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Does your ministry desire a guest speaker?
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EDENOLOGY: The Study of Human History, starting from The Garden of Eden
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Comment by Ladyjd721 on November 19, 2008 at 3:54am
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ONE IN SPIRIT
Philippians 2:3-11
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Philippians+2:3-11
Dear Father, One God of your one holy people,
Help all of us to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain
conceit, but in humility help us count each other better than
ourselves.
May we look out for the interests of each other, not just our own.
Let our attitude be the same as was in Christ Jesus, who made
himself nothing and obeyed you, our Father, even in the matter of
dying.
Help me humbly and obediently to exalt Jesus, even as you have
exalted him and given him a name that is above every name, that
every knee should bow and every tongue confess - to the glory of
you, our God and our Father.
In the name of Jesus Christ, the source of our unity and
salvation, I ask these things. Amen.
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VERSE:
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and
glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted
repentance unto life.
-- Acts 11:18
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Acts+11:18&translation=kjv
THOUGHT:
Breaking through racial and cultural barriers is never easy.
Thankfully, God's Spirit doesn't let us settle comfortably into our
prejudices. Instead, we are challenged, led, and pushed to break
through racial hatred and cultural ignorance. Let's be the kind of
people who rejoice and praise God for every barrier that falls that
divides people. Let's press on until the triumphant promise of the
Gospel is fulfilled: "There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or
free, male or female. For you are all Christians — you are one in
Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)
PRAYER:
Holy God, I ask that you bless all those everywhere who are
trying to cross cultural, linguistic, and nationalistic barriers to
share the grace of Jesus with those who do not know you and do not
honor your Son as Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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Finishing Well
Ken Boa
We sing the song, "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back," but why is it that so many people do? There seems to be an epidemic of Christians who begin well but finish poorly. Let me share seven crucial characteristics that will help you to finish well.
1. Intimacy With Christ.
Our highest calling is to grow in our knowledge of Christ and to make Him known to others. Does our desire to know Christ exceed all other aspirations? If not, whatever is taking His place in the center of our affections must yield to Him if we are to know the joy of bearing spiritual fruit. A key secret of those who finish well is to focus more on loving Jesus than on avoiding sin. The more we love Jesus, the more we will learn to put our confidence in Him alone.
2. Fidelity With Spiritual Disciplines
Spiritual disciplines such as prayer, fellowship, study, worship, and submission are not ends in themselves, but means to the end of intimacy with Christ and spiritual formation. When left to itself, however, any one of these disciplines tends to decline and decay. An infusion of directed intentionality and effort is necessary to sustain order and growth and to bring repeated times of personal renewal.
3. A Biblical Perspective On The Circumstances Of Life.
Part of the purpose of our suffering and trials is to drive us to dependence on God alone. God responds by revealing more of Himself to us. This knowledge increases our faith and our capacity to trust His character and His promises through the times we do not understand His purposes and His ways. When we view our circumstances in light of God's character instead of God's character in light of our circumstances, we come to see that God is never indifferent to us, and that He uses suffering for our good so we will be more fully united to Christ.
4. A Teachable, Responsive, and Humble Spirit.
Those who finish well maintain an ongoing learning posture through the seasons of their lives. Humility and responsive obedience are the keys to maintaining a teachable spirit.
Humility is the disposition in which we displace self through the enthronement of Christ in our lives and realize that all of life is about trust in God. Obedience is the application of biblical faith in that which is not seen, and that which is not yet. As we mature in Christ, we learn to trust God's character and promises in spite of ambiguity or trials.
5. A Clear Sense Of Personal Calling.
God has called each of us to a purposeful journey sustained by faithfulness and growing hope. This calling or vocation transcends our occupations and endures beyond the end of our careers. As we seek the Lord's guidance in developing a personal vision and clarity of mission, we move beyond the level of tasks and accomplishments to the level of the purpose for which we were created.
6. Healthy Relationships with Resourceful People.
Relationships such as spiritual mentoring, servant leadership, and personal and group accountability are valuable resources that encourage, equip, and exhort. People who finish well do not do so without the caring support of other growing members of the body of Christ. These relationships help us to increase in intimacy with Christ, maintain the needed disciplines, clarify our long-term perspective, sustain a teachable attitude, and develop our purpose and calling.
7. Ongoing Ministry Investment In The Lives Of Others.
Spirit-filled living requires us to discover and develop the spiritual gifts we have received and exercise them through the Spirit's power for the edification of others. Believers who finish well are marked by ongoing outreach and sacrificial ministry for the good of other people.
Those who squander the resources, gifts, experiences, and hard-learned insights God has given them by no longer investing them in the lives of others soon wither and withdraw.
What does it take to finish well? Taking to heart the above seven characteristics will help you finish well day by day, as you "run with endurance the race that is set before [you]" (Heb. 12:1).
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UNDIVIDED, INDIVISIBLE
Philippians 2:1-2
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Philippians+2:1-2
Dear Father, One God of your one holy people,
Help me never to be a party to any division within the body of
Christ. Let me be perfectly united in mind and heart with all
others who follow you.
Help me not to be some kind of -ite, -ist, or -anian. Keep me from
misplacing my loyalties with this person or that!
Christ, of whom I am part, is not divided. He is of one mind. So
let me and all his people be together and in agreement.
Let us be like-minded, having the same love, one in spirit and
purpose.
In the name of Jesus Christ, the source of our unity and
salvation, I ask these things. Amen.
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The Heart of Jesus
The Son does whatever the Father does.
John 5:19 (NCV)
The crowning attribute of Christ was this: his heart was spiritual. His
thoughts reflected his intimate relationship with the Father. "I am in the
Father and the Father is in me," he stated (John 14:11)....
Jesus took his instructions from God. It was his habit to go to worship
(Luke 4:16). It was his practice to memorize Scripture (Luke 4:4). Luke says
Jesus "often slipped away to be alone so he could pray" (Luke 5:16). His
times of prayer guided him. He once returned from prayer and announced it
was time to move to another city (Mark 1:38). Another time of prayer
resulted in the selection of the disciples (Luke 6:12-13). Jesus was led by
an unseen hand....
The heart of Jesus was spiritual.
From: Just Like Jesus
Copyright (Word Publishing, 1998)
Max Lucado
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Imperfections
An elderly Chinese woman had two large
pots, each hung on the ends of a pole
which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it while
the other pot was perfect and always
delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walks from the
stream to the house, the cracked pot
arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily,
with the woman bringing home one and
a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of
its accomplishments.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of
its own imperfection, and miserable that
it could only do half of what it had been
made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be
a bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one
day by the stream - "I am ashamed of myself,
because this crack in my side causes water
to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that
there are flowers on your side of the path,
but not on the other pot's side?
"That's because I have always known about
your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your
side of the path, and every day while we walk
back, you water them."
"For two years I have been able to pick these
beautiful flowers to decorate the table.
Without your being just the way you are, there
would not be this beauty to grace the house."
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's
the cracks and flaws we each have that make
our lives together so very interesting and
rewarding.
You've just got to take each person for
what they are and look for the good in them.
So, have a great day and remember to smell
the flowers on your side of the path!
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Come to me,....and you will find rest for your lives.
Matthew 11:28-29 (NCV)
Come to me....
The people came....They brought him the burdens of their existence, and he
gave them not religion, not doctrine, not systems, but rest....
They found anchor points for their storm-tossed souls. And they found that
Jesus was the only man to walk God's earth who claimed to have an answer for
man's burdens. "Come to me."
From: Everyday Blessings
Copyright (J. Countryman, 2004)
Max Lucado
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SETBACKS INTO STEPPING STONES
Philippians 1:12-20
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Philippians+1:12-20
Dear Father,
Take the setbacks of our lives and use them to further the
proclamation of your Good News about Jesus to the world.
Let such things become a source of encouragement to our brethren
when they see the valor of those who bear up under adversity. May
every hardship spur your people on to boldly speak your word
without fear!
Even when your word is proclaimed for the wrong reason, we
rejoice, for your word of salvation is nevertheless proclaimed.
Father, we rejoice in the way you comfort and remain faithful to
us.
We are thankful that the prayers of our fellow believers rise
night and day for us and for the good of your kingdom.
In the name of King Jesus I ask. Amen.
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VERSE:
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:
wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath
prepared for them a city.
-- Hebrews 11:16
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Hebrews+11:16&translation=kjv
THOUGHT:
Hebrews 11 is full of reminders of the great heroes of faith
from long ago. They were looking for a better place, a heavenly
place. God has made preparations for them and he is proud to be
called their God. Jesus also promised us in John 14 that
preparations for our arrival at our heavenly home are being made.
If God is longing for us to join him, then surely we can have a
deep longing to be with him. Let's desire that heavenly country!
PRAYER:
Thank you, dear Father, for all that you have done to save me.
Thank you for not being ashamed of me. Thank you for preparing for
my arrival at home with you. With so much to look forward to, may I
live a victorious life because I am confident in your grace,
forgiven because of Jesus' sacrifice, and empowered to be holy by
your Spirit. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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What To Do in Times of Trouble
Bishop Keith Butler
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:15 (KJV)
Do you know what time it is? It is time to give God thanks because He is your Deliverer! In the time of trouble, you have to abound in thanksgiving to God. Thank Him for protection. Thank Him for provision. Thank Him for your food. Thank Him for your job. Thank the Father whether or not it looks like things are working. When you do, you release His ability and power.
In 2 Corinthians 4:16 it says, "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not s een: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (KJV)
We have no need to faint and no need to fear. When we are in Christ, we don't gauge our future by what the stock market does. We don't gauge our future by what the news reporters say. We gauge our standing in this life by the word of God which lives and abides forever.
So I'm telling you today, don't look at all the things you are reading in the newspaper. Instead look to God. You may not see God, but you know He's there. You know He makes a way for you. So begin to thank Him for doing it right now.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:6 it says "it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you." In other words, God is going to trouble your trouble. In 2 Thessalonians 2:2 it says, "That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand ."
So, know what time it is and don't be troubled. Don't be frightened. Don't be full of fear. God is pleased by our thanksgiving, and He will move in our situation. It is time now to thank God for delivering us by His mighty power!
Scripture References: 2 Thessalonians 1:6; Acts 16:25-26
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