God's Peace

Phillipians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus

The word "peace" in the Bible, from the Greek word (eireinei), refers to a mental attitude of tranquillity based on a relationship with God in the Christian Way of Life. It is a word which describes the result of a person's correct response to God's Grace

Romans 5:1 "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Peace, or tranquillity, precedes the enjoyment of prosperity. One must have Peace to have the capacity for prosperity.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

Thank you Tracie Miles for this wonderful prayer,

Dear Lord,
Please fill me with a peace that surpasses all understanding in the situations I am facing. Grant me spiritual healing, and help me see You working in and through me. Thank You for always being available and on call. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

It Is Well With My Soul
http://www.biblestudycharts.com/A_Daily_Hymn.html

He Doesn't Deserve to go to Heaven

"He doesn't deserve to go to heaven, and neither do I. It's just a gift. Jesus paid the price for us all, all we have to do is accept it, believe in Jesus Christ and our sins are forgiven." These words were spoken at a funeral I attended yesterday. It was a very personal , family centered service and made me feel things I'd like to leave unrevealed most of the time.

Ephesians 2: 8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

It is not easy to just accept gifts, especially large gifts because we feel unworthy or that we'll never be able to repay. I have a hard time ordering my $4 prescription pills from Walmart and then asking to have them sent out in the mail, which they will do at no charge if you request it. I'd feel better if I could just pay the postage fee, so I was not "putting them out" or asking too much. If you go out to dinner with another couple, who's going to pay the check becomes a big part of the evening discussion. It is difficult to just give in and say, "Thank you," without adding, "We'll pay next time."

The following article came to me in an email and didn't give credit to any author. What a visual message it is of God's gift to us all.

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the Western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his or her freshman year regardless of his or her major.
Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.
This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.
One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.
"How many push-ups can you do?"
Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."
"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"
Steve replied, "I don't know... I've never done 300 at a time."
"Do you think you could?" Dr. Christianson asked again.
"Well, I can try," said Steve.
"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.
Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it."
Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.
Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"
Cynthia said, "Yes."
Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"
"Sure."
Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.
Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"
Joe said, "Yes."
Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?" Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut.
And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut. And down the second aisle, till Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.
When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"
Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?"
Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."
Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."
Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?" With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten pushups.
Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"
Dr. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.
Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.
Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.
Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"
Sternly, Jenny said, "No."
Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten, Jenny got a donut.
By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.
Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely. Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row.
During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room.
He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it. Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.
Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"
Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.
A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!" Jason didn't know what was going on.
Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come." Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him?"
Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut"
Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"
Jason, new to the room hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut."
"Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a donut?"
Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.
Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was profusely dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was no sound except his heavy breathing, there was not a dry eye in the room.
The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"
Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."
Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"
Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda.
Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"
Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"
Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve, here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes. Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut?"
As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.
Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, said to the Father, 'into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."
Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile. "Well done, good and faithful servant" said the professor, adding "Not all sermons are preached in words."
Turning to his class the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who spared not the only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid. Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it laying on the desk?"

Seeing Problems as Potentialities

The following was from "Love Worth Living" Pastor Adrian Rogers email devotion for today. It reminded me of the post from a few days ago, Thank you for the Inconveniences of My LIfe. When I find something that helps me, I like to pass it on.

Do you have any problems today? You do? Well, I just have one word for you:

"Congratulations!"

I don't want to sound flippant, but I am very serious about my comment. You see, a problem really is an opportunity in disguise. You need to learn that God wants you to see your problems as potentialities and your adversaries as opportunities. A Christian is not someone who sees a difficulty in every opportunity, but to the contrary, he's one who sees an opportunity in every difficulty. Think of a problem you are struggling through today. Now, get on your knees. Ask God to show you the opportunity hidden away in your struggle that will bring Him glory.

If you'd like to receive daily email devotions from Pastor Rogers, you can find information by clicking here http://www.lwf.org/.

If That Isn't Love

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

The following is taken from a devotional written by Ann Spangler entitled Praying the Names of God,

There is a story told of a young boy whose sister was suffering from a rare disease. Her only chance of recovery was to receive a blood transfusion from someone who had recovered from the disease. Her five-year-old brother was the perfect candidate. When the doctor explained the situation to the boy and asked him if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister, the boy hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and then said yes. During the transfusion, while lying in bed next to his sister, the boy smiled as he saw the color returning to her cheeks. Then, his face paled and he asked in a trembling voice, “Will I start dying right away?”

The story makes you want to smile and cry at the same time because you realize the boy’s generosity and his mistake. He had been willing to give his last drop of blood if that meant his sister would live.

When we pray to Jesus as the Lamb of God, we are praying to the One who voluntarily laid down his life to take in his own body the punishment for our sins and for the sins of the entire world.

Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.

Jesus died for our sins, we are loved.

If That Isn't Love
words and music by Dottie Rambo
http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/isntlove.html
He left the splendor of heaven,
Knowing His destiny,
Was the lonely hill of Golgatha,
There to lay down His life for me.

If that isn't love;The ocean is dry,
There's no stars in the sky,And the sparrow can't fly.
If that isn't love;Then heaven's a myth,
There's no feeling like this,If that isn't love!

Even in death He remembered,
The thief hanging by His side;
There He spoke with love and compassion,
Then He took him to paradise.

A Good Read

Do for Others What God Does For You
by Max Lucado

You and I have the privilege to do for others what God does for us. How do we show people that we believe in them?
Show up.
Nothing takes the place of your presence. Letters are nice. Phone calls are special, but being there in the flesh sends a message. Do you believe in your kids? Then show up. Show up at their games. Show up at their plays. Show up at their recitals. It may not be possible to make each one, but it’s sure worth the effort. Do you believe in your friends? Then show up. Show up at their graduations and weddings. Spend time with them. You want to bring out the best in someone? Then show up.
Listen up.
You don’t have to speak to encourage. The Bible says, “It is best to listen much, speak little” (James 1:19 TLB). We tend to speak much and listen little. There is a time to speak. But there is also a time to be quiet. That’s what my father did. Dropping a fly ball may not be a big deal to most people, but if you are thirteen years old and have aspirations of the big leagues, it is a big deal. Not only was it my second error of the game, it allowed the winning run to score. I didn’t even go back to the dugout. I turned around in the middle of left field and climbed over the fence. I was halfway home when my dad found me. He didn’t say a word. Just pulled over to the side of the road, leaned across the seat, and opened the passenger door. We didn’t speak. We didn’t need to. We both knew the world had come to an end. When we got home, I went straight to my room, and he went straight to the kitchen. Presently he appeared in front of me with cookies and milk. He took a seat on the bed, and we broke bread together. Somewhere in the dunking of the cookies I began to realize that life and my father’s love would go on. In the economy of male adolescence, if you love the guy who drops the ball, then you really love him. My skill as a baseball player didn’t improve, but my confidence in Dad’s love did. Dad never said a word. But he did show up. He did listen up. To bring out the best in others, do the same, and then, when appropriate:
Speak up.
You have the power to change someone’s life simply by the words that you speak. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21 NKJV). That’s why Paul urges you and me to be careful. “When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger” (Eph. 4:29).Earlier I gave you a test for love. There’s also a test for the tongue. Before you speak, ask: Will what I’m about to say help others become stronger? You have the ability, with your words, to make a person stronger. Your words are to their soul what a vitamin is to their body. If you had food and saw someone starving, would you not share it? If you had water and saw someone dying of thirst, would you not give it? Of course you would.
Then won’t you do the same for their hearts? Your words are food and water! Do not withhold encouragement from the discouraged. Do not keep affirmation from the beaten down! Speak words that make people stronger. Believe in them as God has believed in you.

Thank you for the Inconveniences of My Life

My computer crashed last week, and it is more than a little inconvenient.

It has become my coworker in so many ways. All my finances are done on line, and I'm not sure I can even find snail mail addresses for any of them anymore. With on line banking who remembers how to reconcile a bank statement manually? My list of passwords is stored safely in My Documents, so I can't even conveniently call them up and use another computer. I have my personal address book organized to perfection in a spreadsheet, I can't get to. Now isn't that convenient.

Many evening suppers are "googled' for ingredients and a quick trip to the store. And I find I can google away many hours and accomplish nothing of importance. The real point is it is just more convenient to do everything you can on line to save time and hassles. My brother once told me he used to order items on line from Wal*mart and have them delivered, even though he only lived a short distance from the store.

On line devotions are great and they are delivered right to my in box. My daily Bible Reading plan is outlined on a site and with one click I'm on the right page. Modern conveninces are all great when they work, and when they don't it's very inconvenient and aggrivating!

So this week,

I stopped at the City Office to pay my utility bill in person, and had a wonderful conversation with the clerk, face to face, no email address needed.
I sat in the living room with my husband and found that watching some of the programs he finds interesting, gave us new topics to talk about. No lost hours on google and I found it very rewarding.
I enjoyed leafing through the many cookbooks I have and came upon a couple old recipes for supper, that reminded me of my mother, and I had all the ingredients on hand in my pantry.
In passing conversation, a friend offered her extra laptop to me to tide me over till mine is up and running. When I went to pick it up, we spent some good quality hours together.
I love the smell of my Bible and I have missed the feel of the pages as I took my time to read the verses. And the Holy Bible will never crash and leave me without His words to treasure.

So Lord, thank you for the inconveninces of my life.

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

My morning is very routine: up for meds, into the shower, then a bowl of cheerios with sliced bananas in it to be eaten during my devotions in front of the computer. One day last week, without any organizing on my part, there was one slice of banana left to eat with the last spoon of cheerios. That doesn't happen very often or ever that I could remember. If I don't consciously think to eat conservatively on the bananas and remember the two textures taste best together, I'm left with just plain old cheerios.

This reminded me of the balance in our lives and how it can really get off course if we just leave it to chance.If we put too much emphasis on one aspect of our life, other areas suffer neglect or go completely by the wayside. Finding the right blueprint for your life is not what is the best plan for others. So set your own goals and plan each step, don't gamble on the outcome. Elder Ballard says: “When I am in tune spiritually, I find that I can balance everything in my life much more easily. Do the best you can. No one’s life is in perfect balance for any length of time. You will always need to be reevaluating and prioritizing. When things get out of balance, don’t get discouraged but rely on the Lord to help you and try again. “Do the basic things and, before you realize it, your life will be full of spiritual understanding that will confirm to you that your Heavenly Father loves you

Job 31:6 -
"Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity."