Monday, October 28, 2013
Give Your a Troubles To God
Life is not perfect, far from it. Somethings we can manage and figure out on our own and other things need DIVINE INTERVENTION. Simply put, God needs to get involved!
God is always here for you, willing to help you in any situation. Good, bad, difficult...but we must at some point turn our attention to HIM. Why? It is not some much because God needs you to assist HIM, but rather, it is really important for you, to unload your heavy heart and mind to HIM.
Everyone has some sort of pressure and stress and that is "normal". However, there is a fine line between feeling down, overwhelmed and a sense of helplessness. YOU NEED GOD AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO GO TO HIM AND UNLOAD ALL YOUR PROBLEMS. God does not want, nor expect, you to figure out your whole life yourself. HE IS YOUR FAMILY AND TEACHER. The last thing that God wants, is for you to be upset and not turn to HIM.
Problems we face are sometimes "hidden lessons" to help us mature and grow. However, God never said, that you must go it alone! Quite the opposite!
When you discuss and hand over your problems to God, you are placing your TRUST IN HIM. You are showing HIM love, respect and demonstrating FAITH. This is a great part of your relationship with HIM. You are HIS CHILDREN and HE wants nothing but the best for you. It breaks HIS heart when HE SEES YOU SUFFER and you do not turn to HIM.
GOD has many answers and solutions to our problems. With God's love and help, our problems disappear and we move forward with peace. Please do not carry around undue stress, but rather turn to God, anyway you feel comfortable. HE knows what's in your heart and wishes to Bless you... God can handle anything!
Sunday, October 27, 2013
The Destructiveness of Anger
When a person becomes a Christian, his conduct and personality should undergo certain changes. One of these changes has to do with temper. A Christian should react in a Christian way. He should not lose his temper. This lesson will deal with the problem of anger and temper. We will see the root cause of temper and learn how we can be delivered from the sin of temper.
The first man to discover the destructive power of anger was Cain. Cain and his brother, Abel, were the first two sons of Adam. When these sons grew up, Cain became a farmer and Abel became a shepherd.
Cain and Abel had been taught the right way to worship God. They knew that God required an offering of innocent animals as a sacrifice for their sins. But, when they came to worship God, only one brother was obedient to God. Abel brought a lamb as his offering, but Cain brought fruit from his crops as his offering. God accepted Abel and his offering, but He rejected Cain and his offering. As a result of this, Cain became very angry. He was angry at God and jealous of his brother. God warned Cain of the consequences of his anger. God's message to Cain was this: "Look out! Your anger is like a lion lying in wait outside your door. You must master your anger or it will master you." But Cain did not respond to God's warning. His jealousy of Abel turned into hatred.
One day, as Cain and Abel were in the field together, Cain rose up against his brother and murdered him. Thus the first man born into this world became a murderer because he did not control his anger.
Like Cain, we have the "lion" of anger within us. We must master it or it will master us. God has not said that we are never to be angry, but He has warned us of the danger of uncontrolled anger. The Bible says, "'Be angry, and do not sin': do not let the sun go down on your wrath." Ephesians 4:26
Anger is the most violent of human emotions. Because it involves such strong feelings, anger borders closely on sin. The Bible does not say, "Be kind, but sin not," or "Love, but do not sin,"because kindness and love are far removed from sin. But when we are angry, we are in danger of sinning. Someone has said, "If we are to be angry and sin not, we must be angry at nothing but sin."
There are three things we can do with our anger:
1. We can express it. When anger is out of control, it does great damage. When we become so angry that we want to lash out at someone and hurt them, we are sinning deeply. We call this "losing our temper." Sometimes we think that we show how strong we are when we lose our temper, but losing our temper is a sign of weakness, not strength. The Bible says, "Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools." Ecclesiastes 7:9
2. We can suppress it. To suppress anger is to keep it inside. Some people lose their temper and express their anger openly. Others have the same angry feelings but manage to keep them bottled up inside. Anger that is bottled up or kept inside of us hurts and keeps on hurting. It turns to resentment and bitterness, and it can bring on depression as well as many kinds of physical illnesses.
The first man to discover the destructive power of anger was Cain. Cain and his brother, Abel, were the first two sons of Adam. When these sons grew up, Cain became a farmer and Abel became a shepherd.
Cain and Abel had been taught the right way to worship God. They knew that God required an offering of innocent animals as a sacrifice for their sins. But, when they came to worship God, only one brother was obedient to God. Abel brought a lamb as his offering, but Cain brought fruit from his crops as his offering. God accepted Abel and his offering, but He rejected Cain and his offering. As a result of this, Cain became very angry. He was angry at God and jealous of his brother. God warned Cain of the consequences of his anger. God's message to Cain was this: "Look out! Your anger is like a lion lying in wait outside your door. You must master your anger or it will master you." But Cain did not respond to God's warning. His jealousy of Abel turned into hatred.
One day, as Cain and Abel were in the field together, Cain rose up against his brother and murdered him. Thus the first man born into this world became a murderer because he did not control his anger.
Like Cain, we have the "lion" of anger within us. We must master it or it will master us. God has not said that we are never to be angry, but He has warned us of the danger of uncontrolled anger. The Bible says, "'Be angry, and do not sin': do not let the sun go down on your wrath." Ephesians 4:26
Anger is the most violent of human emotions. Because it involves such strong feelings, anger borders closely on sin. The Bible does not say, "Be kind, but sin not," or "Love, but do not sin,"because kindness and love are far removed from sin. But when we are angry, we are in danger of sinning. Someone has said, "If we are to be angry and sin not, we must be angry at nothing but sin."
There are three things we can do with our anger:
1. We can express it. When anger is out of control, it does great damage. When we become so angry that we want to lash out at someone and hurt them, we are sinning deeply. We call this "losing our temper." Sometimes we think that we show how strong we are when we lose our temper, but losing our temper is a sign of weakness, not strength. The Bible says, "Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools." Ecclesiastes 7:9
2. We can suppress it. To suppress anger is to keep it inside. Some people lose their temper and express their anger openly. Others have the same angry feelings but manage to keep them bottled up inside. Anger that is bottled up or kept inside of us hurts and keeps on hurting. It turns to resentment and bitterness, and it can bring on depression as well as many kinds of physical illnesses.
3. We can confess it. The best way to handle angry feelings is to tell God about them. This is a way to "let off steam" without sinning. God knows us better than we know ourselves, and we will always find Him to be understanding.
Just being in God's presence helps to calm us. It also helps us to see things in their proper perspective. Many times we discover that the thing we were disturbed about was not really so important after all.
Read more at http://ubdavid.org/advanced/practical/practical-christian_16.html
Just being in God's presence helps to calm us. It also helps us to see things in their proper perspective. Many times we discover that the thing we were disturbed about was not really so important after all.
Read more at http://ubdavid.org/advanced/practical/practical-christian_16.html
Monday, October 21, 2013
Through Me
Through Me
Let there be kind words, a warm smile, and a caring heart.
Through Me
Let there be a willingness to listen and a readiness to understand.
Through Me
Let there be dependability, steadfastness, trust and loyalty.
Through Me
Let there be compassion, forgiveness, mercy and love.
Through Me
Let there be every quality I find, O Lord, in Thee.
-Unknown
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Overflowing With Life!
“The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water” (John 4:14)
For seventeen years of our married life (the years of raising our children and farming) a deep ravine ran on two sides of our property.
Our first house was small, but the ravine was huge. Our children had no end of fun exploring. Our fresh water supply came from an ever-flowing spring that ran out of the ravine. Not only did the ravine supply our family with fresh water, but also the 70,000 chickens we raised. We never ran out of water.
Later we built a new house across the street - again surrounded with deep ravines and underground springs. The Salmon River began in this ravine. It started with a small stream flowing out of the ravine, but grew into a river as other underground streams flowed into this one and eventually, many miles later, joined the huge Fraser River which flowed into the Pacific Ocean. These springs never ran dry.
Jesus, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, promises He will be the river of living water in our lives. He will be the fountain of life bubbling from within.
A river or stream is persistent. It will go around obstacles; it will make a new pathway if need be. It does not stop when it meets an obstacle; it merely finds a way around it. Jesus is persistent.
Sometimes in late autumn, when all the leaves had fallen from the trees, the stream and the source of the stream would become clogged. Although it was still flowing, it would find a new path. When we would clear away the leaves, the water would flow freely again - where we directed it.
Most times, we would just take the ever-flowing stream for granted. It kept flowing, supplying us with fresh, clean water. We can take God’s life-giving Spirit for granted. He is always there. His Life will not dry up.
Let’s make sure we keep our hearts clean (no build up), so He is free to flow out of us. When adverse circumstances come into your life, be assured that He is still there - just keep your eyes on the Source, not on the circumstances.
Like the growing Salmon River, the river of living water flowing from you keeps enlarging as your life touches other lives. Be encouraged!
Father, thank You for Your Spirit whose life flows in and out of us, touching everyone we meet every day. Thank You for using our bodies to reflect Your glory! Amen.
by Katherine Kehler
For seventeen years of our married life (the years of raising our children and farming) a deep ravine ran on two sides of our property.
Our first house was small, but the ravine was huge. Our children had no end of fun exploring. Our fresh water supply came from an ever-flowing spring that ran out of the ravine. Not only did the ravine supply our family with fresh water, but also the 70,000 chickens we raised. We never ran out of water.
Later we built a new house across the street - again surrounded with deep ravines and underground springs. The Salmon River began in this ravine. It started with a small stream flowing out of the ravine, but grew into a river as other underground streams flowed into this one and eventually, many miles later, joined the huge Fraser River which flowed into the Pacific Ocean. These springs never ran dry.
Jesus, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, promises He will be the river of living water in our lives. He will be the fountain of life bubbling from within.
A river or stream is persistent. It will go around obstacles; it will make a new pathway if need be. It does not stop when it meets an obstacle; it merely finds a way around it. Jesus is persistent.
Sometimes in late autumn, when all the leaves had fallen from the trees, the stream and the source of the stream would become clogged. Although it was still flowing, it would find a new path. When we would clear away the leaves, the water would flow freely again - where we directed it.
Most times, we would just take the ever-flowing stream for granted. It kept flowing, supplying us with fresh, clean water. We can take God’s life-giving Spirit for granted. He is always there. His Life will not dry up.
Let’s make sure we keep our hearts clean (no build up), so He is free to flow out of us. When adverse circumstances come into your life, be assured that He is still there - just keep your eyes on the Source, not on the circumstances.
Like the growing Salmon River, the river of living water flowing from you keeps enlarging as your life touches other lives. Be encouraged!
Father, thank You for Your Spirit whose life flows in and out of us, touching everyone we meet every day. Thank You for using our bodies to reflect Your glory! Amen.
by Katherine Kehler
I've got a river of life flowing out of me!
Makes the lame to walk, and the blind to see.
Opens prison doors, sets the captives free!
I've got a river of life flowing out of me!
Spring up, O well, within my soul!
Spring up, O well, and make me whole!
Spring up, O well, and give to me
That life abundantly.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Forgiveness
Read Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 11:28, John 14:6, 1John 1:9, Psalm 55:22, Revelation 3
Are you someone who has suffered emotionally, and perhaps physically at the hands of others? Have emotions such as anger, resentment, hate, hostility, bitterness and revenge entered your heart and mind? Have you become filled with an unforgiving spirit?
Unforgiveness can be a hidden culprit. It can make you a prisoner within yourself.
When an unforgiving spirit LIVES inside you, it isn’t bothering those who have wronged you. They’ve gone on their way. But you are still holding onto something that has taken control of your thoughts, actions and words. It eats away at you like a poisonous cancer, and you find yourself bound, with no peace. In reality, you are punishing yourself.
But to forgive in your own power becomes futile, because your heart must first be cleansed of all that the things that unforgiveness creates. Only Jesus can make that happen. He laid down His life and shed His blood to give us the gift of salvation and clean up our hearts. Through Him, there is freedom and victory.
God says “Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, KJV) Isn’t rest what we long for when filled with the torture of an unforgiving spirit?
According to 1 John 1:9, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to . forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (KJV). So why not dare to invite Christ into your heart? Cast your care upon Him. Let Him do the cleansing. Let Him to take that unforgiving spirit out of your heart and give you a new heart with a forgiving spirit. You could pray a prayer like this – “Lord Jesus, forgive me for bearing a grudge toward the person who has wronged me. Come into my heart, take control of my life. Cleanse me of this unforgiving spirit, and fill me with a forgiving spirit.”
One man who prayed a similar prayer said, “I’ve got peace in my heart, and I’ve got love in my heart for those who have wronged me. One of the greatest possessions I own now is a forgiving heart.” His burden had been surrendered, and freedom was his.
The Bible says “If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14,15, KJV).
That may seem harsh. But why shouldn’t God expect you to forgive those who have offended you, when He has forgiven you of so much more?
Choosing to forgive, is a choice of your will. When you make that choice your heart is then open and ready for the Lord’s cleansing.
Choosing not to forgive, is also a choice of your will. But the door of your heart is then shut and God will not do His cleansing work.
THINK ABOUT IT. . .
Are you harboring an unforgiving spirit? What’s preventing you from letting it go? Remember, it is harming you far more than the person who has made you angry. Give it to God and ask Him to cleanse your heart and free you to experience His love and freedom.
This is from Dr. Henry Brandt’s message, The Power of Forgiveness.
Are you someone who has suffered emotionally, and perhaps physically at the hands of others? Have emotions such as anger, resentment, hate, hostility, bitterness and revenge entered your heart and mind? Have you become filled with an unforgiving spirit?
Unforgiveness can be a hidden culprit. It can make you a prisoner within yourself.
When an unforgiving spirit LIVES inside you, it isn’t bothering those who have wronged you. They’ve gone on their way. But you are still holding onto something that has taken control of your thoughts, actions and words. It eats away at you like a poisonous cancer, and you find yourself bound, with no peace. In reality, you are punishing yourself.
But to forgive in your own power becomes futile, because your heart must first be cleansed of all that the things that unforgiveness creates. Only Jesus can make that happen. He laid down His life and shed His blood to give us the gift of salvation and clean up our hearts. Through Him, there is freedom and victory.
God says “Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, KJV) Isn’t rest what we long for when filled with the torture of an unforgiving spirit?
According to 1 John 1:9, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to . forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (KJV). So why not dare to invite Christ into your heart? Cast your care upon Him. Let Him do the cleansing. Let Him to take that unforgiving spirit out of your heart and give you a new heart with a forgiving spirit. You could pray a prayer like this – “Lord Jesus, forgive me for bearing a grudge toward the person who has wronged me. Come into my heart, take control of my life. Cleanse me of this unforgiving spirit, and fill me with a forgiving spirit.”
One man who prayed a similar prayer said, “I’ve got peace in my heart, and I’ve got love in my heart for those who have wronged me. One of the greatest possessions I own now is a forgiving heart.” His burden had been surrendered, and freedom was his.
The Bible says “If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14,15, KJV).
That may seem harsh. But why shouldn’t God expect you to forgive those who have offended you, when He has forgiven you of so much more?
Choosing to forgive, is a choice of your will. When you make that choice your heart is then open and ready for the Lord’s cleansing.
Choosing not to forgive, is also a choice of your will. But the door of your heart is then shut and God will not do His cleansing work.
THINK ABOUT IT. . .
Are you harboring an unforgiving spirit? What’s preventing you from letting it go? Remember, it is harming you far more than the person who has made you angry. Give it to God and ask Him to cleanse your heart and free you to experience His love and freedom.
This is from Dr. Henry Brandt’s message, The Power of Forgiveness.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Jealousy
When we use the word “jealous,” we use it in a sense of being envious of someone who has something we do not have. This kind of jealousy is a sin and is not characteristic of a Christian; rather, it shows that we are still being controlled by our own desires 1 Corinthians 3:3. Galatians 5:26 says “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
The Bible tells us that we are to have the perfect kind of love that God has for us. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. The more we focus on ourselves and our own desires, the less we are able to focus on God. When we harden our hearts to the truth, we cannot turn to Jesus and allow Him to heal us Matthew 13:15. But when we allow the Holy Spirit to control us, He will produce in us the fruit of our salvation, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control Galatians 5:22-23.
Being jealous indicates that we are not satisfied with what God has given us. The Bible tells us to be content with what we have, for God will never fail or forsake us Hebrews 13:5. In order to combat jealousy, we need to become more like Jesus and less like ourselves. We can get to know Him through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with mature believers. As we learn how to serve others instead of ourselves, our hearts will begin to change. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will".
The Bible tells us that we are to have the perfect kind of love that God has for us. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. The more we focus on ourselves and our own desires, the less we are able to focus on God. When we harden our hearts to the truth, we cannot turn to Jesus and allow Him to heal us Matthew 13:15. But when we allow the Holy Spirit to control us, He will produce in us the fruit of our salvation, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control Galatians 5:22-23.
Being jealous indicates that we are not satisfied with what God has given us. The Bible tells us to be content with what we have, for God will never fail or forsake us Hebrews 13:5. In order to combat jealousy, we need to become more like Jesus and less like ourselves. We can get to know Him through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with mature believers. As we learn how to serve others instead of ourselves, our hearts will begin to change. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will".
Thursday, October 10, 2013
They Will Remember
"It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it” (Isaiah 55:11).
Have you ever been discouraged after witnessing to someone and they didn’t seem interested? This story may encourage you:
We were at a wedding reception. A man about my age came up to me and asked if I remembered him. Not only did I not know him, he didn’t even look familiar. After playing the guessing game for a while, he told me he had been my neighbor when I was a young girl. Now there were two things I remembered about that family. One, his foster mother was my piano teacher and two; they had a vicious dog that scared the life out of me every time I went for my piano lesson.
He (Ted) told me that I had witnessed to him and his buddy at a bus stop. To my surprise, he repeated exactly what I had told them years ago that early morning while waiting for the bus. He remembered everything I had said about Jesus! I was amazed.
They didn’t receive Christ that day, but later in life they both did become Christians.
What truly amazed me about that conversation at the wedding reception was the fact that he still remembered the words of witness God had spoken through me. A miracle. But now that I think back, I can clearly recall the summer, on a Saturday afternoon, when my Sunday school teacher gave our class the opportunity to ask Jesus into our lives. I remember what he told us.
People won’t forget when you talk with them about your faith. Someone once told me,
“Success in witnessing is simply sharing Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.”
We are just His messengers. Bringing Good News.
So be encouraged! His Word never returns void.
Father God, we are Your witnesses by our lives and by our testimony. Speak through us. Fill us with boldness and with love. Amen.
By Katherine Kehler
Have you ever been discouraged after witnessing to someone and they didn’t seem interested? This story may encourage you:
We were at a wedding reception. A man about my age came up to me and asked if I remembered him. Not only did I not know him, he didn’t even look familiar. After playing the guessing game for a while, he told me he had been my neighbor when I was a young girl. Now there were two things I remembered about that family. One, his foster mother was my piano teacher and two; they had a vicious dog that scared the life out of me every time I went for my piano lesson.
He (Ted) told me that I had witnessed to him and his buddy at a bus stop. To my surprise, he repeated exactly what I had told them years ago that early morning while waiting for the bus. He remembered everything I had said about Jesus! I was amazed.
They didn’t receive Christ that day, but later in life they both did become Christians.
What truly amazed me about that conversation at the wedding reception was the fact that he still remembered the words of witness God had spoken through me. A miracle. But now that I think back, I can clearly recall the summer, on a Saturday afternoon, when my Sunday school teacher gave our class the opportunity to ask Jesus into our lives. I remember what he told us.
People won’t forget when you talk with them about your faith. Someone once told me,
“Success in witnessing is simply sharing Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.”
We are just His messengers. Bringing Good News.
So be encouraged! His Word never returns void.
Father God, we are Your witnesses by our lives and by our testimony. Speak through us. Fill us with boldness and with love. Amen.
By Katherine Kehler
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Are You Using Your Talent?
Whether you are aware of it or not, God has blessed everyone with a special and unique talent. Perhaps you already know what it is, or maybe you are not quite sure. If you dig deep enough and pray and listen, it will be revealed to you.
Think of the things you are passionate about. It could be something that is constantly nagging you in the inside. What is it that you have always wanted to do? Is there something that you do that truly brings out the best in you? Something that brings you happiness and joy. Follow your heart. Ask God to let it be known to you. Reach for it, yearn for it, and then live it. We are not here by accident. When God created each of us, he made us with something unique and special in which his intentions were to share it with the rest of the world.
Whatever seed God planted in you, it's up to you to recognize it, nourish it, and be part of the growth process. To actively participate in it and share it, would be pleasing to God. Do you love to sing, write, or paint? Perhaps it brings you great joy to care for other people. Are you good with numbers, or building things? Is there a sport you love to play, or perhaps teach? Maybe selling or marketing is your cup of tea. Do you feel rewarded by talking and listening to others? Do you love being outside? Do you enjoy gardening, or flower arranging? Maybe you enjoy taking care of children, teaching them or playing with them.
In these times of economic hardships, perhaps it would do some people good, by taking a good hard look at what it is they are doing right now and concentrate, reflect, and pray about what it is about their lives that they feel is missing. It's hard to make changes, yet sometimes that is exactly what we may need. God might be trying to tell you something. He may be leading you to an open door, a new opportunity. Something only you can do. He may be inviting you into a new chapter in your life. A new beginning in which your creativity can come alive, be rewarding to you, and inspiring to others. Something that will make a difference in your life and the lives of many others.
Often times, it takes a tragedy to come upon us, in which we realize that God has other plans for us. It is sometimes in our weakest moments, in which we find the strength by Gods grace to rise above it all and think about what direction he wants us to go. Embrace the changes, follow His guide, and He will take you places you never dreamed of.
We are all children of God. He made us unique and special in His own likeness. He has an assignment for each and everyone of us. He has instilled the gifts and talents we need to complete our job and make a difference, and leave our mark in this world for generations that follow. It is our job to pray and ask Him to reveal to us what it is He wants us to do, to honor and serve Him. It is in recognizing our special and unique talents, using them and sharing them in which we will truly be blessed and God will be pleased.
By Letty Lozano
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
Think of the things you are passionate about. It could be something that is constantly nagging you in the inside. What is it that you have always wanted to do? Is there something that you do that truly brings out the best in you? Something that brings you happiness and joy. Follow your heart. Ask God to let it be known to you. Reach for it, yearn for it, and then live it. We are not here by accident. When God created each of us, he made us with something unique and special in which his intentions were to share it with the rest of the world.
Whatever seed God planted in you, it's up to you to recognize it, nourish it, and be part of the growth process. To actively participate in it and share it, would be pleasing to God. Do you love to sing, write, or paint? Perhaps it brings you great joy to care for other people. Are you good with numbers, or building things? Is there a sport you love to play, or perhaps teach? Maybe selling or marketing is your cup of tea. Do you feel rewarded by talking and listening to others? Do you love being outside? Do you enjoy gardening, or flower arranging? Maybe you enjoy taking care of children, teaching them or playing with them.
In these times of economic hardships, perhaps it would do some people good, by taking a good hard look at what it is they are doing right now and concentrate, reflect, and pray about what it is about their lives that they feel is missing. It's hard to make changes, yet sometimes that is exactly what we may need. God might be trying to tell you something. He may be leading you to an open door, a new opportunity. Something only you can do. He may be inviting you into a new chapter in your life. A new beginning in which your creativity can come alive, be rewarding to you, and inspiring to others. Something that will make a difference in your life and the lives of many others.
Often times, it takes a tragedy to come upon us, in which we realize that God has other plans for us. It is sometimes in our weakest moments, in which we find the strength by Gods grace to rise above it all and think about what direction he wants us to go. Embrace the changes, follow His guide, and He will take you places you never dreamed of.
We are all children of God. He made us unique and special in His own likeness. He has an assignment for each and everyone of us. He has instilled the gifts and talents we need to complete our job and make a difference, and leave our mark in this world for generations that follow. It is our job to pray and ask Him to reveal to us what it is He wants us to do, to honor and serve Him. It is in recognizing our special and unique talents, using them and sharing them in which we will truly be blessed and God will be pleased.
By Letty Lozano
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
Friday, October 4, 2013
The Mystery of the Boots
Despite the three feet of snow surrounding us, and more falling, we plodded our way down our now unfamiliar looking street to the sledding hill. The snow had changed the appearance of everything around us, creating the feeling that although we had walked it a thousand times, it was our first trip.
I discovered a few things during that short three block walk. First, It isn’t easy to blaze a trail through snow a yard deep. You have to have strong leg muscles, good lungs and patience. My husband, Marty was faring alright, although I did hear his breath getting heavier and heavier as we progressed. Our son, Douglas had no problem at all. Although the snow was taller than he in places, he plunged on, laughing and joking the whole way. I followed more slowly, trying to pick my way in the footprints of those who went before me. Soon after our walk began, I discovered my snow boots had a small leak. Nothing huge, but big enough to allow snow to creep in and hide amidst my warm socks, melting and creating a soggy, cold wet feeling. We finally arrived at the sledding hill. Marty and Douglas were off, constructing the "perfect jump" to plummet the sled over. I found a comfortable looking snow mound to settle in and watch. It was beautiful. Not many people had ventured out of their homes yet, and the subdivision was unusually silent. Snowflakes drifted down and settled on my coat. I looked at each separate flake, perfect in its formation, truly different from every other. At that moment in time, despite my sodden socks, the world felt right.
Then my eyes settled on a strange sight. There, in the snow, sat a pair of boots. No person in sight, just boots. They sat on top of the snow, so they were left after the blizzard, not before. It had taken us at least 30 minutes to hike through the unplowed streets and parking lots to get here. So, where, I pondered, was the owner of the boots? And how, (asked the mom in me) did he get home? As my imagination took over, I envisioned a child, eight or nine years old, sledding probably just a few short hours ago. He was having a great time, laughing and joking like my boys were doing right now - running up and down the hill, trying to catch the perfect air. And then, like me, he discovered his boots had a leak in them. Trudging up the hill wasn’t so much fun anymore. Each step further drenched his socks and lowered his mood. It got so bad, he couldn’t stand it anymore. He had to make a change.
Now, if I asked any one of your reading this today what you would do at this point in the story, I’m sure you would say you would make your way home and THEN remove your boots. But not this child! Instead, he went straight to the root of his problem, the leaky boots, and removed them immediately. And, while this may have seemed like the right thing to do at the time, I’m sure he learned a valuable lesson during his journey home in socks even soggier than they were before. As I stared at the abandoned boots, something became clear to me. In my struggle to achieve all that I plan to accomplish, I have often acted just like the boy with the leaky boots. Behaving on impulse. Sure that, at ALL times, action is better than no action. But, I realized that although action is a critical element to achieving any goal in life, at times, there is wisdom in NOT acting, in keeping my boots on. In fact, it is possible that a rash action can result in a situation even worse than I had in the first place.
As Marty and Douglas made their way back to me for our voyage home, I glanced one last time at the boots. The snow was increasing, burying them and their story before my eyes. I may never discover the answer to the mystery of the boots. But I will remember them often. And maybe, because of them, I’ll more often curb my tendency to act with no thought to the consequences. Instead, before pulling off those boots, I’ll think first of the long walk ahead of me. And make my decision from there.
By: Sue Dickinson
I discovered a few things during that short three block walk. First, It isn’t easy to blaze a trail through snow a yard deep. You have to have strong leg muscles, good lungs and patience. My husband, Marty was faring alright, although I did hear his breath getting heavier and heavier as we progressed. Our son, Douglas had no problem at all. Although the snow was taller than he in places, he plunged on, laughing and joking the whole way. I followed more slowly, trying to pick my way in the footprints of those who went before me. Soon after our walk began, I discovered my snow boots had a small leak. Nothing huge, but big enough to allow snow to creep in and hide amidst my warm socks, melting and creating a soggy, cold wet feeling. We finally arrived at the sledding hill. Marty and Douglas were off, constructing the "perfect jump" to plummet the sled over. I found a comfortable looking snow mound to settle in and watch. It was beautiful. Not many people had ventured out of their homes yet, and the subdivision was unusually silent. Snowflakes drifted down and settled on my coat. I looked at each separate flake, perfect in its formation, truly different from every other. At that moment in time, despite my sodden socks, the world felt right.
Then my eyes settled on a strange sight. There, in the snow, sat a pair of boots. No person in sight, just boots. They sat on top of the snow, so they were left after the blizzard, not before. It had taken us at least 30 minutes to hike through the unplowed streets and parking lots to get here. So, where, I pondered, was the owner of the boots? And how, (asked the mom in me) did he get home? As my imagination took over, I envisioned a child, eight or nine years old, sledding probably just a few short hours ago. He was having a great time, laughing and joking like my boys were doing right now - running up and down the hill, trying to catch the perfect air. And then, like me, he discovered his boots had a leak in them. Trudging up the hill wasn’t so much fun anymore. Each step further drenched his socks and lowered his mood. It got so bad, he couldn’t stand it anymore. He had to make a change.
Now, if I asked any one of your reading this today what you would do at this point in the story, I’m sure you would say you would make your way home and THEN remove your boots. But not this child! Instead, he went straight to the root of his problem, the leaky boots, and removed them immediately. And, while this may have seemed like the right thing to do at the time, I’m sure he learned a valuable lesson during his journey home in socks even soggier than they were before. As I stared at the abandoned boots, something became clear to me. In my struggle to achieve all that I plan to accomplish, I have often acted just like the boy with the leaky boots. Behaving on impulse. Sure that, at ALL times, action is better than no action. But, I realized that although action is a critical element to achieving any goal in life, at times, there is wisdom in NOT acting, in keeping my boots on. In fact, it is possible that a rash action can result in a situation even worse than I had in the first place.
As Marty and Douglas made their way back to me for our voyage home, I glanced one last time at the boots. The snow was increasing, burying them and their story before my eyes. I may never discover the answer to the mystery of the boots. But I will remember them often. And maybe, because of them, I’ll more often curb my tendency to act with no thought to the consequences. Instead, before pulling off those boots, I’ll think first of the long walk ahead of me. And make my decision from there.
By: Sue Dickinson
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
The Power of Encouragement
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the famous 19th-century poet and artist, was once approached by an elderly man. The old fellow had some sketches and drawings that he wanted Rossetti to look at and tell him if they were any good, or if they at least showed potential talent.
Rossetti looked them over carefully. After the first few, he knew that they were worthless, showing not the least sign of artistic talent. But Rossetti was a kind man, and he told the elderly man as gently as possible that the pictures were without much value and showed little talent. He was sorry, but he could not lie to the man. The visitor was disappointed, but seemed to expect Rossetti’s judgment.
He then apologized for taking up Rossetti’s time, but would he just look at a few more drawings – these done by a young art student? Rossetti looked over the second batch of sketches and immediately became enthusiastic over the talent they revealed. “These,” he said, “oh, these are good. This young student has great talent. He should be given every help and encouragement in his career as an artist. He has a great future if he will work hard and stick to it.”
Rossetti could see that the old fellow was deeply moved. “Who is this fine young artist?” he asked. “Your son?” “No,” said the old man sadly. “It is me – 40 years ago. If only I had heard your praise then! For you see, I got discouraged and gave up – too soon.”
- Author Unknown
He then apologized for taking up Rossetti’s time, but would he just look at a few more drawings – these done by a young art student? Rossetti looked over the second batch of sketches and immediately became enthusiastic over the talent they revealed. “These,” he said, “oh, these are good. This young student has great talent. He should be given every help and encouragement in his career as an artist. He has a great future if he will work hard and stick to it.”
Rossetti could see that the old fellow was deeply moved. “Who is this fine young artist?” he asked. “Your son?” “No,” said the old man sadly. “It is me – 40 years ago. If only I had heard your praise then! For you see, I got discouraged and gave up – too soon.”
- Author Unknown
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29
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