Sincerely Yours

http://media.blubrry.com/faithstrongtoday/p/fst.mc.tritondigital.com/SINCERELY_YOURS_P/media/SY-379_apr30-18.mp3

As we’re continuing through 2 Corinthians, we find the apostle Paul changes gears, shifting from the financial welfare of the believers to their spiritual warfare. For Paul, the transition from the physical to the spiritual was only natural as he recognized that both make up the "real" us. And it is our “real” person, whether you believe it or not, that is in a perpetual fight for our lives. Fortunately for us, personal prayer can be a powerful weapon.

2 Corinthians 9:1-15 (MSG)

9 1-2 If I wrote any more on this relief offering for the poor Christians, I’d be repeating myself. I know you’re on board and ready to go. I’ve been bragging about you all through Macedonia province, telling them, “Achaia province has been ready to go on this since last year.” Your enthusiasm by now has spread to most of them.

3-5 Now I’m sending the brothers to make sure you’re ready, as I said you would be, so my bragging won’t turn out to be just so much hot air. If some Macedonians and I happened to drop in on you and found you weren’t prepared, we’d all be pretty red-faced—you and us—for acting so sure of ourselves. So to make sure there will be no slipup, I’ve recruited these brothers as an advance team to get you and your promised offering all ready before I get there. I want you to have all the time you need to make this offering in your own way. I don’t want anything forced or hurried at the last minute.

6-7 Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

8-11 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,

    giving to the needy in reckless abandon.

His right-living, right-giving ways

    never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

12-15 Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they’ll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!

Share Your Faith

Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A great devotional podcast from Ann Mainse - listen to 'Sincerely Yours' @stayFaithStrong

http://media.blubrry.com/faithstrongtoday/p/fst.mc.tritondigital.com/SINCERELY_YOURS_P/media/SY-378_apr27-18.mp3

Our journey through 2 Corinthians finds us in chapter 9. Paul continues to touch on the practical lives of the Corinthian believers, challenging them on their attitudes toward giving. How tightly did they hold their “things” and, more importantly, what was their attitude when giving up those “things”? Reading in The Living Bible, Paul revealed to them and... us what... kind of attitude is pleasing to God. Listen in as we unpack the Scripture on this Sincerely Yours devotional podcast.

2 Corinthians 9:1-15 (TLB)

9 I realize that I really don’t even need to mention this to you, about helping God’s people. 2 For I know how eager you are to do it, and I have boasted to the friends in Macedonia that you were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was this enthusiasm of yours that stirred up many of them to begin helping. 3 But I am sending these men just to be sure that you really are ready, as I told them you would be, with your money all collected; I don’t want it to turn out that this time I was wrong in my boasting about you. 4 I would be very much ashamed—and so would you—if some of these Macedonian people come with me, only to find that you still aren’t ready after all I have told them!

5 So I have asked these other brothers to arrive ahead of me to see that the gift you promised is on hand and waiting. I want it to be a real gift and not look as if it were being given under pressure.

6 But remember this—if you give little, you will get little. A farmer who plants just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much. 7 Everyone must make up his own mind as to how much he should give. Don’t force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes. 8 God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more so that there will not only be enough for your own needs but plenty left over to give joyfully to others. 9 It is as the Scriptures say: “The godly man gives generously to the poor. His good deeds will be an honor to him forever.”

10 For God, who gives seed to the farmer to plant, and later on good crops to harvest and eat, will give you more and more seed to plant and will make it grow so that you can give away more and more fruit from your harvest.

11 Yes, God will give you much so that you can give away much, and when we take your gifts to those who need them they will break out into thanksgiving and praise to God for your help. 12 So two good things happen as a result of your gifts—those in need are helped, and they overflow with thanks to God. 13 Those you help will be glad not only because of your generous gifts to themselves and to others, but they will praise God for this proof that your deeds are as good as your doctrine. 14 And they will pray for you with deep fervor and feeling because of the wonderful grace of God shown through you.

15 Thank God for his Son—his Gift too wonderful for words.

Share Your Faith

Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A great devotional podcast from Ann Mainse - listen to 'Sincerely Yours' @stayFaithStrong

http://media.blubrry.com/faithstrongtoday/p/fst.mc.tritondigital.com/SINCERELY_YOURS_P/media/SY-377_apr26-18.mp3

To be a great person you have to live a truly full life. But how? How can an ordinary person transcend into an extraordinary life?  Well, it’s been said that “Good people do for themselves... GREAT people do for others.” Living a life that isn’t inward focused but outward reaching isn't easy, but this Sincerely Yours devotional is a good place to start. Learn how you can start living an extraordinary life on this episode of the podcast.

2 Corinthians 8:1-24 (TLB)

8 Now I want to tell you what God in his grace has done for the churches in Macedonia.

2 Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, they have mixed their wonderful joy with their deep poverty, and the result has been an overflow of giving to others. 3 They gave not only what they could afford but far more; and I can testify that they did it because they wanted to and not because of nagging on my part. 4 They begged us to take the money so they could share in the joy of helping the Christians in Jerusalem. 5 Best of all, they went beyond our highest hopes, for their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to us, for whatever directions God might give to them through us. 6 They were so enthusiastic about it that we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to visit you and encourage you to complete your share in this ministry of giving. 7 You people there are leaders in so many ways—you have so much faith, so many good preachers, so much learning, so much enthusiasm, so much love for us. Now I want you to be leaders also in the spirit of cheerful giving.

8 I am not giving you an order; I am not saying you must do it, but others are eager for it. This is one way to prove that your love is real, that it goes beyond mere words.

9 You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus was: though he was so very rich, yet to help you he became so very poor, so that by being poor he could make you rich.

10 I want to suggest that you finish what you started to do a year ago, for you were not only the first to propose this idea, but the first to begin doing something about it. 11 Having started the ball rolling so enthusiastically, you should carry this project through to completion just as gladly, giving whatever you can out of whatever you have. Let your enthusiastic idea at the start be equalled by your realistic action now. 12 If you are really eager to give, then it isn’t important how much you have to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven’t.

13 Of course, I don’t mean that those who receive your gifts should have an easy time of it at your expense, 14 but you should divide with them. Right now you have plenty and can help them; then at some other time they can share with you when you need it. In this way, each will have as much as he needs. 15 Do you remember what the Scriptures say about this? “He that gathered much had nothing left over, and he that gathered little had enough.” So you also should share with those in need.

16 I am thankful to God that he has given Titus the same real concern for you that I have. 17 He is glad to follow my suggestion that he visit you again—but I think he would have come anyway, for he is very eager to see you! 18 I am sending another well-known brother with him, who is highly praised as a preacher of the Good News in all the churches. 19 In fact, this man was elected by the churches to travel with me to take the gift to Jerusalem. This will glorify the Lord and show our eagerness to help each other. 20 By traveling together we will guard against any suspicion,

http://media.blubrry.com/faithstrongtoday/p/fst.mc.tritondigital.com/SINCERELY_YOURS_P/media/SY-376_apr25-18.mp3

It’s been said that to "repent" means to "change one’s mind... to go in an opposite direction." And so it is with repentance to God. On this episode of Sincerely Yours, explore what true repentance looks like in the Christian faith and why it's so important in setting ourselves on the right path.

2 Corinthians 7:1-16

7 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance

2 Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. 4 I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

5 For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.

In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient,receiving him with fear and trembling. 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.

Share Your Faith

Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A great devotional podcast from Ann Mainse - listen to 'Sincerely Yours' @stayFaithStrongClick To Tweet

http://media.blubrry.com/faithstrongtoday/p/fst.mc.tritondigital.com/SINCERELY_YOURS_P/media/SY-375_apr24-18.mp3

Most of the time it feels as if our whole lives are controlled by “time.” We wear watches, punch time-cards, and set the timer to cook our food. In many cases, how much time is spent is more important than who it’s spent with, at least until life’s circumstances shake up our priorities. On this episode of Sincerely Yours, learn to focus in on what's important and why time is a gift that should never be wasted.

2 Corinthians 6:1-18

6 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.2 For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,

    and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Paul’s Hardships

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

Warning Against Idolatry

14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them

    and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

    and they will be my people.”

17 Therefore,

“Come out from them

    and be separate,

says the Lord.

Touch no unclean thing,

    and I will receive you.”

18 And,

“I will be a Father to you,

    and you will be my sons and daughters,

says the Lord Almighty.”

Share Your Faith

Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A great devotional podcast from Ann Mainse - listen to 'Sincerely Yours' @stayFaithStrongClick To Tweet

http://media.blubrry.com/faithstrongtoday/p/fst.mc.tritondigital.com/SINCERELY_YOURS_P/media/SY-374_apr23-18.mp3

When our kids were small, weekends in our house were all about movie night. Early on, one of our family’s favourite go-to movies was Disney’s Toy Story 2. And for good reason, it’s a great movie! But when thinking about our reading in this podcast, I realized Woody and his friends can teach us a lot about how we value ourselves. Then, going beyond that, our value to God. Listen in to this Sincerely Yours devotional.

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Share Your Faith

Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A great devotional podcast from Ann Mainse - listen to 'Sincerely Yours' @stayFaithStrongClick To Tweet

http://media.blubrry.com/faithstrongtoday/p/fst.mc.tritondigital.com/SINCERELY_YOURS_P/media/SY-373_apr11-18.mp3

All too often, life isn’t as it should be and it's easy to get a little tired of the waiting. For believers, we always get to look forward to Heaven. But just because we’re preparing for the “sweet by and by” doesn’t mean we’re to mentally check out of the monotonous here and now. No. We should live every day plugged into the excitement of what’s to come... and then reflect that enthusiasm to those around us.

2 Corinthians 5:1-10 (MSG)

5 1-5 For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less.

6-8 That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.

9-10 But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later we’ll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what’s coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad.

Share Your Faith

Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A great devotional podcast from Ann Mainse - listen to 'Sincerely Yours' @stayFaithStrongClick To Tweet

http://media.blubrry.com/faithstrongtoday/p/fst.mc.tritondigital.com/SINCERELY_YOURS_P/media/SY-372_apr10-18.mp3

As we’re looking into the 4th chapter of 2 Corinthians, Paul has a lot to say about pain. And helping others through their pain is the focus of this episode of Sincerely Yours. When presented with the “brokenness” of others, instead of helping them “die slowly,” we can lead them to safety, directly to the Source of Life. Read along below and listen above for this devotional podcast.

2 Corinthians 4:1-18 (NLT)

Treasure in Fragile Clay Jars

4 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. 2 We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Share Your Faith

Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A great devotional podcast from Ann Mainse - listen to 'Sincerely Yours' @stayFaithStrong

http://media.blubrry.com/faithstrongtoday/p/fst.mc.tritondigital.com/SINCERELY_YOURS_P/media/SY-371_apr09-18.mp3

We’re looking into 2 Corinthians chapter 3 and focusing in on verse 18 in particular, which says "As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more." God's Spirit works within us. I get that. I know how much I need Him. But what about the last part. As a result of this "working," we reflect His glory even more. Exactly what does that mean? Let's explore on this Sincerely Yours devotional podcast.

2 Corinthians 3:1-18 (NIV)

3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Share Your Faith

Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A great devotional podcast from Ann Mainse - listen to 'Sincerely Yours' @stayFaithStrongClick To Tweet

http://media.blubrry.com/faithstrongtoday/p/fst.mc.tritondigital.com/SINCERELY_YOURS_P/media/SY-370_apr06-18.mp3

Jesus loves the “unique” you. And when your life is surrendered to Him, your uniqueness is consumed with His life. The aroma of Jesus permeates every pore. That scent analogy will make a lot more sense when you listen to today's devotional.

2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (MSG)

14-16 In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse.

Share Your Faith

Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A great devotional podcast from Ann Mainse - listen to 'Sincerely Yours' @stayFaithStrongClick To Tweet