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Living The Solution – Online Newsletter |
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November 8, 2004 ISSUE |
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Opening Thoughts:
Looking back to look forward – there is real
value in reviewing our past. It is essential to live in the present,
but if we don’t know our patterns we are bound to repeat them.
This is why personal inventory can be so valuable.
The very nature of an online journal/newsletter puts me
in the vulnerable position of having my thoughts expressed continually.
My opinions will modify and change over time. It’s inevitable.
But, if my message wavers from the consistency we promote at Living the
Solution then I certainly need to be aware of that and respond to it.
Is it progress or regression?
There are links to the many past months of journaling on this
site (here) and it is helpful to me to review from time to time. The
pattern I see is the ongoing instruction, learning, reflection and discovery
of my personal journey which I gladly share with you in hopes of our
mutual spiritual growth. Much of what I find and share is found on the
Internet. There are many good web writers and sites for us to explore.
You can see some of the ones we’ve discovered at our links page.
In this new week we can continue to walk in the light, grow in the light
and reflect the true light. As John the Baptist testified,
we are not the light, but we can point to it.
Peace and joy,
Tom Gilbert
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IN THIS ISSUE
Feature Article: It’s A Relationship
In The Spotlight: Day of Hope
Daily Thoughts: Choose Wisely
Prayer & Sharing Requests
Quotable: The Holy Alphabet
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| FEATURED
ARTICLE |
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It’s A Relationship
By Tom Gilbert
I knew my chance of getting the job was good when the consultant
told me he had a personal relationship with the man I was
to interview with. He was willing to be the mediator for
me. His reference went a long way towards my hiring.
We often look for that inside track in life. If you have someone who will be
a mediator it really improves your chances. When it comes to knowing God, is
there someone we can count on to be that mediator?
Nice to Meet You, Jesus
One of the difficulties we face in getting to know God is
our finite minds can't comprehend infinite God. God is well aware of this challenge
for us. He reveals himself to us with His Spirit. In the most intimate way possible
a relationship is formed. He goes even farther, because Jesus and God are one.
So, to have a relationship with God all any of us need do is form that relationship
with His son.
Read the entire article here
Discover more thought provoking articles
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| IN THE SPOTLIGHT |
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Day of Hope
On Sunday, November 14th, churches across
America will join hands to support “Day of Hope”. Since World
War II, World Relief has been on the front lines, working with, for and
from the church to relieve human suffering, poverty and hunger in the name
of Jesus Christ.
More information here
See more at our Spotlight Specials page
Do your holiday shopping at our Living
the Solution online store. It’s secure,
extensive with many great gift ideas! Visit our online
store. There's something for everyone.
When you shop with us, you support our ministry – thank you!
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DAILY THOUGHTS & REFLECTIONS |
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Choose
Wisely
Don't let anyone under pressure to give
in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious
to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. The temptation to give in to evil
comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing
flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows
up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.
(1 James 1:13-15 — The Message)
Evil is all around us. We live in a fallen world. When
God created the world and then mankind, He gave the world to them, but when
they chose to not trust God and turn their backs on God they also gave up
their claim to the world to the enemy, Satan. So there is evil all around
us. The opportunity for us to choose to trust or distrust God is constantly
before us. Whether or not we choose to trust in God and His loving heart
towards us is based on the current position of our hearts; do we really
believe that God loves us and has our best in mind or not? If we do, we
will not be tempted by the lures of the world and our enemy; if we don’t,
we will willingly give in to sin. So we don’t have to go looking for
temptation -- it is there all the time just waiting for us to coming running
to it.
As James points out, our sin starts in our hearts. (There’s that heart
thing again.) What does our heart want and who does it trust to provide for it
-- God or itself? Now along with this constant specter of evil lurking about
in the world there is our enemy, who is also vying for our hearts or, better
put, trying to steal our hearts from God to break His. Our enemy is always trying
to get us distracted. He's trying to get us too busy with life and with doing
things to spend time with God and other believers, which are the things we need
to do to keep our hearts strong and focused on God. That is why is it so important
to spend time with God every day, quality time, so we keep our hearts connected
with Him. When our hearts are connected with God’s and we really know His
heart towards us and we totally trust Him then the things of the world and the
lies of our enemy will not be able to detract us from God and the life He has
called is to live. That is why James says we have no one to blame but ourselves,
the “the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust.” (When we follow
God and give into His ways and love we call it following our longing and when
we try to satisfy those feelings other than with God we call it lust.)
We choose what we will do each day, we choose how much time to devote to building
our love relationship with God and the temptation to give in to evil comes from
us and only us. Just as God cannot make us love Him or do the things to keep
our hearts connected with His, so neither can our enemy cause us to choose to
give in to temptation. No, the devil did not make you do it (there’s that
choice thing again)
So today what do you choose? As Joshua said many years ago, “Choose this
day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord”.
But we need to remember this is not a one-time choice. We must choose daily where
our heart’s allegiance will lie -- with God or with His enemy. To paraphrase
a line from a movie, choose wisely.
Live it with Passion
Pete Reinbold
Get daily inspiration with a Scripture verse and commentary
at
Daily Thought
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PRAYER REQUESTS & RESULTS |
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Prayer works. It really does.Submit your prayer
requests and we will pray for them.
Of course, we keep your information confidential.
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My thoughts are shared regularly on the pages of
our web site, especially on
the Journal pages.
We welcome and appreciate your feedback. If you would
like to submit an article please see our writer's
guidelines.
It is our hope that the content of Living The Solution will
stimulate you to deepen your faith. That is certainly a result for us in both
our writing and reading. If you would like to see articles on a particular topic
or you have comments please let us know.
Send an email
Quotable: The
Holy Alphabet
Although things
are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
Xalting God most high
Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be
bad, but...
Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!
Copyright 2004 Living the Solution, all rights reserved.
Tom Gilbert
Editor/Web-servant
Living The Solution
www.livingthesolution.com
P O Box 25584
Albuquerque, NM 87125-5584
Toll free 1-800-399-2564 ext 105 (US only) or 505-247-3232
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