My Inbox of Daily Inspirations: 03/01/09

Today's Verse : Psalm 37:1-2

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March 2, 2009

VERSE:
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do
wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants
they will soon die away.

-- Psalm 37:1-2
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Psalm+37:1-2

THOUGHT:
Frustration and envy... hmmm, isn't that our reaction to those
who are evil and yet seem to prosper? We're reminded to not let the
apparent and short-lived successes of evil people derail our faith
or dampen our spirits. Their victories are temporary, their wealth
is like a flower that will wilt, and their lives are like the grass
which withers and is soon gone.

PRAYER:
LORD God Almighty, praise your holy and matchless name. You have
blessed me mightily. You have protected me in the face of my
enemies. You have given me life and hope and future with you. Now
please, dear Father, help me to avoid wasting my time worrying
about what others have. Please give me a heart of thanksgiving for,
and contentment with, all that you have done to bless me. In Jesus'
name I pray. Amen.

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20090302

Today's Verse is also available in:
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WILD AT HEART, by John Eldredge
Helping men rediscover their masculine heart, this is a guide to
understanding Christian manhood and Christian men.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?256

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Today's Verse is written by Phil Ware <phil@heartlight.org> and is
part of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, the leading Christian living e-zine
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Today's KJV Verse : Psalm 37:1-2

March 2, 2009

VERSE:
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious
against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down
like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
-- Psalm 37:1-2
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Psalm+37:1-2&translation=kjv

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20090302&ver=kjv

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THE GIFT FOR ALL PEOPLE, by Max Lucado
A celebration of God's gift of salvation wrapped in a collection of
inspirational stories.
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Daily Wisdom NIV : Proverbs 27:6

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Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies
kisses.

Proverbs 27:6, New International Version
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Proverbs+27:6

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Daily Wisdom KJV : Proverbs 27:6

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy
are deceitful.

Proverbs 27:6, King James Version
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Proverbs+27:6&translation=kjv

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Quotemeal: "We cannot bear sin - when ..."

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We cannot bear sin - when it is near us, we feel like a wretch
chained to a rotting carcass; we groan to be free of the hateful
thing.

-- Charles H. Spurgeon

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TOTAL FORGIVENESS, REVISED AND UPDATED, by R.T. Kendall
Holding a grudge? Experience all of God's blessings when you pardon
others completely! Using examples from the life of Joseph and new
testimonies from those whose lives have been transformed, Kendall helps
you understand the consequences not forgiving.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?250

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Daily Heartlight -- March 1, 2009

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March 1, 2009

=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================

God Has a Plan for Us, by Tom Norvell

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in
Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to
be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be
adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his
pleasure and will -- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he
has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the
riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and
understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will
according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be
put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment
-- to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one
head, even Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to
the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the
purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope
in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory

(Ephesians 1:3-12 NIV).

Four times in this passage there is a reference to God having a plan
for us: "he chose us," "he predestined us," "he purposed," and "we were
also chosen." Four times we are given His plan for us: "to be holy and
blameless in his sight," "to be adopted as his sons through Jesus
Christ," to make known "the mystery of his will," and "that we ...
might be for the praise of his glory."

He chose us. We were chosen. He has a plan for us.

We know what it means to be chosen. As children we were chosen to be on
a team, we were chosen to participate in a school play, or we were
chosen to be in the spelling bee. Later we were chosen to be someone's
boyfriend or girlfriend, we were chosen to be a speaker at graduation,
or we were chosen to be in a social club. Then, as adults we are chosen
to be a marriage companion, we were chosen to be a partner in business,
or chosen to lead an organization. All of those have their place, but
none of them compare to being chosen by God to bring Him glory and
praise.

Celebrate His plan!

He chose us because He has a plan for us. He did not choose us to sit
the bench. He did not choose us to stand in the wings. He did not
choose us so we could sit around and twiddle our thumbs wondering why
we were chosen. He chose us with a purpose, for a purpose, and with a
plan for us.

He chose us to make a difference in the world. He chose us to do good
works. He chose us to love people and share His love with them. He
chose us to serve people. He chose us to worship Him. He chose us to
live abundant lives. He chose us to demonstrate His mercy and
compassion to people who are hurting. He chose us to shine His light
into the darkness. He chose us to reveal the mystery of the cross. He
chose to receive His love. He chose us with a plan.

God has a plan for you. Did you know that? He wants you to live His
plan for you. Will you? Are you?

God created you. He has a plan for your life. Celebrate His plan!
Follow His plan. Enjoy His plan.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

---------
(c) 2009 Tom Norvell <tomnorvell@mac.com>. Used by permission. A
Norvell Note <http://www.anorvellnote.com> is a weekly email
message from Tom Norvell. Check it out!

RELATED LINKS:
* Straight Lines with Crooked Sticks
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200610/20061030_crookedsticks.html
* God's Fingerprints
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200303/20030311_fingerprints.html
* An Oldtimer in His Service
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200510/20051020_oldtimer.html
* A Norvell Note
http://www.anorvellnote.com

This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200903/20090301_planforus.html

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THE END OF REASON: A RESPONSE TO THE NEW ATHEISTS, by Ravi Zacharias
Zacharias cuts to the core of the atheist problem and presents a case
for truth resolving itself in a presentation of God in the person of
Jesus Christ as the intelligence behind the universe, and the end (the
culmination, not the cessation) of reason.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?258

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EDITOR: Phil Ware, phil@heartlight.org

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Morning & Evening -- Song of Solomon 4:16 and 1 Peter 2:7

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Sunday, March 1, 2009

MORNING:

"Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my
garden, that the spices thereof may flow out."
-- Song of Solomon 4:16

Anything is better than the dead calm of indifference. Our souls may
wisely desire the north wind of trouble if that alone can be sanctified
to the drawing forth of the perfume of our graces. So long as it cannot
be said, "The Lord was not in the wind," we will not shrink from the
most wintry blast that ever blew upon plants of grace. Did not the
spouse in this verse humbly submit herself to the reproofs of her
Beloved; only entreating him to send forth his grace in some form, and
making no stipulation as to the peculiar manner in which it should
come? Did she not, like ourselves, become so utterly weary of deadness
and unholy calm that she sighed for any visitation which would brace
her to action? Yet she desires the warm south wind of comfort, too, the
smiles of divine love, the joy of the Redeemer's presence; these are
often mightily effectual to arouse our sluggish life. She desires
either one or the other, or both; so that she may but be able to
delight her Beloved with the spices of her garden. She cannot endure to
be unprofitable, nor can we. How cheering a thought that Jesus can find
comfort in our poor feeble graces. Can it be? It seems far too good to
be true. Well may we court trial or even death itself if we shall
thereby be aided to make glad Immanuel's heart. O that our heart were
crushed to atoms if only by such bruising our sweet Lord Jesus could be
glorified. Graces unexercised are as sweet perfumes slumbering in the
cups of the flowers: the wisdom of the great Husbandman overrules
diverse and opposite causes to produce the one desired result, and
makes both affliction and consolation draw forth the grateful odours of
faith, love, patience, hope, resignation, joy, and the other fair
flowers of the garden. May we know by sweet experience, what this
means.

EVENING:

"He is precious."
-- 1 Peter 2:7

As all the rivers run into the sea, so all delights centre in our
Beloved. The glances of his eyes outshine the sun: the beauties of his
face are fairer than the choicest flowers: no fragrance is like the
breath of his mouth. Gems of the mine, and pearls from the sea, are
worthless things when measured by his preciousness. Peter tells us that
Jesus is precious, but he did not and could not tell us how precious,
nor could any of us compute the value of God's unspeakable gift. Words
cannot set forth the preciousness of the Lord Jesus to his people, nor
fully tell how essential he is to their satisfaction and happiness.
Believer, have you not found in the midst of plenty a sore famine if
your Lord has been absent? The sun was shining, but Christ had hidden
himself, and all the world was black to you; or it was night, and since
the bright and morning star was gone, no other star could yield you so
much as a ray of light. What a howling wilderness is this world without
our Lord! If once he hideth himself from us, withered are the flowers
of our garden; our pleasant fruits decay; the birds suspend their
songs, and a tempest overturns our hopes. All earth's candles cannot
make daylight if the Sun of Righteousness be eclipsed. He is the soul
of our soul, the light of our light, the life of our life. Dear reader,
what wouldst thou do in the world without him, when thou wakest up and
lookest forward to the day's battle? What wouldst thou do at night,
when thou comest home jaded and weary, if there were no door of
fellowship between thee and Christ? Blessed be his name, he will not
suffer us to try our lot without him, for Jesus never forsakes his own.
Yet, let the thought of what life would be without him enhance his
preciousness.

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THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS, by Billy Graham
Teaches us to live above the circumstances of life and rest in the true
happiness God wants us to have.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?252

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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
and preacher Charles Spurgeon. It's part of HEARTLIGHT Magazine,
the leading Christian living e-zine on the Web. Visit HEARTLIGHT
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My Utmost For His Highest : "The Undeviating Question"

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March 1, 2009

THE UNDEVIATING QUESTION

Lovest thou Me?

John 21:17
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=joh+21:17&sr=1

Peter declares nothing now (cf. Matthew 26:33-35). Natural
individuality professes and declares; the love of the personality is
only discovered by the hurt of the question of Jesus Christ. Peter
loved Jesus in the way in which any natural man loves a good man.
That is temperamental love; it may go deep into the individuality,
but it does not touch the centre of the person. True love never
professes anything. Jesus said - "Whosoever shall confess Me before
men," i.e., confess his love not merely by his words, but by
everything he does.

Unless we get hurt right out of every deception about ourselves, the
word of God is not having its way with us. The word of God hurts as
no sin can ever hurt, because sin blunts feeling. The question of the
Lord intensifies feeling, until to be hurt by Jesus is the most
exquisite hurt conceivable. It hurts not only in the natural way but
in the profound personal way. The word of the Lord pierces even to
the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, there is no deception left.
There is no possibility of being sentimental with the Lord's
question; you cannot say nice things when the Lord speaks directly to
you, the hurt is too terrific. It is such a hurt that it stings every
other concern out of account. There never can be any mistake about
the hurt of the Lord's word when it comes to His child; but the point
of the hurt is the great point of revelation.

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LESSONS FROM A SHEEP DOG: A TRUE STORY OF TRANSFORMING LOVE, by Phillip Keller
Allow yourself to see Biblical truth in this classic tale of what can
happen when you yield to the Master.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?260

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MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST - by Oswald Chambers /\/\
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Praying with Paul : "Walking in Love"

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WALKING IN LOVE

Romans 14:13-16
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+14:13-16

Dear Father, to whom all will bow,

Help me not pass judgment on others or despise them. Let me look
to myself in view of the fact that I will have to give an account
for my own self.

You have said, "As I live every knee shall bow to me, and every
tongue shall give praise to God." Let me praise you now before the
day of your judgment. Let my praise be willing and not forced.

Help me never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of
a brother or sister in Christ, and especially of some young person.
Don't let me injure anyone by exercising my rights. Let me rather
walk in love toward. Don't let my right to do something cause the
ruin of one for whom Christ died. Do not let what is good to me be
evil spoken of.

In the name of Jesus I ask for the love and wisdom to so live.
Amen.

=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================

THE MAN GOD USES, by Henry and Tom Blackaby
Will show you how an ordinary man can be transformed into an
extraordinary servant of God.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?256

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WJD! -- Redeeming Insult -- Matthew 5:38-39

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Sunday, March 1, 2009

Redeeming Insult

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a
tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, don't stand against an
evil person. If someone hits you on the right cheek, then
turn and let him hit the other cheek too."

-- Matthew 5:38-39 (ERV)

KEY THOUGHT:
Jesus' words draw us to the values of our Heavenly Father. Rather than
passively accepting evil, we are to overcome evil with good. We are to
work redemption in the face of mistreatment like the suffering servant
in Isaiah who suffers, serves, and redeems in the face of attack and
ridicule. Jesus reminds us that we are to redeem rather than to try to
get even. A slap on the cheek in Jesus' day was more a social insult
than a physical injury. In our day, we seldom slap someone on the cheek
to embarrass or humiliate that person. Instead, we shoot them a
"zinger," cut them down sarcastically, or tell a joke at their expense.
This is out of bounds for believers. Such talk does not accomplish the
redemption God has called us to share with others.

TODAY'S PRAYER:
Holy and patient Father, please strengthen me so that I will look for
ways to redeem those who shame and humiliate me. I know that vengeance
will only poison my heart and alienate me from the insulting party.
Give me grace to react with kindness even toward those who are unkind
to me. In the name of the one who did not rebuke his accusers I pray.
Amen.

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>> The WJD! web page has related scriptures and the
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>> For further study of today's passage, use our
>> online Bible study site: SearchGodsWord.org!
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Matthew+5:38-39&sr=1&t=erv

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WJD! -- Redeeming Insult -- Matthew 5:38-39