Tuesday's Positive Thread

DoubleJ — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 02:50:31 GMT

Even the most difficult of trials is God's way of preparing us for something
else. Lord, may I view my challenges as an opportunity to grow rather than
as an opportunity to fail.

Scripture for the day:

"Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is
from God or whether I am speaking on my own. Those who speak on their own
seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is
true, and there is nothing false in him."
~John 7:17-18

Meditation for the day:

The rule of God's kingdom is perfect order, perfect harmony, perfect supply,
perfect love, perfect honesty, perfect obedience. There is no discord in
God's kingdom, only some things still unconquered in God's children. The
difficulties of life can be caused by disharmony in the individual person.
We sometimes lack power because we lack harmony with God and with one
another. We sometimes think that God fails because power is not manifested
in our lives. God does not fail. We sometimes fail because we are out of
harmony with God.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may be in harmony with God and with other people. I pray that
this harmony will result in strength and success.

Hello my friends! Today’s blessings were an email from Darla and your
prayers for us – always appreciated. I’ll let you know when there’s a
change in my health etc. Praying for you all!

The Ant and the Grasshopper
(Author Unknown)

A mother of a 9 year old boy, Mark, received a phone call in the
middle of the afternoon. It was the teacher from her son's school.

"Mrs. Smith, something unusual happened today in your son's third
grade class. Your son did something that surprised me so much that I
thought you should know about it immediately."

Mother seldom want to hear from their child's teacher in the middle
of the day. The mother was uneasy and nervous by such a beginning to
a phone call. "What now?" the mother wondered.

The teacher continued, "I have been teaching for many years and
nothing like this has happened until now. This morning I was teaching
a lesson on creative writing. And as I always do, I tell the story of
the ant and the grasshopper. The ant works hard all summer and stores
up plenty of food. But the grasshopper plays all summer and does no
work.

Then winter comes. The grasshopper begins to starve because he has no
food. So he hops to the ants house and begins to beg. 'Please Mr.
Ant, you have much food please let me eat, too.' Now boys and girls
your job is to write the ending to the story.

Your son, Mark, raised his hand. "Teacher, may I draw a picture?"

"Well, yes, Mark, if you like, you may draw a picture. But first you
must write the ending to the story."

The papers came in. As in all the years past, most of the students
said that the ant shared his food through the winter and both the ant
and the grasshopper lived.

As always, a few children said, 'The ant said, "No, Mr. Grasshopper.
You should have worked in the summer and not played. Now, I have just
enough food for myself." So the ant lived and the grasshopper died.

But your son ended the story in a way different from any other child,
ever. He wrote, "So the ant gave all of his food to the grasshopper;
the grasshopper lived through the winter. But the ant died."

And the picture?
At the bottom of the page, Mark had drawn three crosses. "He gave
everything to us so that we might live; but Jesus died."

THE DEVIL'S BEATITUDES
Author Unknown

If the Devil were to write his Beatitudes, they would probably go
something like this:

Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend
an hour once a week with their fellow Christians in Church - they are
my best workers.

Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be
thanked - I can use them.

Blessed are the touchy, with a bit of luck they may stop going to
church - they are my missionaries.

Blessed are those who are very religious but get on everyone's nerves
- they are mine forever.

Blessed are the troublemakers ~ they shall be called my children.

Blessed are those who have no time to pray - they are easy prey for
me.

Blessed are the gossipers - for they are my secret agents.

Blessed are those critical of church leadership - for they shall
inherit a place with me in my fate.

Blessed are the complainers - I'm all ears for them.

Blessed are you when you read this and think it is about other people
and not yourself - I've got you.

A Great Calm

Bible reading: mark 4:35-41
Peace be still (verse 39)

Some years ago in a summer Bible conference in Ontario, Canada, a dreadful
storm arose. The thunder drowned out the program in progress. A howling wind
tore at the tent. Torrential rain made rivers of the aisles.

Amid understandable confusion, while the audience took refuge by standing on
the benches, a voice rang out. A tall, stately figure rose on the platform.
In her
organ like contralto, Madame Lillian Jones, famed Negro soloist, her voice
transcending the storm, sang; And there was a great calm.

And there was. Somehow the singing had a calming effect on young and old
alike
in that great tent.

This is what the Lord does for us in the storms of life: those sudden
squalls of sickness,
financial, strain, frayed nerves, personal relationships that go awry.
Like the disciples we might be fearful that our little boats will sink; that
the Lord has
somehow forgotten to be mindful of our needs. He is not asleep. He does
know. He
does care. He will say. "Peace, be still" when the storm is at its height.
Our voyage lies beyond the brink of many a threatening wave; The world looks
on
to see us sink, but Jesus lives to save. By James McFarlane

Take...

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

THIS IS TRULY POWERFUL IN THE MIDST OF TODAY!

"Marvel at How Great God IS!"

He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End!
He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!
He is the Architect of the universe and The Manager of all times.
He always was, He always is, and He always will be...
Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!
He was bruised and brought healing!
He was pierced and eased pain!
He was persecuted and brought freedom!
He was dead and brought life!
He is risen and brings power!
He reigns and brings Peace!

The world can't understand Him,
The armies can't defeat Him,
The schools can't explain Him, and
The leaders can't ignore Him.
Herod couldn't kill Him,
The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, and
The people couldn't hold Him!
Nero couldn't crush Him,
Hitler couldn't silence Him,
The New Age can't replace Him, and
Donahue can't explain Him away!

He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.
He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and GOD.
He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.
His ways are right,
His word is eternal,
His will is unchanging, and
His mind is on me.
He is my Redeemer,
He is my Savior,
He is my guide, and
He is my peace!
He is my Joy,
He is my comfort,
He is my Lord, and
He rules my life!
I serve Him because His bond is love,
His burden is light, and
His goal for me is abundant life.
I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,
The power of the powerful,
The ancient of days, the ruler of rulers,
The leader of leaders, the overseer of the overcomers, and
The sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come.

And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size.
His goal is a relationship with ME!

He will never leave me,
Never forsake me,
Never mislead me,
Never forget me,
Never overlook me, and
Never cancel my appointment in His appointment book!

When I fall, He lifts me up!
When I fail, He forgives!
When I am weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way!
When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me!
When I am hurt, He heals me!
When I am broken, He mends me!
When I am blind, He leads me!
When I am hungry, He feeds me!
When I face trials, He is with me!
When I face persecution, He shields me!
When I face problems, He comforts me!
When I face loss, He provides for me!>
When I face Death, He carries me Home!

He is everything for everybody, everywhere,
Every time, and every way.
He is God, He is faithful.
I am His, and He is mine!
My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world.

So, if you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this...
He said it and that settles it.
God is in control, I am on His side, and
That means all is well with my soul.
Everyday is a blessing for GOD Is!

PASS THIS ON
I love the Lord and thank Him for all that he does in my life,
therefore, I'm passing this on. Yes I do love Jesus.
He is my source of existence and my Savior.
He keeps me functioning each and everyday.
Without Him, I will be nothing.
Without Him, I am nothing but with Him I can do all things.
Philippians 4:13

Joy and Prayer

One day a novice in Rome came to me. She was crying. I asked her, "What is
the matter?" She had just come back from a family and said, " Mother, I have
never seen such suffering. They had nothing in the house. There was this
terrible sickness, the terrible cancer, and I could do nothing. Please allow
me to do a little bit of extra penance. I want to share in that suffering."
She was a young sister, scarcely three years in our congregation, but it was
painful for her to see the suffering of the others.

Joy is prayer, Joy is strength. Joy is love. Joy is a net of love by which
you can catch souls. God loves a cheerful giver. He gives most who gives
with joy. The best way to show our gratitude to God and the people is to
accept everything with joy. A joyful heart is the normal result of a heart
burning with love. Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make
you forget the joy of Christ risen.

This I tell my sisters. This I tell you.

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Tuesday's Positive Thread