Self

SELF
Compiled by DaySounds © 2011-17

"Defending our own interests at the expense of others' needs, protecting our own position at the price of others' submission, insisting on our own importance at the expense of others' integrity bring contention, turmoil, and enmity. Climbing down off our self-chosen pedestal and joining our fellow human beings on the common ground of God's all protecting love for us all brings peace."
--The Magnificat, 03-09-04

"Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves."
--The Holy Bible, Paul, Phil. 2:3

"By the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than one ought to think, but to think soberly, each according to the measure of faith that God has apportioned.
"Love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly, do not be wise in your own estimation."
--Ibid, Paul, Romans 12: 3, 10, and 16

"This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
-Ibid, Jesus Christ, John 13:35

"With the humble is wisdom."--Ibid, Solomon, Prv 11:2

"Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way."
--Ibid, Jesus Christ, Luke 6: 22,23

"If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. No slave is greater than his master."
--Ibid, Ibid, John 15:18 & 20

"The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
--Ibib, Ibid, Matthew 20: 17-28

"Come, let us offer praise to Jesus Christ, crucified for our redemption. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen."

--above selections from The Magnificat, Tuesday and Wednesday Readings, March 9 & 10, 2004.

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"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."--The Holy Bible, Paul, Philippians 4: 6-7

"Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."--Ibid, Ibid, Col. 4:2

"Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer."--Ibid, Ibid, Romans 12:12 "Be strong, let your heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord."-Ibid, David, Psalm 31

Our home is not here. It is in Heaven. Our citizenship is not from here. It is from Heaven. We are pilgrims, foreigners on Planet Earth. Our goal, our eyes, therefore, shouldn't be set to obtain material possessions, personal glory, and/or flesh pleasures, but to reach Heaven, to get Home, to be with our Father, with our everlasting family; and help lost people come to the trail by calling them, pointing the way, give directions, assisting them, showing them God's agape love through our lives.
Jesus Christ said, "I am the trail, the truth, and the life. Nobody can come to the Father but through me." --The Holy Bible, John 14:6 All other trails lead to an eternal life of intense suffering, hatred, unloyalty, lies, broken promises and dreams, selfishness, pride, lack of true love...Hell; those trails are wide and they have many hikers. The only trail that leads Home, to Heaven, is Jesus Christ. That trail is narrow, and only few walk on it.

Let's read and meditate on Phippians 3 after reflecting on the previous thoughts.

Dear Father God, help us to crucify our flesh, our egos, on Jesus' cross, to be crucified together with Him. Help us not to get off the trail, not to get distracted by this and that on the way home. Help us to focus on Jesus. May we become faithful trail scouts for You. May the sun set upon our pride and self, and Your Son rise upon our spirits bringing a new day into or lives.