Quote from Forum Archives on January 27, 2003, 4:20 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

I try to make available various study tools that some of you
utilize to help establish and maintain consistency in your Bible
reading and study. This is but one of the many tools that's
available. Though it is not the only tool and it is only a very
brief collection of scripture verses, thoughts, and prayers, for
some, it provides structure. Therefore, I offer it to you as a
resource.

I also encourage each of you to actively participate in a local
church and meet people that you can trust, so that you can build
relationships, and you can establish mutual accountability.
Ultimately, I believe that it is a love and passion for God from
which meaning and purpose in life can be found.

I also think it is important to encourage one another and build
each other up, but if we don't receive our motivation in response
to a love and passion for God, I believe our energies are
misdirected, at best, and downright wrong at worst. That's why
the focus is always on God and what He does in and through us,
all as a result of the work of Jesus Christ.

I know that I do not have all of life's answers myself. The more
self sufficient I think I am, the further I am from realizing who
God is and what He has done for me. Personally, I have come to
realize that everything I am and even the abilities I've been
given, all come from God. I can't blame God for the poor choices
that I've made, but I sure can credit God for redeeming me,
especially when my actions have not deserved it. I write
devotionals out of a deep gratitude to God for all that He has
done and a desire to share my passion for Christ with others, to
encourage people and point them to Christ.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

AD| Thinking about going back to school? DeVry is the answer!!
sda.goshen.net/cgi-bin/redirect.cgi?AD=devry0103m
____________________________

Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.9987.1.293748

January 27, 2003

These verses are taken from TODAY'S VERSE, by Phil Ware
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.9987.2.293748

~~~~~~~~~
MONDAY

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of
many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance.

--James 1:2-3
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
"Hang in there!" There are few traits more important than
perseverance. Most important accomplishments in life happen
because of perseverance. Most luck occurs when we've
perservered long enough for the "magical moment" to come along.
Edison said it best, life's greatest feats, the world's
greatest discoveries, his own most fantastic inventions were
"1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." "Hang in there!" and
see the glory of God come through in you!

MY PRAYER...
Unchangeable and Unshakeable God, through the friends you
have sent into my life and by the power of your gift, the Holy
Spirit, help me to stand up under trial and prove my character
true with perseverance when under fire. Give my faith courage
and endurance so that my life shows forth your enduring
strength. Through him who remained faithful unto death, I pray.
Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

TUESDAY

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what
he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from
that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please
the Spirit will reap eternal life."

--Galatians 6:7-8
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Isn't it incredible how huge trees grow out of tiny seeds!
This principle runs throughout all of life. We can never
completely get away from the seeds we sow. So let's not fool
ourselves while we're trying to do a "snow job" on God. Let's
make sure the seeds we sow are the ones we want sprouting up!

MY PRAYER...
O Eternal God, who lived before time began and who will be
the Great I AM when time is no more, bless the seeds my life
sows so they may bear fruit and bless those I love. Through
Jesus, the grain of wheat who died and was buried so that life
may flower forth. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

WEDNESDAY

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock
and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks
receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door
will be opened."

--Matthew 7:7-8
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Ask! So often we're afraid to ask for help because we have
to admit we don't have the answers. Seek! Effort and interest
and perseverance are necessary and that's sometimes hard.
Knock! But God wants us to use the A.S.K. principle and bring
our hearts before him. So let's not whine, complain, desire,
and want. Let's A.S.K. our Father and seek his glory.

MY PRAYER...
Waiting Father, I am sorry that so often you hear only my
whines, complaints, and concerns. You have been so generous
with your love. Help me to keep my heart set on you and your
will today as I ask you to minister to the things on my heart.
Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

THURSDAY

If any of you lacks wisdom he should ask God, who gives
generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given
to him.

--James 1:5
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Wisdom is that illusive quality we respect in others and
find so difficult to develop in ourselves. Yet God promises it
to those who really ask. But remember the secret of ASKing --
asking, seeking, and knocking. Or better yet, check out
Proverbs 2. Wisdom is ours only if we seek it above all other
possessions and value it above all other diversions. God longs
to impart it, but there is something about wisdom that demands
we value it before we can receive it.

MY PRAYER...
Gracious giver of all good gifts, please bless me with
wisdom today. Let me reflect your will and live for your glory
in all my decisions. Let your Kingdom guide my heart as I make
my choices and have your Spirit lead me in your ways. I
confess, Father, that I cannot guide my own steps without your
help. So grant me wisdom this day. I pray in Jesus name.
Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

FRIDAY

If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should
restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be
tempted.

--Galatians 6:1
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
In a day when intervening in someone's life is no longer
politically and socially correct, these verses ring out like a
gunshot on a still night. Sin is still real and is just as
deadly as ever. Yet because we fear being branded judgmental,
we let many who are trapped by sin go to their spiritual death.
The call is for nonjudgmental intervention -- we recognize the
gravity of the sin and the need of the sinner, without feeling
arrogant in our righteousness. "There but for the grace of God
go I."

MY PRAYER...
Father, forgive my sins as I forgive those who have sinned
against me. But Father, also help my heart to be gripped by
the gravity of sin's effects and to be stirred into action by
those whom it has trapped. Through Jesus, who came to rescue
me from my sin, I pray. Amen
~~~~~~~~~

SATURDAY

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable --
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such
things.

--Philippians 4:8
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Our actions follow our thoughts like a heat-seeking missile
follows the exhaust of a jet fighter's engine. So in a day
when so much around us trains us to find the negative in life,
we must aggressively think and pursue the character, the
qualities, and the things of God's goodness.

MY PRAYER...
Holy and Magnificent God, thank you for being better than
anything my world can offer me. Thank you for calling me to a
higher standard than the world accepts. Thank you for giving
me the promise of a better future than any human can imagine.
Thank you for giving me a high calling. In Jesus' holy name I
pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~

SUNDAY

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

--James 4:10
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Humble yourselves. That sounds obscene. At least to the
culture of self-promotion and "get ahead at all cost" and
"don't look back, the competition is gaining on you" it sounds
obscene. Humility is a forgotten virtue. Often confused with
weakness or timidity, humility is about knowing our proper
place in the world without flaunting it. Only God can exalt in
a permanent way, so the key is to know our place before him and
let him put us in the place he chooses to honor him.

MY PRAYER...
Abba Father, Most Holy God, thank you for allowing me into
your presence. When I think of all that you have done, the
incredible universe you have made and hold together by your
word, I am amazed you invite me into your presence and care
about my words. Thank you for knowing me and having a plan for
my life to please you. Help me this day to glorify you in what
I do. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

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____________________________________________________________

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

__________________________________________________
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