I Am a Promise

“God sends every person into the world with a special message to deliver, with a special song to sing for others, and a special act of love to bestow. No one else can speak your message, or sing your song, or offer your act of love. These are entrusted only to you.” author unknown

Mother Teresa

"I was not called to be successful but faithful. Each one of us has something beautiful to do for God."

When someone like Mother Teresa suggests that God has something special for each of us to accomplish as a follower of Christ it is our challenge to discern the task God wants you or me to fulfill…

Romans 12 is a good read. Google it and read it. Just a portion, verses 4 through 8 says,

just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

You Ask?

Can I be a Christian without joining other Christians in the church?

Yes, it is something like:
being a soldier without an army,
a seamanwithout a ship,
a business man without a business,
a tuba playerwithout an orchestra,
a football player without a team or
a bee without a hive.

Mrs. William P. Jazen

Rejoice in All Things, I Say Rejoice

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7).

Paul wrote these truths of God, and didn't just tell you not to be anxious, but also why you don’t need to be anxious; he doesn’t just tell you not to dwell on your problems, but he tells you what to dwell on instead. Paul wrote these words from a dirty cell, chained after being beaten and flogged. If Paul could feel free from anxiety in a situation like that and write about it, then we could learn from him how to deal with our anxious thoughts as well.
Our Lord is at Hand, and he tells us what to focus on during the trials in our life,

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).

As hard as life can be, there are still things in life that are beautiful and full of the glory of God. Paul learned the secret of being content in every situation, whether he had plenty or was in need. Paul continually rejoiced in the Lord, by remembering that God was near, and in everything, he made his requests known to God.

Learn from Paul and put into practice what you learn.

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Strength

Strength Within

"I feel that I am weak,
And prone to every sin;
But Thou who gives to those who seek,
Wilt give me strength within.

I need not fear my foes,
I need not yield to care,
I need not sink beneath my woes,
For Thou wilt answer prayer.

In my Redeemer's Name
I give myself to Thee;
And, all unworthy as I am.
My God will cherish me."
Anne Bronté
(1820-1849)

Psalm 28:6-7
Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.　

It is the great challenges in our lives that God can use to teach us to rely on His strength alone.

All things are possible with God. It is His strength that will sustain us and His strength that will help each of us overcome our greatest fears and obstacles through prayer and through our Faith

A testimony to our ability to come to the Lord with all reqests for strength and he will provide. Good for the heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8X65HRF6U8

Each day comes bearing its gifts. Untie the ribbons.

Ruth Ann Schabacher

"As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor--this is the gift of God."

Everything you have is God's gift to you.

What you do with everything God gives you

is your gift to Him.

Keep On Keeping On

Philippians 3:13-14

No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven

Lamentations 3:22-24

The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!"



The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. Every day is the day the Lord has made, as Psalm 118:24 states, and “we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

One can make a resolution or promise to oneself any day of the year, and keeping it or breaking it is in their hands. One thing the Bible does say in Ecclesiastes 5:2,4 and 5 is that if one makes promises or vows to God, it shouldn’t be taken lightly.“Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.”

Setting a goal or several goals at the beginning of the new year can be stimulating, but it’s the motivation to keep the resolution that is important. One can determine to pray more, read the Bible more, go to church regularly, or volunteer more, but these resolutions can fail without correct motivation.

The incentive must come from within with purpose and a plan. Even though there might be a setback at times, the best thing to do is to immediately start again

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