[continued from previous message]   
      
   [23] And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be   
   merry:   
   [24] For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is   
   found. And they began to be merry.   
      
   As I drove down the steep ramp into the parking lot, anxiety swept over me.   
   I'd been in this exact place before - and I'd gotten lost that time. But now,   
   as I began to walk to the door near the elevator, a calm feeling filled my   
   heart. I knew the way! I walked through the door and found the set   
   of elevators I was seeking and soon was where I was supposed to be.   
      
   My experience in finding my way through the maze of that parking structure   
   reminds me that getting lost can sometimes help us find our way. Because I   
   had gotten lost during my first visit, I recalled what had gone wrong   
   and remembered the door that led to my destination.   
      
   There’s great joy in finding our way - something the "lost son" in today's   
   parable found to be true (Luke 15:24). "When he finally came to his senses"   
   (v. 17 nlt), the wayward young man knew his way back home after having been   
   lost in the world. He recognized all he had left behind and returned home   
   where he received his father's "love and compassion" (v. 20 nlt).   
   The story says the father was overjoyed to receive his lost son   
   and welcome him back, saying, "This son of mine was dead and has now returned   
   to life. He was lost, but now he is found" (v. 24 nlt).   
      
   If we're lost spiritually,   
   let's look for the familiar way home God has provided.   
   He points us toward His loving light and to where we're supposed to be.   
      
   Reflect & Pray   
      
   How has God shown you where you're supposed to be?   
   How can you run after His light?   
      
   Compassionate God, please help me turn   
   from the darkness of being lost and return to Your light and love.   
      
   3) From The Billy Graham Evangelical Ministry Association   
      
   Words in Season - Scripture Memory Tools   
      
   Week 3 - Saved Now and Forever - Day 1 - Bought Back   
      
   Eph 1:7   
      
   7 (Ro 3:24; Ac 2:38; 20:28) In Him we have redemption through His blood   
   and the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace   
      
   [7] In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,   
   according to the riches of his grace;   
      
   In the opening scenes of The Glenn Miller Story, Glenn Miller, then a   
   struggling musician trying to find an audience for his music, enters   
   a pawn shop. He has hocked his trombone for rent money, and has come   
   to redeem it. Paying the pawn broker the money, he buys back his own   
   instrument and leaves the shop, indicating that he will probably   
   be back again.   
   In Eph 1:7. Paul says that in Christ "we have redemption through   
   His blood and the forgiveness of sin according to the riches of His grace."   
   We belonged to God from the beginning; he made us and stamped   
   his image upon us. But through sin we were lost, pawned to the   
   world's system and the Enemy of our souls.   
   But God redeemed us; he "bought us back" with the most valuable   
   currency in the universe - the blood of his own Son, Jesus Christ.   
   He did not resent the bargain, or question whether we were worth   
   such a price. He freely gave Jesus in trade to ransom the souls   
   of the people he created and loved.   
   Sometimes in Christian circles we get so caught up in religious   
   jargon that we forget what redemption really means. Gog did not have   
   to "get us out of hock." He was not compelled to buy us back when we   
   had sold ourselves to sin. But because of his love, and with no   
   deserving on our part, he chose to pay an enormous price to set us free.   
   We are redeemed, bought back, by the One who owned us in the first place.   
      
   Application   
      
   a) In what ways have I been "in hock" to sin in my life?   
      
   b) What does it mean, in practical terms, that God "redeemed" me   
   from that sin?   
      
   4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland   
      
   Mark 4:19   
      
   19 But the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches,   
   and the desires for other things entering in choke the word,   
   and it proves unfruitful.   
      
   19 and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches,   
   and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word,   
   and it becometh unfruitful.   
      
   5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:   
      
   When you are Burdened by Doubt   
      
   James 1:2 to 8   
      
   Faith and Wisdom   
      
   2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations,   
   3 knowing that the trying of your faith develops patience.   
   4 But let patience perfect its work, that you may be perfect and complete,   
   lacking nothing.   
   5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men   
   liberally and without criticism, and it will be given to him.   
   6 But let him ask in faith, without wavering. For he who wavers   
   is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed with the wind.   
   7 Let not that man think that he will receive anything from the Lord.   
   8 A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.   
      
   2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;   
   3 knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.   
   4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect   
   and entire, wanting nothing.   
   5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men   
   liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.   
   6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth   
   is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.   
   7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.   
   8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.   
      
   Remember God's promises when You pray   
      
   The Lord's prayer   
      
   Matthew 6:9-13   
      
      
   9 "Therefore pray in this manner:   
   Our Father who is in heaven,   
   hallowed be Your name.   
   10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;   
   Your will be done   
   on earth, as it is in heaven.   
   11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.   
   12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,   
   as we forgive our debtors.   
   13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,   
   but deliver us from evil.   
   For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."   
      
   9 After this manner therefore pray ye:   
   Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.   
   10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.   
   11 Give us this day our daily bread.   
   12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.   
   13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:   
   For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.   
      
   6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)   
      
   Nova Scotia   
      
   Total population 942700   
   Muslim population (est.) 14629   
      
   With 6 of the Nova Scotia's 10 universities located in Halifax, there is   
   a high concentration of Muslin international students in the area,   
   a harvest field in itself.   
   Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations   
      
   - in and around Halifax and other cities   
      
   - on university campuses   
      
   - for new workers among Muslims   
      
   - for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach   
   to Muslims in their areas.   
      
   - for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend   
   to share Jesus with and disciple them   
      
   - for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their   
   new faith in Jesus with other Muslims   
      
   Halifax is the centre of Muslim activity for the Province of Nova Scotia   
   with at least 10 Islamic centres (mosques) and musallas   
   (prayer locations, especially for Friday prayer). And there are other mosques   
   in Chebucto, Kearney Lake, Dartmouth, Bedford and Truro.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)