People Skills

From blog.thefoundationstone.org

You are saved if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart you believe that God raised him from the dead.  By believing from the heart, you obtain true righteousness;  by confessing the faith with your lips you are saved.  For Scripture says:  No one who believes in him will be ashamed.  Here there is no distinction between Jew and Greek;  all have the same Lord, who is very generous with whoever calls on him.  Truly , all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

But how can they call upon the name of the Lord without having believed in him?  And how can they believe in him without having first heard about him?  And how will they hear about him if no one preaches about him?  And how will they preach about him if no one sends them?  As Scripture says:  How beautiful are the feet of the messenger of good news.  Although not everyone obeyed the good news, as Isaiah said:  Lord, who has believed in our preaching? So faith comes from preaching, and preaching is rooted in the word of Christ.

I ask:  Have the Jews not heard?  But of course they have.  Because the voice of those preaching resounded all over the earth and their voice was heard to the ends of the world.

Romans 10:9-18

"Lord, may I always see the best in people and in any situation so that I can enrich the world around me."

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He Rises From The Ashes

From beauty-in-balance.blogspot.com

When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that the time has come when it will be reduced to a wasteland.  If you are in Judea, flee to the mountains!  If your in Jerusalem, leave!  If you are outside the city, don't enter it!

For these will be the days of its punishment, and all that was announced in the Scriptures will be fulfilled.  How hard will it be for pregnant women, and for mothers with babies at the breast!  For a great calamity will come upon this people.  They will be put to death by the sword, or taken as slaves to others nations;  and Jerusalem will be trampled upon by the pagans, until the time of the pagans is fulfilled.

Then there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations, perplexed when they hear the roaring of the sea and its waves.  People will faint with fear at the mere thought of what is to come upon the world, for the forces of the universe will be shaken.  Then, at that time, they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

So, when you see things begin to happen, stand erect and lift up your heads, for your deliverance is drawing near.

Luke 21:20-28

"Lord, I am nothing before You.  In You I shall live.  With You I shall prosper.  Lead me, Lord, that others may see You in everything I do."

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Standing Firm

From dailyweaving.blogspot.com

Before all these things happen, people will lay their hands on you and persecute you;  you will be delivered to the synagogues and put in prison, and for my sake you will be brought before kings and governors.  This will be you opportunity to bear witness

So keep this in mind:  do not worry in advance about what to say, for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.

You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.  But even though, because of my name, you will be hated by everyone, not a hair of your head will perish.  By your patient endurance you will save your souls.

Luke 21:12-19

"Father, strengthen and help us to stand firm on what we believe in--to do only what is right in accordance with Your commandments."

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Fearless

While some people were talking about the Temple, remarking that it was adorned with fine stonework and rich gifts, Jesus said to them, "The days will come when there shall not be left one stone upon another of all that you are now admire;  all will be torn down."  And they asked him, "Master, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?"

Jesus then said, "Take care not to be deceived, for many will come claiming my title and saying, 'I am he, the Messiah;  the time is at hand!'  Do not follow them.  When you hear of wars and troubled times, don't be frightened;  for all these things must happen first, even though the end is not so soon."

And Jesus said, "Nations will fight each other and kingdom will oppose kingdom.  There will be great earthquakes, famines and plagues;  in many places strange and terrifying sings from heaven will be seen."

Luke 21:5-11

"Lord, I invite you into my life.  May Your kingdom reign in my heart and soul.  Make me fearless in facing life, knowing the You are my Savior.  Amen."

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Tale Of Three Brothers

Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury of the Temple.  He also saw a poor widow, who dropped in two small coins.  And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them them.  For all of them gave an offering from their plenty;  but she, out of her poverty, gave all she had to live on."

Luke 21:1-4

"Lord, remind me that there is no justice when I have everything and everyone else around me has nothing."

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King Of Our Life

And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has washed away our sins with his own blood, making us a kingdom and priests for God his Father,

to him be the glory and power for ever and ever.  Amen.

See he comes with the clouds and everyone will see him, even those who pierced him, on his account all the nations of the earth will beat his breast.  Yes, it will be so.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, he who is, who was and who is to come:  the Master of the universe.

Revelation 1:5-8

"Lord, help me to lift up every area of my life in consecration to You.  Forgive me for forgetting sometimes that I can't do this alone.  All the hurt, joys, pain, struggle, and triumphs that turn me into who I am, I lift up to You, my King."

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Forever Young

From blogs.ts.fujitsu.com

Then some Sadducees arrived.  These people claim that there is no resurrection, and they asked Jesus this question, "Master, in the Law Moses told us, 'if anyone dies leaving a wife but no children, his brother must take the wife, and any child born to them will be regarded as the child of the deceased.'  Now, there were seven brothers;  the first married a wife, but he died without children;  and the second and the third took the wife;  in fact, all seven died leaving no children.  Last of all the woman died.  On the day of the resurrection, to which of them will the woman be a wife?  For all seven had her as a wife."

And Jesus replied, "Taking a husband or a wife is proper to people of this world, but for those who are considered worthy of the world to come, and of resurrection from the dead, there is no more marriage.  Besides, they cannot die, for they are like the angels.  They are sons and daughters of God, because they are born of the resurrection.

Yes, the dead will be raised, as Moses revealed at the burning bush, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.  For God is God of the living, and not of the dead, for to him everyone is alive."

Some teachers of the Law then agreed with Jesus, "Master, you have spoken well."  They didn't dare to ask him anything else.

Luke 20:27-40

"Lord, we pray that when our time comes, we should rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with You."

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Blessings Turned Sour

And the voice I had heard from heaven spoke again, saying to me, "Go near the angel who stands on the sea and on the land, and take the small book open in his hand."  So I approached the angel and asked him for the small book;  he said to me, "Take it and eat; although it be sweet as honey in your mouth, it will be bitter to our stomach."

I took the small book from the hand of the angel, and ate it.  It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, it turned bitter in my stomach.  Then I was told, "You must again proclaim God's words about many peoples, nations, tongues and kings."

Revelation 10:8-11

"Lord, please make us steadfast in faith, joyful in hope and untiring in love all the days of our life."

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Wailing Wall

From www.worldslastchance.com

When Jesus had come in sight of the city, he wept over it, and said, "If only today you knew the ways of peace!  But now they are hidden from your eyes.  Yet days will come upon you, when your enemies will surround you with barricades, and shut you in, and press on you from every side.  And they will dash you to the ground and your children with you, and not leave stone upon stone within you, for you did not recognize the time and the visitation of your God."

Luke 19:41-44

"Lord, may I never miss the moments when You extend Your saving and loving hands in times of temptations and distress to keep us from crying."

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Multiplied

From www.gilleslaheurte.com

Jesus was now near Jerusalem, and the people with him thought that God's reign was about to appear.  So as they were listening to him, Jesus went on to tell them a parable.  He said, "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to assume regal authority, after which he planned to return home.  Before he left, he summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds of silver.  He said, 'Put this money to work until I get back.'  But his compatriots, who disliked him, sent a delegation after him with this message, 'We do not want this man to be our king.'

He returned, however, appointed as king.  At once he sent for the servants, to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made.  The first came in, and reported, 'Sir, our pound of silver has earned ten more pounds of silver.'

The master replied, 'Well done, my good servant!  Since you have proved yourself faithful in a small matter, I can trust you to take charge of ten cities.'  The second reported, 'Sir, your pound of silver earned five more pounds of silver.'  The master replied, 'And you, take charge of five cities!'

The third came in, and said, 'Sir, here is your money, which I hid for safekeeping.  I was afraid of you, for you are an exacting person:  you take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow.'

The master replied, 'You worthless servant, I will jude you by your own words!  So you knew I was an exacting person, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow?  Why, then, did you not put my money on loan, so that when I got back, I could have collected it with interest?'

Then the master said to those standing by, 'Take from him that pound, and give it to the one with ten pounds.'  But they objected, 'Sir, he already has ten pounds!'

The master replied, 'I tell you, everyone who has will be given more; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.  As for my enemies who did not want me to be their king, bring them in, and execute them right here in front me!'"

Luke 19:11-28

"Heavenly Father, You generosity knows no end.  You not only give us many gifts but also open doors for us to use these for Your glory and in the service of others."

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Rally For Christ

From filipinosforlife.com

Write this to the angel of the Church in Sardis, "Thus says he who holds the seven spirits of God and the seen stars:

I know your worth:  you think you live but you are dead.  Wake up and strengthen that which is not already dead.  For I have found your works to be imperfect in the sight of my God.  Remember what you were taught; keep it and change your ways.  If you do not repent I will come upon you like a thief at an hour you least expect.

Yet, there are some left in Sardis who have not soiled their robes;  these will come with me, dressed in white, since they deserve it.  The victor will be dressed in white and I will never erase his name from the book of life;  instead, I will acknowledge it before my Father and his angels.

Let anyone who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches."

Write this to the angel of the Church in Laodicea, "Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.

I know your works:  you are neither cold nor hot.  Would that you were cold or hot!  You are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold so I will spit you out of my mouth.  You think you are rich and have piled up so much that you need nothing, but you do not realise that you are wretched and to be pitied, poor, blind and naked.

I advise you to buy from me gold that has been tested by fee, so that you may be rich, and white clothes to wear so that your  nakedness may not shame you, and ointment for your eyes that you may see.  I reprimand and correct all those I love.  Be earnest and change your ways.

Look, I stand at the door and knock.  If you hear my call and open the door, I will come in to you and have supper with you, and you with me.  I will let the victor sit with me on my throne just as I was victorious and took my place with my Father on his throne.  Let anyone who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches."

Revelation 3:1-6,14-22

"Dear Jesus, may You and Your teachings be at the care of who I am and all I do.  Amen."

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Woman Of Faith

When Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road, begging.  As he heard the crowd passing by, he inquired what was happening, and they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was going by.  Then he cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  The people in front of him scolded him, "Be quiet!" they said, but he cried out all the more, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Jesus stopped and ordered the blind man to be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?  And the man said, "Lord, that I may see!"  Jesus said, "Receive your sight, your faith has saved you."  At once the blind man was able to see, and he followed Jesus, giving praise to God  And all the people who were there also praised God.

Luke 18:35-43

"Lord, as we travel life's road, may we keep believing that You will never abandon us."

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Pointing The Way

From cool cosmos.ipac,caltech.edu

At that time, Michael will rise, the Great Commander who defends your people.  It shall be a time of anguish as never before since the nations first existed until this very day.

Then all those whose names are written in the Book will be saved.  Many of those who sleep in the Region of the Dust will awake, some to everlasting life but others to eternal horror and shame.  Those who acquired knowledge will shine like the brilliance of the firmament;  those who taught people to be just will shine like the stars for all eternity.  

Daniel 12:1-3

"Lord, may there be more of You and less of me."

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The Persistent Child

From medley minute.blogspot.com

Jesus told them a parable, to show them that they should pray continually, and not lose heart.  He said, "In a certain town there was a judge, who neither feared God nor people.  In the same town there was a widow, who kept coming to him, saying, 'Defend my rights against my opponent!'  For a time he refuse, but finally he thought, 'Even though I neither fear God nor care about people, this widow bothers me so much, I will see that she gets justice;  then she will stop coming and wearing me out.'"

And Jesus said, "Listen to what the evil judge says.  Will God not do justice for his chosen ones, who cry to him day and night, even if he delays in answering them?  I tell you, he will speedily do them justice.  But, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Luke 18:1-8

"Abba Father, teach me trust in You with all my heart, that I may not lean on my own understanding."

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The Biggest Loser

"As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be on the day the Son of Man comes.  In those days people ate and drank and got married;  but on the day Noah entered the ark, the flood came and destroyed them all.  So it was in the days of Lot;  people ate and drank, and bought and sold, and planted and built;  but on the day Lot left Sodom, God made fire and sulfur rain down from heaven, which destroyed them all.  So will it be on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

On that day, if you are on the rooftop, don't go down into the house to get your belongings;  and if you happen to be in the fields, do not turn back.  Remember Lot's wife!  Whoever tries to save his life will lose himself, but whoever gives his life will be born again.

I tell you, though two men are sharing the same bed, it might happen that one will be taken, and the other left;  though two women are grinding corn together, one might be taken and the other left."

Then they asked Jesus, "Where will this take place, Lord?"  And he answered, "Where the body is, there too will the vultures gather."

Luke 17:26-37

"Father in heaven, I pray for self-discipline and selflessness to delay my gratification for the true, bigger and more lasting rewards You have for me.  Amen."

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The Kingdom Comes

From www.ocarm.org

The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was to come.  He answered, "The kingdom of God is not like something you can observe, and say of it, 'Look, here it is!' or 'See, there it is!' for the kingdom of God is within you."

And Jesus said to his disciples, "The time is at hand, when you will long to see one of the glorious days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.  Then people will tell you, 'Look there!  Look here!'  Do not go with them, do not follow them.  As lightning flashes from one end of the sky to the other, so will it be with the Son of Man;  but first he must suffer many things, and be rejected by this generation."

Luke 17:20-25

"Jesus, we enthrone You in our lives."

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Miss Manners

From www.missmanners.co.uk

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus passed through Samaria and Galilee, and as he entered a village, ten lepers came to meet him.  Keeping their distance, they called to him, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"  Jesus said to them, "Go, and show yourselves to the priests."  Then, as they went on their way, they found they were cured.  One of them, as soon as he saw that he was cleansed, turned back, praising God in a loud voice; and throwing himself on his face before Jesus, he gave him thanks.  This man was a Samaritan.

Then Jesus asked him, "Were not all ten healed?  Where are the other nine?  Did none of them decide to return and give praise to God, but this foreigner?"  And Jesus said to him, "Stand up and go your way;  your faith has saved you."

Luke 17:11-19

"Lord, may I learn to be grateful to You--in good times and bad."

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My After-Mission Prayer

From christienpaul.com

Who among you would say to your servant, coming in from the fields after plowing or tending sheep, 'Go ahead and have our dinner'?  No, you tell him, 'Prepare my dinner.  Put on your apron, and wait on me while I eat and drink.  You can eat and drink afterwards.'  Do you thank this servant for doing what you told him to do?  I don't think so.  And therefore, when you have done all that you have been told to do, you should say, 'We are no more than servants;  we have only done our duty.'

Luke 17:7-10

"Let me remember, Lord, that You oppose the proud but bestowed grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5)

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No Man Is An Island

From thegenesisblog.com

Jesus said to his disciples, "Scandals will necessarily come and cause people to fall;  but woe to the one who brings them about.  It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck.  Truly, this would be better for that person, than to cause one of these little ones to fall.

Listen carefully:  if your brother offends you, tell him, and if he is sorry, forgive him.  And if he offends you seven times in one day, but seven times he says to you, 'I'm sorry', forgive him."

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."  And the Lord said, "If you have faith, even the size of a mustard seed, you may say to this tree, 'Be uprooted, and plant yourself in the sea!' and it will obey you."

Luke 17:1-6

"Father, help me become a light to others."

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Leap Of Faith

From lisagawlas.wordpress.com

So Elijah went to Zarephath.  On reaching the gate of the town, he saw a widow gathering sticks.  He called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel that I may drink."

As she was going to bring it, he called after her and said, "Bring me also a piece of bread."  But she answered, "As Yahweh your God lives, I have no bread left but only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug.  I am just now gathering some sticks so that I may go in and prepare something for myself and my son to eat--and die."

Elijah then said to her, "Do not be afraid.  Go and do as you have said, but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me;  then make some for yourself and your son.  For this is the word of Yahweh, the God of Israel, "The jar of meal shall not be emptied nor shall the jug of oil fail, until the day when Yahweh sends rain to the earth."

So she went and did as Elijah told her;  and she had food for herself, Elijah and her son from that day on.  The jar of flour was not emptied nor did the jug of oil fail, in accordance with what Yahweh had said through Elijah.

1 Kings 17:10-16

"Lord, help me to realize that I am part of the solution to my problem.  Deliver me from the habit of entrusting everything to You and not taking action, even those that I have control of."

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Champions' Source Of Strength

From in54.blogspot.com

I rejoice in the Lord because of your concern for me.  You were indeed concerned for me before, but you had no opportunity to show it.  I do not say this because of being in want;  I have learned to manage with what I have.  I know what it is to be in want and what it is to have plenty.  I am trained for both:  to be hungry or satisfied, to have much or little.  I can do all things in him who strengthens me.

However you did right in sharing my trials.  You Philippians, remember that in the beginning, when we first preached the Gospel, after I left Macedonia you alone opened for me a debit and credit account, and when I was in Thessalonica, twice you sent me what I needed.

It is not your gift that I value but rather the interest increasing in your own account.  Now I have enough and more than enough with everything Epaphroditus brought me on your behalf and which I received as "fragrant offerings pleasing to God".  God himself will provide you with everything you need, according to his riches, and show you his generosity in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:10-19

"Lord, guide me that I may focus on You and serve You for Your greater glory."

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Purifying Fire

As the Passover of the Jews was at hand, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  In the Temple court he found merchants selling oxen, sheep and doves, and money changers seated at their tables.  Making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the Temple court, together with the oxen and sheep.  He knocked over the tables of the money changers, scattering the coins, and ordered the people selling doves, "Take all this away, and stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!"

His disciples recalled the words of Scripture:  Zeal for your House devours me like fire.

The Jews then questioned Jesus, "Where are the miraculous signs which give you the right to do this?"  And Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."  The Jews then replied, "The building of this temple has already taken forty six years, and will you raise it up in three days?"

Actually, Jesus was referring to the temple of his body.  Only when he had risen from the dead did his disciples remember these words;  then they believed both the Scripture and the words Jesus had spoken.

John 2:13-22

"Jesus, I surrender all that clutters and pushes out the blessings from my life.  Help me drive them all away to make space for Your perfect gift."

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All For Christ

We are the true circumcised people since we serve according to the Spirit of God, and our confidence is in Christ Jesus rather than in our merits.

I myself do not lack those human qualities in which people have confidence.  If some of them seem to be accredited with such qualities, how much more am I!  I was circumcised when eight days old.  I was born of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin;  I am a Hebrew, born of Hebrews.  With regard to the Law, I am a Pharisee, and such was my zeal for the Law that I persecuted the Church.  As for being righteous according to the Law, I was blameless.

But once I found Christ, all those things that I might have considered as profit, I reckoned as loss.  Still more, everything seems to me as nothing compared with the knowledge of Christ jesus, my Lord.  For His sake I have let everything fall away and I now consider all as garbage, if instead I may gain Christ.

Philippians 3:3-8

"Lord, You are more precious than silver.  Lord, You are more costly than gold.  Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds and nothing I desire compares with You."

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No Harsh God

From www.steveseay.com

One day, when large crowds were walking along with Jesus, he turned and said to the, "If you come to me, unwilling to sacrifice your love for you father and mother, your spouse and children, your brothers and sisters, and indeed yourself, you cannot be my disciple.  Whoever does not follow me, carrying his own cross, cannot be my disciple.

Do you build a house without first sitting down to count the cost, to see whether you have enough to complete it?  Otherwise, if you, have laid the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone will make fun of you:  'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

And when a king wages war against another king, does he go to fight without first sitting down to consider whether his ten thousand can stand against the twenty thousand of his opponent?  And if not, while the other is still a long way off, he sends messengers for peace talks.  In the same way, none of you may become my disciple, if he doesn't give up everything he has.

Luke 14:25-33

"Lord, teach me to be generous to You, so that I can offer to You all that I can give, and all that you deserve."

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Door To Salvation

Upon hearing these words, one of those at the table said to Jesus, "Happy are those who eat at the banquet in the kingdom of God!"

Jesus replied, "A man once gave a feast and invited many guests.  When it was time for the feast, he sent his servant to tell those he had invited to come, for everything was ready.  But all alike began to make excuses.  The first said, 'Please excuse me.  I must go and see the piece of land I have just bought.'  Another said:  'I am sorry, but I am on my way to try out the five yoke of oxen I have just bought.'  Still another said, 'How can I come, when I've just got married?'

The servant returned alone, and reported this to his master.  Upon hearing his account, the master of the house flew into a rage, and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

The servant reported after a while, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out, but there is still room.'  The master said, 'Go out to the highways and country lanes, and force people to come in, to make sure my house is full.  I tell you, none of those invited will have a morsel of my feast.'"

Luke 14:15-24

"Lord Jesus, I open my heart to You.  Welcome, Lord!"

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Together We Stand

From frappedays.wordpress.com

If I may advise you in the name of Christ and if you can hear it as the voice of love; if we share the same spirit an are capable of mercy and compassion, then I beg of you make me very happy:  have one love, one spirit, one feeling, do nothing through rivalry or vain conceit.  On the contrary let each of you gently consider the others as more important than yourselves.  Do not seek your own interest, but rather that of others.

Philippians 2:1-4

"Jesus, You showed us how to value relationships with family and friends.  May I be able to love despite conflicts in the relationships I have."

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Exchange Gifts With Mamang

From thrivalism.net

A teacher of the Law had been listening to this discussion and admired how Jesus answered them.  So he came up and asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?"

Jesus answered, "The first is:  Hear, Israel!  The Lord, our God, is One Lord; and you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, will all your mind and with all your strength.  And after this comes a second commandment:  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these two."

The teacher of the Law said to him, "Well spoken, Master; you are right when you say that he is one, and there is no other besides him.  To love him with all our heart, with all our understanding and with all our strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves is more important than any burnt offering or sacrifice."

Jesus approved this answer and said, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."  And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Mark 12:28-34

"Lord, teach me to love without condition."

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Critical Eye

One Sabbath Jesus had gone to eat a meal in the house of a leading Pharisee, and he was carefully watched.

Jesus then told a parable to the guests, for he had noticed how they tried to take the places of honor.  And he said, "When you are invited to a wedding party, do not choose the best seat.  It may happen that someone more important than you had been invited; and your host, who invited both of you, will come and say to you, 'Please give this person your place.'  What shame is yours when you take the lowest seat!

Whenever you are invite, go rather to the lowest seat, so that your host may come and say to you, 'Friend, you must come up higher.'  And this will be a great honor for you in the presence of all the other guests.  For whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be raised."

Luke 14:1,7-11

"You endowed every person with goodness, Lord.  Help me to see Your image in all the people I meet.  Amen."

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Apocalypse Now?

From cyberbrethren.com

On this mountain Yahweh Sabaoth will prepare for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, meat full of marrow, fine wine strained.

On this mountain he will destroy the pall cast over all peoples, this very shroud spread over all nations, and death will be no more.  The Lord Yahweh will wipe away the tears from all cheeks and eyes; he will take away the humiliation of this people all over the world:

for Yahweh has spoken.

On that day you will say:  This is our God.  We have waited for him to save us, let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Isaiah 25:6-9

"Lord, help me to be ready to face You anytime You call."

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For Your Good

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain.  He sat down and his disciples gathered around him.  Then he spoke and began to teach them:

Fortunate are those who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Fortunate are those who mourn, they shall be comforted.

Fortunate are the gentle, they shall possess the land.

Fortunate are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.

Fortunate are the merciful, for they shall find mercy.

Fortunate are those with a pure heart, for they shall see God.

Fortunate are those who work for peace, they shall be called children of God.

Fortunate are those who are persecuted for the cause of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Fortunate are you, when people insult you and persecute you and speak all kinds of evil against you because you are my followers.  Be glad and joyful, for a great reward is kept for you in God.  This is how this people persecuted the prophets who lived before you.

Matthew 5:1-12

"Heavenly Father, help me to always trust that You make all things in my life work together for good."

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