Day 329 - 25 November 2021 reflections
Day 329, 25 November 2021
1)
1 and 2 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 1
Salutation
1 (2Th 1:1; Ro 1:7; Ac 18:5)Paul, Silas, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father
and in the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Thessalonians' Faith and Example
2 (Ro 1:8-9) We give thanks to God always for you all,
mentioning you in our prayers,
3 (2Th 1:11; Ro 15:4) remembering without ceasing your work of faith,
labor of love, and patient hope in our Lord Jesus Christ
in the sight of God and our Father.
4 (2Th 2:13; 2Pe 1:10) For we know, beloved brothers, your election by God.
5 (Col 2:2; 2Th 2:14) For our gospel did not come to you in word only,
but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance,
just as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
6 (Ac 13:52; 1Co 4:16) You became followers of us and the Lord,
having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.
7 Therefore you were examples to all who believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 (Ro 1:8; 2Th 3:1) For the word of the Lord sounded out from you not only
in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith
in God has gone forth, so that we do not need to say anything.
9 (1Co 12:2; Ac 14:15) For they themselves declare how we were received
by you, and how you turned to God from idols,
to serve the living and true God,
10 (Ac 2:24; Mt 3:7) and to wait for His Son from heaven,
whom He raised from the dead-Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 2
Paul's Ministry in Thessalonica
1 You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
2 (Ac 16:22-24; 17:2-9) But even after we had previously suffered and were
shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God
to declare to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.
3 (2Co 2:17; 4:2) For our exhortation was not from deceit,
nor from uncleanness, nor in guile.
4 (Gal 1:10; 2:7; Ro 8:27) But as we were allowed by God to be entrusted
with the gospel, even so we speak, not to please men, but God,
who examines our hearts.
5 (Ac 20:33; Ro 1:9) For neither at any time did we come with flattering
words, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed. God is our witness.
6 (Jn 5:41; 5:44) Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you,
or from others, even though we might have made demands
as the apostles of Christ.
7 (1Th 2:11; Isa 49:23) But we were gentle among you, like a nurse caring
for her own children.
8 (2Co 12:15; 1Jn 3:16) So having great love toward you,
we were willing to impart to you not only the gospel of God
but also our own lives, because you were dear to us.
9 (Ac 18:3; Ro 1:1) For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil.
Laboring night and day so as not to be an expense to any of you,
we preached to you the gospel of God.
10 (1Th 1:5; 2Co 1:12) You and God are witnesses of how pure, upright,
and blameless we ourselves behaved among you who believe.
11 (1Th 2:7) As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and commanded
every one of you, as a father does his own children,
12 (Eph 4:1; 1Th 5:24) that you would walk in a manner worthy of God,
who has called you to His kingdom and glory.
13 (Heb 4:12; Ro 10:17; Gal 4:14) For this reason we thank God
without ceasing because, when you received the word of God,
which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of men,
but as it truly is, the word of God, which effectively works also
in you who believe.
14 (Gal 1:22; 1Th 1:6) For you, brothers, became followers
of the churches of God, which in Judea are in Christ Jesus.
You also have suffered the same things from your own countrymen,
as they have from the Jews,
15 (Mt 5:12; Ac 2:23) who both killed the Lord Jesus
and their own prophets and have persecuted us.
They do not please God and are contrary to all men,
16 (Ac 13:50; Ge 15:16) forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles
that they might be saved. In this way they are always piling up
their sins, but wrath has come upon them to the extreme.
Paul's Desire to Visit Again
17 (1Co 5:3; Col 2:5) But we, brothers, being taken from you
for a short time, in presence, not in heart, endeavoured
all the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
18 (Ro 15:22; 1:13; Php 4:16) Therefore we wished
to come to you-even I, Paul, once and again-but Satan hindered us.
19 (Php 4:1; 2Co 1:14; 1Th 3:13) For what is our hope, or joy,
or crown of rejoicing? Will it not even be you in the presence
of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
20 You are our glory and joy.
1 Thessalonians 3
1 (Ac 17:15; 1Th 3:5) Therefore, when we could no longer endure it,
we thought it good to be left at Athens alone.
2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and minister of God
and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish
and comfort you with regard to your faith,
3 (Ac 9:16; 14:22) so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions.
For you know that we are appointed to this.
4 (1Th 2:14) Indeed, we told you before when we were with you that
we would suffer tribulation, just as it came to pass, as you well know.
5 (Mt 4:3; Php 2:16) For this reason, when I could no longer endure it,
I sent to inquire about your faith, lest by some means the tempter
might have tempted you, and our labor might have been in vain.
6 (Ac 18:5; 1Th 1:3) But just now Timothy has come from you to us
and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always
have good memories of us, desiring greatly to see us,
as we also desire to see you.
7 (2Co 1:4) Therefore, brothers, during all our afflictions
and distress, we have been encouraged about you through your faith.
8 (1Co 16:13) For now we live, if you stand strong in the Lord.
9 (For what thanks can we render to God for you,
for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God,
10 (2Ti 1:3; 2Co 13:9) night and day praying earnestly that we might
see your face and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 (2Th 2:16; 1Th 3:13) Now may our God and Father Himself,
and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.
12 (Php 1:9; 1Th 4:9-10) And may the Lord make you increase
and abound in love for one another and for all men, even as we do for you.
13 (1Th 2:19; Zec 14:5) To this end may He establish your hearts
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
1 Thessalonians 4
A Life Pleasing to God
1 (Eph 4:1; 2Th 1:3) Finally, brothers, we urge and exhort you by the Lord
Jesus, that as you have learned from us how you ought to walk and to please
God, you should excel more and more.
2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 (Ac 15:29; Ro 6:22) For this is the will of God, your sanctification:
that you should abstain from sexual immorality,
4 (1Pe 3:7) that each one of you should know how to possess his own vessel
in sanctification and honor,
5 (Ro 1:26; Gal 4:8) not in the lust of depravity, even as the Gentiles
who do not know God,
6 (Ro 12:19; Heb 13:4) and that no man take advantage of
and defraud his brother in any matter, because the Lord
is the avenger in all these things,
as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7 (1Th 2:3; Lev 11:44) For God has not called us to uncleanness,
but to holiness.
8 (1Jn 3:24; Lk 10:16) Therefore he that despises does not despise man,
but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.
9 (1Th 5:1; Ro 12:10) As concerning brotherly love, you do not need me
to write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.
10 (1Th 1:7; 3:12) And indeed, you do have love for all the brothers
who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, that you increase
more and more.
11 (Eph 4:28; 1Pe 4:15) Learn to be calm, and to conduct your own business,
and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
12 (Mk 4:11; Ro 13:13) so that you may walk honestly toward
those who are outsiders and that you may lack nothing.
The Lord's Coming
13 (Eph 2:12; Lev 19:28) But I would not have you ignorant, brothers,
concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others
who have no hope.
14 (1Th 4:13; Rev 1:18) For if we believe that Jesus died and arose again,
so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 (1Ki 20:35) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord
will not precede those who are asleep.
16 (1Co 15:23; Jude 1:9) For the Lord Himself will descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trumpet call of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 (Jn 12:26; Ac 1:9) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we
shall be forever with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 5
1 (Ac 1:7; 1Th 4:9) Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,
you have no need that I write to you.
2 (2Pe 3:10; Rev 3:3) For you know perfectly that the day of the Lord
will come like a thief in the night.
3 (Lk 21:34-35; 2Th 1:9) When they say, "Peace and safety!"
then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor upon
a woman with child, and they shall not escape.
4 (1Jn 2:8) But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this Day
should overtake you as a thief.
5 (Lk 16:8; Ac 26:18) You are all the sons of light
and the sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
6 (Lk 22:46; 1Pe 1:13) Therefore let us not sleep as others do.
But let us be alert and sober.
7 (Ac 2:15; 2Pe 2:13) For those who sleep, sleep at night,
and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
8 (Isa 59:17; 1Th 5:5) But let us, who are of the day, be sober,
putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet,
the hope of salvation.
9 (1Th 1:10; 2Th 2:13-14) For God has not appointed us to wrath,
but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 (2Co 5:15) who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep,
we should live together with Him.
11 (Eph 4:29; Heb 10:25) So comfort yourselves together,
and edify one another, just as you are doing.
Final Exhortations and Greetings
12 (Heb 13:17; 1Co 16:16; 16:18) We ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those
who labor among you, and are appointed over you in the Lord, and instruct you.
13 (Mk 9:50) Esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.
And be at peace among yourselves.
14 (Ro 14:1; Ac 20:35) Now we exhort you, brothers, warn those who are unruly,
comfort the faint-hearted, support the weak, and be patient toward everyone.
15 (1Pe 3:9; Gal 6:10) See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone.
But always seek to do good to one another and to all.
16 (Php 4:4) Rejoice always.
17 (Eph 6:18; Lk 18:1) Pray without ceasing.
18 (Eph 5:20; Heb 13:15) In everything give thanks,
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 (Eph 4:30; 1Co 14:30; 1Ti 4:14) Do not quench the Spirit.
20 (1Co 11:4; 14:1) Do not despise prophecies.
21 (1Jn 4:1; Lk 12:57; Ac 17:11) Examine all things.
Firmly hold onto what is good.
22 Abstain from all appearances of evil.
23 (Ro 15:33; Heb 4:12) May the very God of peace sanctify you completely.
And I pray to God that your whole spirit, soul,
and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 (1Co 1:9; 1Th 2:12 5:26 Ro 16:16 5:27 Col 4:16 5:28 Ro 16:20; 2Th 3:18)
Faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I command you by the Lord that this letter be
read to all the holy brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
2 Thessalonians 1
Salutation
1 (2Co 1:19) Paul, and Silas, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 (Ro 1:7) Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Judgment at Christ's Coming
3 (2Th 2:13; Ro 1:8) We are bound to thank God always for you, brothers,
as it is fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly,
and the love of every one of you abounds toward each other.
4 (1Th 2:14; 2Co 7:14; 1Th 2:19) So we boast about you in the churches of God
for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations
that you are enduring.
5 (Php 1:28; Lk 20:35) This is evidence that God's judgment, being righteous,
will count you worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are suffering.
6 (Rev 6:10) It is a righteous matter with God to repay with tribulation
those who trouble you,
7 (Rev 14:13) and to give you who are troubled rest with us
when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
8 (Mt 25:41; Gal 4:8) in flaming fire taking vengeance on those
who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 (Mt 25:41; Php 3:19) They shall be punished with eternal destruction,
isolated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10 (Jn 17:10; Isa 49:3) when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified
in His saints and to be marveled at by all those who believe,
because our testimony among you was believed.
11 (1Th 1:3; 2Th 1:5) Therefore we always pray for you that our God
would count you worthy of this calling and with power fulfill
all your good desires and works done by faith,
12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you,
and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2
The Man of Lawlessness
1 (Mk 13:27; Mt 24:31) Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and concerning our gathering together unto Him, we ask you
2 (Mk 13:7; 1Co 1:8) not to let your mind be quickly shaken or be troubled,
neither in spirit nor by word, nor by letter coming as though from us,
as if the day of Christ is already here.
3 (Da 7:25; Jn 17:12) Do not let anyone deceive you in any way.
For that Day will not come unless a falling away comes first,
and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction,
4 (Eze 28:2; 1Co 8:5) who opposes and exalts himself above
all that is called God or is worshipped,
so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself as God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things?
6 Now you know what restrains him that he might be revealed in his time.
7 (Rev 17:5; 17:7) For the mystery of lawlessness is already working. Only
He who is now restraining him will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8 (Isa 11:4; 2Th 2:3) Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord
will consume with the breath of His mouth, and destroy with the brightness
of His presence,
9 (Mt 24:24; Rev 18:23) even him, whose coming is in accordance
with the working of Satan with all power and signs and false wonders,
10 (1Co 1:18) and with all deception of unrighteousness
among those who perish, because they did not receive
the love for the truth that they might be saved.
11 (Ro 1:28; Eze 14:9) Therefore God will send them a strong delusion,
that they should believe the lie:
12 (Ro 1:32; 2:8) that they all might be condemned who did not believe
the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Chosen for Salvation
13 (1Th 1:4; 2Th 1:3) But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you,
beloved brothers of the Lord, because God has from the beginning called you to salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief of the truth.
14 (1Th 2:12; 1:5) To this He called you by our gospel,
to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 (1Co 11:2; 16:13; 2Th 2:2) Therefore, brothers, stand firm
and hold the traditions which you have been taught,
whether by word or by our letter.
16 (Jn 3:16; 1Th 3:11) Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself,
and God our Father, who has loved us and has given us eternal
consolation and good hope through grace,
17 (2Th 3:3; 1Th 3:2) comfort your hearts and establish you in
every good word and work.
2 Thessalonians 3
Pray for Us
1 (1Th 5:25; 1:8) Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord
may quickly spread and be glorified, even as it did with you.
2 (Ro 15:31; Dt 32:20) And pray that we may be delivered from unreasonable
and wicked men, for not all men have faith.
3 (1Co 1:9; Mt 6:13) But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you
and guard you from the evil one.
4 (2Co 2:3; 1Th 4:10) We have confidence in the Lord concerning you,
that you are doing and will do the things which we command you.
5 (1Ch 29:18) May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God
and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Warning Against Idleness
6 (1Co 5:4; Ro 16:17) Now we command you, brothers, in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves
from every brother who walks in idleness and not according
to the tradition that he received from us.
7 (1Co 4:16; 2Th 3:9) For you know how you should follow us.
For we were not idle among you,
8 (Ac 18:3; 1Th 2:9) neither did we eat anyone's bread without paying
for it, but we worked tirelessly and toiled night and day that
we might not be a burden to any of you.
9 (1Co 9:4-14; 2Th 3:7) We did this, not because we did not have that right,
but to make ourselves an example for you to follow.
10 (1Th 4:11; Ge 3:19) For when we were with you,
we commanded you that if any will not work, neither shall he eat.
11 (1Ti 5:13; 1Pe 4:15) For we hear that there are some among
you who live in idleness, mere busybodies, not working at all.
12 (1Th 4:11; Eph 4:28) Now, concerning those who are such,
we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that they quietly
work and eat their own bread.
13 (2Co 4:1; 1Th 4:1) But you, brothers, do not be weary in doing good.
14 (2Th 3:6) If anyone does not obey our word in this letter,
note that man, and do not socialize with him, so that he may be ashamed.
15 (1Th 5:14; Gal 6:1) Still, do not count him as an enemy,
but admonish him as a brother.
Benediction
16 (Ro 15:33; Nu 6:26) Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace
always in every way. The Lord be with you all.
17 (1Co 16:21) I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand,
and this is the distinguishing mark in every letter: So I write.
18 (Ro 16:20) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
2) Our Daily Bread for 25 November 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/11/25/a-thankful-heart
entitled A Thankful Heart
Colossians 4:2-6
Exhortations
2 (Lk 18:1; Eph 6:18) Continue in prayer, and be watchful with thanksgiving,
3 (Eph 6:19-20; Ac 14:27) while praying also for us, that God would open
to us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ,
for which I am also in chains,
4 (Eph 6:20) that I may reveal it clearly, as I ought to speak.
5 (Mk 4:11; Eph 5:15-17) Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside,
wisely using the opportunity.
6 (Mk 9:50; 1Pe 3:15) Let your speech always be with grace,
seasoned with salt, that you may know how you should answer everyone.
Seneca, the great philosopher of ancient Rome (4 B.C. - 65 A.D.),
was once accused by the empress Messalina of adultery.
After the Senate sentenced Seneca to death, the emperor Claudius
instead exiled him to Corsica,
perhaps because he suspected the charge was false.
This reprieve may have shaped Seneca's view of thankfulness
when he wrote: "homicides, tyrants, thieves, adulterers, robbers,
sacrilegious men, and traitors there always will be,
but worse than all these is the crime of ingratitude."
A contemporary of Seneca's, the apostle Paul, may have agreed.
In Romans 1:21, he wrote that one of the triggers for the downward collapse
of humankind was that they refused to give thanks to God.
Writing to the church at Colossae, three times Paul challenged
his fellow believers in Christ to gratitude. He said we should be
"overflowing with thankfulness" (Colossians 2:7). As we let God's peace
"rule in [our] hearts," we're to respond with thankfulness (3:15).
In fact, gratitude ought to characterize our prayers (4:2).
God's great kindnesses to us remind us of one of life's great realities.
He not only deserves our love and worship, He also deserves our thankful
hearts. Everything that's good in life comes from Him (James 1:17).
With all we've been given in Christ, gratitude should be as natural
as breathing. May we respond to God's gracious gifts by expressing
our gratitude to Him.
By: Bill Crowder
Reflect & Pray
What are some of the biggest, most enduring blessings you've received
in life? What everyday blessings have you experienced that are often
easy to forget?
Loving Father, forgive me for the times
I've taken You and Your blessings for granted.
Create in me a thankful heart, so I'll honor and praise You
for all You've done and are doing.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 2 - Saved by Grace - Day 5 - Starting Over
2 Cor 5:17
17 (Jn 3:3; Ro 16:7) Therefore, if any man is in Christ,
he is a new creature. Old things have passed away.
Look, all things have become new.
"The trouble with turning over a new leaf," Gordon sighed,
"is that once you've done it twice, you're right back where
you started." Gordon, in his mid-fifties, had his job
"canceled" by a company wanting to cut back on retirement payments.
Out of work, with few prospects, he said wistfully,
"I wish I had the chance to start over again."
Many of us would echo Gordon's sentiments. Whether we have lost a job,
gone through a divorce, moved to another part of the country, or
experienced some lesser crisis, we often long for the chance to
begin again, fresh, without the shadow of past mistakes following us.
God's word offers just such an opportunity. Anyone who is in Christ,
Paul says in 2 Cor 5:17, is a "new creation". For the Christian, the past
is truly past - "all things are become new". In the forgiveness
and restoration of God's grace we can leave the past behind,
with all its mistakes, and enter into new life.
And the promise is not just for the newly saved. Those of us who
have been Christians for years need to hear the truth of 2 Cor 5:17 again,
for we accumulated some "new mistakes" since we came to Christ. Anyone who
is in Christ is a new creation; the freedom of forgiveness, of
"starting over" is available to all who call upon the name of the Lord.
We cannot every really "start over" simply by establishing New Year's
resolutions or turning over a new leaf. Only God gives us that opportunity;
his grace allows us to clear away the rubble of the past and begin again.
Everything becomes new in God's loving forgiveness.
Application
a) What "resolutions" have I made in an attempt to "start over"
in some area of struggle or failure in my life? Did my resolutions work?
b) What does 2 Cor 5:17 mean for me at this point in my Christian Life?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Genesis 30:43
The man became exceedingly prosperous and had many sheep
and female servants and male servants and camels and donkeys.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are anxious
Phil 4:4-7
4 (Php 3:1; Ro 12:12 Rejoice in the Lord always.
Again I will say, rejoice!
5 (Jas 5:8-9) Let everyone come to know your gentleness.
The Lord is at hand.
6 (Eph 6:18; Mt 6:25-33) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything,
by prayer and supplication with gratitude, make your requests known
to God.
7 (Jn 14:27; Col 3:15; Isa 26:3) And the peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will protect your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Newfoundland & Labrador
Total population 527000
Muslim population (est.) 2065
As of Autumn 2014, St. John's does not have a local CNMM network. Pray with us
for God's people to come together in prayer
and cooperative efforts to reach Muslims with the Good News.
St. John's has one mosque and 2 more musallas , or prayer locations, which
may grow into mosques of their own. The mosque is called Masjid an Noor,
The Mosque of the Light, and mosque historical documents record a trip in 1986
to Saudi Arabia to raise funds for the land purchase and construction costs.
A small number of Muslim families had come prior to 1964, but moved on to
other places after a short time. After this date, a small community began
to remain and grow , reaching about 25 families in the 1980s. A number
of international students also join the community annually
ranging from 25 to 60.
In 2014 the mosque website reports the community is made up of some 200
families and many university students attending Memorial University. A
small number of native Newfoundlanders have also converted to the Islamic
faith, one saying of this religion in Newfoundland, "Islam is a growing face".
With the growth of the community, the current challenge is lack of space
in the mosque, which they are now looking at expanding.
Pray for
- The true Light of life, Jesus Christ, to be revealed to Muslims
in Newfoundland through the word, dreams, visions and answers to prayer.
- Christians to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" regarding
Islam and reaching out in loving witness to Muslims in St. John's.
- for a dedicated, intentional witness to the growing number of Muslim
students on the university, college and trade school campuses.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 25 of the Month
a) Pray that there will be a growing number of people in your city or
community trusting in Christ as Saviour and Lord.
(Acts 2: 41,47b
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized,
and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
47 ... And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
)
b) Pray that those who serve in the justice system will be agents of true
justice for all.
( Prov 11:1
1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is His delight.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to Him to be like Him and to be guarded
against The Evil One.
Pray to the Lord "Loving Father, forgive me for the times
I've taken You and Your blessings for granted.
Create in me a thankful heart, so I'll honor and praise You
for all You've done and are doing."
Pray to the Lord and thank Him that in His salvation, you are a new creation.
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for your prosperity.
Pray to the Lord and Be anxious for nothing, but in everything,
by prayer and supplication with gratitude, make your requests known
to God so you can feel His blessings.
Pray for in Newfoundland and Labrador
- The true Light of life, Jesus Christ, to be revealed to Muslims
in Newfoundland through the word, dreams, visions and answers to prayer.
- Christians to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" regarding
Islam and reaching out in loving witness to Muslims in St. John's.
- for a dedicated, intentional witness to the growing number of Muslim
students on the university, college and trade school campuses.
Pray that there will be a growing number of people in your city or
community trusting in Christ as Saviour and Lord.
Pray that those who serve in the justice system will be agents of true
justice for all.
Pray for leaders, pastors, and Christians in the Comoros Islands
who are rebuilding their lives after being displaced.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
1)
1 and 2 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 1
Salutation
1 (2Th 1:1; Ro 1:7; Ac 18:5)Paul, Silas, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father
and in the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Thessalonians' Faith and Example
2 (Ro 1:8-9) We give thanks to God always for you all,
mentioning you in our prayers,
3 (2Th 1:11; Ro 15:4) remembering without ceasing your work of faith,
labor of love, and patient hope in our Lord Jesus Christ
in the sight of God and our Father.
4 (2Th 2:13; 2Pe 1:10) For we know, beloved brothers, your election by God.
5 (Col 2:2; 2Th 2:14) For our gospel did not come to you in word only,
but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance,
just as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
6 (Ac 13:52; 1Co 4:16) You became followers of us and the Lord,
having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.
7 Therefore you were examples to all who believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 (Ro 1:8; 2Th 3:1) For the word of the Lord sounded out from you not only
in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith
in God has gone forth, so that we do not need to say anything.
9 (1Co 12:2; Ac 14:15) For they themselves declare how we were received
by you, and how you turned to God from idols,
to serve the living and true God,
10 (Ac 2:24; Mt 3:7) and to wait for His Son from heaven,
whom He raised from the dead-Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 2
Paul's Ministry in Thessalonica
1 You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
2 (Ac 16:22-24; 17:2-9) But even after we had previously suffered and were
shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God
to declare to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.
3 (2Co 2:17; 4:2) For our exhortation was not from deceit,
nor from uncleanness, nor in guile.
4 (Gal 1:10; 2:7; Ro 8:27) But as we were allowed by God to be entrusted
with the gospel, even so we speak, not to please men, but God,
who examines our hearts.
5 (Ac 20:33; Ro 1:9) For neither at any time did we come with flattering
words, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed. God is our witness.
6 (Jn 5:41; 5:44) Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you,
or from others, even though we might have made demands
as the apostles of Christ.
7 (1Th 2:11; Isa 49:23) But we were gentle among you, like a nurse caring
for her own children.
8 (2Co 12:15; 1Jn 3:16) So having great love toward you,
we were willing to impart to you not only the gospel of God
but also our own lives, because you were dear to us.
9 (Ac 18:3; Ro 1:1) For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil.
Laboring night and day so as not to be an expense to any of you,
we preached to you the gospel of God.
10 (1Th 1:5; 2Co 1:12) You and God are witnesses of how pure, upright,
and blameless we ourselves behaved among you who believe.
11 (1Th 2:7) As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and commanded
every one of you, as a father does his own children,
12 (Eph 4:1; 1Th 5:24) that you would walk in a manner worthy of God,
who has called you to His kingdom and glory.
13 (Heb 4:12; Ro 10:17; Gal 4:14) For this reason we thank God
without ceasing because, when you received the word of God,
which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of men,
but as it truly is, the word of God, which effectively works also
in you who believe.
14 (Gal 1:22; 1Th 1:6) For you, brothers, became followers
of the churches of God, which in Judea are in Christ Jesus.
You also have suffered the same things from your own countrymen,
as they have from the Jews,
15 (Mt 5:12; Ac 2:23) who both killed the Lord Jesus
and their own prophets and have persecuted us.
They do not please God and are contrary to all men,
16 (Ac 13:50; Ge 15:16) forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles
that they might be saved. In this way they are always piling up
their sins, but wrath has come upon them to the extreme.
Paul's Desire to Visit Again
17 (1Co 5:3; Col 2:5) But we, brothers, being taken from you
for a short time, in presence, not in heart, endeavoured
all the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
18 (Ro 15:22; 1:13; Php 4:16) Therefore we wished
to come to you-even I, Paul, once and again-but Satan hindered us.
19 (Php 4:1; 2Co 1:14; 1Th 3:13) For what is our hope, or joy,
or crown of rejoicing? Will it not even be you in the presence
of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
20 You are our glory and joy.
1 Thessalonians 3
1 (Ac 17:15; 1Th 3:5) Therefore, when we could no longer endure it,
we thought it good to be left at Athens alone.
2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and minister of God
and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish
and comfort you with regard to your faith,
3 (Ac 9:16; 14:22) so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions.
For you know that we are appointed to this.
4 (1Th 2:14) Indeed, we told you before when we were with you that
we would suffer tribulation, just as it came to pass, as you well know.
5 (Mt 4:3; Php 2:16) For this reason, when I could no longer endure it,
I sent to inquire about your faith, lest by some means the tempter
might have tempted you, and our labor might have been in vain.
6 (Ac 18:5; 1Th 1:3) But just now Timothy has come from you to us
and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always
have good memories of us, desiring greatly to see us,
as we also desire to see you.
7 (2Co 1:4) Therefore, brothers, during all our afflictions
and distress, we have been encouraged about you through your faith.
8 (1Co 16:13) For now we live, if you stand strong in the Lord.
9 (For what thanks can we render to God for you,
for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God,
10 (2Ti 1:3; 2Co 13:9) night and day praying earnestly that we might
see your face and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 (2Th 2:16; 1Th 3:13) Now may our God and Father Himself,
and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.
12 (Php 1:9; 1Th 4:9-10) And may the Lord make you increase
and abound in love for one another and for all men, even as we do for you.
13 (1Th 2:19; Zec 14:5) To this end may He establish your hearts
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
1 Thessalonians 4
A Life Pleasing to God
1 (Eph 4:1; 2Th 1:3) Finally, brothers, we urge and exhort you by the Lord
Jesus, that as you have learned from us how you ought to walk and to please
God, you should excel more and more.
2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 (Ac 15:29; Ro 6:22) For this is the will of God, your sanctification:
that you should abstain from sexual immorality,
4 (1Pe 3:7) that each one of you should know how to possess his own vessel
in sanctification and honor,
5 (Ro 1:26; Gal 4:8) not in the lust of depravity, even as the Gentiles
who do not know God,
6 (Ro 12:19; Heb 13:4) and that no man take advantage of
and defraud his brother in any matter, because the Lord
is the avenger in all these things,
as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7 (1Th 2:3; Lev 11:44) For God has not called us to uncleanness,
but to holiness.
8 (1Jn 3:24; Lk 10:16) Therefore he that despises does not despise man,
but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.
9 (1Th 5:1; Ro 12:10) As concerning brotherly love, you do not need me
to write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.
10 (1Th 1:7; 3:12) And indeed, you do have love for all the brothers
who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, that you increase
more and more.
11 (Eph 4:28; 1Pe 4:15) Learn to be calm, and to conduct your own business,
and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
12 (Mk 4:11; Ro 13:13) so that you may walk honestly toward
those who are outsiders and that you may lack nothing.
The Lord's Coming
13 (Eph 2:12; Lev 19:28) But I would not have you ignorant, brothers,
concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others
who have no hope.
14 (1Th 4:13; Rev 1:18) For if we believe that Jesus died and arose again,
so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 (1Ki 20:35) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord
will not precede those who are asleep.
16 (1Co 15:23; Jude 1:9) For the Lord Himself will descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trumpet call of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 (Jn 12:26; Ac 1:9) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we
shall be forever with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 5
1 (Ac 1:7; 1Th 4:9) Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,
you have no need that I write to you.
2 (2Pe 3:10; Rev 3:3) For you know perfectly that the day of the Lord
will come like a thief in the night.
3 (Lk 21:34-35; 2Th 1:9) When they say, "Peace and safety!"
then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor upon
a woman with child, and they shall not escape.
4 (1Jn 2:8) But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this Day
should overtake you as a thief.
5 (Lk 16:8; Ac 26:18) You are all the sons of light
and the sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
6 (Lk 22:46; 1Pe 1:13) Therefore let us not sleep as others do.
But let us be alert and sober.
7 (Ac 2:15; 2Pe 2:13) For those who sleep, sleep at night,
and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
8 (Isa 59:17; 1Th 5:5) But let us, who are of the day, be sober,
putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet,
the hope of salvation.
9 (1Th 1:10; 2Th 2:13-14) For God has not appointed us to wrath,
but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 (2Co 5:15) who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep,
we should live together with Him.
11 (Eph 4:29; Heb 10:25) So comfort yourselves together,
and edify one another, just as you are doing.
Final Exhortations and Greetings
12 (Heb 13:17; 1Co 16:16; 16:18) We ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those
who labor among you, and are appointed over you in the Lord, and instruct you.
13 (Mk 9:50) Esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.
And be at peace among yourselves.
14 (Ro 14:1; Ac 20:35) Now we exhort you, brothers, warn those who are unruly,
comfort the faint-hearted, support the weak, and be patient toward everyone.
15 (1Pe 3:9; Gal 6:10) See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone.
But always seek to do good to one another and to all.
16 (Php 4:4) Rejoice always.
17 (Eph 6:18; Lk 18:1) Pray without ceasing.
18 (Eph 5:20; Heb 13:15) In everything give thanks,
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 (Eph 4:30; 1Co 14:30; 1Ti 4:14) Do not quench the Spirit.
20 (1Co 11:4; 14:1) Do not despise prophecies.
21 (1Jn 4:1; Lk 12:57; Ac 17:11) Examine all things.
Firmly hold onto what is good.
22 Abstain from all appearances of evil.
23 (Ro 15:33; Heb 4:12) May the very God of peace sanctify you completely.
And I pray to God that your whole spirit, soul,
and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 (1Co 1:9; 1Th 2:12 5:26 Ro 16:16 5:27 Col 4:16 5:28 Ro 16:20; 2Th 3:18)
Faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I command you by the Lord that this letter be
read to all the holy brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
2 Thessalonians 1
Salutation
1 (2Co 1:19) Paul, and Silas, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 (Ro 1:7) Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Judgment at Christ's Coming
3 (2Th 2:13; Ro 1:8) We are bound to thank God always for you, brothers,
as it is fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly,
and the love of every one of you abounds toward each other.
4 (1Th 2:14; 2Co 7:14; 1Th 2:19) So we boast about you in the churches of God
for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations
that you are enduring.
5 (Php 1:28; Lk 20:35) This is evidence that God's judgment, being righteous,
will count you worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are suffering.
6 (Rev 6:10) It is a righteous matter with God to repay with tribulation
those who trouble you,
7 (Rev 14:13) and to give you who are troubled rest with us
when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
8 (Mt 25:41; Gal 4:8) in flaming fire taking vengeance on those
who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 (Mt 25:41; Php 3:19) They shall be punished with eternal destruction,
isolated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10 (Jn 17:10; Isa 49:3) when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified
in His saints and to be marveled at by all those who believe,
because our testimony among you was believed.
11 (1Th 1:3; 2Th 1:5) Therefore we always pray for you that our God
would count you worthy of this calling and with power fulfill
all your good desires and works done by faith,
12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you,
and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2
The Man of Lawlessness
1 (Mk 13:27; Mt 24:31) Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and concerning our gathering together unto Him, we ask you
2 (Mk 13:7; 1Co 1:8) not to let your mind be quickly shaken or be troubled,
neither in spirit nor by word, nor by letter coming as though from us,
as if the day of Christ is already here.
3 (Da 7:25; Jn 17:12) Do not let anyone deceive you in any way.
For that Day will not come unless a falling away comes first,
and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction,
4 (Eze 28:2; 1Co 8:5) who opposes and exalts himself above
all that is called God or is worshipped,
so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself as God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things?
6 Now you know what restrains him that he might be revealed in his time.
7 (Rev 17:5; 17:7) For the mystery of lawlessness is already working. Only
He who is now restraining him will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8 (Isa 11:4; 2Th 2:3) Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord
will consume with the breath of His mouth, and destroy with the brightness
of His presence,
9 (Mt 24:24; Rev 18:23) even him, whose coming is in accordance
with the working of Satan with all power and signs and false wonders,
10 (1Co 1:18) and with all deception of unrighteousness
among those who perish, because they did not receive
the love for the truth that they might be saved.
11 (Ro 1:28; Eze 14:9) Therefore God will send them a strong delusion,
that they should believe the lie:
12 (Ro 1:32; 2:8) that they all might be condemned who did not believe
the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Chosen for Salvation
13 (1Th 1:4; 2Th 1:3) But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you,
beloved brothers of the Lord, because God has from the beginning called you to salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief of the truth.
14 (1Th 2:12; 1:5) To this He called you by our gospel,
to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 (1Co 11:2; 16:13; 2Th 2:2) Therefore, brothers, stand firm
and hold the traditions which you have been taught,
whether by word or by our letter.
16 (Jn 3:16; 1Th 3:11) Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself,
and God our Father, who has loved us and has given us eternal
consolation and good hope through grace,
17 (2Th 3:3; 1Th 3:2) comfort your hearts and establish you in
every good word and work.
2 Thessalonians 3
Pray for Us
1 (1Th 5:25; 1:8) Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord
may quickly spread and be glorified, even as it did with you.
2 (Ro 15:31; Dt 32:20) And pray that we may be delivered from unreasonable
and wicked men, for not all men have faith.
3 (1Co 1:9; Mt 6:13) But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you
and guard you from the evil one.
4 (2Co 2:3; 1Th 4:10) We have confidence in the Lord concerning you,
that you are doing and will do the things which we command you.
5 (1Ch 29:18) May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God
and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Warning Against Idleness
6 (1Co 5:4; Ro 16:17) Now we command you, brothers, in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves
from every brother who walks in idleness and not according
to the tradition that he received from us.
7 (1Co 4:16; 2Th 3:9) For you know how you should follow us.
For we were not idle among you,
8 (Ac 18:3; 1Th 2:9) neither did we eat anyone's bread without paying
for it, but we worked tirelessly and toiled night and day that
we might not be a burden to any of you.
9 (1Co 9:4-14; 2Th 3:7) We did this, not because we did not have that right,
but to make ourselves an example for you to follow.
10 (1Th 4:11; Ge 3:19) For when we were with you,
we commanded you that if any will not work, neither shall he eat.
11 (1Ti 5:13; 1Pe 4:15) For we hear that there are some among
you who live in idleness, mere busybodies, not working at all.
12 (1Th 4:11; Eph 4:28) Now, concerning those who are such,
we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that they quietly
work and eat their own bread.
13 (2Co 4:1; 1Th 4:1) But you, brothers, do not be weary in doing good.
14 (2Th 3:6) If anyone does not obey our word in this letter,
note that man, and do not socialize with him, so that he may be ashamed.
15 (1Th 5:14; Gal 6:1) Still, do not count him as an enemy,
but admonish him as a brother.
Benediction
16 (Ro 15:33; Nu 6:26) Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace
always in every way. The Lord be with you all.
17 (1Co 16:21) I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand,
and this is the distinguishing mark in every letter: So I write.
18 (Ro 16:20) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
2) Our Daily Bread for 25 November 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/11/25/a-thankful-heart
entitled A Thankful Heart
Colossians 4:2-6
Exhortations
2 (Lk 18:1; Eph 6:18) Continue in prayer, and be watchful with thanksgiving,
3 (Eph 6:19-20; Ac 14:27) while praying also for us, that God would open
to us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ,
for which I am also in chains,
4 (Eph 6:20) that I may reveal it clearly, as I ought to speak.
5 (Mk 4:11; Eph 5:15-17) Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside,
wisely using the opportunity.
6 (Mk 9:50; 1Pe 3:15) Let your speech always be with grace,
seasoned with salt, that you may know how you should answer everyone.
Seneca, the great philosopher of ancient Rome (4 B.C. - 65 A.D.),
was once accused by the empress Messalina of adultery.
After the Senate sentenced Seneca to death, the emperor Claudius
instead exiled him to Corsica,
perhaps because he suspected the charge was false.
This reprieve may have shaped Seneca's view of thankfulness
when he wrote: "homicides, tyrants, thieves, adulterers, robbers,
sacrilegious men, and traitors there always will be,
but worse than all these is the crime of ingratitude."
A contemporary of Seneca's, the apostle Paul, may have agreed.
In Romans 1:21, he wrote that one of the triggers for the downward collapse
of humankind was that they refused to give thanks to God.
Writing to the church at Colossae, three times Paul challenged
his fellow believers in Christ to gratitude. He said we should be
"overflowing with thankfulness" (Colossians 2:7). As we let God's peace
"rule in [our] hearts," we're to respond with thankfulness (3:15).
In fact, gratitude ought to characterize our prayers (4:2).
God's great kindnesses to us remind us of one of life's great realities.
He not only deserves our love and worship, He also deserves our thankful
hearts. Everything that's good in life comes from Him (James 1:17).
With all we've been given in Christ, gratitude should be as natural
as breathing. May we respond to God's gracious gifts by expressing
our gratitude to Him.
By: Bill Crowder
Reflect & Pray
What are some of the biggest, most enduring blessings you've received
in life? What everyday blessings have you experienced that are often
easy to forget?
Loving Father, forgive me for the times
I've taken You and Your blessings for granted.
Create in me a thankful heart, so I'll honor and praise You
for all You've done and are doing.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 2 - Saved by Grace - Day 5 - Starting Over
2 Cor 5:17
17 (Jn 3:3; Ro 16:7) Therefore, if any man is in Christ,
he is a new creature. Old things have passed away.
Look, all things have become new.
"The trouble with turning over a new leaf," Gordon sighed,
"is that once you've done it twice, you're right back where
you started." Gordon, in his mid-fifties, had his job
"canceled" by a company wanting to cut back on retirement payments.
Out of work, with few prospects, he said wistfully,
"I wish I had the chance to start over again."
Many of us would echo Gordon's sentiments. Whether we have lost a job,
gone through a divorce, moved to another part of the country, or
experienced some lesser crisis, we often long for the chance to
begin again, fresh, without the shadow of past mistakes following us.
God's word offers just such an opportunity. Anyone who is in Christ,
Paul says in 2 Cor 5:17, is a "new creation". For the Christian, the past
is truly past - "all things are become new". In the forgiveness
and restoration of God's grace we can leave the past behind,
with all its mistakes, and enter into new life.
And the promise is not just for the newly saved. Those of us who
have been Christians for years need to hear the truth of 2 Cor 5:17 again,
for we accumulated some "new mistakes" since we came to Christ. Anyone who
is in Christ is a new creation; the freedom of forgiveness, of
"starting over" is available to all who call upon the name of the Lord.
We cannot every really "start over" simply by establishing New Year's
resolutions or turning over a new leaf. Only God gives us that opportunity;
his grace allows us to clear away the rubble of the past and begin again.
Everything becomes new in God's loving forgiveness.
Application
a) What "resolutions" have I made in an attempt to "start over"
in some area of struggle or failure in my life? Did my resolutions work?
b) What does 2 Cor 5:17 mean for me at this point in my Christian Life?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Genesis 30:43
The man became exceedingly prosperous and had many sheep
and female servants and male servants and camels and donkeys.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are anxious
Phil 4:4-7
4 (Php 3:1; Ro 12:12 Rejoice in the Lord always.
Again I will say, rejoice!
5 (Jas 5:8-9) Let everyone come to know your gentleness.
The Lord is at hand.
6 (Eph 6:18; Mt 6:25-33) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything,
by prayer and supplication with gratitude, make your requests known
to God.
7 (Jn 14:27; Col 3:15; Isa 26:3) And the peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will protect your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Newfoundland & Labrador
Total population 527000
Muslim population (est.) 2065
As of Autumn 2014, St. John's does not have a local CNMM network. Pray with us
for God's people to come together in prayer
and cooperative efforts to reach Muslims with the Good News.
St. John's has one mosque and 2 more musallas , or prayer locations, which
may grow into mosques of their own. The mosque is called Masjid an Noor,
The Mosque of the Light, and mosque historical documents record a trip in 1986
to Saudi Arabia to raise funds for the land purchase and construction costs.
A small number of Muslim families had come prior to 1964, but moved on to
other places after a short time. After this date, a small community began
to remain and grow , reaching about 25 families in the 1980s. A number
of international students also join the community annually
ranging from 25 to 60.
In 2014 the mosque website reports the community is made up of some 200
families and many university students attending Memorial University. A
small number of native Newfoundlanders have also converted to the Islamic
faith, one saying of this religion in Newfoundland, "Islam is a growing face".
With the growth of the community, the current challenge is lack of space
in the mosque, which they are now looking at expanding.
Pray for
- The true Light of life, Jesus Christ, to be revealed to Muslims
in Newfoundland through the word, dreams, visions and answers to prayer.
- Christians to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" regarding
Islam and reaching out in loving witness to Muslims in St. John's.
- for a dedicated, intentional witness to the growing number of Muslim
students on the university, college and trade school campuses.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 25 of the Month
a) Pray that there will be a growing number of people in your city or
community trusting in Christ as Saviour and Lord.
(Acts 2: 41,47b
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized,
and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
47 ... And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
)
b) Pray that those who serve in the justice system will be agents of true
justice for all.
( Prov 11:1
1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is His delight.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to Him to be like Him and to be guarded
against The Evil One.
Pray to the Lord "Loving Father, forgive me for the times
I've taken You and Your blessings for granted.
Create in me a thankful heart, so I'll honor and praise You
for all You've done and are doing."
Pray to the Lord and thank Him that in His salvation, you are a new creation.
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for your prosperity.
Pray to the Lord and Be anxious for nothing, but in everything,
by prayer and supplication with gratitude, make your requests known
to God so you can feel His blessings.
Pray for in Newfoundland and Labrador
- The true Light of life, Jesus Christ, to be revealed to Muslims
in Newfoundland through the word, dreams, visions and answers to prayer.
- Christians to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" regarding
Islam and reaching out in loving witness to Muslims in St. John's.
- for a dedicated, intentional witness to the growing number of Muslim
students on the university, college and trade school campuses.
Pray that there will be a growing number of people in your city or
community trusting in Christ as Saviour and Lord.
Pray that those who serve in the justice system will be agents of true
justice for all.
Pray for leaders, pastors, and Christians in the Comoros Islands
who are rebuilding their lives after being displaced.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.