A prayer for this week: Asking forgiveness and thanking God

 

 

Father forgive me for I have sinned:

There were several occasions in the week when I was selfish or mean;
Or careless or uncaring or slow to reach out to those who are ill
I have given less than I could to those in need;

There were days I did not pick up my Bible
or remember to say thank you;
And when I brought all this to you for your mercy and grace
I received it.
Because you welcome sinners so that you can
love and forgive them.
 
Thank you, Lord.
I wish I was more like you.

 

 

prayer for this week

Human beings and creation

Homo sapiens sapiens - Deliberate deformity of the skull, "Toulouse deformity ". (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Human species think they are superior to other species and behave uncontrolled hautain.

Over the years they made not only a mess of their own society and history, they also intruded the life of the other species and made it for many impossible to survive.

Throughout history we got a species which wanted not to be associated with animals though they often behave worse than animals. they also became a sort which liked to bring forward many excuses for things they did. As such they say that they are susceptible to weaknesses:

they are only human, and therefore mistakes do occur the risk of human error

It is a created being which has many weaknesses and makes lots of errors. Often for their wrongdoing they try to blame others. Or they use the mistakes from others to make themselves seem better. They like to show of their better 'Me' with better qualities, such as kindness or sensitivity.

As a human being we like to see the primate mammal of the genus Homo, the only living species of which is Homo sapiens.
Some like to compare them with near relatives like the chimpanzee, gorilla and orang-utan, an d are intrigued by their several distinct features.
Normally they walk upright, often hiding their patchily hairy body, but not afraid to boast with their musculature or specific bodily design.

They consider themselves the brightest of all creatures and like to see the proof of it in their brains and their forehead which is higher than that of any ape.

Microscopically, humans are distinct from great apes by the size, number, and shape of their chromosomes. Another distinction is the human capacity for language. Socially, humans are similar to lesser primates, preferring a family or other small group.

Humans have always actively made great changes to both their immediate environment and to ecosystems. And there lies a big problem, because most often they did not take much notice of the consequences of their actions in nature.

Being five for twelve it is getting time that those human beings wake up from their self-esteem dreams. They often being full of selfishness have to start thinking about others more.

Many leaders also think they should interfere with what man is doing to himself and to other creatures living on this planet earth.

Please do continue reading about man's position in this universe and how the human being has to take up his responsibility.

1. Paris World Summit of Conscience, International interfaith gathering #1
2. Paris World Summit of Conscience, International interfaith gathering #2
3. Paris World Summit of Conscience, International interfaith gathering #3
4. Vatican against Opponents of immigration
5. Message of Pope Francis I for the 48th World Communications Day
6. Mayors from all over the world at the Vatican to talk about climate change
7. Climate change guilty of doing too little
8. Postponing once more
9. Forms of slavery, human trafficking and disrespectful attitude to creation to be changed
10. Vatican meeting of mayors talking about global warming, human trafficking and modern-day slavery
11. Senator Loren Legarda says climate change not impossible to address
12. Why “Selfishness” Doesn’t Properly Mean Being Shortsighted and Harmful to Others
13. A bird’s eye and reflecting from within
14. How to Find the Meaning of Life and Reach a State of Peace
15. Inner feeling, morality and Inter-connection with creation

Readings about human beings:

1. Genesis 1 story does not take away an evolution
2. Challenging claim 2 Inspired by God 1 Simple words
3. Looking at three “I am” s
4. Means of creations
5. Coming to the creation of human beings in the image of God
6. Necessity of a revelation of creation 1 Works of God and works of man
7. Necessity of a revelation of creation 2 Organisation of a system of things
8. Necessity of a revelation of creation 8 By no means unintelligible or mysterious to people
9. What is life?
10. Born to Shine not to fear!
11. Denis Wright looking at the world of human beings
12. Every creature is a divine word because it proclaims God.
13. Inequality, Injustice, Sustainability and the Free World Charter
14. A last note concerning civil rights
15. Subcutaneous power for humanity 5 Loneliness, Virtual and real friends
16. He Speaks
17. The faithful God
18. A voice cries out: context
19. Time Has A Way Of Healing
20. Let you not be defined by the effect of your wrong choice
21. Birds, Birds Everywhere
22. Accents in schools and tools of survival against aliens
23. Wisdom not hard to find nor hiding in remote places
24. Science, 2013 word of the year, and Scepticism
25. People Seeking for God 3 Laws and directions
26. Being Religious and Spiritual 4 Philosophical, religious and spiritual people
27. Philosophy hand in hand with spirituality
28. Sharing thoughts and philosophical writings
29. Glory of God appearing in our character
30. Eternity depends upon this short time on earth
31. Building up the spirit of the soul

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Suffering redemptive because Jesus redeemed us from sin

surrendersacrifice has posted a new topic entitled "Why is suffering redemptive?" in forum "General Theology" on Bible Truth.

Suffering is redemptive because Jesus redeemed us from sin through His suffering.  Jesus invites us to join Him in His redemptive work by allowing us to enter into His suffering (which we encounter while doing His work) (Colossians 1:24).  Therefore, to be worthy of Christ we must deny our self, take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 10:38 & 16:24; Mark 8:34; & Luke 9:23 and 14:27). Even the personal sufferings we encounter in life when suffered with faith in Christ (which means that we believe that God will bring out of our suffering) is redeeming because it produces endurance, character and hope (Romans 5:2-3); enables us to overcome sin; and enables us to share in His life (1Peter 4:1-2 and 1 Peter 2:19-21).  Suffering makes us humble; humility teaches us to rely on God; and reliance God frees us of selfishness (which is the cause of all sins). Quite often we are afraid of suffering, however we must remember that Jesus will lighten our burden (if we trust Him) (Matthew 11:30); and that the sufferings of the present is nothing compared to the glory that awaits those who trust Him (Romans 8:18).

How we think shows through in how we act

"How we think shows through in how we act.
Attitudes are mirrors of the mind.
They reflect thinking."
- David J. Schwartz

A godly mind prizes honor above worldly good.
- Rembrandt

If we do not cling to riches, selfishness, or greed
 - then I believe we are getting closer to God.
- Daniel Ortega

"You were taught… to put off your old self ...
to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
and to put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Ephesians 4:22-24

Lord God, let me always hold the right thoughts
and keep my eyes on those things that are really valuable,
useful for me and keep my purity
in order to enter Your Kingdom.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Hoe we denken schijnt door in hoe we handelen
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2013 update:
 

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Never too late to start going to the right end

"It's hard to follow God closely when your eyes are focused on everyone else around you."
- Unknown

When God turns away from us because of selfishness, it is not rejection.
Rather, it is an invitation to follow Him to a place we would rather not go.
- Brennan Manning

Who needs fathers? We all do.
We especially need our Father in heaven, who forgives our parenting inadequacies for Jesus’ sake
and who enables us each day with a fresh start.
Just as the loving father in Luke’s gospel welcomed home his lost son,
our Father will one day welcome us … together with all others who love and trust in Jesus.
- Dr. Rodney Rathmann

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
Hebrews 10:23-24

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start,
anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."
- Carl Brand

It's never too late to start doing what is right.
- Charles Swindoll

"Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly
will acquire the skill to do difficult things easily."
- Johann Friedrich von Schiller

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature;
the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
2 Corinthians 5:17

"He was made king, however, and returned home.
Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money,
in order to find out what they had gained with it.
"The first one came and said, 'Sir, your ten minas has earned ten more.'
"'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied.
'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'"
Luke 19:15-17

A lot happens around me, Lord.
Always let me see clearly and separate good things from bad things.
Make that I can work daily on myself and my environment so that they and I may make it to a successful end.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Nooit te laat om te beginnen met te gaan naar het juiste einde

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• DIG for Wednesday the 18th of May.....forgiveness and reconciliation for all, but you still have to make a choice.....John 3 v 16
• Is That You?
• Spiritual Bread
• the Bible - God's guide for life #8 Looking to Jesus #1 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus
• Counted worthy to suffer dishonour
• Helping each other with prayer to start the new academic year
• Leading people astray!

Be holy

"Be Ye Holy - For I Am Holy (Lev. 11:44)

"If we are to attain to the Kingdom of God, and to a condition of eternal usefulness to God, we must in this life lift our minds to an entirely new plane of consciousness and thinking: to the plane of holiness - far above the natural, animal desires and interests of the flesh. Holiness is Beauty: the Beauty of Holiness: all else is ugliness. Holiness is Separateness and Purity: a Separate Purity: a Pure Separateness. The mental food that creates the transformation of our minds from natural repulsiveness to spiritual attractiveness is the Spirit-Word, continuously and liberally indulged in. "Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord." Naturally, we are the very opposite of holy. To become so, more and more, is life's purpose: its ONLY purpose.

 Any time spent that does not contribute to this is precious divine time wasted: unfaithful stewardship. "Perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord" is a large enough command, and a high enough ambition, to completely fill any lifetime.
With God's bountiful and loving help, lift your mind above all natural childishness and foolishness, all interest in worldly things, all unclean fleshly habits and thoughts, all of the ugliness of the flesh, as anger, impatience, harshness, unkindness, selfishness, lack of sympathy and compassion and healing, forgiving love. "Be ye holy, even as God is holy."
What a joy! What a revelation! What a beautiful, noble company!
"Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness!"
-------
Brother G.V. "Rene" Growcott

Dutch translation / Nederlandse vertaling > Weest heilig
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2013 update:

"Aaron, Holy to the Lord" (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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• Restored Holiness

Love envieth not

Songs in the Night
Love envieth not. I Corinthians 13:4
HAVE I the love that "envieth not," the love that is generous, so that I can see others prosper and rejoice in their prosperity, even if, for a time, my own affairs be not so prosperous? This is true generosity, the very reverse of jealousy and envy, which spring from a perverted nature. The root of envy is selfishness; envy will not grow upon the root of love. Love rejoices with them that rejoice, in prosperity of every good word and work, and in the advancement in Christian grace and in the divine service of all who are actuated by the divine Spirit. Z'11-422 R4918:2 (Hymn 112)

2013 update:

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• Love is a Battlefield, It Really Is
• Love is patient
• Non attachment. Love is.
• never failing.

The Greatest of These is Love

The Greatest of These is Love

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > De grootste van deze is Liefde

1 Corinthians 13 - Love Suffereth Long

Love is - Patient
Love thinks of others - Not impatient or hasty

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - Get what I want NOW
-------
1 Corinthians 13 - Love is kind

Love is - Kind
Love thinks of others - Not insensitive and thoughtless

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - Look after myself first
-------
1 Corinthians 13 - Love envieth NOT

Love is - Not jealous
Love thinks of others - Admires the good qualities of others

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - Focus on myself and my achievements
-------
1 Corinthians 13 - Love vaunteth NOT itself

Love is - Not proud
Love thinks of others - Aware of your own weaknesses

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - Be the best
-------
1 Corinthians 13 - Is NOT puffed up

Love is - Not arrogant
Love thinks of others - Does not bully/impress others

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - I am the most important
-------
1 Corinthians 13 - Doth NOT behave itself unseemly

Love is - Not rude
Love thinks of others - Not short tempered

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - Others should look up to me
-------
1 Corinthians 13 - Seeketh NOT her own

Love is - Not selfish
Love thinks of others - Submissive and cooperative

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - Get my own way
-------
1 Corinthians 13 - Is NOT easily provoked

Love is - Not irritable
Love thinks of others - Open and easy to get on with

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - Defend my own position
-------
1 Corinthians 13 - Thinketh NO evil

Love is - Not resentful
Love thinks of others - Sympathetic - seeks ways to help

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - Attack others weaknesses
-------
1 Corinthians 13 - Rejoiceth NOT in iniquity

Love is - Not competitive
Love thinks of others - Not fickle or hypocritical

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - Is glad when others fail
-------
1 Corinthians 13 - But rejoiceth in the Truth

Love is - positive / joyful / encouraging

Love thinks of others - Keeps a positive outlook

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - Complain and be negative
-------
1 Corinthians 13 - ALL THINGS - Beareth

Love is -forgiving
Love thinks of others - Will forgive faults in others

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - Refuse to forgive
-------
1 Corinthians 13 - ALL THINGS - Believeth

Love is - trusting
Love thinks of others - Trusts in God to overcome all

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - Refuse to trust - I can do it myself
-------
1 Corinthians 13 - ALL THINGS - Hopeth

Love is - hoping
Love thinks of others - Genuinely concerned for others

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - Look after Number 1
-------
1 Corinthians 13 - ALL THINGS - Endureth

Love is - enduring
Love thinks of others - Doesn't give up on others

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - Let others look after themselves
-------
1 Corinthians 13 - Love NEVER fails

Love is - eternal
Love thinks of others - Will last FOREVER

Self-Flesh Says: I MUST - Will one day FINISH
-------

" ... if I have all Knowledge ... and all faith ... and have not love - I am nothing ... "

-------
From the notes:
Information and Awareness Meeting
2 June 2001
Punchbowl Ecclesia NSW

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2013 update;
 

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