2 Corinthians 5:7
"We live by faith, not by sight." In other words, we grow in faith as we make decisions which seem illogical in that they have little if any basis in reality.
Times of Trial
"I asked the Lord for a bunch of fresh flowers but instead
He gave me an ugly cactus with many thorns.
I asked the Lord for some beautiful butterflies but instead
He gave me many ugly and dreadful worms.
I was threatened,I was disappointed,I mourned,
But after many days,Suddenly, I saw the cactus bloomwith many beautiful flowers,
and those worms became beautiful butterflies flying in the spring wind.
God's way is the best way." (Chun-Ming Kao) Written from Prison
Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen
"From our perspective, we think something that happens is a disappointing failure - only to find out later God was looking out for us, maybe protecting us from a situation that could have caused us a great deal of pain." (Dorothy Valcarcel)
and THEN we understand God's plan.
Faith leans heavy on the Lord. It knows that the Bible is so and can be trusted and that we can live by it and all of our needs will be supplied. (Lester Roloof)
A Sinner Saved by Grace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcMeUqPDypo
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
A Good Read
I don't know if this is legal or not, but when I read something that is so good, I just can't help but want to pass it on.
Pursue the Virtue of Contentment by Max Lucado
A businessman bought popcorn from an old street vendor each day after lunch. He once arrived to find the peddler closing up his stand at noon. “Is something wrong?” he asked.
A smile wrinkled the seller’s leathery face. “By no means. All is well.”
“Then why are you closing your popcorn stand?”
“So I can go to my house, sit on my porch, and sip tea with my wife.”
The man of commerce objected. “But the day is still young. You can still sell.”
“No need to,” the stand owner replied. “I’ve made enough money for today.”
“Enough? Absurd. You should keep working.”
The spry old man stopped and stared at his well-dressed visitor. “And why should I keep working?”
“To sell more popcorn.”
“And why sell more popcorn?”
“Because the more popcorn you sell, the more money you make. The more money you make, the richer you are. The richer you are, the more popcorn stands you can buy. The more popcorn stands you buy, the more peddlers sell your product, and the richer you become. And when you have enough, you can stop working, sell your popcorn stands, stay home, and sit on the porch with your wife and drink tea.”
The popcorn man smiled. “I can do that today. I guess I have enough.”
Wise was the one who wrote, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income” (Eccles. 5:10 NIV).
Don’t heed greed.Greed makes a poor job counselor.Greed has a growling stomach. Feed it, and you risk more than budget-busting debt. You risk losing purpose. Greed can seduce you out of your sweet spot.Before you change your job title, examine your perspective toward life. Success is not defined by position or pay scale but by this: doing the most what you do the best.Parents, give that counsel to your kids. Tell them to do what they love to do so well that someone pays them to do it. Spouses, urge your mate to choose satisfaction over salary. Better to be married to a happy person who has a thin wallet than a miserable person with a thick one. Besides, “a pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life” (Prov. 13:7 MSG).
Pursue the virtue of contentment. “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:6 NIV). When choosing or changing jobs, be careful. Consult your design. Consult your Designer. But never consult your greed.
From Cure for the Common LifeCopyright (Thomas Nelson, 2006) Max Lucado
Pursue the Virtue of Contentment by Max Lucado
A businessman bought popcorn from an old street vendor each day after lunch. He once arrived to find the peddler closing up his stand at noon. “Is something wrong?” he asked.
A smile wrinkled the seller’s leathery face. “By no means. All is well.”
“Then why are you closing your popcorn stand?”
“So I can go to my house, sit on my porch, and sip tea with my wife.”
The man of commerce objected. “But the day is still young. You can still sell.”
“No need to,” the stand owner replied. “I’ve made enough money for today.”
“Enough? Absurd. You should keep working.”
The spry old man stopped and stared at his well-dressed visitor. “And why should I keep working?”
“To sell more popcorn.”
“And why sell more popcorn?”
“Because the more popcorn you sell, the more money you make. The more money you make, the richer you are. The richer you are, the more popcorn stands you can buy. The more popcorn stands you buy, the more peddlers sell your product, and the richer you become. And when you have enough, you can stop working, sell your popcorn stands, stay home, and sit on the porch with your wife and drink tea.”
The popcorn man smiled. “I can do that today. I guess I have enough.”
Wise was the one who wrote, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income” (Eccles. 5:10 NIV).
Don’t heed greed.Greed makes a poor job counselor.Greed has a growling stomach. Feed it, and you risk more than budget-busting debt. You risk losing purpose. Greed can seduce you out of your sweet spot.Before you change your job title, examine your perspective toward life. Success is not defined by position or pay scale but by this: doing the most what you do the best.Parents, give that counsel to your kids. Tell them to do what they love to do so well that someone pays them to do it. Spouses, urge your mate to choose satisfaction over salary. Better to be married to a happy person who has a thin wallet than a miserable person with a thick one. Besides, “a pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life” (Prov. 13:7 MSG).
Pursue the virtue of contentment. “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:6 NIV). When choosing or changing jobs, be careful. Consult your design. Consult your Designer. But never consult your greed.
From Cure for the Common LifeCopyright (Thomas Nelson, 2006) Max Lucado
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Do Unto Others
Taken from Encouragement Today, by Renee Swoop
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.
*******************************
In the words of Joyce Meyers:
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.
*******************************
In the words of Joyce Meyers:
It is only after we realize it is not us doing good works, but rather the Lord, that we can even begin to serve Him as we should. Someone has said, "It remains to be seen what God can do through a man or woman who will give Him all the glory." If we press on and are sincere about spiritual maturity, we will all eventually be empty of ourselves and ready to be used by God to fill other empty people.
Fill My Cup Lord
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (The Message)
The Rescue 3-5
The Rescue 3-5
All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.
A Prayer of Encouragement
The hands of the father uphold you
The hands of the Saviour enfold you
The hands of the Spirit surround you
And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Uphold you evermore
Amen
The hands of the father uphold you
The hands of the Saviour enfold you
The hands of the Spirit surround you
And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Uphold you evermore
Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)