Monday May 6, 2013

[GinNJ]

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

"17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

What awesome promises from God! God promises to make us new once we put our faith in Christ. Everything that came before is erased and He promises that 'new' things will come! The process of 'erasing' isn't easy as we want to hold on to what is familiar to us. We have to surrender all that we are to Him...let it go...so He can bring the new!

He promises that we can be righteous...what?...no, not in ourselves but in Christ. When we put our faith in Christ for our salvation His righteousness gets extended to us when we go before God in prayer and when the final judgement comes! Alleluia!

In Christ we also have a new purpose...the ministry of reconciliation. God making an appeal through us...I can almost hear the pleading in Paul's voice as he says "we beg you on behalf of Christ". How awesome is it that God has chosen to use repentant sinners to share the words of reconciliation! We get to be part of His-story! Who have we pleaded with lately for the cause of Christ?

I pray that God helps us this week to let go of anything that is taking up space that God wants to fill with something new and anything that is preventing us from sharing the word of reconciliation. For those who have not yet trusted in Christ for their salvation I pray that God's word will penetrate your heart this week and the seeds of faith will be planted!

Song for the day come to us from Big Daddy Weave:

In Christ

Well I may not be the greatest man to walk this earth
But I know who is
And I may not amount to what you think is much
But I already do to Him

While people keep searching for answers
Looking for a light in the dark, yeah
I'm standing with the answer
'Cause He is living in my heart

In Christ, I can do all things
In Christ, I mount up on eagle's wings
In Christ, I wait for a great reward
That I have in store in Christ

Well you might think that I'm sounding all too prideful
But let me tell you something true
The very one who lives inside of me right now
Wants to live inside of you

And instead of searching any longer
You can have peace today
You can take hold of the answer
Then you'll be able to say

In Christ, I can do all things
In Christ, I mount up on eagle's wings
In Christ, I wait for a great reward
That I have in store

In Christ, I have his righteousness
In Christ, I have what I confess
In Christ, I don't worry about all the rest
'Cause everything I need to be

In Him we live and move
And in Him we have our being
As we all live in Him
Together we can sing

In Christ, I can do all things
In Christ, I mount up on eagle's wings
In Christ, I wait for a great reward
That I have in store

In Christ, I have his righteousness
In Christ, I have what I confess
In Christ, I don't worry about all the rest
'Cause everything I need to be
Everything I need to be
Everything I need to be is in Christ
It's in Christ

[Deleted]

FOR The Lord gives WISDOM, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds VICTORY in store for the upright, he is a SHIELD to those whose walk is blameless, for he GUARDS the course of the just and PROTECTS the way of the FAITHFUL ones. Proverbs 2:6-8

[Deleted]

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” –Galatians 2:20

“But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening – it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.” –Hebrews 12:10-12

“But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.” -1 Corinthians 1:14-25

“We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely on God, who raises the dead. And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us.” – 2 Corinthians 1:8-10


Genesis 50:20 says (as Joseph spoke to his brothers), “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” -1 John 5:4-5

Hi everyone! As I was going through these verses last night, I felt like God was speaking to me about joy. It is so easy to worship God when things are going well and when everything is going our way. Sometimes though, devastating things occur – like what our brother Tim is going through right now. Also, there are times when even the strongest Christians get caught up in the patterns of every day life and just go through the motions. Christ doesn’t want that for us. Jesus says that we are precious to Him and He loves and adores us! When we find ourselves feeling lost and disconnected from that deeply intimate relationship that we can have with Jesus, we need to fall on our knees, surrender all, and be renewed with His strength and peace that surpasses all understanding.

Like with Tim, things happen that do not seem fair, that we can’t really comprehend. Joy comes in the morning though. The verses God gave me are proof that if we surrender all of our troubles to Jesus; if we really, truly seek Him, He will set us on a greater path. Though we might not understand what is happening right now, if we give ALL things to Him, if we take the time to be still before Him, He will make it work together for our good!

I pray that all of you have a blessed week, be still and find your strength in Christ!

“‘Lord, help!’ they cried in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm into a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness” –Psalm 107:28-30a.

Song: “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong United.
If you have the time, please watch this video (it’s lengthy, but the message is there!):
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

[Miami]

Matthew 6:25-34
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

[Deleted]

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23.... Just something to think about and perhaps what TT and other Christians do to avoid temptation and/or address bad situations. GinTX

[GinNJ]

May 7, 2013 10:33:51 GMT -5 @gintx said:

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23.... Just something to think about and perhaps what TT and other Christians do to avoid temptation and/or address bad situations. GinTX

I love that verse GinTX! You are right...we all need to be mindful, epecially Tim!