Hello my friends!! Wow! What a day!! We had a change of plans - didn't go out tonight as planned for ribs, but Lori called and invited us to her place and she bought ribs and made a great dinner - really surprised Linus with also inviting his brother and wife over too, and then a Dominoe Game followed. It was a great time! Then later after we got home, Darla called to wish him a happy birthday. He had a nice long visit with her. As far as the interview - she has no idea - just wait and see. Praying for you all for all your needs.
Do not act as though you are watching a parade because we are each one
of the marchers. Lord, things change so quickly. Help me to celebrate the
constant newness of my life.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"The one who endures to the end will be saved." ~Matthew 10:22
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
How many of the world's prayers have gone unanswered because those who
prayed did not endure to the end? Sometimes we feel like it's too late,
that we need to act for ourselves, that God is not going to guide us. "The
one who endures to the end will be saved." Can I endure to the very end? I
can try to endure with courage. If I endure, God can unlock those secret
spiritual treasures that are missed by those who give up too soon.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that I may follow God's guidance so that spiritual success shall be
mine. I pray that I may never doubt the power of God and take things into
my own hands.
Unanswered Letters
There are many times when we begin a certain task that God lays on our
hearts and because we think our efforts are minimal and not making a
difference, we quit the job that God told us to pursue.
The enemy loves to plant seeds of doubt and lure us into thinking that we
are not capable of making a difference in this world, but with God's help we
can overcome and fulfill the destiny that God has for every believer.
If you are going through a situation of doubting your task unto the Lord,
then I hope this story will bless and encourage you to never quit what God
has laid on your heart because you may never know of the lives that you are
touching.
I read of a man who was involved in a tragic accident. He lost both legs
and his left arm and only a finger and thumb remained on the right hand.
But he still possessed a brilliant mind, enriched with a good education and
broadened with world travel. At first he thought there was nothing he could
do but remain a helpless sufferer.
A thought came to him. It was always nice to receive letters, but why not
write them--he could still use his right hand with some difficulty. But to
whom could be right?
Was there anyone shut-in and incapacitated like he was who could be
encouraged by his letters? He thought of men in prison--they did have some
hope of release, whereas he had none--but it was worth a try.
He wrote to a Christian organization concerned with prison ministry. He was
told that his letters could not be answered because it was against prison
rules, but he still decided to commence this one-sided correspondence.
He wrote twice a week, and it taxed his strength to the limit. But into the
letters he put his whole soul, all his experience, all his faith, all his
wit, and all his Christian optimism.
Frequently he felt discouraged and was tempted to give it all up. But it
was his one remaining activity, and he resolved to continue as long as he
could.
At last he got a letter. It was very short, written on prison stationery by
the officer whose duty it was to censor the mail.
All it said was: "Please write on the best paper you can afford. Your
letters are passed from cell to cell till they literally fall to pieces."
No matter what your situation may be like, you still have the ability to
encourage someone who is discouraged and lift up someone who is feeling low.
Take this story as an encouragement to give your all for someone else and do
not worry about the results. No good work will go unseen and only God knows
of the impact that your life can have on someone else.
Let us not do our good works so that we may be praised, but let us do good
works so that others may be lifted up and God be praised because of our
intervention.
The only thing that we can take with us into eternity is what we have done
for the Lord. There are no bank accounts in heaven to show how much your
net worth was on the earth, but there will be accounts in heaven of what you
did to show your life as an example in leading others to Him.
- Author Unknown
Daily Prayer
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.
The Greatest...
The highest aim in life - To know God and do His will!
The most enriching good habit - Complimenting others
The most destructive bad habit - Worry
The greatest joy - Giving
The greatest loss - Loss of self-respect
The most satisfying work - Helping others
The ugliest personality trait - Selfishness
The most endangered species - Dedicated leaders
Our greatest natural resource - Our youth
The ugliest look - A frown
The greatest "shot in the arm" - Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome - Fear
The most effective sleeping pill - Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease - Excuses
The surest way to limit God - Unbelief
The most powerful forces in life - Love
The most dangerous piranha - A gossiper
The Greatest Life-Giver - The Creator
The worlds most incredible computer - The brain
The worst thing to be without - Hope
The deadliest weapon - The tongue
The two most power-filled words - "I Can"
The greatest asset - Faith
The most worthless emotion - Self-pity
The most beautiful attire - A Smile!
The most prized possession - Self esteem
The most powerful channel of communication - Prayer
The most contagious spirit - Enthusiasm
The most urgent need - Salvation
The greatest attribute of Jesus - Obedience
The GREATEST - GOD
CLOSED DOORS
We need to learn to praise the Lord as much for a closed door as we do an
open door. The reason God closes doors is because He has not prepared
anything over there for us. If he didn't close the wrong door, we would
never find the right door.
God directs our path through the closing and opening of doors. Once a door
closes, it forces you to change your course. Another door closes, it forces
you to change your course again. Then, finally, you find the open door and
you walk right into your blessing.
The Lord directs our paths through the opening and closing of doors, but
instead of praising him for the closed door (which keeps us out of trouble);
we get upset because we "judge by the appearances."
You have an ever-present help in the time of trouble that is always standing
guard. Because He walks ahead of you, He can spot trouble down the road and
set up a roadblock or detour accordingly. But through our lack of wisdom, we
try to tear down the roadblocks or push aside the detour sign.
Then the minute we get into trouble, we start crying, "Lord, how could You
have done this to me?"
We have got to realize that the closed door can be a blessing. Didn't He say
that no good thing would He withhold from them that love Him?
If you get terminated from your job, praise God for the new opportunities
that will manifest themselves: it might be another job, it might be school.
If that man or woman won't return your call, it might not be them, it might
be the Lord setting up a roadblock (just let it go).
We can sometimes trap ourselves in doubt and discouragement through judging
by appearances... Be grateful for the many times our Father has closed doors
to us just to open them in the most unexpected places.
The Lord won't always say in spoken words: "Go to the left, now to the
right" ... sometimes He will just close the doors that are wrong for you.
-- Author Unknown
Blogs & Forums
Forums
Blogs
