Thoughts for Life: Consider, for a Moment . . .

Jean Oathout- "Conviction of sin is one of the most uncommon things that ever happens to a person. It is the beginning of an understanding of God.

Jesus Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict people of sin (see John 16:8). (Google image, True repentance)

And when the Holy Spirit stirs a person’s conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is not that person’s relationship with others that bothers him but his relationship with God— “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight…” (Psalm 51:4).

The wonders of conviction of sin, forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven person who is truly holy. He proves he is forgiven by being the opposite of what he was previously, by the grace of God.

Repentance always brings a person to the point of saying, “I have sinned.” The surest sign that God is at work in his life is when he says that and means it. Anything less is simply sorrow for having made foolish mistakes—a reflex action caused by self-disgust.

The entrance into the kingdom of God is through the sharp, sudden pains of repentance colliding with man’s respectable “goodness.”

Then the Holy Spirit, who produces these struggles, begins the formation of the Son of God in the person’s life (see Galatians 4:19).

This new life will reveal itself in conscious repentance followed by unconscious holiness, never the other way around. The foundation of Christianity is repentance. Strictly speaking, a person cannot repent when he chooses—repentance is a gift of God.

The old Puritans used to pray for “the gift of tears.” If you ever cease to understand the value of repentance, you allow yourself to remain in sin. Examine yourself to see if you have forgotten how to be truly repentant." [From My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition, WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

Let's pray-

"Father, I ask You to create in our children the desire to attend to Your words. Give them willing and obedient hearts that they may consent and submit to Your sayings and walk in Your ways. Cause their eyes to look straight ahead with purpose for the future. May the tongues of our children be as the pens of ready writers, writing mercy and kindness upon the tablet of their hearts. May they speak the truth in love, and may their hands do the works of the Father. In the name of Jesus, we bind their feet to the pathways You have foreordained for them." (Prayers That Avail Much Volume 3)
Proverbs 4:20; Proverbs 3:3; Ephesians 4:15

Ephesians 4:15-16 We can "grow up into him
in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From
whom the whole body fitly joined together . . .
according to the effectual working in the measure
of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the
edifying of itself in love."

Today's quotes-

"The Body of Christ is the highest revelation of the glory of God. He manifested His power to make a creature of the dust, who had fallen under the power of sin and Satan, become the partaker of the holiness of the blessed Son.

The Holy Spirit presides over this work today as He encourages each believer to carry out the eternal purpose—that they all should be one, even as the Father is one with the Son.

When the Church yields herself to His divine working, the power of the Holy Spirit can be expected to work unhindered in the Church and in the individual members." (Quoted from Andrew Murray's book, Receiving Power from God, p. 63).

~ Max Lucado- We’ll never be sinless, but we will sin less. And when we do sin, we have assurance that the grace that saved us also preserves us. We may lose our tempers, our perspective, and our self-control. But we never lose our hope. Scripture promises, “He is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy!” (See Jude 1:24)

Words of wisdom-

~ We attempt to earn God's approval, when we are dissatisfied
with our behavior. Instead of receiving His Love, which is unconditional, we may unconsciously punish ourselves by withdrawing from Him, while He is aching to hold us in His everlasting Arms.

~ Guard your thought life, root out bad ones. Eliminate your "stinking thinking," you don't have to listen to that stuff!

186-190 of 200 one-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more this week-

186- Ps. 118:23 "This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes."

187- 2 Tim. 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

188- Prov. 16:33 "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD."

189- Eph. 4:23 "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind."

190- Ps. 25:14 "The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant."

What If I Let God Be God This year?

By Karen Friday- "What will the new year hold if I simply let God do His job as God? And what if I let the Almighty reign over my decisions, circumstances, dreams, and life?

Most importantly, isn’t He the only One who perfectly fills the role as God? No other person or god meets the requirements like our heavenly Father. He’s the most qualified and the most trustworthy."

List of recent sermons of CFC ministers. CFC Potsdam NY church has a live service at 10 am Sunday's for shut-ins. If for some reason you can't make it to the church you usually attend, click on the above link, and still get fed!