NO HOLY DOGS OR PEARLY PIGS

 

Matthew 7:6

 

"Do not give to dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn and attack you." ESV 

 

We are cautioned as Christians about sharing the deeper, more precious truths of the Kingdom of God with those who are incapable of respecting and appreciating their priceless value. These people will mock it, twist it, and use it in a profane way in an attempt to tear down our testimony. If we merely share the powerful, but simple Gospel of Jesus Christ with them, their hearts will be convicted. If they accept it, they will grow in Christ and begin to understand the deeper things of God.

 

Heavenly Father, we stand guilty before You because we have made attempts to let others know how learned we are in Your Word and the Truth of Your kingdom. Forgive us Lord. We realize how unproductive that is. Prompt us by Your Holy Spirit to speak the Gospel message that will penetrate the hearts and lives of all who hear, and bring a great harvest for Your kingdom. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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EXTREME MAKE OVER

 

 

Romans 12:1,2

 

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." ESV 

 

What exactly is a "living sacrifice?" It is dedication of our total selves to God. This includes giving our physical bodies. Just as Jesus gave His body for us through death, we willingly give our living bodies for His service. We give our minds to Him so that He will transform our thinking through prayer and study of the Word. We give Him our wills so that by obedience and faith, He changes us into victorious Christians. This is true worship.

 

Heavenly Father, we cannot offer ourselves as total living sacrifices without the help of the Holy Spirit. We ask that You help us to be open, ready, and willing to give ourselves totally to You. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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HERE WE ARE, LORD

 

Romans 12:1

 

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." ESV 

 

If we want to worship our Lord in the way that is the most pleasing to Him, what would we be doing? Would we be spending hours a day in deep prayer? That is certainly a noble service. Would we be reading and studying our Bibles with great focus and thought? Of course that would be very good for our spiritual growth. But what would be the most pleasing thing to Him? It is giving our daily lives, our everyday living to Him to use as He sees fit. It is laying ourselves out before Him without any agenda but to be used by Him. That is the way we worship Him!

 

Heavenly Father, we are so blessed by Your mercy to us. We know that in ourselves we have nothing we can give You that would repay what You have done for us. We come before You, giving You all we have, our daily lives, for Your pleasure. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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TIME TO CLEAN THE HOUSE

 

1 Thessalonians 5:23

 

"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." ESV

 

Because we are mere humans, only God can do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. By way of His grace, He will separate us out from the world and make us holy. He will give us a clean conscience. He will give us a body that is His temple worthy of housing His Holy Spirit. He will give us a hunger to seek Him and obey Him. Then, when He comes back for His Church, we will be ready, without spot or wrinkle.

 

Heavenly Father, we ask for Your grace to set us apart and make us holy through and through so we will be found ready when you come for us. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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PIGS AND PEARLS

 

 

Matthew 7:6

 

"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you." ESV

 

The sacred message of the Gospel spoken of throughout the Word of God, is precious and totally worthy of reverence and respect. It is our responsibility as Christians to handle this precious pearl of Christ with discernment and wisdom. Jesus told us to refrain from giving this message out to those who are so hardened in their hearts that they will ridicule and stomp on the blessed Truth. These people have willingly and permanently rejected God. They are reprobate.

 

Heavenly Father, we are humbled and we tremble at the responsibility You have given us to handle the Word of Truth rightly. It is hard for us to understand that there are those who have truly rejected You and You Word. Give us boldness and Holy Spirit led ability to speak the Gospel everywhere. We trust You will put a check in our hearts if we are in the presence of one who has already permanently rejected the Truth. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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PROTECTION OUR SECURITY

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:8

 

"(our God), who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." ESV

 

What a comforting fact. He will give us all that we need to come into His presence with clean hearts. With God, there is always that one requirement that is repeated over and over in His Word. If we endure, faint not, don't give up, keep running the race, stand strong, overcome, endure, stay alert, do not be deceived, and keep, stir up, and guard our faith.

 

Heavenly Father, what an awesome God You are to give this eternal security to the likes of us. Help us to remember that our part is to keep the faith and endure in a world that keeps battering our faith and to stand strong against the enemy who seeks to devour our souls. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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ODD PEOPLE

1 Peter 2:9     "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." NIV     "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." KJV     It's not "cool" to be odd and peculiar these days. However, when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we have accepted that God has bought us with the blood of His Son, and we are His private property, His own people. This makes us totally the opposite of those who live without God in their lives. While they live with hearts that desire the things of this world, we, as God's holy people, understand that we are not even of this world, nor are we at home in this world. As long as we live in this world, we are not a part of it and it stands out clearly to everyone who sees us. While the ungodly may mock us and cut us down with their words and deeds, we continue to shine as lights in a dark world. The Holy Spirit will convict those who are living in sin, and then they will have to choose to be a part of God's kingdom or remain in the darkness.     Heavenly Father, forgive us for being backward in showing our faith that makes us different from those without You. Forgive us for trying to blend in with them out of fear. Give us boldness, by Your Holy Spirit so that we will shine as peculiar people so that those who are in the dark will see Your light and will be drawn to You by the Holy Spirit. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.                 ©2011 Daily Grace Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC drbobbijo@yahoo.com http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/ No Copyright Infringement Intended Personal Use Only

TRUE CHRISTIANS DON'T LIVE IN SIN

 

1 John 3:6

"No one who lives in him keep on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him."NIV

"Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him."KJV

When we have truly given our lives to Jesus Christ, our hearts cannot tolerate any ongoing sin in our lives because the Holy Spirit continually convicts us until we forsake the sin we have held onto. If we see anyone who claims to be a Christian and they have a lifestyle that includes things that are sinful, they have not met the Saviour nor given their lives to Him.

Heavenly Father, we ask that Your Holy Spirit search our hearts for any lifestyle or habitual sin we may be harboring and tuning out the Holy Spirit. We pray for those who do so. Give us hearts that are pure and work to stay away from sin. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

           

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

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LIVE IN PEACE

We are expected to fight the good fight against sin and evil. However,
we are not to fight against each other or those who oppose us. We are to
exert our utmost effort to maintain a peaceful attitude and behavior toward everyone. This is not always an easy thing to do. But, if we keep ourselves clothed with holiness which means being detached from worldliness and attached to Godliness, we will have access to the same attitude that is in the Lord.

Heavenly Father, help us to walk in holiness as Jesus did. Give us a Spirit of peace so that we will spread your peace to all those we encounter. In Jesus' name.

Read Hebrews 12:14

"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without
holiness no one will see the Lord." (NIV)


"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which
no man shall see the Lord." (KJV)

   
©2010

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

How can we live consistent, holy lives around a world full of unbelievers? It is a sure thing that when we do, we will be ridiculed and stereotyped. But, we can be certain that our actions will have an impact on those around us and our God will be glorified.

Heavenly Father, help us live holy and consistent lives wherever we are;
In Jesus' name.

Read 1 Peter 2:12

"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of
doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." (NIV)

"Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (KJV)

  
©2010

HOLY VS PROFANE

The sacred message of the Gospel and the holy principles of the Word
are precious and are totally worthy of reverence and respect. It is our
charge as Christians to handle these precious "pearls" of God with
discernment and wisdom. Jesus told us to keep from giving them out
to those who are so hardened in heart that they will ridicule and stomp
on these blessed truths. Those people have willingly and permanently
rejected God. They are reprobate.

Read Matthew 7:6

"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you
do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." (NIV)

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls
before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again
and rend you." (KJV)

HIS LIGHT AND TRUTH

As Christians, our prayer is that the Lord will light the path of truth
so that we can follow it, no matter how difficult so that we can be
with Him. This path is rough, narrow, and lonely. But those who
follow it will never be disappointed.

Read Psalm 43:3

"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them
bring me to your holy mountain to the place where you dwell." (NIV)

"O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring
me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles." (KJV)

CALLED TO BE PURE AND HOLY

God calls us not only as our Saviour, but as our Lord. He instructs
us in His Word that we are to believe by faith that He is the Christ
and that He died for our sins. In addition, He tells us to be holy like
Himself. What kind of witnesses are we if we say we are Christians
but continue to do things that are not pleasing to Him.

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:7

"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." (NIV)

"For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." (KJV)


  
Daily Grace
Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/
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DAY OF REST

To keep the Lord's day holy, we are putting aside our own agendas and business to rest, refresh, and worship God who made us and loves us. This day of the week is not for business as usual in our work lives nor in our personal lives. How do you spend the Sabbath day?

Read Exodus 20:8

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." (NIV)

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." (KJV)


  
Daily Grace
Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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