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Unfaithfulness is a "Dangerous Danger "
A young man went to his father one day to tell him that he wanted to get married. His father was happy for him. He asked his son who the girl was, and the he told him that it was Samantha a girl from the neighborhood. With a sad face the old man said to his son, "I'm sorry to say this son but cannot marry her. The girl you want to marry is your sister, but please don't tell your mother." The young man again brought 3 more names to his father but ended up frustrated cause the response was still the same. So he decides to go to his mother. "Mama I want to get married but all the girls that I love, dad said they are my sisters and I mustn't tell you." His mother smiling said to him," Don't worry my son, you can marry any of those girls. You're not his son! " -- Happy Times!!! Author Unknown
Gods covenant
Psa 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.
We havent seen that but we know from the Bible that God has a Book of Life. This Book of Life was written before heavens and earth was created.It was written before the first human being was created. There was written your name and my name. There were written many other names. Though God foreknew how these people will answer to His call, it is still written in the Bible that these names will be erased from the Book of Life. It means that something is wrong in your behavior and then God erases your name from the Book of Life. The Bible says: „God will never change.“ It means that something changes in your behaviorthat is not in the standard of God. God doesn't like that and then He will erase your name from the Book of Life.
Rev 3:5 He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the Book of Life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.
What can we see here? We can see an eraser in the hand of Jesusand you have to fight so that your name would not be erased from the Book of Life. Your name is written there and you are born-again and that is a wonderful gift from God. It doesn't mean that it is the end no,it’s only beginning. It is a wonderful, a great, an amazing opportunity, but also it means that you must fight with sin, resist the devil, and fight againstyour carnal lusts, so you wouldn't end up being unfit, in opposition with God and grieving the Holy Spirit. You must fight so that Jesus wouldn't erase you from the Book of Life! Do you understand? It is not that you only hang out, go through life and are pulled about like a mop and give thanks: „God, I thank you that I am in Christ, the blood of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the gospel belongs to me.“ It is not fighting. In no circumstance can sin get in side of you, it can not make nests, bastions etc. inside of you.You must fight!
Heb 10:19-22 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which He dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having a great priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water,
In one other translation 22. verse says „Draw near to Him, with a real heart!“ Not with a dirty heart, that is filled with passions, not surrendered but with a heart that is pure, holy, cleansed by the blood of Jesus. This means sins are confessed, you have fellowship with the Holy Spirit, you have revelations about what is sin in your life and what is not, what pleases God and what doesn't, it means that you see what is wrong and admit it. „I want, I wish but I can not have it now.“ Let’s draw near by the blood of Jesus! When the blood of Jesus comes in, there is no joke anymore, there is no kidding around it is the question of life and death and that is why God tells you: „Don't be kidding it is a high-tension!“ Draw near to the church service, into home group with a real heart! In full of faith. Perfect faith believesthat God hasn't left me without anythingI am healed by the stripes of Jesus right now, even if I can not see that. Perfect faith believes that I have been promised prosperity, peace, joy in the Holy Ghost. Real heart, perfect faith, without that you are not allowed to enter into the church service. It is a parable. You can not go before Him in the name of Jesus, if your heart is not pure and you are not in perfect faith. There is no use, no point, you tempt. The author of the Hebrew letter says it so. Let’s draw near in the name of Jesus into His presencewith a pure heart and in a perfect faith.
Heb 10:23 and having our body washed with pure water let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for He is faithful that promised:
Look how you must come before Him. In faith with a pure heart, free from all sins, admit Who He is and what He has promised you. You can not come when you are dissatisfied, crumbling, in lack of faith. God sees that. You must always keep that promise, read the bible, pray and worship. Otherwise you can not keep your heart clean for if you won’t do anything than satan will pollute it. Capriciousness, manipulation, whining won't help you.It is not a fight; it is giving up - a desertion.
Heb 10:24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works;
What is a good deed, a deed of faith? It is when you confess His word and live in it. That you won’t let envy, hate, crumbling, lamentation, dissatisfaction get into your heart. Say: „Father, my heart is pure, I will fight.“ We have 10 000 reasons to be dissatisfied, only look outside and you will see hundreds of reasons - others have more things, bigger refrigerators. God is bigger than a refrigerator, bigger than a momentary need. Bible says: „Be satisfied with what you have!“ You have more than a refrigerator, banks, great cars, you have Christ!
Heb 10:25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.
First thing that He says: „At first if you don't fight like you need to, you feel fear and discomfort.You have an uncomfortable feeling about going to the home group, to the churchand you think that it is because others are bad and you think that it is not the will of God for you at all. „If this would be the will of God, then the road would be green. You would walk in a paradisiacal road, birds would sing and flowers would grow all around you andwhat pleasant perfumes like in the Garden of Eden,sky would be pink, no rainand you would have an awesome feeling."That is satans lie on your life.
Your conscience is unclean, you are not fighting, because if you would fight satan would be already bound and no enmity would be between men and animals. First thing that he brings in if you are not fighting and guarding is an uncomfortable feeling when you meet your sisters and brothers.You think it is the will of God otherwise you wouldn't feel that. Your heart must be pure! You feel what others don't feel. I don't feel that. All others were cheated by the snake. „Oh, I would feel great if I would be in my home.“ There are two homes - heaven and hell, there are no more homes. On the earth we have only a temporary home. Human being is born and then he-she will disappear like a vapor, he just doesn't exist anymore. It is not your home. Who said that this is your home? You didn't come from here. You are a spirit, you have a soul and you live in the body.Your flesh will become dust, but even this is not his home, for the earth will burn. Don't show out your feelings! It is the first sign that tells that you have stopped fighting.You are lazy; you don't take care of yourself. You won't walk in the perfect faith although you have Jesus and the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. This faith that you have now, is your perfect faith and you will grow and your perfect faith will grow. What has been given to you is perfect. We bind this lying and lazy spirit over our church.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,
What is written here? Is it written that you drink, brawl, debauch? No. Willful sinning means that you are not searching your heart, whether it is pure or not. Here sinning willfully means that the proclamation of faith has disappeared from you lips. It means that you won’t fight but surrender to the devil and say: „Oh, I really feel uncomfortable to go there, I am afraid. Yes, others hate me, no one can tolerate me there.“ You have this feeling. This means willful sinning. Alcohol and other things come later. Here we don't speak about small detailsthey are not mentioned.Here we deal with roots - basic and important things that can decide your future. We deal with small things but the Bible tells us to deal with basic things. If your most important thing is the refrigerator and what to wear, then there is a misery in the house.
Heb 10:29 of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Everything starts when you don't walk in your perfect faith and your testimony about Who He is and what He has done for you has disappeared from your lipsor hasn't even come in there. After this it’s pretty logical that you feel discomfort in meeting your brothers and sisters, in helping in the churchwork, with praising, thanking and worshiping Him. Bible says that with this lifestyle you trod the Son of God under your feetand think that the blood of Jesus as unholy. Look what it is all about, what God means when He says thatin this case your name will be erased from the Book of Life. These things are serious. That's why there is a war for life and death. Satan fights against you. God wants to fight for you and with you! That's why the headline of this part of the Scripture says „Encouragement and warning“. Warning that your name would not be erased from the Book of Life.
I am not 100% sure that when you get saved, baptized with water and with the Holy Ghost, you will remain in the Book of Life. This theory is very popular in America, were most people are economically independent, for they have been told that they have received grace and who has received grace has been purified from sins and these sins will not be remembered and anyways you will get saved, but there is something else written here. If all this had been written before the book of revelation, then later we could stand before Jesus and say: „You didn't write anything in the last book that my name could be erased from the Book of Life. You didn't write anything about that. Everything was in the Old Testament“, but see it was written in the end. This is the last revelationand it is very clearly said that „who overcomes“. If you do good things then you won’t sin and that's sure but He also reminds us that things are not so simple. These Scriptures that we read are very serious and it is a very serious warning. I am not talking about big sins. Here we speak about pure consciousness, being alert and keeping the covenant.
Let’s pray: „Dear Heavenly Father, we are ultimately thankful to You, that You have made a covenant with us, the blood covenant. It is an amazing, wonderful covenant. This covenant helps us to receive the helpin a right time in every thing, but this covenant tells us alsothat we must live a holy, a pure and a sinless lifeand we must rejoice, praise and worship You for this great covenant. Thank You that You have chosen us at all, for we didn't seek You we didn't want You, we went our own way but You came and found us. You washed away our sinsand placed our feet on the right and firm ground. You gave us Your Word, Holy Spirit, brothers, sisters, gifts of ministry. You have taken care of usand You continue to do thatand we must keep our covenant. We thank You, Fatherthat You help us to keep this covenant. We thank You that we can lean on this renewed covenant always, if we need help from You. We thank You for that, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.“
Agape ,
Pastors Paul and Ella Armand,
City Church in Tallinn,Estonia
Storm in our lives!(1)
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.(John 14:23)
Love is the main argument because His grace does not depend on us. Grace has been given to us as an argument before Him so we could listen and understand His Word. His grace is a proof that we have received His Word.
I was also not capable to live with one woman when I was told that I had to I thought that these people are crazy. But as I heard this I also heard that it was called whoredom. I thought well, where is the right one then? I was searching. I was seeking a wife but I sought it every evening and that was a mistake. Mistake was in me and not in the people whom I sought for.
This lasted until I heard the Word of God from the woman I later married. She asked me: „Where are you going tonight?“ „To my friends bar“ I answered. My friend was in a special army called „Berkut“ (Eagle) in Ukraine he had a bar and he was also one of my bodyguards. In the evenings I went there. She asked: „But what to you do there?“
„We will see! What do you think?“, I replied.
She said: „Hey! Halloo! Excuse me?!“ I asked: „What do you want from me? I am single. I have all rights!“ Sha sked: „Are you a Christian?“ „Yes!“ „Are you baptized with water?“ „Yes!“ „Are you baptized with the Holy Spirit?“ „Yes!“ „Do you believe in the church?“ „Yes!“
She said: „Wait a minute that´s not right“
I thought what are you talking about? For five years I lived like that when I was a Christian but when I was confronted face to face I allowed this word to come inside of me. I said: „Yes! “ You know I didn´t understand that! I am not doing adultery because I am not married. I am not an adulterer! She said that there is one more word there – a whore.
I said: „Excuse me? I´m a man. I have money, I have time!“
This was my old worldly thinking and as I heard this word I received it.
Do you think that this was my last jump to the left? No! But the word was already inside the heart and had rooted. I held unto this root with my two big hands. It was so precious to me to find out that I can not do that otherwise Gods punishment will come.
I found out that I can get punished because of it and this was a blessing because now I was already afraid of something! This was already in my heart. I don´t know how I hold unto this. It seemed to be so unimportant to me but because of that people can go to hell and be eternally destroyed.
One of our sisters told me many years ago: „I had some kind of a relationship with one boy but we didn´t do adultery!“ Listen to me carefully! Jesus said that if you look a woman with a desire then this is already an adultery.
You have sinned already! Yes, it was a sin of adultery and you must repent of it! Listen these thoughts attack me also today but I have the helm of salvation and they fall off as green peas. In the same way do not allow fear, unbelief and doubts into your head. Don`t think these bad thoughts! The devil slanders the pastor and he slanders you! Don`t receive these thoughts! It poisons you.
Pay the price to receive the power of God into your life. Terrible times are ahead.
To be continued...
Agape
Pastor Paul Armand
City Church in Tallinn,Estonia
There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given
a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he
could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for
dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.
Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the
head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved.
In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister
watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.
After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But
Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then
she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes.
Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing
and
Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally just
smiled and said," Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to
help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and
Johnny stayed to help.
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's ... he
finally couldn't stand it any longer.
He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt
down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing
at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave
you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."
Thought for the day and every day thereafter?
Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... and the devil keeps
throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt,fear, bad habits, hatred,
anger, bitterness, etc.)... whatever it is...
You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven.
He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.
The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only
forgives you, but He forgets .. It is by God's grace and mercy that we are
saved.
Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today. Share this with a
friend and always remember: God is at the window.
Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
Be consistent in your walk with God.......He wants to walk with you....
Author unknown
Pride and self
Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour,
I hope you have great week.Read this Word of God and ponder over it and it will bless you.
Pride and self pity can rob us of our victory in the Lord. Pride destroys
because it takes the glory away from God and places it on you and me
where it doesn't belong. Self pity and depression are almost inevitable
after a great high. Maybe it's because we get our priorities skewed,
forgetting how we got to that high and seeing only the slide downward
toward normality. Keep your priorities straight. Keep your attitude in
tune with God's purposes in your life. Give God credit when He does
something great in your life, being mindful that you can accomplish
nothing without Him. And then, after the high of victory, realize that a
return to normal means coming down, being lower than you were, but
by no means down and out. And, unlike Samson, don't think God owes
you for your efforts. You owe Him. Because without Him you can
accomplish nothing. Even your next breath depends on His
willingness to give it to you. Thank Him and glorify Him in all
things in your life. Make Him your focus, rather than yourself.
God's blessings in your life and families
Bro El Batsa Accra, Ghana
River of Water
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit
in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Psalm 1:3
Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding
in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Many times in "the garden of life" we are forced to make decisions that are often not easy. There are times when our convictions are not convenient so to speak for others and sometimes difficult things to conform to ourselves. We have to choose what we are going to become; a tulip or an oak tree. Allow me to explain the analogy.
You see an oak tree can be fully grown and strong, so big that people are forced to walk around it. No one steps on an oak and an oak can withstand any kind of pressure whether storm, wind, snow, etc. But a tulip, although beautiful when in bloom can also be grown up but people can still step on and destroy it easily; a tulip is very vulnerable.
Many times in the midst of a decision that we must make we become one or the other; do we stand strong in our convictions and hold fast to our beliefs or do we allow others around us to trample us like the fragile tulip. But there are also times when we are in that "tulip condition" that God sends us people to be "fences" for us. Sometimes tulips need a fence to be built around them to protect them so that they can continue to grow and it is at those times that God sends people around us to be that fence and help us stay strong in those choices.
We would all like to be like that oak tree 100% of the time but it simply just does not happen. There are times when we are all weakened from the fight and sometimes feel like we cannot go on but that is when we need to meditate on scriptures like those above; when we are striving to be like that oak tree we will be strong and unmovable. All that we put our hands to do will prosper because we are striving to be strong in the Lord. And like the final scripture in 1 Corinthians, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. Sometimes we feel like all we do for the Lord can be in vain because of the choices that others make for themselves. But it is wonderful to know that our laboring down here is not in vain for one day we will know what awaits us.
So the next time you have to make a decision, think to yourself...am I a tulip or an oak tree? "Life's a garden....dig it!"
El Batsa, Accra, Ghana
Hearing
Matthew 16:21-23
The most potent hearing aid known to man is the Holy Bible. It is the
standard of truth against which you can test every message that comes
your way.
Making a decision on an issue important to you can be extremely
difficult. Sometimes it may seem as if you are hearing two or more
voices, all of which make seemingly good points but also tug you in
different directions. It is important that in these times you learn to
discern the voice of God.
There are several principles you can apply to what you're hearing to
gauge whether it is of God, but the most basic is whether the message
conflicts with Scripture. God won't tell you to do something that
counters what He already has recorded for all mankind.
Therefore, the best way to know God's voice is to get to know Him.
Spend time in His Word and soak in His truths. You must know God's Word
before you can differentiate God's instructions from the messages Satan or
your flesh are sending you.
Do you know how investigators are trained to recognize counterfeit
money? They don't spend all of their time trying to keep up with the
latest technological advances in creating false money. Instead, they
first and foremost diligently study the original, the real thing.
Then, held against the standard, the fake stuff stands out.
El Batsa, Accra,Ghana
REMEMBER THESE WORDS PONDER ABOUT THEM
The will of God will never take you,
Where the grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the arms of God cannot support you,
Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the power of God cannot endow you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.
"Everything happens for a purpose. We may not see the wisdom of it all now, but trust and believe in the Lord that everything is for the best."
The way to be anxious about nothing is to be prayerful about everything
May the good Lord bless you and keep and make His shine upon you and give His peace
El Batsa, Accra, Ghana
May This Encourage You Always
Don't spend major time with minor people. If there are people in your life that continually disappoint you,break promises, stomp on your dreams, too judgmental, have different values and don't have your back during difficult times...that is not a friend.
To have a friend, be a friend. Sometimes in life as you grow, your friends will either grow or go. Surround yourself with people who reflect values, goals interests and lifestyle. When I think of any of my successes, I am thankful to GOD from whom all blessings flow, and to my family and friends that enrich my life. Over the years my phone book has changed because I changed for the better.
At first you think you're going to be alone, but after a while new people show up in your life that make your life so much sweeter and easier to endure.
Remember what your elders used to say, "Birds of a feather flock together. If you're an eagle, don't hang around chickens: Chickens Can't Fly!
I love the Lord and thank Him for all that he does in my life, therefore, I'm passing this on. Yes I do love Jesus. He is my source of existence and Savior.
He keeps me functioning each and everyday. Without Him, I will be nothing Without Him, I am nothing but with Him I can do all things. Phil 4:13. Be Positive - Be Progressive –
Take the time to make a positive difference in someone's life. Walk by faith,Not by sight. Receive God's blessings. Author Unknown
Serendipity
Good things will come to you in ways you could never anticipate or expect. Yet if you're constantly placing judgments, conditions and restrictions on your life, you'll miss out on most of those good things.
Being open to the abundance of life means being open to the unknown and unexpected. If you hide away from what you do not know, you'll never discover anything new.
The world is constantly changing, and many of those changes can seem frightening. Yet within each and every change there is opportunity.
When the world changes, legions of positive possibilities are born. When the unexpected happens, there is much new value to be created.
Choose to welcome the constant newness that is essential to life. For it brings new ways to more fully express and fulfill your own unique purpose.
In every unexpected turn of events is a pleasant surprise waiting to be discovered. Open yourself to the freshness of each dawning moment, and find those magnificent treasures that have just been born.
-- Ralph Marston
The future is bright
The future is bright. Because the future is created by positive people.
Those who are negative make a lot of noise about how bad things are. Those who are positive quietly and steadily make a lot of real improvements and contributions to life.
There are always problems and there are always challenges. And there are always people willing to transform those challenges into great opportunities.
Those who have the courage, commitment and discipline to follow their own best dreams, bring the rest of the world along with them. Those who choose to do the best they can with what they have, create a better life for everyone.
For every high-profile guru of doom who wails about how hopeless and unfair life is, there are millions of others working tirelessly to make life better than ever. For every frightening crisis that is breathlessly reported, there are millions of real, meaningful success stories that don't get noticed, but that do have enormous positive influence.
Negative people obsess over the past while positive people work their way eagerly toward the future. Life gets better and better when you choose to make it so, and the future is bright indeed.
-- Ralph Marston
Nothing Is Impossible
Suggested Bible Reading
The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, "My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on-since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said." And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes." Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent." Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?" The Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, and say, "Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son." But Sarah denied, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. He said, "Oh yes, you did laugh."
-Genesis 18:1-15 (NRSV)
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)- SARAH and Abraham were well advanced in age by the time they received God's promise of a child. Sarah had already passed the age of having children, so as she heard God's word she laughed in disbelief. But God assured Abraham that with God, nothing is impossible; the promise would be fulfilled. Abraham didn't doubt God's word. Rather, he was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God.
Many times God promises to do great things in our lives to bring joy to us and glory to his name. But too often we question God; we even doubt what God can really do. Because of our pride, impatience, and lack of faith and hope, we end up trying to rely on our own strength to achieve success in life. By doing so we hinder, even ignore, the power of divine intervention in our lives.
Just as for Sarah, God will fulfill the promises to us. Regardless of our circumstances, we can trust God and hold on to the faith we profess. God who promised is faithful. At the appointed time, Sarah received the fulfillment of God's promise, (Gen. 21:1-2) and so can we. Júlio Romão Chavane (Maputo, Mozambique)
Make something beautiful
The victories bring joy, and new opportunities. The defeats bring wisdom, strength, determination, and new opportunities.
In this way, life moves continually forward. In each moment, you can build upon whatever has come before.
Sometimes things happen just as you expected they would, and then there are times when nothing goes the way you had it planned. In any event, there is a way to respond triumphantly.
Learn to see the value no matter what outer conditions and circumstances may be concealing it. Know that there is value, and you will find it.
Right now, you are where you are supposed to be. For right now, you are where you can truly make a difference.
The ups and downs and ins and outs of life have brought you to this day. And on this day, you can make something beautiful out of it all.
-- Ralph Marston
It's Going to Be Okay
by Max Lucado
Bill Tucker was sixteen years old when his dad suffered a health crisis and consequently had to leave his business. Even after Mr. Tucker regained his health, the Tucker family struggled financially, barely getting by.
Mr. Tucker, an entrepreneurial sort, came up with an idea. He won the bid to reupholster the chairs at the local movie theater. This stunned his family. He had never stitched a seat. He didn't even own a sewing apparatus. Still, he found someone to teach him the skill and located an industrial-strength machine. The family scraped together every cent they had to buy it. They drained savings accounts and dug coins out of the sofa. Finally, they had enough.
It was a fine day when Bill road with his dad to pick up the equipment. Bill remembers a jovial, hour-long trip discussing the bright horizons this new opportunity afforded them. They loaded the machine in the back of their truck and secured it right behind the cab. Mr. Tucker then invited his son to drive home. I'll let Bill tell you what happened next:
"As we were driving along, we were excited, and I, like any sixteen-year-old driver, was probably not paying enough attention to my speed. Just as we were turning on the cloverleaf to get on the expressway, I will never ever, ever forget watching that sewing machine, which was already top-heavy, begin to tip. I slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. I saw it go over the side. I jumped out and ran around the back of the truck. As I rounded the corner, I saw our hope and our dream lying on its side in pieces. And then I saw my dad just looking. All of his risk and all of his endeavor and all of his struggling and all of his dream, all of his hope to take care of his family was lying there, shattered.
"You know what comes next don't you? 'Stupid, punk kid driving too fast, not paying attention, ruined the family by taking away our livelihood.' But that's not what he said. He looked right at me. 'Oh, Bill, I am so sorry.' And he walked over, put his arms around me, and said, 'Son, this is going to be okay.'
God is whispering the same to you. Those are his arms you feel. Trust him. That is his voice you hear. Believe him. Allow the only decision maker in the universe to comfort you. Life at times appears to fall to pieces, seem irreparable. But it's going to be okay. How can you know? Because God so loved the world. If God can make a billion galaxies, can't he make good out of our bad and sense out of our faltering lives? Of course he can. He is God.
Perfect Love
Suggested Bible Reading
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person -- though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
-Romans 5:1-11 (NRSV) -1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV
SOME time ago, I saw an interview on television with an 83-year-old woman. She was asked about her long and interesting life as a politician and also about her private life. She was intelligent and clear in her answers. Finally, the interviewer asked about her Christian faith. The woman remained silent for a moment. Then she said, "My faith is a living part of my personality. It is my rod and my staff." She continued, "I grew up with a strict father who was an old-fashioned Calvinist and regarded everything as sinful. But this is not how I know the Lord today. God is not a punishing God but full of love and righteousness."
Her words caused me to examine my own faith. I can say that my faith gives me hope. Without faith, there is no hope. My faith also gives me assurance, even if I have doubts from time to time. I have no doubts when it comes to God or the Bible, but I wonder about myself. Am I good enough? Do I deserve the love of God? Then I remember the words from the interview and realize that I do not need to deserve God's love. In the light of God's grace, each one of us is accepted. God's love embraces and welcomes us all. Laila Geitz (Akershus, Norway)
Live with joy
Find joy in doing nothing and you can find it in everything. Experience happiness without a reason and you can create happiness for any reason.
Realize that happiness is not the result of good things, but is indeed the cause of good things.
There is nothing you need in order to be happy
other than the choice to be.
Imagine living this day filled with joy, happiness and positive purpose. Imagine it, then take one more step and actually do it.
Let go of any concern you may have for what does or does not come your way. Focus instead on the good and valuable things that you can give, create, inspire and choose to experience.
Don't allow the world to pull you down with its negativity. Choose to transform the world around you with your own positive outlook.
Real joy is always a choice you can make. Live with joy, let happiness flow out from you, and life becomes more radiant with each passing moment.
-- Ralph Marston
Physical Fitness
For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;that I know very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed. How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! I try to count them--they are more than the sand; I come to the end--I am still with you.
-Psalm 139:13-18 (NRSV) -1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)
EARLY in the morning four times a week, I go to the local gym for exercise. I join people from all walks of life, young and old, who want to care for their bodies by keeping physically fit. Many of us have abused our bodies with unhealthy diets and poor habits. However, many people now are becoming more aware of the benefits of healthy eating and physical fitness.
Paul knew about the vital link between our physical and spiritual needs. "Your body," he wrote, "is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you." I confess there have been times in my own experience that I thought some problem was a spiritual one when actually it was due to physical exhaustion. The spirit has been willing when the flesh has been weak. (See Matt. 26:41.) Paul wrote, "The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual" (1 Cor. 15:46).
Consequently, I need to take care of my body for its own sake as well as for the important effect my physical condition can have on my spiritual well-being. God is concerned about both body and spirit. Regardless of our fitness level, we are indeed "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Ps. 139:14).
Norman Armistead (North Yorkshire, England)
No worry
Here's a simple, easy way to make an immediate and profound improvement in the quality of your life. Stop worrying.
The next time you catch yourself wrapping your mind around a worry, choose to let that worry fall completely away. Notice how much more positive and effective you suddenly are.
Worry poisons your thoughts and keeps life's best opportunities hidden from you. Worry actually increases the power and influence of those undesirable things you worry about.
Certainly it's important to look clearly and realistically at life's dangers, problems and challenges. Yet there is nothing to be gained by worrying about them.
Choose to replace each negative worry with positive action. Instead of looking down, pick yourself up and move forward.
Every moment is filled with countless opportunities to create lasting value. Stop worrying, and start living with richness, purpose and real joy.
-- Ralph Marston
Relax and enjoy
The world will wind you up into a tight little ball if you let it. Don't let it.
Relax and enjoy the ever-changing flow of being alive. There's no point in working yourself into a frenzy about anything.
The more uptight you are, the more mistakes you make. Relax, stop taking everything so seriously, and you'll find that you're vastly more effective.
Put a big, authentic and friendly smile on your face. Put some delightful positive thoughts in your mind.
The worst that could happen will almost certainly not happen. And even if it does, you'll find a way to handle it.
Live with passion and purpose while letting go of the tension and anxiety. Relax and enjoy every moment as it comes, and you'll be giving the world your very best.
-- Ralph Marston
Positive experience
The best response to a negative experience is to create a positive experience. Instead of fighting against life's misfortunes, transform them into useful and worthwhile value.
When things go wrong, you have a choice. You can wallow in self pity or you can seize the opportunity for self improvement.
In every disappointment there is the seed of fulfillment. In every weakness there is the seed of strength.
Problems and difficulties provide reliable pathways to achievement. There is value to be gained from every experience when you choose to see that value and to bring it about.
You never have to be the victim of random circumstance, or of any other circumstance for that matter. For instead of choosing to be the victim, you can always choose to make a positive difference.
Life is often unfair, and comes to you in ups and downs, but that doesn't really matter. For you are free to make of it whatever you choose.
-- Ralph Marston
Beyond the pain
Resentment is a useless pursuit. It does not help you, it does not help the situation, and it does not help the people you resent.
Resentment expands the damage that has been done and prolongs the pain that has been inflicted. And resentment often leads to new instances of hurtful behavior on the part of everyone involved.
The way to end the downward spiral of resentment is with forgiveness.
Forgiveness frees you to move forward, unfettered by the burden of past wrongdoing.
Forgiveness does not mean that what happened was acceptable. Forgiveness simply enables you to completely, once and for all, let it go.
In every life, there are numerous and continuing opportunities for deep, abiding and destructive resentment. But there is nothing at all to be gained by spending your life filling up a mental warehouse with those painful resentments.
Choose instead to quickly forgive, and to move forward, beyond the pain and into a world filled with positive possibilities. Don't waste your life on resentment when there is so very much beauty, life and love to experience.
GOD UNDERSTANDS
Job 4:1-6 (NRSV)
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
"If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended?
But who can keep from speaking?
See, you have instructed many;
you have strengthened the weak hands.
Your words have supported those who were stumbling,
and you have made firm the feeble knees.
But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;
it touches you, and you are dismayed.
Is not your fear of God your confidence,
and the integrity of your ways your hope?
_________________________
Jesus said to the disciples, "Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
- Matthew 28:20 (NRSV)
_________________________
I woke up one morning with many concerns on my mind. I had lost my job; my relationship with my mother was tense. My purse containing cards and other documents had been stolen, so I couldn't even drive my car.
What did God want me to do? I didn't understand. My feelings ranged from anger to helplessness. I needed to talk to someone, but all I could do was cry. Had God forgotten me? Was God annoyed or angry with me?
My prayer that morning was simple but sincere. At the end of my prayer time I felt that God was with me, and I was filled with inner peace.
Then the telephone rang. It was my pastor, and God spoke to me through him. A second phone call came from a friend who reminded me that he was there for me, that he would pick me up and drive me to my classes at the university. Again, I wanted to cry -- this time for joy.
God knows our innermost feelings and offers hope and help. We are not alone. God surrounds us with special people who help us to meet the challenges we encounter.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for your Holy Spirit, who knows our true feelings and offers strength and hope, and thank you for all those who show us that you care for us. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
What Christian friends offer me support in difficult times?
-- Monica Balvin Diaz (Valle del Cauca, Colombia)
Start with joy
There's a reason why the sunrise is so beautiful and magnificent. It sets the stage for a positive, fulfilling day.
When you start the day by choosing to be joyful, you put yourself in a creative, effective state of mind. You'll make yourself better able to handle whatever may come your way during the day.
A relationship that gets off to a positive start at the very beginning will quickly flourish and build great value. You can forge a positive relationship with each day when you begin it in a joyful way.
Even if the day is gray and gloomy you can choose to start it with a positive experience of your own making. Fulfillment comes to those who make it happen, and there's no better time than the beginning of your day to start moving forward.
There's an endless list of ways in which you can begin the day on a positive note.
And the days that start well have the best chance of going well.
A new day arrives, ready to be lived. Choose to start it with joy.
-- Ralph Marston
Yes you can do it
Yes, you can do it. And you can begin right now.
Sure, you've run into problems in the past. Yet there is a way to get past every one of them.
When it is important enough to you and meaningful enough for you, you will find a way. There is a positive, effective step that you can take this very moment.
It will require effort on your part, as well as commitment and persistence. Fortunately, you are fully capable of all those things.
Yes, you can do it, and in the process you will more fully become the beautiful, unique person you are meant to be. You will grow more capable, more confident, more knowledgeable and experienced.
When your objective is connected with the purpose that drives every other purpose, there is no doubt that you can do it. Begin now to work your way there.
-- Ralph Marston
A higher perspective
What troubles you is mostly trivial when viewed from the great perspective of all that is.
Yet those troubles can feel much bigger when you look at them from the viewpoint of your self-imposed limitations.
Your ego will seek to convince you that nothing beyond you matters. Such thinking will keep you trapped in a prison of your own making.
Let go of the need to prove what you're worth. And you'll realize how uniquely valuable you already and always are.
As long as you remain on the same level as the obstacles in your life, those obstacles will prevent you from making progress.
Yet from a higher perspective you'll discover many ways to get beyond them.
If you're confounded by some particular situation, step back and remind yourself, in your own way, of how truly beautiful and magnificent life can be. Feel yourself rising above the limitations that your ego has constructed.
Instead of being troubled by your troubles, let them be a catalyst for your own growth and for truly meaningful inspiration. Climb up to a higher perspective and find a path to the greatness that is within you.
-- Ralph Marston
Truly impressive
Always know that what other people think of you is their own concern, not yours. Do what you know is right, and fully accept that others will think what they will think.
Certainly it is valuable to make a good impression. Keep in mind, though, that the best way to make a good impression is not to worry endlessly about what others think.
The way to make the best impression is to be authentic. Allow the goodness that is within you to shine through your genuine courtesy, kindness, respect and consideration.
By caring so much about receiving validation from others, you prevent yourself from getting it. Instead, share your real value with those around you and that value will be clear for all to see.
Don't waste your time and effort keeping up appearances. Put your attention and energy into real solid substance, and your appearance will take care of itself.
The more you strive to make a good impression, the less successful you'll be at doing so. Just relax and be yourself, and you'll be truly and authentically impressive.
-- Ralph Marston
The newness of life
In order to learn something new you must first accept that you do not know it. To fully understand another person, you must let go of your desire to make blind assumptions and judgments about that person.
Turn down the volume and intensity of your own chattering thoughts, and you can hear the music of life. Stop expecting to see what you've always seen before, and new and wondrous beauty will appear in front of your eyes.
When you continue to perform a task the exact same way you've always done it, your effectiveness cannot improve very much. Be open to new ideas and techniques, and you can vastly accelerate your performance.
If you cynically think you've experienced it all, you'll close yourself off from much of life's richness. If you consider yourself smarter than everyone else, you'll be supporting and advancing your own growing ignorance.
Open your mind and your heart to the newness of life that comes with each moment. There is always more to learn, more to experience, more to appreciate and enjoy, no matter how much you've already done.
With each dawning day, a whole new world of possibilities is born. Allow yourself to know and acknowledge their newness, and bring the best of those possibilities to life.
UNSEEN BEAUTY
Psalm 104:5-24 (NRSV)
You set the earth on its foundations,
so that it shall never be shaken.
You cover it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
At your rebuke they flee;
at the sound of your thunder they take to flight.
They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys
to the place that you appointed for them.
You set a boundary that they may not pass,
so that they might not again cover the earth.
You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
they flow between the hills,
giving drink to every wild animal;
the wild asses quench their thirst.
By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation;
they sing among the branches.
From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
You cause the grass to grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to use,
to bring forth food from the earth,
and wine to gladden the human heart,
oil to make the face shine,
and bread to strengthen the human heart.
The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
In them the birds build their nests;
the stork has its home in the fir trees.
The high mountains are for the wild goats;
the rocks are a refuge for the coneys.
You have made the moon to mark the seasons;
the sun knows its time for setting.
You make darkness, and it is night,
when all the animals of the forest come creeping out.
The young lions roar for their prey,
seeking their food from God.
When the sun rises, they withdraw
and lie down in their dens.
People go out to their work
and to their labor until the evening.
O LORD, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
_________________________
Consider the lilies of the field . . . even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
- Matthew 6:28-29 (NRSV)
_________________________
MY husband is a photographer who specializes in nature photos. One time, standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon, he saw dark storm clouds coming and knew they could make dramatic pictures. He had only one shot left on the roll of film in the camera and wanted a fresh roll to use on the coming storm.
Rather than waste that one shot, he looked around for something to use it on. A reddish-purple thistle was growing a few steps away. Quickly he adjusted the camera and took the picture and was ready as the storm with its threatening clouds came closer.
Over the years, that thistle photo has been one of his most popular pictures. It has appeared on a bulletin cover and a calendar. The storm pictures he was eagerly waiting for have never been shown; they were not the outstanding scenes he had hoped for.
My life can be like that sometimes. While I am watching for the "big" thing I want to happen, I don't see the beauty of the events or people God continually places all around me. Like my husband in his passing attention to the thistle, I barely notice them in my eagerness to get on to something more dramatic that I think will make my life beautiful.
Prayer: Creator God, help us to see the wonders around us that we have been missing. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
We honor God by noticing beauty in the places and people around us.
-- Betty Steele Everett (Ohio, U.S.A.)
PRAYER FOCUS: To see the beauty in this day
The best day you have ever known
Instead of waiting and looking back on your life and realizing how great it was, realize how great it is while you're living it. These are the good old days.
This is the time to treasure right now. Don't put off your appreciation for today until some time when all you have of it is a faded memory and a photograph.
You are swimming in a thick sea of overwhelming richness that is this moment.
Wake up to how truly blessed you are to be right where you happen to be.
Sure there are frustrations and annoyances, challenges, pains and disappointments. And you have the good fortune of being in a position to transcend every one of them.
Stop wondering what life is all about and start choosing what you are going to make it become. Stop waiting for someone else to make it all better and start taking your own steps to make it uniquely great.
This can be the best day you have ever known. All it takes is for you to decide to make it so.
LEANING ON THE BELOVED
Psalm 71:1-3, 17-24 (NRSV)
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me and save me.
Be to me a rock of refuge,
a strong fortress, to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might
to all the generations to come.
Your power and your righteousness, O God,
reach the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you?
You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.
You will increase my honor, and comfort me once again.
I will also praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God |
