What does it mean to " take up your cross and follow me" ? This week Monica teaches on what the Bible and Jesus tell us about the journey of the cross. What are the consequences of this journey? What does it feel like? How do we know if we have "taken up our cross"?
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"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3.
Are you a morning person, or a night person?
Because of commitments to work and school, my wife and I have to be up and going in the morning, but millions of people don't get going until about three o'clock in the afternoon. That's when their creative juices start flowing and when they really feel alive.
For most of us, the day begins much earlier.
Even if you're a night owl, let me suggest a great way to start your day. The writer of Psalms knew the key: "In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice (or prayer)."
Doesn't it make sense to be in touch with the One who created the day? Why not begin your day by spending a few minutes alone with God each morning? Study God's Word and share with Him through prayer your heart and your concerns.
It will help get you in the right frame of mind. You'll find your day will start, and finish, a whole lot better.
Don't worry about tomorrow….God is already there!
In Touch Daily Devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley
March 17 & 18, 2007 – The Process of Temptation – 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Many people act like there's no defense against temptation. With the first hint of desire, they immediately throw their hands up and give in. These people fail to realize temptation is a process. And processes can be short-circuited at any stage.
Temptation usually begins in the mind, the source of an active fantasy life. The human mind has the capacity to create entire exchanges and experiences out of nothing. Through fantasy, we can enjoy something without ever bringing it into "the real world." So, people sometimes think if it isn't "real," then it's perfectly harmless. But that's not true.
Fantasy leads to a downward spiral of enslavement. Over time, it becomes boring, and the need for more gratifying fulfillment builds. Ultimately, our thoughts are so wrapped around temptation that it seems impossible to think of anything else. At that point, the desire holds our minds captive. And when our lives become perfectly focused on anything other than God, we're trapped. Because the process of temptation starts in the mind, it can be difficult to escape.
No matter where we go or what we do, we'll never be able to outrun our minds! But we can disrupt the process by filling our minds with God's Word. As you continually feed your imagination a hearty diet of Scripture, the Word will go to work against your fantasies. The Bible is powerful. Trust it to set you free from the burden of temptation.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-23 KJV
Live in Christ!
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Colossians 2:6-12 KJV
God bless all my christianspace freinds
Hope all have a wonderful Sunday Thanks for your comments, prayers & friendships Your all in my prayers God Bless ya all Tamara
"Some Christian Humor ..." ========
There was a very gracious lady who was mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country. "Is there anything breakable in here?" asked the postal clerk. "Only the Ten Commandments." Answered the lady.
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Somebody has said there are only two kinds of people in the world. There are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord," and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, it's morning."
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A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short of time and couldn't find a space with a meter. Then he put a note under the windshield wiper that read: "I have circled the block 10 times. If I don't park here, I'll miss my appointment. Forgive us our trespasses."
When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this note "I've circled this block for 10 years. If I don't give you a ticket I'll lose my job. "Lead us not into temptation."
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There is the story of a pastor who got up one Sunday and announced to his congregation: "I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is, it's still out there in your pockets."
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While driving in Pennsylvania, a family caught up to an Amish carriage. The owner of the carriage obviously had a sense of humor, because attached to the back of the carriage was a hand printed sign... "Energy efficient vehicle: Runs on oats and grass. Caution: Do not step in exhaust."
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A Sunday School teacher began her lesson with a question, "Boys and girls, what do we know about God?" A hand shot up in the air. "He is an artist!" said the kindergarten boy. "Really? How do you know?" the teacher asked. "You know - Our Father, who does art in Heaven... "
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A minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a long holiday weekend. The attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars ahead of him. Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant pump. "Reverend," said the young man, "I'm so sorry about the delay. It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip."
The minister chuckled, "I know what you mean. It's the same in my business."
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A father was approached by his small son who told him proudly, "I know what the Bible means!" His father smiled and replied, "What do you mean, you 'know' what the Bible means?" The son replied, "I do know!" "Okay," said his father. "What does the Bible mean?" "That's easy, Daddy." The young boy replied excitedly, "It stands for 'Basic Information Before Leaving Earth.'"
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Sunday after church, a Mom asked her very young daughter what the lesson was about. The daughter answered, "Don't be scared, you'll get your quilt."
Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed. Later in the day, the Pastor stopped by for tea and the Mom asked him what that morning's Sunday school lesson was about. He said "Be not afraid, thy comforter is coming."
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Give me a sense of humor, Lord, Give me the grace to see a joke, To get some humor out of life, And pass it on to other folk! Amen.
FOR THEN IT SHALL BE SAID; OUR MOUTHS WERE FILLED WITH LAUGHTER, AND OUR TONGUES WITH SONGS OF JOY. THEN IT WAS SAID AMONG THE NATIONS, "THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR THEM." ( PSALM 126:2 )
NO LONGER UNDER OBLIGATION
Romans 6:6 Our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin
Why did the old self need to die? The old self was independent and disobedient to God, so it had to die in order that "our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin" (Romans 6:6). Death is the ending of a relationship, but not of existence. Sin hasn't died; it is still strong and appealing. But when your old self died with Christ on the cross, your relationship with sin ended forever. You are no longer "in the flesh" but "in Christ" (Romans 8:9). Your old self (the sinner) and your old nature (characterized by the sin which was inevitable since you were separated from God) are gone forever because you are no longer separated from God.
Does this mean that you are now sinless? By no means. The death of your old self formally ended your relationship with sin, but it did not end sin's existence. Sin and Satan are still around, and they are strong and appealing. But by virtue of the crucifixion of the old self, sin's power over you is broken (Romans 6:7, 12, 14). You are no longer under any obligation to serve sin, to obey sin, or to respond to sin.
You commit sin when you willfully allow yourself to act independently of God as the old self did as a matter of course. When you function in this manner you are violating your new nature and your new identity. Such actions must be confessed and forsaken.
Even though the old self, which you were in Adam, is dead, you still have to contend with the flesh. The way you learned to live your life before Christ is still programmed into your mind. Knowing that your old self was crucified with Christ makes it possible for you to choose not to sin. You no longer have to walk after the flesh; you may now walk after the Spirit. You are free.
Prayer:
Father, help me overcome the fleshly ways I followed before coming to You. I choose today to be tuned in to Your Spirit. by Neil Anderson
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