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01-31-2008, 09:52 PM
Believe it, you are a real find, a joy in someone’s heart. You are a jewel, unique and priceless. God don’t make no junk! --Herbert Barks
To decrease self.......increase Christ.
"Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things." --Henry Ward Beecher
Living God's way makes life productive and fulfilling.
God's answers to our prayers often exceed our expectations.
Let's ask God to help us see others as He does.
God, save us from the spiritual destroyers of self-pity and resentments.
God's help is only a prayer away.
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Road Map To Follow
The book of Proverbs offers so much for us and our everyday life; so much is contained in single verses like this one:
Proverbs 3:6 - Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. (NLT)
I am one of those people who, when asked what direction the driver is to take, usually points one way and then says the name of the opposite direction. I am also known to ask, when someone tells me the direction by north, south, east, or west, "Is that a right or a left?"
With today's Scripture verse to follow, one would think I would be better at giving driving directions.
1 Kings 2:3 - Do what God tells you. Walk in the paths he shows you: Follow the life-map absolutely, keep an eye out for the signposts, his course for life set out in the revelation to Moses; then you'll get on well in whatever you do and wherever you go. (MSG)
How comforting it is for me to open my Bible and to find such clear, concise, and comforting advice to follow.
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help us to follow Your paths that You have set out for us. We are sorry for the times when we have decided to go on our own and down our own paths. Thank You for Your patience with us and for Your gentle ways of guiding us back onto the right path to You through Your Word. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. --Julie Bowles
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Whom Shall I Fear?
David begins Psalm 27 with these words, "The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?
Those words are worth repeating. "The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?
Maybe we should read them again, this time out loud, "The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?
David had his enemies. He had his foes. He had those who would betray and forsake him. He had those who wanted to do him harm. Yet he says, "Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid?"
We have our enemies. We have our foes. We have those who have betrayed us, forsaken us, or who are about to. We have those who would do us harm. So we ask, "Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid?"
David's response would be, "No one! If the Lord is your light and your salvation and the Lord is the stronghold of your life you have nothing to fear. No matter whom the enemy is, no matter what foe you come against, you have no reason to be afraid."
So, why do I fear? Why do I allow myself to get worked-up and whacked-out and worn-down? If "The Lord is my light and my salvation, and if the Lord is the stronghold of my life," what is keeping me from living courageously and confidently and fearlessly?
I forget. I forget the promise, "The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?"
I forget that no foe has a chance against my Lord.
I forget that there is no enemy who can come close to overcoming the stronghold of the Lord.
I forget that God is strong enough, powerful enough, wise enough, loving enough, resourceful enough, and is determined to protect me from anything, or anyone that may try to harm me.
When life gets dark I forget that He is my light. When I am in the midst of battle I forget that He is my salvation. When I feel weak and weary and worn-down I forget that He is my stronghold.
I forget, so I must learn to remind myself that "The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?"
When others are afraid, or discouraged, or weary, or near defeat, I must remember to remind them, "The Lord is you light and you salvation-whom shall you fear? The Lord is the stronghold of your life-of whom shall you be afraid?"
So, just in case that description fits you, I remind you, "The Lord is your light and your salvation-whom shall you fear? The Lord is the stronghold of your life-of whom shall you be afraid?"
Through His servant, David, God is speaking to us. "I am your light and your salvation-whom shall you fear? I am the stronghold of your life-of whom shall you be afraid?"
If I try not to forget that this week, and if I try to remind others this week, and if you will do the same, by the end of the week, maybe we will be able to say what David said at the end of the Psalm, "I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
We have our message. Now, let's live it. --Tom
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GIVING YOUR LIFE AWAY By: Joseph J. Mazzella
Sometimes the greatest lessons in life come at the oddest moments. One of mine came when I was helping to harvest our gardens as a boy. We had four of them and they took a lot of work. In the fall, however, they produced more than enough vegetables for the whole year. Every year my Dad would separate a part of them to share with friends and people in the community. One time while we were loading up a bag full of corn to take to a needy family I asked my Dad why we always gave so many of our vegetables away. He said, "Son, not everyone has as much as we do. They can use our help. Besides, if we didn't give these vegetables away they would just go to waste." Now that I have been on this world a lot longer I can see the wisdom in my Dad's words. I can see too that they apply not just to vegetables but to our entire lives. What good are our lives, after all, if we don't give them away? What good are the things we have if they just go to waste? We all come into this world naked and shivering with nothing. We can take nothing with us when we leave here either. Our lives and possessions then are only momentary gifts. They have meaning only when we share them and use them to help others. In fact, the real riches of life come from every act of giving, helping, and sharing we do. These true riches are love, joy, and oneness with God. They are the wealth of the spirit and the treasures of Heaven. The best thing about them too is that they never run out. The more you give them away, the more God pours them into your heart, soul, and mind.
Don't let your life go to waste. Give it away. Give it joyously in service to others. Give it lovingly in service to God. Give your money, your time, your talents, your help, your skills, your energy, and your love. Give without fear knowing that God will always give you back even more. Make yourself rich in the treasures of Heaven and bring a little Heaven to Earth as well.
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The Other Side of Tomorrow
There you sit. You are a child of the Living God. You are blessed and loved. You are committed to the Lord and walk in His ways, but still you have questions. Often you doubt. From time to time you worry. You wonder what the future holds. You think about what may lie on the other side of tomorrow. Sure there are uncertainties. There are trials and challenges. Heartache, fear, and despair use crafty means to embed themselves in your life. If you do not guard and protect yourself you are apt to lose sight of the truth.
The truth of the matter is that on the other side of tomorrow is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is constant and steady. He never changes. Nothing can remove Him from your life and no one can take you from His blessings. No matter what the future holds, He is there. He will remain by your side no matter the situation. He will provide for you in every circumstance. When you are weak, He will strengthen you. When you are weary, He will lift you up. When you feel hopeless, He will fill you with joy and peace. He is your source for whatever you need today and yes, beyond, even to the other side of tomorrow.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 --The Daily Journey
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God Knows Where I Am By Ken Gaub
Do you believe that God not only loves you, but knows where you are and what you're doing every minute of the day? I certainly do after an amazing experience I had several years ago.
At the time I was driving on 1-75 near Dayton, Ohio, with my wife and children. We turned off the highway for a rest and refreshment stop. My wife, Barbara, and children went into the restaurant. I suddenly felt the need to stretch my legs, so waved them off ahead saying I'd join them later.
I bought a soft drink, and as I walked toward a Dairy Queen, feelings of self pity enshrouded my mind. I loved the Lord and my ministry, but I felt drained, burdened. My cup was empty.
Suddenly, the impatient ringing of a telephone nearby jarred me out of my doldrums. It was coming from a phone booth at a service station on the corner. Wasn't anyone going to answer the phone? Noise from the traffic flowing through the busy intersection must have drowned out the sound because the service station attendant continued looking after his customers, oblivious to the incessant ringing.
"Why doesn't somebody answer that phone?" I muttered. I began reasoning.
It may be important. What if it's an emergency? Curiosity overcame my
indifference. I stepped inside the booth and picked up the phone.
"Hello," I said casually and took a big sip of my drink.
The operator said: "Long distance call for Ken Gaub." My eyes widened, and
I almost choked on a chunk of ice.
Swallowing hard, I said, "You're crazy!" Then, realizing I shouldn't speak to an operator like that,
I added, "This can't be! I was walking down the road, not bothering anyone, and the phone was ringing..."
"Is Ken Gaub there?" the operator interrupted, "I have a long distance call for him."
It took a moment to gain control of my babbling, but I finally replied, "Yes,
he is here." Searching for a possible explanation, wondered if I could possibly be on Candid Camera!
Still shaken, perplexed, I asked, "How in the world did you reach me here?
I was walking down the road, the pay phone started ringing, and I just answered
it by chance. You can't mean me."
"Well," the operator asked, "is Mr. Gaub there or isn't he?"
"Yes, I am Ken Gaub," I said, finally convinced by the tone of her voice that the call was real.
Then, I heard another voice say, "Yes, that's him, operator. That's Ken Gaub."
I listened dumbfounded to a strange voice identify herself. "I'm Millie from
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. You don't know me, Mr. Gaub, but I'm desperate.
Please help me."
"What can I do for you?"
She began weeping. Finally, she regained control and continued, "I was about to commit suicide, had just finished writing a note, when I began to pray and tell God I really didn't want to do this. Then, I suddenly remembered seeing you on television and thought if I could just talk to you, you could help me.
I knew that was impossible because I didn't know how to reach you: I didn't know anyone who could help me find you. Then, some numbers came to my mind, and I scribbled them down."
At this point she began weeping again, and I prayed silently for wisdom to help her. She continued, "I looked at the numbers and thought, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful if I had a miracle from God, and He has given me Ken's phone number?' I decided to try calling it. I can't believe I'm talking to you.
Are you in your office in California?"
I replied, "Lady, I don't have an office in California. My office is in
Yakima, Washington."
A little surprised, she asked, "Oh, really, then where are you?"
"Don't you know?" I responded. "You made the call."
She explained, "...but I don't even know what area I'm calling. I just dialed the number that I had on this paper."
"Ma'am, you won't believe this, but I'm in a phone booth in Dayton, Ohio!"
"Really?" she exclaimed. "Well, what are you doing there?"
I kidded her gently, "Well, I'm answering the phone. It was ringing as I walked by; so, I answered it."
Knowing this encounter could only have been arranged by God, I began to counsel the woman. As she told me of her despair and frustration, the presence of the Holy Spirit flooded the phone booth giving me words of wisdom beyond my ability. In a matter of moments, she prayed the sinner's prayer and met the One who would lead her out of her situation into a new life.
I walked away from that telephone booth with an electrifying sense of our heavenly Father's concern for each of His children. What were the astronomical odds of this happening? With all the millions of phones and innumerable combinations of numbers, only an all-knowing God could have caused that woman to call that number in that phone booth at that moment in time.
Forgetting my drink and nearly bursting with exhilaration, I headed back to my family, wondering if they would believe my story. "Maybe I had better not tell this," I thought, but I couldn't contain it. "Barb, you won't believe this: God knows where I am!"
God also knows where you are. Place yourself in His hands, concentrate on knowing His will for your life, and He will never forsake or forget you.
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"Gods Beauty Tips"
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others.
To lose weight, let go of stress, hatred, anger, discontentment, and the need to control others.
To improve your ears, listen to the Word of God.
For poise, walk with knowledge and self-esteem.
To strengthen your arms, hug at least 3 people a day;
Touch someone with your love.
To strengthen your heart, forgive yourself and others.
For the ultimate in business, casual or evening attire, put on the robe of Christ; it fits like a glove but allows room for growth. Best of all, it never goes out of style and is appropriate for any occasion.
Doing these things on a daily basis will certainly make you a more beautiful person.
--Author Unknown
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Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns
Listen carefully for My still, small voice, says the Lord. For, I am bringing you into order by the power of My word. There are areas in your life that must be set right. Do not resist My correction or despise My chastening, for you are My offspring, and you belong to Me. These places of darkness are rooted in old habits and patterns of behavior, and your tendency will be to keep these things hidden in darkness. But, it is to your ultimate spiritual benefit that everything be brought to the light and be exposed for what it is. Let Me do this important work of purification, and you will rejoice in new-found freedom.
Hebrews 12:5-11 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Watch for the enemy to push your emotional buttons through innuendoes, assumptions or false accusations. You must rise above this attack and refuse to allow its substance to stir up your carnal nature. You may feel like punching someone in the nose, but your spiritual response must be forgiveness. Quickly let go of your irritation and aggravation. Come up in the Spirit and shut the door that the devil has opened against you, for this assault is demonic in nature. I am with you to cause you to gain the victory, says the Lord.
Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down."
When things do not work out the way you anticipated, go back to the proverbial drawing board. Re-evaluate what you know; separate the facts from your own presumptions and draw a line of distinction. Then, re-think your position and what you are willing to do and wait for My leading. Truly I am not surprised at your current situation, says the Lord, nor am I without power to move you from where you are into the flow of My Spirit if you will only yield.
Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.
Even though it seems like you've been swimming upstream or perhaps walking through Jell-o, keep pushing. Your extreme efforts to break through will pay off. The test is whether or not you will give up in the face of adversity. You have heard the adage, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." And, I say to you that you may not feel tough or equal to the task, but you must remember that My strength is made perfect in your weakness. Let Me come along side you to carry the burden, says the Lord.
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Yield to the work that I am doing in My Body, says the Lord, to bring unity and peace among My people. Allow yourself to see through My eyes and to perceive that you are one part of the whole body. Come up higher to view yourself in a perfect, flowing relationship with Me by embracing the perspective that you are unified with other members of the Kingdom. You must make a decision to stop causing divisions through personal judgment and criticism. It is the function of a haughty spirit to look down on one of My own as being inferior.
1 John 4:20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
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Jesus Is The Answer
The answer Is Jesus
To the questions of life,
He's the only solution
To sorrows and strife.
The answer is Jesus
When we lose our way,
He's the anchor we cling to
When we go astray.
The answer is Jesus
To each sinner's prayer,
He died on the cross
Our burdens to bear.
The answer is Jesus
Each day of the year,
He's the blessed assurance
We have nothing to fear.
The answer is Jesus
To the questions of life,
He's the only solution
To sorrows and strife.
Author: Clay Harrison
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I'm Free, I'm Free
Oh how I praise and worship your precious name Lord!
You came into my life and now...... Praise God I'm Free
I'm Free! I'm Free! Praise God, you've set me free!
You've given me a brand new heart to praise and worship thee!
You swept out all the old and replaced it with the new;
Gone is the filth of all my sins and now my heart is filled with you!
Once I was lost in darkness and my heart was filled with sin;
But you waited patiently for me to open up and invite you in.
I could not find the happiness that I was searching for;
Until that day you came to me and knocked upon my door.
Thank God I opened up that door and let you dwell within;
You drove out all the darkness and your light of love came shining in!
Now I'm happy and I'm singing songs of praise to your dear name;
Oh Lord, I am so thankful that into my heart you came!
All this joy and peace I'm feeling I owe it all to you;
You've given back my life to me and heaven is now in view!
Oh what a glorious day that was when you came into my heart;
You've made my life so rich and full and from you my Lord, I never will depart!
--Helen Johnson
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God On The Mountain
Life is easy when you're up on the mountain
And you've got peace of mind like you've never known
But things change when you're down in the valley
Don't lose faith for you're never alone
For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley
When things go wrong He'll make them right
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times
The God of the day is still God in the night
You talk of faith way up on the mountain
Talk comes so easy when life's at it's best
Now it's down in the valley's of trials and temptation
That's when your faith is really put to the test
For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley
When things go wrong He'll make them right
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times
The God of the day is still God in the night
The God of the day is still God in the night
Words and Music by Tracy G. Dartt
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10Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Paul Called by God
11I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:10-11
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Psalm 62:7
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:14-16
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24
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Our Help and Our Hopen by John Fischer
"O God our help in ages past -
Our hope for years to come..."
This is the time of year when we focus on God and thank Him for getting us through another year. Remember Y2K? We were wondering if we'd survive the turnover to a new century. Hard to believe that was eight years ago.
As the hymn writer has reminded us, God is both our help and our hope - two four-letter words that pretty much sum up what we need to move into 2008. First, we look back on how He has helped us in the past.
The greatest thing about this is you can go back as far as you want into the ages past and still find God there, thinking about you. "Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes" (Ephesians 1:4). (By the way, we are so thankful it says without fault "in His eyes," because we have plenty of faults in other people's eyes, including our own.) The point being, you can never go too far back to not have anyone to worship. ("In the beginning, God...")
But right now, it would be good to focus on just this last year and think about how God has specifically helped us. What do you have now that you didn't have a year ago? Think in terms of personal growth, experiences, and people God has blessed you with. How do you know God better than you did at this time a year ago? What more do you know about Him? What more do you know about yourself that He has revealed to you? What struggle has He helped you overcome? Is there anyone in your life who wasn't there a year ago that you can honestly thank God for? What has He helped you to accomplish? How has He been faithful to you even when you have been faithless?
Now think about this next year and how God is our only true hope. Think of specifically where you need to apply some of that hope. What are you afraid of? Where are you feeling inadequate? What do you want to change, and how can God help you? How about your plans? [Are they God's?] How far are you willing to stretch? For all of this, He is our hope. And for all that we will face this next year that we don't know anything about right now, He is our hope.
And He will be enough.
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Dear Lord, Forgive me for attempting to hold you to my schedule. Open my eyes to the many ways you touch my life throughout the day. When I am consumed by daily concerns, help me to look beyond myself to bless others with positive words and actions. Amen.
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Read Through The Bible
Exodus 17
Water From the Rock
1 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?" 3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?" 4 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me." 5 The LORD answered Moses, "Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"
The Amalekites Defeated
8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." 15 Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. 16 He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation."
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Loving God, we thank you for your gift of the Holy Spirit. Fill us with your power so that we may be effective witnesses for you, as we pray, "Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation."* Amen.
Wherever you are in life, whatever you've done, you can begin again. If you do not have Jesus in your life and wish to ask Jesus into your life please go to this link now to do so: http://www.cyberrecovery.net/forums/showthread.php?t=95 . Jesus is calling you to live a life that matters.
To decrease self.......increase Christ.
"Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things." --Henry Ward Beecher
Living God's way makes life productive and fulfilling.
God's answers to our prayers often exceed our expectations.
Let's ask God to help us see others as He does.
God, save us from the spiritual destroyers of self-pity and resentments.
God's help is only a prayer away.
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Road Map To Follow
The book of Proverbs offers so much for us and our everyday life; so much is contained in single verses like this one:
Proverbs 3:6 - Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. (NLT)
I am one of those people who, when asked what direction the driver is to take, usually points one way and then says the name of the opposite direction. I am also known to ask, when someone tells me the direction by north, south, east, or west, "Is that a right or a left?"
With today's Scripture verse to follow, one would think I would be better at giving driving directions.
1 Kings 2:3 - Do what God tells you. Walk in the paths he shows you: Follow the life-map absolutely, keep an eye out for the signposts, his course for life set out in the revelation to Moses; then you'll get on well in whatever you do and wherever you go. (MSG)
How comforting it is for me to open my Bible and to find such clear, concise, and comforting advice to follow.
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help us to follow Your paths that You have set out for us. We are sorry for the times when we have decided to go on our own and down our own paths. Thank You for Your patience with us and for Your gentle ways of guiding us back onto the right path to You through Your Word. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. --Julie Bowles
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Whom Shall I Fear?
David begins Psalm 27 with these words, "The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?
Those words are worth repeating. "The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?
Maybe we should read them again, this time out loud, "The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?
David had his enemies. He had his foes. He had those who would betray and forsake him. He had those who wanted to do him harm. Yet he says, "Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid?"
We have our enemies. We have our foes. We have those who have betrayed us, forsaken us, or who are about to. We have those who would do us harm. So we ask, "Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid?"
David's response would be, "No one! If the Lord is your light and your salvation and the Lord is the stronghold of your life you have nothing to fear. No matter whom the enemy is, no matter what foe you come against, you have no reason to be afraid."
So, why do I fear? Why do I allow myself to get worked-up and whacked-out and worn-down? If "The Lord is my light and my salvation, and if the Lord is the stronghold of my life," what is keeping me from living courageously and confidently and fearlessly?
I forget. I forget the promise, "The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?"
I forget that no foe has a chance against my Lord.
I forget that there is no enemy who can come close to overcoming the stronghold of the Lord.
I forget that God is strong enough, powerful enough, wise enough, loving enough, resourceful enough, and is determined to protect me from anything, or anyone that may try to harm me.
When life gets dark I forget that He is my light. When I am in the midst of battle I forget that He is my salvation. When I feel weak and weary and worn-down I forget that He is my stronghold.
I forget, so I must learn to remind myself that "The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?"
When others are afraid, or discouraged, or weary, or near defeat, I must remember to remind them, "The Lord is you light and you salvation-whom shall you fear? The Lord is the stronghold of your life-of whom shall you be afraid?"
So, just in case that description fits you, I remind you, "The Lord is your light and your salvation-whom shall you fear? The Lord is the stronghold of your life-of whom shall you be afraid?"
Through His servant, David, God is speaking to us. "I am your light and your salvation-whom shall you fear? I am the stronghold of your life-of whom shall you be afraid?"
If I try not to forget that this week, and if I try to remind others this week, and if you will do the same, by the end of the week, maybe we will be able to say what David said at the end of the Psalm, "I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
We have our message. Now, let's live it. --Tom
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GIVING YOUR LIFE AWAY By: Joseph J. Mazzella
Sometimes the greatest lessons in life come at the oddest moments. One of mine came when I was helping to harvest our gardens as a boy. We had four of them and they took a lot of work. In the fall, however, they produced more than enough vegetables for the whole year. Every year my Dad would separate a part of them to share with friends and people in the community. One time while we were loading up a bag full of corn to take to a needy family I asked my Dad why we always gave so many of our vegetables away. He said, "Son, not everyone has as much as we do. They can use our help. Besides, if we didn't give these vegetables away they would just go to waste." Now that I have been on this world a lot longer I can see the wisdom in my Dad's words. I can see too that they apply not just to vegetables but to our entire lives. What good are our lives, after all, if we don't give them away? What good are the things we have if they just go to waste? We all come into this world naked and shivering with nothing. We can take nothing with us when we leave here either. Our lives and possessions then are only momentary gifts. They have meaning only when we share them and use them to help others. In fact, the real riches of life come from every act of giving, helping, and sharing we do. These true riches are love, joy, and oneness with God. They are the wealth of the spirit and the treasures of Heaven. The best thing about them too is that they never run out. The more you give them away, the more God pours them into your heart, soul, and mind.
Don't let your life go to waste. Give it away. Give it joyously in service to others. Give it lovingly in service to God. Give your money, your time, your talents, your help, your skills, your energy, and your love. Give without fear knowing that God will always give you back even more. Make yourself rich in the treasures of Heaven and bring a little Heaven to Earth as well.
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The Other Side of Tomorrow
There you sit. You are a child of the Living God. You are blessed and loved. You are committed to the Lord and walk in His ways, but still you have questions. Often you doubt. From time to time you worry. You wonder what the future holds. You think about what may lie on the other side of tomorrow. Sure there are uncertainties. There are trials and challenges. Heartache, fear, and despair use crafty means to embed themselves in your life. If you do not guard and protect yourself you are apt to lose sight of the truth.
The truth of the matter is that on the other side of tomorrow is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is constant and steady. He never changes. Nothing can remove Him from your life and no one can take you from His blessings. No matter what the future holds, He is there. He will remain by your side no matter the situation. He will provide for you in every circumstance. When you are weak, He will strengthen you. When you are weary, He will lift you up. When you feel hopeless, He will fill you with joy and peace. He is your source for whatever you need today and yes, beyond, even to the other side of tomorrow.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 --The Daily Journey
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God Knows Where I Am By Ken Gaub
Do you believe that God not only loves you, but knows where you are and what you're doing every minute of the day? I certainly do after an amazing experience I had several years ago.
At the time I was driving on 1-75 near Dayton, Ohio, with my wife and children. We turned off the highway for a rest and refreshment stop. My wife, Barbara, and children went into the restaurant. I suddenly felt the need to stretch my legs, so waved them off ahead saying I'd join them later.
I bought a soft drink, and as I walked toward a Dairy Queen, feelings of self pity enshrouded my mind. I loved the Lord and my ministry, but I felt drained, burdened. My cup was empty.
Suddenly, the impatient ringing of a telephone nearby jarred me out of my doldrums. It was coming from a phone booth at a service station on the corner. Wasn't anyone going to answer the phone? Noise from the traffic flowing through the busy intersection must have drowned out the sound because the service station attendant continued looking after his customers, oblivious to the incessant ringing.
"Why doesn't somebody answer that phone?" I muttered. I began reasoning.
It may be important. What if it's an emergency? Curiosity overcame my
indifference. I stepped inside the booth and picked up the phone.
"Hello," I said casually and took a big sip of my drink.
The operator said: "Long distance call for Ken Gaub." My eyes widened, and
I almost choked on a chunk of ice.
Swallowing hard, I said, "You're crazy!" Then, realizing I shouldn't speak to an operator like that,
I added, "This can't be! I was walking down the road, not bothering anyone, and the phone was ringing..."
"Is Ken Gaub there?" the operator interrupted, "I have a long distance call for him."
It took a moment to gain control of my babbling, but I finally replied, "Yes,
he is here." Searching for a possible explanation, wondered if I could possibly be on Candid Camera!
Still shaken, perplexed, I asked, "How in the world did you reach me here?
I was walking down the road, the pay phone started ringing, and I just answered
it by chance. You can't mean me."
"Well," the operator asked, "is Mr. Gaub there or isn't he?"
"Yes, I am Ken Gaub," I said, finally convinced by the tone of her voice that the call was real.
Then, I heard another voice say, "Yes, that's him, operator. That's Ken Gaub."
I listened dumbfounded to a strange voice identify herself. "I'm Millie from
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. You don't know me, Mr. Gaub, but I'm desperate.
Please help me."
"What can I do for you?"
She began weeping. Finally, she regained control and continued, "I was about to commit suicide, had just finished writing a note, when I began to pray and tell God I really didn't want to do this. Then, I suddenly remembered seeing you on television and thought if I could just talk to you, you could help me.
I knew that was impossible because I didn't know how to reach you: I didn't know anyone who could help me find you. Then, some numbers came to my mind, and I scribbled them down."
At this point she began weeping again, and I prayed silently for wisdom to help her. She continued, "I looked at the numbers and thought, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful if I had a miracle from God, and He has given me Ken's phone number?' I decided to try calling it. I can't believe I'm talking to you.
Are you in your office in California?"
I replied, "Lady, I don't have an office in California. My office is in
Yakima, Washington."
A little surprised, she asked, "Oh, really, then where are you?"
"Don't you know?" I responded. "You made the call."
She explained, "...but I don't even know what area I'm calling. I just dialed the number that I had on this paper."
"Ma'am, you won't believe this, but I'm in a phone booth in Dayton, Ohio!"
"Really?" she exclaimed. "Well, what are you doing there?"
I kidded her gently, "Well, I'm answering the phone. It was ringing as I walked by; so, I answered it."
Knowing this encounter could only have been arranged by God, I began to counsel the woman. As she told me of her despair and frustration, the presence of the Holy Spirit flooded the phone booth giving me words of wisdom beyond my ability. In a matter of moments, she prayed the sinner's prayer and met the One who would lead her out of her situation into a new life.
I walked away from that telephone booth with an electrifying sense of our heavenly Father's concern for each of His children. What were the astronomical odds of this happening? With all the millions of phones and innumerable combinations of numbers, only an all-knowing God could have caused that woman to call that number in that phone booth at that moment in time.
Forgetting my drink and nearly bursting with exhilaration, I headed back to my family, wondering if they would believe my story. "Maybe I had better not tell this," I thought, but I couldn't contain it. "Barb, you won't believe this: God knows where I am!"
God also knows where you are. Place yourself in His hands, concentrate on knowing His will for your life, and He will never forsake or forget you.
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"Gods Beauty Tips"
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others.
To lose weight, let go of stress, hatred, anger, discontentment, and the need to control others.
To improve your ears, listen to the Word of God.
For poise, walk with knowledge and self-esteem.
To strengthen your arms, hug at least 3 people a day;
Touch someone with your love.
To strengthen your heart, forgive yourself and others.
For the ultimate in business, casual or evening attire, put on the robe of Christ; it fits like a glove but allows room for growth. Best of all, it never goes out of style and is appropriate for any occasion.
Doing these things on a daily basis will certainly make you a more beautiful person.
--Author Unknown
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Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns
Listen carefully for My still, small voice, says the Lord. For, I am bringing you into order by the power of My word. There are areas in your life that must be set right. Do not resist My correction or despise My chastening, for you are My offspring, and you belong to Me. These places of darkness are rooted in old habits and patterns of behavior, and your tendency will be to keep these things hidden in darkness. But, it is to your ultimate spiritual benefit that everything be brought to the light and be exposed for what it is. Let Me do this important work of purification, and you will rejoice in new-found freedom.
Hebrews 12:5-11 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Watch for the enemy to push your emotional buttons through innuendoes, assumptions or false accusations. You must rise above this attack and refuse to allow its substance to stir up your carnal nature. You may feel like punching someone in the nose, but your spiritual response must be forgiveness. Quickly let go of your irritation and aggravation. Come up in the Spirit and shut the door that the devil has opened against you, for this assault is demonic in nature. I am with you to cause you to gain the victory, says the Lord.
Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down."
When things do not work out the way you anticipated, go back to the proverbial drawing board. Re-evaluate what you know; separate the facts from your own presumptions and draw a line of distinction. Then, re-think your position and what you are willing to do and wait for My leading. Truly I am not surprised at your current situation, says the Lord, nor am I without power to move you from where you are into the flow of My Spirit if you will only yield.
Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.
Even though it seems like you've been swimming upstream or perhaps walking through Jell-o, keep pushing. Your extreme efforts to break through will pay off. The test is whether or not you will give up in the face of adversity. You have heard the adage, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." And, I say to you that you may not feel tough or equal to the task, but you must remember that My strength is made perfect in your weakness. Let Me come along side you to carry the burden, says the Lord.
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Yield to the work that I am doing in My Body, says the Lord, to bring unity and peace among My people. Allow yourself to see through My eyes and to perceive that you are one part of the whole body. Come up higher to view yourself in a perfect, flowing relationship with Me by embracing the perspective that you are unified with other members of the Kingdom. You must make a decision to stop causing divisions through personal judgment and criticism. It is the function of a haughty spirit to look down on one of My own as being inferior.
1 John 4:20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
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Jesus Is The Answer
The answer Is Jesus
To the questions of life,
He's the only solution
To sorrows and strife.
The answer is Jesus
When we lose our way,
He's the anchor we cling to
When we go astray.
The answer is Jesus
To each sinner's prayer,
He died on the cross
Our burdens to bear.
The answer is Jesus
Each day of the year,
He's the blessed assurance
We have nothing to fear.
The answer is Jesus
To the questions of life,
He's the only solution
To sorrows and strife.
Author: Clay Harrison
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I'm Free, I'm Free
Oh how I praise and worship your precious name Lord!
You came into my life and now...... Praise God I'm Free
I'm Free! I'm Free! Praise God, you've set me free!
You've given me a brand new heart to praise and worship thee!
You swept out all the old and replaced it with the new;
Gone is the filth of all my sins and now my heart is filled with you!
Once I was lost in darkness and my heart was filled with sin;
But you waited patiently for me to open up and invite you in.
I could not find the happiness that I was searching for;
Until that day you came to me and knocked upon my door.
Thank God I opened up that door and let you dwell within;
You drove out all the darkness and your light of love came shining in!
Now I'm happy and I'm singing songs of praise to your dear name;
Oh Lord, I am so thankful that into my heart you came!
All this joy and peace I'm feeling I owe it all to you;
You've given back my life to me and heaven is now in view!
Oh what a glorious day that was when you came into my heart;
You've made my life so rich and full and from you my Lord, I never will depart!
--Helen Johnson
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God On The Mountain
Life is easy when you're up on the mountain
And you've got peace of mind like you've never known
But things change when you're down in the valley
Don't lose faith for you're never alone
For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley
When things go wrong He'll make them right
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times
The God of the day is still God in the night
You talk of faith way up on the mountain
Talk comes so easy when life's at it's best
Now it's down in the valley's of trials and temptation
That's when your faith is really put to the test
For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley
When things go wrong He'll make them right
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times
The God of the day is still God in the night
The God of the day is still God in the night
Words and Music by Tracy G. Dartt
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10Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Paul Called by God
11I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:10-11
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Psalm 62:7
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:14-16
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24
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Our Help and Our Hopen by John Fischer
"O God our help in ages past -
Our hope for years to come..."
This is the time of year when we focus on God and thank Him for getting us through another year. Remember Y2K? We were wondering if we'd survive the turnover to a new century. Hard to believe that was eight years ago.
As the hymn writer has reminded us, God is both our help and our hope - two four-letter words that pretty much sum up what we need to move into 2008. First, we look back on how He has helped us in the past.
The greatest thing about this is you can go back as far as you want into the ages past and still find God there, thinking about you. "Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes" (Ephesians 1:4). (By the way, we are so thankful it says without fault "in His eyes," because we have plenty of faults in other people's eyes, including our own.) The point being, you can never go too far back to not have anyone to worship. ("In the beginning, God...")
But right now, it would be good to focus on just this last year and think about how God has specifically helped us. What do you have now that you didn't have a year ago? Think in terms of personal growth, experiences, and people God has blessed you with. How do you know God better than you did at this time a year ago? What more do you know about Him? What more do you know about yourself that He has revealed to you? What struggle has He helped you overcome? Is there anyone in your life who wasn't there a year ago that you can honestly thank God for? What has He helped you to accomplish? How has He been faithful to you even when you have been faithless?
Now think about this next year and how God is our only true hope. Think of specifically where you need to apply some of that hope. What are you afraid of? Where are you feeling inadequate? What do you want to change, and how can God help you? How about your plans? [Are they God's?] How far are you willing to stretch? For all of this, He is our hope. And for all that we will face this next year that we don't know anything about right now, He is our hope.
And He will be enough.
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Dear Lord, Forgive me for attempting to hold you to my schedule. Open my eyes to the many ways you touch my life throughout the day. When I am consumed by daily concerns, help me to look beyond myself to bless others with positive words and actions. Amen.
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Read Through The Bible
Exodus 17
Water From the Rock
1 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?" 3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?" 4 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me." 5 The LORD answered Moses, "Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"
The Amalekites Defeated
8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." 15 Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. 16 He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation."
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Loving God, we thank you for your gift of the Holy Spirit. Fill us with your power so that we may be effective witnesses for you, as we pray, "Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation."* Amen.
Wherever you are in life, whatever you've done, you can begin again. If you do not have Jesus in your life and wish to ask Jesus into your life please go to this link now to do so: http://www.cyberrecovery.net/forums/showthread.php?t=95 . Jesus is calling you to live a life that matters.