Looks Like We Made It.. to Monday - Amazing Grace - Purity 558
Purity 558 10/25/2021 Purity 558 Podcast
Good morning
Today’s photo comes to us from a friend who put their feet up to sit
back and relax and to take in this stunning view from their ascension of North
Point this past Saturday. Although it is Monday and the work week has only just
begun, let’s just take a moment this morning to remind ourselves of all the
things we have accomplished and all the things the Lord has brought us through
up to this moment in our lives.
The fact that you are listening to this message or reading this post or
blog means that you are a survivor and that the Lord has more for you to
experience before He calls you home. So be proud of what you have done, thank
the Lord for providing all that you have received along the way, and look to
Him for strength, love, and guidance as you walk into the last week of October 2021.
I received this poem from a brother in Christ half a world away, Philip
Hand who lives in Manchester in the United Kingdom, and thought I would share it
to remind us of all of what Christ did for us.
I also share the Bible verses, from the King James version, from which Philip
was inspired to compose it.
“Amazing
grace
Not in building’s
made by hand
or artistic
masterpieces bold and grand.
A bittersweet love
song of sacrifice and love.
Leaving His throne
in heaven above.
The Holy Lamb who
came to save
the foolish from
the mess that they made.
A crown of thorns
placed on our sin
shining the power
of His beauty deep within.
The hearts of the
lost who cry in distress.
Lord save even me
give this grieving soul rest.
Set our hearts on
fire and fill this holy place
and let me truly
know Your amazing grace.”
-Philip Hand
Acts 17:24 (KJV)
24 God that made the world
and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth
not in temples made with hands;
Also,
John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Psalm 34:6 (KJV)
6 This poor man cried, and
the LORD heard him, and
saved him out of all his troubles.
Jeremiah 31:33 (KJV)
33 But this shall be
the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith
the LORD, I will put my law in
their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and
they shall be my people.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (KJV)
20 Now then we are
ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you
in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to
be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of
God in him.
Today’s Bible verses
are drawn from “The NLT Bible Promise Book for Men”.
This morning’s meditation verses are:
1 Peter 2:21-23 (NLT2)
21 For God called you to do
good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your
example, and you must follow in his steps.
22 He never sinned, nor ever
deceived anyone.
23 He did not retaliate when
he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the
hands of God, who always judges fairly.
Today’s verses remind us to trust the
Lord implicitly and to be conformed to the image of Christ in how we conduct ourselves
and respond to the negative circumstances in the world.
Ever since I read Luke 5 where Peter told Christ to “Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O
Lord!”, I have had a special affinity for the Apostle who rose above all his
mistakes, including denying Christ, to go on to lead the early church.
Here Peter, as if speaking from experience, acknowledges that
although we will suffer for our faith, we are to do good and follow in the
example of Christ by:
·
Abstaining from sin,
·
Speaking the Truth, for Christ never deceived anyone,
·
Not retaliating to insults,
·
Not seeking revenge for ourselves when we are harmed
·
Trusting in the Lord
If there was any Apostle who could relate to the difficulties of
the Christian life, it was Peter. Instead of giving “greasy grace” that would sympathize
with our human frailties, Peter tells us to “walk the walk” of authentic
Christians with moral living and by facing any suffering and persecution just
as Christ did, with a complete trust and dependence on God the Father.
Just like Peter, we won’t be perfect in our Christian walk, but we
are to keep walking. We are to live our lives as Christ, and Peter’s, example
taught us. While Peter wasn’t perfect, his
story gives us hope to be redeemed of our sins and to progress in our maturity
in the Christian faith.
Like Christ, Peter went to His own cross but when he did,
tradition tells us, that he requested to be crucified upside down because even
after he had turned from his mistakes of the past and faithfully led the
church, he didn’t count himself worthy of dying in the same manner as His Lord
and Savior. Even in his martyr’s death,
Peter teaches us he hadn’t attained a state of Christlike perfection.
This teaches us that we will never be perfect like Christ in this life,
but it also teaches us that we can use every moment of our lives to give Him glory
as we seek to be like Him, and we should never stop living out our faith.
So keep walking and talking with God, none of us are perfect but
when we come to faith in Jesus Christ we come into relationship with the One
who is, and we should be motivated to share His perfect wisdom and love with
the world that desperately needs it.
As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.org where I always share insights from prominent Christian counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today we continue sharing from June Hunt’s Dating:
Secrets to Great Relating When Dating
As always, I share this information for educational purposes
and encourage all to purchase June Hunt’s books for your own private study and
to support her work. If you need this title you can find it online at several
sites for less than $5.00:
D. What Are the Myths and Truths About Dating?
Her profile says she's 25, stands 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs 120 pounds,
and is a natural blonde. After a few dates, she admits she's really 28 years
old, 5 feet 4 inches tall, and highlights her hair. He already had guessed the
120 pounds was a fond memory or the result of a faulty scale.
He, too, stretches the truth. He plays up his job title, downplays why his
last relationship ended, and tries to impress by flashing cash and dropping
names.
Of course, both would be better served by being honest with each other...and
themselves. For the biblical book of wisdom reveals the intimacy found in
honesty....
"An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips." (Proverbs 24:26)
• Myth
"I need a 'lure' to catch a date."
- —The bait
technique....................claiming the other person's interests as
your own
"I'm really interested in cameras." - —The blunder
technique.............claiming to have an "accident" to get
help
"I'm so sorry I dropped all these coins." - —The buying
technique...............claiming the "need" for assistance
"Could you help me pick out a good coffee?"
Truth
Deceptive techniques are not honoring to God and will not be blessed by Him.
"Keep me from deceitful ways." (Psalm 119:29)
• Myth
"I feel guilty going to church or Bible study with the hope of meeting
someone to date."
Truth
You are experiencing false guilt. Certainly, finding a date should not be
the main reason you attend church. However, God desires that you meet and
fellowship with other Christians, and what better place to find eligible people
to date than at a church or Bible study?
"Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but
encourage one another." (Hebrews 10:25 NLT)
• Myth
"As a Christian, if I date someone who is not a Christian, God will use
me to change my date."
Truth
You have no such guarantee. The Bible never endorses "missionary
dating" or "missionary marriages"—dating or marrying a man in
order to make him your mission field. Let's assume you become yoked to an
unbeliever in marriage. If he is headed toward darkness, where will you be
pulled? Toward darkness! If he is headed away from God, where will you be
pulled? Away from God! If this non-Christian is to be saved—wait until he is
saved and changed by God. Then you may be led to date and possibly marry him.
"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness
and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with
darkness?... Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?" (2 Corinthians
6:14-15)
• Myth
"It doesn't matter if I date a non-Christian as long as I plan to marry
a Christian."
Truth
The same factors that draw you into a dating relationship may very well
later draw you into a marriage relationship. Dating a non-Christian places you
in danger of becoming emotionally involved and, later, becoming unequally yoked
in marriage. The more prudent course of action would be to not date anyone you
could not or would not consider as a potential marriage partner.
"The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and
pay the penalty." (Proverbs 22:3)
Biblical Counseling Keys: Dating: Secrets to Great Relating
When Dating.
---------------------------more
tomorrow------------------------
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