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preacher31
DO NOT BE AFRAID - Subscribe
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(From God's Daily Promises) Scripture: The Lord who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you." Isaiah 43:1-2 NLT Think about this when things get tough for you. God Bless You Two Margarets Margaret MacLachlan and Margaret Wilson, Covenanters in Wigtown, Scotland, were tried for their faith on April 13, 1865, for refusing to take the Oath of Abjuration, which stated that the Church of God is a department of the State. Found guilty of rebellion, attending field meetings, and worshiping in places other than a church, they were ordered to receive their sentences on their knees. When they refused to bow before anyone but God, they were forced down to their knees and then were sentenced to death by drowning. On May 11, 1685, the two faithful Margarets were tied to posts and staked in the sea as the tide was rising. The older Margaret (MacLachlan) was farther out. They were given many chances to recant their beliefs, but they stood firm and resolute. Margaret MacLachlan remained silent, her eyes closed throughout the ordeal, communing with Christ until death. As the tide rose eighteen-year-old Margaret Wilson began to sing a Covenanter rendition of Psalm 25:7. Then, she recited from Romans 8: "We are more than conquerors through him that loves us.…" After the waves washed over her head, the soldiers pulled her out, pleading with her one last time to "pray for the king!" She prayed, but her pray was, "Lord, give him repentance, forgiveness, and salvation, if it be Thy holy will." The angry soldiers threw her back into the water, and she joined Margaret MacLachlan before the throne. We may never face the rising tide of the sea, but the deep waters of trouble and loss can be just as overwhelming. How do you react when you feel you are about to drown in the rising tide of your own troubles? Adapted from The One Year® Book of Christian History by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten (Tyndale, 2003), entry for May 11. |
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preacher31
FORGIVE THEM ALL 5/08/2009 03:11 - Subscribe
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Though our hearts are filled with sins, you forgive them all. Psalm 65:3 NLT Romans 8:32 (New International Version) 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Isaiah 43:25 (New International Version) 25 "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Reflection: As I read Romans 8:32, I am reminded that God gave up His only Son for you and me. If God can love me and forgive me this much, I can't picture Him ever holding back His forgiveness from me. It seems to me, since God did not spare even His own Son but gave Him for all of us, won't God also give us everything else? God's forgiveness is different than our (human) forgiveness. He not only forgives sin, but according to Isaiah 43:25, He forgets our sin forever. This is certainly different than human forgiveness with all it's hidden strings. We say we forgive, but later, at a crucial time, we yank the string and pull the offense back into view. You see it's one thing to say you forgive somebody, but truly forgiving and forgetting is much, much more difficult. It seems like we always hold on to past offenses and we always seem to hold grudges. For some we assume that God does the same. This is not true God forgives us, He never thinks of that sin again. MAYBE WE SHOULD TRY A LITTLE BIT OF THAT KIND OF FORGIVENESS. Prayer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever. Amen |
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preacher31
A MOTHER'S DAY PRAYER 5/10/2009 01:33 - Subscribe
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Every Mother's Prayer I pray you'll be my eyes And watch her where she goes And help her to be wise Help me to let go Every mother's prayer Every child knows Lead her to a place Guide her with your grace To a place where she'll be safe I pray she finds your light And holds it in her heart As darkness falls each night Remind her where you are Every mother's prayer Every child knows Need to find a place Guide her with your grace Give her faith so she'll be safe Lead her to a place Guide her with your grace To a place where she'll be safe |
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preacher31
BEING HONEST WITH GOD 5/12/2009 03:46 - Subscribe
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Scripture: I am disgusted with my life. Let me complain freely. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. Job 10:1 Reflection: The story of Job shows, what we would call a good man Christlike by all account. This good man loses everything, suffers unbelievable pain, and then is “resurrected” to a better life. Through out the book of Job, we see, a certain reverence that Job showed to God. But that reverence and respect for God didn't stop him from being honest about his struggles. In this verse we observe how Job tells God that he is disgusted with his life. He complains freely, and he speaks of the bitterness of his soul. Like Job we need to be worshipful and respectful to God, but we can also be straight with God. WE NEED TO BE HONEST WITH GOD. God is there for you, His ear is tuned to you. Be honest with God let Him know your struggles, your problems. GOD IS THERE FOR YOU. Prayer: Thank you God for being there for me. I need to learn to be honest with You, to let you know my struggles and problems, and then give them to You. I really believe that with Your help, I can work out all my problems. THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING MY GOD. In Jesus Name Amen. |
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GIVING UP POWER 5/15/2009 10:41 - Subscribe
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Scripture: You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. Psalm 16:11 NLT Quote: It takes a radical break to turn a man from earth's trash to heaven's treasure. Vance Havner Reflection: One of the most difficult things for me, is too give and trust my life to God. For some reason this is a very difficult for me to do. Giving up any power or any control is not easy. I struggled with this for a long time. When I did finally entrust my life to God, I discovered something very important. When I said, "God I put it into your hands you take care of it" nothing seemed to happen. But when I said, "You call the shots Lord, give me the strength to do thy well." I became a good and faithful servant. Things would begin to happen, my problem was solved, sometimes it took a long time, but God was there with me. You see I was serving God and He was working through me. He is still there and is still working through me, and He will forever! The empty basket (True Story) When Palestine was partitioned, Maltar and his family were stranded in Jerusalem. Daily his family read the Lord's promises, such as those of Psalm 34. One day Maltar said, "Children, we finished the last of our food for breakfast. We have no money. We'll tell this only to the Lord, and I'll go out with this basket." SO THEY PRAYED AROUND THE EMPTY BASKET. Maltar went to the bank, but there was still no money coming through. As he turned to go, he saw a friend from his hometown in the line. He'd left before the worst troubles and banked his money in Jerusalem. "Maltar!" his friend cried. "What are you doing here?" "We were on holiday in our small house in Jerusalem and weren't able to get back home," Maltar said. "Then you must be having money problems. How are you managing?" "Fine," Maltar told him and left the bank. His friend overtook him: "You can't be fine, Maltar, with nine kids to feed." He dropped a handful of bank notes into the basket. The children, waiting at the gate, stared in wonder as Maltar returned with an overflowing basket. Patricia St. John in Finding God Between a Rock and Hard Place David said, "Those who honor [God] will have all they need" (Psalm 34:9). Why not claim that promise today? Adapted from Men of Integrity Devotional Bible with devotions from the editors of Men of Integrity, a publication of Christianity Today I International (Tyndale, 2002), entry for May 13. |