Word for Today, Tue, 22 Jun 2004: A Testimony and Weekly Verses
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
Today's message includes the weekly verses from Phil Ware's
collection, provided to us courtesy of Crosswalk.com
(By the way, you needn't restrict yourself to reading only one
per day. You can use it in that manner. Typically, I read the
entire collection and use other resources as well throughout the
week, especially the Bible itself).
The very first verse in this collection says "What good is it for
a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his very soul?"
Another verse says The Lord will keep you from all harm -- he
will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming
and going both now and forevermore." Yet another verse says
"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will
soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they
will walk and will not be faint."
I've long wondered about these very things. I've long cherished
many of these verses, so I know them. For me, my career, my job,
and my other activities have never been a substitute for my
relationship with God, or so I thought.
The past three years have been a real challenge for me. Prior to
June 2001 I had a very successful career as a software engineer.
I didn't have to seek anything else, as far as employment goes.
I was content. All of a sudden, though, I lost my full time day
job. I've had jobs since then, but never anything that earned
more than one quarter of what I earned in my last job or even
half of what I had been making in my job back in 1997.
Meanwhile, a lot has changed for me, In 2000, I became a father
and all of a sudden, I had a family of five to support. Before
that time, had circumstances changed, I would have gone anywhere
in the world. Now it is just not that easy to change anything.
I have worked part time as a software product support specialist,
I have written a few online magazine articles, I have been a
substitute teacher in elementary, middle school, and high school,
and I have been a paraprofessional educational assistant. All of
these jobs have served a useful purpose, but none of them has
seriously provided for my family. Instead, these jobs have
helped put food on the table, but it has been my retirement
savings and my life insurance policies, now cashed in, that have
paid the serious bills.
It has been a time to rely on God. I thought I was relying on
God before. Yeah, right. These days, I'm never sure if it will
be the last month or the last three months that I still have a
home to live in, yet we've gone three years. My friends and
family have helped us, time after time. I had helped others a
few times in the past. Now I know just how critical that help
can be to someone in need.
I still don't know what's next. We still have our home, but it
is difficult to tell how much longer that can go on. All I can
do is to continue to trust in the Lord, knowing that His ways are
higher than our ways. He created all things, He knows our needs,
and He knows the future (something that we do NOT know, even
though some claim to know the future). All I know for sure is
that I trust God, even in my sometimes feeble faith.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
____________________________________________________________
Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.23249.1.293748
June 21, 2004
These verses are taken from Heartlight Daily Verse, by Phil Ware
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.23249.2.293748
~~~~~~~~~
MONDAY
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit
his very soul?
--Mark 8:36
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
We chase after so many different things. Only one thing is
needed. Having a fist full of dollars, a great estate, and
lots of prestige doesn't mean a whole lot if you've gone to
your ultimate address without the Lord. Even worse, is to find
that in the middle of your busy-ness, you awake to find
yourself in the barren land where Christ does not dwell and
life is not found.
MY PRAYER...
Father, help me to keep my priorities right and my life holy
and my heart open to your will rather than being blinded with
my own self-seeking. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
TUESDAY
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the
shadow of the Almighty.
--Psalm 91:1
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
How good it is to be as close to God as his shadow and share
in the comfort of his shelter. He is not far if our hearts
choose to draw near him.
MY PRAYER...
O great Almighty God, tender Shepherd and Abba Father, make
known to me your nearness. I long to live in your presence and
reflect your holiness and grace. By Jesus' blood I draw near
to you in full assurance of your love and grace. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
WEDNESDAY
The Lord will keep you from all harm -- he will watch over your
life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now
and forevermore.
--Psalm 121:7-8
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Our lives are not lived alone. The Lord is with us
personally. He holds each of futures and our safety in his
hands. We live to serve him and go to be with him when we die.
The Lord will keep us from all harm!
MY PRAYER...
Mighty Protector, Rock of my salvation. Thank you that my
future is secure with you. Make this assurance the convicting
power in my life to turn over my future and my life to you.
Through Jesus I ask this. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
THURSDAY
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They
will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow
weary, they will walk and will not be faint.
--Isaiah 40:31
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
It is easy for us to live victoriously for the Lord when we
soar on eagles wings. It can be exciting when we run and don't
grow weary in the work of the Lord, buoyed by his power and
presence. But it often takes heroes to keep walking and not
faint when trying times come. Keep on walking, brother and
sister. The Lord is there when you most fear he has forgotten
you!
MY PRAYER...
Majestic God, whose voice holds together our universe, give
those who can barely walk under the stress and assault the
strength to continue. I specifically want to pray for those I
know personally who are facing trying times. Please, dear
LORD, give them strength and meet their most pressings needs.
Through the intercession of Jesus I ask it. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
FRIDAY
The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you
from the evil one.
--2 Thessalonians 3:3
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
It's amazing to me how Satan knows our "silver bullet sins"
-- those sins that can especially wound and disable us from the
work of Christ. Commit in your heart to ask God to protect
you, your family, and one other person (you'll silently
support) from the attacks of the evil one.
MY PRAYER...
Mighty and Triumphant King, crush your enemies under your
feet and liberate me and those I love from the oppressive
attacks and the horrible consequences of sin. Not only forgive
and cleanse me, but please guard my heart so that I might gain
strength to serve you with passion and power. Through Jesus I
pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SATURDAY
"Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?"
declares the Lord. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares
the Lord.
--Jeremiah 23:24
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
There is no hiding from God, but for those who willingly and
joyously seek him, there is comfort, power, and hope in his
presence.
MY PRAYER...
El Shaddai, God of the Mountains, be my sources of strength
as I seek your presence. I acknowledge your presence in all I
do and everywhere I go. Please, don't just keep blessing me,
but use me to bless others in your name. Through Jesus. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SUNDAY
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your
people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
--Leviticus 19:18
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Hanging on to bitterness and keeping alive grudges is
consuming work. It leaves little energy for blessing others,
praising God, or enjoying life. The only way to get over these
things is to actively love (i.e., serve them) others in ways
that bless their lives. If we can't do this because it's good
and the right thing to do, we do it because we know God!
MY PRAYER...
Father of light, love and mercy, please remove from my heart
any cynicism or delight in seeing others around me fall.
Instead, help me to be a rescuer rather than a neglector. I
want your grace to be seen in my friendships. Through Jesus I
pray. Amen.
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--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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