Take Up Your Cross

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Eliminating Unrealistic Expectations

God So Loved the World

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5Akz6J8Rw0

Christ's Love in Dying for Me -- A Communion Prayer

O HOLY Jesu, when at Thy Altar I see the Bread broken and the Wine poured out, O teach me to discern Thy Body there. O let those sacred and significant actions create in me a most lively remembrance of Thy sufferings, how Thy most blessed Body was scourged and wounded and bruised and tormented, how Thy most precious Blood was shed for my sins; and set all my powers on work to love Thee and to celebrate Thy love in thus dying for me.

Bishop Thomas Ken (1637-1711)

World Religions & Worldviews

Throughout the biblical period, from devotion to Baal and Asherah in Old Testament days to reverence for Artemis and “divine” Roman emperors of the New Testament era, the worship of foreign and false gods surrounded, challenged, and even compromised God’s people. And just as the prophets spoke knowingly to these religious challengers in their own time, today’s pastor must understand rival belief systems and prepare his people to encounter them.

"Illness is an event that makes a painful difference in the world we take for granted.  For some people, their lives are irrevocably damaged.  For others, the cracks in their world are patched up.  And there are those for whom a former world falls apart and something new replaces the old."

Blair Justice, A Different Kind of Health--Finding Well-Being Despite Illness; (Houston: PeAk Press, 1998), p.9

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.  Matthew 18: 12-14 (ESV)

Good Shepherd, when I am lost, when I am confused, when I am afraid, seek me out and shepherd me, Lord.

The Lord Is Thy Keeper

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills.
From whence cometh my help?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:
he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil:
he shall preserve thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in
from this time forth, and even for evermore.

A Ray Of Hope

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READ: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. —1 Thessalonians 4:13

It was to be an exciting summer for our family. We had many activities planned, including a trip to Florida to help our daughter Julie begin her teaching career.

Instead, the summer of 2002 began with tragedy. When our teenage daughter Melissa was killed in an automobile accident on the last day of school, our summer of hope turned into a nightmare.

Right away, I began to pray that the loss of our bright, athletic, friendly daughter could have a positive impact on teenagers—first among her friends and then in ever-widening ways.

Toward the end of the summer, we did take that Florida trip to get Julie started, heavy-hearted as we were. As she began teaching, Julie never forgot the desire to see Melissa's life change the lives of others. She told her classes about her sister and her faith.

One day, a student talked to Julie after class. "I'm scared," she said, "because I'm not a Christian like Melissa was." Julie then led her to faith in Jesus Christ. I imagined Melissa rejoicing in heaven.

The summer of 2002 didn't turn out as planned, but we were thankful to see some fruit of a life well-lived. Even in our sorrow, God gave us this ray of hope.  — Dave Branon

Lord, give us grace to trust You when
Life's burdens seem too much to bear;
Dispel the darkness with new hope
And help us rise above despair. —Sper

Even in life's darkest hour, Christians have the brightest hope.