Thought for the day
Richard Fairchild tells the following story in his book, "Not Far From the Kingdom of God":
In the days of the circuit riders a minister was out riding one afternoon and came upon a man out working in his field.
"Fine day, isn't it?" the minister called out.
"It's fine for you", the man replied, "All you have to do is ride around on that horse thinking about God all day long, while I have to sweat here in this field and then walk home afterward. I don't think it is right you should have things so easy while I have to work so hard."
"On the contrary", the minister answered, "thinking about God is one of the most difficult things you can do. And to prove it, I'll give you this horse if you can think about God and nothing else for one minute."
"You're on," said the man and immediately he sat down in silence. Thirty seconds later he looked up at the minister, and said, "Does that include the saddle?"
I would agree that thinking about God and nothing else is a very difficult thing to do. I would also add, though, that it is just as hard for ministers as it is anyone else!
The apostle Paul wrote, "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:2).
But our mind is filled nearly every minute of the day with things on this earth -- concerns about things that have happened, concerns about things that will (or might) happen, concerns about what we have (or don't have), concerns about how to get what we don't have, concerns about people that have done us wrong, concerns about what we want others to do for us.
And our mind is so crowded with the things of this world, that there's just not much room left for God. It's hard to think about God and God alone, for there is so much competing for our attention.
Allow me to give you this challenge -- think about God and nothing else for one minute. If you can achieve that goal, strive for five minutes. May thoughts of God increasingly fill your mind so that you can eventually say with the Psalmist all day long, "I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works." (Psalm 145:15)
Verses
Mark 11:23
I solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Get up and throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt at all in his heart, but has faith that what he says will take place, shall have it.
Matthew 10:1
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Colossians 1:13
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
Colossians 1:9
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Psalm 112:1,3
Happy the man who feareth the Lord! in His commandments he will greatly delight. Glory and riches are in his house; and his righteousness shall endure forever.
Prayer
Jesus, stir in my heart the desire to be diligently immersed in the Word of God. The deceiver is diligent in planting seeds of doubt, confusion and clever lies always intending to lead me off course in my spiritual walk. As I persevere in reading and applying truths inscribed throughout Your Word I ward off the incessant pleas from Satan to yield to sin. I desire to be Your faithful follower not just for a season but all through eternity. It is my heart’s desire to influence as many as possible to join me in this noble calling. May You find me faithful so that those who watch my life daily may also find me faithful!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Thursday prayer & verses (29 10 2009)
Thought for the day
Here are the answers to some questions that you may have had about pregnancy:
Q. Should I have a baby after 35?
A. No, 35 children is enough.
Q. I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A. With any luck, right after he finishes college.
Q. How will I know if my vomiting is morning sickness or the flu?
A. If it's the flu, you'll get better.
Q. What is the most common pregnancy craving?
A.. For men to be the ones who get pregnant.
Q. What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A. Childbirth.
Q. My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she'sborderline irrational.
A. So what's your question?
Q. My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel duringlabor, but pressure. Is she right?
A. Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an aircurrent.
Q. When is the best time to get an epidural?
A. Right after you find out you're pregnant.
Q. Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A. Yes, pregnancy.
Q. Does pregnancy cause headaches?
A. Pregnancy causes anything you want to blame it for.
Q. Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel andact normal again?
A. When the kids are in college.
The joy of pregnancy and childbirth! Mothers are quick to tell me that those two words don't belong together with the word "joy". And here's a helpful tip (from personal experience) for you fathers. When your wife is in labor and the needle on the graph is showing her contractions, don't ever say, "Is that the highest you can make the needle jump?" At that point, she will not see the humor in the situation. It will only make her angry. (Trust me!)
The Bible refers often to pregnancy and childbirth. But it never speaks of it as a time of joy. Rather, it refers accurately to the "pains of childbirth. "In Romans 8, Paul draws a parallel between what an expectant mother experiences and what we (and all of creation) experience as we await the return of Jesus Christ:
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.....We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."
(Romans 8:18,22-23, NIV) A mother in labor may feel the pain will never end. With what you are going through right now in your life, you may feel the same way. Someday, though, for God's children, the pain will pass and the joy will be greater than we ever imagined. For that day we "wait eagerly"!
Verses
2 Corinthians 1:20
For as many promises as are promises of God have become in Him yes and are a yes at present. Wherefore also through Him is the Amen to the glory of God through us.
Exodus 23:25
And give worship to the Lord your God, who will send his blessing on your bread and on your water; and I will take all disease away from among you.
Philippians 3:20
But our homeland is in heaven, where our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is; and we are looking forward to his return from there.
Romans 12:12
Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.
1 Corinthians 1:5
So that in him you have wealth in all things, in word and in knowledge of every sort;
Prayer
Father, there are many troubling situations that weigh our heart down when that is our primary focus. But You want us to bring these troubles to You in prayer, entrust them to Your care, and be joyful on our journey. Nehemiah reminds us, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” So help us not to live in a state of alarm, but to have a joyful disposition so that we can bring cheer to those around us. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Here are the answers to some questions that you may have had about pregnancy:
Q. Should I have a baby after 35?
A. No, 35 children is enough.
Q. I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A. With any luck, right after he finishes college.
Q. How will I know if my vomiting is morning sickness or the flu?
A. If it's the flu, you'll get better.
Q. What is the most common pregnancy craving?
A.. For men to be the ones who get pregnant.
Q. What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A. Childbirth.
Q. My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she'sborderline irrational.
A. So what's your question?
Q. My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel duringlabor, but pressure. Is she right?
A. Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an aircurrent.
Q. When is the best time to get an epidural?
A. Right after you find out you're pregnant.
Q. Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A. Yes, pregnancy.
Q. Does pregnancy cause headaches?
A. Pregnancy causes anything you want to blame it for.
Q. Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel andact normal again?
A. When the kids are in college.
The joy of pregnancy and childbirth! Mothers are quick to tell me that those two words don't belong together with the word "joy". And here's a helpful tip (from personal experience) for you fathers. When your wife is in labor and the needle on the graph is showing her contractions, don't ever say, "Is that the highest you can make the needle jump?" At that point, she will not see the humor in the situation. It will only make her angry. (Trust me!)
The Bible refers often to pregnancy and childbirth. But it never speaks of it as a time of joy. Rather, it refers accurately to the "pains of childbirth. "In Romans 8, Paul draws a parallel between what an expectant mother experiences and what we (and all of creation) experience as we await the return of Jesus Christ:
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.....We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."
(Romans 8:18,22-23, NIV) A mother in labor may feel the pain will never end. With what you are going through right now in your life, you may feel the same way. Someday, though, for God's children, the pain will pass and the joy will be greater than we ever imagined. For that day we "wait eagerly"!
Verses
2 Corinthians 1:20
For as many promises as are promises of God have become in Him yes and are a yes at present. Wherefore also through Him is the Amen to the glory of God through us.
Exodus 23:25
And give worship to the Lord your God, who will send his blessing on your bread and on your water; and I will take all disease away from among you.
Philippians 3:20
But our homeland is in heaven, where our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is; and we are looking forward to his return from there.
Romans 12:12
Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.
1 Corinthians 1:5
So that in him you have wealth in all things, in word and in knowledge of every sort;
Prayer
Father, there are many troubling situations that weigh our heart down when that is our primary focus. But You want us to bring these troubles to You in prayer, entrust them to Your care, and be joyful on our journey. Nehemiah reminds us, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” So help us not to live in a state of alarm, but to have a joyful disposition so that we can bring cheer to those around us. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wednesday prayer & verses ( 27 10 2009)
Thought for the day
The story is told of Morris, a Russian man, who saves his rubles for twenty years to buy a new car. After choosing the model and options he wants, he's not the least bit surprised or even concerned to learn that it will take two years for the new car to be delivered. He thanks the salesman and starts to leave, but as he reaches the door he pauses and turns back to the salesman.
"Do you know which week two years from now the new car will arrive?"
The salesman checks his notes and tells the man that it will be two years to the exact week. The man thanks the salesman and starts out again, but upon reaching the door, he turns back again.
"Could you possibly tell me what day of the week two years from now the car will arrive?"
The salesman, mildly annoyed, checks his notes again and says that it will be exactly two years from this week, on Thursday. Morris thanks the salesman and once again starts to leave. Halfway through the door, he hesitates, turns back, and walks up to the salesman.
"I'm sorry to be so much trouble, but do you know if that will be two years from now on Thursday in the morning, or in the afternoon?"
Visibly irritated, the salesman flips through his papers yet another time and says sharply that it will be in the afternoon, two years from now on Thursday.
"That's a relief !" says Morris. "The plumber is coming that morning!"
We often have to make plans far in advance so as to avoid any conflicts. Before making any commitments -- you know the routine -- we have to pull out the date book. "The kids have got a soccer game that night at 7:00, but the next night is free." Planning ahead isn't wrong; in fact, it's a scriptural principle. What makes it wrong, though, is planning ahead without any thought of God.
"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.' " (James 4:13-15).
Go ahead! Make your plans! Fill in that date book! Just make sure that God hasn't been left out.
Verses
Matthew 9:29
He touched their eyes. 'Let your prayer be answered in proportion to your faith,' he said.
Matthew 8:7
And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has come your way that is too hard for flesh and blood to bear. But God can be trusted not to allow you to suffer any temptation beyond your powers of endurance. He will see to it that every temptation has its way out, so that it will be possible for you to bear it.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray constantly.
Psalm 112:1,3
Hallelujah. Happy is the man who fears the LORD, who is ardently devoted to His commandments. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his beneficence lasts forever.
Prayer
Father, it is commonly tempting to try to understand You in human terms and measure your worth such as Isaiah prolifically depicts in his prophetic letter. When he describes the means by which we, Your created ones, go about measuring one’s abilities it falls enormously short of what You, in Your divine nature, have done, what You are doing, and what You will do in the future. We are unable to understand or appreciate all there is to know because we are the finite created ones and You are the infinite Creator. There is nothing and no one who can compare with You. You are the most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious, Your great name we praise! Amen.
The story is told of Morris, a Russian man, who saves his rubles for twenty years to buy a new car. After choosing the model and options he wants, he's not the least bit surprised or even concerned to learn that it will take two years for the new car to be delivered. He thanks the salesman and starts to leave, but as he reaches the door he pauses and turns back to the salesman.
"Do you know which week two years from now the new car will arrive?"
The salesman checks his notes and tells the man that it will be two years to the exact week. The man thanks the salesman and starts out again, but upon reaching the door, he turns back again.
"Could you possibly tell me what day of the week two years from now the car will arrive?"
The salesman, mildly annoyed, checks his notes again and says that it will be exactly two years from this week, on Thursday. Morris thanks the salesman and once again starts to leave. Halfway through the door, he hesitates, turns back, and walks up to the salesman.
"I'm sorry to be so much trouble, but do you know if that will be two years from now on Thursday in the morning, or in the afternoon?"
Visibly irritated, the salesman flips through his papers yet another time and says sharply that it will be in the afternoon, two years from now on Thursday.
"That's a relief !" says Morris. "The plumber is coming that morning!"
We often have to make plans far in advance so as to avoid any conflicts. Before making any commitments -- you know the routine -- we have to pull out the date book. "The kids have got a soccer game that night at 7:00, but the next night is free." Planning ahead isn't wrong; in fact, it's a scriptural principle. What makes it wrong, though, is planning ahead without any thought of God.
"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.' " (James 4:13-15).
Go ahead! Make your plans! Fill in that date book! Just make sure that God hasn't been left out.
Verses
Matthew 9:29
He touched their eyes. 'Let your prayer be answered in proportion to your faith,' he said.
Matthew 8:7
And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has come your way that is too hard for flesh and blood to bear. But God can be trusted not to allow you to suffer any temptation beyond your powers of endurance. He will see to it that every temptation has its way out, so that it will be possible for you to bear it.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray constantly.
Psalm 112:1,3
Hallelujah. Happy is the man who fears the LORD, who is ardently devoted to His commandments. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his beneficence lasts forever.
Prayer
Father, it is commonly tempting to try to understand You in human terms and measure your worth such as Isaiah prolifically depicts in his prophetic letter. When he describes the means by which we, Your created ones, go about measuring one’s abilities it falls enormously short of what You, in Your divine nature, have done, what You are doing, and what You will do in the future. We are unable to understand or appreciate all there is to know because we are the finite created ones and You are the infinite Creator. There is nothing and no one who can compare with You. You are the most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious, Your great name we praise! Amen.
Tuesday prayer & verses (27 10 2009)
Thought for the day
The story is told of two hunters who got a pilot to fly them into the far north for elk hunting. They were quite successful in their venture and bagged six big bucks. The pilot came back, as arranged, to pick them up. They started loading their gear into the plane, including the six elk.
The pilot objected and said, "The plane can only carry four of your elk. Any more than that would weigh the plane down too much. You'll have to leave two of the elk behind.
"The two hunters were both infuriated and insistent. They said, "Last year, we shot six elk and that pilot let us put them all on board. And that plane was the exact same model.
"Reluctantly, the pilot finally permitted them to put all six aboard. But about fifteen minutes after taking off, the engine started to sputter, and within seconds they were hurtling to the ground and crashed into the wilderness.
Climbing out of the wreckage, one hunter said to the other, "Do you know where we are?" "I think so," replied the other hunter. "I think this is about a mile from where we crashed last year!"
We're mighty slow to learn at times. We make a mistake, and you would think we would learn never to make that mistake again, but we often find ourselves right back where we were. We think, "This time it will be different. This time it won't end up the same way." But it often does. Hopefully, though, we eventually reach a level of maturity where we can learn from our mistakes.
Huxley once said, "Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him."And the apostle Paul wrote, "The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:9).
Made any mistakes lately? Thanks to Christ, it doesn't have to be the end of the world. But may you learn from them as you grow closer to God.
Verses
Luke 17:6
And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you.
Isaiah 53:4
Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.
Colossians 2:9
Yet it is in him that God gives a full and complete expression of himself in bodily form.
Psalm 102:17
He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer.
Psalm 112:1,3
Hallelujah. Happy is the man who fears the LORD, who is ardently devoted to His commandments. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his beneficence lasts forever.
Prayer
Father, we acknowledge that endurance and persistence are attitudes derived from a faith filled-life with You. Our persistence is marked by the determination we have to finish the race though struggles weigh us down and doubts cloud our vision of the finish line. Thank You for marking the race out for us and for the great examples of those who cheer us on as we participate in this Christian race. They finished their race on earth through their enduring faith, though they experienced opposition from sinful people. We endure hardships and struggles as discipline from You, our loving Father, that we may share in Your holiness. Strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees as we lay aside everything that drags us down or tempts us to give up. We persist in the name of Jesus Christ for the heavenly finish line, Amen.
The story is told of two hunters who got a pilot to fly them into the far north for elk hunting. They were quite successful in their venture and bagged six big bucks. The pilot came back, as arranged, to pick them up. They started loading their gear into the plane, including the six elk.
The pilot objected and said, "The plane can only carry four of your elk. Any more than that would weigh the plane down too much. You'll have to leave two of the elk behind.
"The two hunters were both infuriated and insistent. They said, "Last year, we shot six elk and that pilot let us put them all on board. And that plane was the exact same model.
"Reluctantly, the pilot finally permitted them to put all six aboard. But about fifteen minutes after taking off, the engine started to sputter, and within seconds they were hurtling to the ground and crashed into the wilderness.
Climbing out of the wreckage, one hunter said to the other, "Do you know where we are?" "I think so," replied the other hunter. "I think this is about a mile from where we crashed last year!"
We're mighty slow to learn at times. We make a mistake, and you would think we would learn never to make that mistake again, but we often find ourselves right back where we were. We think, "This time it will be different. This time it won't end up the same way." But it often does. Hopefully, though, we eventually reach a level of maturity where we can learn from our mistakes.
Huxley once said, "Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him."And the apostle Paul wrote, "The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:9).
Made any mistakes lately? Thanks to Christ, it doesn't have to be the end of the world. But may you learn from them as you grow closer to God.
Verses
Luke 17:6
And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you.
Isaiah 53:4
Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.
Colossians 2:9
Yet it is in him that God gives a full and complete expression of himself in bodily form.
Psalm 102:17
He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer.
Psalm 112:1,3
Hallelujah. Happy is the man who fears the LORD, who is ardently devoted to His commandments. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his beneficence lasts forever.
Prayer
Father, we acknowledge that endurance and persistence are attitudes derived from a faith filled-life with You. Our persistence is marked by the determination we have to finish the race though struggles weigh us down and doubts cloud our vision of the finish line. Thank You for marking the race out for us and for the great examples of those who cheer us on as we participate in this Christian race. They finished their race on earth through their enduring faith, though they experienced opposition from sinful people. We endure hardships and struggles as discipline from You, our loving Father, that we may share in Your holiness. Strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees as we lay aside everything that drags us down or tempts us to give up. We persist in the name of Jesus Christ for the heavenly finish line, Amen.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Monday prayer & verses (26 10 2009)
Thought for the day
Unfortunately there are some things that children should be learning in school, but don't. Not all of them have to do with academics. For the benefit of our high school and college graduates, here are some basic rules that may not have found their way into the standard curriculum. Some (perhaps all) of these should be credited to Charles Sykes, author of "Dumbing Down Our Kids."
Rule #1: Life is not fair. Get used to it.
Rule #2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. It will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.
Rule #3: Sorry, you won't make R200,000 a year right out of high school. And you won't be a vice president or have a car phone either. You may even have to wear a uniform that doesn't have a Gap label.
Rule #4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait 'till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure, so he tends to be a bit edgier.
Rule #5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping. They called it opportunity.
Rule #6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes. Learn from them.
Rule #7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, cleaning up your room and listening to you tell them how idealistic you are. And by the way, before you save the rain forest from the blood-sucking parasites of your parents' generation try cleaning out your bedroom.
Rule #8: In some schools they have abolished failing grades. They'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This, of course, bears not the slightest resemblance to anything in real life.
Rule #9: Life is not divided into semesters, and you don't get summers off. They expect you to show up every day. For eight hours. And very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.
Rule #10. Television is not real life. Your life is not a sitcom. Your problems will not all be solved in 30 minutes, minus time for commercials. In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop to go to jobs.
Rule #11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.
Rule #12: Enjoy this while you can. Sure, parents are a pain, school's a bother, and life is depressing. But someday you'll realize how wonderful it was to be a kid. Maybe you should start now.
You're welcome.
I think there are some good points to be learned by students in the material above. The message I see repeated throughout is "don't expect for life to be easy." Interestingly enough, that's one of the messages that Jesus left with his disciples. Life for a Christian will not always be easy. At times, it will be very difficult. And sometimes it helps just to know that in advance."Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." (1 Peter 4:12-13).
The good thing is, though, that even when life is not easy, God has promised to provide the strength we need to get through it.
Verses
Jeremiah 1:12
Then said the LORD unto me: 'Thou hast well seen; for I watch over My word to perform it.'
John 6:63
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Luke 9:18
And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to bestow every grace on you in overflowing measure, so that at all times and in all circumstances you may be adequately provided and may overflow with every kind of good work.
Prayer
Father, depending on the state of our hearts we view the Scripture about the return of Your Son as a warning or as a welcoming. We prepare our hearts by seeking You for the forgiveness of sins and inviting You to reign in our lives. We pray for those we love that they too will make spiritual preparations to be ready for the trumpet sound when the dead in Christ rise first and then we who remain will be caught up to meet Jesus in the skies. We have been warned, we are prepared, and we welcome with great anticipation the second coming of our Lord. We lift up our heads as our redemption draws near. Amen
Unfortunately there are some things that children should be learning in school, but don't. Not all of them have to do with academics. For the benefit of our high school and college graduates, here are some basic rules that may not have found their way into the standard curriculum. Some (perhaps all) of these should be credited to Charles Sykes, author of "Dumbing Down Our Kids."
Rule #1: Life is not fair. Get used to it.
Rule #2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. It will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.
Rule #3: Sorry, you won't make R200,000 a year right out of high school. And you won't be a vice president or have a car phone either. You may even have to wear a uniform that doesn't have a Gap label.
Rule #4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait 'till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure, so he tends to be a bit edgier.
Rule #5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping. They called it opportunity.
Rule #6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes. Learn from them.
Rule #7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, cleaning up your room and listening to you tell them how idealistic you are. And by the way, before you save the rain forest from the blood-sucking parasites of your parents' generation try cleaning out your bedroom.
Rule #8: In some schools they have abolished failing grades. They'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This, of course, bears not the slightest resemblance to anything in real life.
Rule #9: Life is not divided into semesters, and you don't get summers off. They expect you to show up every day. For eight hours. And very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.
Rule #10. Television is not real life. Your life is not a sitcom. Your problems will not all be solved in 30 minutes, minus time for commercials. In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop to go to jobs.
Rule #11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.
Rule #12: Enjoy this while you can. Sure, parents are a pain, school's a bother, and life is depressing. But someday you'll realize how wonderful it was to be a kid. Maybe you should start now.
You're welcome.
I think there are some good points to be learned by students in the material above. The message I see repeated throughout is "don't expect for life to be easy." Interestingly enough, that's one of the messages that Jesus left with his disciples. Life for a Christian will not always be easy. At times, it will be very difficult. And sometimes it helps just to know that in advance."Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." (1 Peter 4:12-13).
The good thing is, though, that even when life is not easy, God has promised to provide the strength we need to get through it.
Verses
Jeremiah 1:12
Then said the LORD unto me: 'Thou hast well seen; for I watch over My word to perform it.'
John 6:63
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Luke 9:18
And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to bestow every grace on you in overflowing measure, so that at all times and in all circumstances you may be adequately provided and may overflow with every kind of good work.
Prayer
Father, depending on the state of our hearts we view the Scripture about the return of Your Son as a warning or as a welcoming. We prepare our hearts by seeking You for the forgiveness of sins and inviting You to reign in our lives. We pray for those we love that they too will make spiritual preparations to be ready for the trumpet sound when the dead in Christ rise first and then we who remain will be caught up to meet Jesus in the skies. We have been warned, we are prepared, and we welcome with great anticipation the second coming of our Lord. We lift up our heads as our redemption draws near. Amen
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Friday prayer & verses (23 10 2009)
Thought for the day
There is an old story about the Greek Marathon. Muscular, conditioned runners paced nervously near the starting line for the long-distance race. The time was near. They "shook out" their muscles, inhaled deeply, and put on their "game faces."
In the midst of it all, a young stranger took his place at the starting line. His physique was awesome. Taking no notice of the other contestants, he stared straight ahead. Two prizes would be awarded the winner of the Marathon: a magnificent bouquet of flowers and the honor of standing beside the king until the conclusion of other contests.There seemed to be no question among the runners about who would win the prize. It is alleged that the stranger was offered money not to run. Someone else attempted to bribe him with property. Refusing the offers, he toed the mark and awaited the signal to run. When the signal was given, he was the first away.
At the finish line, he was the first to cross, well ahead of the rest. When it was all done, someone asked the young man if he thought the flowers were worth as much as the money and property he had refused. He replied, "I did not enter the race for the flowers. I ran so that I could stand beside my king!"
Those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ are "running the race" (I Cor. 9:24-25). It is a race that has a prize for those who finish (notice, not those who finish first, but all who finish). This prize, according to Paul, is an "imperishable crown." The rewards for those who enter heaven are described in scripture with a lot of terms -- "many mansions", "streets of gold", "tree of life", and the list goes on and on. All of those things are attractive. That's why God tells us about them.
But I would be willing to give up all the streets of gold and settle for a small corner of a shack as long as I can know the reward of being able to stand beside my King. That's what I look forward to more than anything else. It is the one thing that will make heaven the wonderful reward that it will be."...The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him." (Rev. 22:3)
Run the race with diligence. Your King is watching and waits for you at the finish line!
Verses
Ephesians 3:20
Now glory be to God who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of -- infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.
Matthew 8:17
This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, "He took our infirmities and bore our diseases."
Matthew 12:35
"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
Matthew 21:22
if you have faith you will receive whatever you ask in prayer.'
Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You’ve given us the roadmap to follow through the guidance of Your Holy Scriptures. You’ve established that Your way is the only way to eternal life. It is the only way that we can have victory in our walk here on earth and the assurance of a victorious eternity in heaven. Just as John the Baptist went before You preparing straight paths, I thank You for going before me preparing the way for my journey. Though Scripture describes the Christian’s walk as being a straight and narrow path it certainly has steep inclines and its route will also take me through deep valleys. If I wander off-course I’m grateful for Your Holy Spirit who reminds me of my commitment to follow You, once again calling me to my heavenly destination. Amen.
There is an old story about the Greek Marathon. Muscular, conditioned runners paced nervously near the starting line for the long-distance race. The time was near. They "shook out" their muscles, inhaled deeply, and put on their "game faces."
In the midst of it all, a young stranger took his place at the starting line. His physique was awesome. Taking no notice of the other contestants, he stared straight ahead. Two prizes would be awarded the winner of the Marathon: a magnificent bouquet of flowers and the honor of standing beside the king until the conclusion of other contests.There seemed to be no question among the runners about who would win the prize. It is alleged that the stranger was offered money not to run. Someone else attempted to bribe him with property. Refusing the offers, he toed the mark and awaited the signal to run. When the signal was given, he was the first away.
At the finish line, he was the first to cross, well ahead of the rest. When it was all done, someone asked the young man if he thought the flowers were worth as much as the money and property he had refused. He replied, "I did not enter the race for the flowers. I ran so that I could stand beside my king!"
Those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ are "running the race" (I Cor. 9:24-25). It is a race that has a prize for those who finish (notice, not those who finish first, but all who finish). This prize, according to Paul, is an "imperishable crown." The rewards for those who enter heaven are described in scripture with a lot of terms -- "many mansions", "streets of gold", "tree of life", and the list goes on and on. All of those things are attractive. That's why God tells us about them.
But I would be willing to give up all the streets of gold and settle for a small corner of a shack as long as I can know the reward of being able to stand beside my King. That's what I look forward to more than anything else. It is the one thing that will make heaven the wonderful reward that it will be."...The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him." (Rev. 22:3)
Run the race with diligence. Your King is watching and waits for you at the finish line!
Verses
Ephesians 3:20
Now glory be to God who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of -- infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.
Matthew 8:17
This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, "He took our infirmities and bore our diseases."
Matthew 12:35
"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
Matthew 21:22
if you have faith you will receive whatever you ask in prayer.'
Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You’ve given us the roadmap to follow through the guidance of Your Holy Scriptures. You’ve established that Your way is the only way to eternal life. It is the only way that we can have victory in our walk here on earth and the assurance of a victorious eternity in heaven. Just as John the Baptist went before You preparing straight paths, I thank You for going before me preparing the way for my journey. Though Scripture describes the Christian’s walk as being a straight and narrow path it certainly has steep inclines and its route will also take me through deep valleys. If I wander off-course I’m grateful for Your Holy Spirit who reminds me of my commitment to follow You, once again calling me to my heavenly destination. Amen.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Thursday prayer & verses (22 10 2009)
Thought for the day
There was once a small boy who banged a drum all day and loved every moment of it. He would not be quiet, no matter what anyone else said or did. Various attempts were made to do something about the child.
One person told the boy that he would, if he continued to make so much noise, perforate his eardrums. This reasoning was too advanced for the child, who was neither a scientist nor a scholar.
A second person told him that drum beating was a sacred activity and should be carried out only on special occasions. The third person offered the neighbors plugs for their ears; a fourth gave the boy a book; a fifth gave the neighbors books that described a method of controlling anger through biofeedback; a sixth person gave the boy meditation exercises to make him placid and docile. None of these attempts worked.
Eventually, a wise person came along with an effective motivation. He looked at the situation, handed the child a hammer and chisel, and asked, "I wonder what's inside the drum?"
Ah, the wisdom of that man! It reminds me of the wisdom demonstrated by King Solomon when two women came to him fighting over which of them was the true mother of a baby (I Kings 3:16-28). Solomon was, of course, known for his great wisdom.
Solomon wrote, "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her." (Prov. 3:13-15)
We need to understand, though, that knowledge and wisdom aren't the same thing. If you want to measure a person's knowledge, you give them a test. If they score 90 or above, they have a lot of knowledge. If they score below 50, there's not much knowledge there. But determining the measure of a person's wisdom is much more difficult. You have to look at how he lives and the decisions he makes.
James Draper has said, "Wisdom is the skill to live in a way that is pleasing to God. It is not simply information in our heads. It is information that we put to use -- where we live, where we work, and where we play."
We live in a world where everyone seeks knowledge. We value education. We read books. We watch news channels. But how many of us pursue wisdom to the same extent?
Be assured that wisdom is not something that you will stumble into by accident. It's a pursuit. It's a search. It requires an attitude that says, "I want to learn from God how to live, and I want to apply those principles to my life."
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7)
Verses
Romans 10:11
'No one who believes in him will have any cause for shame.'
1 Peter 2:24
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
Mark 16:17
"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves steadfastly to prayer, with your minds wide awake and your hearts filled with gratitude.
Philippians 4:19
My God will supply all that you need from his glorious resources in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Jesus, when it comes to my heart, I need it to remain soft and pliable so that I do not lose my spiritual sensitivity to hear and obey Your voice like those whose hearts hardened over the years and became dull of their spiritual senses. They no longer hear You or feel Your presence in their life. Their spiritual vision darkened. Help me, Lord, once again to taste and see that You are good. You are the Bread of Life which satisfies my hunger. From You flows the springs of living water that forever quench my thirst. Satan has only temporary substitutes that can entrap me and draw me away from Your eternal pleasures. May I remain vigilant and not turn a deaf ear to Your voice which will only lead to the build up of sin in my life that eventually hardens my heart toward You. Just as I pray this for myself I also pray for others whom I can encourage through my prayer support, by words of hope and through my specific expressions of kindness toward them. I want to obey the Holy Spirit’s leading who prompts me to encourage daily those whom He lays upon my heart. Amen.”
There was once a small boy who banged a drum all day and loved every moment of it. He would not be quiet, no matter what anyone else said or did. Various attempts were made to do something about the child.
One person told the boy that he would, if he continued to make so much noise, perforate his eardrums. This reasoning was too advanced for the child, who was neither a scientist nor a scholar.
A second person told him that drum beating was a sacred activity and should be carried out only on special occasions. The third person offered the neighbors plugs for their ears; a fourth gave the boy a book; a fifth gave the neighbors books that described a method of controlling anger through biofeedback; a sixth person gave the boy meditation exercises to make him placid and docile. None of these attempts worked.
Eventually, a wise person came along with an effective motivation. He looked at the situation, handed the child a hammer and chisel, and asked, "I wonder what's inside the drum?"
Ah, the wisdom of that man! It reminds me of the wisdom demonstrated by King Solomon when two women came to him fighting over which of them was the true mother of a baby (I Kings 3:16-28). Solomon was, of course, known for his great wisdom.
Solomon wrote, "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her." (Prov. 3:13-15)
We need to understand, though, that knowledge and wisdom aren't the same thing. If you want to measure a person's knowledge, you give them a test. If they score 90 or above, they have a lot of knowledge. If they score below 50, there's not much knowledge there. But determining the measure of a person's wisdom is much more difficult. You have to look at how he lives and the decisions he makes.
James Draper has said, "Wisdom is the skill to live in a way that is pleasing to God. It is not simply information in our heads. It is information that we put to use -- where we live, where we work, and where we play."
We live in a world where everyone seeks knowledge. We value education. We read books. We watch news channels. But how many of us pursue wisdom to the same extent?
Be assured that wisdom is not something that you will stumble into by accident. It's a pursuit. It's a search. It requires an attitude that says, "I want to learn from God how to live, and I want to apply those principles to my life."
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7)
Verses
Romans 10:11
'No one who believes in him will have any cause for shame.'
1 Peter 2:24
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
Mark 16:17
"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves steadfastly to prayer, with your minds wide awake and your hearts filled with gratitude.
Philippians 4:19
My God will supply all that you need from his glorious resources in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Jesus, when it comes to my heart, I need it to remain soft and pliable so that I do not lose my spiritual sensitivity to hear and obey Your voice like those whose hearts hardened over the years and became dull of their spiritual senses. They no longer hear You or feel Your presence in their life. Their spiritual vision darkened. Help me, Lord, once again to taste and see that You are good. You are the Bread of Life which satisfies my hunger. From You flows the springs of living water that forever quench my thirst. Satan has only temporary substitutes that can entrap me and draw me away from Your eternal pleasures. May I remain vigilant and not turn a deaf ear to Your voice which will only lead to the build up of sin in my life that eventually hardens my heart toward You. Just as I pray this for myself I also pray for others whom I can encourage through my prayer support, by words of hope and through my specific expressions of kindness toward them. I want to obey the Holy Spirit’s leading who prompts me to encourage daily those whom He lays upon my heart. Amen.”
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Wednesday prayer & verses (21 10 2009)
Thought for the day
I heard about an 80-year-old woman who was arrested for shoplifting. When she went before the judge in Cincinnati he asked her,
"What did you steal?"
She replied "A can of peaches."
The judge asked her why she had stolen the can of peaches and she replied that she was hungry. The judge then asked her how many peaches were in the can.
She replied, "Six."
The judge said, "Then I will give you six days in jail."
Before the judge could actually pronounce the punishment, the woman's husband spoke up and asked the judge if he could say something.
The judge said, "What is it?"
The husband said, "She also stole a can of peas."
It's so true that whenever others are found guilty, we want to make sure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I sometimes ask people the question, "Do you want a judge (or a police officer) who shows mercy or one who administers justice?" The answer I get is almost always the same -- if we are standing before the judge or pulled over by the police officer, we want mercy; if others are standing there, we want justice.
The interesting thing about God is that He is perfect in His justice while at the same time full of mercy. How can He be both? When we are guilty of sin, He finds us guilty to the full extent of the law. The penalty for our sin is death -- spiritual death, separation from God (Romans 6:23). But, in His mercy, God has found a way to pay the price Himself.
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21)
Praise God for being the just and holy God that He is, but praise Him as well for being full of grace and mercy.
Verses
Hebrews 11:6
But apart from faith it is impossible to please Him well; for whosoever comes to God must believe that He is, and that He has, for those who seek Him earnestly, rewards in store.
Jeremiah 30:17
For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, ‘says the Lord, 'Because they called you an outcast saying:"this is Zion; no one seeks her."
John 3:17
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.
2 Corinthians 1:11
you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Everyone should do what he has made up his mind to do, not with regret or being forced, because God loves anyone who gives gladly.
Prayer
Father, how inexhaustible are Your resources, Your wisdom and Your knowledge! How impossible it is to search into Your decrees or trace Your footsteps! For You are sovereign, watching over Your people and supplying their every need without exhausting any of Your resources, wisdom or knowledge. We look to You and no other, for there is none like You. Amen.
See Romans 11:33
I heard about an 80-year-old woman who was arrested for shoplifting. When she went before the judge in Cincinnati he asked her,
"What did you steal?"
She replied "A can of peaches."
The judge asked her why she had stolen the can of peaches and she replied that she was hungry. The judge then asked her how many peaches were in the can.
She replied, "Six."
The judge said, "Then I will give you six days in jail."
Before the judge could actually pronounce the punishment, the woman's husband spoke up and asked the judge if he could say something.
The judge said, "What is it?"
The husband said, "She also stole a can of peas."
It's so true that whenever others are found guilty, we want to make sure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I sometimes ask people the question, "Do you want a judge (or a police officer) who shows mercy or one who administers justice?" The answer I get is almost always the same -- if we are standing before the judge or pulled over by the police officer, we want mercy; if others are standing there, we want justice.
The interesting thing about God is that He is perfect in His justice while at the same time full of mercy. How can He be both? When we are guilty of sin, He finds us guilty to the full extent of the law. The penalty for our sin is death -- spiritual death, separation from God (Romans 6:23). But, in His mercy, God has found a way to pay the price Himself.
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21)
Praise God for being the just and holy God that He is, but praise Him as well for being full of grace and mercy.
Verses
Hebrews 11:6
But apart from faith it is impossible to please Him well; for whosoever comes to God must believe that He is, and that He has, for those who seek Him earnestly, rewards in store.
Jeremiah 30:17
For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, ‘says the Lord, 'Because they called you an outcast saying:"this is Zion; no one seeks her."
John 3:17
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.
2 Corinthians 1:11
you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Everyone should do what he has made up his mind to do, not with regret or being forced, because God loves anyone who gives gladly.
Prayer
Father, how inexhaustible are Your resources, Your wisdom and Your knowledge! How impossible it is to search into Your decrees or trace Your footsteps! For You are sovereign, watching over Your people and supplying their every need without exhausting any of Your resources, wisdom or knowledge. We look to You and no other, for there is none like You. Amen.
See Romans 11:33
Monday, October 19, 2009
Tuesday prayer & verses (20 10 2009)
Thought for the day
There's a beautiful story about a little boy who couldn't wait for his new baby sister to come home from the hospital. He couldn't wait to be near her, to talk to her. But his parents didn't want him to be left alone with her. After all he was only four years old, so they wanted to supervise his visits. He kept begging to be alone with her, so one night his parents finally relented.
The boy tiptoed into her room, stood next to his sister's crib and said: "Tell me about God - I'm starting to forget.
"There are times when we as adults get so caught up in the "rat race" and all of our responsibilities. Perhaps we need to go to the children around us and say, "Tell me about God -- I'm starting to forget."
There are weeks when we've been dealing with irate customers and heavy traffic. We need to fellowship with the saints and worship God together because "I'm starting to forget."
There are weeks when we've had to focus on crying babies, the paying of bills and doctors' appointments. We need the reminder of the Lord's Supper to see God's love and grace because "I'm starting to forget."
There are days when we're so caught up in deadlines at work and getting the kids to soccer practice, days when we need to slow down a bit and spend time with God in prayer because "I'm starting to forget."
"Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life." (Deuteronomy 4:9)
Are you starting to forget? Ask someone to tell you about God once more.
Verses
Ephesians 6:13
Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to meet the evil one, and being prepared you shall prevail.
Isaiah 53:5
And he is pierced for our transgressions, Bruised for our iniquities, The chastisement of our peace [is] on him, And by his bruise there is healing to us.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Every temptation that has come your way is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist; at the time you are tempted he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.
Mark 11:24
I therefore tell you that whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it; and it shall come to you.
Romans 8:32
He who has not spared even his own Son but has delivered him for us all, how can he fail to grant us all other blessings with him?
Prayer
Father, we read of those in the Bible from generations long ago who lived upright and godly lives. They were discerning and wise in making decisions which helped them make difficult choices, such as Stephen or Joseph. Some of their choices brought about visible blessings but other choices brought forth great sacrifice, persecution, or even death. We also read of those who were proud and foolish, thinking only of themselves, such as Samson or Demetrius the Silversmith. They serve as warnings to us. We want to follow those commended for their faith whose promise of eternal reward awaited them on the other side. Help us as we journey here below to model those from generations past who have been faithful to walk in Your ways. Help us to also appreciate and surround ourselves with people older than us, who set for us an example of wisdom, maturity, and perseverance. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
There's a beautiful story about a little boy who couldn't wait for his new baby sister to come home from the hospital. He couldn't wait to be near her, to talk to her. But his parents didn't want him to be left alone with her. After all he was only four years old, so they wanted to supervise his visits. He kept begging to be alone with her, so one night his parents finally relented.
The boy tiptoed into her room, stood next to his sister's crib and said: "Tell me about God - I'm starting to forget.
"There are times when we as adults get so caught up in the "rat race" and all of our responsibilities. Perhaps we need to go to the children around us and say, "Tell me about God -- I'm starting to forget."
There are weeks when we've been dealing with irate customers and heavy traffic. We need to fellowship with the saints and worship God together because "I'm starting to forget."
There are weeks when we've had to focus on crying babies, the paying of bills and doctors' appointments. We need the reminder of the Lord's Supper to see God's love and grace because "I'm starting to forget."
There are days when we're so caught up in deadlines at work and getting the kids to soccer practice, days when we need to slow down a bit and spend time with God in prayer because "I'm starting to forget."
"Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life." (Deuteronomy 4:9)
Are you starting to forget? Ask someone to tell you about God once more.
Verses
Ephesians 6:13
Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to meet the evil one, and being prepared you shall prevail.
Isaiah 53:5
And he is pierced for our transgressions, Bruised for our iniquities, The chastisement of our peace [is] on him, And by his bruise there is healing to us.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Every temptation that has come your way is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist; at the time you are tempted he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.
Mark 11:24
I therefore tell you that whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it; and it shall come to you.
Romans 8:32
He who has not spared even his own Son but has delivered him for us all, how can he fail to grant us all other blessings with him?
Prayer
Father, we read of those in the Bible from generations long ago who lived upright and godly lives. They were discerning and wise in making decisions which helped them make difficult choices, such as Stephen or Joseph. Some of their choices brought about visible blessings but other choices brought forth great sacrifice, persecution, or even death. We also read of those who were proud and foolish, thinking only of themselves, such as Samson or Demetrius the Silversmith. They serve as warnings to us. We want to follow those commended for their faith whose promise of eternal reward awaited them on the other side. Help us as we journey here below to model those from generations past who have been faithful to walk in Your ways. Help us to also appreciate and surround ourselves with people older than us, who set for us an example of wisdom, maturity, and perseverance. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Monday prayer & verses (19 10 2009)
Thought for the day
Two brothers, John and Richard, lived in the same town -- John with his 12-year-old cat, Richard with their 88-year-old mother.
John's whole life was his cat. He never went anywhere without her. One day he was faced with a terrible decision. He had to go to England on business for his company and he couldn't take the cat into England with having to quarantine her for 14 days. He wouldn't do that so he was faced with either losing his job or leaving his cat. Finally he decided to trust his brother with the cat for the week he would be gone. He gave Richard detailed instructions, schedules, food, etc. He flew to London and called Richard every day to make sure Gracie the cat was OK.
On the fifth day when he called, John asked Richard how Gracie was and Richard told him. "Gracie is dead." Well, as you can imagine, John nearly had a heart attack. When he recovered, he said to Richard, "That was the most cruel thing I ever heard. You know how much I loved that cat. Why couldn't you have broken it to me gently?
You could have something like, "Well, she's OK, but she's up on the roof."
And then when I called the next time, tell me, "Oh oh, bad news, she fell off the roof and she's at the vet."
And then the next time break the news that she passed away. At least I would have been a little prepared for the bad news." "Yes, you are right John. I apologize for being so heartless." John accepted Richard's apology for being so uncaring, and then said,
"Oh, by the way, how's Mother?"
Richard said, "Well, John, she's OK, but she's on the roof!"
There are some pieces of information that we just shouldn't even try to hold back. Talking about Jesus falls into that category. I think of Peter and John who were told to stop preaching about Christ and they said, "We cannot keep quiet. We must speak about what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:20, NCV) Paul said, "Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!" (I Cor. 9:16b) You can feel the urgency in their voices. I believe that we need to use tact in talking to people about Christ. But sometimes, we are so worried about offending people that we never get around to saying anything at all!Break the news. And break it gently if you wish. Just be careful that your message is not so "gentle" that it's of no value at all.
Verses
Hebrews 11:1
What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.
Proverbs 15:30
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and a good report makes the bones healthy.
Philippians 2:10-11
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me that I may answer thee, -- and tell thee things great and inaccessible which thou hast not known.
Philippians 4:19
And my God will fill every need that you have through his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
“Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and desire to turn to You in repentance as I ask You to forgive me of my sins. I believe that You came to this earth and died on the cross as a substitute for me. I place my faith in You and what You have done for me. I receive You into my life and choose this day to follow and serve You. Thank You for hearing my prayer.”
Two brothers, John and Richard, lived in the same town -- John with his 12-year-old cat, Richard with their 88-year-old mother.
John's whole life was his cat. He never went anywhere without her. One day he was faced with a terrible decision. He had to go to England on business for his company and he couldn't take the cat into England with having to quarantine her for 14 days. He wouldn't do that so he was faced with either losing his job or leaving his cat. Finally he decided to trust his brother with the cat for the week he would be gone. He gave Richard detailed instructions, schedules, food, etc. He flew to London and called Richard every day to make sure Gracie the cat was OK.
On the fifth day when he called, John asked Richard how Gracie was and Richard told him. "Gracie is dead." Well, as you can imagine, John nearly had a heart attack. When he recovered, he said to Richard, "That was the most cruel thing I ever heard. You know how much I loved that cat. Why couldn't you have broken it to me gently?
You could have something like, "Well, she's OK, but she's up on the roof."
And then when I called the next time, tell me, "Oh oh, bad news, she fell off the roof and she's at the vet."
And then the next time break the news that she passed away. At least I would have been a little prepared for the bad news." "Yes, you are right John. I apologize for being so heartless." John accepted Richard's apology for being so uncaring, and then said,
"Oh, by the way, how's Mother?"
Richard said, "Well, John, she's OK, but she's on the roof!"
There are some pieces of information that we just shouldn't even try to hold back. Talking about Jesus falls into that category. I think of Peter and John who were told to stop preaching about Christ and they said, "We cannot keep quiet. We must speak about what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:20, NCV) Paul said, "Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!" (I Cor. 9:16b) You can feel the urgency in their voices. I believe that we need to use tact in talking to people about Christ. But sometimes, we are so worried about offending people that we never get around to saying anything at all!Break the news. And break it gently if you wish. Just be careful that your message is not so "gentle" that it's of no value at all.
Verses
Hebrews 11:1
What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.
Proverbs 15:30
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and a good report makes the bones healthy.
Philippians 2:10-11
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me that I may answer thee, -- and tell thee things great and inaccessible which thou hast not known.
Philippians 4:19
And my God will fill every need that you have through his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
“Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and desire to turn to You in repentance as I ask You to forgive me of my sins. I believe that You came to this earth and died on the cross as a substitute for me. I place my faith in You and what You have done for me. I receive You into my life and choose this day to follow and serve You. Thank You for hearing my prayer.”
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