, we
just need to know where to begin our search -- the reading of
God's words. The right way is very seldom just the property of
the bright, wise, and scholarly. It is very clear if we will
but look for it!

MY PRAYER...
Holy Father, thank you for making your will known through
your words in Scripture. Bless me today as I open your word.
May I find not only the answer to my questions, but may I find
you and your precious will. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

SUNDAY

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
--Psalm 119:160
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
The requirements of morality and holiness are not temporary
or fleeting because they reflect the nature of our Holy God who
is eternal. They don't shift with the wishes of culture, but
are true across cultures and times and wishes.

MY PRAYER...
Righteous God Almighty, may my life reflect your character
and nature in compassion, holiness, and justice. I know you
are forever, and I want to invest my life in what lasts. Give
me wisdom to see through the fleeting temptations of today and
do what honors you beyond my lifetime. In Jesus name. Amen.

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