FLAME OF LOVE
"I can master it," said the Ax. His blows fell heavy on the hard, strong steel.
But each blow only made his edge more blunt until he ceased to strike.
"Leave it to me," said the Saw. With his relentless teeth, he
worked back and forth. But to his dismay, all of his teeth were worn out or
broken off.
"Ha!" said the Hammer. "I knew you could not do this. Let me
show you how." But with the very first blow, his head flew off, and the steel
was unchanged.
"Shall I try?" asked the Flame. And it curled itself gently
around the strong, hard steel, embraced it, and would not let it go. And the
tough steel melted.
There are hearts that are hard enough to resist the forces of
wrath and the fury of pride. But hard is the heart that can resist the warm
flame of Love.
Matthew 13:15-17 For this people's heart is waxed gross,
and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any
time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should
understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For
verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see
those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things
which ye hear, and have not heard them. - Author Unknown -
emailministry.org
HUGS
Hugging is healthy: It helps the body's immunity system, it keeps you healthier,
it cures depression, it reduces stress, it induces sleep, it's invigorating,
it's rejuvenating, it has no unpleasant side effects, and hugging is nothing
less than a miracle drug.
Hugging is all natural:
It is organic, naturally sweet, no pesticides, no preservatives, no artificial
ingredients and 100% wholesome.
Hugging is practically perfect. There are no
movable parts, no batteries to wear out, no periodic checkups, low energy
consumption, high energy yield, inflation-proof, non-fattening, no monthly
payments, no insurance requirements, theft-proof, non-taxable, non-polluting
and, of course, fully returnable. ...Unknown by way of Marjorie and "Christian
Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)
FRIENDSHIP
Proverbs 18:24 "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there
is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. " Many definitions have
been given to describe friendship. Some time ago an English publication offered
a prize for the best one. "A friend is one who understands our silence" was one
of the thousands of entries. But the one that took first prize was this: "A
friend—the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out."
To me, a true friend is one who knows all about you and loves
you still, who gives you his or her presence, who listens with his or her heart
and actually hears what you are saying—who accepts you for who you are and not
for what you have or haven't done. A good friend is one who doesn't judge you,
try to fix you, or tell you what you should do. He or she will appreciate your
friendship and tell you so, will rejoice with you in your successes and weep
with you in your sorrows. And, at times, a good friend will confront you and
graciously point out a fault, but no matter what, he or she will stand by you.
These friends are rare and precious.
But the greatest friend of all is the One who stepped out of
the ivory palaces of heaven and came to earth as a man—clothed in a garment of
human flesh—to identify with us, and who died on the cross to save us from our
sins, to give us a free pardon and the gift of eternal life. He is "a friend who
sticks closer than a brother" and will "never, not ever, no never leave us or
forsake us." (Hebrews 13:5 " Let your conversation be without covetousness;
and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee. ") His love is absolutely total, unconditional, and
eternal. His name is Jesus. - Daily Encounter by Dick Innes
MAY YOU ALWAYS FEEL LOVED
May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always
understand.
May the pain you have known and the conflict you have
experienced give
you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with
optimism and courage.
Always know that there are those whose love and understanding
will always be there, even when you feel most alone.
May you discover enough goodness in others to believe in a
world of peace.
May a kind word, a reassuring touch, a warm smile be yours
every day of your life, and may you give these gifts as well as receive them.
Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.
Teach love to those who know hate, and let that love embrace
you as you go into the world.
May the teaching of those you admire become part of you, so
that you may call upon them.
Remember, those whose lives you have touched and who have
touched yours are always a part of you, even if the encounters were less than
you would have wished.
May you not become too concerned with material matters, but
instead place immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart.
Find time in each day to see the beauty and love in the world
around you.
Realize that each person has limitless abilities, but each of
us is different in our own way.
What you may feel you lack in one regard may be more than
compensated for in another.
What you feel you lack in the present may become one of your
strengths in the future.
May you see your future as one filled with promise and
possibility.
Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.
May you find enough inner strength to determine your own
worth by yourself, and not be dependent on an other's judgments of your
accomplishments. May you always feel loved. - Author Unknown -
emailministry.org
THE WILL OF GOD
Remember. The Will of God will never take you...
Where the grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the arms of God cannot support you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.
Where the power of God cannot endow you.
Where the spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the riches of God cannot supply you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you,
The will of God will never take you...
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercy of God cannot sustain you,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.
- Daily Encourager
FOUR THINGS WE CANNOT RECOVER
The stone ... after the throw.
The word ... after it is said.
The occasion ... after it is missed.
The time ... after it is gone.
- Dick Innes, Weekend Encounter
~ There are those who believe
that a new modernity demands a new morality. What they fail to consider is
that there is no new morality. There is only one morality. All else is
immorality. – Theodore Roosevelt
Nothing is more powerful than
God's love.
DON'T PICK THEM UP AGAIN
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the
church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." Ephesians
3: 20, 21
There is a song that I really love
and it is a song that has helped me learn to trust Jesus. Pastor Charles Albert
Tindley penned these beautiful words. The name of the song is "Leave It There".
I wonder how many times we have sung these words and never did them.
These words have helped me so much "Take your burden to the Lord and
leave it there." I think if we are honest with ourselves we will have to admit
that there are times when we take our burdens to the Lord and as soon as we are
through praying and asking Him for help, we pick them up again.
When we pick our burdens up again, what we are saying is "We don’t trust
You, Jesus, to solve the problems and crises in our lives". May God have mercy
on us and forgive us for not trusting His beloved Son. Do you take your burdens
to Jesus and then pick them up again? If so, you are hurting Him and breaking
His heart.
May God help all of us to do what the words of this beautiful song tell
us to do "Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there". Are you willing to
trust Jesus with your burdens? If you are, don’t pick them up again. He is
waiting for you to trust Him. There are times when He can’t work in our lives
because we try to solve our problems ourselves. Let’s get out of His way and
leave our burdens with Him. - Joanne Lowe, thoughtsfromgod.com
BROKEN COVENANT
When God brought the Israelites out of
Egypt, He made a covenant with them at Mount Sinai. He promised special
blessings if they would set themselves apart and worship Him with all their
heart. But the people failed to honor their commitment - they worshiped other
gods and disregarded His commands.
After several hundred years of willful disobedience, God sent the prophet Hosea
to remind the Israelites of the pledge they once made and to reveal their
unfaithfulness.
Hosea 6:6-7 For I
desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt
offerings. 7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they
dealt treacherously against me.
Hosea was able to deliver this message with great
passion because he understood the pain of unfaithfulness. God had called Hosea
to marry a woman who, though she made a covenant of marriage, left him to live
as an adulteress with another man. Hosea could literally cry to his Israelite
Brothers of the hurt they were causing God with their spiritual adultery; he
fully knew how it felt when the one you love turns away to love another.
The covenant we make with our Heavenly Father must not be
taken lightly. He loves us dearly and gave His Son as a sacrifice for our sin.
And, to those who believe, He has given His Spirit; "with whom you were sealed
for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of
God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.). God is committed to
this covenant and, though He forgives us when we fall short, He expects and
deserves commitment in return.
When we turn from sin and believe Jesus to be our Lord and
Savior, He promises forgiveness; we promise to trust and follow where He leads.
He promises a clean heart; we promise our heart will always be His. He promises
eternity in His presence; we promise to worship Him with every breath!
Have we truly entered into a covenant relationship with the
Living God? And if so, are we being faithful to this covenant? Are we seeking
His direction, or are we following our own path and our own desires? We must
commit to love, honor, cherish...and follow, until the end of this life brings
us fully into His presence. Let's remain faithful and true to our promises.
Let's renew our commitment to obedience and worship, and refuse to come to the
end of this journey with a broken covenant. - Steve Troxel -
God's Daily Word Ministries
GOD'S GOAL ISN'T TO MAKE US GOOD
Colossians 1:28-29 "Whom we preach, warning every
man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect
in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working,
which worketh in me mightily."
We don't have to be good for goodness sake!
In fact, as strange as it may seem, being good may be our
worst enemy. It was for the Pharisees. Their external goodness was a cover-up to
avoid seeing who and what they were on the inside. Jesus didn't approve of their
external religiosity! In fact, he opposed it vehemently because it was an
outward act and not an inward response.
It can bring a great sense of freedom to realize that God
isn't into rules, but rather relationships. His goal isn't to make us good, but
to make us whole and to see us healed from the inside out. The end result will
be goodness but goodness that comes from a healed heart—not from adhering to
rules dictated by legalism.
This is not an excuse to act out in sinful or destructive
behaviors. Not at all. As the Apostle Paul said, Romans 6:1 "What shall we say
then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?"
What it does mean is that I need to grow towards wholeness
and maturity by recognizing my inner brokenness, my weaknesses, and my
unresolved character issues and bring them not only to God for healing, but also
to a trusted friend and/or counselor. As James said, James 5:16 "Confess your
faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The
effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
Again, God's goal is not to make us good, but to make us
whole. It's the heart that counts with him, not the externals. If all I have is
external goodness, I am no better than the Pharisees. Realize too, that only to
the degree that we are made whole will our lifestyle, our attitudes, our
actions, our behaviors, and our relationships be wholesome. - Dick Innes,
Daily Encounter
There's no better time to praise God than right
now.
WHAT WE PROJECT
John 8:31-32Then said Jesus to those
Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples
indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
It's amazing how many people actually blame God, the devil or
anyone else for their own irresponsible behavior. I have a talk I used to give
that I titled, "The Devil Didn't Make Me Do It—I Can Mess Things Up All by
Myself." And I can. Sure we are all tempted from time to time but each of us is
responsible for the choice we make either to resist temptation or to give in to
it.
A former supporter of our work, a man in his mid-thirties
complained to me about the opposite sex because of his repeated experiences in
failed relationships and tried, without success, to get me to agree with him in
his self-justification. No chance. A distressed young woman bemoans the fact
that she and her boyfriend fell pregnant and wondered why God allowed it to
happen. Amazing? Another man I know is convinced that there's something wrong
with most of the men he has had dealings with because none of them like him.
And here's a classic from a woman in a support group I was
leading some time ago. "I can't understand why God gave me such a terrible
husband," she bitterly moaned in a whiney poor-me tone of voice.
"Who chose your husband?" I asked.
"God did!" she said and was dead serious. Her avoidance of
personal responsibility and denial of reality was painfully pathetic. There was
no way I could even begin to get her to face reality, let alone get her to take
a good hard look to see the truth about herself. Without access to the truth
there is no resolution, no recovery, and no freedom.
"When dealing with people [like this]," Jim Rohn says, "I
generally take the obvious approach. When someone says, 'This always happens to
me and that always happens to me. Why do these things always happen to me?' I
simply say, 'Beats me. I don't know. All I know is that those kinds of things
seem to happen to people like you.'"
That might sound tough but it's true. The fact is that what
we project is what we get back and what we allow we reinforce. We either face
reality and admit exactly what our part is in all of these situations and get
into a recovery program, or we continue to repeat our past negative patterns. As
the saying goes, "If we keep doing what we've always done, we'll keep getting
what we've always got, and we'll keep feeling what we've always felt." It's
either resolution or repetition.
The only people God or anyone can help are those who say, "I
have a problem. I need help." And as long as you and I allow people in our life
to get away with boundary-busting, irresponsible behavior, we become a part of
their sickness. - Daily Encounter
27 INDICATIONS THAT WE NEED
REVIVAL
1.. When we do not love Him as we once did.
2.. When earthly interests and occupations are more important to us than eternal
ones.
3.. When we would rather watch TV and read secular books and magazines than read
the Bible and pray.
4.. When we have little or no desire for prayer.
5.. When we would rather make money than give money.
6.. When our Christianity is joyless and passionless.
7.. When we know truth in our heads that we are not practicing in our lives.
8.. When we make little effort to witness to the lost.
9.. When we have time for sports, recreation, and entertainment, but not for
Bible study and prayer.
10.. When we do not tremble at the Word of God.
11.. When we seldom think thoughts of eternity.
12.. When we are more concerned about our jobs and careers than about the
Kingdom of Christ and the salvation of the lost.
13.. When Christian husbands and wives are not praying together.
14.. When our children are growing up to adopt worldly values, secular
philosophies and ungodly lifestyles.
15.. When we watch things on TV and movies that we would not show in church.
16.. When our prayers lack fervency.
17.. When our hearts are cold and our eyes are dry.
18.. When our singing is half-hearted and our worship lifeless.
19.. When we aren't seeing regular evidence of the supernatural power of God.
20.. When we are bored with worship.
21.. When we are more concerned about what others think about us than what God
thinks about us.
22.. When we are making little or no difference in the secular world around us.
23.. When we are unmoved by the thought of our neighbors, business associates
and acquaintances going to hell.
24.. When we have ceased to weep and mourn and grieve over our sin.
25.. When we aren't exercising faith and believing God for the impossible.
26.. When the fire has gone out in our hearts, our marriages and our church.
27.. When we are blind to the extent of our need and don't think we need
revival. - Author Unknown -
emailministry.com
On Mount
Moriah, Abraham built an altar. When Isaac inquired how they could offer a
sacrifice without a sacrificial animal, Abraham responded: My son, God will
provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering (Genesis 22:8). Abraham's many
years of trusting in the Lord gave him faith in God. This is an amazing
testimony of how Abraham's faith had grown over the years until he knew that God
never makes a mistake and he believed God was able to raise him up, even from
the dead (Heb. 11:19). - Bible
Pathway
God is still our great
Provider!
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Once upon a time a little candle stood in a room filled with other candles, most
of them much larger and much more beautiful than she was. Some were ornate and
some were rather simple, like herself. Some were white, some were blue, some
were pink, some were green. She had no idea why she was there, and the other
candles made her feel rather small and insignificant.
When the sun went down and the room began to get dark, she
noticed a large man walking toward her with a ball of fire on a stick. She
suddenly realized that the man was going to set her on fire. "No, no!!" she
cried, "Aaaaagghhh! Don't burn me, please!" But she knew that she could not be
heard and prepared for the pain that would surely follow.
To her surprise, the room filled with light. She wondered
where it came from since the man had extinguished his fire stick. To her
delight, she realized that the light came from herself.
Then the man struck another fire stick and, one by one, lit the other candles in
the room. Each one gave out the same light that she did.
During the next few hours, she noticed that, slowly, her wax
began to flow. She became aware that she would soon die. With this realization
came a sense of why she had been created. "Perhaps my purpose on earth is to
give out light until I die," she mused. And that's exactly what she did.
God created you and I to produce light in a dark world. Like
that little candle, we all can produce the same amount of light, no matter how
small we are or what color we might be. But we can't produce light until we
receive it from an outside source. That source is Jesus Christ, the light of the
world. - …..Inspiration Daily (inspirationdaily@yahoogroups.com)
(timsinspiration@yahoo.com)
by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com)
IS IT REALLY FUNNY?
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God, or just ignore Him, and then
wonder why the world's going to hell.
Funny how we are quick to judge but not to be judged.
Funny how the lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene pass freely
through cyberspace, but the public discussion of God is suppressed in the school
and workplace.
Funny how people can believe and be so concerned about what
the newspapers say, but question or ignore what the Scriptures say.
Funny how someone can be so fired up for Christ on Sunday,
but be an invisible Christian the rest of the week.
Funny how many believe they're going to heaven, but do not
follow the roadmap, or study how to get there.
Funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still follow
Satan who, by the way, also "believes" in God.
Are you laughing yet?? . . . . Are you thinking yet???
Are you not inclined to bring these concerns to the attention
of others - in hopes that more people will (more often) make more of an effort
to make a stand for what is good, right and true? - and/or to find out what God
might have to do with everything, and what He might do to help? - - to help
deter this great country (and the world) from its downward spiral morally,
economically, etc., if you're not part of the solution, are you part of the
problem?...
I HAVE A PROBLEM
Luke 18:13 "And the publican,
standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote
upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."
A man went to visit a psychiatrist, or so the story goes, and
said, "Doc, I've got two problems." The psychiatrist said, "Okay, tell me all
about it." The man began, "Well, first of all, I think I am a Coca-Cola
Machine."
The psychiatrist sat the man down and started therapy. For
weeks, he gave it his best shot but nothing seemed to help. Finally, out of
exasperation, the psychiatrist jumped up one day, took two quarters (25-cent
pieces) out of his pocket, shoved them in the man's mouth, grabbed him by the
ears and shook him till he swallowed them. Then he hollered, "Okay, now give me
a Coke."
That's when the man said, "I can't, Doc. That's my second
problem, I'm out of order." - Parables, Etc. Nov. '86, Submitted by Ed
Rutherford, Cerritos Assembly, Cerritos, California.
Jokes aside, the only people who have a problem that anyone
can ever help, and the only ones that God can help are those who admit, "I have
a problem. I need help. I'm out of order." As long as we blame anybody else for
the way we react to situations, we will never overcome our problems. What others
do to me is their issue. This is not to justify what they have done. However,
how I respond is always my responsibility. In other words, whatever bothers me
is my problem/issue and I need to resolve that.
Overcoming any problem means acknowledging that I have a
problem, admitting what the problem is, seeking help to overcome it, and
persistence to hang in until the problem is resolved. - Dick Innes,
Daily Encounter
A TEST OF SINFULNESS
"But exhort one another daily, while it is
called TODAY; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
Hebrews 3:13
If you want to know whether you are sinful or not, just take
any of the characteristic commands of Jesus, take any point of example in Him,
any of His conduct, anywhere, and try in on yourself.
When we go into a clothing store, needing to be fit for a gown or suit, we seek
help in sizing. We try on garment after garment to seewhat size correctly fits
us.
We should try moral qualities the same way. We have One text
that leads to this very analogy: "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,"as a garment.
Put it on your conscience. Put on the Lord Jesus as an element of love. Try on
these Christian graces, and see whether they fit you. - jcshrimp1.com/insp
"Do not
wait ... the time will never be just right ...start where you stand ... and work
with whatever tools you may have at your command at the moment ... and better
tools will be found as you go along." - Napoleon Hill
"Beginning
today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight.
Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do
it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again." -- Og
Mandino
NEW YEAR'S TIPS FOR BETTER
LIVING Psalms 37:3-6
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt
thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in
the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto
the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring
forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Here are twenty tips for better living
in the New Year:
1. Rise and pray every day: "Again today, dear God, I commit and trust my life
and way to you. I'm available. Please use me to be 'as Jesus' to every life I
touch."
2. Don't sweat the small stuff.
3. Remember these simple sentences: "I was wrong." "I am sorry." "Please
forgive me." "Thank you." Say them whenever needed and say "I love you" often—
whether needed or not.
4. Come apart and rest a while before you come apart— stress is a killer.
5. Remember, "Nothing changes if nothing changes."
6. Don't nurse grudges: "Failing to forgive is like drinking poison and waiting
for the other person to die."
7. Carpe diem. Seize the day. "Opportunity comes to pass—not to pause."
8. Quit the blame-game—"choice, not chance, determines destiny."
9. Control your thinking or your thinking will control you. "What the mind
dwells on the body acts on."
10. Invest your life in a worthwhile cause by having a noble purpose for which
to live—one that is bigger than yourself—one that will help make your world a
better place in which to live.
11. Be a positive realist. You will always see what you are looking for: "Two
men look out the same prison bars. One sees mud, the other stars."
12. The greatest abilities are availability, dependability, and responsibility."
13. "There is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience."
14. "Smooth seas never make skillful sailors."
15. When God is silent. "I believe in the sun even when it isn't shining. I
believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in God even when he is silent."
16. Cry when needed. "Every unshed tear is a prism through which all of life's
hurts are distorted."
17. Laugh a lot. It's still the best medicine.
18. Remember, "The bumps are what we climb on."
19. Fear not. At least 95 percent of the things we fear never happen. Trust God
for the other five percent.
20. Have faith and put God first with your time, talents, and tithe (money). -
Dick Innes - Daily Encounter
FINISH THE RACE
Paul was returning to Jerusalem at the end of his third and final missionary
journey. By this time in his ministry, Paul had been a Christian for nearly
twenty years. Twenty years since Jesus called Paul, "My chosen instrument to
carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of
Israel" (Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen
vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children
of Israel.). Twenty years of faithful service, and now... "In every city the
Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me" (Acts 20:23
Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and
afflictions abide me.).
Paul was returning home, but his life was not going to be
easy. He knew there were many trials ahead, but his life had a purpose far
beyond his immediate surroundings. Acts 20:24 But none of these things move
me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course
with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify
the gospel of the grace of God.
It was several more years before Paul wrote; "I have learned
the secret of being content in any and every situation" (Philippians 4:12 I
know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all
things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to
suffer need.); yet here, when facing certain hardship, Paul showed he had
already learned the secret. The particular circumstances in Paul's life had
become of minor importance. He knew his contentment was not based on current
events, but on bringing glory and honor to God. His life had a wonderful purpose
even in the face of great adversity and harsh conditions.
We were all created for the same purpose as Paul - we were
created to bring glory and honor to God! Our specific tasks may differ and
change from time to time, but we each have the same unchanging purpose.
Everything we do, say, and think should bring glory and honor to our Heavenly
Father!
God's race is run in the deepest part of our heart, not in
the flurry of activity. Running well is not defined by doing more; rather, we
run a "successful" race as we do every little task we are given with the
complete and absolute devotion of our heart.
His race is long and often difficult. There are many
distractions which seek to slow us down and even pull us from the track; and at
times we may even wonder why we're running. But being a participant in God's
eternal race is infinitely more rewarding than standing on the sidelines and
simply watching! He has called us to run - and to run well!!
We must run the path God places before us with all the
strength He provides, and within the sure and calming protection of His grace.
Let's run with the motivation of bringing Him glory and honor by loving Him with
ALL our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let's continue to run well, and with a
burning desire to finish the race. - Steve
Troxel - God's Daily Word Ministry - gdwm.org
TOP TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2012
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.
- Author Unknown, emailministry.org
NOW IS THE TIME!
Colossians 4:5-6 "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the
time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know
how ye ought to answer every man."
This may be the day the Lord returns! The thought of
(Psalms 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will
rejoice and be glad in it.") surely includes our rejoicing in His return.
And if we really believe Christ may return this very day, we'll live differently
than we ever have, seeking to affect others for Christ.
Nobody knows when He will return, so we ought to live each
day as though He will come back today.
Use time wisely, make the most of every opportunity! Don't make excuses! Be
involved in the lives of those outside the Lord. Pray daily that God will keep
alive in our heart a picture of those who are lost. Ask God to revive our loving
concern that all men be taught of Him, and to help us be involved in every
effort to teach them.
Acts 10:37-38 "That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all
Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about
doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with
him."
Now, treat everyone as if you'll never see them again. If we
don't take for granted that we'll have time in the future, surely our treatment
of others will greatly improve. Use the time now to share a little about Jesus,
for you may not have another opportunity.
It's a great privilege to be a part of the family of God! And
if we truly believe that now is all the time we have, just think of the
difference that will make in our lives, not to mention, the lives of others.
Redeem the time wisely! jcshrimp1.com/insp
THE REJECTED STONE
- King Duncan "From Rejection to Rejoicing"
There was a legend that was well known in New Testament times that in the
building of the temple of Solomon most of the stones were of the same size and
shape. One stone arrived, however, that was different from the others. The
builders took one look at it and said, "This will not do," and sent it rolling
down into the valley of Kedron below.
The years passed and the great temple was nearing
completion, and the builders sent a message to the stonecutters to send the
chief cornerstone that the structure might be complete. The cutters replied that
they had sent the stone years before. Then someone remembered the stone that was
different than all the rest that somehow did not seem to belong.
They realized that they had thrown away the
cornerstone.
They hurried into the valley to retrieve it. Finally
under vines and debris they recovered it and with great effort rolled it up the
hill and put it in place so that the great temple would be complete. The stone
that had been rejected had become the chief cornerstone. Jesus, who had been
rejected, now reigns.
THE POWER OF LITTLE THINGS
Mark 6:7 "And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by
two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits"
Bridge builder, Charles Eliet, had a contract to build a
suspension bridge across the Niagara River. One of the first problems he faced
was how to stretch his first cable across the wide expanse of raging waters. If
a boat tried to cross the river it would be swept over the falls. Eliet thought
of a simple idea. If a kite could be flown to the opposite bank using a light
cord, a stronger cord could be attached and pulled across, and then a stronger
cord pulled across and so on until a cable could be attached and drawn across.
Eliet called for a kite flying contest and a young man named
Homan Walsh succeeded on his second attempt. Charles Eliet's simple plan worked
and the bridge was built.
In life some of us often feel we don't have a very important
role to play. What we do seems so insignificant. It isn't so. Every Christian
has an important part to play. It all adds up in the numerous "little things" we
are called to do every day.
Jesus started spreading the gospel to the whole world by
simply sending his disciples out two by two! So, never underestimate the
importance of what God has called you to do. The important thing is to keep at
it—day by day! - Dick Innes, Daily Encounter
HOW ABOUT SOME HUMBLE
PIE? James 4:6
"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God
resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
Corrie Ten Boom tells
this story in her book, Each New Day. "When I saw Sadhu Sundar Singh in Europe,
he had completed a tour around the world. People asked him, Doesn't it do harm,
your getting so much honor?" The Sadhu's answer was: "No. The donkey went into
Jerusalem, and they put garments on the ground before him. He was not proud. He
knew it was not done to honor him, but for Jesus, who was sitting on his back.
When people honor me, I know it is not me, but the Lord, who does the job."
Another wise person once said, "I believe the first test of a
truly great man is his humility. I do not mean by humility, doubt of his own
power, or hesitation in speaking his opinion. But really great men have a …
feeling that the greatness is not in them but through them; that they could not
do or be anything else than God made them."
We too, should strive to
live knowing that the greatness is through us and give God all the glory He
deserves! Lord, help us! We want to empty ourselves of our desires and our
agendas, and be available for all the works you want to do through us! And Lord,
we want to live a life of honoring You for every work! Thank you for loving us
and helping us along the way — in the Name of Jesus, Amen! -
worthydevotions.com
HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!
Psalms 34:1 "I will bless the LORD at all
times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."
We got this email
from a friend and laughed so hard we had to share it with you.
There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the
mirror, and saw that she had only three hairs on her head. "Great," she said, "I
think I'll braid my hair today."
So she did, and had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that
she had only two hairs on her head. "Hmm," she said, "I guess I'll part my hair
down the middle."
So she did, and had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that
she had only one hair left on her head.
"Wow," she said, "today I get to wear my hair in a pony
tail." So she did, and had a wonderful, wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that
there wasn't a single hair on her head.
"Thank God!" she exclaimed. "I was running out of things to
do with my hair!"
ATTITUDE is everything!
Let's be grateful for the things God has given us and have a wonderful day! -
worthydevotions.com
SALT OF THE EARTH
Matthew 5:13
"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have
lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for
nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."
In my genealogical
research of early history in my area of the North American continent, I found
that salt was an important commodity for the early settlers. Before
refrigeration, salt was an important preservative for meats of various kinds.
An important social event took place in the autumn during the
mullet season on the Florida gulf coast. Wagon trains pulled by mules
transported the families to the coast. At night the wagons were placed in
circles and families slept in and under them for safety. They would seine
for mullet, clean and salt them down. The wagons were then loaded with the
salted fish and next year’s supply of salt.
When Jesus spoke of salt as being salty, he was not speaking
of the flavor salt added to the food, but its ability to preserve meats—to keep
them from becoming rancid and protect them from worms.
As Christians today, we are mixed into a society where we
should heal and preserve the culture by our witness. If we are to be the
salt of the earth, we must act as a preservative and purifier in society.
Are we as followers of Christ today adding flavor to society
and preserving the Christian way of life for those who come after us? Can
people tell we are Christian by the flavor we add to life? Has our salt
lost its taste? ...Ivie Bozeman (Ivie@rose.net) by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)
HOW DOES GOD SEE US?
Jeremiah 8:8,9 "How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with
us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.
The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have
rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them."
"Wisdom" may best
describe our present scientific and cultural plateau, yet spiritually we are
foolish indeed. Many people, seen as wise in the eyes of the world, are fools in
the eyes of our Lord.
The atheist who audaciously affirms, "I know there is no
God," is elevated upon the pedestal of intellectualism and wisdom by the world
of pseudo-science, yet God calls him a fool (Psalm 14:1).
Humanists, who deny the existence of sin, and contend that
one's conduct should best be determined by circumstances in which they find
themselves, are applauded and lauded as the wise one's of our age. God, in no
uncertain terms, has said, "Fools make a mock at sin" (Proverbs 14:9).
The world cries out, "Do what makes you feel good; do your
own thing!" God has decreed, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool"
(Proverbs 28:26).
The rich farmer in the twelfth chapter of Luke, who found
comfort in his accumulation of worldly goods, would be seen by many among us
today as a wise man indeed. God called him a fool!
How does God see us, my friend? Our nation seems to be
floating with the tide of moral and spiritual corruption. Are we drifting with
the tide? Or are we willing to stem the tide?
I would rather be a fool in the eyes of a foolish
world, than a fool in the eyes of my all-wise Creator! How about you?
The mere handling of God's Word is no guarantee of spiritual
fidelity. The Word must master you and become part of your life. -
jcshrimp1.com/insp
However tired or weary you may
be, see to it that the morning hour of devotion begins with the keynote of
thanksgiving and adoration. - F. B. Meyer
THANKSGIVING IS THANKSLIVING
Psalms 100:3 "Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us,
and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."
The art of thanksgiving is thanksliving. It is gratitude
in action! It is thanking God for our talents and abilities by accepting them as
obligations to be invested for the common good. It is thanking God for happiness
by striving to make others happy. It is thanking God for beauty and helping to
make the world more beautiful. It is thanking God for inspiring us and trying to
be an inspiration to others. It is thanking God for our health and strength and
taking care of the body which He has given us.
But most importantly, let us thank God for His precious Son,
Jesus Christ, who He gave us so freely, that we may have everlasting life. This
is something to truly give thanks for this day. However, not just this day, but
every day. Let us give thanks always for Jesus.
Charles Dickens once quoted: "We are somewhat mixed up here
in America. Instead of having one Thanksgiving Day each year, we should have
364! Use that one day a year for complaining and griping. Use the other 364 days
to thank God each day for the many blessings He has showered upon you." I
couldn't agree more!
Because we have Spiritual and material blessings from our gracious, loving
Father, let us give thanks not only today, but every day. Everything that we are
and everything we possess is because of God's loving-kindness. "Thank You, God!"
May you have a blessed Thanksliving Day with all in your
passing today, as you remember to thank the One who loves you most! -
jcshrimp1.com/insp
GIVE THANKS!
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and
all these things shall be added unto you."
Roger Babson, a famous statistician was having lunch with the
President of Argentina, "Mr. Babson," the President said, "I have been wondering
why it is that South America, with all its natural advantages, mines of iron,
copper, coal, and silver, rivers and great waterfalls, is so far behind North
America?" Babson replied, "Well, Mr. President, what do you think is the
reason?" He answered, "..South America was founded by the Spanish who came in
search of gold. North America was founded by the Pilgrims who went there in
search of God."
If we live a life of seeking gold — the blessings of God but
not God Himself — we end up losing both. The Pilgrims, who gave us the wonderful
holiday of Thanksgiving, came in search of God. It is because of this that
America has reaped blessing upon blessing. We need to examine ourselves and be
careful that we are seeking God in all things, putting Him first and giving
thanks to Him always. Seek first the kingdom of God and He will surely provide
from His riches in glory. by George Whitten, Editor of
worthydevotions.com
IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Psalm
34:1"I will bless the LORD at all times:
his praise shall continually be in my mouth."
Thank You, for the sun today
Which shines so bright above;
And sight to see the beauty You created out of love.
Thank You for the birds, dear
Lord, As up in trees they sing;
And ears to hear the sweetness Of the sound their voices bring.
Thank You for the smell of
rain You bring down on the land;
To keep us always well aware That all is in Your hand.
Thank You for the taste in
food and bounty you supply;
In knowing Who provides for us, On You, we can rely.
Thank You Lord for
everything, And putting minds at ease;
Just knowing You are there for us, Controlling as You please.
Live with an attitude of
Thanksgiving!
UNDERSTAND THE HEART OF
THANKSGIVING! Revelation 7:11-12
"And all the angels stood round about the
throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on
their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom,
and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and
ever. Amen."
I've been reading
about thanksgiving, and have recently come across some challenging examples of
this from other cultures, that I want to share.
In Africa, there are several tribes that have remarkable ways
of expressing their gratitude. In East Africa, the Masai tribe expresses thanks
by placing their foreheads on the ground and saying, "My head is in the dirt."
Another African Tribe communicates gratitude by sitting for a long time in front
of the hut of the individual whom they want to thank, saying, "I sit on the
ground before you."
These Africans understand that a core attitude of
thanksgiving is humility, and their way of expressing it clearly represents that
attitude. Our passage in Revelation reflects the same thing: angels, elders, and
living creatures all fall on their faces in humility and gratitude to God for
who He is.
I see a deep connection
between thanksgiving and humility which, perhaps, is often overlooked. Thankful
people recognize their need, and the generosity and beneficence of the Giver,
and every truly grateful person is humbled by the amazing gifts he's received
from God. So I see that true humility will always be accompanied by gratitude,
and also, that those who are truly grateful will be growing in the beautiful
characteristic of humility. May it be so for us. -
worthydevotions.com
HOLDING PATTERN
Many times God will allow a painful
situation or a painful circumstance in our life to "swallow us up." This season
in our spiritual growth is a holding pattern. We can't move to the left or the
right. All we can do is sit, like Jonah sat in the belly of that great fish, so
God can have our undivided attention and speak to us. God put Jonah in a holding
pattern because He needed to speak to his heart. Jonah was all alone. There were
no friends to call, no colleagues to drop by, no books to read, no food to eat,
no interference, and no interruptions. He had plenty of time to sit, think,
meditate, and pray.
When we're deep down in the midst of a difficult situation,
God can talk to us. When He has our undivided attention, He can show us things
about ourselves that we might not otherwise have seen.
A Few of God's Holding Patterns:
1. When you are sick in your physical body and you have
prayed but God has not healed you yet, you are in a holding pattern
2. When you are having problems with your children and you
have put them on the altar, but God has not delivered them yet, you are in a
holding pattern.
3. When you have been praying for the salvation of a loved
one and they have not been saved yet, you are in a holding pattern.
4. When you are in a broken relationship and you have given
it over to God, but it has not been restored yet, you are in a holding pattern.
5. When the doors slam shut before you can knock on them, you
are in a holding pattern.
When we are deep in the belly of a difficult situation, there
are no interruptions. God has our undivided attention. All we can do is sit,
think, meditate, and pray. We cannot run from God because there are no Mountains
that are high enough, valleys low enough, rooms that are dark enough, or places
that are hidden enough from Him. We must remember to praise Him while we're
waiting and remember three things:
1. The pattern has a purpose.
2. The pattern has a plan.
3. The pattern has a process.
So stop struggling and start listening, praying and trusting.
He'll keep you right where you are until you can clearly hear Him say, "I love
you." - Author Unknown -
emailministry.org
THE POTTER'S HAND
About 2600 years ago, God taught the prophet Jeremiah what it meant to be a
sovereign God. He taught that His plan WOULD be fulfilled - one way or the
other. Either His children would submit to His gentle guidance, or He would
bring discipline to teach them the need for obedience.
Although God has the ability to directly give us understanding, His usual method
is to teach us through His Word and then allow us to see the application and
gain wisdom through our experiences. In order to give a clear understanding of
His sovereignty, God told Jeremiah to go to the potter's house and wait for His
message.
Jeremiah 18:3-6 "Then I went down to the potter's house,
and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of
clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel,
as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me,
saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD.
Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of
Israel."
Jeremiah understood that God was the Potter and had total
control over the shape of the clay. How foolish it would be for the clay to
complain or rebel; "Can the pot say of the potter, 'He knows nothing'?" (Isaiah
29:16 "Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the
potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or
shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?").
The Potter will continue to mold the clay. If the clay begins to harden in its
unfinished state, the Potter loves the clay enough to crush it down, sprinkle it
with water and begin anew.
The only way for us to become all that God desires is to
yield and remain moldable. We have no ability to shape ourselves! The Potter is
creating something eternally beautiful - we are being "conformed to the likeness
of His Son" (Romans 8:29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate
to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
many brethren."). Oh, if we could only trust that His shaping is so much
better than anything we could ever create. How prideful to think we can do
better!
There may be times when we have rough edges which must be
removed. There may also be times when we need to be crushed down so the shaping
process can start over. But we must trust the Potter and believe the results
will be worth any pain or discomfort; "I consider that our present sufferings
are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.").
Our Heavenly Father is in complete (and loving) control.
Let's daily be filled with His Spirit and commit our lives to His shaping
process - a process which undoubtedly will last a lifetime! Let's remain
moldable clay and yield to the shaping of the Potter's Hand. - Steve Troxel,
God's Daily Word Ministries
LOVE, LAUGHTER, LIVE LONGER
Modern research has shown that men who kiss their wives before leaving for work
have better health, live longer and make more money than husbands who don't.
Doctors also tell us that
a good laugh after we eat is one of the healthiest things we can do. "A healthy
laugh gives a workout to your stomach and chest muscles, heart and lungs. And
though your blood pressure and adrenaline go up during laughter, they drop to
normal or below afterward, releasing stress. ("Laughter Is the Best Medicine,"
Readers Digest, January 1987).
This news is not altogether new. Aristotle, the famed Greek
philosopher, said the same thing 2,000 years ago. Referring to laughter, he
said, "It is a bodily exercise precious to health."
And a thousand years before Aristotle, Solomon wrote in the
Bible, Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken
spirit drieth the bones." - Weekend
Encounter
GOD KNOWS JUST WHAT WE NEED
A woman was at work when she
received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her
work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication for her daughter.
Upon returning to her car she found that she had locked her keys in the car. She
was in a hurry to get home to her sick daughter. She didn't know what to do, so
she called her home and told the baby sitter what had happened and that she did
not know what to do.
The baby sitter told her that her daughter was getting worse.
She said, "You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door." The
woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been thrown down
on the ground, possibly by someone else who at some time or other had locked
their keys in their car. Then she looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know
how to use this." So she bowed her head and asked God to send her some help.
Within five minutes an old rusty car pulled up, with a dirty,
greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head. The
woman thought, "This is what you sent to help me?" But, she was desperate, so
she was also very thankful.
The man got out of his car and asked her if he could help.
She said, "Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication
and I locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this
hanger to unlock my car?"
He said, "Sure". He walked over to the car, and in less than
one minute the car was opened.
She hugged the man and through her tears she said, "Thank You
So Much! You are a very nice man."
The man replied, "Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out
of prison yesterday. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out less
than 24 hours."
The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried
out loud, "Oh, Thank you God! You even sent me a Professional!"
God may not always send us what we expect, but He will always
send us what we need. It's up to us to have the wisdom to recognize the
difference and be thankful. - Author Unknown,
emailministry.org
"Strength:
Those who say 'I can't' and those who say 'I can' are both right. There is no
way we can do anything worthwhile if we say and believe we can't. The power to
achieve is in the 'I can!'" -- Ray Lammie (Phil 4:13)
LOSING EVERYTHING
What would you do when a crisis sours your life? We hear of folk who lose
everything in a house fire, or, more recently, of folk who struggle to make ends
meet. Tough circumstances draw us closer to
God if we don't whine or complain. It's hard to trust when our prayers are not
answered right away, and even harder the longer we wait. It takes faith to
believe the answers will come.
I've been reading Job, the oldest book in the Bible. We know
that Job was the richest man of his era, but in one day he lost every thing he
owned. And, he was devastated when all his children died in an unexpected
tornado. His wife suggested he curse God and die. Cursing God was something he
could not, and would not do. In the depth of his despair, he remarked that since
God have given him all things, he was entitled to take them all away.
When three friends visited, supposedly to comfort him, he
argued that he had done nothing so wrong to deserve losing everything. When the
argument heated up, Job became irritated and his friends stopped talking. They
saw that he was self-righteous. To his credit, Job said that he knew God was
quietly behind the scenes though he couldn't see His steps. He did not know that
God permitted this test because God trusted him to not curse. The question comes
back: how do we handle ourselves when we lose everything? Do we believe that God
knows what is happening, and do we know that he hears our prayer?
When Job was at the "end-of-his-rope", God stepped in to ask:
"Job, where were you when I created the heavens?" When asked a second time, Job
surrendered. Humbling himself, he said that he was indeed sorry for rambling
beyond what he knew. He admitted that he had known God only by reputation, but
now he knew God from personal experience.
Job learned that God lifts us up at our weakest point. Job's
story is not unlike the story in Philippians 3:10, where Paul said that what
counts is to know Christ from personal experience. After Job's admission and
submission, God allowed his things to be restored and then doubled. Job had ten
more children; he lived another 140 years; and saw four generations of his
family mature. The reward for enduring trials is an amazing maturity in Christ,
a deeper relationship with God, where His closeness is our treasure. - Gary
Kallio, Weekend Encounter
NOT HOME YET
An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years and was returning
to New York to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were
defeated, discouraged, and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same
ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of his big-game
hunting expeditions.
No one paid any attention to them. They watched the fanfare
that accompanied the President's entourage, with passengers trying to catch a
glimpse of the great man. As the ship moved across the ocean, the old missionary
said to his wife, "Something is wrong. Why should we have given our lives in
faithful service for God in Africa all these many years and have no one care a
thing about us? Here this man comes back from a hunting trip and everybody makes
much over him, but nobody gives two hoots about us."
"Dear, you shouldn't feel that way," his wife said. "I can't
help it; it doesn't seem right." When the ship docked in New York, a band was
waiting to greet the President. The mayor and other dignitaries were there. The
papers were full of the President's arrival.
No one noticed this missionary couple. They slipped off the
ship and found a cheap flat on the East Side, hoping the next day to see what
they could do to make a living in the city.
That night the man's spirit broke. He said to his wife, "I
can't take this; God is not treating us fairly." His wife replied, "Why don't
you go in the bedroom and tell that to the Lord?"
A short time later he came out from the bedroom, but now his
face was completely different. His wife asked, "Dear, what happened?"
"The Lord settled it with me," he said. "I told him how
bitter I was that the President should receive this tremendous homecoming, when
no one met us as we returned home. And when I finished, it seemed as though the
Lord put his hand on my shoulder and simply said, 'But you're not home yet!" -
Author Unknown, emailministry.org
NOW IS THE TIME!
Colossians 4:5-6 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the
time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know
how ye ought to answer every man
Psalms 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath
made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. This may be the day the Lord
returns! The thought of Psalm 118:24 surely includes our rejoicing in His
return. And if we really believe Christ may return this very day, we'll live
differently than we ever have, seeking to affect others for Christ.
Nobody knows when He will return, so we ought to live each
day as though He will come back today. Use time wisely, make the most of every
opportunity! Don't make excuses! Be involved in the lives of those outside the
Lord. Pray daily that God will keep alive in our heart a picture of those who
are lost. Ask God to revive our loving concern that all men be taught of Him,
and to help us be involved in every effort to teach them.
Acts 10:37-38 That word, I say, ye know, which was
published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which
John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with
power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the
devil; for God was with him. Now, treat everyone as if you'll never see them
again. If we don't take for granted that we'll have time in the future, surely
our treatment of others will greatly improve. Use the time now to share a little
about Jesus, for you may not have another opportunity.
It's a great privilege to be a part of the family of God! And
if we truly believe that now is all the time we have, just think of the
difference that will make in our lives, not to mention, the lives of others.
Redeem the time wisely! - jcshrimp1.com/insp
"The
happiness of most people we know is not ruined by great catastrophes or fatal
errors, but by the repetition of slowly destructive little things." - Ernest
Dimnet <> "It's the little things that make the big things possible. Only close
attention to the fine details of any operation makes the operation first class."
- J. Willard Marriot
"Up in a
little town in Maine, things were pretty dead some years ago. The churches were
not accomplishing anything. There were a few Godly men in the churches, and they
said: 'Here we are, only uneducated laymen; but something must be done in this
town. Let us form a praying band. We will all center our prayers on one man. Who
shall it be?' They picked out one of the hardest men in town, a hopeless
drunkard, and centered all their prayers upon him. In a week, he was converted.
They centered their prayers upon the next hardest man in town, and soon he was
converted. Then they took up another and another, until within a year, two or
three hundred were brought to God, and the fire spread out into all the
surrounding country. Definite prayer for those in the prison house of sin is
the need of the hour." - Dr. R.A. Torrey
TIME MANAGEMENT
One day, an expert in time management
was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an
illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group
of high-powered overachiever s he said, "Okay, time for a quiz" and he pulled
out a one-gallon, wide-mouth mason jar and set it on the table in front of him.
He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully
placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and
no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?"
Everyone in the class yelled, "Yes." The time management
expert replied, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of
gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to
work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. He then asked the
group once more, "Is the jar full?"
By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of
them answered. "Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a
bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of
the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the
question, "Is this jar full?"
"No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good." Then he
grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to
the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this
illustration?"
One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no
matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some
more things in it!" "No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point.
The truth this illustration teaches us is:
If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get
them in at all."
What are the 'big rocks' in your life, time with your loved
ones, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or
mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get
them in at all.
So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on
this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my
life? Then, put those in your jar first. - Author Unknown - emailministry.org
A UNIQUE WAY TO PRAY
Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Terry tells how she "was in the habit of praying very
specifically for what she wanted. She told God in great detail about the kind of
job, the kind of husband, the kind of life that she envisioned for herself. And
Terry was frequently frustrated. But one day, Terry's friend suggested that she
try a different tack. 'Give God a blank sheet of paper,' the friend suggested,
'and let God give you his list for your life.'
"Not long afterwards, Terry went back to school—something she
hadn't anticipated doing. And she met a wonderful new man, whom she eventually
married. He didn't fit the criteria of her earlier lists, but he was everything
she wanted in a husband. When Terry turned her life over to God's will, God
provided for her needs in ways she couldn't have imagined." . - Terry
Fitzgerald Sieck, found in Stories of God's Abundance for a More Joyful Life
(Lancaster, PA: Starburst Publishers, 1999), pp. 196-198.
Another
excellent way to pray is, taking off on the famous quote by JFK: "Ask not what
God can do for you but rather, what can you do for God—today?" -
Daily Encounter
WHEN WE DON'T PRAY
Did you realize that when we don’t pray it’s a sin against God? First Samuel
12:23 says, "Far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to
pray for you."
When we don’t pray, it’s direct disobedience to the Word of God.
First Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Pray without ceasing."
When we don’t pray, we’re vulnerable. Matthew 26:41 says, "watch
and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
When we don’t pray, we’re powerless. It limits our relationship with God.
It hinders us from knowing His will, His priorities, and His direction.
When we don’t pray, we rely on what we can do instead of what He
can do.
When we don’t pray, we’re showing pride, self-sufficiency, and lack
of discipline.
When we don’t pray, it leaves us weak, harried, and hassled.
So, why don’t we pray? Let’s say with the disciples, "Teach us to pray."
- Nancy Leigh DeMoss - Monday Fodder
Prayer is taking action.
Prayer shows that we acknowledge our need of the Lord's loving, powerful work.
Prayer not only changes every situation, it changes us and changes those
involved in the situation. God listens and answers our prayers according to His
perfect purposes for us. Prayer brings us into God's presence, and God's
presence restores, renews, and fills us with belief/faith and freedom to
function. Prayer draws us to God through our need to know Him and His will.
Prayer changes our hearts, bringing our hearts to be in tune with our Lord's
heart. We begin to see ourselves and others for whom we pray in the way that our
Lord sees us. The more we sit at His feet, the more we pray to Him, and the more
we pray with His Spirit, the more we become like our Lord Jesus.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the
Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit
of the Lord. ...Rosemary Renninson,
ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com
JESUS IS THE GREAT I AM!
He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End!
He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!
He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times.
He always was, He always is, and He always will be...
Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!
He was bruised and brought healing!
He was pierced and eased pain!
He was persecuted and brought freedom!
He was dead and brought life!
He is risen and brings power!
He reigns and brings Peace!
The world can't understand Him,
The armies can't defeat Him,
The schools can't explain Him,
and The leaders can't ignore Him.
Herod couldn't kill Him,
The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him,
and The people couldn't hold Him!
Nero couldn't crush Him,
Hitler couldn't silence Him,
The New Age can't replace Him,
and Donahue can't explain Him away!
He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.
He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.
He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.
His ways are right, His word is eternal,
His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me.
He is my Redeemer, He is my Savior,
He is my guide, and He is my peace!
He is my Joy, He is my comfort,
He is my Lord, and He rules my life!
I serve Him because His bond is love,
His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life.
I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,
the power of the powerful, the ancient of days,
the ruler of rulers, the leader of leaders,
the overseer of the overcomers, and the sovereign Lord
of all that was and is and is to come.
And if that seems impressive to you, try this for
size.
His goal is a relationship with ME!
He will never leave me, never forsake me,
Never mislead me, never forget me, never overlook me,
and never cancel my appointment in His appointment book!
When I fall, He lifts me up!
When I fail, He forgives!
When I am weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way!
When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me!
When I am hurt, He heals me!
When I am broken, He mends me!
When I am blind, He leads me!
When I am hungry, He feeds me!
When I face trials, He is with me!
When I face persecution, He shields me!
When I face problems, He comforts me!
When I face loss, He provides for me!
When I face Death, He carries me Home!
He is everything for everybody, everywhere, every
time, and every way.
He is God,
He is faithful.
I am His, and He is mine!
My Father in heaven can whip the god of this world,
So, if you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this...
He said it and that settles it. God is in control.
I am on His side, and that means all is well with my soul.
Everyday is a blessing for GOD Is!
- Author Unknown - emailministry.org
FAITH AMIDST TRIALS
Faith untried may be true faith, but it is sure to be little faith, and it is
likely to remain dwarfish so long as it is without trials. Faith never prospers
so well as when all things are against her: tempests are her trainers, and
lightnings are her illuminators. When a calm reigns on the sea, spread the sails
as you will, the ship moves not to its
harbor; for on a slumbering ocean the keel sleeps too. Let the winds rush
howling forth, and let the waters lift up themselves; then, though the vessel
may rock, and her deck may be washed with waves, and her mast may creak under
the pressure of the full and swelling sail, it is then that she makes headway
towards her desired haven. No flowers wear so lovely a blue as those which grow
at the foot of the frozen glacier; no stars gleam so brightly as those which
glisten in the polar sky; no water tastes so sweet as that which springs amid
the desert sand; and no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs in
adversity.
Tried faith brings experience. You could not have believed
your own weakness had you not been compelled to pass through the rivers; and you
would never have known God's strength had you not been supported amid the
water-floods. Faith increases in solidity,assurance, and intensity, the more it
is exercised with tribulation. Faith is precious, and its trial is precious
too." - Charles H. Spurgeon
TIMELY TIPS
Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
Drive
carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.
It may be
that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
Never put
both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to
stand on.
The second
mouse gets the cheese.
When
everything's coming your way, you may be in the wrong lane.
Birthdays
are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
We could
learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull.
Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in
the same box.
A truly
happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Have an awesome day and know that
someone has thought about you today. - Author Unknown -
Weekend Encounter
FRIENDSHIP
Proverbs 18:24 "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there
is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
The North American Indians had no written language before
they met the white man. Their language, however, was far from primitive. Many of
the Indians had as many words in their vocabulary as their English and French
exploiters. Some of their words were much more picturesque, too. For example,
"friend" to the Indians was "one-who-carries-my-sorrows-on-his-back."
Every one of us needs at least one trusted Indian-type friend
with whom we can share our deepest sorrows and disappointments. We all need a
helping hand and a listening ear when we're going through difficult times; a
shoulder to cry on when we are hurting, loving arms to hug us when we are
lonely, and a good friend to laugh with us when we are happy.
Choose friends who are encouragers. Avoid as far as possible
friends who are negative—and those "who are cursed with the affliction to give
advice" when it is neither asked for nor wanted. They're not your friends. They
will drain you. Being loving doesn't mean that we let people walk over us. Being
"as Jesus" to people often requires tough love which, when necessary, is the
most loving thing to do.
And most important of all … be an Indian-type friend! -
from Daily Encounter, by Dick Innes
THE CHRISTIAN'S PLEDGE...
I will do more than belong; I will participate.
I will do more than care; I will help.
I will do more than believe; I will practice.
I will do more than be fair; I will be kind.
I will do more than forgive; I will work.
I will do more than earn; I will enrich.
I will do more than teach; I will inspire.
I will do more than give; I will serve.
I will do more than live; I will grow.
I will do more than be friendly; I will be a friend.
Hebrews 6:11" And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to
the full assurance of hope unto the end." -
Monday Fodder
THE SHEPHERD'S PREPOSITIONS -
PSALMS 23
1. With me: "my shepherd"
2. Beneath me: "green pastures"
3. Beside me: "still waters"
4. Before me: "a table"
5. Around me: "mine enemies"
6. Upon me: "the anointing"
7. After me: "goodness and mercy"
8. Beyond me: "the house of the Lord
--P.H. McSwain - Monday Fodder
A PENNY
Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband
were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend,
Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine
home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.
The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted
to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer
was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene
knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of
extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.
As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive
restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her
husband.
He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long,
silent moment. Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was
nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped,
and a few cigarette butts.
Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.
He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great
treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would
he even take the time to stop and pick it up? Throughout dinner, the entire
scene nagged at her.
Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned
that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had
found had been of some value.
A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his
pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies
before! What was the point of this?
"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says."
She read the words "United States of America."
"No, not that; read further."
"One cent?"
"No, keep reading."
"In God we Trust?"
"Yes!"
"And?"
"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a
coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every
single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message
right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see
a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the
coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at
least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a
conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!
When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the
sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and
fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, "In God We
Trust," and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message. It seems that I have been
finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then,
pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient... creativeyouthideas.com
