DAILY BIBLE VERSES AND PRAYER THOUGHTS

MONDAY - VERSES: Matthew 24:11-13; Revelation 2:4	PRAYER THOUGHT: Savior and lover of my soul, Help me to continue to return that love to you and not be one of those whose love grows cold.

TUESDAY - VERSES: Luke 11:42	PRAYER THOUGHT: Great God and Judge of mankind, help me not to focus so much on the minutia that I overlook the love I should have.

WEDNESDAY - VERSES: John 13:34-35	PRAYER THOUGHT: Loving Heavenly Father, Help me to love others and thereby show that I am one of Your son's disciples.

THURSDAY - VERSES: John 17:24-26; Romans 5:5	PRAYER THOUGHT: Righteous Father, continue to fulfill the prayer of Your dear Son and allow Your love that You loved Him with to be in us also, so that He may live in us as well.

FRIDAY - VERSES: Romans 13:8-10	PRAYER THOUGHT: Benevolent King, help us as good citizens of Your kingdom to fulfill Your law through the love that we have for our neighbors.

SATURDAY - VERSES: Revelation 2:18-23 PRAYER THOUGHT: Just and Fair Lawgiver, keep us from using love as an excuse for false teaching, but allow our love to bring us and others to Your truth.

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ASSIGNMENTS

1. Once a day read over this material and read or sing the songs.

2. Keep the scripture where you will see it often each day.

3. Think of areas of your life where you have not done all your things in love, and vow to do better.

4. Pray for God's help to have the desire to be like Christ and be willing to show love to the unlovable, and under difficult circumstances.

5. Write down how you were able to show love in a situation that you normally wouldn't have.

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John A. Huffman, Jr., tells the story of Florence Nightingale who, one night during the Crimean War, was passing down a hospital ward. She paused to bend over the bed of a wounded soldier. As she looked down on him with eyes of compassion, the young man looked up and said, "You're Christ come to me."

When we truly minister with love and compassion, we reflect Jesus and His love.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH REGIMEN - WEEK 66

ALL IN CHARITY - 11-03-13 to 11-09-13

SCRIPTURE - 1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all your things be done with charity.

COMMENT – The overriding theme of the Bible is God's love for His creation. He continues to give us what we don't deserve because of that love for us. He calls on us to mirror that love in our lives so that all can see Him living in us. It is not always easy to show love for others, but we must do it anyway. There are some things that can't be done with love, so we must avoid those things.

SONGS - A COMMON LOVE

A Common Love for Each Other, a Common Gift to the Savior, a Common Bond Holding Us to the Lord. A Common Strength When We're Weary, a Common Hope for Tomorrow, a Common Joy in the Truth of God's Word.

When I Look up to the Heavens and I See the Rainbow's Beauty or the Stars Shining Brightly in the Night. I See Joy Everlasting, and a Love Never Ending We Can Share Every Day in God's True Light.

Back on the Night of His Betrayal as I See My Savior Praying for a Bond That Would Keep His People Strong. I Know That God Heard His Prayer and He Answered it at Calv'ry Jesus Died So That We Could Sing this Song.

WHEN MY LOVE TO CHRIST GROWS WEAK

When my love to Christ grows weak, When for deeper faith I seek, Then in thought I go to thee, Garden of Gethsemane!

There I walk amid the shades, While the ling'ring twilight fades, See that suff'ring, friendless One, Weeping, praying there alone.

When my love for man grows weak, When for stronger faith I seek, Hill of Calvary! I go To thy scenes of fear and woe.

There behold His agony, Suffered on the bitter tree; See His anguish, see His faith Love triumphant still in death.

Then to life I turn again, Learning all the worth of pain, Learning all the might that lies In a full self-sacrifice.

THOUGHTS

One day C. H. Spurgeon was walking through the English countryside with a friend. As they strolled along, the evangelist noticed a barn with a weather vane on its roof. At the top of the vane were these words: GOD IS LOVE. Spurgeon remarked to his companion that he thought this was a rather inappropriate place for such a message. "Weather vanes are changeable," he said, "but God's love is constant." "I don't agree with you about those words, Charles," replied his friend. "You misunderstood the meaning. That sign is indicating a truth: Regardless of which way the wind blows, God is love."

If we are going to be His children we must be love no matter what.

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Loved Like Salt

A famous king, depressed by circumstances in his realm and feeling rejected by many of his subjects, called for his three daughters to comfort and reassure him. After they had talked awhile, he asked how much they loved him. Two of them answered that they cared for him more than all the gold and silver in the world; but Mary, the youngest, said she loved him like salt. The king wasn't pleased with her answer, for he considered salt to be of very little value. The cook, who overheard the conversation, knew that the child's reply had more significance than the father imagined. She dared not speak to the monarch about the matter, but devised a subtle way to emphasize the true meaning of the young girl's words. The next morning at breakfast she withheld the salt from everything she served, and the meal was so insipid that the king didn't enjoy it at all. Then he realized the full force of his daughter's remark. She loved him so much that nothing was good without him! With a smile he said, "I understand now, Mary. Your love is the greatest of all!"

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A Japanese magazine has a picture of a butterfly on one of its pages. Its color is a dull gray until warmed by one's hand. The touch of a hand causes the special inks in the printing to react, and the dull gray is transformed into a flashing rainbow of color.

What other things can be thus changed by the warmth of your interest and love? Your family? Your church? Even your city?

This old world is hungry for the touch of someone who cares -- who really cares! That someone can transform your home, your entire life. His name is Jesus! -- Paul M. Stevens

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An ingenious teenager, tired of reading bedtime stories to his little sister, decided to record several of her favorite stories on tape. He told her, "now you can hear your stories anytime you want. Isn't that great?" She looked at the machine for a moment and then replied, "No. It hasn't got a lap." We all need a lap. We all need the closeness of relationship. We all need to know we are loved.

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Love looks through a telescope; envy, through a microscope.

Love does not keep a ledger of the sins and failures of others.

- Anonymous, Sword of the Lord, September 20, 1985.

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In the days of the American Revolutionary War there lived at Ephrata, Pennsylvania, a preacher by the name of Peter Miller who enjoyed the friendship of General Washington. There also dwelt in that town one Michael Wittman, an evil-minded man who did all in his power to abuse and oppose this preacher. One day Michael Wittman was involved in treason and was arrested and sentenced to death. The old preacher started out on foot and walked the whole seventy miles to Philadelphia to plead for this man's life. He was admitted into Washington's presence and at once begged for the life of the traitor. Washington said, "No, Peter, I cannot grant you the life of your friend." The preacher exclaimed, "My friend! He is the bitterest enemy I have!" Washington cried, "What?!? You've walked seventy miles to save the life of an enemy? That puts the matter in a different light. I will grant the pardon." And he did. And Peter Miller took Michael Wittman from the very shadow of death back to his own home in Ephrata -- no longer as an enemy, but as a friend. -- The Grace of Giving, by Stephen Olford

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UNITY, LIBERTY, AND CHARITY

L. S. LET US LEARN TO HAVE CHARITY(LOVE) IN . . .

I. DISAGREEMENTS OVER MATTERS OF FAITH

II. DIFFERENCES OF OPINION

III. IN DEALING WITH THOSE IN SIN

IV. IN GOOD WORKS

V. IN SPEECH

UNITY, LIBERTY, AND CHARITY

INTRODUCTION

IN MATTERS OF FAITH UNITY, IN MATTERS OF OPINION LIBERTY, IN ALL THINGS CHARITY

L. S. LET US LEARN TO HAVE CHARITY(LOVE) IN . . .

I. DISAGREEMENTS OVER MATTERS OF FAITH

(Luke 11:42 KJV) "But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

(Gal 5:6 KJV) "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love."

(1 John 5:3 KJV) "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

(Rev 2:19-23 KJV) "I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. {20} Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. {21} And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. {22} Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. {23} And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works."

II. DIFFERENCES OF OPINION

Romans 14:2-6 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. (3) Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. (4) Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (5) One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. (6) He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Romans 14:13-15 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. (14) I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. (15) But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

III. IN DEALING WITH THOSE IN SIN

(1 Cor 4:21 KJV) "What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?"

(1 Cor 5:1 KJV) "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife."

(2 Cor 2:6-10 KJV) "Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. {7} So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. {8} Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. {9} For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. {10} To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;"

IV. IN GOOD WORKS

(1 John 3:16-18 KJV) "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. {17} But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? {18} My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."

(Rom 13:10 KJV) "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

(1 Cor 13:1-3 KJV) "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. {2} And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. {3} And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."

(Gal 5:11-14 KJV) "And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. {12} I would they were even cut off which trouble you. {13} For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. {14} For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

(1 Pet 4:7-9 KJV) "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. {8} And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. {9} Use hospitality one to another without grudging."

V. IN SPEECH

(Eph 4:14-16 KJV) "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; {15} But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: {16} From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

(1 Tim 1:5-6 KJV) "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: {6} From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;"

CONCLUSION

(2 Pet 1:5-7 KJV) "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; {6} And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; {7} And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."

(Col 3:12-14 KJV) "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; {13} Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. {14} And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."

1 Corin. 16:14

Let all your things be done with charity.

1 Corin. 16:14

Let all your things be done with charity.

1 Corin. 16:14

Let all your things be done with charity.

1 Corin. 16:14

Let all your things be done with charity.

1 Corin. 16:14

Let all your things be done with charity.

1 Corin. 16:14

Let all your things be done with charity.

1 Corin. 16:14

Let all your things be done with charity.

1 Corin. 16:14

Let all your things be done with charity.

1 Corin. 16:14

Let all your things be done with charity.

1 Corin. 16:14

Let all your things be done with charity.

1 Corin. 16:14

Let all your things be done with charity.

1 Corin. 16:14

Let all your things be done with charity.

1 Corinthians 16:14

Let all your things be done with charity.