June 2007 Balancing Tips: Our Father Who Art in Heaven
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Balancing Tips: Helping You Balance Your Life According to God's Plan
June 2007 Newsletter From Cross Your Heart Publications
**HAPPY FATHER’S DAY FROM CROSS YOUR HEART PUBLICATIONS!**
~Crossing your life with God's plan~
In this issue:
- Our Father Who Art in Heaven
- Poem for Dad
- Related Scripture
- Links and Resources
- Join Author Christina Downs for a Simply Balanced Book Signing!
- Current and Upcoming Releases
- Contact Information, Copyright Notice, Disclaimers, and Unsubscribe Instructions
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Our Father Who Art in Heaven
No one can live up to God’s love for us, as our ultimate Father. But our earthly fathers set an example, showing us a glimpse of that unconditional love, immense strength, and infinite patience and wisdom.
Like our earthly fathers, God loves us unconditionally. Like our fathers, God gives us gifts. Like our fathers, God tries to guide us through life. Like our fathers, God sometimes has to discipline us.
“Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.” - Deuteronomy 8:5
Even discipline, however, is done out of love. God does what is best for us -- what will lead to the most blessings in our lives, what will help us learn how to live, and what will help others around us.
God may not always work in the way we would expect or prefer. He may make us wait, or He may have something different in store for us (even more glorious than we could ever imagine). Sometimes He makes us wait, to help build our character or prepare us for ministry as when the disciples waited on the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (in Acts 1 and 2). Many times we want to rush into action without considering the consequences or without ensuring we are prepared.
In Deuteronomy 8:1-5, God reminds His people of why he kept them in the desert for forty years (to humble them, to test them and discover what was truly in their hearts, to increase their trust in Him as their provider, and to teach them). God also humbles, teaches, and disciplines us today. He may not send us wandering through a physical wilderness for 40 years, but we each have our own wilderness time of preparation. Even Jesus needed to prepare before beginning His ministry, going into the desert where he was tempted by Satan.
Each person’s wilderness trial focuses on a spiritual battle to be overcome. When we are in our wilderness, we need to persevere and be patient and stay focused on the Father, just as Jesus did.
Prayer is our best preparation. In answer to the devil’s efforts to tempt Him, Jesus replied with Scripture. This proves that the best way to overcome temptation is by knowing God’s Living Word. When you diligently study the Bible, the Holy Spirit helps you recall what you have read at precisely the time it is most needed -- in essence, Scripturally guiding you through your wilderness to God’s plan for your life.
Like with our earthly fathers, sometimes we grow angry with God. Maybe He didn’t answer a heartfelt prayer, or maybe something bad happened to you or a loved one. It may seem that God is very far away and you don’t know how to reach Him.
Don’t worry; God is ALWAYS there.
One day while I was walking along the path at Station Square, I was comforted by a cross I noticed at the beginning of my walk, on the steeple of a church at the top of Mt. Washington. But, on the return walk, in the opposite direction, I searched and could not find the cross. My eyes scanned the treetops along the mountain, and I found myself wondering if I had really seen it thirty minutes earlier. I was just starting to think I’d imagined it when I turned and glanced back up in the opposite direction. There it was, the white steeple poking through the trees at the top of the mountain! I felt a surge of joy and relief. It really was there; it had never left; I had only been looking in the wrong direction. When I corrected my angle, I was able to see what had always been there.
Relieved, I started walking again but suddenly stopped in my tracks, tears in my eyes as I realized: God is like that. He’s always there; we never have to doubt that (even when we can’t see Him and even when others let us down or we let ourselves down). God will never let us down, and He will never leave us. Of that we can be absolutely 100% certain. If you have trouble seeing him, adjust your angle, look in another direction, change your attitude -- pray.
God is always there, even when we can’t see Him. GOD IS ALWAYS HERE WITH US!
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name,
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven,
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever.
Amen.
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Poem for Dad
~More Than a Protector (A Glimpse of God’s Love)~
Fathers are always there to protect us, but they also do so much more…
A FATHER teaches you and guides you, whether it be little league practice or a choice that alters your life.
A FATHER supports you during happy times yet also helps you through times of strife.
A FATHER hugs you when you fail and pats you on the back when you succeed.
A FATHER always seems to know just the type of loving response you need.
A FATHER lifts you on his shoulders when you’re little and lifts your spirits no matter your age.
A FATHER holds your hand when you’re all grown up and helps you find your way.
Your father provides a wonderful glimpse of God’s love.
Thank you, Dad, for more than all of the above!
Written by Christina Downs
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Related Scripture (NIV)
"Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
- Deuteronomy 5:16
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
- Exodus 20:12
"Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.”
- Deuteronomy 8:1-5
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- John 3:16
…He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you… All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them…
- Acts 1 and 2
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. "This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
- Matthew 6:5-15
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.' "
- Luke 11:1-4
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
- Luke 11:10-13
Links and Resources
http://www.allaboutprayer.org/Lords-Prayer.htm
http://www.interviewwithgod.com/playprayer.htm
http://www.holidays.net/father
http://morning-glow.com/holidays/father/father.html
http://festivals.iloveindia.com/fathers-day/index.html
http://www.christianitytoday.com/holidays/father
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cpt/2003/003/14.55.html
http://www.annieshomepage.com/fathersdaylinks.html
http://chi.gospelcom.net/DAILYF/2001/06/daily-06-19-2001.shtml
http://peggiesplace.gospelcom.net/dday.htm
http://christianity.about.com/od/fathersday/qt/fathersdayquote.htm
http://ww2.intouch.org/site/c.dhKHIXPKIuE/b.2406769/apps/s/content.asp?ct=3403247 (a Godly parent)
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Join Author Christina Downs for a Simply Balanced Book Signing!
Enjoy a simply balanced book signing…
Meet Christian author of the book Simply Balanced: Bible "Contradictions" Teach Balanced Living (http://chrisdowns.wordpress.com) and fellowship with others who are trying to find balance in life.
***Free prayer bead bracelet to first 25 people to stop by each day!***
DATES/TIMES/LOCATION:
Majesty Christian Bookstore, Westmoreland Mall, Greensburg, PA
Saturday, August 4, 2007: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Sunday, August 5, 2007: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
(Tentative dates; please check local papers and calendars or the publisher’s website for confirmed dates/times. Also feel free to email us at info@crossyourheartpub.com.)
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Current and Upcoming Releases
http://www.CrossYourHeartPublications.com
1. ~CURRENTLY AVAILABLE (officially out July 8, available early from publisher)~:
"Simply Balanced: Bible ‘Contradictions’ Teach Balanced Living" by Christina Downs (ISBN 978-0-9794248-1-6).
$12.95
From contradiction to balance—God's simple way to achieve balance in life. Look at six sets of Bible lessons that appear to contradict one other, and see how both sides of the equation are actually necessary. Without one, imbalance occurs. Jesus perfectly modeled this balanced living Himself. Learn to live a “simply balanced” life!
- Publication date: July 8, 2007. *PRE-PUBLICATION ORDERS BEING TAKEN NOW.* Go to www.CrossYourHeartPub.com, www.amazon.com, or www.bn.com to purchase.
- Ebook currently AVAILABLE from the publisher site or from www.payloadz.com: $9.99 (ISBN 978-0-9794248-0-9). *Ebook FREE with pre-publication orders of the print book (offer valid through July 7, 2007).*
2. Workbook also in development to help you live a “simply balanced” life (ISBN 978-0-9794248-2-3)!
$12.95
*Book/workbook/ebook package for $19.99 (includes a free prayer bead bracelet!).* Please check website for details or email cdowns@crossyourheartpub.com.
3. ALSO STILL AVAILABLE NOW: "The Walk" by Michelle Kunkle
$10.00
~All proceeds benefit Harrold Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Greensburg PA.~
Take a conversational walk with God through the first five books of the Bible. Learn how understanding the beginning can help you grow closer to God today.
- Produced by Legacy Inspirations, together with Cross Your Heart Publications, The DeskTop, and The Gallery Dessert, http://www.legacyinspirations.com.
4. EBOOK COMING SOON: You’ve Been Out of Work HOW Long? Finding a Job and Emotional/Spiritual Support After an Extended Time Out of the Workforce.
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Contact Information, Copyright Notice, Disclaimers, and Unsubscribe Instructions
Contact information:
Cross Your Heart Publications
Crossing your life with God's plan
P.O. Box 206
Loyalhanna, PA 15661
Phone: 724-787-6756
Email: info@crossyourheartpub.com
http://www.CrossYourHeartPublications.com
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We hope you have found this issue useful in helping you balance your life! If you have any suggestions for improvements, please email Chris at cdowns@crossyourheartpub.com. Thank you, and God bless you.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liabilities:
These files were prepared by Cross Your Heart Publications. Cross Your Heart Publications, including all representatives speaking on behalf of this company:
- Makes no warranty or representation of warranty, express or implied, with respect to using any information disclosed in these files.
- Has made every attempt not to infringe on or interfere with anyone's privately owned rights, including any party's intellectual property.
- Assumes no responsibility for any damages or other liability whatsoever (including any consequential damages) resulting from using these files or any information disclosed in these files.
Further, Cross Your Heart Publications employees have no professional counseling, psychiatric, or legal training and make no claim to be experts in these areas. Staff members provide emotional and spiritual advice on a general basis, based on personal knowledge and Biblical and other research.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2007 Christina M. Downs, Cross Your Heart Publications
http://www.CrossYourHeartPub.com
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