JUNE 2005
June 1, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
Philippians 2:1-22, NIV
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
Too many efforts for good are given up too soon. Victory in the fight for righteousness depends on the power of continuance.
Halford Luccock
Pray together with us
O God–night is drawing nigh,
For all that has been–
Thanks!
For all that shall be–
Yes!
Dag Hammarskjold
June 2, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:1, NIV
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
I want to know one thing—the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God. I have it; here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be a man of one book.
John Wesley
Pray together with us
Dear Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve You as You deserve;
To give and not to count the cost;
To fight and not to heed the wounds;
To toil and not to seek reward,
Save that of knowing that I do your will, O God.
St. Ignatius Loyola
June 3, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
Offer yourselves to the ways of God and to the freedom that never quits.
Romans 6:16, TM
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
The essential part of Christian holiness lies in giving your heart wholly to God.
John Wesley
Pray together with us
Give us
a pure heart that we may see Thee,
a humble heart that we may hear Thee,
a heart of love that we may serve Thee,
a heart of faith that we may live for Thee.
Dag Hammerarskjold
June 6, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
What you say goes, God,
and stays, as permanent as the heavens.
Your truth never goes out of fashion;
it’s as up-to-date as the earth when the sun comes up.
Your Word and truth are dependable as ever;
that’s what you ordered—you set the earth going.
Psalm 119:89-91, TM
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
The Spirit of God unearths the spirit of self-vindication; He makes us sensitive to things we never thought of before.
Oswald Chambers
Pray together with us
Lord, grant that above all else I may not do what is convenient, or even what seems appropriate, but help me to seek and do Your will. Amen
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
June 7, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
1 Timothy 4:16, NIV
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
Our gifts and talents should be turned over to God. They should be recognized for what they are, God’s loan to us, and should never be considered in any sense our own, for we have no more right to claim credit for special abilities than for blue eyes or strong muscles.
A. W. Tozer
Pray together with us
Savior and Sustainer—this day please bring my scattered thoughts, my feeble works of ministry, and my fevered activities to a point of holy focus in your will and purpose for this place and for my service to you. Amen.
Neil B Wiseman
June 8, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.
1 Peter 3:15, TM
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.
Henry Ward Beecher
Pray together with us
With penitence for rumblings, failures, ignorances, and sins;
with thanksgiving for directions, successes, knowledge and rightness,
We lay bare all that we are to Thy love and to Thy understanding,
O God our Father.
Howard Thurman
June 9, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
You take over. I'm about to die, my life an offering on God's altar. This is the only race worth running. I've run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that's left now is the shouting—God's applause! Depend on it, he's an honest judge. He'll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.
2 Timothy 4:6-8, TM
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.
William James
Pray together with us
O Lord, support us all the day long,
until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes,
and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over,
and our work is done.
Then in your mercy grant us a safe lodging,
and a holy rest, and peace at the last.
John Henry Newman
June 10, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28, NIV
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
The Spirit is the lifeblood of the church, the vivifying force that makes its very existence possible. Without the Spirit the church is either an empty lifeless shell or a horrific monstrosity animated by some spirit other than the Spirit of the risen Jesus.
Philip D. Kenneson
Pray together with us
Give me grace, O God, to pray now with pure and sincere desire for all those with whom I have to do this day. Let me remember now my friends with love and my enemies with forgiveness, entrusting them all, as I now entrust my own soul and body, to Thy protecting care, through Jesus Christ, Amen.
John Baillie
June 13, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:3-6, NIV
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
The longer I live, the larger allowances I make for human infirmities.
John Wesley
Pray together with us
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land:
I am weak but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy hand
And bread of heaven feed me
Till I want no more. Amen.
William Williams
June 14, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me.
Matthew 18:4-5, TM
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
The best way to show that a stick is crooked is not to argue about it or to spend time denouncing it, but to lay a straight stick alongside it.
D. L. Moody
Pray together with us
O Lord my God, when the storm is loud, and the night is dark, and the soul is sad, and the heart oppressed, then, as a weary traveler, may I look to you; and beholding the light of your love, may it bear me on, until I learn to sing your song in the night.
George Dawson
June 15, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14, NIV
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them—every day begin the task anew.
Saint Francis De Sales
Pray together with us
Father—let me today embark on no understanding that is not in line with your will for my life, nor shrink from any sacrifice which your will may demand. Suggest, direct, control every movement of my mind: for my Lord’s sake.
John Baillie
June 16, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Acts 16:25, NIV
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
It does not take great men to do great things; it only takes consecrated men.
Phillips Brooks
Pray together with us
Let me know you, O Lord, who knows me; let me know you as I am known. Enter into my soul and fit it for your use so that you may have it and hold it without spot or wrinkle. This is my hope. Amen.
St. Augustine
June 17, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.
Philippians 4:8, TM
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
Love cannot remain by itself—it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action and that action is service.
Mother Teresa
Pray together with us
Look into the deep places of my soul, Lord Jesus,
Cleans me from lust for status and love of power.
Make my service to Your Church blameless and productive.
Shape my motives and actions into authentic Christ-likeness.
Make me a lovable servant and a pleasing hired hand for You.
I want the love of Christ to radiate through my life. Amen.
Neil B. Wiseman
June 20, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7, NIV
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
You are an enemy to yourself; you throw away your own blessing, if you neglect to keep the Sabbath day holy.”
John Wesley
Pray together with us –
Lord of the Church
So that our leadership team may replicate Your way of serving,
break out hearts with the needs around us,
grant us joy in serving with others,
teach us to value gifts others bring to our church and team
and honor us with a healthy church. Amen.
Neil B. Wiseman
June 21, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
You’re blessed when you stay on course,
walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You’re blessed when you follow his directions,
doing your best to find him.
That’s right—you don’t go off on your own;
you walk straight along the road he set.
Psalm 119:1-3, TM
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
The man who is proud of anything he thinks he has reached, has not reached it.
George Macdonald
Pray together with us
Builder and Sustainer of Your Church,
Empower us to do your work
Open our wills to understand Your purpose for this place.
Show us how to more fully love our fellow workers,
Put the eternal in our steps and the applause of heaven in our hearts.
Amen.
Neil B. Wiseman
June 22, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:1, NIV
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
One proud, surly, lordly word, one needless contention, one covetous action may cut the throat of many a sermon, and blast the fruit of all that you have been doing.
Richard Baxter
Pray together with us
Eternal Owner of the Church
Give us perspective,
Guide us into truth,
Enable us to achieve,
Save us from meaningless activity and empty talk. Amen.
Neil B. Wiseman
June 23, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2, NIV
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
How good it would be if we could learn that God is easy to live with, the sum of all patience, the essence of kindly good will!
A. W. Tozer
Pray together with us
Lord of the Church, empower us to
see past myths that blind us,
overlook differences that divide us,
Suspect bad ideas that sandpaper us,
intercede for those who lead us,
seek the righteousness that You promised us
so that we may lovingly win those who have lost their way. Amen.
Neil B. Wiseman
June 24, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4, NIV
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
We can be thankful always because, in reality, our reason for gratitude is God himself and not things.
Bertha Munro
Pray together with us
King of My Commitments,
today I hunger for more of You.
I seek you with my whole self–emotions, mind, will, and body,
In the midst of these confusing times, clarify my vision, strengthen my stamina,
and show me the way everlasting. Amen.
Neil B. Wiseman
June 27, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
For I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:5, NIV
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
Just as a hospital collects the sick under one roof and labels them as such, the church collects sinners. Many of the people outside the hospital are every bit as sick as the ones inside, but their illnesses are either undiagnosed or disguised. It’s similar with sinners outside the church.
Eugene Peterson
Pray together with us
Father:
For the power Thou hast given me to lay hold of things unseen:
For the strong sense I have that this is not my home:
For my restless heart which nothing finite can satisfy:
I give Thee thanks, O God.
For the invasion of my soul by Thy Holy Spirit:
For all human love and goodness that speak to me of Thee:
For the fullness of Thy glory outpoured in Jesus Christ:
I give Thee thanks, O God.
John Baillie
June 28, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
I call to God;
God will help me.
At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh
deep sighs—he hears, he rescues.
My life is well and whole, secure
in the middle of danger
Even while thousands
are lined up against me.
God hears it all, and from his judge’s bench puts them in their place.
Psalm 55:16-19, TM
Wisdom from fellow
Prayer is the genuine starting point for true activism.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Pray together with us
I am so weak, dear Lord,
I cannot stand one moment without thee!
But oh! The tenderness of Thine enfolding.
And oh! The faithfulness of Thine upholding.
And oh! The strength of Thy right hand!
That strength is enough for me!
Francis Havergal
June 29, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people
Ephesians 5:3, NIV
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
Not only did Wesley beg on behalf of the poor, he preached to them and found ways to be with them. His journal is filled with entries that describe his experiences of visiting the poor, the prisoner, the sorrowing, and the suffering. Had he ignored God’s urging to ministry with the poor he would have missed a large segment of the population that turned to Christ through the Methodist movement.
Rueben P. Job
Pray together with us
Our Father, we pray You anew, form us and make us vessels to Your honor. Keep us from struggling against You. We thank You that we can leave it all to You—our Potter and our Father!
Corrie ten Boom
June 30, 2005
Good morning, ministry partner . . .
Be encouraged from the Word
May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all.
Romans 15:5, TM
Wisdom from fellow pilgrims
There is a reckless, almost fierce, faith that laughs in the teeth of circumstance and shouts, like Paul in the storm, “I believe God,” and affirms, though a legion of demons mock, “Let God be true but every man a liar.”
Vance Havner
Pray together with us
Lord, I want to be as clean as the blood of Christ can make a redeemed sinner.
Anonymous
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