My Weekly Devotional
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revsdd
Well-Known Member
Because of a very tragic event that happened to good friends of ours (which I prefer not to go into) I have found myself very much in need of peace for the last several days, and very much turning to God (after, I confess, finding myself briefly sufficiently numbed to have struggled for a couple of days to find God.) Faith is, as always, a powerful resource, and if I was having difficulty finding God for a day or two I rejoice in the fact that God found me - and this is just a brief reflection on the peace of God that Paul refers to in Philippians 4:7.
My Faith Thoughts: A Thought For The Week Of January 15, 2018
My Faith Thoughts: A Thought For The Week Of January 15, 2018
blackbelt1961
Well-Known Member
unsafe
Well-Known Member
Sorry to hear of the very tragic event that happened to your good friends revsdd -----but glad you found that peace that only God can give to us
unsafe says ------This is my view on this peace that surpasses all human understanding ------
This peace that surpasses all understanding can be gotten for anyone who wants to pursue it -----But this type of peace comes only to those who want to have a relationship with God -----that is receive God's free gift to be reconciled back to him ------Worldly peace will never give a peace beyond all understanding -----I personally believe God is in pursuit of all His creation every day but not everyone is willing to pay attention to the prompts that God gives -----So Grace ---who is Jesus --- is always available to us -----but we have to respond with a positive response to His Grace ---and that positive response is by Faith -----So by Grace the peace that surpasses all understanding is in place for us already----and by our Faith we receive that peace that Grace had made available -------
unsafe says ------This is from Got Questions -----I only posted the first paragraph ----read all --
What is the peace that passes all understanding?
Question: "What is the peace that passes all understanding?"
Answer: In Philippians 4:7 we have a wonderful promise: “The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
It is important to note the context of this promise, because that’s where we find the condition: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (verse 6). God’s peace is promised to guard those who pray—with thanksgiving—about everything. This peace will transcend our ability to understand it.
unsafe says ----and posted article
This peace comes with a price -----The right kind of Grace which comes through The right kind of Faith --------that is Saving Grace which comes through Saving Faith will make supernatural peace available to us ----
God's Grace is provided in different ways -----Remember Grace is a person not a thing ------
The Different Kinds of Grace
The Different Kinds of Grace | Copy Jesus
November 20, 2013
God is loving, kind and merciful with us. As I’ve said before, His grace is enormous.
I’m not sure it is even humanly possible for us to completely understand just how BIG and DEEP and WIDE the grace that God offers us really is.
However, I think it is important that we try because it helps us keep things in the right perspective.
A Few of the Different Types of Grace
To help us process the magnitude of His grace, I want to point out the varying kinds of grace He pours out on us daily.
This list is not comprehensive by any means, but it should help to get you thinking and appreciating God’s grace.
1. Common Grace
God loves everyone. So, there is a common grace that He gives all people whether they acknowledge Him or not. Matthew 5:45 tells us, “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
2. Saving Grace
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Eph 2:8) By His saving grace, God has paid the ransom for everyone who will receive His gift of salvation. This alone is overwhelming.
3. Sanctifying Grace
There is power in God’s grace and immediately after we are saved, it goes to work to purify or sanctify us. You play a part in your purification through obedience, but ultimately you have to count on His sanctifying grace and know that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6).
4. Provisional Grace
Through His provisional grace, God provides for all our needs. As James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” When you get a better job or an unexpected gift, count it as grace from God.
5. Miraculous Grace
Look at what was happening in the early church. “Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). Through His grace, God still does miraculous things every day. He doesn’t have to do this. He does it because He is full of grace.
6. Serving Grace
Every believer is freely given spiritual gifts to serve others and bolster their faith. 1 Peter 4:10 tells us, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” We each receive serving grace.
7. Sustaining Grace
Finally, in those times of trial and suffering, Jesus says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). And the Bible says, “Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). God sustains us.
God’s Grace Abounds in Many Different Ways
God gives us unmerited favor in so many different forms. His grace and mercy are limitless.
I pray that you will know that “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Cor 9:8).
unsafe says
You will only get this peace beyond all understanding through Saving Grace which comes through Faith which gives you access to the other Graces provided -------
Sanctifying Grace
Provisional Grace
Miraculous Grace
Serving Grace
Sustaining Grace
unsafe says ----
Common Grace that God gives to all people whether they acknowledge Him or not -----nor intellectual Faith which is a non producing Faith will not give us supernatural peace -----
unsafe says and posted scripture -----This supernatural peace is not automatically received by us ----We have to stay in close relationship with God and apply His word by practicing it when the situation arises to make us anxious --- stressed or worried -----This scripture talks about this supernatural peace and how to obtain it ------
Philippians 4 (AMP)
Think of Excellence
4 Therefore, my fellow believers, whom I love and long for, my delight and crown [my wreath of victory], in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree and to work in harmony in the Lord.
3 Indeed, I ask you too, my true companion, to help these women [to keep on cooperating], for they have shared my struggle in the [cause of the] gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
8 Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
9 The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.
unsafe says -----God's supernatural peace is available to all Believers ----it is us to us to manifest it in our daily lives and maintain it -----it takes work on our part -----God did His part ---and we have our part -----
---------------------------
unsafe says ------This is my view on this peace that surpasses all human understanding ------
This peace that surpasses all understanding can be gotten for anyone who wants to pursue it -----But this type of peace comes only to those who want to have a relationship with God -----that is receive God's free gift to be reconciled back to him ------Worldly peace will never give a peace beyond all understanding -----I personally believe God is in pursuit of all His creation every day but not everyone is willing to pay attention to the prompts that God gives -----So Grace ---who is Jesus --- is always available to us -----but we have to respond with a positive response to His Grace ---and that positive response is by Faith -----So by Grace the peace that surpasses all understanding is in place for us already----and by our Faith we receive that peace that Grace had made available -------
unsafe says ------This is from Got Questions -----I only posted the first paragraph ----read all --
What is the peace that passes all understanding?
Question: "What is the peace that passes all understanding?"
Answer: In Philippians 4:7 we have a wonderful promise: “The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
It is important to note the context of this promise, because that’s where we find the condition: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (verse 6). God’s peace is promised to guard those who pray—with thanksgiving—about everything. This peace will transcend our ability to understand it.
unsafe says ----and posted article
This peace comes with a price -----The right kind of Grace which comes through The right kind of Faith --------that is Saving Grace which comes through Saving Faith will make supernatural peace available to us ----
God's Grace is provided in different ways -----Remember Grace is a person not a thing ------
The Different Kinds of Grace
The Different Kinds of Grace | Copy Jesus
November 20, 2013
God is loving, kind and merciful with us. As I’ve said before, His grace is enormous.
I’m not sure it is even humanly possible for us to completely understand just how BIG and DEEP and WIDE the grace that God offers us really is.
However, I think it is important that we try because it helps us keep things in the right perspective.
A Few of the Different Types of Grace
To help us process the magnitude of His grace, I want to point out the varying kinds of grace He pours out on us daily.
This list is not comprehensive by any means, but it should help to get you thinking and appreciating God’s grace.
1. Common Grace
God loves everyone. So, there is a common grace that He gives all people whether they acknowledge Him or not. Matthew 5:45 tells us, “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
2. Saving Grace
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Eph 2:8) By His saving grace, God has paid the ransom for everyone who will receive His gift of salvation. This alone is overwhelming.
3. Sanctifying Grace
There is power in God’s grace and immediately after we are saved, it goes to work to purify or sanctify us. You play a part in your purification through obedience, but ultimately you have to count on His sanctifying grace and know that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6).
4. Provisional Grace
Through His provisional grace, God provides for all our needs. As James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” When you get a better job or an unexpected gift, count it as grace from God.
5. Miraculous Grace
Look at what was happening in the early church. “Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). Through His grace, God still does miraculous things every day. He doesn’t have to do this. He does it because He is full of grace.
6. Serving Grace
Every believer is freely given spiritual gifts to serve others and bolster their faith. 1 Peter 4:10 tells us, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” We each receive serving grace.
7. Sustaining Grace
Finally, in those times of trial and suffering, Jesus says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). And the Bible says, “Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). God sustains us.
God’s Grace Abounds in Many Different Ways
God gives us unmerited favor in so many different forms. His grace and mercy are limitless.
I pray that you will know that “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Cor 9:8).
unsafe says
You will only get this peace beyond all understanding through Saving Grace which comes through Faith which gives you access to the other Graces provided -------
Sanctifying Grace
Provisional Grace
Miraculous Grace
Serving Grace
Sustaining Grace
unsafe says ----
Common Grace that God gives to all people whether they acknowledge Him or not -----nor intellectual Faith which is a non producing Faith will not give us supernatural peace -----
unsafe says and posted scripture -----This supernatural peace is not automatically received by us ----We have to stay in close relationship with God and apply His word by practicing it when the situation arises to make us anxious --- stressed or worried -----This scripture talks about this supernatural peace and how to obtain it ------
Philippians 4 (AMP)
Think of Excellence
4 Therefore, my fellow believers, whom I love and long for, my delight and crown [my wreath of victory], in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree and to work in harmony in the Lord.
3 Indeed, I ask you too, my true companion, to help these women [to keep on cooperating], for they have shared my struggle in the [cause of the] gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
8 Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
9 The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.
unsafe says -----God's supernatural peace is available to all Believers ----it is us to us to manifest it in our daily lives and maintain it -----it takes work on our part -----God did His part ---and we have our part -----
revsdd
Well-Known Member
Thank you for your thoughts, unsafe.
Thank you also for sharing your thoughts and beliefs with us. I may not always agree with you, but I appreciate your openness and your sense of conviction.
crazyheart
Rest In Peace: tomorrow,tomorrow
Peace be with you and all those involved, Steven.
unsafe
Well-Known Member
revsdd
Thanks for your reply -----There are many who may not agree with me and I am not here to have people do so ------we all have our own take on what The Bible is about and what it says to us -----We will all only know the real Truth when we all bow before God in the spiritual realm -
I just give my view as do all who post on this sight ------for me it is not about who is right and wrong it is all about what we believe ----are the words in the Bible True or False -----there is no inbetween when it comes to belief in my view -----We either believe God's word or we don't -----to believe both ways is confusion in my opinion---- James called it double mindedness which causes instability -----
Jesus said it best -------both Matthew and Luke say the same thing in different ways but both mean the same thing ----
Matthew 12:30 -----
AMP
He who is not with Me [once and for all on My side] is against Me; and he who does not [unequivocally] gather with Me scatters.
Luke 11:23 (MSG) "This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse.
unsafe says ----
God is always on our side ----it is us who are not always on His side --------
Thanks for your reply -----There are many who may not agree with me and I am not here to have people do so ------we all have our own take on what The Bible is about and what it says to us -----We will all only know the real Truth when we all bow before God in the spiritual realm -
I just give my view as do all who post on this sight ------for me it is not about who is right and wrong it is all about what we believe ----are the words in the Bible True or False -----there is no inbetween when it comes to belief in my view -----We either believe God's word or we don't -----to believe both ways is confusion in my opinion---- James called it double mindedness which causes instability -----
Jesus said it best -------both Matthew and Luke say the same thing in different ways but both mean the same thing ----
Matthew 12:30 -----
AMP
He who is not with Me [once and for all on My side] is against Me; and he who does not [unequivocally] gather with Me scatters.
Luke 11:23 (MSG) "This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse.
unsafe says ----
God is always on our side ----it is us who are not always on His side --------
revsdd
Well-Known Member
I have a few days of study leave and I'm not preaching today, but I did manage to write this, and wanted to share this thought for the past week before moving on to next week! It's a reflection on the love of God, and Ephesians 3:17b-18.
My Faith Thoughts: A Thought For The Week Of January 22, 2018
My Faith Thoughts: A Thought For The Week Of January 22, 2018
Are there shallow and fascist kinds of love for thinly intended logic? Dreamy mediums ...
airclean33
Well-Known Member
--Airclean--Post--
This Rev sdd, one of the best . I have read from you. Very close to the feel of Born agains. I have a Girl and a Boy there is no deferens in feelings ,I Love them both. My children are grown now , with children of there own. Some of my Grand children ",Have also grown and also have children ". This is The Love of GOD",As a Father for his child", He Gave His only Child" for us who had treat Him" like garbage . Who would kill His beautiful animal"s ".Then turn an we would kill", one another". I am glad that man is (dead",) and can hardly believe", He "changed me into HIS SON". To GOD Be The Glory. airclean33-Gord.
revsdd
Well-Known Member
Today is Groundhog Day. Which got me thinking about the movie. Which got me thinking about Romans 7:19 - and reflecting on my own life to be honest. The end result was this:
My Faith Thoughts: A Thought For The Week Of January 29, 2018
My Faith Thoughts: A Thought For The Week Of January 29, 2018
revsdd
Well-Known Member
Wasn't preaching today so held off writing this. The concept of "angels" - and how Christians seem to naturally think of them - has always challenged me. A few thoughts:
My Faith Thoughts: A Thought For The Week Of February 5, 2018
My Faith Thoughts: A Thought For The Week Of February 5, 2018
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
That seems like a more powerful and meaningful understanding of angels and their role than we usually hear. I have often wondered why Christians adopted the image of Eros/Cupid for angels. It doesn't tally with any description of them I can recall from Biblical stories. The accounts in the Bible (and in Islam as well) often seem more majestic or awesome than just "people with wings".
airclean33
Well-Known Member
Hi Revsdd,
This is Quite a Post. There is very much in it, many of your thoughts on Gods Word. I really would like to say more now. But have to be away soon" , possibly another time.
Angels, to me, appear as flighty creatures within the psyche that is said to be an abstract ... by doctoring as black or white no twilight zone allowed as interim ... now ponder the mind as metaphysical, or theoretical in nature ... something to be constructed in real nature as a funny entity that would allow individuals some collective wisdom that can improve with socialization!
Can you conjure a reason some positive powers would drive wedges to separate emotions into factions to disrupt the "for the people" aspect? Thus the ironic fringe as satirical (omega) edge ... redacted wedge or the carpenters axis ... thus the image of an angel carved into a tree as a personal totem ... if we are aware of this some positive powers would say we are suffering negative thoughts to their desires ... neural peace doe not exist without the accrued form ... essential gathering? That's the spirit ... that secret touch ... often arousing ... as holy Eros ... internalized heroes? Some heroine required as requisite ... blows some minds as the IT is extracted ... so as to make something from nothing ... that space closing between two separate bodies?
How do we make this rational? Illumination and education on matters said to be insubstantially required by faith ... but not a real virtue in reality of how god/nothing/ but love overwhelms intelligence?
These critters seem to allow continuance of elusive cares in a world that appears to me most stimulated by conflict, struggle and counter intelligence drive ... that is the desire to not know the onus is on us as god has receded ... in recessive state?
Would education increase the rates of intercourse of more stable vales? Tis the devil-ish Job working on this against the word of those intimates to what's wrong with the working BS ... and god is the word ... often poorly understood as just irony to instigate interest and curiosity .. some lack can be expected if life is too Kush-like ...
One must drink a bit of the disturbing essence ... the pain of the alternate? The whine and other bread fruit (as stuff 've mind)?
Always some that take the protocol (doctrine) that it is "not" necessary ... like painful mist aches ... that foggy aria ... vespers?
Realize that in reality the powers won't allow you to go into wide ranging intelligence ... could cause smears ... and thus the niche is spurred towards absolute unknowing ... and thus that Lady dressed in the dark hood ... a beauty 've rest from this nonsense we call wonderful reality? Tis extraction for the use of a few and thus not pragmatic utility to the masses of humanity ... of course if they don't know ...
Some denial and elimination may be required as introduced by the Kubler-Ross curve ... and diversionary shape .. bowls me over ...
Is the dark lady forced on some people to quite them ... Madame Guillotine as edge person ... thus life is shaved down ...
Unconscious control ...
Can you conjure a reason some positive powers would drive wedges to separate emotions into factions to disrupt the "for the people" aspect? Thus the ironic fringe as satirical (omega) edge ... redacted wedge or the carpenters axis ... thus the image of an angel carved into a tree as a personal totem ... if we are aware of this some positive powers would say we are suffering negative thoughts to their desires ... neural peace doe not exist without the accrued form ... essential gathering? That's the spirit ... that secret touch ... often arousing ... as holy Eros ... internalized heroes? Some heroine required as requisite ... blows some minds as the IT is extracted ... so as to make something from nothing ... that space closing between two separate bodies?
How do we make this rational? Illumination and education on matters said to be insubstantially required by faith ... but not a real virtue in reality of how god/nothing/ but love overwhelms intelligence?
These critters seem to allow continuance of elusive cares in a world that appears to me most stimulated by conflict, struggle and counter intelligence drive ... that is the desire to not know the onus is on us as god has receded ... in recessive state?
Would education increase the rates of intercourse of more stable vales? Tis the devil-ish Job working on this against the word of those intimates to what's wrong with the working BS ... and god is the word ... often poorly understood as just irony to instigate interest and curiosity .. some lack can be expected if life is too Kush-like ...
One must drink a bit of the disturbing essence ... the pain of the alternate? The whine and other bread fruit (as stuff 've mind)?
Always some that take the protocol (doctrine) that it is "not" necessary ... like painful mist aches ... that foggy aria ... vespers?
Realize that in reality the powers won't allow you to go into wide ranging intelligence ... could cause smears ... and thus the niche is spurred towards absolute unknowing ... and thus that Lady dressed in the dark hood ... a beauty 've rest from this nonsense we call wonderful reality? Tis extraction for the use of a few and thus not pragmatic utility to the masses of humanity ... of course if they don't know ...
Some denial and elimination may be required as introduced by the Kubler-Ross curve ... and diversionary shape .. bowls me over ...
Is the dark lady forced on some people to quite them ... Madame Guillotine as edge person ... thus life is shaved down ...
Unconscious control ...
Last edited:
revsdd
Well-Known Member
How could one not be thinking of the terrible school shooting in Florida this week. I've seen a lot of Christians who have lamented God's absence from schools, and suggested that as a reason for the shooting. The idea that God is ever absent is hogwash, of course. Here's my thinking.
My Faith Thoughts: A Thought For The Week Of February 12, 2018
My Faith Thoughts: A Thought For The Week Of February 12, 2018
airclean33
Well-Known Member
Amen Revsdd---