| "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" Phil 1:6 God is intimately involved in our spiritual growth. The God who began a good work in us continues it throughout our lifetime and will finish it when we meet him face to face. God's work 'for' us began when Christ died on the cross in our place. His work 'in' us began when we first believed. Now the Holy Spirit lives in us, enabling us to be more like Christ every day. Paul is describing the process of Christian growth and maturity that began when we accepted Jesus and continues until Christ returns. God will keep working even when we are discouraged. Do you sometimes feel as though you aren't making progress in your spiritual life? When God starts a project, he completes it! As with the Philippians, God will help you grow in grace until he has completed his work in your life. When you are discouraged, remember that God won't give up on you. He promises to finish the work he has begun. When you feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by your shortcomings, remember God's promise and provision. Don't let your present condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to him. ******************************************************** Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience. - George Washington ********************************************************* “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10 What does Paul mean when he says that he “takes pleasure” in all of these difficult circumstances? When Paul was placed in solitary confinement in prison, he wasn’t alone – Jesus was near. His weakness became his strength. If they beat him and he hurt, then he had the fellowship of Christ’s suffering – his weakness became his strength. If his body became crippled and he was not able to lean upon his own arm, then he had to lean on the Everlasting Arms. Paul took pleasure in these things. God is waiting to make you strong. There is power in our suffering. Suffering is not going to hurt you, it is going to strengthen you. Are you suffering today? What does God have to say about your attitude about what you are going through? Ask God to forgive you if you are viewing your circumstances in any other way than through His eyes. Ask for His strength to see that when you are weak, He is strong! Sing the song, “Jesus loves me.” **************************************************************** Acts 13:26-43 "Brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning him. Though they could charge him with nothing deserving death, yet they asked Pilate to have him killed. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead; and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, `Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee.' And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he spoke in this way, `I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.' Therefore he says also in another psalm, `Thou wilt not let thy Holy One see corruption.' For David, after he had served the counsel of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption; but he whom God raised up saw no corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brethren, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him every one that believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. Beware, therefore, lest there come upon you what is said in the prophets: `Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish; for I do a deed in your days, a deed you will never believe, if one declares it to you.'" As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next sabbath. And when the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. Note: Today's Gospel reading is Mark 3:19b-35. Find a Bible translation at this address: http://www.beliefnet.com/index/index_10052.html ***************************************************************** ONE KIND WORD Author Unknown Drop a pebble in the water, ! just a splash, and it's gone, But there's half-a-hundred ripples ! circling on and on, Spreading from the center, ! flowing on out to the sea, And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be. Drop a pebble in the water, ! in a minute you forget, But there's little waves a-flowing, ! and there's ripples circling yet, And those little waves a-flowing ! to a great big wave have grown, You've disturbed a mighty river ! just by dropping in a stone. Drop an unkind or careless word, ! in a minute it's gone, But there's half-a-hundred ripples ! circling on and on, They keep spreading, ! spreading from the center as they go, And there's no way to stop them, once you've started them to flow. Drop an unkind or careless word, ! in a minute you forget, But there's little waves a-flowing, ! and there's ripples circling yet, And perhaps in some sad heart ! a mighty wave of tears you've stirred, And disturbed a life that was happy ! when you dropped that unkind word. Drop a word of cheer and kindness, ! just a flash and it's gone, But there's half-a-hundred ripples ! circling on and on, And you've rolled a wave of comfort ! whose sweet music can be heard, Over miles and miles of water ! just by dropping one kind word. ============================================ Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back. Luke 6:37-38 ============================================  "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to Him, but His
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09/17/2003 09:41 PM
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