[Faith-talk] Fwd: Morning Thoughts for Tuesday, June 7, 2011

[Amy Ragain]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Stephen Smith <stevesmith1943 at me.com>
> Date: June 7, 2011 7:33:52 AM CDT
> To: Morning Thoughts 1 <stevesmith1943 at me.com>
> Subject: Morning Thoughts for Tuesday, June 7, 2011
> 
> Philippians 4:4-9 (NASB)
> [4]  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! [5] Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. [6] Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
> [8]  Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. [9] The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
> 
> Good morning precious family!!  I rejoice at every thought of you, even those of you who are burdened with issues of this temporary life. Why?  Because I know those issues will pass away, like night - in the rays of the morning sun.  Believe me, I know the pain these issues of life bring, the loneliness, abandonment, isolation, fear, grief, and even a sense of hopelessness. But through it all, I know full well that, like life itself, on this planet, all those issues are temporary.  They all fade away - even the grief you feel as the love of your life fades into eternity.
> 
> This is the hour, even the minute God created for you - to look to Him, cast all your cares on Him, let Him carry you - even as in the poem, "Footprints".  This is not some childish, imagined fantasy.  This is Reality 101.  Realize that the only barrier to our rescue is our own pride.  Our pride causes doubt in everything we cannot control.  It denys us from sharing our weaknesses, fears, pains of all sorts.  Pride tells us to be macho, independent, self aware.  It tells us to grab all the toys - because of course the one with the most toys wins.  What lies!!  From who?  Satan, of course, feeding on our pride and selfishness.  How can I know when I've been taken hostage by pride?  When my first thoughts are of the things I want: my desires, my hopes, my dreams.  These are not bad things necessarily, but as long as they are mine, they are the product of my pride.  Let our hopes, dreams, desires be turned over to God, so that we can truly rest in the knowledge that those which God returns to us are now not our own, but His Will for us.  The world will try to deceive us in this endeavor, but hold fast to what the Word says, and let the power of God reign in us and through us, filling us with all joy and praise for what He is doing!!  Let the peace of god reign supreme in your life today!!
> 
> With great love, hope and joy,
> 
> <3Steve:-))