[Faith-talk] FW: [thefamilyoffaith] - Second Sun. in Lent 3-4-12, Mark 8:31-38

[Eric Calhoun]

Original Message: 
From: "Mary Ann" <serenity77 at shaw.ca>
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Subject: [thefamilyoffaith] - Second Sun. in Lent 3-4-12, Mark 8:31-38
Date: 
Sun, 4 Mar 2012 09:23:43 -0700











           
     

      GOOD MORNING
      Second Sunday Of Lent 
       March 4, 2012


      My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
      I greet you in the Holy and Righteous Name Of Jesus.
      Our Lord and Savior.

      Inspiration
      Faith is a gift of God. It is given to the steward who is willing
to move out in service in the face of an uncertain destiny. The road may
lead to fulfillment or failure, opportunity or opposition. When we accept
the cross of Jesus, we identify ourselves as stewards of God. We are
certain it is better to lose with Him than win without Him.


      This is day the LORD hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.


      HEARING GOD'S VOICE
      Genesis 17:1-10
      Romans 4:16-25
      Psalm 105:1-11
      Mark 8:31-38 or 9:1-9

      Through His cross, Jesus gave us the call to follow Him in faith.
For many of us this call was received and we were given the faith to follow
it at our baptism where we were marked with the cross of Christ. It is
where we renounced the devil, and our sinful flesh was crucified and buried
with Christ. This conversion marked the beginning of our discipleship.
      The call to follow means that the one who is leading determines the
course. This is the difficulty Peter had. He wanted to determine the way
events should unfold and wanted a Savior without sacrifice, either on the
part of the Savior or on his part.
      It is here in verse 34 that we hear Jesus saying, "Whoever desires
to come after Me let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me. It
is His to command, ours to obey. His to lead, ours to follow. His to call
to service and sacrifice, ours to answer. "My LORD, and my God." in doing
so He offers us glorious compensation. For "in the cross is salvation,
strength of mind, joy of the Spirit, height of virtue and the perfection of
sanctity.
      Dear Friends,  What is your cross? Some think that family problems,
heartbreaks, limiting physical conditions and sins are their crosses. Jesus
was referring to a willingness to endure pain, shame, and  persecution for
His sake. The cross of discipleship we must carry takes a lot of effort.
God may lay some heavy burdens upon us. What a blessing to know that He
will use these things to make our faith and trust in Him stronger and He
has promised to help us bear the load. Matt. 11:30 (Look it  up)
      As we continue our Lenten walk with Jesus knowing that we are going
to end up at the cross, let us remember what Jesus suffered and how He
suffered was all according to God's plan for each of us. As we dedicate
ourselves to serving the LORD Jesus, we will one day hear Him say, "Well
done, good and faithful servant, you may enter into the joy of the LORD."

      Son of the living God! Oh call us
      Once and again to follow Thee;
      And give us strength, whatever befall us,
      Thy true disciples still to be.

      PRAY- O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to
all who have gone astray from Your ways, and bring them again with penitent
hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth
of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our LORD, who lives and
reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen



         
      Shirley








       



     
                   
           


















                  MARCH 2012
                  "Take Flight"
                  Graphics from Group Share 
                  The Content of this letter is being
                  used without Copyright Infringement
                   as per Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107