Quote from Forum Archives on March 26, 2002, 10:30 am

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

In Monday's message, we discussed renewing our minds, and Neil
Anderson gave us some sound arguments on that topic. Today, we
share an important technique in renewing our minds. First, we
read the Word of God, and we regularly think about it, pray about
it, and allow it's truth to impact and change the way we think
and act.

This can have a profound impact on the way we look, feel, and
behave. I'm thinking of a song that actually says something
about that topic:

"In all that you do, praise looks good on you." That's an
interesting statement. I suppose that one could twist it into
all kinds of arguments, both appropriate and inappropriate. The
idea in that particular song is that when we submit ourselves to
God, think about His goodness, and praise the things He is doing
within us, it changes our entire outlook, so that not only does
praise bring glory to God, it also reflects well upon us.

This week, we approach the celebrated time of the year when the
ministry of Jesus Christ was shaken, He was betrayed, and in only
one week's time, people went from lauding Him as King to shouting
for His crucificion!

In addition to, or instead of, the words in this week's "Weekly
Verses", you may wish to carefully read one of the Gospel
accounts of the final earthly days of Jesus' ministry. One of
those accounts comes from the Gospel of John. In the 17th
chapter, John records the passionate prayers of Jesus on the
night that He was betrayed. The passages preceding and following
that chapter record the events of this "Passion Week", and the
death and triumphant resurrection of Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior. I highly recommend renewing your mind, either with that
set of scriptures or one of the other Gospel accounts.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

Reply-to: "Weekly Verses" <weeklyverses.UM.A.3.6781@lists.crosswalk.com>
Subject: Weekly Verses from Crosswalk.com: 3/25/02
Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 14:15:15 -0500

Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
www.crosswalk.com
3/25/02

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

~~~~~~~~~
MONDAY

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you
trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power
of the Holy Spirit.

--Romans 15:13
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Hope and joy and peace sound terrific! Two things are vital
for this to be a part of our lives. First, we must trust God
to meet our needs and get us to where we need to be. Second,
we expect the power of the Holy Spirit to bless us and empower
us with God's qualities.

MY PRAYER...
Great and Mighty God, bless me with greater trust that you
are nearby and long to help. Bless and empower me to be the
person you want me to be. Fill me with your Spirit so I may
live my life more like Jesus lived his life here on earth.
Through him I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

TUESDAY

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such things there is no law.

--Galatians 5:22-23
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
A lot of different religious groups will give you all sorts
of ways to know whether or not you have the Holy Spirit. Jesus
has one simple answer: "by their fruit you will know them."
Paul gives us the definition of holy fruit. Say them out loud
and ask the Lord to make it true in you: LOVE, JOY, PEACE,
PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS,
SELF-CONTROL.

MY PRAYER...
Abba Father, through the Spirit I call upon you. Please
fulfill in me the character you possess. I want to exhibit the
qualities of your child, Jesus, through whom I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

WEDNESDAY

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it
you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted
that the Lord is good.

--1 Peter 2:2-3
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Salvation is such a precious thing! But like a newborn
baby, we become obnoxious or sick if we stay in the same place
we were spiritually when we were saved! Read Hebrews 6 and see
what God has to say about remaining immature! We must really
want to grow. We must crave what is good and what builds us
up. What are you going to do today to satisfy your spiritual
appetite?

MY PRAYER...
Mighty God, thank you for loving me and saving me. I really
want to mature in your grace. Bless me today as I seek to
pattern holy habits and fill myself spiritually with the things
that will help me grow. But Holy God, I know that true growth
comes only from you, so I ask you to strengthen me by your
Spirit as I pursue your character. Through Jesus' mighty name
I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

THURSDAY

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is
in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends
out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of
drought.

--Jeremiah 17:7-8
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Trust. Can we trust in God? Is the Lord faithful? While
we may wish to have been alive when Jesus walked the earth or
Jeremiah spoke fearlessly God's hard truth, we are especially
blessed to be alive today. We stand at the end of an
incredible stream of God work and know him to be profoundly
faithful to his people. We can launch out into the future with
boldness because we know, as Psalm 139 says, God is there!

MY PRAYER...
Holy God, I know you are there! In the morning, in the
evening, in the long nights, I know I am not alone. Thank you
for knowing me and going with me through all my days. Please
make your presence known to me this day as I seek to honor you
in what I do and say. Through Jesus my Lord I ask this. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

FRIDAY

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full
armor of God so that you can take your stand against the
devil's schemes.

--Ephesians 6:10-11
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Many of the struggles in our lives are not mere accidents!
In fact, many of them are not put there by God. Our challenges
often come from the hand of our enemy, Satan. He always prowls
around looking for the best scheme to knock us out of our
commitment to, and relationship with, the Lord. Placing
ourselves firmly in the hands of the Lord and using his tools
of warfare will help us defeat our enemy, who has already been
humiliated by Jesus and the cross.

MY PRAYER...
Strengthen me, O God, that I may stand against my foe and
triumph by the power of your Spirit and bring honor and glory
to my conquering Savior You will return one day and take me
home in victory. Through the Rider on the White Horse I pray.
Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

SATURDAY

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he
has stood the test, he will receive he crown of life that God
has promised to those who love him.

--James 1:12
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Only Christians win at life. That's because none of us have
the power to hold back our greatest enemy, death. But when we
have persevered, we are given the ultimate victory, LIFE that
will not end.

MY PRAYER...
Thank You, O Father, for giving me the assurance that when
all is said and done, I will share in your life and your
victory forever. Help me this day to live confidently, knowing
that I have your life. Through Jesus, my conquering King, I
pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

SUNDAY

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.

--Romans 6:23
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
When we get death for sin, we're only being paid what we're
owed -- sin is rebellion against the God who loves us and gave
us his most precious gift to redeem us from sin! But God's
gift is free -- eternal life in Jesus Christ. He gave it
without our assurance of following.

MY PRAYER...
Thank you, God, for loving me when no one else could or
would. Thank you for sacrificing the most precious gift of
heaven so I could join you there. Of all the gifts I've ever
received, yours is the best. This thanksgiving I offer through
the gift that set me free! Amen.

____________________SUBSCRIPTION INFO_______________________

* To subscribe, send an email to:
< SUBSCRIBE-weeklyverses@lists.crosswalk.com > or go to
< www.crosswalk.com/lists > for a complete list of
our newsletters.
* Copyright ? 2002 Crosswalk.com, Inc. and its Content
Providers. All rights reserved.

____________________________________________________________

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

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Movies - coverage of the 74th Academy Awards
movies.yahoo.com/