5/13/2010
Ladyfingers - A Tribute To Lady Saints
A tribute to lady saints to the tune of "Ladyfingers" by Luscious Jackson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohq3gB6GHWM
5/11/2010
No Need To Fear Death When You're In God's Hands
"My religious beliefs teach me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time of my death. I do not concern myself with that, but to be always ready whenever it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and all men would be equally brave."
~ General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
I received a heart-breaking phone call at Los Angeles airport while I was entering the security area. It was the daughter of my 95 year old friend, Ted Bennett. Ted has been preaching for 80 years and his mind is still as sharp as a tack. He was rushed to the hospital and given only 2 hours to live. I could do nothing but pray because I was about to board a plane to Wichita. He couldn't talk, but he could listen as I spoke to him over the phone. To my joy, I returned to visit him two days later in ICU. I brought my wife and children from school to say goodbye as Tedd lay there with tubes and wires entering and exiting his frail body. We prayed, read scripture, and even joked with one another before we said our farewells. Two days later, I got another call that the miraculous had happened. Tedd had recovered, was no longer in ICU, and could talk freely without the respirator in his mouth! I rushed to see my friend and ask him what he was thinking as he lay so close to the edge of eternity. He said to me, "Kirk, If the Lord has more for me to do here, then so be it, but if it is time to go, then I'm ready." He then quoted Charles Spurgeon (as he so often does) and reminded us both that "Not a single shaft can hit, till the God of love sees fit." Ted is a man doing battle in bed, knowing that his time on earth may be very short. Never have I seen someone so brave as my friend Ted, waring against fear and a broken body at death's door, trusting in the faithfulness of his Savior.
~ Kirk Cameron
~ General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
I received a heart-breaking phone call at Los Angeles airport while I was entering the security area. It was the daughter of my 95 year old friend, Ted Bennett. Ted has been preaching for 80 years and his mind is still as sharp as a tack. He was rushed to the hospital and given only 2 hours to live. I could do nothing but pray because I was about to board a plane to Wichita. He couldn't talk, but he could listen as I spoke to him over the phone. To my joy, I returned to visit him two days later in ICU. I brought my wife and children from school to say goodbye as Tedd lay there with tubes and wires entering and exiting his frail body. We prayed, read scripture, and even joked with one another before we said our farewells. Two days later, I got another call that the miraculous had happened. Tedd had recovered, was no longer in ICU, and could talk freely without the respirator in his mouth! I rushed to see my friend and ask him what he was thinking as he lay so close to the edge of eternity. He said to me, "Kirk, If the Lord has more for me to do here, then so be it, but if it is time to go, then I'm ready." He then quoted Charles Spurgeon (as he so often does) and reminded us both that "Not a single shaft can hit, till the God of love sees fit." Ted is a man doing battle in bed, knowing that his time on earth may be very short. Never have I seen someone so brave as my friend Ted, waring against fear and a broken body at death's door, trusting in the faithfulness of his Savior.
~ Kirk Cameron
5/10/2010
With God All Things Are Possible
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)
God is above all and there is nothing that He can't handle. He loves u deeply. If it is His will, He will do what u consider to be the impossible. He can still do miracles. Sometimes big ones, sometimes subtle ones. He can rescue us when we don't think it can happen, whatever it may be ourselves, relationships, communities, etc. Don't give up on Him, He's never given up on you. U r His child and He calls u blessed and chosen. He looks after you and guides you in life. He picks u up when ur down and guides u the way you should go. Whatever life brings you, whatever choices you make, He still holds u in the palm of His hand. Give it up to God. His will be done. I bless and praise His Holy Name. Amen.
God is above all and there is nothing that He can't handle. He loves u deeply. If it is His will, He will do what u consider to be the impossible. He can still do miracles. Sometimes big ones, sometimes subtle ones. He can rescue us when we don't think it can happen, whatever it may be ourselves, relationships, communities, etc. Don't give up on Him, He's never given up on you. U r His child and He calls u blessed and chosen. He looks after you and guides you in life. He picks u up when ur down and guides u the way you should go. Whatever life brings you, whatever choices you make, He still holds u in the palm of His hand. Give it up to God. His will be done. I bless and praise His Holy Name. Amen.
5/05/2010
if being perfect is what saves us then none of us would be saved; "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (romans 3:23); "for it is by grace that you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it's the gift of God, not of works, so that no one can boast" (ephesians 2:8-9)
Kari Jobe - The More I Seek You
the more i seek you, the more i find you, the more i find you, the more i love you
The Holy Spirit, a Comforter
The Holy Spirit a Comforter
by Charles Spurgeon
God the Holy Ghost is a very loving Comforter. I am in distress, and want consolation. Some passer-by hears of my sorrow, and he steps within, sits down and essays to cheer me; he speaks soothing words; but he loves me not, he is a stranger, he knows me not at all, he has only come in to try his skill; and what is the consequence? His words run o'er me like oil upon a slab of marble—they are like the pattering rain upon the rock; they do not break my grief; it stands unmoved as adamant, because he has no love for me. But let someone who loves me dearly as his own life come and plead with me, then truly his words are music; they taste like honey; he knows the password of the doors of my heart, and my ear is attentive to every word; I catch the intonation of each syllable as it falls, for it is like the harmony of the harps of heaven. Oh, there is a voice in love, it speaks a language which is its own, it is an idiom and an accent which none can mimic; wisdom cannot imitate it; oratory cannot attain unto it; it is love alone which can reach the mourning heart; love is the only handkerchief which can wipe the mourner's tears away. And is not the Holy Ghost a loving Comforter? Dost thou know, O saint, how much the Holy Spirit loves thee? Canst thou measure the love of the Spirit? Dost thou know how great is the affection of His soul towards thee? Go, measure heaven with thy span; go, weigh the mountians in the scales; go, take the ocean's water, and tell each drop; go, count the sand upon the seals wide shore; and when thou hast accomplished this, thou canst tell how much He loveth thee. He has loved thee long; He has loved thee well; He loved thee ever; and He still shall love thee. Surely He is the person to comfort thee, because He loves. Admit Him, then, to your heart, O Christian that He may comfort you in your distress.
He is a faithful Comforter. Love sometimes proveth unfaithful. "Oh, sharper than a serpent's tooth" is an unfaithful friend! Oh, far more bitter than the gall of bitterness, to have a friend to turn from me in my distress! Oh, woe of woes, to have one who loves me in my prosperity forsake me in the dark day of my trouble! Sad indeed: but such is not God's Spirit. He ever loves, and loves even to the end—a faithful Comforter. Child of God, you are in trouble! A little while ago you found Him a sweet and loving Comforter; you obtained relief from Him when others were but broken cisterns; He sheltered you in His bosom, and carried you in His arms. Oh, wherefore dost thou distrust Him now? Away with thy fears; for He is a faithful Comforter. "Ah! but," thou sayest, "I fear I shall be sick, and shall be deprived of His ordinances." Nevertheless, He shall visit thee on they sick bed, and sit by thy side to give thee consolation. "Ah! but I have distresses greater than
You can conceive of; wave upon wave rolleth over me; deep calleth unto deep at the noise of the Eternal's waterspouts." Nevertheless, He will be faithful to His promise. "Ah! but I have sinned." So thou hast, but sin cannot sever thee from His love; He loves thee still. Think not, O poor downcast child of God, because the scars of thine old sins have marred thy beauty, that He loves thee less because of that blemish. Oh, no! He loved thee when He foreknew thy sin; He loved thee with the knowledge of what the aggregate of thy wickedness would be; and He does not love thee less now. Come to Him in all boldness of faith; tell Him thou hast grieved Him, and He will forget thy wandering, and will receive thee again; the kisses of His love shall be bestowed upon thee, and the arms of His grace shall embrace thee. He is faithful: trust Him ; He will never deceive you; trust Him, He will never leave you.
He is an unwearied Comforter. I have sometimes tried to comfort persons that have been tried. You now and then meet with the case of a nervous person. You ask, "What is your trouble?" You are told, and you essay, if possible, to remove it, but while you are preparing your artillery to batter the trouble, you find that it has shifted its quarters, and is occupying quite a different position. You change your argument and begin again; but lo, it is again gone, and you are bewildered. You feel like Hercules cutting off the ever-growing heads of the Hydra, and you give up your task in despair. You meet with persons whom it is impossible to comfort, reminding one of the man who locked himself up in fetters and threw the key away, so that nobody could unlock him. I have found some in the fetters of despair. "O, I am the man," say they "that has seen affliction; pity me, pity me, O my friends;" and the more you try to comfort such people, the worse they get; and therefore, out of all heart, we leave them to wander alone among the tombs of their former joys. But the Holy Spirit is never out of heart with those whom He wishes to comfort. He attempts to comfort us, and we run away from the sweet cordial; He gives some sweet draught to cure us, and we will not drink it; He gives some wondrous portion to charm away all our troubles, and we put it away from us. Still He pursues us; and though we say that we will not be comforted, He says we shall be, and when He has said, He does it; He is not to be wearied by all our sins, not by all our murmurings.
And oh, how wise a Comforter is the Holy Ghost! Job had comforters, and I think he spoke the truth when he said, "Miserable comforters are ye all." But I dare say they esteemed themselves wise; and when the young man Elihu rose to speak, they thought he had a world of impudence. Were they not "grave and reverend seniors?" Did not they comprehend his grief and sorrow? If they could not comfort him, who could? But they did not find out the cause. They thought he was not really a child of God, that he was self-righteous: and they gave him the wrong physic. It is a bad case when the doctor mistakes the disease and gives a wrong prescription, and so, perhaps, kills the patient. Sometimes, when we go and visit people we mistake their disease, we want to comfort them on this point, whereas they do not require any such comfort at all, and they would be better left alone than spoiled by such unwise comforters as we are. But oh, how wise the Holy Spirit is! He takes the soul, lays it on the table, and dissects it in a moment; He finds out the root of the matter, He sees where the complaint is, and then He applies the knife where something is required to be taken away, or puts a plaster where the sore is; and He never mistakes. Oh, how wise, the blessed Holy Ghost! From every comforter I turn and leave them all, for thou art He who alone givest the wisest consolation.
Then mark how safe a Comforter the Holy Ghost is. All comfort is not safe; mark that. There is a young man over there very melancholy. You know how he became so. He stepped into the house of God and heard a powerful preacher, and the Word was blessed, and convinced him of sin. When he went home, his father and the rest found there was something different about him, "Oh," they said, "John is mad; he is crazy;" and what said his mother? Send him into the country for a week; let him go to the ball or to the theatre." John, did you find any comfort there? "Ah no; they made me worse, for while I was there, I thought hell might open and swallow me up." Did you find any relief in the gaieties of the world? "No," say you, "I thought it was idle waste of time." Alas! this is miserable comfort, but it is the comfort of the worldling; and when a Christian gets into distress, how many will recommend him this remedy and the other! "Go and hear Mr. So-and-so preach; have a few friends at your house; read such-and-such a consoling volume;" and very likely it is the most unsafe advice in the world. The devil will sometimes come to men's souls as a false comforter, and he will say to the soul, "What need is there to make all this ado about repentance? You are no worse than other people;" and he will try to make the soul believe that what is presumption is the real assurance of the Holy Ghost; thus he deceives many by false comfort. Ah! there have been many, like infants, destroyed by elixirs given to lull them to sleep; many have been ruined by the cry of "Peace, peace," when there is no peace, hearing gentle things when they ought to be stirred to the quick. Cleopatrals asp was brought in a basket of flowers; and men's ruin often lurks in fair and sweet speeches. But the Holy Ghost's comfort is safe, and you may rest on it. Let Him speak the word, and there is a reality about it; let Him give the cup of consolation, and you may drink it to the bottom, for in its depths there are no dregs, nothing to intoxicate or ruin, it is all safe.
Moreover, the Holy Ghost is an active Comforter: He does not comfort by words, but by deeds. Some comfort by "Be ye warmed and be ye filled, giving nothing." But the Holy Ghost gives, He intercedes with Jesus; He gives us promises, He gives us grace, and so He comforts us. He is always a successful Comforter; He never attempts what He cannot accomplish. Then He is an ever-present Comforter, so that you never have to send for Him. Your God is always near you, and when you need comfort in your distress, behold, the Word is nigh thee, it is in thy mouth, and in thy heart; He is an ever-present help in time of trouble.
Taken from Words of Cheer for Daily Life
by Charles Spurgeon
God the Holy Ghost is a very loving Comforter. I am in distress, and want consolation. Some passer-by hears of my sorrow, and he steps within, sits down and essays to cheer me; he speaks soothing words; but he loves me not, he is a stranger, he knows me not at all, he has only come in to try his skill; and what is the consequence? His words run o'er me like oil upon a slab of marble—they are like the pattering rain upon the rock; they do not break my grief; it stands unmoved as adamant, because he has no love for me. But let someone who loves me dearly as his own life come and plead with me, then truly his words are music; they taste like honey; he knows the password of the doors of my heart, and my ear is attentive to every word; I catch the intonation of each syllable as it falls, for it is like the harmony of the harps of heaven. Oh, there is a voice in love, it speaks a language which is its own, it is an idiom and an accent which none can mimic; wisdom cannot imitate it; oratory cannot attain unto it; it is love alone which can reach the mourning heart; love is the only handkerchief which can wipe the mourner's tears away. And is not the Holy Ghost a loving Comforter? Dost thou know, O saint, how much the Holy Spirit loves thee? Canst thou measure the love of the Spirit? Dost thou know how great is the affection of His soul towards thee? Go, measure heaven with thy span; go, weigh the mountians in the scales; go, take the ocean's water, and tell each drop; go, count the sand upon the seals wide shore; and when thou hast accomplished this, thou canst tell how much He loveth thee. He has loved thee long; He has loved thee well; He loved thee ever; and He still shall love thee. Surely He is the person to comfort thee, because He loves. Admit Him, then, to your heart, O Christian that He may comfort you in your distress.
He is a faithful Comforter. Love sometimes proveth unfaithful. "Oh, sharper than a serpent's tooth" is an unfaithful friend! Oh, far more bitter than the gall of bitterness, to have a friend to turn from me in my distress! Oh, woe of woes, to have one who loves me in my prosperity forsake me in the dark day of my trouble! Sad indeed: but such is not God's Spirit. He ever loves, and loves even to the end—a faithful Comforter. Child of God, you are in trouble! A little while ago you found Him a sweet and loving Comforter; you obtained relief from Him when others were but broken cisterns; He sheltered you in His bosom, and carried you in His arms. Oh, wherefore dost thou distrust Him now? Away with thy fears; for He is a faithful Comforter. "Ah! but," thou sayest, "I fear I shall be sick, and shall be deprived of His ordinances." Nevertheless, He shall visit thee on they sick bed, and sit by thy side to give thee consolation. "Ah! but I have distresses greater than
You can conceive of; wave upon wave rolleth over me; deep calleth unto deep at the noise of the Eternal's waterspouts." Nevertheless, He will be faithful to His promise. "Ah! but I have sinned." So thou hast, but sin cannot sever thee from His love; He loves thee still. Think not, O poor downcast child of God, because the scars of thine old sins have marred thy beauty, that He loves thee less because of that blemish. Oh, no! He loved thee when He foreknew thy sin; He loved thee with the knowledge of what the aggregate of thy wickedness would be; and He does not love thee less now. Come to Him in all boldness of faith; tell Him thou hast grieved Him, and He will forget thy wandering, and will receive thee again; the kisses of His love shall be bestowed upon thee, and the arms of His grace shall embrace thee. He is faithful: trust Him ; He will never deceive you; trust Him, He will never leave you.
He is an unwearied Comforter. I have sometimes tried to comfort persons that have been tried. You now and then meet with the case of a nervous person. You ask, "What is your trouble?" You are told, and you essay, if possible, to remove it, but while you are preparing your artillery to batter the trouble, you find that it has shifted its quarters, and is occupying quite a different position. You change your argument and begin again; but lo, it is again gone, and you are bewildered. You feel like Hercules cutting off the ever-growing heads of the Hydra, and you give up your task in despair. You meet with persons whom it is impossible to comfort, reminding one of the man who locked himself up in fetters and threw the key away, so that nobody could unlock him. I have found some in the fetters of despair. "O, I am the man," say they "that has seen affliction; pity me, pity me, O my friends;" and the more you try to comfort such people, the worse they get; and therefore, out of all heart, we leave them to wander alone among the tombs of their former joys. But the Holy Spirit is never out of heart with those whom He wishes to comfort. He attempts to comfort us, and we run away from the sweet cordial; He gives some sweet draught to cure us, and we will not drink it; He gives some wondrous portion to charm away all our troubles, and we put it away from us. Still He pursues us; and though we say that we will not be comforted, He says we shall be, and when He has said, He does it; He is not to be wearied by all our sins, not by all our murmurings.
And oh, how wise a Comforter is the Holy Ghost! Job had comforters, and I think he spoke the truth when he said, "Miserable comforters are ye all." But I dare say they esteemed themselves wise; and when the young man Elihu rose to speak, they thought he had a world of impudence. Were they not "grave and reverend seniors?" Did not they comprehend his grief and sorrow? If they could not comfort him, who could? But they did not find out the cause. They thought he was not really a child of God, that he was self-righteous: and they gave him the wrong physic. It is a bad case when the doctor mistakes the disease and gives a wrong prescription, and so, perhaps, kills the patient. Sometimes, when we go and visit people we mistake their disease, we want to comfort them on this point, whereas they do not require any such comfort at all, and they would be better left alone than spoiled by such unwise comforters as we are. But oh, how wise the Holy Spirit is! He takes the soul, lays it on the table, and dissects it in a moment; He finds out the root of the matter, He sees where the complaint is, and then He applies the knife where something is required to be taken away, or puts a plaster where the sore is; and He never mistakes. Oh, how wise, the blessed Holy Ghost! From every comforter I turn and leave them all, for thou art He who alone givest the wisest consolation.
Then mark how safe a Comforter the Holy Ghost is. All comfort is not safe; mark that. There is a young man over there very melancholy. You know how he became so. He stepped into the house of God and heard a powerful preacher, and the Word was blessed, and convinced him of sin. When he went home, his father and the rest found there was something different about him, "Oh," they said, "John is mad; he is crazy;" and what said his mother? Send him into the country for a week; let him go to the ball or to the theatre." John, did you find any comfort there? "Ah no; they made me worse, for while I was there, I thought hell might open and swallow me up." Did you find any relief in the gaieties of the world? "No," say you, "I thought it was idle waste of time." Alas! this is miserable comfort, but it is the comfort of the worldling; and when a Christian gets into distress, how many will recommend him this remedy and the other! "Go and hear Mr. So-and-so preach; have a few friends at your house; read such-and-such a consoling volume;" and very likely it is the most unsafe advice in the world. The devil will sometimes come to men's souls as a false comforter, and he will say to the soul, "What need is there to make all this ado about repentance? You are no worse than other people;" and he will try to make the soul believe that what is presumption is the real assurance of the Holy Ghost; thus he deceives many by false comfort. Ah! there have been many, like infants, destroyed by elixirs given to lull them to sleep; many have been ruined by the cry of "Peace, peace," when there is no peace, hearing gentle things when they ought to be stirred to the quick. Cleopatrals asp was brought in a basket of flowers; and men's ruin often lurks in fair and sweet speeches. But the Holy Ghost's comfort is safe, and you may rest on it. Let Him speak the word, and there is a reality about it; let Him give the cup of consolation, and you may drink it to the bottom, for in its depths there are no dregs, nothing to intoxicate or ruin, it is all safe.
Moreover, the Holy Ghost is an active Comforter: He does not comfort by words, but by deeds. Some comfort by "Be ye warmed and be ye filled, giving nothing." But the Holy Ghost gives, He intercedes with Jesus; He gives us promises, He gives us grace, and so He comforts us. He is always a successful Comforter; He never attempts what He cannot accomplish. Then He is an ever-present Comforter, so that you never have to send for Him. Your God is always near you, and when you need comfort in your distress, behold, the Word is nigh thee, it is in thy mouth, and in thy heart; He is an ever-present help in time of trouble.
Taken from Words of Cheer for Daily Life
Comfort
(from Streams In The Desert, January 11th)
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. (Isaiah 40:1)
Store up comfort. This was the prophet Isaiah's mission. The world is full of hurting and comfortless hearts. But before you will be competent for this lofty ministry, you must be trained. And your training is extremely costly, for to make it complete, you too must endure the same afflictions that are wringing countless hearts of tears and blood. Consequently, your own life becomes the hospital ward where you are taught the divine art of comfort. You will be wounded so that in the binding up of your wounds by the Great Physician, you may learn how to render first aid to the wounded everywhere. Do you wonder why you are having to experience some great sorrow? Over the next ten years you will find many others afflicted in the same way. You will tell them how you suffered and were comforted. As the story unfolds, God will apply the anesthetic He once used on you to them. Then in the eager look followed by the gleam of hope that chases the shadow of despair from the soul, you will know why you were afflicted. And you will bless God for the discipline that filled your life with such a treasure of experience and helpfulness. selected
God comforts us not to make us comfortable but to make us comforters. John Henry Jowett
They tell me I must bruise
The rose's leaf,
Ere I can keep and use
Its fragrance brief.
They tell me I must break
The skylark's heart,
Ere her cage song will make
The silence start.
They tell me love must bleed,
And friendship weep,
Ere in my deepest need
I touch that deep.
Must it be always so
With precioius things?
Must they be bruised and go
With beaten wings?
Ah, yes! by crushing days,
By caging nights, by scar
Of thorn and stony ways,
These blessings are!
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. (Isaiah 40:1)
Store up comfort. This was the prophet Isaiah's mission. The world is full of hurting and comfortless hearts. But before you will be competent for this lofty ministry, you must be trained. And your training is extremely costly, for to make it complete, you too must endure the same afflictions that are wringing countless hearts of tears and blood. Consequently, your own life becomes the hospital ward where you are taught the divine art of comfort. You will be wounded so that in the binding up of your wounds by the Great Physician, you may learn how to render first aid to the wounded everywhere. Do you wonder why you are having to experience some great sorrow? Over the next ten years you will find many others afflicted in the same way. You will tell them how you suffered and were comforted. As the story unfolds, God will apply the anesthetic He once used on you to them. Then in the eager look followed by the gleam of hope that chases the shadow of despair from the soul, you will know why you were afflicted. And you will bless God for the discipline that filled your life with such a treasure of experience and helpfulness. selected
God comforts us not to make us comfortable but to make us comforters. John Henry Jowett
They tell me I must bruise
The rose's leaf,
Ere I can keep and use
Its fragrance brief.
They tell me I must break
The skylark's heart,
Ere her cage song will make
The silence start.
They tell me love must bleed,
And friendship weep,
Ere in my deepest need
I touch that deep.
Must it be always so
With precioius things?
Must they be bruised and go
With beaten wings?
Ah, yes! by crushing days,
By caging nights, by scar
Of thorn and stony ways,
These blessings are!
Casting Crowns - East To West
Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west 'cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again In the arms of Your mercy I find rest 'cause You know just how far the east is from the west From one scarred hand to the other
5/04/2010
Tenth Avenue North - By Your Side
And I'll be by your side Wherever you fall In the dead of night Whenever you call And please don't fight These hands that are holding you; Cause I, I love you I want you to know That I, I love you I'll never let you go
Dare to be different!
Dare to Be Different!
By Joyce Meyer
Are you tired of playing games, wearing masks or trying to be someone other than yourself? Wouldn't you like the freedom to just be accepted for who you are, without the pressure to be someone you really don't know how to be? Would you like to learn how to embrace your uniqueness and resist the pull to be like everyone else?
God knew what He was doing when He made you. You are a unique individual—God created you the way you are! It's time that we dare to accept ourselves as different and stop being insecure about who we are.
Be Courageous
If you’re going to overcome insecurities and be the person God’s called you to be, you must have the courage to be different. Unhappiness and frustration happen when we reject our uniqueness and try to be like each other. If you’re going to be successful at being completely you, then you’re going to have to take a chance on not being like everyone else. You must ask yourself, Am I a people pleaser or a God pleaser?
Who Decides Your Worth?
Becoming a people pleaser is one of the easiest things we can do...but it can ultimately make us very unhappy. When we begin pleasing others, we begin to hear comments that make us feel good about ourselves. That’s okay as long as we don't derive our sense of worth from it. People are too fickle for us to place our sense of worth in their opinions. We’re worth something because God says we're worth something—not because of what people think or say about us.
People pleasers allow others to control their lives in order to gain acceptance and approval. But God doesn't want us to be easily manipulated or controlled by others. We shouldn't let other people's opinions of us control our actions.
Walking in Love
At the same time, we must walk in love. We can't just do anything we want, whenever we want, with total disregard for the feelings of others. We can't say, "I'm going to do this, and if you don't like it, that's tough—that's your problem!" The Bible commands us to love others, and love doesn't behave that way. However, we must not allow people to manipulate and control us to the point that we’re never free to be who we are. If we do, we’ll always try to become the person we think others expect us to be.
Break Out of the Mold
The world (those we know and deal with on a daily basis who may be family, friends, people in the neighborhood or even in the church) is continually trying to conform us to its image. The word conform means "to be similar in form or character; to behave in accordance with prevailing modes or customs.” Romans 12:2 says, Do not be conformed to this world (this age),…but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind…It’s then that we find the good and acceptable will of God for our lives.
People will always try to fit us into their mold, partly due to their own insecurity. It makes them feel better about what they are doing if they can get someone else to do it too. Very few people have the ability to be who they are and let everybody else be who they are. Can you imagine how nice the world would be if we would all do that? Each person would be secure in who he is and let others be who they are. We would not have to try to be imitations of each other.
Unique for a Purpose
God wants to take us, with all our weaknesses and inabilities, and transform us, by working from the inside out, to do something powerful in this earth. If we’re going to overcome insecurities and succeed at being ourselves, we can't continue to be afraid of what everybody else may think. We can't continue to allow others to fit us into their mold. We are different! We are unique! God created us this way to accomplish His purposes here on earth.
By Joyce Meyer
Are you tired of playing games, wearing masks or trying to be someone other than yourself? Wouldn't you like the freedom to just be accepted for who you are, without the pressure to be someone you really don't know how to be? Would you like to learn how to embrace your uniqueness and resist the pull to be like everyone else?
God knew what He was doing when He made you. You are a unique individual—God created you the way you are! It's time that we dare to accept ourselves as different and stop being insecure about who we are.
Be Courageous
If you’re going to overcome insecurities and be the person God’s called you to be, you must have the courage to be different. Unhappiness and frustration happen when we reject our uniqueness and try to be like each other. If you’re going to be successful at being completely you, then you’re going to have to take a chance on not being like everyone else. You must ask yourself, Am I a people pleaser or a God pleaser?
Who Decides Your Worth?
Becoming a people pleaser is one of the easiest things we can do...but it can ultimately make us very unhappy. When we begin pleasing others, we begin to hear comments that make us feel good about ourselves. That’s okay as long as we don't derive our sense of worth from it. People are too fickle for us to place our sense of worth in their opinions. We’re worth something because God says we're worth something—not because of what people think or say about us.
People pleasers allow others to control their lives in order to gain acceptance and approval. But God doesn't want us to be easily manipulated or controlled by others. We shouldn't let other people's opinions of us control our actions.
Walking in Love
At the same time, we must walk in love. We can't just do anything we want, whenever we want, with total disregard for the feelings of others. We can't say, "I'm going to do this, and if you don't like it, that's tough—that's your problem!" The Bible commands us to love others, and love doesn't behave that way. However, we must not allow people to manipulate and control us to the point that we’re never free to be who we are. If we do, we’ll always try to become the person we think others expect us to be.
Break Out of the Mold
The world (those we know and deal with on a daily basis who may be family, friends, people in the neighborhood or even in the church) is continually trying to conform us to its image. The word conform means "to be similar in form or character; to behave in accordance with prevailing modes or customs.” Romans 12:2 says, Do not be conformed to this world (this age),…but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind…It’s then that we find the good and acceptable will of God for our lives.
People will always try to fit us into their mold, partly due to their own insecurity. It makes them feel better about what they are doing if they can get someone else to do it too. Very few people have the ability to be who they are and let everybody else be who they are. Can you imagine how nice the world would be if we would all do that? Each person would be secure in who he is and let others be who they are. We would not have to try to be imitations of each other.
Unique for a Purpose
God wants to take us, with all our weaknesses and inabilities, and transform us, by working from the inside out, to do something powerful in this earth. If we’re going to overcome insecurities and succeed at being ourselves, we can't continue to be afraid of what everybody else may think. We can't continue to allow others to fit us into their mold. We are different! We are unique! God created us this way to accomplish His purposes here on earth.
Jesus Foretells The Future (Matthew 24)
Jesus Foretells the Future from the Bible in the book of Matthew chapter 24
1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. 2 But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?[a]”
4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.[b] 10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations[c] will hear it; and then the end will come.
15 “The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration[d] standing in the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!) 16 “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. 17 A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. 18 A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. 19 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. 20 And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. 22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.
23 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 25 See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.
26 “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! 27 For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man[e] comes. 28 Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.[f]
29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days,
the sun will be darkened,
the moon will give no light,
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.[g]
30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.[h] 31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world[i]—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.
32 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation[j] will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.[k] Only the Father knows.
37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.
40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.
42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
45 “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48 But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ 49 and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. 2 But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?[a]”
4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.[b] 10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations[c] will hear it; and then the end will come.
15 “The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration[d] standing in the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!) 16 “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. 17 A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. 18 A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. 19 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. 20 And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. 22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.
23 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 25 See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.
26 “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! 27 For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man[e] comes. 28 Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.[f]
29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days,
the sun will be darkened,
the moon will give no light,
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.[g]
30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.[h] 31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world[i]—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.
32 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation[j] will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.[k] Only the Father knows.
37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.
40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.
42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
45 “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48 But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ 49 and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
4/30/2010
Some people never realize and wake up to reality, and therefore never change for the better. Sometimes they do realize, but they're so weak that they won't try hard enough. For them it's easier to live in ignorance than in reality. But if only they pulled out of it then how much better off would they be.
4/29/2010
God never gave up on me even though in my past I'd given up on Him after things had gotten real rough for me.Though I didn't know it at the time,He was always there for me. Looking back I can see that now.He worked on my heart&brought me to a real saving faith in His Son Jesus.Now all I want is to please Him.Though ...I often fail,I know that He always still loves,forgives&helps me.I love God so much.He is my #1.♥
The Whole Truth & Nothing But The Truth
I get the impression that majority of churches out there today are all up on preaching about love, charity and "becoming a better us," but not the whole truth that everyone needs to hear. A sin of "omission" (leaving something out/not doing something) rather than of "commission" (doing something). It's like leaving out half of the Gospel message. The whole Gospel message is the fact that there is a hell and we are headed there because we are all sinners in need of God's forgiveness (that's the bad part), but that God gave us His Son Jesus so that if we repent from our sins and trust in Jesus for who He is and what He has done for us then we can be saved (the good part). Joel Osteen seems to be the guy that everyone picks on, but there are tons and tons of preachers and churches that are just like his. His sermons are like motivational speeches that "tickle the ears," but he doesn't give you the whole truth that is vital to know. I have seen Joel's sermons many times on TV, and I don't see anything wrong with what he says in them - there is a lot of good that he says - except the fact that he doesn't give his congregation everything that they need to hear, and that is harmful and therefore wrong; sin of "omission" rather than "commission." My church isn't like that. They tell you what you need to know, both the good and the bad. And that is how I try to be as well.
4/19/2010
4/11/2010
Peace
Bible Study: The Peace Of Christ
Sermon: The Key To Continued Peace
Article "Finding Peace"
By Charles F. Stanley
Once, before a speaking engagement, a staff member and I were sharing a meal at a restaurant on the West Coast. The young woman waiting on us appeared to be in her twenties. During the meal, I posed this question to her: “If you could ask God for anything, what would it be?”
Without any hesitation she said, “I’d ask for peace.” A big tear made its way down her face as she told us about the death of her beloved grandmother a few days before.
In sharing her story, she explained that no one in her family believed in God, and neither did she. Our waitress had not consciously rejected the Lord—she had never heard about Him. All she knew was the deep restlessness within her. The young lady had no understanding about how to resolve that inner turmoil, or even what lay at its root. Like many people, she went from day to day without having much purpose or meaning in her life.
This woman represents so many people in our society today. They might not describe the emptiness they feel as a lack of peace. Some would use the words, “I am so lonely.” Others might say, “If only my spouse would love me more, I’d be happy.” Or, “If only I could be successful in my career . . . ” But these are all variations of the same theme: “There is something wrong. I am not happy. I have no peace. What is wrong with me?”
Our society bombards us with messages that supposedly answer this question. If only you were thinner . . . dressed better . . . drove a Jaguar . . . lived in a nicer house . . . made more money . . . The list goes on and on. But none of the “answers” proposed by society can permanently or satisfactorily provide what we desperately crave.
The young waitress had it correct. Most of us feel strongly that we need something more, and the all-encompassing word that describes it well is peace. But you will never experience such tranquility in this life until your relationship with the Lord is right.
A Friendship with Your Creator
The God who controls all things—and who is present in your life whether you acknowledge Him or not—is a God of peace. He designed this world with a plan in mind, and it includes you!
The Lord created humans so they would have a relationship with Him that is characterized by love—His loving them and their loving Him. And through His presence, He would protect and provide for mankind. Only through close friendship with the Creator can anyone receive deep, lasting, abiding peace. This idea is unique to Judeo-Christian thought.
What people sense as “loneliness,” “a deep void,” or “purposelessness” is a type of signal—or indicator—that God has built into man. It is a programmed message that we need Him. Through it, the Designer tells His creation, “Without Me, you will never feel complete. I am the only One who can satisfy your deepest longings. I will be the source of your peace.”
Sudden tragedy or personal loss can show us our need for help, comfort, and guidance. And it is at such a point of need that our kind and loving God often reveals how to know Him in a personal way.
How We can Have Peace with God
Jesus came into our world to live and die as one of us. He was both God and human at the same time—an amazing truth. As a sinless man, Jesus was killed because the religious leaders of His day felt threatened by His claims to be the Savior of the world.
His death wasn’t the end, however. After three days, He was resurrected by the power of God, triumphing over death. Before returning to His Father in heaven (Mark 16:19), Jesus promised the disciples that His presence would remain with them, and He would give them peace (Matt. 28:20; John 20:19).
God wants all of us to ask for His mercy, confess our sins, and trust Him for salvation—that’s the essence of His plan for you and me. It is also the fundamental requirement for experiencing His wonderful, continuous gift of peace.
When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins and take control of our lives, He bridges the gap between God and man. Through Him, we have forgiveness (no more shame or guilt because of the past) and the assurance of His presence in our lives. Moreover, we have the opportunity to experience abiding peace—the gift promised to those who follow the Lord.
Adapted from “Finding Peace: God’s Promise of Life Free from Regret, Anxiety, and Fear” (2003).
Sermon: The Key To Continued Peace
Article "Finding Peace"
By Charles F. Stanley
Once, before a speaking engagement, a staff member and I were sharing a meal at a restaurant on the West Coast. The young woman waiting on us appeared to be in her twenties. During the meal, I posed this question to her: “If you could ask God for anything, what would it be?”
Without any hesitation she said, “I’d ask for peace.” A big tear made its way down her face as she told us about the death of her beloved grandmother a few days before.
In sharing her story, she explained that no one in her family believed in God, and neither did she. Our waitress had not consciously rejected the Lord—she had never heard about Him. All she knew was the deep restlessness within her. The young lady had no understanding about how to resolve that inner turmoil, or even what lay at its root. Like many people, she went from day to day without having much purpose or meaning in her life.
This woman represents so many people in our society today. They might not describe the emptiness they feel as a lack of peace. Some would use the words, “I am so lonely.” Others might say, “If only my spouse would love me more, I’d be happy.” Or, “If only I could be successful in my career . . . ” But these are all variations of the same theme: “There is something wrong. I am not happy. I have no peace. What is wrong with me?”
Our society bombards us with messages that supposedly answer this question. If only you were thinner . . . dressed better . . . drove a Jaguar . . . lived in a nicer house . . . made more money . . . The list goes on and on. But none of the “answers” proposed by society can permanently or satisfactorily provide what we desperately crave.
The young waitress had it correct. Most of us feel strongly that we need something more, and the all-encompassing word that describes it well is peace. But you will never experience such tranquility in this life until your relationship with the Lord is right.
A Friendship with Your Creator
The God who controls all things—and who is present in your life whether you acknowledge Him or not—is a God of peace. He designed this world with a plan in mind, and it includes you!
The Lord created humans so they would have a relationship with Him that is characterized by love—His loving them and their loving Him. And through His presence, He would protect and provide for mankind. Only through close friendship with the Creator can anyone receive deep, lasting, abiding peace. This idea is unique to Judeo-Christian thought.
What people sense as “loneliness,” “a deep void,” or “purposelessness” is a type of signal—or indicator—that God has built into man. It is a programmed message that we need Him. Through it, the Designer tells His creation, “Without Me, you will never feel complete. I am the only One who can satisfy your deepest longings. I will be the source of your peace.”
Sudden tragedy or personal loss can show us our need for help, comfort, and guidance. And it is at such a point of need that our kind and loving God often reveals how to know Him in a personal way.
How We can Have Peace with God
Jesus came into our world to live and die as one of us. He was both God and human at the same time—an amazing truth. As a sinless man, Jesus was killed because the religious leaders of His day felt threatened by His claims to be the Savior of the world.
His death wasn’t the end, however. After three days, He was resurrected by the power of God, triumphing over death. Before returning to His Father in heaven (Mark 16:19), Jesus promised the disciples that His presence would remain with them, and He would give them peace (Matt. 28:20; John 20:19).
God wants all of us to ask for His mercy, confess our sins, and trust Him for salvation—that’s the essence of His plan for you and me. It is also the fundamental requirement for experiencing His wonderful, continuous gift of peace.
When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins and take control of our lives, He bridges the gap between God and man. Through Him, we have forgiveness (no more shame or guilt because of the past) and the assurance of His presence in our lives. Moreover, we have the opportunity to experience abiding peace—the gift promised to those who follow the Lord.
Adapted from “Finding Peace: God’s Promise of Life Free from Regret, Anxiety, and Fear” (2003).
4/10/2010
The Case For Christ
Case For Christ follows reporter Lee Strobel as he interviews a number of religious and historical scholars in order to find out if there is any proof of the resurrection, and to discover the historical veracity of the New Testament.
If the above video doesn't work for you then here is an alternate video link to try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMKOUzYeZ6A
Suffering
When I think about so much suffering in life - all the pain that can be associated with life, such as division in relationships or death, I sometimes think of Jesus and how much suffering He went through in His life here on earth. I think of how He is a perfect human being and therefore handles everything correctly, yet had to take the pain and suffering of human/earthly life. How did Jesus do it? How did He handle it all without letting it totally mess with His mind, heart and body? The natural example is thinking of the events of His betrayal, tortuous beating and death, and being separated from God in those moments. There cannot be anything more painful than all of that. Yet, somehow He just did it. And, not only that, but He was able to consider others during the process (such as when He asked John to look after His mother Mary, and asking God for the forgiveness of those who did not understand that they were doing something wrong).
But, there are other examples in Jesus' life that I can remember. Such as when John the Baptist died. John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded. He was also Jesus' cousin and the one that paved the way for Jesus' arrival to ministry. The Bible says that when Jesus heard of John the Baptist's death that He went away alone for a while, on a boat. I can only imagine that He must have been hurting a lot, and needed this time spent alone with Father God to pray and meditate. I know in my experience that this helps to gather oneself together and sort of rejuvenate, and gives a sense of peace and comfort.
I always remember a sermon on TV that I once heard in which a woman speaker spoke of this story. She said that Jesus just had to keep looking forward, not look back. So, when the things of life bring us down that we too need to keep looking forward to the big picture and not get bogged down in depression or whatever life can bring us down with. Jesus had his natural time of mourning, but kept His eyes fixated on the big picture. Jesus was going to make everything right by doing what He was meant to do, and one day everything will be the way it's supposed to be.
This is what keeps me going. When I think about the big picture of it all, the things of this life that really have a way of bringing me down, suddenly don't matter as much. I look to Jesus as my Savior and best friend. He has overcome all of this and someday everything will be made right.
But, there are other examples in Jesus' life that I can remember. Such as when John the Baptist died. John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded. He was also Jesus' cousin and the one that paved the way for Jesus' arrival to ministry. The Bible says that when Jesus heard of John the Baptist's death that He went away alone for a while, on a boat. I can only imagine that He must have been hurting a lot, and needed this time spent alone with Father God to pray and meditate. I know in my experience that this helps to gather oneself together and sort of rejuvenate, and gives a sense of peace and comfort.
I always remember a sermon on TV that I once heard in which a woman speaker spoke of this story. She said that Jesus just had to keep looking forward, not look back. So, when the things of life bring us down that we too need to keep looking forward to the big picture and not get bogged down in depression or whatever life can bring us down with. Jesus had his natural time of mourning, but kept His eyes fixated on the big picture. Jesus was going to make everything right by doing what He was meant to do, and one day everything will be the way it's supposed to be.
This is what keeps me going. When I think about the big picture of it all, the things of this life that really have a way of bringing me down, suddenly don't matter as much. I look to Jesus as my Savior and best friend. He has overcome all of this and someday everything will be made right.
4/05/2010
What the Bible says about how we should talk...
In Ephesians 4:29 the Bible says, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
In Romans 12:14 we are told, “Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.”
In Proverbs 15:1 it says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
In Romans 12:14 we are told, “Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.”
In Proverbs 15:1 it says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
4/04/2010
Six Tips to Reduce Stress
Written by Branda Polk
The car breaks down. Deadlines press at work. Conflicting family schedules. A midnight call that a friend is in the hospital. Losing your job. Caring for a sick child. Managing the care of an elderly parent. Planning a wedding. Having a new baby. Discovering a personal health issue. What do all these life circumstances have in common? Stress. Whether perceived as positive or negative, these things happen in life at different times, but all create a certain amount of uneasiness and lack of control to the daily routine of "normal" life.
When stress is not managed well, it leaves your body open to disease and illness. Properly managing the stress of life (which happens every day to all of us) will help you achieve your wellness goals. See if the following tips will help you to better maintain a peaceful spirit during stressful times.
1. Spend time in relationship with God. He knows your struggles, fears, and needs. He understands your worries and concerns. He desires to walk through life with you and give you strength. Consider what He has in store for you or what He wants you to do for others. Seek out the lessons that He desires to teach you through your circumstances. Look for His mercy and strength to carry you. This is the foundational element in total wellness of heart, soul, mind, and strength.
2. Develop a social support system. God did not create you to live in a vacuum. He created us to need one another because we can't do everything. Enlist friends and family to help during stressful times. They can always support and lift you up in prayer.
3. Exercise. Regular exercise will remove the build up of the toxic effects from the stress and use the "stress hormones" in a positive way instead of a harmful way. Studies show that taking a brief 10 minute walk during intense times will increase the amount of oxygen to your brain, allowing you to think more clearly and therefore make better decisions.
4. Choose to eat nutritious food. Eat foods that contain healthful sources of nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. God designed these nutrients to help your body with energy needs and to build and repair damaged tissue. Without these, you leave your body lacking what it needs. So, grab that apple instead of the afternoon candy bar.
5. Maintain a healthy weight. Extra body weight can add to the extensive work load of your heart as it tries to supply blood through the 200 miles of blood vessels per pound of fat. Keeping your weight in a healthy range will enable your body to more effectively deal with stress. Weight is only one of the many health indicators that impact your stress management. See your doctor for a complete picture of your health and ask him/her what is a healthy weight for your age and body type.
6. Use your sense of humor. On the days when everything seems to be going backwards, choosing to laugh at the irony of your circumstances not only lifts your mood but also puts your situation into an eternal perspective. The Bible confirms this in Proverbs 17:22. "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones," (Holman Christian Standard Bible).
Stress is inevitable. How you respond to it will determine your growth. Take steps to manage stress as God would desire for you to.
The car breaks down. Deadlines press at work. Conflicting family schedules. A midnight call that a friend is in the hospital. Losing your job. Caring for a sick child. Managing the care of an elderly parent. Planning a wedding. Having a new baby. Discovering a personal health issue. What do all these life circumstances have in common? Stress. Whether perceived as positive or negative, these things happen in life at different times, but all create a certain amount of uneasiness and lack of control to the daily routine of "normal" life.
When stress is not managed well, it leaves your body open to disease and illness. Properly managing the stress of life (which happens every day to all of us) will help you achieve your wellness goals. See if the following tips will help you to better maintain a peaceful spirit during stressful times.
1. Spend time in relationship with God. He knows your struggles, fears, and needs. He understands your worries and concerns. He desires to walk through life with you and give you strength. Consider what He has in store for you or what He wants you to do for others. Seek out the lessons that He desires to teach you through your circumstances. Look for His mercy and strength to carry you. This is the foundational element in total wellness of heart, soul, mind, and strength.
2. Develop a social support system. God did not create you to live in a vacuum. He created us to need one another because we can't do everything. Enlist friends and family to help during stressful times. They can always support and lift you up in prayer.
3. Exercise. Regular exercise will remove the build up of the toxic effects from the stress and use the "stress hormones" in a positive way instead of a harmful way. Studies show that taking a brief 10 minute walk during intense times will increase the amount of oxygen to your brain, allowing you to think more clearly and therefore make better decisions.
4. Choose to eat nutritious food. Eat foods that contain healthful sources of nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. God designed these nutrients to help your body with energy needs and to build and repair damaged tissue. Without these, you leave your body lacking what it needs. So, grab that apple instead of the afternoon candy bar.
5. Maintain a healthy weight. Extra body weight can add to the extensive work load of your heart as it tries to supply blood through the 200 miles of blood vessels per pound of fat. Keeping your weight in a healthy range will enable your body to more effectively deal with stress. Weight is only one of the many health indicators that impact your stress management. See your doctor for a complete picture of your health and ask him/her what is a healthy weight for your age and body type.
6. Use your sense of humor. On the days when everything seems to be going backwards, choosing to laugh at the irony of your circumstances not only lifts your mood but also puts your situation into an eternal perspective. The Bible confirms this in Proverbs 17:22. "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones," (Holman Christian Standard Bible).
Stress is inevitable. How you respond to it will determine your growth. Take steps to manage stress as God would desire for you to.
The Gospel Of John
My favorite movie is "The Gospel Of John" taken straight from the entire book of John in the Bible. The movie shows Jesus from His baptism by John the Baptist to His ministry with His disciples, and finally His death and resurrection. The reason why I like this film adaptation of Jesus more than any other I've seen is simply because the movie was made so beautifully and stands out more than the others, in my opinion.
It doesn't happen to me a lot, but every now and again I will get thumped by someone who just completely doesn't get who I am and what's really in my heart. They might think that I'm "judgmental" (in a bad way) or that I condemn others (which is not the case at all). Accusations like this offend me as it would a lot of other people. I think to myself, "Have I done something wrong?" or "Are they this way simply because they don't understand what it means to be a Christian?" The thing is, I love God and He is #1 in my life. I believe in the Bible to be the Word of God and that it should be obeyed, God should be obeyed. If I do this then I will be different than most other people in the world. People will like my loving-kindness and honesty, but hate my refusal to participate in certain "normal" activities and be politically incorrect. This is a normal part of living a Christian life in today's society. The Bible says that to be a friend of the world (meaning "worldliness" as opposed to "godliness") is to be an enemy to God. Jesus said that we would face many trials, but to "take heart" because He has "overcome" the world. The Bible says that we have "overcome" the world through our faith in Him. So, I do understand why someone, a non-believer or "worldly Christian," could have issues with someone like me. And, hey, I wasn't always a Christian myself. But, I try to honestly look at myself when someone does have an issue with me. If I've done something wrong then I regret it and try to learn from that in order to correct myself. But, most of the time, I believe that is not the issue. The issue is that I am a Christian and they simply don't understand. So, as Jesus said, "take heart" because you can't go wrong with God.
4/03/2010
The Meaning Behind Easter
When I was a kid, for Easter, we would get eggs and color them. We would eat chocolate bunnies or caramel eggs. Sometimes there would be "egg hunts." I don't remember thinking much about the meaning behind Easter. It's not until the past few years, since I've given my life to Christ, that I can truly appreciate the meaning. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. Easter is about the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus, as God, came to earth in the form of a human being - like the rest of us, only perfect. He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead triumphant, so that whoever would believe in Him as their Lord and Savior would be forgiven of all their sins and put into a right relationship with God - therefore being saved. As the Bible says in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish (literally meaning hell) but have everlasting life." I love God so much that He would do this for us. There is nothing more loving and sacrificial than laying your life down for someone you love, and that is what happened.
4/01/2010
April Fools
I remember years ago for April Fools my music teacher came into the start of class, and suddenly acted really peeved and upset about us students. He told us how sick he was of us just slacking around and not listening to him. Everyone practically had their jaw open and were like "oh man, he's really angry," and we were all just surprised because normally he wasn't like this at all. He sternly told us to open our books and start writing what he told us to write. He said one line, then two, but the third he said "April Fools" and then we realized the whole thing was a prank and we started laughing. Although, some of us were still writing...lol.
Skreened
found a pretty cool t-shirt site with some interesting designs created by regular people like you and me! http://skreened.com/
Jesus FTW (meaning "for the win")
God Is Near To The Broken Hearted
Jesus FTW (meaning "for the win")
God Is Near To The Broken Hearted
Canvas Christian T-Shirts
What is Canvas Tees?
Canvas is a community voting website that allows you to express yourself and glorify God through your art. The community will vote on t-shirt designs submitted by C28 Canvas members. The winning designs will be printed under the C28 Canvas Label in a limited run to be sold exclusively through C28.com. www.canvasthreads.com
Here are some designs that I especially like:
X-Ray Vision
Beautiful Feet
God's Playlist
Canvas is a community voting website that allows you to express yourself and glorify God through your art. The community will vote on t-shirt designs submitted by C28 Canvas members. The winning designs will be printed under the C28 Canvas Label in a limited run to be sold exclusively through C28.com. www.canvasthreads.com
Here are some designs that I especially like:
X-Ray Vision
Beautiful Feet
God's Playlist
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