Go in Peace and Serve the Lord

Found in James 4:
While selfishness produces conflict, humility produces submission to God.

Selfishness is the foundation for all conflict.
When two hearts want different things - and neither is willing to sacrifice for the sake of the other - conflict arises.
Selfishness is the cause of war, crime, and interpersonal conflict. By looking out for ourselves, we think we can get what we want from life.
In contrast, the Lord teaches us that humility, not selfishness, results in satisfaction in life. Promote yourself, and wars and conflict result. Even God is against you (v. 6).
But live in humility and wars and conflict cease, assuming all parties participate.
And the Lord will lift you up

Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q660KO2hTD0&feature=related

From 101 easy ways to make the world a better place:
http://hubpages.com/hub/101-Easy-Ways-You-Can-Make-The-World-A-Better-Place
101. Look for new and better ways every day to make the world a better, happier, and more pleasant place to live for everyone. If we all did just one thing every day, we could really begin to make a positive difference worldwide.

.....the immediate blessing is just seeing that you have made a difference to the benefit of someone other than yourself.

"In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" Matthew 25:45

Perspective

Give Thanks to God for ALL that HE has done.

Get the right perspective. When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, "He's so big we can never kill him." David looked at the same giant and thought, "He's so big I can't miss."

A canny Main farmer was approached by a stranger one day and asked how much he thought his prize Jersey cow was worth. The farmer thought for a moment, looked the stranger over, then said: "Are you the tax assessor, or has she been killed by your car?"

Remember the hard times so you can appreciate the good times.

You can always look around and see people who seem to have it easier than you do, people who don't seem to have the same challenges or the same problems that you have. You can see people who appear lucky or who seem to have been born in the right place or the right time, or you can look around yourself and notice many, many people who seem to be worse off than yourself.

If you take the time to put your situation in perspective with others around you, is it easier to be grateful for what you have? I know it helps me.

Perspective makes all the difference in how we handle life. Without perspective, small problems seem insurmountable, and we ignore warning signs. But with perspective, hard situations don't overwhelm, and we can find our way to thankfulness instead of despair.

Were there no God, we would be in this glorious world with grateful hearts, and no one to thank. Christina Rossetti

To God Be the Glory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtenFJ6x75k&feature=related

When Good isn't the Best

from Love Worth Finding 11/2/10

If you want to be a victor in the race God has for you, you must learn the discipline of laying aside some weights. Many times these weights are good things in our lives. But good things are bad things when they keep us from doing the best things.

Life would be simple if it were a choice between good and bad. But typically it's a choice between good and best

I'd Rather Have Jesus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZO34y1_4BY&feature=related

Calm in the Storm

When Jesus told Peter to come to Him on the water, He did not command the impossible. Peter walked on the water, Matt. 14:29.

Yes, he panicked. He traded cheer for fear because he looked at the waves instead of the Master. He looked at the water instead of the Man who made the water. He believed the outward, natural symptoms instead of the Word that created the sea. Peter was beginning to sink. He did not sink. He looked back to Jesus. He reached for the hand that controlled all circumstances.

Take your eyes off the circustances. Cast your fears aside. 'Though the storms are on every side, they do not need to be on the inside. Then you will hear His voice, "Peace, be still." You will see that behind the cloud, the "Son" still shines.

Isaiah 26:3, gives us the remedy for dealing with the storms of life.

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.”

Storms are inevitable. But we also have the confident assurance that the Lord will shelter us in the storms. Do you want peace in the midst of your storm? Place your trust in the Lord and do not allow the storm to shake your faith. Praise the Lord that He is greater than any storm we will encounter!

Sheltered in the Arms of God, Lynda Randle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxlcMfvSMqI&NR=1

Who Do You Serve?

Bottom line: don’t make a theater production out of your faith. “Watch me! Watch me!” is a call used on the playground, not in God’s kingdom. Silence the trumpets. Cancel the parade. Enough with the name-dropping. If accolades come, politely deflect them before you believe them. Slay the desire to be noticed. Stir the desire to serve God.


read more from Max Lucado, Outlive Your Life http://www.maxlucado.net/_product_107242/Outlive_Your_Life_%28Hardback%29

Is it to be Understood, or to Understand?

When we take our eyes off our fears, our doubts, our struggles and focus on someone else's needs, we somehow forget our own, for a little while. In believing the power of God's promises for others, our confidence in His promises for us seems to grow as well.

Lord, Thank you for the power of Your Words that give me courage to become who You've created me to be - to go to places You're calling me to go and climb spiritual heights that are out of my reach without Your help. Give me Your encouragement today, and help me encourage someone, too. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Encouragement from Renee Swoop

"In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us." Flora Edwards

Daniel O'Donnell says it very well,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q660KO2hTD0&feature=related

Wisdom from the Psalms
Psalm 110:1
The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool
Prayer: Fill me with Your patience, Lord. When I see others receive rewards, help me to rejoice in their benefit rather than be bitter that I did not receive it. Amen.

Praise God in All Things

Would we appreciate Spring if we had never endured Winter?

Would we be in awe of the Butterfly if we didn't know of his struggle from the catepillar?

My ups and downs help me appreciate our Lord who never changes!



Often we need to have a terrible trial in order to remember what it means to be truly thankful. Our praise is from the heart when we have been in danger or discomfort. Bad situations help us to appreciate how good our lives can be. Even in trial, God reaches through to help us to a deeper understanding of ourselves. Praise the Lord for all the good things He has given, and know that He will rescue you from all perils.



Prayer:

In times of darkness, help me not to dwell on what is wrong, but turn my mind to all I have to be thankful for. Amen

Jesus Never Fails

A quote from Oz Hillman

Sometimes we need to be rescued by the Lord. When Peter walked on the
water, God was inviting him to a spacious place. He went beyond the
borders of his boat and ventured into a whole new world.

He didn't have complete success in his venturing out, but it was a process that
would lead him to the next victory in his faith walk with Jesus.

Sometimes failure is what is needed in order to move us to the next
level of faith with God. However, we must be willing to fail and let
God rescue us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6-_jkYb1cc

Glory to God - Does Your Life Show It?

Follow my Example as I follow the example of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1

*******

A child's life is like a piece of paper on which every passer-by leaves a mark.

old chinese proverb

*******

I Want to be Just Like You, Lord

Lord I want to be just like you
'cause he wants to be just like me
I want to be a holy example for his innocent eyes to see
(learning from the father)Help me be a living Bible,
Lord that my little boy can read
I wanna be just like you
'cause he wants to be like me
http://artists.letssingit.com/phillips-craig-and-dean-lyrics-i-want-to-be-just-like-you-r6xf4l1

Thank you

Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me."

Psalm 66:16 (NIV)

This day, I will notice the abundance instead of the lack. I will see the fullness instead of the decrease. I will run my fingers across words that mark His goodness to me and whisper the most important prayer I can offer: "Thank You."

I need this reminder, to come and see what God has done; to take notes on His goodness to me. I am so forgetful.

Read more at: http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/

I also need to be reminded of the people around me that contribute to my wonderful life and never expect a Thank you. The Lord has put them in my life, He knows what I need.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzhFyNp3Ja8

Ray Boltz

A Joyful Noise

Psalm 95:1

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

The children are lined up on the steps to the altar. Their fresh-scrubbed faces shine in the morning light. Nervously, they swayed, twitched, and squirmed. The music began, and each child in turn joined in at a point of his or her own choosing. Some sang out boldly, others mouthed the words, while a few ignored the songs altogether and just waved and smiled at Mommy and Daddy. To call the presentation music was stretching the point, but to call it a joyful noise was right on target. This spirit of the children was joy and love, and the hearts of all present was captured quickly. The sound rose to the rafters, and beyond. The Lord heard that special choir, smiled, and said, "It is good!"

Prayer: Let the words of my mouth produce a joyful noise, acceptable to the Lord and glorifying Him in all ways. Amen

Your Attitude is Your Choice

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart.”
Luke 6:45, NIV

*****

A little old lady went to the mirror one morning and noticed that she had only three hairs on her head. As she looked into the mirror, she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today." That's exactly what she did. And, she had a great day.

The next morning, at the mirror once again, the little old lady noticed that she only had two hairs on her head. Looking herself right in the eye, she said, "Today, I think I'll part my hair down the middle." That's exactly what she did.

And, she had a great day.

The next day, as the little old lady looked into the mirror, there was only one hair on her head. She looked at that one lonely hair and said, "Today I think I'll wear my hair in a pony tail." That's exactly what she did.

And she had a great day.

The following morning the little old lady looked into the mirror and there wasn't a single hair on her head. Her eyes lit up, and she said, "Yeah! I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Your attitude is your choice.

taken from Your Attitude Is Your Choice by Michael A. Verdicchio

http://www.positivearticles.com/Article/Your-Attitude-Is-Your-Choice/23475

*****

Thought for the Day

Your home can be a place for dying or living, for wilting or blooming, for anxiety or peace, for discouragement or affirmation, for criticism or approval, for profane disregard or reverence, for suspicion or trust, for blame or forgiveness, for alienation or closeness, for violation or respect, for carelessness or caring. By your daily choices, you will make your home what you want it to be.

Carole Sanderson Streeter

*****

The state of your heart dictates whether you harbor a grudge or give grace,

seek self-pity or seek Christ,

drink human misery or taste God’s mercy

from Max Lucado

http://www.maxlucado.com/

One Day at a Time

Mark 13:35

"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back--whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn."

Our lives need to be taken one day at a time. Each day is new and it doesn't really matter what didn't go well yesterday. And if all goes bad tomorrow it still doesn't matter.
What does matter is today.
Too often we get caught up thinking about all the things we haven't done or dreaming of all the things we ought to do, and we have no time to actually do the things we have set before us right now. God's people live in the present.
They learn from the past and hope for the future, but they make the most of every single moment of every day.
Live for today and see the miracles begin.

Matthew 6:34

"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own

Lynda Randle says it very well in this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y1wtgLAytA

What Lies Beneath the Surface

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. James 1:2

There has been a job waiting for me for a long time, and I haven't been overly eager to get to it. We went to a rummage sale and bought a beautiful, antique, maple desk. The only problem with the desk is that a previous owner slapped a bunch of bright yellow paint all over it. Bright enamel yellow. Yellow enamel doesn't go well with our house decor. Because that is so, it is now my unpleasant duty to dig through the paint and get down to the good wood that lies underneath.

That seems to be what the Lord does with people. When our lives are colored with the sin that "doesn't go well" with the faith we have been given in the crucified and risen Redeemer, He often begins to restore us.

It can be a tough job -- tough for the person being transformed and tough for the Lord. We know nobody likes to have trials come into his or her life. And, contrary to popular opinion, it is not pleasant for a father -- even a Heavenly Father -- to discipline His children. Nevertheless, that's sometimes what is necessary to get down to the good wood the Lord knows is underneath.

Heavenly Father, if we have trials and crosses, help us to see those things come so you may bring us into harmony with You. Let us pray as our Savior prayed, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." In Jesus' Name. Amen.
adapted from Lutheran Hour Ministries, Pastor Ken Klaus

Under the Circumstances, I'm Doing Well

If you ask some Christians, "How are you doing?" They say, "Okay under the circumstances."

Circumstances are like a mattress.

You're supposed to be on it, not under it.

Under the circumstances, you suffocate;

on them you rest pretty well.

The only way you can run the race is to take your eyes off things or people around you and look unto Jesus. He's the author of the race. He's the goal to which you run. If you look unto Jesus to supply your every need for the race, you'll find faith growing in your heart and in your life.

You see, it's not great faith in God;

it is faith in a great God.

Adapted from Love Worth Living by Adrian Rogers http://www.lwf.org/site

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His Wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO4uIyz_d90

Always Remember

Wave the flag proudly this weekend for all those who have given of themselves for you and your Freedom. In God We Trust.

Matthew 5:43-48 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Romans 13:7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor

Dear Heavenly Father,
As we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, we think of how they have followed in the footsteps of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please hold our service men and women in your strong arms. Cover them with your sheltering grace and presence as they stand in the gap for our protection.
We also remember the families of our troops, and ask for your unique blessings to fill their homes and your peace, provision and strength to fill their lives.
May the members of our armed forces be filled with courage to face each day and may they trust in the Lord's mighty power to accomplish each task. Let our military brothers and sisters feel our love and support.
In the name of Jesus. Amen

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/always-remember/6ff94c21083c2d4ef79d6ff94c21083c2d4ef79d-70055755936

Worry, What is its Worth

Matthew 6:27-29
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

Philippians: 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Eugene Peterson, in his paraphrase of the New Testament entitled The Message, translates Philippians 4:6, "Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers . . . Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."

Let's not waste time worrying about what we cannot change but move full speed ahead to the places we can make a difference.

Do you remember these great words in song?
Why worry, when you can pray?
Trust Jesus, He'll show you the way;
Don't be a doubting Thomas,
Rest fully on His promise,
Why worry, worry, worry, worry,
When you can pray?

Life is a voyage in which we choose neither vessel nor weather, but much can be done in the management of the sails and the guidance of the helm.
Unknown
Taken from This Day's Thought.org

Let us set aside the worries and cares of life, and grasp onto the promises of a loving Saviour and God

Your Life is a Message to Others

The way we live our everyday lives communicates a "life message" to others. When we live for the Lord, that message is a beacon of light to others

Do you remember this song from Donna Fargo many years ago?
You can't be a beacon if your light don't shine
You can't be a beacon if your light don't shine
There's a little light in all of us by God's design
But you can't be a beacon if your light don't shine

How can you ask for truth when you do not truthful live
How can you ask forgiveness when you don't forgive
I don't mean to bring you down or speak to you unkind
But you can't be a beacon if your light don't shine

How can you ask a child to be honest and true
When he can only judge what's right by what he sees in you
How can you offer vision yet walk around blind
No you can't see a beacon if it's light don't shine

And another message in song from Phillips Craig & Dean

Lord, I want to be just like You'
Cause he wants to be just like me
I want to be a holy example
For his innocent eyes to see
Help me be a living Bible, Lord
That my little boy can read
I want to be just like You'
Cause he wants to be like me

What message are you giving to those around you?

Together We Can Do It

Psalm 61:2
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Pick me up, Lord, and hold me in Your loving arms. Protect me from the pressures of the day, and remove the heaviness from my heart. Inspire me with the knowledge that You and I together can handle anything. Amen.

Move That Mountain

Matthew 17:20

And Jesus said unto them, 'Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, +Remove hence to yonder place;' and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.'

Too often we miss the point of the mustard seed. We think quantity of faith is the determining factor in getting our hearts' desires. Quantity has nothing to do with it. Jesus used the mustard seed to show that we all have at least that much faith, and if we will learn to employ it, we will see miraculous things happen in our lives. Because of Christ in our lives, nothing is impossible for us.

taken from Devotion for Dieters

My Help in Trouble

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

The cross I wear around my neck is not there for show,
nor is it the object of my worship.
I would not be lost without it, though I do like it.
I do not believe it has some mystical power,
nor does it protect me.
The cross that I wear reminds me of the great love that God has for me. Christ's gift of eternal life is made real to me each time I look down at the cross or feel it lightly resting on my chest. In difficult times, I look at the cross and feel warmth and comfort. From its gentle reminder I draw strength when I am weary, refuge when I need to rest. Whether I wear my cross or not, God is with me, but sometimes it is nice to have a small reminder.

Prayer: I run to You when I need rest, Lord. You take me in Your arms and protect me from the pressures of the day. In every time of trial, You are the source of my help. Thank You. Amen

Wisdom from the Psalms

Psalm 43:3

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

The tiny lighthouse sat out upon the rocky shore. Without fail, its bright beacon pierced the night, and its bellowing horn echoed from the rocks, warning ships of dangers and perils. Countless boats strayed off course in dense fog, to be steered from danger by the tiny lighthouse.

True light, sent out through the clouds and darkness, can save lives. A voice speaking the truth of Christ has real power behind it; the power of salvation. Be proud of who you are and all that Christ has done for you. It matters little whether you are big, strong, smart, or powerful. What matters is that you have the truth of Christ to share, and there is no greater force in all creation.

Prayer: May my light shine in the darkness until all darkness ceases to be. Let me reflect Your divine light, Lord, clearing away the fog and helping others come into the safety of Your love. Amen.

*****************************************

(Proverbs 9:10).

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

****************************************

Max Lucado

Focus on giants—you stumble. Focus on God—your giants tumble.

Hopeless to Hope- Filled

The angel looked at the women, and spoke words that transformed them from hopeless to hope-filled: "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee" (Matthew 28:5-7a, NIV). Can you even imagine the celebration? It had only looked like failure. Instead, it was glorious victory! Hope wasn't dead. Jesus was alive! The disciples learned a lesson they would never forget: When God is involved, things aren't always what they seem. Today we see problems and failures with the same eyes as the disciples. Even knowing that God is able to do things beyond what we can imagine, when we look at a "failure," we often only see an ending. God, however, sees an opportunity for a new beginning.

As we celebrate Easter, may that truth nestle itself into our heart. With God all things are possible.

He is risen!

Excerpt from Encouragement for Today Glynnis Witwer follow the link to read more.

http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/

This is Love

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life

John 3:16

****************

It wasn't nails that held Him to the tree. It was the silver cords of love and the golden bonds of redemption that held Jesus Christ to that cross

excerpt from Love Worth Living, Adrian Rogers

************************

You can love your fellow man without loving Christ, but you cannot love Christ without loving your fellow man. Whether you are worshiping the Lord or washing the feet of a bum on skid row, it is sacred and holy work if it is done out of love for the Lord

excerpt from Quiet Walk, Crosswalk.com

**********************

1 John 4:10 - This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

*************

For I remember it is Easter morn, And life and love and peace are all new born.

~Alice Freeman Palmer

***************

Let the resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair to strength and beauty and happiness. ~Floyd W. Tomkins

God's Cake

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose

Romans 8:28

Sometimes we wonder, 'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why did God have to do this to me?' Here is a wonderful explanation!

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.'
'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers. 'Yuck' says her daughter. 'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!' 'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?' 'Mom, those are all yucky!' To which the mother replies: 'Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!' God works the same way.
Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful! God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

Take a walk this week enjoying the beauty of God's creation and ask Him to give you the patience and faith that can turn a little acorn into a mighty oak.

Love Worth Finding,

Adrian Rogers www.lwf.org

Fresh Starts

Each day is a storehouse given you

Fresh every morn from God's hand;

Do you stop to think of this

When at its door you stand?

Twenty-four empty, waiting hours,

All ready for you to fill with

Worthwhile thoughts and worthwhile deeds

And service, if you will.

You're given a chance to store

Away treasures of love and joy,

And satisfaction of work well done

That time cannot destroy.

So put your best into all your day

With eyes opened wide to see, and

Eager hands stretched out to grasp

Each opportunity.

Unknown

***********************

God knows we need fresh starts. He gently (and frequently) reminds us throughout Scripture to take things one day at a time. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble,” says Matthew 6:34. Fretting doesn’t accomplish anything anyway (aside from deepening those frown lines).

God commands us to give others fresh starts, too. We’re to forgive our fellow human beings when they hurt us, not seven times, but seventy times seven. And when we forgive, we don’t keep track of the count, so the idea is to keep forgiving, just like God keeps forgiving us.

Read more from LeeAnn Bonds

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art30128.asp

Whatever You Do

Understanding your work life purpose is key to receiving your inheritance. Paul said no matter what kind of work you do, if God has called you to do it, you will receive an inheritance for doing it. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (Col 3:23-25). From TGIF Today God is First, Os Hillman

God ensures - through the Bible, His followers, and His Spirit within us - that we each have what we need to do our best as well. He equips us to follow hard after Him. No money is necessary to be well-heeled in God's kingdom. Whether we're wearing nursing shoes, work boots, high heels, hand-me-downs, or flip-flops, we can walk securely by walking wisely.

Dear Lord, grant me wisdom and sure footing as I follow after You. I trust You to equip me with all I need. Whatever my path, I believe Your principals can keep me from slipping. You lead, I'll follow. In Jesus' Name, Amen. from Rachel Olsen Proverbs 31 Women

Proverbs 4:7, "Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment." (NLT)

Your God Given Talent

Psalm 18:33

He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

We have been given many wonderful gifts and talents. When we affirm the talents we have been given, then God will surely bless us, and we will be a sign to others of His goodness. God has given us hinds' feet, wings to fly, power, grace, and a multitude of other gifts. Embrace them and know that the Lord is good.

Prayer: Teach me to use the gifts I have been given. Aid me as I test my wings and struggle to get my footing. Be patient with me, Lord, and touch me with Your touch of peace and grace. Amen

*******************

The Lord gave you a talent,

But it is not yours alone;

For someday He will call you

To stand before the throne.

He’ll say, “Where is that treasure

I gave to you that day?

Did you use it for My purpose?

Or is it stored away?”

God does not say, “See what you can do with what I gave given you.” He says, “I will hold you accountable for what I have given you.”

by Helen Dowd

************************************

God gives people different gifts.

It is not your talent, which matters; what matters is how you use it.

Everyone is not equal in talent; but every person can be equal in effort.

God expects creative use of our opportunities and talents.

Don't worry about failure, rather, worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try.

If someone has a talent and exercises it, they are progressively able to do more with it, but, if one has a talent and fails to exercise it, they will inevitably lose it

We are to use our time, talents, and treasures diligently, faithfully, and continually in order to serve God completely in whatever we do.

God does expect, and reward, creative use of the opportunities for service, which are open to us. We are to use His gifts responsibly, but also adventurously.

We are responsible to use well what God has given us. The issue is not how much we have, but how well we use what we have.

God is generous and merciful, and if we examine our hearts and our lives and see where we fall short, the Holy Spirit will help us invest in those things He has so confidently entrusted to us.

What God Expects from Us

Matthew 25:14-30

http://www.mooreschapel.org/pastor/koo-sermons/what-god-expects-of-us.html

Great is Your Reward in Heaven

A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death. "But I don’t ask for justice," the mother explained. "I plead for mercy." "But your son does not deserve mercy," Napoleon replied. "Sir," the woman cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for." "Well, then," the emperor said, "I will have mercy." And he spared the woman’s son.
*************************************

Matthew 5

The Beatitudes
1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying:
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Treasures of Today

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it

Proverbs 22:6

*******

Another great excerpt from This Day's Thought 1/29/2010

One Sunday I was entertained in a farm home of a member of a rural church. I was impressed by the intelligence and unusually good behavior of the only child in the home, a little four-year-old boy. Then I discovered one reason for the child's charm. The mother was at the kitchen sink, washing the intricate parts of the cream separator when the little fellow came to her with a magazine. "Mother," he asked, "what is this man in the picture doing?" To my surprise she dried her hands, sat down on a chair and taking the boy in her lap she spent ten minutes answering his questions. After the child had left I commented on her having interrupted her chores to answer the boy's questions, saying, "Most mothers wouldn't have bothered." "I expect to be washing cream separators for the rest of my life," she told me, "But never again will my son ask me that question!"

Unknown

This is the Day that the Lord Hath Made

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 1 Corinthians 13:11

Excerpt from This Day's Thought, January 25th

Our five-year-old Jeanie took to rising at 5:30 each morning and puttering around just long enough to wake the rest of us before climbing back into bed. Her reason was always the same- she had to see if there was a surprise. Finally we told her firmly that she must stop and that there wouldn't be any surprises until Christmas, which was months away. "I wasn't talking about living-room surprises," she said through her tears. "I was talking about like yesterday morning it was raining, and this morning real summer's here, and tomorrow morning I'll probably find some pink in the rosebuds." Jeanie still gets up each morning at 5:30.
Mrs. Roy F. Carter

This Day's Thought is a wonderful message to receive in your email every day. In conjuction with The Ranch these great inspirations bring a great start to every day. Click on the link to your right and experience this for yourself.

Be Doers of the Word

An excerpt from today's,

A Word With You

by Ron Hutchcraft

..................."It's easy to complain about how things are in your family, or how they are at work or how they are at church or at school. But complaining won't change a thing. Neither will condemning or criticizing or preaching. What is needed where you are is someone who will be what they wish others would be - to lead by contagious example. To step out from a climate that is negative or nasty or stressed or prideful or selfish, and to challenge it, not by their words, but by their actions. Decide how you wish everyone would be in your situation, and then start being it yourself!"............. Read more by selecting his link on the side panel.

But the Lord Directs My Steps

I can hardly recollect a single plan of mine, of which I have not since seen reason to be satisfied that , had it taken place in season and circumstance just as I proposed, it would , humanly speaking, have proved my ruin; or at least it would have deprived me of the greater good the Lord had designed for me.

John Newton

*************************

Some defeats are only installments to victory. Jacob Riis

And How Is That My Problem?

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galations 6:9

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. "What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered -

He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning.

"There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.... That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. However, his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral; the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

Use Your God Given Talents

Todays devotional, Hoarding What You Have, from Proverbs 31 Ministry is so good. Many of us live in fear of making a mistake so instead do nothing at all. If we don't use our special gifts we remain the same. We gain nothing from the experience of sharing ourselves with others, as God intended.

"I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back." Matthew 25:25 (NLT)

http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/

Living Forward

I had to hold fast to the reality that nothing can touch us without passing through God's sifter. He allows only that which is necessary to touch us. And if it does, it has a purpose. But we may not know it for a while. (excerpt from TGIF, Today God is First 1-10-10, Os Hillman)

https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/1261724021a5a022

*****************************

Wisdom is using knowledge rightly. Why do we need wisdom when we are going through our trials? It is popular in charismatic circles to want to pray for more power or strength or deliverance. We need wisdom so we will not waste the opportunities God is giving us to mature. Wisdom helps us to use these circumstances for our good and God’s glory.

One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey So he invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed, as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off! Moral: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up! Don’t waste the opportunities God gives you to prove Himself. (Excerpt from The Truth About Trials by Ralph Juthman 1/10/10)

"Living A Transformed Life in 2010"

(Wisdom for the Psalms)

Psalm 1:1

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

A time for starting over. A new beginning. A wonderful time to take stock of life and look for ways to improve and grow. Too often, careless resolutions are made that are never kept, and so one year blends into the next with little change. The fact is, all of us have areas in our lives that could stand some improvement. As this new year begins, let us look at our lives with honesty and candor. Let us approach change with a positive spirit, and work toward finding ways to become the people that god wants us to be. Most importantly, ask the Lord to guide and strengthen, for it is through His power that we are able to conquer our failings and turn them into strengths. God is able to see us both as we are and as we can be, and we need that sight in order to truly change. He will steer us away from the ungodly. He will liberate us from the way of sin. He will lead us from scorn to joy. The Lord will do all this and more because of His great and abiding love for His children. Rejoice i n the love of God. he has given us a new year, and desires to give us a new life.
Prayer:
O Lord, cleanse my soul of all wrong. Help me grow in the light of Your love. Lift me above what I have been, and set me onto a new path of righteousness and grace. Amen.
********************
A Vision for Your Life in the New Year

(Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding)

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."

Proverbs 29:18

Do you have a vision for your life at the threshold of a new year?