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Monday, January 9, 2017
"May The Mind Of Christ My Savior"
Note: Yesterday we concluded our church service with a hymn that is essentially a prayer. As I listened to the six stanzas I considered the prayer set to music would be a good foundation for a week of daily encouragement messages. We'll use a verse each day, although we'll double up one stanza since there are six altogether. A link to the song is posted below, for your enjoyment and spiritual refreshing. The song was written by Kate B. Wilkinson, who sojourned on this earth from 1859-1928. The accompaniment is St. Leonard's tune. Today we will consider heavenly mindedness.
Listen to this
message on your
audio player.
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:1-4).
What's on your mind today? Early this morning I was working downstairs
in our home office when I heard Brooksyne, who was upstairs in our
kitchen utilizing her Christmas gift, Google Home. I overheard her as she asked, "OK Google,
what's the latest news?" The gizmo immediately gave her the latest
news report which almost all the time is not a good way to start your
day. Today it was news concerning the terrorist bombing in Israel, the
airport shooting in Florida, moral decadence, political craziness, etc.
I then heard Brooksyne say with some exasperation in her voice, "OK Google shut it off!"
"Mindfulness" is a newer word to us. I just read an article about it in a magazine. It is "the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique." It's sort of a faddish concept but it seems, as a follower of Christ, there can be some lessons here.
Today let us consider spiritual mindfulness specifically focusing on the part of our daily Scriptural text that states "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
A pastor used a phrase that especially caught my attention. He prayed on behalf of himself and the congregation that God would "climatize us to the climate of heaven." To climatize means to acclimate or become acclimated. We have some very cold weather now in our parts and working outside today on my chores I realize I am not climatized!
One of the great ongoing issues believers deal with in one way or another is holding on to the heavenly perspective in the midst of the stuff of life. Essentially our minds are naturally acclimated to the climate of this physical life, or as the text states, "on earthly things."
But today's Scripture portion is a strong call to what we'll refer to as "heavenly climatization". Spiritually we who have accepted Jesus as our personal Savior have been "raised with Christ". This speaks of our present position. I take it to mean that we are to live with an ongoing awareness of the reality and power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Since we have been raised with Christ we are to set our hearts and minds on things above. This is an act of the will and must be an ongoing attitude in the life of the believer. The experiences of yesterday, however wonderful, need to be regularly refreshed.
We must seek to live with a heavenly perspective as we daily sort through any setbacks or losses that line our earthly path. Many years ago we both committed the daily Scripture portion to memory. Today we want to keep this heavenly perspective and we do so by personalizing today's verse: "Since, then, I have been raised with Christ, I set my heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. I set my mind on things above, not on earthly things. For I died, and my life is now hidden with Christ in God." Will you join us today?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
since we have set our heart on things above, not on earthly things, we
die to self and live unto Christ. As our lives are hidden with Christ
in God we pray that the mind of Christ will live in us from day to day.
By His love and power may He control all we do and say, so that we may
decrease as He increases in our thoughts, actions, and words. We
want this mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Saturday evening we joined the employees of White Oak Display, a company we serve as chaplains, at the Giant Center for dinner and a Hershey Bears hockey game.
It was Brooksyne's first time to attend an ice hockey game.
Morning greeters
In nearly 30 years of pastoring many young families got involved in various ministries of the churches we served. Some of those commitments require families to come early, such as the Praise team who warm up an hour before Sunday School, so Mom and Dad "tote" the children as they carry out their responsibilities. (Other times it might require children to be the last to leave the church building.) As you may have noted, the foyer light is not yet turned on, the cars are few, and here are the Pierce children standing at the door waiting to greet any who will enter. (I, Brooksyne, couldn't resist taking this unposed photograph.) We applaud those who are committed in their service to the Lord and are willing to make the extra effort it takes when young children are in the picture. And by the way, these children are happy and already learning the blessing of service.
Jake and Nancy Shenk have served as missionaries in Africa since 1958! Like the old E.F. Hutton ad stated, "When Jake Shenk speaks people listen"
"May The Mind of Christ My Savior" Video Jake Amerding (Vocal and acoustic)
"May The Mind of Christ My Savior" Video Congregational singing
Finally today:
Our neighbor needed a new well so we've had some interesting scenery in our backyard. On Saturday, during very cold temps, the men worked diligently from early morning through the afternoon. Curious Stephen (a name that fits him since he asks many questions) headed over there after awhile and got acquainted with the workers. We have great admiration for hard workers and he was able to commend the men for their hard work. One responded, "I've gotta feed my family!" That is a Biblical truth and needs to be heeded by many who do not take responsibility as they should in properly caring for their own. Our neighbors are grateful to once again have running water since their well went dry just before Christmas.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
"May The Mind Of Christ My Savior"
Note: Yesterday we concluded our church service with a hymn that is essentially a prayer. As I listened to the six stanzas I considered the prayer set to music would be a good foundation for a week of daily encouragement messages. We'll use a verse each day, although we'll double up one stanza since there are six altogether. A link to the song is posted below, for your enjoyment and spiritual refreshing. The song was written by Kate B. Wilkinson, who sojourned on this earth from 1859-1928. The accompaniment is St. Leonard's tune. Today we will consider heavenly mindedness.
Listen to this
message on your
audio player."Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:1-4).
May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say.
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say.
"Mindfulness" is a newer word to us. I just read an article about it in a magazine. It is "the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique." It's sort of a faddish concept but it seems, as a follower of Christ, there can be some lessons here.
A pastor used a phrase that especially caught my attention. He prayed on behalf of himself and the congregation that God would "climatize us to the climate of heaven." To climatize means to acclimate or become acclimated. We have some very cold weather now in our parts and working outside today on my chores I realize I am not climatized!
One of the great ongoing issues believers deal with in one way or another is holding on to the heavenly perspective in the midst of the stuff of life. Essentially our minds are naturally acclimated to the climate of this physical life, or as the text states, "on earthly things."
But today's Scripture portion is a strong call to what we'll refer to as "heavenly climatization". Spiritually we who have accepted Jesus as our personal Savior have been "raised with Christ". This speaks of our present position. I take it to mean that we are to live with an ongoing awareness of the reality and power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Since we have been raised with Christ we are to set our hearts and minds on things above. This is an act of the will and must be an ongoing attitude in the life of the believer. The experiences of yesterday, however wonderful, need to be regularly refreshed.
We must seek to live with a heavenly perspective as we daily sort through any setbacks or losses that line our earthly path. Many years ago we both committed the daily Scripture portion to memory. Today we want to keep this heavenly perspective and we do so by personalizing today's verse: "Since, then, I have been raised with Christ, I set my heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. I set my mind on things above, not on earthly things. For I died, and my life is now hidden with Christ in God." Will you join us today?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
since we have set our heart on things above, not on earthly things, we
die to self and live unto Christ. As our lives are hidden with Christ
in God we pray that the mind of Christ will live in us from day to day.
By His love and power may He control all we do and say, so that we may
decrease as He increases in our thoughts, actions, and words. We
want this mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus. Amen.Saturday evening we joined the employees of White Oak Display, a company we serve as chaplains, at the Giant Center for dinner and a Hershey Bears hockey game.
It was Brooksyne's first time to attend an ice hockey game.
Morning greeters
In nearly 30 years of pastoring many young families got involved in various ministries of the churches we served. Some of those commitments require families to come early, such as the Praise team who warm up an hour before Sunday School, so Mom and Dad "tote" the children as they carry out their responsibilities. (Other times it might require children to be the last to leave the church building.) As you may have noted, the foyer light is not yet turned on, the cars are few, and here are the Pierce children standing at the door waiting to greet any who will enter. (I, Brooksyne, couldn't resist taking this unposed photograph.) We applaud those who are committed in their service to the Lord and are willing to make the extra effort it takes when young children are in the picture. And by the way, these children are happy and already learning the blessing of service.
Jake and Nancy Shenk have served as missionaries in Africa since 1958! Like the old E.F. Hutton ad stated, "When Jake Shenk speaks people listen"
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"May The Mind of Christ My Savior" Video Jake Amerding (Vocal and acoustic)
"May The Mind of Christ My Savior" Video Congregational singing
Finally today:
Our neighbor needed a new well so we've had some interesting scenery in our backyard. On Saturday, during very cold temps, the men worked diligently from early morning through the afternoon. Curious Stephen (a name that fits him since he asks many questions) headed over there after awhile and got acquainted with the workers. We have great admiration for hard workers and he was able to commend the men for their hard work. One responded, "I've gotta feed my family!" That is a Biblical truth and needs to be heeded by many who do not take responsibility as they should in properly caring for their own. Our neighbors are grateful to once again have running water since their well went dry just before Christmas.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
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