[Membersandfriends] Friday, November 19, 2004

Thu Nov 18 22:01:24 PST 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Friday, November 19, 2004

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Free Advent '04 Study Guide

NOW AVAILABLE: The free web-based Advent study guide is now available at http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/advent/. The study guide is to be used with the Nov/Dec 2004 issue of The Upper Room daily devotional. To order a copy of the magazine for each study participant, call 1-800-972-0433 -- at least four weeks before the sessions begin. The first session will be during the week of November 22, 2004. Watch this link (http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/) for more information.
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FROM PLACE TO PLACE
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2 Corinthians 2:12-17 (NRSV)

When I came to Troas to proclaim the good news of Christ, a door was opened for me in the Lord; but my mind could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said farewell to them and went on to Macedonia. 

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?  For we are not peddlers of God's word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in his presence.

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Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him.
- 2 Corinthians 2:14 (NRSV)
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GOD calls each one of us into service.  Each one of us has been given special gifts and a task to fulfill in life.  As I set out to find the calling that God had for me, I felt weak and inadequate for the task.  But I soon discovered that it is Christ who gives us the victory; Christ gives us the strength and the power that we need.  It is only in Christ and through him that we are enabled to carry out God's will and serve the world.

The apostle Paul traveled from place to place, preaching the gospel wherever he went.  Sometimes he met with opposition and even persecution, but he triumphed in Christ.  Paul said that believers are like a sweet-smelling perfume to those who are being saved, bringing life and hope through the good news of Jesus Christ.  We are called to spread this good news, to tell others about Christ's life, death, and resurrection.  Our task is to be messengers of our risen Lord.

Prayer:  In our weakness, O God, make us strong so that we can have victory through your strength.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Christ offers us the strength and courage to spread the good news.

-- Elaine S. Massey (Gauteng, South Africa)

PRAYER FOCUS: Those entering Christian service

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RELATED READING ...

JOURNALING: A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY offers readers helpful ways to record and reflect upon insights from their spiritual lives.  Author Anne Broyles suggests journaling in response to scripture and from the events of daily life.  She also discusses journaling based on guided meditations and in response to dreams or to reading.  Broyles includes other creative journaling options that will assist and deepen the reader's reflections on the spiritual life.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=12652

PLEASE SHARE THIS MINISTRY with a friend. Invite them to sign up for the free E-Mail Devotional by visiting: http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/email/.

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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.