JEREMIAH 50:6 MY PEOPLE HATH BEEN LOST SHEEP: THEIR SHEPHERDS HAVE CAUSED THEM TO GO ASTRAY, THEY HAVE TURNED THEM AWAY ON THE MOUNTAIN: THEY HAVE GONE FROM MOUNTAIN TO HILL, THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN THEIR RESTING PLACE.
*We have left the place of high standards-----(the high mountains) to low standards of preaching-----(to a low hill)
-We have compromised the gospel.
-We have lowered the standards of preaching; therefore the sheep are lost.
THE WORD OF GOD IS A STAND FOR HIS PEOPLE TO LIVE BY.
-It is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path.
-It is a compass for the lost.
-It is healing for the hurting.
-It is for correction, and for reproof.
-God's word is the food for his sheep; for Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread along, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
-So when we water down, compromise or alter the word that we preach then the sheep will go astray. Looking for or anything that fill the void for their hunger.
-His word will keep us safe.
-Without God's word the sheep will lose their way.
-God's word is what set's us apart from the world.
-David said, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.
-He knew that without God's word that he would sign against God, and even go astray like a lost sheep.
-Without the word of God being feed/preached to God's sheep they will go astray, become lost and hopeless looking for anything else to fill their void or longings.
(Nothing else is meant to replace God's word. Nothing else in the word will ever fill the void.
* Jesus as Peter 3 times if he love him, Peter, Peter answered him yes. Jesus said then feed my sheep.
-Feed them what? My word.
*Let's get back to preaching God's word.
-Let's Preach the truth about Sin.
-The reality about hell.
-And about Salvation as God 's Greatest Gift of Prosperity.
*Let's Direct the lost and hurting to Jesus; the Great healer (Jesus was the word made flesh) He said, "He sent what to Heal them?
-His word.
-He/the word is the only solution for mankind's emptiness.
-God's word is pure. If administered without man made props it will in and of itself will produce life.
-God's void cannot return void. So when given to his sheep, it will accomplish what God pleases.
Hurting people aren't just found in the world, but there are many that are lost, hurting and hopeless right among us---In the house of God.
-They are only, hurting and hopeless because we haven't given them what will heal---THE WORD.
-They are looking for the power that will heal them.
*Again God sent his word to heal them.
*Watering God's word down, or compromising God's word will not affect or bring change. Only the potentword of God brings healing.
-Their is still a balm in Gilead.
-Don't give in the seducing spirits, and yes doctrines of Devil's Pauls says. Don't compromise and preach sermons for itching ears. Don't white wash the walls any longer; but preach the pure, unadulterated sound word of God. Whatever God says---say that to his people.
-God 's word will produce life. There is a healing Balm in Gilead.
THE WORLD'S STANDARDS ARE EVER CHANGING BUT GOD'S WORD NEVER CHANGES.
-The scripture says, "For we are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation....
-In other words---THE WORD IS THE POWER.
-For if the Gospel or God's word be hid or compromised then it is hid to them that are lost.
-Remember lost means can't find their way.
-God's word is a compass for the lost; it is healing for the hurting. "IT IS THE HOPE FOR THE HURTING AND THE LOST."
SAINTS IF WE COMPROMISE THE WORD THERE IS NO HOPE FOR THE HURTING OR THE LOST.
HEAVEN IS THE FINISH LINE! DON'T GIVE UP UNTIL YOU FINISH THE RACE. LET NOTHING STOP YOU. EVEN IF YOU GET TIRED, REST BUT DON'T QUIT! KEEP PRESSING ON!!!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
”I Like Him A Lot! The Power of Chaste Women.”
We’ve all seen it, a woman who likes a man and throws herself at him. The mere sight of him she looses all dignity, goes into a trance, and transforms into this overly flirtatious, persuasive, woman. After she switches over to him, she softly whispers in his ear, all of the things that he would like to hear. Her demeanor, by no means is not new. Its how Delilah was able to be used to assist Samson to get out of the will of God and into more sin! You’ve all heard it, “Use what you got, to get what you want.” Somewhere down the line this term has become the prime behavior among “Christian” women. Romans 12:2 begins by saying, “Do not confirm to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind…” I submit to you that many of us still have these behaviors because we have simply not renewed our mind in this area. We get saved, but it takes work to remove our old worldly mentalities and to replace them with Godly ones.
R Kelly has a song entitled, “I’m a flirt.” This song describes flirtatious women to a tee! These women can share stories of flirting with men on everywhere they go. Girls as young as 15 years old are well versed in “flirting.” Flirting so skillfully, having men buying them things. Now, for the record they might not have sex with these men. However, they know how to communicate with men to get what they want.
After becoming born again; do the flirty behavior instantly disappear? Or course not! However, as you grow in the word of God by renewing your mind you will realized that this behavior is not acceptable for a PROVERBS 31 WOMEN! This woman FEARS THE LORD, is of noble character, and is CLOTHED WITH STRENGTH AND DIGNITY. I would go even further to say that this woman was “CHASTE.” Let’s take a look at the definition of Chaste according to Webster:
1 : innocent of unlawful sexual intercourse
2 : celibate
3 : pure in thought and act : modest
4 : severely simple in design or execution : austere b : clean, spotless
The chaste woman isn’t OVER THE TOP! As I like to say she doesn’t act “EXTRA.” Sure she may like a man, and that’s fine! Attraction is normal and there is nothing wrong with it, but a chaste woman KNOWS WHO SHE IS, AND KNOWS THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO THROW HERSELF at any man. She’s sure of herself, the God in her, and her worth. The chaste woman DOESN'T TALK EXTRA LOUD TO GET ATTENTION, and her motives are PURE. If she likes someone and wants to get to know him she’s pure about it. She’s not trying to get something from him. She doesn’t provoke him unto LUST with her suggestive glances, whispers, and clothing. Yet she is so confident that her presence commands ‘POSITIVE’ attention and RESPECT. The chaste woman knows she is “WORTH THE WAIT,” and EXEMPLIFIES that by keeping herself sexually pure.
“Whatever you give out is pretty much what you will get back…” LADIES , if you are constantly being treated like TRASH by men, maybe you should check out what you are putting out.”
It’s ok, and natural to be interested in someone! Try the CHASTE ROUTE this time! It DOES HAVE its advantages! You will be honoring God in the process, you will BE RESPECTING YOURSELF, and you will ULTIMATELY HAVE A GREATER CHANCE OF ATTRACTING THE RIGHT PERSON OR MR. BOAZ SHALL I SAY. LOL GOD BLESS!
HEAVEN IS THE FINISH LINE! DON'T GIVE UP UNTIL YOU FINISH THE RACE. LET NOTHING STOP YOU. EVEN IF YOU GET TIRED, REST BUT DON'T QUIT! KEEP PRESSING ON!!!
R Kelly has a song entitled, “I’m a flirt.” This song describes flirtatious women to a tee! These women can share stories of flirting with men on everywhere they go. Girls as young as 15 years old are well versed in “flirting.” Flirting so skillfully, having men buying them things. Now, for the record they might not have sex with these men. However, they know how to communicate with men to get what they want.
After becoming born again; do the flirty behavior instantly disappear? Or course not! However, as you grow in the word of God by renewing your mind you will realized that this behavior is not acceptable for a PROVERBS 31 WOMEN! This woman FEARS THE LORD, is of noble character, and is CLOTHED WITH STRENGTH AND DIGNITY. I would go even further to say that this woman was “CHASTE.” Let’s take a look at the definition of Chaste according to Webster:
1 : innocent of unlawful sexual intercourse
2 : celibate
3 : pure in thought and act : modest
4 : severely simple in design or execution : austere
The chaste woman isn’t OVER THE TOP! As I like to say she doesn’t act “EXTRA.” Sure she may like a man, and that’s fine! Attraction is normal and there is nothing wrong with it, but a chaste woman KNOWS WHO SHE IS, AND KNOWS THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO THROW HERSELF at any man. She’s sure of herself, the God in her, and her worth. The chaste woman DOESN'T TALK EXTRA LOUD TO GET ATTENTION, and her motives are PURE. If she likes someone and wants to get to know him she’s pure about it. She’s not trying to get something from him. She doesn’t provoke him unto LUST with her suggestive glances, whispers, and clothing. Yet she is so confident that her presence commands ‘POSITIVE’ attention and RESPECT. The chaste woman knows she is “WORTH THE WAIT,” and EXEMPLIFIES that by keeping herself sexually pure.
“Whatever you give out is pretty much what you will get back…” LADIES , if you are constantly being treated like TRASH by men, maybe you should check out what you are putting out.”
It’s ok, and natural to be interested in someone! Try the CHASTE ROUTE this time! It DOES HAVE its advantages! You will be honoring God in the process, you will BE RESPECTING YOURSELF, and you will ULTIMATELY HAVE A GREATER CHANCE OF ATTRACTING THE RIGHT PERSON OR MR. BOAZ SHALL I SAY. LOL GOD BLESS!
HEAVEN IS THE FINISH LINE! DON'T GIVE UP UNTIL YOU FINISH THE RACE. LET NOTHING STOP YOU. EVEN IF YOU GET TIRED, REST BUT DON'T QUIT! KEEP PRESSING ON!!!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
"CHANGE THE COLOR OF YOUR PAINT."
HAVE YOU BEEN FEELING EXTREMELY BORED WITH THE MONOTONY OF LIFE? MAYBE NOTHING DIFFERENT OR EXCITING EVER REALLY HAPPENS? EVERYDAY SEEMS TO BE THE SAME AS THE PREVIOUS ONE?
SINCE THINGS ARE WHAT THEY ARE, AND WISHING ABOUT THINGS WON'T CHANGE THEM ONE BIT. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE THINGS DIFFERENT?
MAYBE YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE. LIKE MAYBE LOOK AT THINGS IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT. FOR INSTANCE, YOU COULD VIEW EVERY NEW DAY AS A BLANK NEW CANVAS. NICE AND PLAIN JUST WAITING FOR YOU THE ARTIST TO EXPRESS YOURSELF. LOOKS LIKE TO ME YOU ARE IN CHARGE.
YOU COULD PAINT WITH THE SAME OLE BORING, MELONCOLONY COLORS OR YOU CAN ADAPT AND CHANGE. UPDATE A BIT! EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT CHANGING THE COLOR OF SOMETHING CAN MAKE THINGS LOOK BRAND NEW.
EVER HAD A ROOM THAT YOU WAS BORED WITH? MAYBE YOU THOUGHT THAT IT NEEDED A COMPLETELY NEW MAKE OVER, BUT TO YOUR SURPRISE ALL IT NEEDED WAS JUST A FRESH COAT OF PAINT IN A DASHING NEW COLOR. WOW, AND YES IT HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
SEE YOURSELF AS THE ARTIST, AND WITH EVERY NEW DAY AS A BRAND NEW CANVAS FROM GOD. GOD HAS GIVEN US ALL THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME AND SPACE. SOME OF US CHOOSE TO NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO PAINT OUR LIFES'S EXCITING, AND SOME OF US PAINT BORING OR HELPLESS LIFES. REMEMBER, WE ALL HAVE CHOICES. WE CAN LAY DOWN AND LET LIFE SIFT THE LIFE OUT OF US, OR WE CAN CHOOSE TO USE VIBRANT COLORS TO COVER UP DISAPPOINTMENTS, SETBACKS OR FAILURES. NO BODY'S LIFE IS PERFECT. IT IS HOW YOU CHOOSE TO HANDLE IT.
SO IF EVERYTHING IN LIFE SEEMS TO BE RUNNING TOGETHER, AND YOU CAN'T TELL ONE DAY FROM THE NEXT; JUST SET ASIDE SOME TIME AND PLAN HOW YOU CAN MAKE SOME CHANGES. WRITE DOWN SOME EXCITING THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE FOR EXAMPLE: DO A DINNER PARTY, OR INSTEAD OF GOING OUT TO EAT AFTER CHURCH ON SUNDAYS, WHY DON'T YOU GRAB A COUPLE OF BLANKETS, BALLS AND PACK A PICNIC AND ENJOY THE DAY OUTDOORS AT THE PARK? YOU CAN SCHEDULE BIKE RIDING FOR THE FAMILY, A COOKING CLASS FOR ONE OF YOUR YOUNGEST OR EVEN YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE CAN PLAN A HOT DATE.
OUR CHILDREN HAVE SUCH VIVID IMAGINATIONS. IF YOU WATCH THEM PLAY PRETEND THEY WILL IMAGINE ANYTHING TO BECOME SOMETHING GREAT. WE AS ADULTS HAVE LOTS OUR CREATIVE IMAGINATIONS. LET'S USE OUR GOD GIVEN CREATIVITY TO SPRUCE UP OUR LIFES. EVERYBODY THAT IS LIVING HAS A CANVAS. WHAT COLOR WILL YOU PAINT WITH TODAY?
I CHALLENGE YOU TO TRY! WRITE DOWN 20 EXCITING THINGS THAT YOU CAN AFFORD TO DO. LIKE GAME NIGHT WITH THE FAMILY. YOU HAVE TO HAVE GAME NIGHT FOOD, LIKE CHIPS AND DIP OR MOVIE NIGHT. WHAT ABOUT BOWLING? OR RIDE OUT TO THE BEACH AND HAVE A PICNIC? WHAT ABOUT VISITING A RELATIVES OUT OF TOWN? YOU WILL ENJOY THE RIDE AND ALSO THEIR COMPANY. DON'T GET TOO PARTICULAR HOW WELL EVERYTHING GOES, BECAUSE REMEMBER IT'S JUST PAINT!
TELL ME HOW IT GOES!
GOD BLESS YOU!
SINCE THINGS ARE WHAT THEY ARE, AND WISHING ABOUT THINGS WON'T CHANGE THEM ONE BIT. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE THINGS DIFFERENT?
MAYBE YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE. LIKE MAYBE LOOK AT THINGS IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT. FOR INSTANCE, YOU COULD VIEW EVERY NEW DAY AS A BLANK NEW CANVAS. NICE AND PLAIN JUST WAITING FOR YOU THE ARTIST TO EXPRESS YOURSELF. LOOKS LIKE TO ME YOU ARE IN CHARGE.
YOU COULD PAINT WITH THE SAME OLE BORING, MELONCOLONY COLORS OR YOU CAN ADAPT AND CHANGE. UPDATE A BIT! EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT CHANGING THE COLOR OF SOMETHING CAN MAKE THINGS LOOK BRAND NEW.
EVER HAD A ROOM THAT YOU WAS BORED WITH? MAYBE YOU THOUGHT THAT IT NEEDED A COMPLETELY NEW MAKE OVER, BUT TO YOUR SURPRISE ALL IT NEEDED WAS JUST A FRESH COAT OF PAINT IN A DASHING NEW COLOR. WOW, AND YES IT HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
SEE YOURSELF AS THE ARTIST, AND WITH EVERY NEW DAY AS A BRAND NEW CANVAS FROM GOD. GOD HAS GIVEN US ALL THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME AND SPACE. SOME OF US CHOOSE TO NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO PAINT OUR LIFES'S EXCITING, AND SOME OF US PAINT BORING OR HELPLESS LIFES. REMEMBER, WE ALL HAVE CHOICES. WE CAN LAY DOWN AND LET LIFE SIFT THE LIFE OUT OF US, OR WE CAN CHOOSE TO USE VIBRANT COLORS TO COVER UP DISAPPOINTMENTS, SETBACKS OR FAILURES. NO BODY'S LIFE IS PERFECT. IT IS HOW YOU CHOOSE TO HANDLE IT.
SO IF EVERYTHING IN LIFE SEEMS TO BE RUNNING TOGETHER, AND YOU CAN'T TELL ONE DAY FROM THE NEXT; JUST SET ASIDE SOME TIME AND PLAN HOW YOU CAN MAKE SOME CHANGES. WRITE DOWN SOME EXCITING THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE FOR EXAMPLE: DO A DINNER PARTY, OR INSTEAD OF GOING OUT TO EAT AFTER CHURCH ON SUNDAYS, WHY DON'T YOU GRAB A COUPLE OF BLANKETS, BALLS AND PACK A PICNIC AND ENJOY THE DAY OUTDOORS AT THE PARK? YOU CAN SCHEDULE BIKE RIDING FOR THE FAMILY, A COOKING CLASS FOR ONE OF YOUR YOUNGEST OR EVEN YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE CAN PLAN A HOT DATE.
OUR CHILDREN HAVE SUCH VIVID IMAGINATIONS. IF YOU WATCH THEM PLAY PRETEND THEY WILL IMAGINE ANYTHING TO BECOME SOMETHING GREAT. WE AS ADULTS HAVE LOTS OUR CREATIVE IMAGINATIONS. LET'S USE OUR GOD GIVEN CREATIVITY TO SPRUCE UP OUR LIFES. EVERYBODY THAT IS LIVING HAS A CANVAS. WHAT COLOR WILL YOU PAINT WITH TODAY?
I CHALLENGE YOU TO TRY! WRITE DOWN 20 EXCITING THINGS THAT YOU CAN AFFORD TO DO. LIKE GAME NIGHT WITH THE FAMILY. YOU HAVE TO HAVE GAME NIGHT FOOD, LIKE CHIPS AND DIP OR MOVIE NIGHT. WHAT ABOUT BOWLING? OR RIDE OUT TO THE BEACH AND HAVE A PICNIC? WHAT ABOUT VISITING A RELATIVES OUT OF TOWN? YOU WILL ENJOY THE RIDE AND ALSO THEIR COMPANY. DON'T GET TOO PARTICULAR HOW WELL EVERYTHING GOES, BECAUSE REMEMBER IT'S JUST PAINT!
TELL ME HOW IT GOES!
GOD BLESS YOU!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT
JUST A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT. EAGLES RUN INTO THE STORM. STRAIGHT INTO THE EYE OF IT, BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT THE STORM WILL WHIP HIM AROUND UNTIL IT TOSSES HIM OUT ABOVE THE STORM AND THEN HE WILL BE HIGH ENOUGH TO LOOK DOWN ON THE STORM.
JUST REMEMBER, WE CAN'T RUN FROM THE STORMS OF LIFE. IF WE DO IT ... See MoreWILL DO MORE DAMAGE. JUST RUN TO THIS THING HEAD ON IN PRAYER AND FASTING AND STRANDING ON GOD'S PROMISES. THIS IN NOT THE TIME TO HOLD BACK, BECAUSE NOW IS THE TIME TO PRESS IN. SATAN ISN'T GOING TO GIVE UP AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU.
JUST REMEMBER, YOUR WILL BE PASSED ALL THIS JUST LIKE THE EAGLE, AND YOU WILL LOOK DOWN ON THIS ONE DAY AS A PAST EXPERIENCE THAT LIFTED YOU UP IN FAITH AND STRENGTENED YOUR WALK.
JUST REMEMBER, WE CAN'T RUN FROM THE STORMS OF LIFE. IF WE DO IT ... See MoreWILL DO MORE DAMAGE. JUST RUN TO THIS THING HEAD ON IN PRAYER AND FASTING AND STRANDING ON GOD'S PROMISES. THIS IN NOT THE TIME TO HOLD BACK, BECAUSE NOW IS THE TIME TO PRESS IN. SATAN ISN'T GOING TO GIVE UP AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU.
JUST REMEMBER, YOUR WILL BE PASSED ALL THIS JUST LIKE THE EAGLE, AND YOU WILL LOOK DOWN ON THIS ONE DAY AS A PAST EXPERIENCE THAT LIFTED YOU UP IN FAITH AND STRENGTENED YOUR WALK.
Monday, May 3, 2010
WHAT IS A PROPER PERSPECTIVE TOWARD MONEY? PART I
PSALM 23: The Lord is my shepherd ; I have everything I need.
MATTHEW 6: 24 no one can serve two masters...
You cannot serve both God and money.
The love of money can get our priorities out of line. We must keep reminding ourselves that God must be first in our lives and that money cannot satisfy our deepest needs.
I TIMOTHY 6:6-10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.
HEBREWS 13:5 Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you."
PSALM 119:36 Give me an eagerness for your decrees; do not inflict me with love for money! Money is no the root of all evil; the love of it is!
ISAIAH 55:2 Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?...Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul!
Too often we buy things to fill a void or a need in our lives. The bible points to a way to acquire a deep and lasting happiness that always satisfies.
PROVERBS 19:1 It is better to be poor and honest than to be a fool and dishonest.
MARK 8:36 And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? No amount of money is worth it if it was gained deceptively or dishonestly. Taking advantage of others to make money is stealing. Those who do this lose far more than they could ever gain.
PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13 For I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little...I have learned the secret of living in every situation...
PHILIPPIANS 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches...
The Bible promises that God will supply all of our needs. The problem comes when our definition of "need" is different from God's. The first thing we must do is study God's word to discover what he says we need for a fulfilling life.
MARK 12:41-44...He called his disciples to him and said, "I assure you, this poor widow has give more than all the others have given..."
I JOHN 3:17 But if one of you has money enough to live well, and sees a brother or sister in need and won't help them--how can God's love be in that person?
Consistently and generously giving away our money might be the most effective way to keep us from loving it. When we see what giving does in the lives of others, needs are met in us that material possessions could never satisfy. This kind of giving measures our Christian love.
PROVERBS 3:9-10 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything your land produces. Then he will fill your barns with grain...
MALACHI 3:10 "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse...If you do," says the Lord Almighty, "I will open the windows of heaven for you..."
LUKE6:38 If you give, you will receive.
2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.
PROVERBS 21:20 Hard workers have plenty of food...
MATTHEW 25:14 He called together his servants and gave them money to invest for him while he was gone.
I CORINTHIANS 4:12 We have worked wearily with our own hand to earn our living.
I THESSALONIANS 4:12...and you will not need to depend on others to meet your financial needs.
GOD URGES US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS IN EARNING, SPENDING, AND SAVING OUR MONEY. HE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR FAMILY AND THE FUTURE. BUT HE ALSO EXPECTS US TO USE OUR MONEY GENEROUSLY TO HELP OTHERS.
MATTHEW 6: 24 no one can serve two masters...
You cannot serve both God and money.
The love of money can get our priorities out of line. We must keep reminding ourselves that God must be first in our lives and that money cannot satisfy our deepest needs.
I TIMOTHY 6:6-10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.
HEBREWS 13:5 Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you."
PSALM 119:36 Give me an eagerness for your decrees; do not inflict me with love for money! Money is no the root of all evil; the love of it is!
ISAIAH 55:2 Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?...Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul!
Too often we buy things to fill a void or a need in our lives. The bible points to a way to acquire a deep and lasting happiness that always satisfies.
PROVERBS 19:1 It is better to be poor and honest than to be a fool and dishonest.
MARK 8:36 And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? No amount of money is worth it if it was gained deceptively or dishonestly. Taking advantage of others to make money is stealing. Those who do this lose far more than they could ever gain.
PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13 For I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little...I have learned the secret of living in every situation...
PHILIPPIANS 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches...
The Bible promises that God will supply all of our needs. The problem comes when our definition of "need" is different from God's. The first thing we must do is study God's word to discover what he says we need for a fulfilling life.
MARK 12:41-44...He called his disciples to him and said, "I assure you, this poor widow has give more than all the others have given..."
I JOHN 3:17 But if one of you has money enough to live well, and sees a brother or sister in need and won't help them--how can God's love be in that person?
Consistently and generously giving away our money might be the most effective way to keep us from loving it. When we see what giving does in the lives of others, needs are met in us that material possessions could never satisfy. This kind of giving measures our Christian love.
PROVERBS 3:9-10 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything your land produces. Then he will fill your barns with grain...
MALACHI 3:10 "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse...If you do," says the Lord Almighty, "I will open the windows of heaven for you..."
LUKE6:38 If you give, you will receive.
2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.
PROVERBS 21:20 Hard workers have plenty of food...
MATTHEW 25:14 He called together his servants and gave them money to invest for him while he was gone.
I CORINTHIANS 4:12 We have worked wearily with our own hand to earn our living.
I THESSALONIANS 4:12...and you will not need to depend on others to meet your financial needs.
GOD URGES US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS IN EARNING, SPENDING, AND SAVING OUR MONEY. HE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR FAMILY AND THE FUTURE. BUT HE ALSO EXPECTS US TO USE OUR MONEY GENEROUSLY TO HELP OTHERS.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE TO GOD ON AN IMPULSE
Today, I said Lord, I love you out of an impulse. I mean, I felt a urgent need to say that out of nowhere. No particular reason. Nothing special had happened, just I love you! When I think of all the wonderful things God has done for me in times past, and how he's brought me out alright. How he saved my soul from a burning hell, I can't help, but to praise him.
Now mature praise is a Job's kind of praise. When everything is going wrong. I will still bless the name of the Lord. "For the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away." Your feelings might SCREAM to you like Job's wife did. They may say, "curse God and die" but you love God with an undying love, and that isn't based on your circumstances. Circumstances WILL OFTEN FLUCTUATE, but mature love is a committeement. People whose love or praise fluctuate is not yet developed in love. God said, "Let love(Patience) have her perfect work in you." So if you find yourself bouncing back and forth, don't get discouraged with yourself. Just ask the Lord to mature you in your love walk. That will take some time and practice. Just like with all things, with a little practice/discipline, and you will reach the point of maturity.
As I grow in God, I am growing in my understanding. People who love one another can just enjoy one another without anything of value. They do not need things to prove their love for one another. Neither should God have to do another thing further for you to prove his love for you. He's already allowed his only begotten son to be nailed to a cross to prove his love.
God's love for us is most valuable and it cost us nothing. All God's love requires from us is time. The more time I spend with God the more I understand. The more I understand the more I love him. The more I understand how he loves me in spite of; the more I am able to love others in spite of, and thus the cycle of love continues.
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: 1 John 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
POEM FOR THE DAY: My love for God is real. It's not based on what I feel. My love for him is do or die whether blessings comes down from the sky. I've got to praise him, no rock will ever take my place. If I don't praise him it will be a disgrace. Praise is what I do. Straight from the heart, it's how you can tell us real CHRISTIANS apart. -by Katherine Price 4/28/2010
PRAISE, PASS IT ON....
BE BLESSED SAINTS AND LET THE LOVE OF JESUS SHINE THROUGH YOU.
Now mature praise is a Job's kind of praise. When everything is going wrong. I will still bless the name of the Lord. "For the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away." Your feelings might SCREAM to you like Job's wife did. They may say, "curse God and die" but you love God with an undying love, and that isn't based on your circumstances. Circumstances WILL OFTEN FLUCTUATE, but mature love is a committeement. People whose love or praise fluctuate is not yet developed in love. God said, "Let love(Patience) have her perfect work in you." So if you find yourself bouncing back and forth, don't get discouraged with yourself. Just ask the Lord to mature you in your love walk. That will take some time and practice. Just like with all things, with a little practice/discipline, and you will reach the point of maturity.
As I grow in God, I am growing in my understanding. People who love one another can just enjoy one another without anything of value. They do not need things to prove their love for one another. Neither should God have to do another thing further for you to prove his love for you. He's already allowed his only begotten son to be nailed to a cross to prove his love.
God's love for us is most valuable and it cost us nothing. All God's love requires from us is time. The more time I spend with God the more I understand. The more I understand the more I love him. The more I understand how he loves me in spite of; the more I am able to love others in spite of, and thus the cycle of love continues.
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: 1 John 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
POEM FOR THE DAY: My love for God is real. It's not based on what I feel. My love for him is do or die whether blessings comes down from the sky. I've got to praise him, no rock will ever take my place. If I don't praise him it will be a disgrace. Praise is what I do. Straight from the heart, it's how you can tell us real CHRISTIANS apart. -by Katherine Price 4/28/2010
PRAISE, PASS IT ON....
BE BLESSED SAINTS AND LET THE LOVE OF JESUS SHINE THROUGH YOU.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
You are Safe because God Loves you. PERFECT LOVE CAST OUT ALL FEAR
As I finished praying one day, I waited as I generally do to hear what the Lord had to say. I was thought that prayer is a two way thing and that God speaks to those who take the time to listen. So as I waited, I heard the Lord say, "I love you." I thought to myself, "Is that it?" I mean it means alot to me, but after all that I just said, he simply said, " I love you."
About a week before that God had scolded me for taking what he tells me and not meditating on it, so I gently mulled this thought over in my mind. Why is this so important for God to just simplify everything with these three words? What significance could that truly have? What did he want these words to mean to me?
Well, as these questions came to mind; I could help but to think this thought. Because God loves me, I am safe. Nothing can harm me. I am safe in his love. God's love should cast out all fear. The bible says perfect love cast out all fear. Well, I had heard this scripture before. But then i thought, what love is more perfect than God's? His love is too wide to go around. Too deep too go under, and too high to go over.
So with everything I had prayed God's simply answered me with, "I love you." These words was a answer to everything I had prayed. It should calm all my fears. It is a completion. Why? Because if God loves me than nothing else should matter. God always takes care of his own. My confidence should be at its all time high just knowing that the Father loves me.
What are you struggling with today? What are you trying to figure out to no end? What are you waiting on an answer for today? God's answer to your problem is, " I love you."
Ever asked someone something very serious and you were really in a hurry? But the person that you asked the questions said something that doesn't seem to be serious and you really feel that they aren't taking you serious at the time? Well, you know that they did hear you, and truth is they have already taken care of what you need. They just want to enjoy the process of telling you. Well, that is what God is doing, when he skims past all your problems and says in a loving way, I love you. He knows already that he have taken care of your needs, problems and wants; he just wants to enjoy the process of telling you.
Enjoy the beauty of God's love, for it brings safety. When you feel safe you will be at peace. PERFECT LOVE CAST OUT ALL FEAR, WHY? BECAUSE YOU ARE SAFE IN THE FATHER'S LOVING ARMS AND NOTHING THERE CAN TOUCH YOU. BE BLESSED SAINTS.
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 John 4:18 says There is no fear in love: true love has no room for fear, because where fear is, there is pain; and he who is not free from fear is not complete in love.
TODAY'S PRAYER/CONFESSION: Father, help me to know that your love is like the period at the end of a sentence. It completes everything that I have said to you in prayer. Help me to understand that because you love me that you will take care of me. Help me to be confident in your love and not worry about anything today. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
About a week before that God had scolded me for taking what he tells me and not meditating on it, so I gently mulled this thought over in my mind. Why is this so important for God to just simplify everything with these three words? What significance could that truly have? What did he want these words to mean to me?
Well, as these questions came to mind; I could help but to think this thought. Because God loves me, I am safe. Nothing can harm me. I am safe in his love. God's love should cast out all fear. The bible says perfect love cast out all fear. Well, I had heard this scripture before. But then i thought, what love is more perfect than God's? His love is too wide to go around. Too deep too go under, and too high to go over.
So with everything I had prayed God's simply answered me with, "I love you." These words was a answer to everything I had prayed. It should calm all my fears. It is a completion. Why? Because if God loves me than nothing else should matter. God always takes care of his own. My confidence should be at its all time high just knowing that the Father loves me.
What are you struggling with today? What are you trying to figure out to no end? What are you waiting on an answer for today? God's answer to your problem is, " I love you."
Ever asked someone something very serious and you were really in a hurry? But the person that you asked the questions said something that doesn't seem to be serious and you really feel that they aren't taking you serious at the time? Well, you know that they did hear you, and truth is they have already taken care of what you need. They just want to enjoy the process of telling you. Well, that is what God is doing, when he skims past all your problems and says in a loving way, I love you. He knows already that he have taken care of your needs, problems and wants; he just wants to enjoy the process of telling you.
Enjoy the beauty of God's love, for it brings safety. When you feel safe you will be at peace. PERFECT LOVE CAST OUT ALL FEAR, WHY? BECAUSE YOU ARE SAFE IN THE FATHER'S LOVING ARMS AND NOTHING THERE CAN TOUCH YOU. BE BLESSED SAINTS.
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 John 4:18 says There is no fear in love: true love has no room for fear, because where fear is, there is pain; and he who is not free from fear is not complete in love.
TODAY'S PRAYER/CONFESSION: Father, help me to know that your love is like the period at the end of a sentence. It completes everything that I have said to you in prayer. Help me to understand that because you love me that you will take care of me. Help me to be confident in your love and not worry about anything today. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Friday, April 23, 2010
TEARING DOWN THE OLD FOUNDATION
ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO WORK SOMETHING OUT OVER AND OVER AGAIN ONLY TO FIND A CONSTANT DISAPPOINTMENT WITH WHAT YOU ARE INVESTING IN OR TRYING TO REPAIR? WHETHER IT IS A RELATIONSHIP, A MARRIAGE, A FAMILY SITUATION, FINANCIAL OR EVEN A FRIENDSHIP. BY GOD'S REVELATION KNOWLEDGE; IT WAS SPOKEN TO ME THAT SOME SITUATIONS NEED A NEW FOUNDATION.
FOR EXAMPLE: I WAS DATING SOMEONE AND I WAS INVESTING ALOT OF MY TIME ENERGY AND INTERESTS IN THAT RELATIONSHIP. NOTHING THAT I DID WORKED. I MEAN I PRAYED AND FASTED, BUT NOTHING CHANGED. IN FACT THINGS GOT WORSE. ONE DAY I PLEADED WITH GOD THAT HE GIVE ME HIS BLESSINGS ON THIS RELATIONSHIP AND GOD SPOKE TO ME AS CLEAR AS A BELL. HOW CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER UNLESS THEY AGREE. WHEW!!! NOW THAT IS ANOTHER SUBJECT I MAY WRITE ON LATER, BUT THE FACT THAT THE FOUNDATION TO THAT RELATIONSHIP WAS BAD IS WHAT GOD WANTED ME TO SEE. THE GUY STARTED OUT LYING ABOUT THINGS AND IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE I KNEW THAT HE WAS LYING. SO NO MATTER HOW MUCH I PRAYED, GOD NEVER GAVE ME A RELEASE TO MARRY THIS MAN. THE FOUNDATION NEEDED TO CHANGE.
I KNEW THIS BUILDER WHO WAS A FOURTH GENERATION CARPENTER. THIS GUY WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD. THIS FAMILY HAD WANTED HIM TO DO SOME WORK FOR THEM, BECAUSE THEY HAD HEARD HOW AWESOME HE WAS. WHEN HE TOOK A LOOK AT THE MAJOR REPAIRS THAT THEY NEEDED HIM TO DO; HE NEVER MADE MENTION ABOUT ANY OF THE WORK. AS HE WALKED AWAY TO LEAVE THE COUPLE WALKED OUT WITH HIM. THE WIFE STATED, "WELL SIR WHAT DO YOU THINK?"
HE SAID "ABOUT WHAT?" SHE SAID, "YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT WE JUST SHOWED YOU." HE SAID, "I DON'T THINK ANYTHING." THE LADY WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE OF ALL THE RAVE REVIEWS THAT SHE HAD HEARD ABOUT HIM. SO SHE PROBED A LITTLE FURTHER. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" THE MASTER CARPENTER SAID, "LADY I CAN'T DO ANY WORK HERE; UNLESS YOU FIX YOUR FOUNDATION." HE TOLD HER, "NO MATTER HOW BEAUTIFUL A JOB I WOULD DO HERE FOR YOU; IT WON'T LAST AND I DON'T RECOMMEND THAT YOU FIX THE INSIDES UNLESS YOU FIX THIS FOUNDATION."
That is very important, beloved. A foundation, of course, is always important, important for the building. For the foundation in many respects determines the superstructure that must be built on it. It stands to reason that the foundation already determines the size and the strength and the shape of the superstructure. You cannot build a palatial edifice on a flimsy foundation, say, of twenty-by-twenty. You cannot build a perfectly square edifice on an oblong foundation. You cannot build a skyscraper on a foundation that is intended for a garage. The strength and the size and the shape of the foundation already determine the superstructure. For that reason, when the superstructure is planned, the foundation must be planned.
NEEDLESS TO SAY THERE ARE SOME OF YOU THAT ARE TRYING TO START OVER, BUILDING YOUR MARRIAGES, RELATIONSHIPS, FRIENDSHIPS, FAMILY MATTERS OR EVEN YOUR BUSINESSES ON A FOUNDATION THAT HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. THERE ARE SITUATIONS THAT HAVE NEVER CHANGED IN YOUR LIFETIME. WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS; NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY, AND HOW HARD YOU PRAY NOTHING HAS EVER GOTTEN BETTER. YOU HAVE POURED COUNTLESS AMOUNTS OF YOUR TIME, CONCERNS AND EVEN RESOURCES INTO IT; ONLY TO FIND DEFEAT.
GOD SAYS IT'S TIME TO REBUILD; BUT NOT ON THAT SAME FOUNDATION. START OVER WITH JESUS. START WITH TRUTH. BRING EVERYTHING OUT IN THE OPENING AND BE HONEST. ONLY GOD CAN BUILD A HOUSE. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS IN:
Psalms 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it...
Matthew 7:24-27 (New International Version)
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
ALSO THE LORD SPEAKS ABOUT BUILDING ON A SURE FOUNDATIONS. JESUS IS THE ROCK THAT DON'T ROLL. HE IS THE FOUNDATION TO BUILD ON.
(1 Corinthians 3:11)
There is a hope that does not disappoint, a faith that never fails. That kind of faith is built on the Rock, Jesus Christ. There is no other foundation that is worth building on.
MY QUESTION TO YOU TODAY IS, WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING? YOUR LIFE, YOUR HOPE AND DREAMS? YOUR FUTURE: HERE AND ETERNITY? ARE THEY BUILT ON A SURE FOUNDATION?
FOR EXAMPLE: I WAS DATING SOMEONE AND I WAS INVESTING ALOT OF MY TIME ENERGY AND INTERESTS IN THAT RELATIONSHIP. NOTHING THAT I DID WORKED. I MEAN I PRAYED AND FASTED, BUT NOTHING CHANGED. IN FACT THINGS GOT WORSE. ONE DAY I PLEADED WITH GOD THAT HE GIVE ME HIS BLESSINGS ON THIS RELATIONSHIP AND GOD SPOKE TO ME AS CLEAR AS A BELL. HOW CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER UNLESS THEY AGREE. WHEW!!! NOW THAT IS ANOTHER SUBJECT I MAY WRITE ON LATER, BUT THE FACT THAT THE FOUNDATION TO THAT RELATIONSHIP WAS BAD IS WHAT GOD WANTED ME TO SEE. THE GUY STARTED OUT LYING ABOUT THINGS AND IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE I KNEW THAT HE WAS LYING. SO NO MATTER HOW MUCH I PRAYED, GOD NEVER GAVE ME A RELEASE TO MARRY THIS MAN. THE FOUNDATION NEEDED TO CHANGE.
I KNEW THIS BUILDER WHO WAS A FOURTH GENERATION CARPENTER. THIS GUY WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD. THIS FAMILY HAD WANTED HIM TO DO SOME WORK FOR THEM, BECAUSE THEY HAD HEARD HOW AWESOME HE WAS. WHEN HE TOOK A LOOK AT THE MAJOR REPAIRS THAT THEY NEEDED HIM TO DO; HE NEVER MADE MENTION ABOUT ANY OF THE WORK. AS HE WALKED AWAY TO LEAVE THE COUPLE WALKED OUT WITH HIM. THE WIFE STATED, "WELL SIR WHAT DO YOU THINK?"
HE SAID "ABOUT WHAT?" SHE SAID, "YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT WE JUST SHOWED YOU." HE SAID, "I DON'T THINK ANYTHING." THE LADY WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE OF ALL THE RAVE REVIEWS THAT SHE HAD HEARD ABOUT HIM. SO SHE PROBED A LITTLE FURTHER. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" THE MASTER CARPENTER SAID, "LADY I CAN'T DO ANY WORK HERE; UNLESS YOU FIX YOUR FOUNDATION." HE TOLD HER, "NO MATTER HOW BEAUTIFUL A JOB I WOULD DO HERE FOR YOU; IT WON'T LAST AND I DON'T RECOMMEND THAT YOU FIX THE INSIDES UNLESS YOU FIX THIS FOUNDATION."
That is very important, beloved. A foundation, of course, is always important, important for the building. For the foundation in many respects determines the superstructure that must be built on it. It stands to reason that the foundation already determines the size and the strength and the shape of the superstructure. You cannot build a palatial edifice on a flimsy foundation, say, of twenty-by-twenty. You cannot build a perfectly square edifice on an oblong foundation. You cannot build a skyscraper on a foundation that is intended for a garage. The strength and the size and the shape of the foundation already determine the superstructure. For that reason, when the superstructure is planned, the foundation must be planned.
NEEDLESS TO SAY THERE ARE SOME OF YOU THAT ARE TRYING TO START OVER, BUILDING YOUR MARRIAGES, RELATIONSHIPS, FRIENDSHIPS, FAMILY MATTERS OR EVEN YOUR BUSINESSES ON A FOUNDATION THAT HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. THERE ARE SITUATIONS THAT HAVE NEVER CHANGED IN YOUR LIFETIME. WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS; NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY, AND HOW HARD YOU PRAY NOTHING HAS EVER GOTTEN BETTER. YOU HAVE POURED COUNTLESS AMOUNTS OF YOUR TIME, CONCERNS AND EVEN RESOURCES INTO IT; ONLY TO FIND DEFEAT.
GOD SAYS IT'S TIME TO REBUILD; BUT NOT ON THAT SAME FOUNDATION. START OVER WITH JESUS. START WITH TRUTH. BRING EVERYTHING OUT IN THE OPENING AND BE HONEST. ONLY GOD CAN BUILD A HOUSE. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS IN:
Psalms 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it...
Matthew 7:24-27 (New International Version)
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
ALSO THE LORD SPEAKS ABOUT BUILDING ON A SURE FOUNDATIONS. JESUS IS THE ROCK THAT DON'T ROLL. HE IS THE FOUNDATION TO BUILD ON.
(1 Corinthians 3:11)
There is a hope that does not disappoint, a faith that never fails. That kind of faith is built on the Rock, Jesus Christ. There is no other foundation that is worth building on.
MY QUESTION TO YOU TODAY IS, WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING? YOUR LIFE, YOUR HOPE AND DREAMS? YOUR FUTURE: HERE AND ETERNITY? ARE THEY BUILT ON A SURE FOUNDATION?
Friday, April 9, 2010
HOW CAN I REBOUND FROM FAILURE?
TRY IT AGAIN WITH CHRIST
How does this story about Peter fishing all night and not catching nothing, then fishing with Jesus and catching plenty of fish relate to your life? Maybe you feel like this disciples before Christ came along: "I've worked all night and come up with an empty net." Does that describe your attitude toward your marriage, your job, or another personal problem? You feel that you haven't made any progress so you've said to yourself, "What's the use? Why keep on trying? Why put forth the effort?" Perhaps you have become a little cynical about life.
Peter didn't get cynical. He didn't say, "Lord, I've worked ten hours and didn't catch anything. That must mean there are no more fish in this lake." He knew that the fish were there---he just hadn't caught them yet.
JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T SOLVED YOUR PROBLEM DOESN'T MEAN A SOLUTION DOESN'T EXIST. It is often through failure that we learn the lesson that help us succeed. God's message to you is this: DON'T GIVE UP. TRY AGAIN, but this time do it with Jesus in the boat. He will make all the difference.
BECOME A FAN OF God Speaks @http://www.facebook.com/pages/God-speaks/195902222690?v..
How does this story about Peter fishing all night and not catching nothing, then fishing with Jesus and catching plenty of fish relate to your life? Maybe you feel like this disciples before Christ came along: "I've worked all night and come up with an empty net." Does that describe your attitude toward your marriage, your job, or another personal problem? You feel that you haven't made any progress so you've said to yourself, "What's the use? Why keep on trying? Why put forth the effort?" Perhaps you have become a little cynical about life.
Peter didn't get cynical. He didn't say, "Lord, I've worked ten hours and didn't catch anything. That must mean there are no more fish in this lake." He knew that the fish were there---he just hadn't caught them yet.
JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T SOLVED YOUR PROBLEM DOESN'T MEAN A SOLUTION DOESN'T EXIST. It is often through failure that we learn the lesson that help us succeed. God's message to you is this: DON'T GIVE UP. TRY AGAIN, but this time do it with Jesus in the boat. He will make all the difference.
BECOME A FAN OF God Speaks @http://www.facebook.com/pages/God-speaks/195902222690?v..
Monday, April 5, 2010
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, WE MAY REJECT THE PERSON WE NEED THE MOST---THE LORD.
COPING WITH ADVERSITY
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, WE MAY REJECT THE PERSON WE NEED THE MOST---THE LORD. WHEN A PROBLEM COMES INTO YOUR LIFE, YOU MAY SAY,"GOD, WHY DID YOU ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN?" YOU MAY REBEL AGAINST GOD AS IF IT WERE HIS FAULT. INSTEAD, YOU SHOULD SAY, "LORD, TAKE THIS PROBLEM." GOD CAN TAKE SITUATIONS THAT ARE TOTALLY BAD AND TURN THEM AROUND. WHEN PEOPLE USE SITUATIONS TO TRY TO DESTROY YOU, GOD CAN USE THEM TO DEVELOP YOU. HE LOVES TO TURN CRUCIFIXIONS INTO RESURRECTIONS.
GOD BLESS!
BECOME A FAN OF GOD SPEAKS TODAY@ http://www.facebook.com/pages/God-speaks/195902222690?v..
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, WE MAY REJECT THE PERSON WE NEED THE MOST---THE LORD. WHEN A PROBLEM COMES INTO YOUR LIFE, YOU MAY SAY,"GOD, WHY DID YOU ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN?" YOU MAY REBEL AGAINST GOD AS IF IT WERE HIS FAULT. INSTEAD, YOU SHOULD SAY, "LORD, TAKE THIS PROBLEM." GOD CAN TAKE SITUATIONS THAT ARE TOTALLY BAD AND TURN THEM AROUND. WHEN PEOPLE USE SITUATIONS TO TRY TO DESTROY YOU, GOD CAN USE THEM TO DEVELOP YOU. HE LOVES TO TURN CRUCIFIXIONS INTO RESURRECTIONS.
GOD BLESS!
BECOME A FAN OF GOD SPEAKS TODAY@ http://www.facebook.com/pages/God-speaks/195902222690?v..
Monday, March 29, 2010
WHO OR WHAT ARE YOU FOLLOWING? CHOOSE YE THIS DAY WHO YOU WILL SERVE. WILL IT BE GOD OR MAN?
Did you hear the story of the woman driving through a snowstorm just outside of Denver? She was completely lost and struggling under the hazardous weather conditions. She was relieved when she happened upon a snowplow. Since she was lost she decided to follow the truck and kept as close to the machine as she could while it removed snow from the road. At times the blowing snow almost cut off her view, but she kept following it.
After some time, the snowplow stopped and the driver got out and came back to her car. "Lady, where are you going?" he asked.
"I’m on my way to Denver." she replied.
The truck driver replied, "Well, you’ll never get there following me! I’m plowing a parking lot!"
Before we let others lead us, it would be helpful to know their direction.
Unfortunately, most people blindly follow the faceless voices on TV, in magazines, and in books that say if you just have enough money, enough stuff, enough power, enough prestige-then you’ll be happy.
Under that illusion people spend their whole lives thinking you must have it all and find themselves trapped. But God has a much different plan for your live. Watch this video and find freedom. Please share with your friends!
WHO OR WHAT ARE YOU FOLLOWING? CHOOSE YE THIS DAY WHO YOU WILL SERVE. WILL IT BE GOD OR MAN?
After some time, the snowplow stopped and the driver got out and came back to her car. "Lady, where are you going?" he asked.
"I’m on my way to Denver." she replied.
The truck driver replied, "Well, you’ll never get there following me! I’m plowing a parking lot!"
Before we let others lead us, it would be helpful to know their direction.
Unfortunately, most people blindly follow the faceless voices on TV, in magazines, and in books that say if you just have enough money, enough stuff, enough power, enough prestige-then you’ll be happy.
Under that illusion people spend their whole lives thinking you must have it all and find themselves trapped. But God has a much different plan for your live. Watch this video and find freedom. Please share with your friends!
WHO OR WHAT ARE YOU FOLLOWING? CHOOSE YE THIS DAY WHO YOU WILL SERVE. WILL IT BE GOD OR MAN?
Saturday, March 27, 2010
OBSTACLES, STUMBLINGS BLOCKS, HINDERANCES WHATEVER THEY MAY BE DON'T LET THEM STOP YOU
Dr. Barry Cook says: Do not let circumstances determine your attitudes & actions. If you sit back and allow life to keep pushing you around, you will always remain a victim. Never accept your present, temporary situations as future, permanent situations. In times of adversity, you do not have an obstacle to deal with, you have a choice to ...make. Remember, attitude is altitude! (Phil. 4:13)
Linda Carson says:
We build alot of dreams in our minds. We talk a lot of what we NEED to do, WANT to be, WHERE we want to go.Then life happens! OK!? Stuff happens! Stop allowing STUFF, people from the past/present crush UR visions/dreams..You can either use them as stepping stones OR you can sit idle like a needle on a broken record. It...'s in your mind, you've spoken it, now just let it happen without ANY reservation..
Marcus L Harris says: It is very well possible to defeat the "crabs" in the barrel who strive to keep you down. Keep your focus, remember where you're headed, and keep doing those things that have gotten you this far in life. Surround yourself with positive, encouraging people who will challenge you and cheer you on as you go! Don't be pinched and clawed by the crabs. You're a winner, so keep climbing up until you reach the top!
LORD, LET US MEDITATE ON THESE THREE PARAGRAPHS FOR THEY ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT! THESE WORDS ARE SO SPECIFIC. NOT LETTING NOTHING STOP US. LIKE THE FATHER IS TELLING US, HE SEES THE PRESSURES THAT ARE COMING AGAINST US AS BELIEVERS, BUT HE IS TELLING US TO PUSH FORWARD ANYWAY!
To read further encouragement you can look those friends up on facebook for inspiration. Also become a fan of the page called God Speaks. Remember God does Speaks IF we'd just take the time to listen. Be blessed Saints!
Linda Carson says:
We build alot of dreams in our minds. We talk a lot of what we NEED to do, WANT to be, WHERE we want to go.Then life happens! OK!? Stuff happens! Stop allowing STUFF, people from the past/present crush UR visions/dreams..You can either use them as stepping stones OR you can sit idle like a needle on a broken record. It...'s in your mind, you've spoken it, now just let it happen without ANY reservation..
Marcus L Harris says: It is very well possible to defeat the "crabs" in the barrel who strive to keep you down. Keep your focus, remember where you're headed, and keep doing those things that have gotten you this far in life. Surround yourself with positive, encouraging people who will challenge you and cheer you on as you go! Don't be pinched and clawed by the crabs. You're a winner, so keep climbing up until you reach the top!
LORD, LET US MEDITATE ON THESE THREE PARAGRAPHS FOR THEY ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT! THESE WORDS ARE SO SPECIFIC. NOT LETTING NOTHING STOP US. LIKE THE FATHER IS TELLING US, HE SEES THE PRESSURES THAT ARE COMING AGAINST US AS BELIEVERS, BUT HE IS TELLING US TO PUSH FORWARD ANYWAY!
To read further encouragement you can look those friends up on facebook for inspiration. Also become a fan of the page called God Speaks. Remember God does Speaks IF we'd just take the time to listen. Be blessed Saints!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
IT CAN WORK IN YOUR LIFE
Maybe you're saying, "That sounds great, but you don't know my circumstances. Right now I'm defeated by the problems I'm experiencing. I'm having some hard times." If you are feeling defeated by your circumstances, let me suggest an antidote for you. Read your Bible to find a specific promise from God, and then start claiming that promise. Start expecting God to act, and you will find that God's promise will inject new hope into a hopeless situation. Real success often begins at the point of failure.
I know a married couple who have had a severely damaged relationship, one that looked irreparable. But they sensed God saying to them, "I want you to stay together. Don't give up. " Without any outward evidence they took on the same attitude that Peter did in his situation. They said, "Lord, we've worked on this marriage a long time, without improvement, but because you say so, we'll keep at it." Today they have a fulfilling marriage and dynamic ministry together.
Look at the results when the disciples did what Jesus told them to do. "They caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break: (Luke %:6). God blessed them with more than they could handle. That is always the case when you appropriate God's presence, cooperate with God's plan, and anticipate God's promised- you will be blessed with more than you can handle. In fact, verse 7 points out that the disciples had to share the results with fishermen in another boat in order to keep from sinking. That's a great way to live!
The point is this: God not only wants to bless your life, but he wants to bless you so much that you have to share your blessing with others in order to keep yourself from sinking. He not only want to bless you, but wants to bless other people through you-people whose nets are empty. God blessed the disciples with more than they could use for themselves.
The miracle so astounded Peter that he cried out, "Lord, I don't deserve this! I'm a sinner. This is too good for me."
Jesus then said to Peter, "Don't be afraid, from now on you will catch men" (v.10). So the disciples beached their boats and left everything to follow Jesus.
The incident became a turning point in Peter's life and in the lives of the other disciples.
Think about what happened when the fishing part go to land. The disciples left their greatest catch ever sitting right there on the shore and went after Jesus! They realized that if Jesus could perform a miracle like that, he could do anything he wanted to. the disciples knew that as long as they followed him, their needs would be more than satisfied. Christ would take care of them not matter what happened. They wanted a relationship with him that was more than a one-time miracle. Then Christ invited them to become part of the greatest task in the world: "I'm going to make you fishers of men. You are going to share my Good News with other people."
I know a married couple who have had a severely damaged relationship, one that looked irreparable. But they sensed God saying to them, "I want you to stay together. Don't give up. " Without any outward evidence they took on the same attitude that Peter did in his situation. They said, "Lord, we've worked on this marriage a long time, without improvement, but because you say so, we'll keep at it." Today they have a fulfilling marriage and dynamic ministry together.
Look at the results when the disciples did what Jesus told them to do. "They caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break: (Luke %:6). God blessed them with more than they could handle. That is always the case when you appropriate God's presence, cooperate with God's plan, and anticipate God's promised- you will be blessed with more than you can handle. In fact, verse 7 points out that the disciples had to share the results with fishermen in another boat in order to keep from sinking. That's a great way to live!
The point is this: God not only wants to bless your life, but he wants to bless you so much that you have to share your blessing with others in order to keep yourself from sinking. He not only want to bless you, but wants to bless other people through you-people whose nets are empty. God blessed the disciples with more than they could use for themselves.
The miracle so astounded Peter that he cried out, "Lord, I don't deserve this! I'm a sinner. This is too good for me."
Jesus then said to Peter, "Don't be afraid, from now on you will catch men" (v.10). So the disciples beached their boats and left everything to follow Jesus.
The incident became a turning point in Peter's life and in the lives of the other disciples.
Think about what happened when the fishing part go to land. The disciples left their greatest catch ever sitting right there on the shore and went after Jesus! They realized that if Jesus could perform a miracle like that, he could do anything he wanted to. the disciples knew that as long as they followed him, their needs would be more than satisfied. Christ would take care of them not matter what happened. They wanted a relationship with him that was more than a one-time miracle. Then Christ invited them to become part of the greatest task in the world: "I'm going to make you fishers of men. You are going to share my Good News with other people."
Saturday, March 20, 2010
ANTICIPATE GOD'S PROMISES
The third principle is found in Luke 5:5: "Because you say so." To rebound from failure, you must anticipate God's promises in your life. In the second fishing attempt God's promises in your life. In the second fishing attempt, the disciples were acting on the basis of God's promise to them. They went fishing again because they believed God would provide the fish. Now, Jesus didn't specifically say, "Peter, if you go fishing with me, I promise you'll make a big catch." He didn't need to say that, because Peter realized that when Jesus told him to go fishing and also got into the boat and also told him exactly where to put down the net, it wasn't going to come up empty! Peter expected God to act. He expected God to keep his promise. Peter wasn't depending on his own fishing ability, so he wasn't afraid of failure, he believed in the promises of God.
When you get God's presence in your boat, and when you get God's plan in your head, and when you get God's promises in your heart, you cannot fail. Start expecting some wonderful results.
When you get God's presence in your boat, and when you get God's plan in your head, and when you get God's promises in your heart, you cannot fail. Start expecting some wonderful results.
Friday, March 19, 2010
PRINCIPAL 2: COOPERATE WITH GOD'S PLAN
COOPERATE WITH GOD'S PLAN
The second principle is found in Luke 5:4. The second time the disciples went fishing, they fished under the direction of Christ, obediently following his instructions. We must not appropriate God's presence in our lives, but also cooperate with God's plan in our lives. Jesus told the disciples where to fish, when to fish, and how to fish. When God is guiding your life, you cannot fail. As the late gospel singer Ethel Waters used to say, "God doesn't sponsor flops."
Peter's reaction to Christ's guidance was beautiful. First, he didn't argue. He didn't say, "Wait a minute, Jesus! I'm the premier professional fisherman on this lake. I own the record. Who are you to tell me how to fish?" He didn't ask, "Lord, are you sure?" He didn't ask any questions, and he also didn't hesitate. Peter might have been thinking that if he didn't catch anything at night, the he certainly wasn't going to catch anything in the middle of the day when the sun was glaring down on the water. But Peter didn't ask any questions; HE JUST OBEYED.
He also didn't listen to his feelings. I'm sure he was dog-tired from working all night, but he didn't ask, "What's the use? Why should I keep on going?" Peter's attitude was perfect. He was eager to cooperate with God's plan.
Why do you think Jesus said to Peter, "Launch out into the deep"? I think it was because it's in the deep water that the BIG FISH ARE LOCATED. You only catch minnows in shallow water. Most people live on a superficial level. There's little depth to their lives edge, never getting out into deeper water. They think, "If I get out into the deep water, there might be some waves. They might rock my boat, and it might overturn. So I'll just stay back here where it's save and comfortable and fiddle around."
When God works in your life, it always involves risks, because God wants you to live by faith. Many Christians barely get their feet wet because they're afraid of getting in over their heads. They think, "If I really get serious about my commitment to the Lord, he may make me a fanatic. My family might get really upset. what will my friends think?" So they're content to live in the shallows of life-and they miss out on so much.
god's plan for your life is a good plan, one that will work for your benefit. God says, "Let me get into your boat. Let my presence be with you wherever you go-in your business, in your family, n your marriage, in every area. Let me direct you. Cooperate with the plan."
The second principle is found in Luke 5:4. The second time the disciples went fishing, they fished under the direction of Christ, obediently following his instructions. We must not appropriate God's presence in our lives, but also cooperate with God's plan in our lives. Jesus told the disciples where to fish, when to fish, and how to fish. When God is guiding your life, you cannot fail. As the late gospel singer Ethel Waters used to say, "God doesn't sponsor flops."
Peter's reaction to Christ's guidance was beautiful. First, he didn't argue. He didn't say, "Wait a minute, Jesus! I'm the premier professional fisherman on this lake. I own the record. Who are you to tell me how to fish?" He didn't ask, "Lord, are you sure?" He didn't ask any questions, and he also didn't hesitate. Peter might have been thinking that if he didn't catch anything at night, the he certainly wasn't going to catch anything in the middle of the day when the sun was glaring down on the water. But Peter didn't ask any questions; HE JUST OBEYED.
He also didn't listen to his feelings. I'm sure he was dog-tired from working all night, but he didn't ask, "What's the use? Why should I keep on going?" Peter's attitude was perfect. He was eager to cooperate with God's plan.
Why do you think Jesus said to Peter, "Launch out into the deep"? I think it was because it's in the deep water that the BIG FISH ARE LOCATED. You only catch minnows in shallow water. Most people live on a superficial level. There's little depth to their lives edge, never getting out into deeper water. They think, "If I get out into the deep water, there might be some waves. They might rock my boat, and it might overturn. So I'll just stay back here where it's save and comfortable and fiddle around."
When God works in your life, it always involves risks, because God wants you to live by faith. Many Christians barely get their feet wet because they're afraid of getting in over their heads. They think, "If I really get serious about my commitment to the Lord, he may make me a fanatic. My family might get really upset. what will my friends think?" So they're content to live in the shallows of life-and they miss out on so much.
god's plan for your life is a good plan, one that will work for your benefit. God says, "Let me get into your boat. Let my presence be with you wherever you go-in your business, in your family, n your marriage, in every area. Let me direct you. Cooperate with the plan."
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
PRINCIPAL 1: APPROPRIATE GOD'S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE
Three principles that will give you success:
1. APPROPRIATE GOD'S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE
2. COOPERATE WITH GOD'S PLAN
3. ANTICIPATE GOD'S PROMISE
PRINCIPAL 1: APPROPRIATE GOD'S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE
A clue to the first principle of success is found in Luke 5:3 Jesus was in the boat with the disciples. Christ's presence made a big difference! This time the disciples weren't fishing by themselves; God was with them. The first principle for successful living is this: YOU MUST APPROPRIATE GOD'S PRESENCE IN YOU LIFE. In other words, you have to get Jesus into your boat. That's the starting point. Nothing has greater influence on your personal success than whether or not you are living with Christ in you life. For Peter, his boat represented his livelihood. When you're a fisherman, that boat is your business! It's significant that Peter made his boat available for Jesus to use. Christ used Peter's business as a platform for ministry.
Does God have access to your job? Is your business available for him to use at any time? Is he able to minister to people through your Job? Too often we try to separate the secular and the spiritual; we have our Christian life nicely partitioned off from our career. But this prevents God from blessing your business or job. And the truth is, God will bless anything you give him. If you give him all your life, he will bless all of it. But if you give him just a part of it, he will bless just that one part.
A friend told me that as the president of his corporation he invites God to every board meeting. He reports that as a result, the board members make fewer mistakes and have more peace of mind about difficult decisions.
There is something about having Jesus in your boat that eliminates the fear of failure and reduces your worries about the results. When Peter made Christ his fishing partner, the results were incredible: he caught more fish than he had ever caught on him own. Don't miss the sequence, though. First, Jesus took the boat and preached from it to reach people. THEN, after Christ had used the boat for his own purposes, God took care of Peter's need.
GOD PROMISED US THAT IF WE "SEEK...FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS FIRST,...THEN ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO US. MATTHEW 6:33 KJV Does this mean that if I give my whole life to Christ, putting him first in EVERY AREA, then he will bless it all? Yes, that is God's promise to you.
Stay tuned for the 2nd principal to have the success God wants us to have.
(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸♥ .*
¸.*`.¸¸ . ✶*¨*. ¸ .✫*¨*♥ .¸¸.✶*¨`*✶♥
(. . ✫Christ’s Love & Stay Blessed*♥ *♥*...Artwork by Jessy Laguma
`.¸¸ . ✶*¨*♥ . ¸ .✫*¨*.¸¸.✶
1. APPROPRIATE GOD'S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE
2. COOPERATE WITH GOD'S PLAN
3. ANTICIPATE GOD'S PROMISE
PRINCIPAL 1: APPROPRIATE GOD'S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE
A clue to the first principle of success is found in Luke 5:3 Jesus was in the boat with the disciples. Christ's presence made a big difference! This time the disciples weren't fishing by themselves; God was with them. The first principle for successful living is this: YOU MUST APPROPRIATE GOD'S PRESENCE IN YOU LIFE. In other words, you have to get Jesus into your boat. That's the starting point. Nothing has greater influence on your personal success than whether or not you are living with Christ in you life. For Peter, his boat represented his livelihood. When you're a fisherman, that boat is your business! It's significant that Peter made his boat available for Jesus to use. Christ used Peter's business as a platform for ministry.
Does God have access to your job? Is your business available for him to use at any time? Is he able to minister to people through your Job? Too often we try to separate the secular and the spiritual; we have our Christian life nicely partitioned off from our career. But this prevents God from blessing your business or job. And the truth is, God will bless anything you give him. If you give him all your life, he will bless all of it. But if you give him just a part of it, he will bless just that one part.
A friend told me that as the president of his corporation he invites God to every board meeting. He reports that as a result, the board members make fewer mistakes and have more peace of mind about difficult decisions.
There is something about having Jesus in your boat that eliminates the fear of failure and reduces your worries about the results. When Peter made Christ his fishing partner, the results were incredible: he caught more fish than he had ever caught on him own. Don't miss the sequence, though. First, Jesus took the boat and preached from it to reach people. THEN, after Christ had used the boat for his own purposes, God took care of Peter's need.
GOD PROMISED US THAT IF WE "SEEK...FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS FIRST,...THEN ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO US. MATTHEW 6:33 KJV Does this mean that if I give my whole life to Christ, putting him first in EVERY AREA, then he will bless it all? Yes, that is God's promise to you.
Stay tuned for the 2nd principal to have the success God wants us to have.
(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸♥ .*
¸.*`.¸¸ . ✶*¨*. ¸ .✫*¨*♥ .¸¸.✶*¨`*✶♥
(. . ✫Christ’s Love & Stay Blessed*♥ *♥*...Artwork by Jessy Laguma
`.¸¸ . ✶*¨*♥ . ¸ .✫*¨*.¸¸.✶
Friday, March 12, 2010
HOW CAN I REBOUND FROM FAILURE?
We all make mistakes, and sometimes they are pretty bad. But a failure can become a stepping-stone to success. An incident from Peter's life (Luke 5:1-11) illustrates this wonderful truth. One time Peter and his friends had been out fishing all night, but they had caught nothing. This was probably unusual, since Peter was a professional fisherman. He was definitely not a novice. He probably had the best nets, owned a good boat, and knew exactly where to catch the most fish. He had worked all night, as his income depended on a good catch. Still, Peter came up short. Even superstars strike out sometimes.
The next day, the fisherman were washing their nets on the seashore, feeling very tired and discouraged. At that moment Jesus came along and said, "Peter, I'd like to use your boat as a platform for a speech." So Peter let Jesus into his boat, and they launched out a little way from the shore. There Jesus could speak from the boat to the crowd standing on the shore.
After finishing his message, Jesus said to the fishermen, "Now let's go fishing. Launch out into the deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
Peter replied, "Master, we worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When the disciples obeyed, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
WHEN OUR BEST IS NOT ENOUGH
What does this story teach us about failure? Jesus never performed a miracle without a purpose. He always used his miracles to illustrate principles. This incident teaches us what to do WHEN OUR BEST IS NOT ENOUGH.
Sometimes we give something our best shot but still come up ten feet short. We study diligently for a test and only get a "C" or we work hard to make our marriage better but still don't see any progress. Life can be tough at times, and it's tempting to give up. We fell like saying, "what is the use? I just set myself up for more failure. Can anything make a difference?"
The interesting part of the Bible story is comparison between the two catches. The disciples had worked all night and caught nothing, but later they went out again for ten minutes and caught more than they ever had before. It was the same lake, the same people fishing. So what made the difference?
There are actually three difference between the two fishing expeditions, and these differences give us principles to follow when our best attempts end in failure. I believe any person who apples these principles will be genuine success in life. God intended them to be easy to understand, so that everybody could get on on the benefit.
But first you must realize that God is interested in your success; he's not interested in seeing you fail. Suppose my daughter Amy said to me one day, "Dad, I am a total failure in life. Everything I touch falls apart. My problems are insurmountable. I can never do anything right. I am a total failure and I'll never change."
Would I reply, "Oh, I'm so happy you told me that! That makes me feel so good inside"? Of Course not. As a father, I want my children to be successful, to be the best they can be. Likewise, your heavenly Father wants you to be successful in life-in your personal life, your family, your spiritual growth, and all your relationships. There are three principals drawn from God's word that can help you achieve this this. Stay tuned for the three principals that will give you this success that God desires you to have.
THREE PRINCIPALS THAT WILL GIVE YOU THE SUCCESS THAT GOD DESIRES YOU TO HAVE:
1. ANTICIPATE GOD'S PROMISES
2. IT CAN WORK IN YOUR LIFE
3. TRY IT AGAIN WITH CHRIST
The next day, the fisherman were washing their nets on the seashore, feeling very tired and discouraged. At that moment Jesus came along and said, "Peter, I'd like to use your boat as a platform for a speech." So Peter let Jesus into his boat, and they launched out a little way from the shore. There Jesus could speak from the boat to the crowd standing on the shore.
After finishing his message, Jesus said to the fishermen, "Now let's go fishing. Launch out into the deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
Peter replied, "Master, we worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When the disciples obeyed, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
WHEN OUR BEST IS NOT ENOUGH
What does this story teach us about failure? Jesus never performed a miracle without a purpose. He always used his miracles to illustrate principles. This incident teaches us what to do WHEN OUR BEST IS NOT ENOUGH.
Sometimes we give something our best shot but still come up ten feet short. We study diligently for a test and only get a "C" or we work hard to make our marriage better but still don't see any progress. Life can be tough at times, and it's tempting to give up. We fell like saying, "what is the use? I just set myself up for more failure. Can anything make a difference?"
The interesting part of the Bible story is comparison between the two catches. The disciples had worked all night and caught nothing, but later they went out again for ten minutes and caught more than they ever had before. It was the same lake, the same people fishing. So what made the difference?
There are actually three difference between the two fishing expeditions, and these differences give us principles to follow when our best attempts end in failure. I believe any person who apples these principles will be genuine success in life. God intended them to be easy to understand, so that everybody could get on on the benefit.
But first you must realize that God is interested in your success; he's not interested in seeing you fail. Suppose my daughter Amy said to me one day, "Dad, I am a total failure in life. Everything I touch falls apart. My problems are insurmountable. I can never do anything right. I am a total failure and I'll never change."
Would I reply, "Oh, I'm so happy you told me that! That makes me feel so good inside"? Of Course not. As a father, I want my children to be successful, to be the best they can be. Likewise, your heavenly Father wants you to be successful in life-in your personal life, your family, your spiritual growth, and all your relationships. There are three principals drawn from God's word that can help you achieve this this. Stay tuned for the three principals that will give you this success that God desires you to have.
THREE PRINCIPALS THAT WILL GIVE YOU THE SUCCESS THAT GOD DESIRES YOU TO HAVE:
1. ANTICIPATE GOD'S PROMISES
2. IT CAN WORK IN YOUR LIFE
3. TRY IT AGAIN WITH CHRIST
Sunday, February 14, 2010
God's Answers To Life's Difficult Questions by Rick Warren
8 PRINCIPALS FOR STRESS MANAGEMENT
LESSON 4
CONCENTRATION: Focus on One Thing At a Time
Do you sometimes find yourself pulled in different directions? Several people tried to detour Jesus from his planned schedule. They tried to distract him from his goal in life. "At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them" Luke 4:42. Jesus was going to leave, but they tried to make him stay. Jesus responded, " I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent" V. 43. He refused to be distracted by less important matters.
Principle number four for stress management is this: Focus on one thing at a time. It is the Principle of concentration. Jesus was a master at this. It seemed that everybody tried to interrupt him; everyone had a plan B for him. But Jesus responded, "Sorry, I must keep on moving toward my goal." He kept right on doing what he knew God had told him to do: preach about the kingdom of God. He was determined. He was persistent. He was focused.
When I have thirty things to do on my desk, I clear my desk and work on one thing. When I finish that, I pick up something else. You can't catch two jackrabbit at once. You've got to focus on one.
When we diffuse our efforts, we are ineffective. We we concentrate our efforts, we are more effective. Light diffused produces a hazy glow, but light concentrated produces fire. Jesus Christ did not let interruptions prevent him from concentrating on his goal; he did not let others make him tense or stressed or irritated.
TO POST COMMENTS YOU MUST BE A FAN/FOLLOWER OF HEAVENBOUND. BECOME A FAN/FOLLOWER. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU ON OUR TEAM. PLEASE POST A COMMENT AND LET US KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE. THANKS! CONTINUE ON HEAVENBOUND....
LESSON 5
DELEGATION: Don't Do It All Yourself
One day "Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him" Mark 3:13. He appointed twelve men, whom he designated as apostles, so they might be with him and he could send them out to preach. In other words, Jesus delegated his authority. This is the fifth principle: Don't try to do it all yourself. Use the principle of delegation.
Do you know why we get uptight and tense? Because we think everything depends on us. "Here I am--Atlas--holding up the cares of the world. They're all on my shoulders. If I happen to let go, the world will fall apart." But when I really do let go, the world doesn't fall apart! Jesus enlisted and trained twelve disciples so that they could share his load. He delegated his work. He got other people involved.
Why don't we delegate? Why don't we get other people involved? Why do we try to do it all ourselves? For two reasons. The first reason is perfectionism. We think, "If I want a job well done, I'll do it myself." That's a nice idea, but often it doesn't work well because there are just too many things to be done. We simply don't have time to do everything ourselves. It's really an egotistical attitude that says, "Nobody, but nobody, can do it the way I can."
Do you think Jesus would have done a better job than these disciples? Of course he could have. but he let them do the work even though he would have done it better. We need to let other people make some of the mistakes so that they can learn, the way the disciples did. Don't rob others of an education!
The other reason we don't delegate is personal insecurity. "What if I turn over the responsibility to someone, and he does a better job at it?" That thought is threatening to us. But you won't be threatened by that possibility if you know WHO YOU ARE, WHOM YOU'RE TRYING TO PLEASE, WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH, AND WHAT ONE THING YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON. In order to be effective, you must get other people involved, because you can't focus on more than one thing at a time and do it effectively.
LESSON 6
Jesus Christ was constantly under pressure. There were grueling demands on his time; he rarely had any personal privacy; he was constantly interrupted. People repeatedly misunderstood him, criticized him, and ridiculed him. He had enormous stress, which would have caused any of us to cave in.
But as we look at the life of Christ, we quickly discover that he remained at peace under pressure. He was never in a hurry. He was always at ease. He had a calmness about his life that enabled him to handle enormous amounts of stress. He did he do this successfully? The Answer can be simply stated: He based His life on sound principles of stress management. If we understand and apple these eight principles in our lives, we will experience less pressure and more peace of mind.
8 PRINCIPALS FOR STRESS MANAGEMENT
Identification: Know who you are.
Dedication: Know whom you're trying to please.
Organization: Know what you're trying to accomplish.
Concentration: Focus on one thing at a time.
Delegation: Don't do it all yourself.
Meditation: Make a habit of personal prayer
Recreation: Take time off to enjoy life
Transformation: Give your stress to Christ
I will take each one of these principals and break them down into a lesson each day. That way you can think on and digest the material.
Lesson 1
IDENTIFICATION: Know Who You Are
Identification: The first principal for handling stress in your life is this: Know who you are. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life, (John 8:12) "I am the door" (John 10:9) "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6) "I am the good shepherd" John 10:11 etc.
This is critically important in stress management because if you don't know who you are, someone else may try to tell you who they think you are. If you don't know who you are, you will subconsciously let other people manipulate you and pressure you into believing you are somebody you are not.
Alot of stress in life comes from wearing masks, living double lives, being unreal with others, or trying to be somebody we're not. Insecurity always produces pressure in our lives, and when we are insecure, we feel coerced to perform and conform. We set unrealistic standards for our lives, and even though we work, work, work, we still can't meet those unrealistic standards. Tension and pressure naturally occur as a result.
The first way to balance stress in my life is to get an internal balance of who I am. And I now who I am by knowing whose I am. I am a child of God. I was put on earth not by accident, but for a purpose. I am deeply loved by God. I am accepted by him. He has a plan for my life, and because he put me here, I am significant.
And because he put you here, you are significant. To handle stress you know who you are. Until you handle this issue, you will be hindered by insecurity.
Lesson 2
DEDICATION: Know Whom You're Trying to Please
The second principle of stress management in the life of Christ is found in John 5:30: "By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me."
The principle is this: know whom you're trying to please. You can't please everybody, because by the time one group becomes pleased with you, another group gets upset with you. Even God doesn't please everybody, so it's foolish to try to do something that even God doesn't do!
Jesus knew whom he was trying to please; it was a settled issue with him; "I'm going to please God the Father." And the Father replied, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased"
(Matt 3:17 KJV)
When you don't know whom you're trying to please, you cave into three things: criticism (because you are concerned about what others will think of you), Competition (because you worry about whether somebody else is getting ahead of you), and conflict (because you're threatened when anyone disagrees with you). If I "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,: then all the other things of life will be added unto me (Matt 6:33 KJV). This means that if you focus on pleasing God, it will simply your life. You will always be doing the right thing-the thing that pleases God-regardless of what anybody else thinks.
We love to blame our stress on other people and obligations: "You made me...I have to...I've got to." Actually, there are few things in life (apart from our jobs) that we must do. When we say, "I have to, I must, I've got," Hardly anybody makes us do anything, so usually we can't blame other people for our stress. When we feel pressure, we are choosing to allow other people to put us under pressure. We are not victims unless we allow ourselves to be pressured by other people's demands.
LESSON 3
ORGANIZATION: KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH
Here is Christ's clue to the third principle for dealing with stress: "Even if testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going" John 8:14.
The principle is this: Know what you want to accomplish. Christ said, "I know where I came from, and I know where I am going." Unless you plan your life and set priorities, you will be pressured by other people to do what they think is important.
Every day, either you live by priorities or you live by pressures. There is no other option. Either you decide what is important in your life, or you let other people decide what is important in your life.
It is easy to operate under the tyranny of the urgent, to come to the end of your day and think, "have I really accomplished anything? I used a lot of energy and did a lot of things, but did I accomplish anything important?" Busyness is not necessarily productivity. You may be spinning in circles, but you're not accomplishing anything.
Preparation causes you to be at ease. To put it another way, preparation prevents pressure but procrastination produces it. Good organization and good preparation reduces stress because you know who you are, whom you're trying to please, and what you want to accomplish. Having clear goals greatly simplifies life. Spend a few minutes each day talking with God in prayer. Look at your schedule for the day and decide, "Is this really the way I want to spend a day of my life? Am I willing to exchange twenty-four hours of my life for these activities?"
LESSON 4
CONCENTRATION: Focus on One Thing At a Time
Do you sometimes find yourself pulled in different directions? Several people tried to detour Jesus from his planned schedule. They tried to distract him from his goal in life. "At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them" Luke 4:42. Jesus was going to leave, but they tried to make him stay. Jesus responded, " I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent" V. 43. He refused to be distracted by less important matters.
Principle number four for stress management is this: Focus on one thing at a time. It is the Principle of concentration. Jesus was a master at this. It seemed that everybody tried to interrupt him; everyone had a plan B for him. But Jesus responded, "Sorry, I must keep on moving toward my goal." He kept right on doing what he knew God had told him to do: preach about the kingdom of God. He was determined. He was persistent. He was focused.
When I have thirty things to do on my desk, I clear my desk and work on one thing. When I finish that, I pick up something else. You can't catch two jackrabbit at once. You've got to focus on one.
When we diffuse our efforts, we are ineffective. We we concentrate our efforts, we are more effective. Light diffused produces a hazy glow, but light concentrated produces fire. Jesus Christ did not let interruptions prevent him from concentrating on his goal; he did not let others make him tense or stressed or irritated.
TO POST COMMENTS YOU MUST BE A FAN/FOLLOWER OF HEAVENBOUND. BECOME A FAN/FOLLOWER. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU ON OUR TEAM. PLEASE POST A COMMENT AND LET US KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE. THANKS! CONTINUE ON HEAVENBOUND....
LESSON 5
DELEGATION: Don't Do It All Yourself
One day "Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him" Mark 3:13. He appointed twelve men, whom he designated as apostles, so they might be with him and he could send them out to preach. In other words, Jesus delegated his authority. This is the fifth principle: Don't try to do it all yourself. Use the principle of delegation.
Do you know why we get uptight and tense? Because we think everything depends on us. "Here I am--Atlas--holding up the cares of the world. They're all on my shoulders. If I happen to let go, the world will fall apart." But when I really do let go, the world doesn't fall apart! Jesus enlisted and trained twelve disciples so that they could share his load. He delegated his work. He got other people involved.
Why don't we delegate? Why don't we get other people involved? Why do we try to do it all ourselves? For two reasons. The first reason is perfectionism. We think, "If I want a job well done, I'll do it myself." That's a nice idea, but often it doesn't work well because there are just too many things to be done. We simply don't have time to do everything ourselves. It's really an egotistical attitude that says, "Nobody, but nobody, can do it the way I can."
Do you think Jesus would have done a better job than these disciples? Of course he could have. but he let them do the work even though he would have done it better. We need to let other people make some of the mistakes so that they can learn, the way the disciples did. Don't rob others of an education!
The other reason we don't delegate is personal insecurity. "What if I turn over the responsibility to someone, and he does a better job at it?" That thought is threatening to us. But you won't be threatened by that possibility if you know WHO YOU ARE, WHOM YOU'RE TRYING TO PLEASE, WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH, AND WHAT ONE THING YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON. In order to be effective, you must get other people involved, because you can't focus on more than one thing at a time and do it effectively.
LESSON 6
MEDITATION: Make a Habit of Personal Prayer
Jesus often got up "very early in the morning, while it was still dark,...and went off to a solitary place" to pray Mark 1:35. The sixth principle of stress management is, Make a habit of personal prayer. This is the principle of meditation. Prayer is a gigantic stress-reliever. It is a God-given tool for letting off your anxieties. No matter how busy Jesus got, he made it a practice to spend time alone with God. If Jesus made time for prayer when he was busy, how much more do you and I need prayer! A little quiet time alone with God can be decompression chamber for life's stressed. We talk with God in prayer; we tell him what's on our minds and let him talk to us as we read the Bible. Then we look at our schedules, evaluate our priorities, and wait for instructions. In my book Rick Warren's Bible Study Methods there is a detailed explanation of how to develop and continue the habit of a daily devotional time with God.
Many of our problems come from our inability to sit still. We just don't know how to be quiet. Most of us cannot sit in a car for five minutes without turning the radio on.
If you walk into the house and find that you're all alone, what's the first thing you do? You probably turn on the TV or a music CD. Silence makes us uncomfortable. But God says,"Be still, and know that I am God" Ps. 46:10. One reason many people don't know God personally is that they can't be still. They're too busy to be quiet and just think.
Someone once said, "It seems to be an ironic habit of man that when he loses his way he doubles his speed"-like and Air Force pilot in World War II who flew out over the Pacific. When he radioed in, the controller asked, "Where are you?" The pilot replied, "I don't know, but I'm making record time!"
A lot of people are like that: they are speeding through life, but they don't know where they are headed. We need to start our morning with prayer, as Jesus did, and then periodically through the day stop and pray again, to recharge our spiritual batteries.
LESSON 7
RECREATION: Take Time Off to Enjoy Life
Once Jesus' twelve men gathered around him and reported all that they had done and taught. "Because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest'" Mark 6:31. Principal number seven for stress management is, TAKE TIME OFF TO ENJOY LIFE. It's the principal of relaxation and recreation. Jesus looked at these men who had been working hard without relief and said, " You deserve a break today. Let's ge some rest. Let's take some time off." So they got into a boat, rowed to the other side of the lake, and went out to the desert to rest.
One reason why Jesus could handle stress is that he kne when to relax. He frequently went to either the mountains or the desert just to unwind.
Rest and recreation in life are not optional. In fact, rest is so important that God included it in for mankind because God knows that our physical, emotional, and spiritual constitutions demand periodic breaks. Jesus survived stress because he enjoyed life. One of my favorite verses, Matthew 11:19 in the Phillips paraphrase, says that Jesus cam "enjoying life." Paul wrote that God has richly provided "everything for our enjoyment" 1 Timothy 6:17, Balance in life is a key to stress management.
LESSON 8
TRANSFORMATION: Give Your Stress To Christ
The eighth principle of stress management is one that Jesus didn't need because he is the son of God, but that we need because we're merely human. Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burndened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burndens are light" Mat 11:28-30. So the final principle in stress management is, GIVE YOUR STRESS TO CHRIST. You will never enjoy complete peace of mind, until you have a relationship with the Prince of Peace.
Christ did not say, "Come to me and I will give you more guilt, more burdens, more stress, and more worries"-even though that's what a lot of people seem to teach! Some churches tend to create pressure rather than relieve it. But Jesus said, "I want to give you rest. I am the Stress-Reliever. When you get in harmony with me, I will give you inner strength."
Christ can transform your lifestyle from stressful to satisfied. The greatest source of stress comes from trying to live our lives apart from the God who made us trying to go our own way and be our own god.
What do you need? If you have never committed your life to Christ, you need a transformation. Give your life, with all its stresses, to him and say, "Lord, please give me new a life. Replace the pressure I fee with the peace you offer. Help me follow your principles of stress management."
PUTTING THOUGHTS INTO ACTION
1. Which two or three of the eight principles stand out as the ones you most need to deal with
right now?
2. Identify three specific ways you can begin to simplify your life within the next wee.
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Friday, February 12, 2010
FATHER BE MY VALENTINE!!!
Heavenly, Holy, and Mighty God. My Warrior. I shout my love to you. I sing your praises all day, and all night long. There is nothing MORE fulfilling to me than you love. Just saying your name brings me so much joy, that I can hardly hold my composure. You are MOST valuable to me. I don't own anything of value, but I have everything because of you. Your Love is my security. Your word lets me know how much you really care for me. That is why I seek to find you everyday. I long to be in your presence; because your presence fills my longing heart. Every void, every dry place, is saturated with your love, you make the old places new, you make the rough places smooth. You Lord make me beautiful. That is why I want you to be the love of my life FOREVER!!! I want you -FATHER TO BE MY VALENTINE!!!
Love always
Katherine, 2/12/2010
Love always
Katherine, 2/12/2010
If God Saves You From Foreclosure, can he then pay your bills?
God had just brought down fire from heaven to prove that he was with Elijah, and to prove Israel's new false God's that he was, and always will be the only REAL TRUE GOD. This fire that God rained down burned up the sacrifices, the wood, the stones, and even the ground around the altar. WHEW!!! After that who would ever be afraid of anything? If God be for you then who can be against you?
Well, soon after God has proven himself to be with Elijah, then Jezebel threatened to kill Elijah for killing the false prophets of baal. Now, God had just shown that he was with Elijah, but due to that threat Elijah got scared and ran for his life.
How many times do we do this? God delivers us, and demonstrates himself as a ALL MIGHTY DEFENDER, and then SOON after; like tomorrow or the next week, we forget? IF HE SAVED YOU ON YOUR FORECLOSURE ON YOUR HOUSE; THEN WHY ARE YOU AFRAID THAT HE WON'T HELP YOU PAY YOUR MONTHLY BILL? Please read entire text: I King Chapters 18 and 19
Well, soon after God has proven himself to be with Elijah, then Jezebel threatened to kill Elijah for killing the false prophets of baal. Now, God had just shown that he was with Elijah, but due to that threat Elijah got scared and ran for his life.
How many times do we do this? God delivers us, and demonstrates himself as a ALL MIGHTY DEFENDER, and then SOON after; like tomorrow or the next week, we forget? IF HE SAVED YOU ON YOUR FORECLOSURE ON YOUR HOUSE; THEN WHY ARE YOU AFRAID THAT HE WON'T HELP YOU PAY YOUR MONTHLY BILL? Please read entire text: I King Chapters 18 and 19
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