I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way - inall your speaking and in all your knowledge. 1 Corinthians 1:4-5
Apostle Paul was amazing. He is writing one of the most problematic churches and yet finds reasons to give thanks for them. He is thankful for them because Jesus died for them. When God extends his grace to others, how can we not do the same?
Paul's example reminds us that a child of God is something to be cherished, even if that child has problems.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
LINCOLN'S THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION
It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.
We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?
We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.
But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are so journing in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.
--Abraham Lincoln - October 3, 1863
We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?
We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.
But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are so journing in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.
--Abraham Lincoln - October 3, 1863
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Personal Prayers
Lord God, help me to remember to give thank to You, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in all things and to maintain an attitude of prayer.
Colossians 1:3
Thank you, Lord, that through Your Son I have been made complete.
Colossians 2:10
Help me to bear fruit daily in the work I do and increase the knowledge of You. Colossians 1:10
I pray that You will have first place in everything in my life.
Colossians 1:18
Help me, as a husband and father, to grow in love for and understanding of my wife and children.
Colossians 3:19,21
I pray that my children will be obedient to us as parents in all things because this pleases You.
Colossians 3:20
In whatever I do, show me how to perform my work happily for You, rather than for people.
Colossians 3:23
Help me to devote myself to prayer, keeping an alert in it, with an attitude of thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:2
Lord, help me to be faithful to whatever You have called me to, and help me fulfill it in faithfulness.
Colossians 4:17
Colossians 1:3
Thank you, Lord, that through Your Son I have been made complete.
Colossians 2:10
Help me to bear fruit daily in the work I do and increase the knowledge of You. Colossians 1:10
I pray that You will have first place in everything in my life.
Colossians 1:18
Help me, as a husband and father, to grow in love for and understanding of my wife and children.
Colossians 3:19,21
I pray that my children will be obedient to us as parents in all things because this pleases You.
Colossians 3:20
In whatever I do, show me how to perform my work happily for You, rather than for people.
Colossians 3:23
Help me to devote myself to prayer, keeping an alert in it, with an attitude of thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:2
Lord, help me to be faithful to whatever You have called me to, and help me fulfill it in faithfulness.
Colossians 4:17
Pray For You
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again. It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart. We have shared together the blessings of God, both when I was in prison and when I was out, defending the truth and telling others the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:3-11
Thank you for the joy I feel about my fellow believers. Thank you for the partnership we have in your Son Jesus.
God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by telling others the Good News about his Son. One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. Romans 1:9-10
I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly
Ephesians 1:16
Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.
Ephesians 6:18
We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly.
1 Thessalonians 1:2
Thank you for the joy I feel about my fellow believers. Thank you for the partnership we have in your Son Jesus.
God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by telling others the Good News about his Son. One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. Romans 1:9-10
I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly
Ephesians 1:16
Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.
Ephesians 6:18
We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly.
1 Thessalonians 1:2
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
True Prayer
Christians today are beginning to awaken to a foundational truth: all
true prayer is spiritual warfare. This is true because all of our aims
in prayer---closeness with God, spiritual refreshment, other people's
forgiveness, blessings from God, forgiveness, peace, joy---are contrary
to Satan's design. In prayer you are moving out into enemy territory.
As your enemy, Satan will oppose your church's efforts to reach out.
Prayer is your most powerful weapon in defeating him.
-Alvin Griend(The Praying Church Source Book p.228)
Ephesians 6:10-20
A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere. And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words as I boldly explain God's secret plan that the Good News is for the Gentiles, too. I am in chains now for preaching this message as God's ambassador. But pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.
true prayer is spiritual warfare. This is true because all of our aims
in prayer---closeness with God, spiritual refreshment, other people's
forgiveness, blessings from God, forgiveness, peace, joy---are contrary
to Satan's design. In prayer you are moving out into enemy territory.
As your enemy, Satan will oppose your church's efforts to reach out.
Prayer is your most powerful weapon in defeating him.
-Alvin Griend(The Praying Church Source Book p.228)
Ephesians 6:10-20
A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere. And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words as I boldly explain God's secret plan that the Good News is for the Gentiles, too. I am in chains now for preaching this message as God's ambassador. But pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.
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