Quote from Forum Archives on July 31, 2002, 3:08 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Today I'd like to share this week's Sowing Seeds of Faith weekly
devotional message with you. Longtime readers of Word for Today,
1Corinthians7@welovegod.org, or Sowing Seeds of Faith will
recognize the message, it is part of the summer repeat series ---
a good one. The message questions our priorities and our
personal relationship with God, and it identifies a key trap that
even the most faithful Christians can easily fall into.. I know I
CONSTANTLY have to watch out for this same trap, and I've fallen
into it more than once!

It really concerns substituting what we think are good,
wholesome, Christian activities for our personal, quiet, ongoing
relationship with God.

Let me tell you about my own situation. I certainly have a
personal relationship with God, and I genuinely desire to spend
private time with God. But the busyness of every day life -
work, family needs, even preparing and sharing devotional
messages and caring for the needs of others can easily get in the
way (and it does) with my personal relationship with God. My
friends, I even KNOW this, yet even so, I have to check myself
often to assess what I'm doing and how often I'm really listening
to my God. So often I talk to my God, and too often for comfort,
(as far as talking about it), I talk AT my God. But how often do I
LISTEN to my God? Not enough, I have to confess.

So when this realization hits home again, I stop, ask for God's
forgiveness, reset my priorities, and listen. I need to listen
right now, in fact, so I'll stop, send you this message, then
pause during my day to allow God into the midst of it all.

Have you had your own private appointment with your Savior today?

Lord,

Here I am, again, Lord, calling out to You. Today, please help
me to listen as I call, that I may hear Your voice in the midst
of the clamor in my own mind. Forgive me to my own insensitivity
at Your Presence and please renew my mind. Allow me to listen,
and help me from within to not only listen, but to respond to
Your Word. I thank You for Your great patience with me.

I also continue to pray that You would help me to be a genuine
encouragement to others, and that I may also be encouraged by
others. May we be one in the common hope that we find complete
in Christ. I ask each of these things humbly in Christ's Name.
Amen.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

A computer glitch has forced me to mail this to a few of you
twice. Please forgive me.

Sowing Seeds of Faith...

Free shipping for all of our products throughout the U.S. for the
month of August plus other sales. Click here for information:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm

Under the Cross: A Divine Warning
Larry Davies (804-239-1348)

Angry? Why angry? I was in the mountains attending a retreat
along with other church leaders. The speaker was comparing two
common church attitudes. One focused first on prayer, Bible study
and community service. This was desirable. Another emphasized
cafeteria-style, pick and choose programming. "This attitude,"
said the speaker, "was undesirable." That's when I got angry!

I stood and suggested that today's church really needed both
attitudes. "Yes," the speaker answered, "that may be true but
what's important is on which attitude do you place your
priorities?" His point was to urge churches to seek an ongoing
relationship with God first before blindly creating programs just
because people ask for them. He was right and I knew it, so why
was I so upset?

After the meeting, I took a walk to clear my head. It was cold
but I was too preoccupied to notice. After a few minutes, I
looked up toward the top of the mountain and saw a bright light
in the shape of a cross. It took a few minutes of climbing and
walking to get there but finally I stood below a beautiful cross
that could be seen for miles. Despite the temperature, I somehow
felt warm and secure beneath this shining beacon of light. It was
as if Jesus himself was offering comfort and reassurance.

After a few minutes of standing quietly, I began to understand my
anger. It wasn't about church attitudes or programs. It wasn't
even the speaker. The problem was with me. Underneath the glow of
the cross, the words of the speaker became a divine warning. I
was the one focusing on creative programming ideas while
neglecting my own relationship with God. My priorities were
focused on people rather than God: programs rather than
relationships. It was so simple, yet I almost missed it.

In the Bible, a young man named Timothy was also struggling and
faced many pressures and challenges but an experienced pastor
named Paul wrote several letters filled with Godly wisdom.

* Cling tightly to your faith in Christ and always keep your
conscience clear. (1 Timothy 1:19)

* I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make
your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them and give
thanks. (2:1)

* Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives
tales. Spend your time and energy in training yourself for
spiritual fitness. (4:7)

* Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the
church, encouraging the believers and teaching them. (4:13)

* Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Stay true
to what is right and God will save you and those who hear
you. (4:16)

The lessons of this letter are abundant and clear:

1. Cling tightly to your faith... Always put God first in
everything we do.

2. Pray for all people... Prayer should be the foundation of our
life and ministry.

3. Train yourself for spiritual fitness... Spiritual discipline
is an all-important part of faith.

4. Reading the Scriptures... Still the best way I know to
discover God's love and grace.

5. Encouraging and teaching others... Emphasis is on
relationships not activities or programs.

6. Stay true to what is right and God will save you... Putting
our ultimate trust in God.

What about you? Maintaining a Christian lifestyle is about so
much more than attending church, singing in the choir or serving
on a committee. A Christian lifestyle is more about who you are,
how you act and Whom you serve. Question: What priorities are you
neglecting in your relationship with God? What needs to change in
your life? When can you start? How can the church encourage you?

On a cold dark night beneath a brightly lit cross, I received a
divine warning and a priceless lesson. At the same time, I felt
the love and comfort only a loving Christ can give. I walked back
to the hotel with a bounce in my step and a new fire in my
heart. But you, Timothy, belong to God; so run from all these
evil things and follow what is right and good. Pursue a godly
life along with faith, love, perseverance and gentleness... May
God's grace be with you all. (1 Timothy 6:11 & 21) Amen! Thank
you, God!

If you like this devotion you will love the book: "Breaking the
Peanut Butter Habit: Following God's Recipe for a Better Life"
now on sale only through this website. Click here for more
information: www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm

Join our prayer ministry by clicking here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/sign-up.htm

Jesus said: "You are the light of the world...like a city on a
mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your
light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine
for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)

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

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