Living With The Rose

The secret of a closer relationship with Jesus

But how do we accomplish that?

How can we be more like Him?

A Persian fable says one day, a wanderer found a piece of clay. So redolent of sweet perfume. Its odor scented all the room.

“What are thou?” was the quick demand. “Art thou some gem from Samarkand or Spikenard rare in odd disguise?” Or other costly merchandise?”

“Nay, I am but a piece of clay.”

“Then, whence this sweetness, pray?”

“Friend, if the secret I disclose. I have been living with the rose.”

As in the Persian fable, it comes from living close to Him!

(2 Corinthians 3:18).

…living as He would, acting as He would, speaking as He would, and even thinking as He would.

If we don't, no matter how many good qualities we possess or how dynamic we are or how dedicated we are, no matter how good we are with people or what else we may have going for us, if we're not spending time with Jesus, we're not going to be a very good reflection of Him or His love to others.

It’s not about religion or going to church or having the ‘right’ doctrine. It’s not even about sacrifice…. It’s about spending time with the Master!

It’s about going to His Word & letting Him transform you.

Many of us tend to pick up the pace when our workloads and responsibilities increase, and that leads to more stress.

Taking time off and relaxing alone or with family or friends can help relieve the pressure, but friends or family or time alone can't give us what Jesus can.

Jesus said the requirement for a fruitful life is abiding in Him. "Abide in Me, and I in you" (John 15:4).

"Abiding in Jesus" means staying connected with Him by taking time to read His Word and pray and listen to Him for Jesus said, “apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another."

John 13:35

(… You and me!)

If you don’t know Jesus personally, we invite you to get to know Him. No matter what faith you belong to, He loves you & wants to reach out to you & give you His gift of eternal life.

PRAYER:

“Dear Jesus, I need your light to drive away all darkness. I need your peace to fill and satisfy my heart. I now open the door of my heart and ask You to please come into my life and give me your gift of eternal life. Amen”

Song of Solomon 2:1

“I am the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valleys”

Author: Unknown

A Lesson From Geese

Have you ever wondered why migrating geese fly in a V formation?

As with most animal behavior, God had a good reason for including that in their instincts.

As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird following.

In a V formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% more flying range than if each bird flew alone.

Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone…

…and quickly gets back into formation.

Like geese…

… people who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier than those who try to go it alone.

When a goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position. If people had as much sense as geese, they would realize that ultimately their success depends on working as a team, taking turns doing the hard tasks, and sharing leadership.

Geese in the rear of the formation honk to encourage those up front to up their speed. It is important that our “honking from behind” be encouraging. Otherwise it’s just - well - honking.

They stay with the unhealthy member of the flock until it is either able to fly again or dies.

When a goose gets sick or wounded, two other geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and provide protection.

Then they launch out again with another passing flock or try to catch up with their own.

May we be so sacrificial, that we may be worthy of such friends in our time of need.

…To learn from God’s marvelous creation; you only need to stop long enough to observe and let God reveal His wonders to you.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A SCIENTIST...

“Ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; and the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?”

JOB 12:7-9

CAN SOMEONE “ASKED” THE GEESE…

Author: Unknown

God's Ways

GOD’S WAYS

A lesson from Mother Nature

NAHUM 1:3

I recollect, when a lad, sitting on a mountain, and watching a storm as it came up the valley.

The heavens were filled with blackness, and the earth was shaken by the voice of thunder.

It seemed as though that fair landscape was utterly changed, and its beauty gone never to return.

But the storm swept on, and passed out of the valley…

And if I had sat in the same place on the following day, and said:

“Where is that terrible storm with all its terrible blackness?”

And the daisy would have said,
“Part of it is in me,”

The grass would have said, “Part of it is in me,”

And the trees and flowers and everything that grows out of the ground would have said, “Part of the storm is incandescent in me.”

Have you longed for the fruit of the Spirit, and have you prayed for sweetness and gentleness and love?

Have you asked to be made like your Lord?

Then fear not any stormy tempest that may sweep through your life.

A blessing is in the storm, and there will be the rich fruitage in the “afterward.”

The flowers live by the tears that fall from the sad face of the skies;

And life would have no joys at all, were there no watery eyes.

Life And Its Purpose

YOUR LIFE AND ITS PURPOSE

What is Life all about?

Answer:   Life is all about LOVE

The best use of Life is LOVE

The best expression of Love is TIME

The best time to Love is NOW

Why?   Because we have NO guarantee of to-morrow

GOD’S FIVE PURPOSES FOR YOUR LIFE

1.“Love God with all your heart”:

You were planned for God’s pleasure, so your purpose is to

love God through WORSHIP.

2. “Love your neighbour as yourself”:

You were shaped for serving, so your purpose is to

show love through MINISTRY.

3. “Go and make disciples”:

You were made for a mission, so your purpose is to share

God’s message through EVENGELISM.

4. “Baptise them into…”:

You were formed for God’s family, so your purpose is to

identify with His church through FELLOWSHIP.

5. “Teach them to do all things…”:

You were created to become like Christ, so your purpose is

to grow to maturity through DISCIPLESHIP.

God Knows First

GOD was the FIRST to know!

That numerous truths about our world were written in the Bible hundreds or even thousands of years before science “discovered” them.

Scientists “Discover” Truths That Were in the Bible All along!

Few people might be aware of this:
There are passages in the Bible that coincide with scientific principles that weren't "discovered" by scientists until thousands of years after the Bible had been written.

Here are a few examples:

It wasn’t until around the time of Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) that science established that the earth was spherical and hung in space.

The prophet Isaiah wrote in about 700 BC that:

“GOD “SITS ABOVE THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH”

Isaiah 40:22

About 3,000 years before Columbus, it was written in the book of Job that:

God “stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing.”

Job 26:7

Also, when Jesus spoke of His Second Coming, He referred to a night scene (men sleeping), a morning scene (women grinding), and a midday scene (workers in the field) happening simultaneously (Luke 17:34-36). This, of course, is an indirect reference to a spherical earth.

The Bible described the hydrologic cycle:

In various passages, the Bible describes a hydrologic cycle, the process by which clouds are formed, rain is produced, and ground water is replenished. Science made the same discovery in the 1600s, long after the Bible passages were written.

Here are the related Bible verses:

Job 26:8—He binds up the water in His thick clouds, yet the clouds are not broken under it.

Job 36:27-28—For He draws up drops of water, which distill as rain from the mist, which the clouds drop down and pour abundantly on man.

Ecclesiastes 1:7— All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place from which the rivers come, there they return again.

Galileo (1564-1642) was the first to “discover” that the number of stars is uncountable – a fact that has been clearly established by modern scientists, who now estimate the number of stars in the “billions and billions”

Johannes Kepler counted 1005.

The Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe counted 777.

The Greek astronomer Ptolemy had said there were 1056.

Twenty two centuries before Galileo, the prophet Jeremiah said:

“The host of heaven cannot be numbered”

Jeremiah 33:22

The Bible stated the existence of valleys and springs in the seas:

Not until the past few hundred years did man have the technology to discover that there are deep valleys and fresh water springs in the oceans.

But the Bible always knew:

2 Samuel 22:16a - Then the channels of the sea were seen, the foundations of the world were uncovered. …

Genesis 7:11 - In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

In 1643, with the invention of the barometer, Evangelista Torricelli discovered a way to measure the atmospheric air pressure and thereby proved that air has weight.

In what is believed to be the oldest book in the Bible, Job is quoted as saying that:

God “establishes weight for the wind”

Job 28:25

Jet streams – the strong permanent high-altitude wind currents that have a major bearing on weather systems – were discovered by science in the 19th century.

Nearly 3,000 years earlier, King Solomon wrote:

“The wind goes toward the south, and turns to the north; the wind whirls about continually, and comes again on its circuit.”

Ecclesiastes 1:6

Words of the wise…

Daniel 12:4 - But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.

Sir Isaac Newton, writing in the 16th century on the prophecy of Daniel 12:4 (written about 2500 years ago), said that if true, it would be necessary that a new mode of traveling should be invented, for knowledge would be so increased that man would be able to travel at the rate of fifty miles an hour.

Voltaire, the French philosopher of the same century, true to the spirit of skepticism, rejoined:

"Now look at the mighty mind of Newton, who discovered gravitation; when he began to study the book called the Bible, it seems in order to credit its fabulous nonsense, he believed that the knowledge of mankind will be so increased that we shall be able to travel fifty miles an hour! The poor dotard!" ("Dotard" in this sense indicated a fool.)

Today even a skeptic would have to say, "Newton was a wise philosopher; Voltaire a poor old dotard."

The true relationship between science and the Bible is perhaps best summed up in the words of British astronomer John Herschel (1792-1871):

“All human discovery seems to be made only for the purpose of confirming more and more strongly the truth contained in the Sacred Scriptures.”

Give God Time

IMPORTANT PRAYER PRINCIPLES

Excerpt from ‘Meditation Moments’ by Virginia Brandt Berg

If you have a problem today, a great need in your life, maybe your problem is that you had done all the talking, but hadn't done any listening to God!

"Stop talking and listen for a while! Listen to God's Word! Be still and let Him speak to you.

When you get quiet and wait on Him, there will come a prompting from Him in a still small voice." Someone has also called it "A Divine Oughtness," that is, an impression that you ought to do a certain thing.

Some people think that effective praying means to keep on seeking and keep on knocking, to keep on talking and talking and asking God with a multitude of words, and an insistence in talking it out with Him!

This kind of prayer doesn’t show your trust & faith that He’ll answer, on the contrary, it shows your unbelief & lack of faith that He has heard you & the answer is on its way.

When you pray you don’t need to keep on asking, with so much talking and insistence on expressing yourself in words, but you need to keep on believing and keep on expecting and waiting! Waiting for God to answer!

Oh, the answer's there, God will answer! You know, prayer in its highest meaning is not pleading with God or demanding things, but it is communion with God, throwing your whole being open heavenward, God-ward, and waiting for the divine response.

A little word by Martha Snell-Nicholson:

Sometimes I do not even pray in words.
I take my heart in my two hands,
And hold it up before the Lord.
I'm so glad He understands.

Sometimes I do not even pray in words.
My spirit bows before His feet,
And with His hand upon my head,
We just hold communion, silent, sweet.

Sometimes I do not pray in words,
For I am tired and long for rest.
And my heart finds all it needs,
Just resting on the Savior's gentle breast.

If you have prayed and had no answer yet, no answers come and it seems as if when you pray, the Heavens are brass and He's been deaf to your pleading cries, remember this:

No earnest sincere prayer to the heavenly Father has ever gone unanswered or been unnoticed. But it is also true that God has His time for all things in working out His purposes! God has strange ways of disciplining His intercessors and prayer warriors, and that takes time.

The Chained Eagle

Many people resolve to do this or that, change this or that, break a bad habit, or start a new one. Sometimes it works; often it doesn't.

Is that because so many of us are like the bird in the following story?

A man once owned an eagle, and for many years kept him chained to a stake.

Every day the eagle walked around and around that stake, and over time wore a rut in the ground.

When the eagle was getting old, his master felt sorry for him and decided to set him free. So he took the metal ring off the eagle's foot, lifted the eagle from the ground, and tossed him into the air.

He was free--but he had forgotten how to fly! He flip-flopped to the ground, walked back over to his old rut, and started walking in circles like he had for years.

No chain and shackle held him, just the habit!

You may think it’s not possible for you to change, but if you really want to and are sincerely willing to, God can change you by the miracle-working power of His Spirit.

He'll do things you can't do!

There is a saying:

“The chains of bad habits are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken”

--and that would be true if it weren't for the Lord and His power.

You may have to put a great deal of your own will to the transformation process as well, but with God's strength and His intervention, you'll find you have more resolve, determination, and ability to change than you ever thought possible.

He said, "Whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive"

(Matthew 21:22).

Following is what it means to "become a new creature in Christ Jesus"

(2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV).

Jesus coming into your life not only renews and purifies and regenerates your spirit, but it also renews your mind, literally breaking old connections and reflexes and gradually rebuilding it and rewiring it into a whole new computer system with a different outlook on life and a new way of looking at the world, with new reactions to nearly everything around you.

To change yourself is something you can’t do in your own will power and strength. If you want this change, it's necessary for you to ask Jesus to help.

Some changes are instantaneous, others take awhile.

--But if you ask Him for help and do your part, you'll be changed, because Jesus changes people!

Believe it or not, they used to build bridges by first flying a kite from one side of the river or gorge to the other.

Someone on the opposite side caught the kite and tied a little thicker, stronger string to the end of the kite string, and the men who had sent the kite over pulled the new, thicker string back across.

The teams on each side kept repeating the process, next with an even stronger string, then a cord, then a thin rope, then a thicker rope, and so on.

Eventually they could pull a small steel cable across, then a heavier one, until finally they had a cable across the expanse that was strong enough to support them and their tools and materials.

-And it all started with one tiny kite string!

Building Habits

--Peter Amsterdam

That's how habits are formed, both good and bad. Add a thread every day, and before long you can't break it.

Start developing a good habit by taking the first step, however small, in the right direction. Then keep at it until you've built up a routine that can't easily be broken.

Psychologists tell us that it usually takes us three weeks to get familiar with some new task or habit; it takes another three weeks before it becomes a habit.

Now the reason why many people are not successful in forming a new habit is because they've never made it past that six-week barrier. For your new behavior to become a habit, you must do it daily for at least six weeks.

--Maria Fontaine

So don’t give up too easily or too soon. Keep at it!

Adapted from an article by David Brandt Berg

Mother Teresa

MOTHER TERESA IN HER OWN WORDS

“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.”

Mother Teresa taught us by her sample what it really means to ‘live’ the Gospel.

“I think today the world is upside down, and is suffering so much because there is so very little love in the home, and in family life. We have no time for our children, we have no time for each other, there is no time to enjoy each other.”

“Love begins at home; love lives in homes, and that is why there is so much suffering and so much unhappiness in the world today...

Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time for each other, and in the home begins the disruption of the peace of the world.”

"I see God in every human being. When I wash the leper's wounds, I feel I am nursing the Lord himself. Is it not a beautiful experience?"
-- 1974 interview.

ON POVERTY

"When I see waste here, I feel angry on the inside. I don't approve of myself getting angry. But it's something you can't help after seeing Ethiopia." -- Washington 1984.

“The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved.”

“The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted.”

“There is more hunger in the world for love and appreciation than for bread.”

“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.”

ON WAR

"I have never been in a war before, but I have seen famine and death. I was asking (myself), 'What do they feel when they do this?' I don't understand it. They are all children of God. Why do they do it? I don't understand."

"Please choose the way of peace. ... In the short term there may be winners and losers in this war that we all dread. But that never can, nor never will justify the suffering, pain and loss of life your weapons will cause."

-- Letter to U.S. President George Bush and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, January 1991.

-- Beirut 1982, during fighting between the Israeli army and Palestinian guerrillas.

ON ABORTION

Abortion "is murder in the womb ... A child is a gift of God. If you do not want him, give him to me."

“The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between.”

“It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.”

"The other day I dreamed that I was at the gates of heaven. And St. Peter said, 'Go back to Earth. There are no slums up here.'"

-- Quoted as telling Prince Michael of Greece in 1996.

ON HER LIFE’S WORK

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”

“The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.”

ON LOVE

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”

“I try to give to the poor people for love what the rich could get for money. No, I wouldn't touch a leper for a thousand pounds; yet I willingly cure him for the love of God.”

“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.”

“I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I do know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will NOT ask, How many good things have you done in your life?, rather he will ask, How much LOVE did you put into what you did?”

“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.”

“Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.”

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.

Good works are links that form a chain of love.

“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”

“Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.”

“I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.”

“I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness.”

“I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.”

ON SERVING GOD

“In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”

“Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the love of Jesus.”

“Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience.”

“There should be less talk; a preaching point is not a meeting point. What do you do then? Take a broom and clean someone's house. That says enough.”

“Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.”

“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

“Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness.”

“At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by ‘I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in.’”  ’”

If you haven’t yet received Jesus into your heart, you can do it now by repeating this little prayer:

“Dear Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God and my Savior. I need Your love to cleanse me from my mistakes and wrongdoings. I need your light to drive away all darkness. I need your peace to fill and satisfy my heart. I now open the door of my heart and ask You to please come into my life and give me your gift of eternal life. Amen”

“Jesus is my God. Jesus is my Husband. Jesus is my Life. Jesus is my only Love. Jesus is my All!”

“If we want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.”

Trust God

 

God's love does not always keep us from trials, but it is a love that always keeps us through trials.

Got Troubles?

Everyone experiences situations or circumstances that are less than ideal, or that you have to struggle with or rise above on a daily basis.

There are all kinds of tests and trials that come as a part of life.

It teaches you to see things positively even when you feel like things are hopeless, to choose to love and share and sacrifice even when you don't have enough, to choose to do the right thing even when everything around you is wrong.

Life on Earth is a training and testing ground, one which teaches you to make the right decisions despite the hardships.

The difficulties that you face in life are what shape character. These are the tools that God uses to make you into the men and women that He needs you to be.

Without the tests, there would be no testimony.

Without these nagging weaknesses, these annoyances, these besetting sins‚ these embarrassing problems and obstacles, your faith would not be tested.

Only in the hot furnace of affliction do we as Christians let go of the dross to which, in our foolishness, we ardently cling.

He promises, "ALL things work together for GOOD to them that love the Lord!" (Romans 8:28) He is not going to allow ANYTHING to happen to you, His child, except what is for your GOOD!

Of course, we often feel like, "My goodness! A LOT of things happen that don't look very good to ME!" But sooner or later you will find out that somehow or another they WERE good for you!

So even if you don't always understand WHY you're going through tests, trials, hardships and breakings, remember, GOD knows what He's doing! He knows all the purposes and reasons behind each test, trial or trouble.

EVERYONE who has ever been of any real use to the Lord, had to first be broken, humbled and brought virtually to the END of THEMSELVES.

Otherwise, they would be too proud and self-confident in their own fleshly talents and natural abilities, and would take the glory to THEMSELVES if God were to use them.

This is why He chooses to use the WEAK things and the FOOLISH things, "that NO FLESH should glory in His presence!" (1Corinthians 1:25-29)

A bar of steel worth $5 ºº

When wrought into horseshoes, is worth $10 ºº

If made into needles, it is worth $350 ºº

If into penknife blades, it is worth $32,000 ºº

If into springs for watches, it is worth $250,000 ºº

What a drilling the poor bar must undergo to be worth this!

But the more it is manipulated‚ the more it is hammered, and passed through the fire, and beaten and pounded and polished, the greater the value.

—Sir Henry Bessemer (1813–1898), British inventor and engineer

The diamond cannot be polished without friction, nor the man perfected without trials.

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perish, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise & honor & glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

1Peter 1:7

Butterfly & Flower

Once there was a man who asked God for a flower....

....and a butterfly.

But instead God gave him a cactus....

....and a caterpillar.

The man was sad, he didn’t understand why his request was mistaken. Then he thought:

Oh well, God has too many people to care for...

And decided not to question.

After some time, the man went to check up on his request that he had left forgotten.

To his surprise, from the thorny & ugly cactus a beautiful flower had grown.

And the unsightly caterpillar had been transformed into the most beautiful butterfly.

GOD always does things right!

His way is ALWAYS the best way, even if to us it seems all wrong.

If you asked God for one thing & received another, TRUST.

You can be sure that He will always give you what you need at the appropriate time.

What you want...

....is not always what you need!

God never fails to grant our petitions, so keep on going for Him without doubting or murmuring.

Today’s THORN...

Is tomorrow’s FLOWER!

GOD GIVES THE VERY BEST TO THOSE WHO LEAVE THE CHOICES UP TO HIM! GOD BLESS YOU!

Storm Clouds

“If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth.”

Ecclesiastes 11:3

True, for a while they hide the sun, but the sun is not quenched; it will be out again before long.

Why, then, do we dread the clouds which now darken our sky?

Meanwhile those black clouds are filled with rain; and the blacker they are, the more likely they will yield plentiful showers.

How can we have rain without clouds?

Our troubles have always brought us blessings, and they always will.

They are the dark chariots of bright grace!

These clouds will empty themselves before long, and every tender herb will be gladder for the shower.

Our God may drench us with grief, but He will refresh us with mercy!

Our Lord’s love letters often come to us in black-edged envelopes.

His wagons rumble, but they are loaded with benefits.

Let us not worry about the clouds, but sing because May flowers are brought to us through the April clouds and showers.

His rod blossoms with sweet flowers and nourishing fruits!

O Lord, the clouds are the dust of Thy feet! How near Thou art in the cloudy and dark day!

Love beholds Thee, and is glad. Faith sees the clouds emptying themselves and making the little hills rejoice on every side.

The blue of heaven is larger than the clouds.

What seems so dark to thy dim sight
May be a shadow, seen aright
Making some brightness doubly bright.

The flash that struck thy tree
No more to shelter thee
Let heaven’s blue floor
Shine where it never shone before.

The cry wrung from thy spirit’s pain
May echo on some far-off plain,
And guide a wanderer home again.

TAKEN FROM AN ARTICLE BY C.H. SPURGEON

The Romans

UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 8 VERSES 28-29

Because God is sovereignly in control, accidents are just incidents in God’s good plan for you. Because every day of your life was written on God’s calender before you were born, everything that happens to you has spiritual significance. Everything!

Romans 8 28-29 explains why: “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son.” (NLT)

This is one of the most misquoted and misunderstood passages in the Bible. It doesn’t say, “God causes everything to work out the way I want it to.” Obviously that’s not true. It also doesn’t say, “God causes everything to work out to have a happy ending on earth.” That is not true either. There are many unhappy endings on earth.

We live in a fallen world. Only in Heaven is everything done perfectly the way God intends. That is why we are told to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven.” To fully understand Romans 8 28-29 you must consider it phrase by phrase.

“We know”: Our hope in difficult times is not based on positive thinking, wishful thinking, or natural optimism. It is a certainty based on the truths that God is in complete control of our universe and that He loves us.

“that God causes” There’s a Grand Designer behind everything. Your life is not the result of random chance, fate or luck. There is a master plan. History is His story. God is pulling the strings. We make mistakes, but God never does. God cannot make a mistake – because He is God.

“everything”: God’s plan for your life involves all that happens to you – including your mistakes, your sins, and your hurts. It includes illness, debts, disasters, divorce, and death of loved ones. God can bring good out of the worst evil. He did at Calvary.

“to work together”: Not separately or independently. The events in your life work together in God’s plan. They are not isolated acts, but interdependent parts of the process to make you like Christ. To bake a cake you must use flour, salt, raw eggs, sugar, and oil. Eaten individually, each is pretty distatseful or even bitter. But bake them together and they become delicious. If you will give God all your distatseful, unpleasant experiences, He will blend them together for good.

“for the good”: This does not say that everything in life is good. Much of what happens in our world is evil and bad, but God specialises in bringing good out of it. In the official family tree of Jesus Christ, four women are listed: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. Tamar seduced her father-in-law to get pregnant. Rahab was a prostitute. Ruth was not even Jewish and broke the law by marrying a Jewish man. Bathsheba committed adultery with David, which resulted in her husband’s murder. These were not exactly sterling reputations, but God brought good out of bad, and Jesus came through their lineage. God’s purpose is greater than our problems, our pain, and even our sin.

“of those who love God and are called”: This promise is only for God’s children. It is not for everyone. All things work for bad for those living in opposition to God and insist on having their own way.

“according to His purpose”: What is that purpose? It is that we “become like His Son.” Everything God allows to happen in your life is permitted for that purpose!

Extract from The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. (Page 195)

A Master Piece

This is a master piece.  If you have not read it take the time to read it now.  If you have read it take time to read it again! Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.

GEORGE CARLIN

 
A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember: Spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember, to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

—George Carlin

Sanity Savers

Every morning I wake up to what seems like a list of two million things I think I need to get done before the sun sets. I used to push myself to the limit physically and mentally, but still rarely accomplished everything I had planned, and that left me frustrated and stressed. My solution? I came up with a list of five things to help me get more done without feeling so pressured. Believe it or not, none of them are "work harder" or "go faster."

1. Pray for solutions. When we ask God in prayer for the help He has promised us in His Word, this sets heavenly forces to work on our behalf. So when I begin to feel pressured, I stop and ask Him to work out whatever situation is putting me under stress. This is getting at the root of the problem, not just dealing with the symptom, the stress.

2. Still my spirit. All prayers aren't answered instantaneously, of course, so I also pray for God to still my spirit and help me to trust Him for the outcome. I spend a few moments meditating on God and turning my worries and concerns over to Him. Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29).

3. Plan and organize. The Bible advises, "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40). I have found that by planning my day the night before, I can free myself of much of the stress on even the busiest of days. I start with a list of everything I need to do or would like to do, set priorities, and pare down the list to what seems realistic. Then I plan the order in which to do them, including my route and travel times, estimating on the outside to allow for the unexpected. If everything doesn't fit, I cut some more. Having a solid plan sets my mind at ease.

4. Take breaks. Friends who work in offices, banks, schools, and other busy workplaces tell me, "That's impossible! I don't have the time for breaks." But I've found that a break doesn't have to take 30 minutes or an hour to be effective. Five minutes or less will usually do. I drink a glass of water and step outside for a deep breath of fresh air. Or if I can't do that, I look out a window or lean back and close my eyes. Relaxing physically helps to calm my mind. The next hour or two usually go so much better that it's clear those five minutes were a good investment.

5. Stay positive. No matter how carefully I plan my day, there are times when things go wrong or the unexpected happens. Instead of panicking or getting frazzled, I make a conscious effort to look for the good, to focus on possible solutions, not the problem.

So there you have it—five sanity savers that don't require any special genius, just a little discipline and practice.

Do you want a new lease on life?

You can have one, but you have to be willing to let go of the pressures that drive you now.

It’s up to you!

—Andrew Mateyak

Getting Ahead

How can you maintain peace of mind in today's fast-paced world without falling behind or getting run over by the pack? Here are some ideas.

Set priorities and goals.

· Without meaningful goals you will never be truly successful in life, no matter how much money you earn or how great a name you make for yourself.

· Be wise; prioritize.

· Success starts in the heart. When priorities and motives are right, you're halfway there.

· Avoid self-imposed pressure by avoiding unrealistic goals and deadlines.

· Even a relatively small project can seem like a mountain when you get so close to it that it's all you can see. Cut it down to size by breaking it up into smaller tasks.

· When you feel overwhelmed with all there is to do, reassess your goals, priorities, strategy, and work habits.

· Keep things in perspective. Don't let little inconveniences become big annoyances that sap your inspiration and strength.

· If you are worried about tomorrow, it makes today doubly difficult because you're trying to carry tomorrow's burdens as well as today's. Concentrate only on what you can do today.

Slow down and take time to rest and relax.

· There will always be deadlines, pressures, and work. If you let those things run your life, you'll never find time to relax and enjoy life.

· Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself.

· You must stop everything periodically and connect with the source—God—to get recharged, or you will run out of power.

· Better to take regular times of rest than to risk a breakdown. No matter how important your work is, it's not as important as your health and spiritual well-being.

· After creating the universe, God rested from His labor, and He tells us to do likewise.

Don't get caught in the materialism trap.

· Material things may temporarily satisfy the body, but only God and His love can truly satisfy the spirit.

· The truest wealth is measured in the things that money can't buy.

· Some people own things, and some people's things own them.

· At best, material success will last till the day you die; love lasts for eternity.

Take time for people.

· Make people your priority, and the best things in life will come to you.

· Start the day with love, and love will carry you through the day.

· Take the preferences, needs, personalities, and limitations of those you work with into consideration. That will go a long way in reducing stress and friction, two arch enemies of happiness.

· The life you live will soon be past,
But the things you do for love will last.

· All you need to be a world changer is love, because love changes everything it touches.

Stay positive and cheerful.

· To get the most from every day, look for the good in every situation.

· Success starts with a successful attitude. Train your mind to look beyond obstacles, disappointments, setbacks, and even failures.

· A smile is the lighting system of the face and the heating system of the heart.

· Laughter relaxes you physically and refreshes you mentally and emotionally by putting your problems in perspective.

Give your cares and problems to Jesus.

· Prayer can lift you up on the wings of God's Spirit to where you can see the big picture more clearly.

· When the pace or the events of the day seem overwhelming, take time to reflect and talk things over with Jesus, and you will be amazed at how much more energy you'll have and how much smoother things will go.

· Prayer is meant to be like talking to your closest friend on the telephone. You talk to Jesus, you listen, and together you sort things out.

· Make prayer your prelude, and you'll stay on key all day.

· Jesus can give you solutions that will make problems that loom as large as mountains melt away.

· Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and My burden is light," but there's one condition attached: "Come unto Me" (Matthew 11:28-30).

Maintain a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle

· An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It's better to stay healthy than to have to be healed.

· The best way to prevent illness is to obey God's natural laws: Live right, eat right, work right, play right, rest right, love right, and maintain a right relationship with Him.

· Take time to enjoy life. God made every good thing for you to enjoy in moderation, and He created the senses with which to enjoy them.

· Taking good care of our bodies shows respect for the God who created us and gave us life and health.

· What you take in mentally and spiritually is as important to your overall well-being as what you eat. If life is full of headaches, perhaps you've been filling your head with the wrong stuff.

Compiled by Abi F. May

Failure Is Not Defeat

Failure does not equal defeat; they are two separate things.

Failure is a part of every life; everyone fails at times.

Defeat is when you don't rebound, but instead allow failure to turn what could be a successful life into a wasted one through self-pity and fear of the opinions of men.

Feelings of inferiority are Satan's attempts to deny the power of God within you.

*

One good thing about failure is that you appreciate the victory all the more.

It's not the failing that counts, but what you do with it.

No one has ever made a discovery, won a victory, or had a breakthrough without first experiencing some failures, yet refusing to let those failures defeat them.

*

Failing is often God’s way of helping you to zero in on His highest and best.

As your own programs crumble into dust, He’s right there with a new blueprint for something much better.

You can fail many times—in different things—and you will.

But you're not a failure as long as you keep getting up and trying again.

*

Always remember that there's a difference between failure, —which happens many times in our lives, and being a failure —which only happens if we decide to give up and quit.

There's a big difference between saying "I fail" and "I'm a failure."

There's no disgrace in saying the first—which is just a fact of life—but you should never say "I'm a failure" unless you've decided to give up.

The basic rules for success may be defined as follows: Know what you want. Find out what it takes to get it. Act on it and persevere.

No one is a failure who can truly say, "I have done my best."

Words Of Wisdom

ON PRAYER:

A potpourri of inspirational thoughts on several topics.

If you worry… you didn’t pray. If you prayed… DON’T WORRY.

As a child of God, prayer is like calling home every day.

No one can live in doubt when he has prayed in faith.

To grow tall spiritually, a man must first learn to kneel.

Some people talk about Heaven being so far away, when it is within speaking distance of those who belong there.

Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the Will of God.

Most of us would be in more trouble than we are if all our prayers had been answered.

“If two of you shall agree on Earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in Heaven.
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Matthew 18:19-20

ON FAITH:

Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, & receives the impossible.

Faith is to accept the impossible, do without the indispensable, & bear the intolerable.

Faith is idle when circumstances are right, only when they are adverse is one's faith in God exercised. Faith, like muscle, grows strong & supple with exercise.

You will never learn faith in comfortable surroundings.

Faith ends where worry begins, & worry ends where faith begins.

The greatest victories are the victories of faith. It is not so much what we can do that counts, but what we can trust God to do.

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform.

Romans 4:20-21

ON CHARACTER:

Character, like embroidery, is made stitch by stitch.

Men of genius are admired; men of wealth are envied; men of power are feared; but only men of uprightness are trusted.

You cannot control the length of your life, but you can control its breadth, depth, & height.

The real measure of a man's wealth is how much he would be worth if he lost all his money.

Your reputation can be damaged by the opinions of others. Only you yourself can damage your character.

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10

ON HAPPINESS:

Happiness is neither within us only, or without us; it is the union of ourselves with God. --Blaise Pascal

To be content with what we possess is the greatest of all riches.

There is as much difference between spiritual joys & earthly as between a banquet that is eaten & one that is painted on the wall.

There is no key to happiness, the door is always open.

There are two ways of being rich. One is to have all you want, & the other is to be satisfied with what you have.

You will be happier if you will give people a bit of your heart rather than a piece of your mind.

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

John 13:17

ON PEACE:

Peace is not made at the council tables, or by treaties, but in the hearts of men. --Herbert Hoover

Peace rules the day, when Christ rules the mind.

The peace of God transcends all understanding & misunderstanding.

If we have not quiet in our minds, outward comfort will do no more for us than a golden slipper on a gouty foot. --John Bunyan

Peace is the smile of God reflected in the soul of the believer.

Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God no matter what the conflict.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

When Disaster Strikes

 

WORDS OF COMFORT FROM JESUS

Shock, pain, anguish. Fear, confusion, turmoil. Disbelief, terrible sadness, anger. In this dark hour, I know even these words cannot fully express what you who have been touched by grave tragedy feel inside.

I know many of you feel that, at this point, there is no peace to be found. Mental anguish and an array of emotions grip you.

I feel and understand your pain. I hear the questions that barrage you. I see the horror that haunts you. I know the havoc, the devastation, the tragic loss of life. I grieve for you. I see your misery. I feel your heavy-heartedness.

Yes, I do see. I do care. I am deeply touched with your grief.

Some of you ask whether I care that your loved ones are gone. You may wonder if I care that your heart is breaking. You may question if I see.

My heart aches for you, and I want to comfort you. I want to relieve your pain and clear your mind. I want to give you peace that passes all understanding. I want to give you peace though all seems lost. I want to give you peace in place of fear, and comfort in place of distress, turmoil, and confusion.

No matter what you feel at this moment, no matter how deeply grieved you may be, no matter how hopeless or distraught you feel, I ask you to put Me to the test. Test My love. You can do this by letting Me comfort your heart, ease your mind, and free you from fear.

I'm reaching out to you now. If you'll grab hold of Me, if you will call on Me for help—even if you do not understand, even if you feel confused, even if you feel the pain is too much to bear—if you'll just put your hand in Mine and trust Me, I will give you peace that passes all understanding.

There is peace to be found. In the midst of this terrible destruction and despair that has touched your lives, in the face of bereavement and suffering, I will be your comfort and your consolation.

I want to answer the questions that trouble your mind. I want to allay the anguish and heaviness of heart, mind, and spirit you feel.

Put Me to the test. I am here with outstretched arms to bring you comfort. No matter how difficult the circumstances, I can give you perfect peace, freedom from fear, and strength to pull you through. I will be a light in the midst of the darkness that surrounds you. Try Me!

Those of you who already know Me, please talk to Me more. You can call out to Me anywhere, anytime, any hour of the day. When you do, if you'll wait a moment and listen, I will answer you. I will speak to your heart and mind, and will comfort and guide you through this difficult time.

Those of you who don't know Me yet, I will do the same for you if you'll call on Me now. Simply say:

"Jesus, if You really are the Son of God, I need You. Please make Your presence known to me. Give me Your peace and comfort and love. Take away my fear, ease this pain, comfort my aching heart. Set my confused and anguished mind at peace. Help me to talk to You, and to listen when You reply. Give me answers to my questions."

All you have to do is take this first step. No matter how dismal these days may be, I will pull you through if you'll hold on to Me. I never sleep. I am attentive to your needs and listening for your voice all the time. I am here to comfort and care for you. I am ready to answer your every question. Though your dreams may be shattered, there is no sorrow that I cannot and will not heal. I am here to hold you, to console you, to comfort you.

With never-ending love,

Jesus

Do Not Worry

A Lesson from a Robin

Why worry?... you’re in God’s Hands!

"I have one preacher that I love better than any other on earth: It is my little tame robin.

I put crumbs upon my window sill, especially at night. He hops onto the window sill when he wants his supply, and takes as much as he desires to satisfy his need.
From there he always hops to a little tree close by, lifts up his voice to God, sings his carols of praise and gratitude, tucks his little head under his wing, and goes fast to sleep.
He leaves tomorrow to look after itself. He is the best preacher that I have on earth."

We are often troubled by tomorrow… its duties, its burdens, its demands. In his autobiography, Martin Luther writes:

There once was a man in an insane asylum whose chief trouble was his fear that he wouldn't get his next meal. As soon as one meal was out of the way, he began to worry about the next.
Most of his time and strength were consumed by that one worry. But that man was in an insane asylum; WE ARE NOT!

Said the Robin to the Sparrow:
“I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.”

Said the Sparrow to the Robin:
“Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me.”
—Elizabeth Cheney

In the Master’s own words:

Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.

Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.

Of how much more value are you than the birds?
And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
If you then are not able to do the least…
Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
…why are you anxious for the rest?

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
--Jesus
(Luke 12:6-7, 22-28, 31-34, NKJ).

Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.

He does not lead me year by year
Nor even day by day,
But step by step my path unfolds;
My Lord directs my way.

Tomorrow's plans I do not know,
I only know this minute;
But He will say, "This is the way,
By faith now walk in it."

And I am glad that it is so,
Today's enough to bear;
And when tomorrow comes,
His grace shall far exceed its care.

What need to worry then, or fret?
The God Who gave His Son
Holds all my moments in His hand
And gives them, one by one.
--Barbara C. Ryberg

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

Prayer Power

How it Works and How To Use it! Learn how prayer works. Generate unlimited power to benefit yourself & others. Change the world around you!

God is still upon the Throne and prayer changes things!

Following are a few principles to help you have an effective prayer life.

Making the Connection

God's idea of prayer is not a ritual, but a loving and lively communication between the best of friends.

But sad to say, most people think they can't talk to God like that. Some think they're not religious enough, not righteous enough, or not spiritual enough. Some think He's too big--too far above them.

Some think He's too busy to be concerned about them and their problems, which they think must seem awfully petty to Him. Some feel unworthy, not good enough. Some feel guilty or ashamed about things they've done. Some are even afraid of Him.

If only they understood how differently God sees it!

God wants to have a personal relationship with each of us, and He wants it to be the deepest, most meaningful, most fulfilling and rewarding, most natural part of our lives.

Now that's not to say He wants to take away from the other relationships and activities that we enjoy and consider important. To the contrary--He wants to be a part of all that.

He wants to make our day-to-day living easier, He wants to give the things we experience greater meaning, and He wants to enjoy them with us.

In a word, He wants to make our lives better. He wants to add a wonderful new dimension to all that we do--the dimension of His loving presence.

How do we establish such a relationship, especially when we feel small and unspiritual and unworthy?

None of us can really grasp how great and wonderful God our Father is, because He and His Spirit are greater than the whole universe. He's so beyond our comprehension that He had to send us Someone who could show us His love, Someone we could experience, Someone who could bring God down to the level of our limited human understanding. So He sent Jesus.

How do we make that connection?

Simple: Through Jesus!

Prayer Is Communication

Like any deep and lasting friendship, your relationship with Jesus will be strengthened by frequent honest, open communication. That's really what prayer is all about: communicating heart-to-heart with the Lord.

You can pray anywhere, at anytime. You don't have to be either sitting or standing. You don't have to be in a church, a religious building, or any special place. Prayer connects your heart with God's heart, regardless of your surroundings.

Jesus is at your beck and call--just a prayer away--and He's always happy to lend an ear and a helping hand. He's interested in you and what you're going through, and He's happy to hear and answer your requests.

But there's more to prayer than that.

Jesus also wants to communicate with you, to talk to you. He wants to give you personal words of love and encouragement, and He wants to help you with your problems. He has all the answers, but how can He give them to you if you don't listen? You need to learn to recognize His voice when He speaks to your spirit and puts thoughts in your mind.

How Prayer Benefits You

There are so many benefits to spending time with the Lord that you really can't afford not to! He can help you solve every problem, answer your every question, heal all your heartaches, comfort you when you're sorrowful, give you joy, and bring you closer to Heaven. The list is endless.

Prayer changes things! It's one means by which God gives His children what they need or want, as long as it's good for them and others.

“Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Matthew 21:22

You will find rest and renewal when your spirit is sagging and your mind is troubled.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus will guide you through the maze of life. He will help you know what to do when you face problems and tough decisions. He has promised to instruct you, establish your thoughts, and guide your steps.

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.”

Proverbs 3:6, Isaiah 30:21

Your prayers can not only change things for yourself, but they can significantly improve the lives of others. It has been said that praying for others is not the least you can do for them, but the most. Your prayers move the heart and hand of God to take action on their behalf.

Through your prayers others can receive most of the same benefits that you receive when you pray for the same things for yourself--including comfort, protection, freedom from anxiety and fear, healing, material supply, and more.

How Prayer Benefits Others

Thoughts on Prayer

Prayer opens a channel from our emptiness to God's fullness. It's the connecting link between human needs and divine resources.

You must learn to make personal contact with the power of God, to let Him do the work of bringing you joy, health and happiness.

No man or woman accomplishes so much with so little expenditure of time as when he or she is praying.

Prayer moves the hand and heart of God. He enjoys using us, confining the majesty and the power of His omnipotence to the hands of frail men and women. So pray!

It's not the quantity of your prayer that counts, it's the quality!

If you're in the habit of praying privately, it won't be hard for you to pray publicly.

You can experience that miracle working power in your life as God gives you solutions to problems, courage & strength in the face of adversity, peace of mind, healing, forgiveness & personal love & encouragement.

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7

(Author: unknown)

Packing Your Parachute

 

Charles Plumb was a U.S. Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile.
Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent six years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience.

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table approached them and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"

"How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!"
Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today.”

Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat, a bib in the back, and bell-bottom trousers.
I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said, ‘Good morning, how are you?' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor."

Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know.

Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?"
Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. Plumb also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory—he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety.

Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason.
"I am proud of you" are five of the most precious words you can ever use to make another person feel important.

Appreciate everybody's worth, whatever they are, whatever they do.
Everybody is important & essential, whatever they do, whatever their job is.

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them to become what they are capable of being.

  As you go about your day, focus on individuals. Make the most of every contact with every person every day.

Someone's lifetime opportunity may be perched on the tip of your tongue.

Revel in the rhythm of ordinary things. Embrace the days of bite-size beginnings, tedious tasks, and mandatory meetings.
Your words at such times will speak volumes about the quality of life.
Let God use you in these common situations.
—Caron Loveless

Become a missionary of encouragement. Appreciation is a wonderful thing; it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.
—Voltaire (1694-1778), French writer and philosopher

   As you go through this week, this month, this year, recognize people who pack your parachute!

Jesus Heals

Below is a living testimony from our beloved Pastor, Reverend Vinnie Yuan of Bethany Chapel, Kepong Baru, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Here is her email to me:

"Lol, Brother Sonny! U r so happening! Hey! Btw do u know that Jesus is here in Bethany again last nite? Earlier b4 I led worship I'd heard HIM say HE will do something "new".

So as I led worship with Ruth, I declared by faith boldly that Jesus will do great miracles in the service. I am now inspired to write my own account of what I experienced and saw ...You may post it if you want to,

Testimonies of Healing Meetings with Rev John Ng 15-17 Oct 2008.

Amongst some who are are healed in Wed. 8.30pm Service . Two of our new regulars from Chinese congregation are healed of half paralysis from bicycle-accident a year ago and another of a stroke occurred in March!

The bicycle-accident lady ran twice round our entire Sanctuary to demonstrate something she could not do before.

After the 72 yr old man testified of experiencing a loosening of his nerves in his seat as the speaker began his message (I'd prayed for him 2 months ago in our Chinese Prayer Meeting. He was already experiencing Jesus' healing then as he could lift up his hand and foot to the angle he couldn't before).

He demonstrated squatting down at a speed like a young man! He also attempted to walk briskly without assistance at all, across the stage below (I believe he will run tonight!). He testified being a new believer and called those who didn't believe Jesus to come and accept Christ as Lord and Saviour.

I saw an old lady came forward to accept Christ...

She is the mother of Ho who is the Cell Leader of our Wed.  Chinese Golden Eagles Cell. We'd prayed very long for her salvation and yesterday morning in cell claiming for "scales of deception" to fall off her spiritual eyes as she faces oppressive oppositions from her Buddhist monk daughter's binding prayers.

There must be many more who'd been prayed for and miraculously healed.

I don't have all good reports  and space to write all of them now.

Finally, the service is almost closing when I led a 70 yr old lady to the Lord again (I wasn't aware Rev.John Ng already led her. Anyway, this is the biggest miracle. She wore dark sunglasses. She had a left eye operation that disappointingly failed. So I suddenly have the gift of faith to ask her for her sunglasses and believe Jesus heal her. She confessed her belief and obediently removed her glasses, closing her eyes. I laid hands commanding her optic nerves to align back to regain perfect sight in Jesus name. As she opened her eyes, she remarked that everything looked bright. So I began testing her eyes by showing the number of my fingers. Rev Joyce Williams also tested her from a farther distance. Then the youths seated at the far end at the musicians' corner also "tested" and she passed all the tests with by giving perfect answers! This is Jesus' Miracle of healing the "blind"!

God honoured the faith of this old lady who took the bus alone all the way from  Setapak. She is the Godmother of Susan Phua.

All Glory goes back to our Father God, Jesus Christ Son of the Living God and precious Holy Spirit!

So need I say more?

Please SPREAD the Word and bring more souls who need Jesus tonight and Friday night!

Onwards in Christ,

Rev Vinnie Yuan"

Lemons

25 health benefits of lemons - so, here's to good health:

1. Lemon being a citrus fruit, fights against infection. It  helps in
production of WBC's (White Blood Cells) and antibodies in blood which attacks the invading microorganism and prevents  infection.

2. Lemon is an antioxidant which deactivates the free  radicals
preventing many dangerous diseases like stroke,  cardiovascular diseases and cancers.

3. Lemon lowers blood pressure and increases the levels of  HDL (good cholesterol).

4. Lemon is found to be anti-carcinogenic which lowers the  rates of
colon, prostate, and breast cancer. They prevent  faulty metabolism in the cell, which can predispose a cell  to becoming carcinogenic. Also blocks the formation of  nitrosamines in the gut.

5. Lemon juice is said to give a glow to the skin.

6. A few drops of lemon juice in hot water are believed to  clear the
digestive system and purify liver as well.

7. The  skin  of lemon dried under the sun and then  ground to make
powder  can  be  applied  to  the  hair  for a few minutes before a bath which relieves head ache and  cools the body.

8. Applying lemon juice to acnes dries the existing ones and  prevents from getting more.

9. Lemon juice acts as a natural hair lightener and skin  bleach which reduces the pigment melanin and prevents the  risk of chemical allergic reactions which is common with  hair dyes and bleaches.

10. Lemon juice is given to relieve gingivitis, stomatitis,  and
inflammation of the tongue.

11. Lemon juice is given to prevent common cold.

12. Lemon juice is given to prevent or treat urinary tract  infection
and gonorrhea.

13. Lemon juice is applied to the sites of bites and stings  of certain
insects to relieve its poison and pain.

14. Lemon juice relieves colic pain and gastric problems.

15. Lemon juice soothes the dry skin when applied with  little
glycerine.

16. Lemon juice used for marinating seafood or meat kills  bacteria and other organisms present in them, thereby  prevents many
gastro-intestinal tract infections.

17. Lemon juice with a pinch of salt (warm) every morning  lowers
cholesterol levels and brings down your weight.

18. Lemon juice is the best drink to prevent dehydration  and shock in case of diarrhea.

19. Lemon juice can also be used as a mouthwash. It removes  plaque, whitens the teeth and strengthens the enamel.

20. A table spoon on thick lemon syrup everyday relieves  asthma.
21. Lemon juice relieves chilblains and itchy skin.

22. Gargling lemon juice relieves throat infection and also  used as a
treatment for diphtheria.

23. Lemon juice is an excellent treatment for dandruff and  greasy
hair.

24. Lemon applies over the face removes wrinkles and keeps  you young.

25. Lemon juice helps to prevent and cure osteoarthritis.
Lemon is not usually allergic or toxic to many, so why  don't you try
its  natural benefits first and then go on to medical treatment.

Contributed by —Rev Vinnie Yuan

Marriage

 

It's a union, first of all. It's a uniting; two hearts becoming one.
Marriage is companionship and friendship.
It's being together, acting together, doing things together, and not wanting it any other way.
Marriage is understanding.
It's being blind to the faults of the other.
It's being considerate in every way--considerate of the other's time, feelings, and desires.
Marriage is caring.
It's being concerned.
It's going out of your way to make sure the other person is well cared for.
Marriage is kindness.
It's saying kind words and putting those words into action.
It's cheering them on and encouraging them when they feel down.
Marriage is stooping to lift the other. It's being strong when the other is weak.
Marriage is support.
It's supporting your mate in their endeavors, in their projects, in good times and bad.
It's giving them moral support, physical support, prayer support, all-around support.
Marriage is talking, praying, discussing, and agreeing together.
Marriage does not let things build up between you by ignoring the other, but rather finds a way; it creates solutions.
Marriage is communicating honestly and openly.
It's being willing to humbly share your heart and deepest thoughts.
Marriage is sacrifice.
It's giving of yourself for the one you love. It's being ready to give up your own ideas or desires to make your mate happy.
Marriage is going the extra mile.
Marriage is compassion. It's preferring the happiness of another to your own.
Marriage is give and take.
Marriage is taking turns; it's not one sided.
Marriage is submission. It's giving the other person a chance.
Marriage is learning from one another.
Marriage is learning to let the little things pass.
Marriage is being open minded. Marriage is walking a mile in another's shoes.
Marriage is listening and understanding.
Marriage is being there for the other in bad times as well as the good.
Married love stands through thick and thin, no matter how hot the trials or how hard the test.
Marriage is discovery.
It's discovering each other, learning about each other and all the funny things you say and do.
Marriage is a good sense of humor. It's relaxing together, enjoying each other.
Marriage is respect.
Marriage is having faith in each other.
Marriage is accepting another for what they are.
Marriage is coming to the realization that you are not complete without your other half.

Breathing Therapy

 

Left nose, right nose breathing therapy

我們有左邊、右邊鼻孔，吸氣、吐氣時有沒有一樣？

We have left, right nose, is that same for inhaling and exhaling?

其實不一樣 ，可以感覺不一樣；右邊等於是太陽的意思，左邊等於是月亮.

Actually they are different, can feel the difference; right side represent the sun, left side represent the moon.

平常頭痛時可以用手把右邊鼻孔關起來，只用左 邊鼻孔吸氣、吐氣，約五分鐘，頭痛 就好了。

When having headache, try to close right nose and use your left nose to do your breathing, about 5 min, headache will be gone.

如果疲倦、累了，相反的關起左邊的鼻孔，只用右 邊吸氣、吐氣，不用多久，馬上精神 好起了。

If you feel tired, do it the opposite round, close your left nose and breathe through your right nose. After a while, you will feel your mind is fresh again.

因為右邊屬於火氣，比較會熱，左邊比較會涼。

Right side belongs to heat, so it gets hot easily, left side belongs to cold.

女生大部分吸氣、吐氣在左邊，所以心比較會涼快。

Most of the girls breathe with their left nose, so their heart gets cold easily.

男生大部分吸氣、吐氣在右邊，所以他們比較會生氣。

Most of the guys breathe with their right nose, so they get angry easily

我們起床時，可以注意哪邊吸氣、吐氣比較快？左邊或右邊？

Do you notice the moment we wake up, which side breathes faster? Left or right?

如果左邊比較快，覺得提不起精神，可以關起左邊鼻孔，用右邊呼吸，很快的精神會好起來。

If left is faster, you will feel tired. So, close your left nose and use your right nose for breathing, you will get refresh quickly

這也可以教給小孩，大人用更好。如果你有警覺心的話，速度更快。

This can be taught to kids, but the effect will be better if apply by elders.

以前我曾經頭痛，痛得非常厲害，去看醫生，醫生說：你去結婚就好了！（眾笑） ,醫生說得沒錯，他有理論根據。

I used to have headache, it was so painful, go to doctor, doctor told me: it will be all right if you married! (All audience laugh), doctor does not bullshit, what he said is supported with proofs.

當時每天晚上都頭痛，沒有辦法看書，有吃藥，也不是辦法。

That time, every night I am having headache problem, not able to study, I did take medicine, but that is not a good way.

有一天晚上靜坐，關起右鼻孔呼吸，這樣子做，不到一個禮拜，頭痛好了！持續做了一個月，從那天晚上到現在，一次也沒有頭痛過。

One night, I sit down and close my right nose and breathe with left nose, less than one week, my headache problem is gone! I continue to do it one month, from that night until today, headache does not attack me anymore.

這是我自己親身經驗過，每一次我告訴別人，你們頭痛的話，試試看，因為我的身體有效果，很多人試過也有效果。這是一種自然的處理，不像吃藥會有副作用，為什麼不用呢？

This is what I experienced myself, I told others, if headache, can try this way, because this is effective for me. Many people have tried and it works for them as well. This is a natural therapy, not like medicine, taking for long term will get side effect. So, why not try it out?

經常清楚的吸氣、吐氣，身體會覺非常輕鬆。

Always breathing your body can feel very relax.

The sentences below are some wishes from author. Wish everyone is well and healthy, and advice people must do good and act good

要時時心存好意！腳走好路！身行好事，惜緣種福．．
願所有收到這封信的朋友都能平安．健康．幸福 ．在這裡要送幸福給你。
您收到了嗎．．至少偶爾回個訊息，讓他也知道您還在《正常呼吸》好嗎？

Tricks or Treats

 

How smart is Your Right Foot?                                              
Just try this. It is from an orthopedic surgeon.....

This will boggle your mind and you will keep trying over and over again to see if you can outsmart your foot, but, you can't. It's preprogrammed in your brain!

1. While sitting where you are at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction.

I told you so!!! And there's nothing you can do about it! You and I both know how silly it is, but before the day is done you are going to try it again, if you've not already done so. Send it to your buddies to frustrate them too.

The Art of Being Positive

An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity.

A pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.”

--Sir Winston Churchill

Talk happiness.

The world is sad enough without your woes. No path is wholly rough; look for the places that are smooth and clear, and speak of those, to rest the weary ear, of those so hurt by continuous strain, of human discontent and grief and pain.

Talk faith.

The world is better off without your uttered ignorance and morbid doubt. If you have faith in God, or Man, or self, say so. If not, push back upon the shelf of silence all your thoughts, till faith shall come; No one will grieve because our lips are dumb.

Talk health.

The dreary, never-changing tale of mortal maladies is worn and stale. You cannot charm, or interest, or please by harping on that minor chord--disease. Say you are well, or all is well with you, and God shall hear your words and make them true.

--Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Keep looking up; remember there is only mud under your feet. Cheerfulness is what greases the axles of the world. Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

God has two dwellings: one in Heaven and the other in a thankful heart.

--Izaak Walton (1593-1683)

When we know that everything has two sides, let us look at the bright side only.

--Mahatma Gandhi

We are often discontented and much dissatisfied. That our wish for recognition has not been gratified. We feel that we've been cheated in beauty, charm, and brains, and we dwell upon our "losses", forgetting all our "gains."

The qualities we think we lack make us miserable inside, as we brood on supposed "deficits" as seen by selfish pride.

Are you dissatisfied with yourself? "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart".

(1 Samuel 16:7).

We begin to harbor hatred and envy fills our heart. That we do not possess the things that make others "seem so smart."

And in our condemnation of the traits that we possess, we magnify our painful plight, sinking deeper in distress.

Oh, Lord, please do forgive us for vanity and pride. For desiring to please the eye of man and not You who sees inside!

Little do we realize how contented we would be. If we knew that we are beautiful when our hearts are touched by Thee!

--Author Unknown

The wise and true Scripture tells us, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7)

And… “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise. Think On these Things"

(Philippians 4:8).