Begin each day with the certainty that today is the best day of your life and watch what happens. Lord, I celebrate my life and give thanks for everything because for everything there is a reason.
"For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." Isairah 30:15
Confidence means to have faith in something. We could not live without confidence in others. When we have confidence in God's grace, we can face whatever comes. When we have confidence in God's love, we can be serene and at peace. We can rest in the Faith that God will take care of us. We can try to rest in God's presence until God's life power flows through us. We can be still and in that stillness thus still, small voice will come. It can speak in quietness to the human mind, that is attuned to its influence.
I pray that I may find strength today in quietness. I pray that I may be content today that God will take care of me.
PRAYER FOR THE PRESENT MOMENT
Dear God. I spend so much time reliving yesterday or
anticipating tomorrow that I lose sight of the only time
that is really mine - the present moment. You give me
today one moment at a time. That's all I have - all I ever
will have.
Give the faith which knows that each moment contains
exactly what is best for me. Give the hope which trusts
You enough to forget past failings and future trials.
Give the love which makes each moment an anticipation of
eternity with You. We ask this in the name of Jesus who is
the same yesterday, today and forever. Amen.
OLD JOE
By Melanie Schur
Old Joe was the local derelict. No one really knew the cause of what
sent him to the streets It was rumored he only had an elementary
education. His disheveled and dirty appearance made him seem older
than his 30 years. When he would walk by, people would whisper behind
his back saying, "Poor old Joe. Will nothing good come of him?"
Old Joe spent his days searching in garbage cans for redeemable
bottles and his nights sleeping in an alley. One day, Joe seemed to
disappear without a trace. Some thought he hopped a train to the
south, but no one knew for sure.
Ten years later, a new preacher came to town; he had a quiet and
relaxed way about him as he stood on the corner handing leaflets out.
On occasion, he could also be seen treating a homeless person to lunch
as they sat and talked and he was also a favorite guest speaker at the
local church.
After one sermon, a group of elderly ladies gathered together,
commenting on how wise the preacher was. "Obviously, he came from a
very good college," remarked one lady. "Yes, it is rumored he came
from a very well to do family," said another.
The following Sunday, the preacher began to speak, "Ten years ago I
felt I was a nobody. I had no real family, a limited education, and
couldn't get a job. No one seemed to care, so I, too, began to not
care about my self. A woman reached out to me one day, told me about
someone who DID care, God. She told me that God does not look at the
outer appearance, but at one's heart.
She told me that He loved me so much He sent His Son to die on the
cross for my sins and that, through Him, I could have salvation." The
preacher continued, "On that day, my life changed dramatically because
for once I had a sense of hope. I may not have had an earthly family,
but I had a whole slew of 'brother's and sister's' in the family of
Christ! No longer did I have to be 'poor old Joe,' because in the
Bible, it told me I was now a child of God! ("How great is the love
the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of
God!" I John 3:1)"
The whole congregation sat and stared in awe, now knowing the
distinguished man before them was 'ole Joe. That day, the sharing of
his story of faith, hope, and love changed many lives.
Through the example of Old Joe, we can know ALL things are not only
possible through Christ who strengthens us, but, through Him, former
things are passed away and the new is now upon us! If ole Joe can do
it, so can you! Call on your heavenly Father today.
Dear God,
Help us, for we are weak, and we are tempted to sin. Like Adam who was tempted to eat the forbidden fruit, we too are tempted by the Devil with his tricks to convince us of our own personal kingdom, power, and glory.
In your world, Oh God, there is no time. To be in hell, is to be separated from You for eternity. To be in Heaven is to be in Your endless love for eternity.
My God, help us to call out for You, our savior, Jesus Christ. Help us to remember that your sacrifice on the cross is a call for repentance, and to turn away from sin. We want to receive Christ to stop our sinning, not to continue it. You are the way and the truth. Deliver us from the temptation and wicked ways of the devil who is evil, wise, and cunning. The kingdom, the power, and glory are all yours, now and forever. Amen.
- - -
Genesis 3:4-5 - (Regarding the forbidden fruit...) The snake replied, "That's not true, you will not die. God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad".
Genesis 3:13 - The Lord God asked the woman, "Why did you do this?" She replied, "The snake tricked me into eating it."
2 Chronicles 15:2 - "The Lord is with you as long as you are with him. If you look for him, he will let you find him, but if you turn away, he will abandon you."
John 14:6 - (Jesus said) "I am the way, the truth, and the life..."
Acts 3:19 - Repent, then, and turn to God, so that he will forgive your sins.
Ways to BE !
1. Be courteous towards, and interested in, every person you meet. We
become more spiritual by treating every person as a somebody.
2. Reverse unworthy thoughts when they come. By refusing to look down
on any person, or even to be critical, we raise our own self-esteem.
3. Release the need to be "right." There are always times when we are
sure of our position. But truth needs no defenders, since in the long
run it is self-evident and self-proving.
4. Let others save face as often as possible. Even when you know others
are victims of sick pride, do not show them up by proving them wrong on
specific matters. If an error must be corrected, do it gently and
discreetly so others are not humiliated.
5. Always recognize a personal need for help: "Of myself, I can do
nothing, it's God who does the work."
6. Give credit freely, even at your own expense. We can never be
permanently harmed by this practice, because our own will always come
back to us.
7. Drop practices that are related to showing off or to obtaining
recognition for its own sake.
8. Make amends continuously, even when the other person is partly to
blame for the trouble. And be quick to apologize to children and
subordinates as we would to people of power and prominence.
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to you for rapid healing~ NAES
