RE: Edification of Singles (Full Version)

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Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (4/30/2008 11:32:45 AM)

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. - James 5:16


I read this verse and I recalled some conversations going on here in singles.


Confess ... to each other

pray for each other


It doesn't mention passing judgment.

To me, I see it as us being "real" with each other ... to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Not necessarily in an online forum, but in real life. Sharing our struggles. From my personal experience, my struggles are a result of sin in my heart. What comes to mind is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, it does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.


How many of our struggles can we attribute to not following this advice?

Me? The root of every single struggle can be pinpointed right back to this verse.


We have been called to love one another, and to pray for one another.

No more.

No less.



John_O -> RE: Edification of Singles (4/30/2008 4:05:05 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Focusing
We have been called to love one another, and to pray for one another.

No more.

No less.


(See 1 Cor 5:1-13. However this is not the proper thread for that discussion)



Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (4/30/2008 4:25:47 PM)

No ... but feel free to start one. We can always use more discussion of Scripture.



John_O -> RE: Edification of Singles (4/30/2008 4:34:22 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Focusing

No ... but feel free to start one. We can always use more discussion of Scripture.


The closest we could come here is the "real thread". A straight discussion of scripture would be moved as it is not specifically singles related



Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (4/30/2008 4:52:14 PM)

Let's take it on over there ... tweak it a bit if need be so it's still "singles" minded. [:)]

I do believe allowing love (and hence prayer) to pour through us is the very least we can do for others. And sometimes it's all we can do ... take it to Jesus and lay it at His feet.

I also believe we can learn from each other.



(or we can take it to another forum ...)


I'm going to be swamped any minute with these filings, but if you have time ... I think it's worth further discussion.



shemaromans -> RE: Edification of Singles (5/1/2008 6:02:48 PM)

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." --Romans 5:1-5


I really needed to read and remember this today.



Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (5/2/2008 1:07:40 PM)

This came in a devotion, and I thought I would share ...

"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also."
2 Timothy 1:5

It speaks of how our faith affects others, here's a small excerpt ...

Through the faith of two grandparents, I learned that God doesn't need dynamic preaching to convey His love. Nor does he need people with classy cars, big houses or fancy vacation plans to make an impression. God can change a life, and a generation of lives, using the gentle, consistent, sincere lives of people who love and serve Him.

The faith of a grandmother ... the faith of a grandfather .... it changed my husband's life. It changed my life. And it is changing our children's lives. Never underestimate the power of faith to make an impact over generations.



Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (5/7/2008 7:58:20 AM)

"For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken," says the LORD who has compassion on you. - Isaiah 54:10



Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (5/8/2008 10:58:07 PM)

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col 3:1



Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (5/14/2008 8:12:30 AM)

So let's come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let's keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water. - Hebrews 10:22



John_O -> RE: Edification of Singles (5/14/2008 9:00:16 AM)

Thanks Sam.

I appreciate you posting these.



Grace-N-Mercy -> RE: Edification of Singles (5/14/2008 9:17:02 AM)

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ -- to the glory and praise of God. (Phil. 1:9-11)

This is my new life-verse.



Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (5/14/2008 2:39:48 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: John_O

Thanks Sam.

I appreciate you posting these.

Thank you John. [:)]



Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (5/19/2008 8:00:21 AM)

"Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask; because we obey his commands and do what pleases him" - 1 John 3:21-22.

From a devotion this morning: You and I can have this confidence. In fact, as obedient children of God, we should be so confident in Him that we expect good things like answered prayer, a healed relationship, the home coming of a wayward child, forgiveness of sins--whatever we ask.


Yes! We should pray expectantly.



Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (5/21/2008 8:05:26 AM)

This morning I read Psalm 65. This verse especially stood out

You have crowned the year with Your bounty, and Your paths drip with fatness.
Psalm 65:11


If you go back and read the entire Psalm, this sums it up. God's hand is everywhere, in everything.

A friend says "We get what we're looking for." So, if God's hand is everywhere ... are we seeing It? Are we noticing what He has done? Are we appreciating it?

Do we look for the best in others? He created each one of us. Are we looking for Him as we encounter others throughout the day? Point out the beauty around us?

Yes, we have the *grumblers* ... but each time we point out a positive is an opportunity to replace a negative.

We have the ability to let His light shine forth from us ... and He has given us so many ways in which to do it.

God is awesome!!



Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (5/26/2008 10:12:53 AM)

As smoke is driven away,
So drive them away;
As wax melts before the fire,
So let the wicked perish before God.
Psalm 68:2



Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (6/10/2008 11:54:33 AM)

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. - Psalm 18:2

It is so comforting to know that I can run to God whenever I need refuge or guidance in my life. He is always there. He will never let me down.



John_O -> RE: Edification of Singles (6/10/2008 12:54:52 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Focusing

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. - Psalm 18:2

It is so comforting to know that I can run to God whenever I need refuge or guidance in my life. He is always there. He will never let me down.


Amen and Amen!



shemaromans -> RE: Edification of Singles (6/16/2008 4:11:10 PM)

Psalm 103

I love how this Psalm begins with praise, just like our prayers and our daily thoughts should.


The BibleGateway web site highlights verse 13 from this Psalm as the verse of the day:
"As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him"

The world usually approaches the word fear with negative connotations. Those connotations disappear with God, and he replaces them with a beautiful, liberating perspective on the word fear. We fear him because we know him--his character, his expectations, his sacrifice. We fear him (and praise him) out of reverent, grateful hearts. We love him because he loved us first.

It's humbling to know that no matter how selfish and sinful we can be, he'll still loves us and showers us with mercy. What a motivation to strive to please him!



Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (6/27/2008 8:13:21 AM)

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. - James 3:13

Of course, all of James 3 is wonderful for teaching, but I felt this verse was very edifying.



"show by ... deeds"

We observe how others conduct themselves, and others observe how we conduct ourselves as believers ... and what better way to show the love of Christ than through our deeds, the way we choose to live our lives.



I also love "gentleness of wisdom".

Being gentle means you have the power to do something, but just because you can doesn't mean you necessarily should.

Example: when the munchkin does something I don't approve of, I have choices to make. I can lecture him. I can ground him. I can do both.

Or, although I have the "power" to do these things, I can use wisdom and gentleness and take the opportunity to teach him why his choices were wrong, what would have been a better choice to have made, point to the results each choice leads to.



We have this same ability throughout our days in many different situations ... we have the choice to act or react in a worldly manner or we can choose to be guided by the Holy Spirit and exhibit a gentle wisdom.



shemaromans -> RE: Edification of Singles (6/27/2008 11:52:14 AM)

quote:

We have this same ability throughout our days in many different situations ... we have the choice to act or react in a worldly manner or we can choose to be guided by the Holy Spirit and exhibit a gentle wisdom.

Too true. Thank you for that thought.


The other day, the following verse popped into my head. I think it aligns well with the one that you quoted from James.

Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.



Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (6/27/2008 12:12:55 PM)

Amen!

Yes, our choice of words ... or our choice to remain silent ... is a reflection of Christ working in us and through us.


Thank you. [:)]



Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (7/2/2008 11:13:24 AM)

The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face -- even Jacob. Selah.

Psalm 24:1-6


Selah ... to pause everything for a moment and take some time to think about what you have just heard or experienced ...

This is the generation of those who seek Him


We are still seeking Him. Every generation will continue to seek Him until He comes again.

What are we doing to seek Him?

Reading the Word?

Spending quiet time listening for Him?


Father, there are times I get so drawn into the busyness of life, things that are completely out of my control take my focus off You. Please help me every day to continue placing my focus on You. To seek You above all else. Amen.



joy2give2u -> RE: Edification of Singles (7/2/2008 12:00:35 PM)

quote:

Father, there are times I get so drawn into the busyness of life, things that are completely out of my control take my focus off You. Please help me every day to continue placing my focus on You. To seek You above all else. Amen.
Amen Lord ............Father teach us to seek you in new ways. Though you do not change there is so much about you we do not know or understand. You so great, so large, so much more then we can comprehend............We know you through the generations past Lord........We know you well from what you have revealed to them.......but take us further Lord........show us more of you.......reveal to us more of your essence so that we may see your face even more clearly then our parents or their parents did....

Father you sent your Son to make your kingdom come........for things on earth to be done as they are in heaven...........Lord show us your kingdom.......draw us home again ........

Lord I am praying and such excitement is rising up within me.........such excitement and passion........

My father loved you so much Lord and at first he saw the promise land through your eyes but being a new christian he listened to others and began to see the giants instead of the grapes.........

I know you were with him as he wondered the desert.......I know you blessed him and drew him to you........and I know Lord that now is the time...........for not just me but all of us......to take the promise land..........Lord I know that now is the time and this is the generation to leave the desert and begin to dwell in the promise land..........and that is you isn't it Lord Jesus..........You are the promise land..

Lord help us to each day step more and more into you.......not beside you or behind you but into you Lord.........To step into your very presences........your very essence......into you.

Thank you Father........that our promise is dwelling in you.



Focusing -> RE: Edification of Singles (7/10/2008 6:51:24 PM)

Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.

Isaiah 35:3



Have you ever experienced the positive shift in the energy level of a room when someone speaks out something uplifting and encouraging during a time when everyone is exhausted?

[:)]



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