Friday, February 3, 2012

Today's Devotional

1 Peter 1:3-5 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (NASB)

Luke 12:13-15 - Someone in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?" And He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." (NASB)

Have you ever received an inheritance from someone? Several institutions and family members received an inheritance from my mother-in-law after she passed on last year. I am sure that these financial windfalls have proven to be great blessings to all those concerned. I have even witnessed how some of the things that were purchased are now being used in serving God.

Not all inheritances come as blessings to either mankind or God. We have all heard of how some inherited gifts have become curses. Envy, strife, greed, and even hatred are some of the curses or thorns which sometimes accompany the fragrance and beauty of what were meant to be lovely inherited bouquets. Due to discrepancies in giving, some beneficiaries have not felt as valued as others. Well-intentioned gifts often lead to divisive ways and create lasting nightmares.

We should not get caught up going down such paths. Earthly things, such as flowers or cash, often fade away before we die. We certainly cannot take them with us. Spiritual inheritances like salvation are lasting and are promised equally for all believers in Christ. It is by seeking spiritual wealth, inspiration, and guidance that we are truly blessed. In today's verse, Peter tells us that we are "born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away".

Prayer: Loving Father, we thank You for all the gifts that You have bestowed upon us. Thank You for sending Your Son to free us from all the sins that so easily entangle us on this earth. Help us always to see our hope in You through the imperishable inheritance that we receive through faith in Christ Jesus, Your Son. Help us to live with this spiritual hope that we have in Him and to share it with others. Amen.

Bruce McCowan <brucemccowan@ymail.com>
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

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Today's Presbyterian Prayer Partnership prayer request: posted by Heather Chappell <hchappell@presbyterian.ca>
Pray for the congregations of Galilee Korean Presbyterian Church and Central Presbyterian Church in Vancouver, British Columbia, as they work together in creative ministry.

Prayers of thanksgiving. posted by Bob Henderson <bh-ink@webtv.net> 2/3/12
Hi my friends, well G. made it home again and now we need you prayers to God to guide and direct our thinking to do the next right thing and for his will to be done. Please pray with us ,I'm sure that God will guide us and direct us . Thank you all for all your prayers already and for continued prayers . Your friend with God.

Prayer for Healing 2/2/12
Please join me in praying for God's healing spirit to touch Bess who is undergoing treatment for leukemia. She has a sweet spirit that has remained strong throughout this struggle and is blessed with loving and supportive family and friends. My prayer is that God will bless Bess and keep her and shower her with his healing mercies.

My own moral failures 2/2/12
To know the will of the Lord and receive forgiveness and help to cope and overcome faithfully.

Financial 2/2/12
Please pray that NSFs will be prevented. A payment expected has been delayed because of my son's injured back. Please pray for energy, good treatment, food and healing.

Prayers Needed 2/1/12
Please pray for the following people : My sister "A" who has a recent undiagnosed problem in her brain and ears. This could be due to a possible stroke, tumor, or a disease. I'm very worried about her. My Daughter-in-law "S" has reached her 14th week of her pregnancy now and hopefully the baby's out of danger. She lost her first baby at this time last year. My close friend "C" is recooperating from surgery that she had a week ago on her right shoulder. She'll be unable to do anything for 6 weeks. This has caused her to be very overwhelmed and she has other serious health issues as well that her Doctor has been unable to find a solution for. Also please pray for me "J" because I'm concerned how my ongoing severe chronic health problems are affecting my marriage. I'm having terrible nightmares because of this. May God in his infinite love and compassion heal each of us during this difficult time. Amen.

Nothing less than a Miracle 1/31/12
Please pray for a home situation where the father is present but "absent" for 30 years - uninvolved, abusive emotionally, passive aggressive and just uses his family to feed and keep him, but a totally different person in church. Outsiders have NO clue what is going on here! We are stressed beyond capacity and the father is oblivious to what is going on. He does not hug, kiss or encourage. Reads his bible 2 hours a day and prays, but nothing in his life speaks of if.

Pray for a peaceful resolution. 1/30/12
Please keep "B" in your prayers. She is in a very complicated family situation. All parties involved have been hurt in so many ways. Pray that God will grant peace and healing to all in this situation. In Jesus name. Amen

Praying for justice posted by Robert M. Hakim <r.hakim@rogers.com> 1/30/12
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: I would ask you to pray for me in my quest for justice after seven long years of pain. Please pray that the Dear Lord stirs the heart of the Resolution Officer to look into furnished documents with an attitude of love and mercy, and to rule in favour of a just compensation which would allow my family decent living as we have been through lots of tribulations and losses. I mailed my final submission earlier this morning respecting the preset deadline; the Resolution Officer would be rendering her decision in the coming weeks. Thank you! In Christ, Robert

Unspoken prayer request 1/29/12
I've had something from my past come up unexpectedly. I'm feeling raw, vulnerable and disconnected as a result. I don't really know what I need to resolve this situation, so I don't know what specific prayer request to ask for. Luckily God knows what I need. So please ask Him to provide what I need & give me a sense of comfort that only He can give. Thank you & God bless.

Grandson E 1/29/12
Today's devotional about respect for authority reminds me of E. He is disrespectful to his parents and grandmother. He will be 30 next month and is trying to finish his high school and hopes for money to go to college. He can't believe how poor and in debt his family are, and with cruel words threatens to disown us if they don't help him. Please pray for him to believe us and start to treat us kindly. He loves his baby who is nearly a year old and tries to hide his bitterness from her mother. I pray for true Christians mentor them. Please pray for my responses by e-mail, Facebook and phone.

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