Quote from Forum Archives on May 14, 2002, 1:42 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

I'd like to send a supplement to today's Word for Today. This message
contains two things: first, a prayer request and response from Larry
Davies' Sowing Seeds of Faith prayer ministry and second, this week's
set of Weekly Verses meditations, and prayers.

The other day, I received a prayer request on Larry's prayer list that
I thought was wonderful. I sent back a message and asked if I could
have permission to share the message with all of you. Permission was
granted, so here is the note, followed by Weekly Verses. These two
messages are more closely related than I could have possibly planned
in advance. Read them all and you'll see what I mean!

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

========================
Dear Jonna,

It is the spirit you are displaying that is precisely the spirit that
Christ has given to us and calls us to use. I believe that Christ
calls us to turn away from our own sin, seek forgiveness, and to lead
others to do the same thing. We need not be great theologians to do
that, either.

I believe that while it is always good to know and study the Bible,
and learn as much from it as we can, I also believe that we far too
often use the Bible or our claims of studying it as a hedge to hide
behind, instead of leading others to Christ, loving, and forgiving one
another.

I think that you are doing the healthy and right thing in this
situation, to directly confront sin, and yet to pray and seek the best
at all times, even for your "enemies". Truly we know in our hearts
that this is what Christ did Himself, and what He calls us to do.
Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to encourage you for your clear
understanding of what is right and then to actually DO IT! Hurray!

I write a daily devotional online at 1Corinthians7@welovegod.org. I'd
like the OK to publish your prayer request and testimony, (either with
or without your name and Email address in it). I'd also like to
invite you to join the mailing list, which generally sends out between
5-10 messages per week. If you're interested, you can subscribe or
unsubscribe any time by sending a message like this:

To subscribe, send ANY message to
<1corinthians7-subscribe@welovegod.org

To unsubscribe, send ANY message to
<1corinthians7-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

I will most certainly pray, both for you and for this woman, Evelyn,
who desperately needs Christ and a change of heart! I sincerely thank
you for sharing your wonderful message and setting a great example for
all who earnestly seek Christ!

Your Brother in Christ,

--
Brian Masinick
mailto:masinick@yahoo.com

From: Jonna McCullough Lea [mailto:jonnal63@hotmail.com]

I don't know if you remember me but approx. 1 year ago I found your
website and requested prayer. My neighbor had threatened the life of
my then 9 year old daughter and was a huge drug dealer in our trailer
court. She also went on to threaten my very safety and that of my
home, children and pets.

Well I am here to give a witness that God is wonderful! Not long after
you folks prayed for us, this woman not only got evicted from our
court but got nabbed for probation violation. And she now sits doing
time for approx.4 years in the Montana women's prison in Billings,
MT. She is due to give birth to this poor child that is no doubt
drugged out in her womb and she is full of hatred for me, thinking
that I am the reason she is there.

I continue to pray for this woman hoping that God will reach her in
the cold dark cell that she now resides in. And even though she means
to do me harm when she is released. I am praying for the best for her
and need your warriors to help me by agreeing in prayer for her
salvation.

I shall not give up the seeds that I planted when we were friends. But
I also understand that God is the one to nurture it to full
fruition. So please pray for Evelyn Waldron Johnson for salvation
through Jesus Christ....I thank you. Also since my last writings to
you our pastor gave us a larger home for our family. I praise God for
Pastor Berg and his wife Jonett.

Jonna Lea, E. Helena, MT.
========================

Reply-to: "Weekly Verses" <weeklyverses.UM.A.3.31195@lists.crosswalk.com>
Subject: Weekly Verses from Crosswalk.com: 5/13/02
Date: Tue, 14 May 2002 12:29:12 -0400

Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
www.crosswalk.com
5/14/02

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

~~~~~~~~~
MONDAY

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.

~~~~~~~~~

TUESDAY

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.

~~~~~~~~~

WEDNESDAY

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.

~~~~~~~~~

THURSDAY

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.

~~~~~~~~~

FRIDAY

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.

~~~~~~~~~

SATURDAY

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.

~~~~~~~~~

SUNDAY

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more
than rubies... She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and
call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

--Proverbs 31:10 27-28
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Give honor to whom honor is due! This biblical principle is
most certainly true of women, and especially those who are
godly mothers. Let's make sure we praise the key women in our
lives today!

MY PRAYER...
Father, I want to thank you for the women of character and
grace, tenderness and fire, love that and tenacity, who have
helped shape my life in a way helped me find you. Please bless
them this day, I ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

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____________________________________________________________

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

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