[Membersandfriends] Monday, November 01, 2004

Sun Oct 31 22:01:08 PST 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Monday, November 01, 2004

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THIS PROMISE
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2 Timothy 1:3-14 (NRSV)

I am grateful to God--whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did--when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 

Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.

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Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.
- Proverbs 22:6 (NRSV)
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GROWING up, I was involved in many of my church's activities for children.  I returned to this church recently and attended an adult class with my parents.  The class includes members who were active in the church when I was growing up.  Many of these members greeted me and reminisced about me as a child.  Then came announcement time.  A man stood and said, "We'd like to welcome Valerie to our class.  Remember, we helped train and teach her."

After he said this, I thought of what we say in my church in response after baptisms: "With God's help we will proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ."  This man's words were true.  Forty years ago at my baptism, those church members made this promise - and they kept it.

Now that baptismal promise has new meaning for me.  Whether I'm helping with vacation Bible school or teaching a class for children, I do so with more enthusiasm.  Something I say or do may contribute to the 

spiritual growth of a child.

Prayer:  Loving God, thank you for those who nurture us spiritually.  Thank you for their words and example.  Guide us that we too may be effective witnesses for you.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
What do others know of Christ because of knowing me?

-- Valerie Battle Kienzle (Missouri, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Children without good role models

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Designed for 6- to 12-year-olds, POCKETS offers wholesome devotional readings that teach about God's love and presence in life. Each page of POCKETS affirms a child's self-worth. Included are fun and exciting puzzles, games, stories, poems, recipes, colorful pictures, and scripture readings.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=12897

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.