[Faith-talk] Fwd: Morning Thoughts for Tuesday, May 10, 2011

[Amy Ragain]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Stephen Smith <stevesmith1943 at me.com>
> Date: May 10, 2011 7:07:00 AM CDT
> To: Morning Thoughts 1 <stevesmith1943 at me.com>
> Subject: Morning Thoughts for Tuesday, May 10, 2011
> 
> 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 (NASB)
> [6:1] And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— [2] for He says,
> “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,
> AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.”
> Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”—
> [3] giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, [4] but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, [5] in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, [6] in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, [7] in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, [8] by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; [9] as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, [10] as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
> 
> Good morning beloved and blessed family!!  This passage gave me a lot of encouragement today, so I hope it will for you as well.  For me, the business of each day tends to cause me to lose focus on why I am here.  I tend to tie myself up in the minutia of the minute, worrying for nothing, becoming anxious over nothing important.  When I enter such a cycle, my focus is no longer on God, on His purpose for my life nor on my victory in Him.  Instead, it generates a viscous cycle of doubt, fear, frustration - turmoil - like being caught in a whirlpool and being sucked under.  
> 
> That's when, in many cases, the Holy Spirit intercedes.  He causes me to slow down, sometimes even stop, smell the "roses", and reflect on His Glory, which is all around me.  When I do, my mind is drawn back to His Word, to His Truth, Wisdom, Hope, Love.  It constantly amazes me how quickly the dark clouds of life's storms then dissipate, how quickly the clarity of vision, focus of life, and strength to carry on return.
> 
> My prayer for you today is that you would allow the Holy Spirit to talk to you during the business of your day, and that you would pause when distressed, smell the roses, reflect on God's Glory, and allow Him to carry you through your roughest patches.
> 
> With great love and hope for the future,
> 
> <3Steve:-))