forgive

Scripture Saturday ~ Mark 11:25 ~ Peace of Mind! ~Forgiveness

12:00 AM

Saturday, February 9, 2019



Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

 This coming week's memory verse is Mark 11:25...

 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (ESV)

 Peter asked Jesus one day how often he should forgive a man’s trespasses against him…seven times?  “No!” Jesus replied, “seventy times seven.” It is not a matter of math, it is a matter of a forgiving heart.

 Do we reach up in thankfulness for the sins that have been forgiven us? Do we then reach out in forgiveness to others as an expression of that gratitude? 
To who do you need to extend forgiveness? As an act of worship, reach up in thankfulness to God. Reach out with forgiveness to that person. Be rewarded back with peace. (iWorship)

 Have a blessed day and week everyone!





2 Corinthians 1:3-11; John 16:33

-A Content and Patient Heart – 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

9:00 PM



Read: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11
As we close this week we’ve learned that although life is not easy our true and only contentment comes from accepting Jesus Christ, and having faith that in Him we will have everything we need. Jesus is sufficient, and his promises are enough.

But there are times when our life can be obscured with troubles and hardship, how can we be content?  Paul reminds us that when suffering abounds, consolation also abound. Jesus is there to bring comfort (John 16:33), if we are willing to receive it. (vs.5)

“But if we are troubled and distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted and encouraged, it is for your comfort, which works [in you] when you patiently endure the same sufferings which we [b]experience” (vs.6)

In this verse we find the key to contentment: “when you patiently endure”.
Patience!! I humbly had to admit I definitely lack of patience. How do I react when unexpected circumstances come along? We tend to want everything to be perfect: just as we planned and we also want things to happen as fast as possible!
O how many times have I recited this verse from Psalm 27:14!

“Wait patiently for the Lord.
    Be brave and courageous.
    Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” (NLT)

Our lack of patience brings discontentment, stress, grumbling – questioning God- and even rehearsing negative thoughts!

Paul also encouraged the Colossians with these words: “[we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints (God’s people) in the Light.” (Col. 1:11-12)

So here Paul is also telling us that something has to happen in our hearts: His Holy Spirit is able to strengthen and invigorate us, to attain every kind of endurance.

We need inward peace as well as outward control (Gal. 5:22-23) We need to become grateful. It is impossible to develop contentment without gratitude. We must also submit our schedules, our desires, our dreams to the greater plans of God. Having the conviction that He has a good reason for every delay that He allows to come our way!

God’s promise not to forsake us  (Hebrews 13:5) should give us the assurance and confidence we need to be content with who we are, what we have, and what our future holds.
I pray that we find freedom from discontentment as we learn to depend upon God and to be content in any and every circumstance (Phil 4:11-13).
Blessings,
Mari



2 Corinthians 12

My Weakness, His Strength (2 Corinthians 12)

9:22 PM


Paul was privileged to have an intense and personal encounter with the risen Christ. Through Paul, the ministry and mission work of Christ spread through large regions. Paul was known and talked about and sought after in those early days of the Church. He was also privileged with grand spiritual revelations.  He could have allowed that to be a source of personal glory and prestige, but He chose instead to find contentment in Christ alone. 
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” (v7)
We don’t know exactly what Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was but we do know that it was something Satan meant to discourage Paul and breed discontent with God and life. Paul, however, chose to embrace a unique perspective on his trial. He asked God multiple times to remove it from his life, but He was also willing to accept that God could use it for a positive purpose: to keep him humble and focused on His dependence on God. 
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (9)
I think that Paul knew the danger of being too self-reliant, self-focused and self-confident. He realized that “weaknesses” were opportunities for Him to be reminded that His true source of strength and value was in Christ. 
No one welcomes difficulties or trials but they are part of life. As a Christian, we can learn to remain content and to find benefit in what we encounter in this life by keeping our focus on God’s Sovereign control. Satan may try to weigh us down and frustrate us but God can strengthen and empower us as we trust our circumstances to Him. 
Realize that there will be ups and downs in this life but endeavour to remain content in your circumstances by focusing on who you are “ in Christ”. Instead of grumbling and becoming bitter or angry about difficult circumstances, try to surrender those circumstances to God’s will, asking Him to use those circumstances for good and for spiritual growth. It is a great test of faith but it was the example of Paul to us who had learned to be content in “all circumstances”. May we, like Paul, become strong!

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”(10)