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Creator God, sometimes the circumstances of life are too much for us, and we give vent to words and feelings that betray our inner pain. In those times when we inflict wounds with words, violence in thought and even deed, bring to us healing and peace. Holy Three One God, there are times when the suffering of another, in illness or anguish, strikes a chord, and we would for love’s sake lash out at a world that seems cold, antiseptic and cruel. May Your Spirit teach us how to give and receive forgiveness. Through Your Spirit, may we find healing for the wounds we feel and in our wholeness may we finally feel empowered to work for others’ well-being . Our Great Physician there are truly people we care for facing serious medical conditions and we pray Your healing touch be upon each of them. May You work dramatically to bring restoration to well-being, be it through Your own hand or Your work in gifts expressed in the healing ministry of doctors and nurses. Amen!
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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"I only ask for three things.... the strength to change what can be changed... the serenity to accept what cannot be changed... the wisdom to tell the difference..."
Great prayer, Glass!
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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Personally, my favorite is from the tax collector in Matthew 18:9-14. He couldn't even look up for fear of meeting God's frown, but stood far off beating his chest, praying, "Lord have mercy on me, a sinner."
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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El Shaddai, God, the Mountain One, we are people of strong passions and often much stress. Cool our intense passions as a people so that at last we may sit at the table of fellowship committed to making this world a better place. Go before us God, to carry Your peace into the midst of unholy squabbles, may Your Spirit light our way to a new direction for all people everywhere. Your promise to us is that You will gather people from every nation, language, tribe, tongue and culture to Your kingdom. You show us the value of diversity, the beauty of the cultural tapestry woven of many strands the world over. Lord dull our sharp words and negate their effect. We acknowledge that we too often beat the drums of war and speak words of nullification and interposition as Rev. Dr. King once wrote. Teach us to exchange tanks for tractors, bombs and guns for combines, that the harvest of the world is not a harvest of tears and suffering, but of hope and wholeness for all people. This is our prayer Mighty One. Amen!
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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God, giver of life and all good things, You set the sun in the sky for crops to grow and to warm our world. You created the weather, bringing rain and snow, each in their season. The Fall leaves and the Spring crocus remind us that for every purpose there is a season. You walked among Your creation in the beginning and said it was all "very good." Thank you God, for Your generous Spirit. But in our willfulness, sin crept into the world and now the seasons, likewise corrupted, do not bring forth a balance of rain and sun. The sun gets too hot and crops wither. So we pray tonight God, send cool, restoring rain to places far and near where water it sems too rare. Preserve our crops so we might again feed the world. And grow in our hearts a will to share our harvest, large and small. So all children, everywhere may grow strong and thrive; may their song of and for peace join with ours til all our wearied troubles cease. Amen!
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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Set our hearts on fire with love of thee, O "Christ our God, that in that flame we may love thee with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul, and with all our strength, and our neighbours as ourselves; so that, keeping thy commandments, we may glorify thee, the giver of all good gifts."
Source unknown (Eastern Orthodox)
another great prayer. Thanks God for opening my eyes to this prayer, and for the people of these boards, every single one of them.
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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Here's a good old hymn/prayer to greet the day or enter into a good night's rest. Tradition says it is written by Francis of Assisi around 1215. God of all joy, come to us this day. Open our eyes to the wonders of Your creation, in good and bad days may we see Your great gifts, Your abundant generosity. And may that reminder grow in us a desire to grow in love for You and all You have created. Amen!
All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing, O praise ye! Alleluia! O brother sun with golden beam, O sister moon with silver gleam! O praise ye! O praise ye! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
O brother wind, air, clouds, and rain, by which all creatures ye sustain, O praise ye! Alleluia! Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice, ye lights of evening, find a voice! O praise ye! O praise ye! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
O sister water, flowing clear, make music for thy Lord to hear, Alleluia! Alleluia! O brother fire who lights the night, providing warmth, enhancing sight, O praise ye! O praise ye! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Dear mother earth, who day by day unfoldest bleassings on our way, Alleluia! Alleluia! The flowers and fruits that in thee grow, let them God's glory also show! O praise ye! O praise ye! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
All ye who are of tender heart, forgiving others, take your part, O praise ye! Alleluia! Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, praise God and on him cast your care! O praise ye! O praise ye! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
And thou, our sister, gentle death, waiting to hush our latest breath, Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou leadest home the child of God, and Christ our Lord the way has trod, O praise ye! O praise ye! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Let all things their Creator bless, and worship him in humbleness, O praise ye! Alleluia! Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, and praise the Spirit, Three in One! O praise ye! O praise ye! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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And shepherds we shall be, for thee my Lord for thee, power hath descended forth from thy hand, that our feet may swiftly carry out thy command. We shall flow a river forth to thee, and teeming with souls shall it ever be. In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.
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Thank you Clay for sharing. I hope this thread, this corner of these boards, can be a little refuge for people to renew their strength. As Isaiah says, "Even youths grow weary and the young fall exhausted. But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings as eagles, they shall run and never be weary." Jesus promises a gentle yoke and rest from our labors.
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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Blest Redeemer, Creator and Sustainer, through seasons of life we sometimes face storms but You never leave us, never forsake us. In all that we do, we can go out to meet each day confident in the assurance that You go with us. In that promise we are free to live life fully and with love. That is a freedom we want others to experience too God. In Christ and through the Spirit You have equipped and empowered a people, the Body of Christ called the church with the mission to share that confident freedom with others. And sanctify us for that sacred mission, the glory of Your name and the expansion of Your kingdom work! Amen!
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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"Behold with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods: And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day." (II Chronicles 21:14-15)
-------------------- "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
- Benjamin Franklin Posts: 3898 | Registered: Dec 2005
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Great God of heaven, righteous, merciful and true, bless all these your children in this and all days. For peace flows from You, salvation from sin could redeem this world, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless and heal the sick. So now we lift up a prayer to Our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier, for the love envisioned in 1 Corinthians 13: Whatever language we speak, if we do not love, we only contribute to the world's noise. No matter how smart or street wise we are if we do not love, there is no hope for us. And if we believe so strongly in You that we could even ask absurd things and they would happen, if we did not then love, even that faith would serve no purpose. Even if we amassed a fortune and suffered martyrdom, we are nothing without the relationships we share with You and the people around us.
Lord Most Exalted, You spoke through the Apostle Paul teaching us that "love does no harm." And so we pray for such love. Help us be patient and kind. Turn us away from envy and boasting, away from arrogance and rudeness. Instead God grow in us those spiritual fruit You named for us through Paul. Grow in us love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, kindness, and self-control. You taught us love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing so grow in us instead the love that rejoices in the truth. Give to us the love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
Lord, many things are temporary but You show us in Christ that true love never ends. However our strivings shall one day cease. As for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, help us to see clearly the direction You set us upon. Only then will we see You face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. But none of that really matters God because You have in mind for us eternity. So help us to hold onto things that are of lasting value. May we in faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and may we live the truth that the greatest of these is love. Amen!
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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Know What There is a time to tackle Spirit Lake and a time to stay away. When my brother and I were only a month in our first boat, which was 12 foot and plastic, we decided to tackle 5000+ acre Spirit Lake. As it turned out we were caught in a big storm and after many misdirections we finally turned to God in prayer and realized we were in bigger hands than our own. It made for a long, late night but God did bring us safely through a storm on a lake that we had no business on. Storms take many forms, but this Gospel story (Mark 4:35-5:20) teaches us Jesus has authority over wind, wave and spirit.
Jesus demonstrates this in the ch. 4 story by calming the storm. In verse 41, the disciples are afraid. Jesus says lack of faith is the disciples’ problem. What does this story teach us about who Jesus is? Jesus has the power and authority to do what only God can do.
In the second story Mark 5:1-20, Jesus shows us he has power to confront our deeply personal and spiritual demons. What does that mean? Demons are those things in life spiritual, mental and physical that exert an influence to keep you away from God. These are the impersonal and personal powers and principalities both things we can explain and things we cannot explain, that work aggressively to keep us away from God. Science and psychology can explain the things once attributed to demons in the first century worldview. Let’s name a few: addiction, racism, sexism, anger/rage, impatience, schitzophrenia, epilepsy, lust, pride and I am sure the list could go on for a long time.
We all face our personal struggles, our internal storms, but something is different now. The blood of Christ has washed over us and we came through into victory! Storms may whip us all about, but the anchor holds. We can be assured in Jesus, God is with us through every trial we face. Because of this assurance we can live boldly and confidently that storms will not overcome us.
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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So What So it’s like this. Some storms may be just that: hurricanes, lightening, thunder and rain or snow.
But we all have our internal storms too, sometimes we feel tossed all about in the waves of depression or anger or whatever big ole typhoon threatens to swallow us up, but whatever it is God’s right there.
How do we know that? Let me get down to the nitty gritty here now sisters and brothers, some of you all know how big a storm sin is. How powerful sin’s winds can rage in your life.
Once those winds blew you to and fro…but then Jesus “found” you. Remember the song, “I’m so glaaaaad that Jesus set me free. Satan had me bound but Jesus set me free, singing golry! hallelujah! Jesus set me free!" Oh, Lord we were bound in sin’s dark depths. They were draaaaggin’ us down to the deep, can I get a witness? Amen? BUT>>>God had other plans for us…eternal plans for us, oh yeah!
And all we can say is Thank God Almighty Jesus brought us through the storm and put us safely on the other side! Now if we felt that power setting us free, tell me what storm is gonna shake us?
That’s right in Christ we have the victory! Amen? So the storms of life may rage…..but in Christ we got the victory!
The winds of temptation may blow into our life…but in Christ we got the what? Victory!
The waves of anxiety may threaten to overturn your lifeboat…but in Christ we got the? Victory!
The storms of despair may seek to bring you down to the deep…but in Christ we got the? Victory!
And we can proclaim the GLORY of God because in every trial, God is faithful, bringing us to a place where there will be no more tears or sorrow, no more arthritis or addiction. Those are the things that will be thrown on the trash heap!
OH yeah, get them hands together and give God some praise!
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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Now What 1. In difficult times, when things are overwhelming, talk with God and share your worries with partners in faith.
We are not built to face dark days alone. The solitary Christian cannot be all that God intends because we are meant to be in relationship.
I want to close with the story of how a group of people got through a storm on land. Some scientists in Antarctica had to get medical supplies from one of the other buildings as a massive snow storm raged outside.
There was no visibility so even though they knew the way to the other building, with no way to get their bearing, anyone who went out could get lost very easily. So they got an idea.
Forming a tether of rope, they would form a chain to make sure who ever went out the farthest did not become lost in a storm.
The church exists as that body of Christ, people tethered together against the storm.
We are held together by the incredible tether, God’s Holy Spirit, so the storm could not claim any one of them. That’s why God created the church, so no one would be carried away by the storm that is the world.
God’s witness to us in the church is that we cannot make it, cannot live the Christian life, on our own. It is the witness of scripture that we must stay tethered.
2. To minimize fear and stress in life we should compare our decisions with the standard set in the Bible by studying it as individuals, in small groups and in worship.
3. Witness how Jesus gave you victory over storms of life with others. Other people can learn from you and, as amazing as I am not, people do want to hear how you deal with situations, in your life, that overwhelm you.
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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As someone was kind enough to ask me what prayer is, I offer this meditation on what prayer is.
Prayer is a two way conversation of God's very Spirit and ours. Romans 8:15-17 explains it well: "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba!m Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ--if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him."
Prayer is adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication. In effect, prayer is conversation between God and one of S/he's children. How much of a child's conversation is supplication, "I want...I need..." does that make the converstion any less two-way? How many times does a child, maybe cornered into it, say, "I'm sorry." How many grudging, "Thank yous" come from a child after you remind them in conversation? Too often the mistake we make is in thinking of God in abstract, aloof terms when God is profoundly personal. And that makes it difficult to think of God as anything beyond the Christmas wish book we chose presents from as children.
As Brother Lawrence put it, "Prayer is the practice of the presence of God." In other words, the conversation is never ending and it is always personal.
Richard Foster wrote a great book on prayer in which prayers are described as "rest, "relinquishing," "service" and other things. Our lives are something of prayer as we are contingent upon God.
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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It's Friday night so how bout a dance tune?
and if i told you there's somebody who loves you would you say, "hey, show me that face" and if i told you that true freedom was actual would you say, "hey, take me to that place?" and if i said, "there is a family a body that moves as one" do you feel the LOVE that invites us LIBERTY excites us the DISCO has just begun, has just begun
give me love, give me liberty, disco the place everybody in the family's found on that day we will all be happy people when love, liberty, disco's in town
and as we step into the light of the lover we're all the same, there's no rich or poor and you know it's never been good for a man to be alone so come on in, your name's on the door what are we waiting for
all our fears are turning 'round fall down, and meet your maker where our true selves will be found calling out to every lonely soul
Newsboys "Love, Liberty, Disco"
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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Gracious God, with thanks I pause to lift heart and soul, mind and body up to You. The cookbook is nearing completion, You give more than I ever ask or imagine. You have walked with me in tough times, carried me through dark times, and now You continue to bless me. I need no other gods, the Three-One God covers all bases. And I thank You God for the rich grace upon grace given to me. All the time, energy and spirit poured into this book which will be a love gift to the communities I serve, thank you Jesus! Lord You inspire me! And for the message You gave me for Sunday, praise God!
I do understand that Glass's region had a bad storm that knocked out power, God watch over those who are in the storm's path, but I do hope they might enjoy some relief from the heat, as we have here. Your bountiful grace flows from ever-lasting to ever-lasting and so I ask for them. And bless the people here in this "allstocks" place God, whatever their role and/or purpose here; may their weekends be renewing! Amen!
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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I'm sure Griff meant no ill will...surely the cookbook thang is a joke. Which you obviously endorse... given the state of the everything. So please don't vaporize his azz... Even if unknowlingly? He brings humor...a valuable commodity in these times.
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"surely the cookbook thang is a joke. Which you obviously endorse... given the state of the everything. So please don't vaporize his azz... Even if unknowlingly? He brings humor...a valuable commodity in these times."
Hey Tex thanks for the defense. Actually I am finishing a small 30 page cookbook on grilling/smoking, sauces, rubs and bbq-ing. It's for the churches' mission fundraising around here.
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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Thank you God for this beautiful day! Truly the heavens declare You are God and the mountains rejoice in your majesty. You are El Shaddai, God the Mountain One, worthy of praise you are. There is blessed peace in your court and justice flows from Your halls like a mighty stream. Oh that humanity might see your glory, might turn to You to find their rest. Hasten the day when Your face is revealed to all persons, that they may recognize their sacred worth! Amen!
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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This is just a great, truthful song by Nicole C. Mullin:
I'm so very ordinary Nothing special on my own I have never walked on water I have never calmed a storm Sometimes I'm hiding away from the madness around me Like a child who's afraid of the dark
But when I call on Jesus All things are possible I can mount on wings like eagles and soar When I call on Jesus Mountains are gonna fall 'Cause He'll move heaven and earth to come rescue me when I call
Weary brother Broken daughter Widowed, widowed lover You're not alone If you're tired and scared of the madness around you If you can't find the strength to carry on
But when you call on Jesus All things are possible You can mount on wings like eagles and soar When you call on Jesus Mountains are gonna fall 'Cause He'll move heaven and earth to come rescue you when you call
Call Him in the mornin' In the afternoon time Late in the evenin' He'll be there When your heart is broken And you feel discouraged You can just remember that He said He'll be there
When I call on Jesus All things are possible I can mount on wings like eagles and soar When I call on Jesus Mountains are gonna fall 'Cause He'll move heaven and earth to come rescue me when I call
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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Holy God, All-relational God, as I go to perform a wedding may the love they share be patterned after the love You demonstrate. Bless them and all today who enter into new and deeper relationship with You. For those we are about to enter into the church tomorrow, may Your Holy Spirit ignite new passion in them for Christ. And for those who's lifestyle takes them to other activities, may Your blessing rest upon them as well. Your prevenient grace goes before us, illumining the way to salvation. Thank you God for that grace. Amen!
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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What gracious peace comes from knowing You personally God. Soon I go to prepare for tomorrow, blessed be Your name. I ask only this Lord, that my efforts might be used by You to save souls and bring healing to those who are weary. Holy One, I am not great, there is no power or beauty or majesty in me, and yet You give me this great commission, this call. May Your strength rest upon me, may Your Spirit convict those who need repentence, that all might come to know You personally and for eternity. This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen!
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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"Get your "posting area" all cleaned up? You *will* post better..."
Not sure what you mean Tex, sorry.
It was suggested to me by some friends that I need to explain what Christian conviction is. In the world when a person is convicted they are thrown into prison and left there. If they are released their opportunities for a new life are seriously limited. Starting over as a felon is difficult because there are all kinds of restrictions, and for the good of society in a broken and sin-filled world, that's the way it works to safe-guard the population. So in the world, conviction leads to restriction.
God's conviction doesn't work that way. God's grace convicts us to set us free through repentence. See, guilt is something God sheds us of because as we grow in Christ, we experience the life-changing grace that sets us free. Here's the way it works. Most people when confronted with the reality of sin have one of three responses: denial, anger or repentence.
Those that choose denial usually try to minimize their actions or negate their moral culpability: "nothing personal, just business," "it's just a little lie but it will get me a better job." Another form of denial when confronted with sin is: "there's no such thing as God." Usually the latter one still leaves feelings like "something just isn't right." That's because God's prevenient grace doesn't give up on us.
Those that get angry when confronted with sin usually adopt the methodology of attacking the faith and belittling those who witness to the truth that sin does exist and we are all sinners. After all, any notion of an optimistic anthropology, any view of humanity as basically "good" has been demonstrated incorrect as we look at the march of history. The anger arises out of a desire to "flee the wrath" without accepting the true direction to flee in. Thus anger and frustration are often directed at those who find peace in the Prince of Peace.
God invites us to accept convicting grace that comes to us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is communicated through the Holy Spirit. If we work through denial and anger to arrive at acceptance of conviction, then our response to conviction is repentence. Repentence is literally turning one's back in the opposite direction of the way we were going. This too is the gift of God's on-going work in Christ and through the Spirit. This is the path to peace.
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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Holy God, I give you thanks for the messages of support and prayer. Thanks you for the pray-ers who have committed to praying and holding me accountable and for their counsel as I explore the creation of a thread for people to find refuge from hectic days. I lift any who feel stressed at the end of difficult days to Your presence asking for each of them that You might bring a sense of "safe harbour" and "sanctuary" to them. May people who struggle with anxiety and fear find a refuge in Your warm embrace. For those who feel the cold chill of loneliness or insecurity may they too find comfort in Your gentle love. For any who have need of medical, spiritual or psychological healing God help them to experience You as the Great Physician." And as I go to pray about tomorrow, El Elyon, El Shaddai, I only ask that You empower me to be a strong witness for Your kingdom truth. Bless the people on these boards! Give them a safe and restful night and a great day tomorrow. In Jesus'name and for the glory of Your kingdom I pray. Amen!
-------------------- God's peace be with you A salaam a lakum Shalom Chevarim Posts: 896 | From: Iowa | Registered: Jul 2006
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