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Thoughts Archived > Choose Wisely


13 May 2012

                                   

 

May 13, 2012

  Choose Wisely   

Luke 6: 20 - 26

 

Luke

Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said,

"God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is given to you.

God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied.

God blesses you who weep now, for the time will come when you will laugh with joy.

God blesses you who are hated and excluded and mocked and cursed because you are identified with me, the Son of Man.

When that happens, rejoice!  Yes, leap for joy!  For a great reward awaits you in heaven.  And remember, the ancient prophets were also treated that way by your ancestors.

"What sorrows await you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now.

What sorrows await you who are satisfied and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger is before you.

What sorrows await you who laugh carelessly, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.

What sorrows await you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets."

 

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Thoughts.....

 

Good morning!  Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there. 

 

I'm going to make todays lesson very simple. 

 

Definition of blessed:

Having divine protection

Highly favored

Happy

Joy filled

Peaceful

Prosperous

Holy

Trusted

Bestowed upon

 

Definition of sorrows:

Grief

Immense sadness

Loss

Burdened

Anguished

Deeply distressed

Regretful

Unhappy

Afflicted

Disappointed

Experiencing agony

Woe

 

How will you choose to live your life?  

Will you choose to serve the Lord or yourself? 

Will you choose long term (life) or short term (death) choices?  

Think about how you have been living your life until now. 

Think about whether your choices fall under being blessed (life) or sorrowful (death) choices.

Do not be fooled.  Know the foundation of your joy. 

Rejoice!  Or....ask forgiveness!  Ask forgiveness anyway!

Choose wisely this day how you will serve THE Lord.....Jesus Christ.

 

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Let Us Pray

 

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, whether I am blessed or sorrowful, please forgive me.  I am not worthy to receive you, only say the word and I shall be healed.  I ask forgiveness because I am not perfect.  You may choose to bless me.  I hope you know that I am wholly and completely grateful, and humbled.  You may choose to bestow sorrows upon me.  Because I am human, therefore subject to imperfection and error, I beg your forgiveness for all things done and those I may inadvertently do.  For all those wonderful things you bless me with.....the ability to be in the Kingdom of God; being fully satisfied spiritually and no longer hungry for you, but now with you; being filled with holy laughter and joy from Holy Spirit; the gift of being identified with you.....thank you.  And Lord, because I've known sorrows, I can  more appreciate the blessings.  I know that the blessings you bestow are because I have not selfishly chosen.  And that the sorrows are because I have not included you in my choice making.  When you speak of being rich with short term happiness, and being satisfied and prosperous short term, carelessly laughing and praise of self.....those are things that are shallow because they are not centered around you, but centered around only me and they are for me only.  I know you are not saying that I cannot be rich, or happy, or satisfied, or prosperous, or that I will not laugh or be praised for good things I've done.  But you, Lord, will make me rich, as I learn of your love for me and receive you into my life...my heart.  I will become rich because you and I are one.  And then I will be happy and satisfied and prosperous, able to laugh.  And the praise, Lord, will be for you, because I will choose to live my life so that others will see you in me, through me, surrounding me, exuding from me.  I wish to receive you, your love, and the gift of forgiveness for my sins and the opportunity for eternal life.  I wish to rejoice and leap for joy and receive that great reward in heaven!  Please God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, help me to live my life, make my choices, so that they please you.  Because only in pleasing you will I know true joy and love, have life, and be truly rich with the rewards of heaven.  Thank you.  I love you.  Amen.          

               

Lord,LordJesJeJeJJjEJJJ     JJThe LORD is king!  Let the nations tremble!  T***

 

More love.... 

  Benediction....Blessing

 

Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

 

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.

 

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation. 

It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!   

 

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If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regularly to us or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:19-20 NLT

 to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

 

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  Our Current Cause

 

It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need.  As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart.  Whether the need is for children, adults, or animals, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere.  Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones.  Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever.  Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member, know this:  God is with you always...even til the end of time.  He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart. 

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and God's....and may God richly bless you!   

 

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Trinity Missions

or the

Church of the Holy Spirit

and sent to

Trinity Missions

P.O. Box 86076 

Tucson, Arizona  USA

85754

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If you have any questions, we can be reached at:

866-402-GIFT

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or

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Please note Trinity Missions or CoHS in your subject line.

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As we grow, you will have options for allocating your gifts.

In the meantime, we hope you will trust us to direct them to where the need is the greatest.

 

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    One last thing....

 

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

 

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

 

  Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

 

And the people said,

"Amen."

 

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided. 

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  Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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Bible Authors and Minister