Press Toward the Goal in Faith

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the rightesous which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anthing you think otherwize, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the saviou, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.  Philippians 3:7-21

Criticism

"When we discern that other people are not growing spiritually and allow that discernment to turn to criticism, we block our fellowship with God. God never gives us discernment so that we may criticize, but that we may intercede."


Oswald Chambers

I Chose You...

“I chose you . . .” (John 15:16). Keep these words as a wonderful reminder in your theology. It is not that you have gotten God, but that He has gotten you.

Oswald Chambers - Oct 9th

Impulsiveness - A Trait of the Natural Life

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith . . . —Jude 20

There was nothing of the nature of impulsive or thoughtless action about our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God’s nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, and our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God gives a sense of restraint to impulsiveness, suddenly bringing us a feeling of self-conscious foolishness, which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves. Impulsiveness is all right in a child, but is disastrous in a man or woman—an impulsive adult is always a spoiled person. Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition through discipline.

Oswald Chambers - Oct 21

SOAK

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world —John 18:36

It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.

Oswald Chambers - Oct 19th

More From Today in the Word

I've heard this before... and I try to practice this...

How does this affect my brothers and sisters in Christ? Does it offend them and cause them to fall into sin? Does it burden them with regulations beyond the truth of Scripture? How does this affect God’s reputation? Does it ultimately glorify Him? And does this serve to advance the gospel? We must remember the example of Christ, who forfeited His rights for the good of others (see 1 Cor. 11:1).

Maybe we should remember this when posting on FB... ha ha.

Daily Reading Plan - 5 Psalms/1 Proverb

Do you find yourself needing to read something from the bible but don't know where? I have found this plan to be helpful and have fallen back on it several times.

Read 5 Psalms and 1 proverb.
Example: Today is May 30th. Read Psalm 30 and add 30 [Psalm 30, 60, 90, 120, 150]. Then Read Proverbs 30. Adjust on months that have less or more days than 30. On the 31st read Psalm 119 and proverbs 31.
[I will update the links as I can.]
Day 1 - Psalm 1, 31, 61, 91, 121; Proverbs 1
Day 2 - Psalm 2, 32, 62, 92, 122; Proverbs 2
Day 3 - Psalm 3, 33, 63, 93, 123; Proverbs 3
Day 4 - Psalm 4, 34, 64, 94, 124; Proverbs 4
Day 5 - Psalm 5, 35, 65, 95, 125; Proverbs 5
Day 6 - Psalm 6, 36, 66, 96, 126; Proverbs 6
Day 7 - Psalm 7, 37, 67, 97, 127; Proverbs 7
Day 8 - Psalm 8, 38, 68, 98, 128; Proverbs 8
Day 9 - Psalm 9, 39, 69, 99, 129; Proverbs 9
Day 10 - Psalm 10, 40, 70, 100, 130; Proverbs 10
Day 11 - Psalm 11, 41, 71, 101, 131; Proverbs 11
Day 12 - Psalm 12, 42, 72, 102, 122; Proverbs 12
Day 13 - Psalm 13, 43, 73, 103, 123; Proverbs 13
Day 14 - Psalm 14, 44, 74, 104, 124; Proverbs 14
Day 15 - Psalm 15, 45, 75, 105, 125; Proverbs 15
Day 16 - Psalm 16, 46, 76, 106, 126; Proverbs 16
Day 17 - Psalm 17, 47, 77, 107, 127; Proverbs 17
Day 18 - Psalm 18, 48, 78, 108, 128; Proverbs 18
Day 19 - Psalm 19, 49, 79, 109, 129; Proverbs 19
Day 20 - Psalm 20, 50, 80, 110, 130; Proverbs 20
Day 21 - Psalm 21, 51, 81, 111, 131; Proverbs 21
Day 22 - Psalm 22, 52, 82, 112, 132; Proverbs 22
Day 23 - Psalm 23, 53, 83, 113, 133; Proverbs 23
Day 24 - Psalm 24, 54, 84, 114, 134; Proverbs 24
Day 25 - Psalm 25, 55, 85, 115, 135; Proverbs 25
Day 26 - Psalm 26, 56, 86, 116, 136; Proverbs 26
Day 27 - Psalm 27, 57, 87, 117, 137; Proverbs 27
Day 28 - Psalm 28, 58, 88, 118, 138; Proverbs 28
Day 29 - Psalm 29, 59, 89, 119, 129; Proverbs 29
Day 30 - Psalm 30, 60, 90, 120, 130; Proverbs 30
Day 31 - Psalm 119; Proverbs 31

Word for Sunday May 23 to Saturday May 29

NOTE: I am reading from Today in the Word each morning.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Read: Philippians 4:4-9
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything . . . present your requests to God. - Philippians 4:6
Monday, May 24, 2010
Read: Isaiah 58:8-14
You will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. - Isaiah 58:9
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Read: 2 Corinthians 5:1-21
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 2 Corinthians 5:17
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Read: Psalm 119:97-117
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies. - Psalm 119:98
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Read: 2 Timothy 1:1-12
God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power. - 2 Timothy 1:7
Friday, May 28, 2010
Read: 2 Timothy 2:1-13
Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 2:1
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Read: Romans 8:28-38
If God is for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31