The Hardest Test You Will Ever Take by Gene McGuire October, 2013

 “You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Matthew 22:39b)

 COMMENT: Because of the selfish, grabby nature we all were born with (natural birth), the above commandment is impossible for unbelievers to accomplish. Born again Christians may have a problem fulfilling this mandate for a different reason. . . .a loathing of themselves. Some Believers are trapped in the quagmire because they are carrying around a feeling of guilt. They say: “I’m a Christian and I am acting in this sinful way. What is wrong with me?” Jesus told Peter to forgive his brother 7 times 70. (Matt. 18:21,22) If He tell us, we who are mere dust, to have that much compassion, how much more love and compassion do you suppose our Heavenly Father has for His Children?  When we sin, we should repent, ask for forgiveness and FORGET IT, God has. “. . . For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jer. 31:34) However, let’s not use God’s wonderful grace as a “license to sin”. Let us grow daily into the image of Jesus and work out our salvation with fear and trembling. (Phil. 2:12)SCRIPTURE STUDY: Leviticus 19:18, Proverbs 10:12 and 1 Cor. 3:16

 WISE SAYING: IF YOU ARE HEADED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, GOD ALLOWS U-TURNS

 

Sincerely Yours, Gene McGuire   

Related articles

• Who ever said God needed u to clean up your mess? (weareabundantly.wordpress.com)
• Forgive, Forgiven and Forgiveness (Part 2) (afriendofjesus2013.com)
• Forgiveness (viktoriaveigas.wordpress.com)

Who’s That In The Mirror? by Gene McGuire November 30, 2010

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7)

COMMENT: Our Lead Scripture is in operation in the natural as well as the spiritual. I know I must have told you about how I started my Life Insurance career as a complete failure, mainly due to shyness and a lack of confidence. My sister Frances asked me why would I leave teaching to become a salesman since I wasn’t “outgoing and sociable” as most of them are.  This situation was miraculously turned around when I became involved with Personal Achievement Institute, an organization that helped me change that self-image by “self talk” that was directly opposite to how I previously felt about myself. I still remember one of the “confessions” written on a 3 by 5 card which I was instructed to read aloud 100 times a day.

“I’m a fantastic, intelligent , cool, calm self-confidence man. I speak in a clear, concise and exciting manner. I’m at ease in the presence of all people because I realize that they are just that, people.  Everyone finds it a real pleasure to be in my company.”

It really worked! My sales soared and I was promoted into District management in Detroit and a few years later Agency Management in Washington D.C. Now let’s look at ourselves as Christians. Some people will say it is okay for us to call ourselves “sinners” because we all sin. I understand where they are coming from, but I refuse to label myself a sinner; I choose to call myself “righteous”. (2Cor. 5:21) I firmly believe that our “who” will determine our “do” If I firmly established in my heart that Jesus’ righteousness has been imputed to me (Romans 4:24), there is a much greater chance for me to reject choices that are ungodly. I won’t be foolish enough to say that we would be sinless when we have the correct image of who we are in Christ, but I am sure that we would sin less.

SCRIPTURE STUDY: Romans 4:13-24

WISE SAYING: YOU CAN’T PRODUCE IN YOUR BEHAVIOR WHAT YOU DON’T BELIEVE ABOUT YOURSELF.

I Did It God’s Way! by Gene McGuire September. 2010

“WITH THE LOVE OF GOD, WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD” 

“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.” (Psalm 32:11)

COMMENT: Are you ready for another adventure into the 1940’s? Well, as I have previously mentioned, in my day, we had many songs that were encouraging and uplifting. One of those is called “Sunny Side of the Street”. (Actually, this song came out in the 30’s during the Great Depression. Come to think about it, it may very well be apropos for 2010.) Here are a couple of lines: “Get your hat and get your coat. Leave your worries on the doorstep. Just direct your feet to the sunny side of the street. I used to walk in the shade with the blues on parade. But I’m not afraid, I’m a rover, who’s crossed over.” Of course this kind of thinking helps a person have a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA). Well that may be fine for the world, but it is not sufficient for us Christians. The Bible tells us that it rains on the just and the unjust. (Matt; 5:45); those who just have PMA can only depend on themselves when those storms of life occur. However, Children of God have the all-loving, all-powerful and ever-present Lord to depend upon. However, we can learn a few things from that secular song. In Matthew 6:25 Jesus commands us not to worry. Our “sunny side of the street” is to walk in the Light. . . . Jesus is the Light of the world.

SCRIPTURE STUDY:John 1:6-13

WISE SAYING: MAN’S WAY LEADS TO A HOPELESS END — GOD’S WAY LEADS TO AN ENDLESS HOPE.

WISE SONG LYRIC: NO MATTER THE STORMS THAT COMES MY WAY. NO MATTER THE TRIALS THAT I MAY FACE, YOU PROMISED THAT YOU WOULD SEE ME THROUGH, SO I WILL TRUST IN YOU.

Sincerely Yours, Gene McGuire Please visit my Wisdom Blog by clicking below: www.wisdom4u.wordpress.com Gene McGuire
Thought for Today Subscribe/unsubscribe by an e-mail to stgene@aol.com
Just a thought, not a sermon!

Related Articles

• Does it make a difference to follow God? (beliefnet.com)
• Do Christians Burn Korans? A Voice Cries Out! (prnewswire.com)
• The Frightening Nature of Hope (beliefnet.com)