Psalm 23 - what's in it for you?

The Lord is my shepherd.—That's relationship.
I shall not want.—That's supply.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures.—That's rest.
He leads me beside the still waters.—That's refreshment.
He restores my soul.—That's spiritual healing.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness… —That's guidance.
… for His name's sake.—That's purpose.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death… —That's tribulation.
… I will fear no evil… —That's protection.
… for You are with me.—That's faithfulness.
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.—That's discipline.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.—That's hope.
You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over.—That's abundance.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.—That's blessing.
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord...—That's security.
… forever.—That's eternity.

—David the psalmist, with comments by an unknown author

Happiness Formula

It's not your circumstances that determine your happiness; it's your state of mind.

Happiness and contentment are in your attitude! It's all in your perspective and your outlook. It's a matter of taking on God’s mind, of looking at situations and circumstances and even yourself through His eyes, seeing things from His view—even if you have to take it by faith.

There's just no reason to be discouraged, to feel down, and to let the things of this world get to you. Why should such trivial things muddy your view, steal your joy, and bring defeat and discouragement?

Seek to be triumphant, and that spirit of victory will become alive in you. Search for ways to see the good in all that is happening, and you will begin to live the good.

Turn to God for your happiness and stability and that's what you will find. Desire contentment in how things are today, not how they could be, and you will find the satisfaction you long for.

The Enemy of your soul only has claim to what you give him. He cannot steal your joy and happiness away; it's your choice whether he can take it. He will taunt you, he will hit you with everything, and he will haggle you until you give in, or better yet, until you turn around and tell him to get lost.

Happiness, fulfillment, satisfaction, contentment, peace, and joy are not contingent on the things of the physical, on your surroundings, on your lacks or problems, but they are contingent on your choices.

Choose to be victorious regardless of how you feel in the physical and that choice will become reality. Choose contentment over all the things the Enemy's pointing out to you to get your eyes off of the Lord, and as you make that decision you will find contentment.

Life's greatest lessons are mastered through learning to make something good out of the seeming bad. It's being faced with a difficult and troublesome time and rather than getting down about it, rejoicing for the good that can be found, or if none can be found, then being thankful for the sunny days and the happy times that you have known and that are yet to come.

That is how you will find the victory. The difficulties and struggles will not necessarily vanish, but the weight of them will not seem as heavy, for you will have placed them in God’s hand. Remember, victory is a state of mind.

What's your state of mind?

Author: Unknown

Kneeling to pray

A minister passing through his church in the middle of the day, decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray. Just then the back door opened, a man came down the aisle.

The minister frowned as he saw the man hadn't shaved in a while. His shirt was kinda shabby and his coat was worn and frayed, the man knelt, he bowed his head, Then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed, each noon time came this chap,
each time he knelt just for a moment. A lunch pail in his lap.
Well, the minister's suspicions grew, with robbery a main fear, he decided to stop the man and ask him, 'What are you doing here?'

The old man said, he worked down the road..
Lunch was half an hour..
Lunchtime was his prayer time,
For finding strength and power.

'I stay only moments, see, because the factory is so far away; as I kneel here talking to the Lord. This is kinda what I say:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY.'

The minister feeling foolish, told Jim, that was fine..
He told the man he was welcome to come and pray just anytime. Time to go, Jim smiled, said 'Thanks.' He hurried to the door.

The minister knelt at the altar, he'd never done it before.
His cold heart melted, warmed with love, and met with Jesus there. As the tears flowed, in his heart, he repeated old Jim's prayer:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY..
SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY.'

Past noon one day, the minister noticed that old Jim hadn't come. As more days passed without Jim, he began to worry.
At the factory, he asked about him, and learned that  he was ill.

The hospital staff was worried too. But Jim had given them a thrill. The week that Jim was with them, he brought changes in the ward. His smiles, a joy contagious, touched and changed the people. This was Jim’s reward. The head nurse couldn't understand why Jim was so glad, when no flowers, calls or cards came. Not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by his bed. He voiced the nurse's concern:
No friends came to show they cared. He had nowhere to turn. Looking surprised, old Jim spoke up and with a winsome smile; 'the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, that He's in here all the while everyday at noon He's here, a dear friend of mine, you see. He sits right down, takes my hand, leans over and says to me:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN. ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY, I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY.'

If this blesses you, pass it on. Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

May God hold you in the palm of His and angels watch over you. Live in peace and peace will live in you.

Time Where Are You

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." - Psalm 90:12

Time is God's gift to mortal man;

It is that fleeting little span

Between our birth & Heaven's door

Where we begin God's evermore

When time is o'er.

How then should we our time employ,

In service, or, in passing joy?

Can we afford to throw away

And squander time in passing play,

O men of clay?

--Rev. R. E. Neighbour, D.D.

* Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening at once.
* "Time is the coin of your life.
It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent.
Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you."
--Carl Sandburg

* To comprehend a man's life, it is necessary to know not merely what he does, but also what he purposely leaves undone. There is a limit to the work that can be got out of a human body or a human brain, & he is a wise man who wastes no energy on pursuits for which he is not fitted; & he still wiser who, from among the things that he can do well, chooses & resolutely follows the best.

--William E. Gladstone

* "The less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in." --Lord Chesterfield

* You may delay, but time will not.--Benjamin Franklin

* 1,440 Minutes A Day
What if you were given $1440.00 at the start of each day to use as you see fit, the only stipulation being that you must give back what you haven't spent by the end of the day?

We master our seconds and minutes, or we become slaves to them; we use time, or time uses us.
More time is wasted not in hours but in minutes.
A bucket with a small hole in the bottom gets just as empty as a bucket that is deliberately kicked over.
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!

* "We are always complaining that our days are few, and acting as though there would be no end." --Seneca

* "I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first 3 hours in prayer." --Martin Luther

* What Happened to Time

When as a child I laughed and wept, time crept.
When as a youth I dreamed and talked, time walked.
When I became a full grown man, time ran.
And later as I older grew, time flew.
Soon I shall find while traveling on, time gone.

* Most of us spend a lot of time dreaming of the future, never realizing that a little of it arrives each day.

USE THE BEST OF YOUR TIME FOR GOD. IT IS A PRECIOUS GIFT FROM HIM.

DON'T WASTE IT!

Your Turn to Love

 

Do you have parents, grandparents, or other loved ones who are suffering from any of the long-term troubles that occur naturally in old age? Here are five ways that you can return their love and support:

1. Empathize.

Put yourself in their place. You may think you have problems, but if you stop to think about what it might be like to be their age, that would probably give you a much greater appreciation for what some elderly go through.

Many seniors no longer have the physical capacity to do some things they've always done, which can be discouraging and lead to feelings of uselessness. Some are not able to see or hear or even to eat or walk on their own, so they feel ashamed, humiliated, stripped of their dignity. Others are in almost continual pain or discomfort. Due to their weakened immune system, even minor ailments can turn into serious problems. Their bones are more fragile and their organs more delicate, and when those are broken or damaged, they require more time to heal.

Depending on their circumstances, they may worry about what will happen if their condition worsens and they don't have anyone to take care of them, or they may dread becoming a burden to others.

Understanding and sympathy go a long way in easing those hardships and alleviating those fears.

2. Take an interest.

Some seniors may not be as strong or sharp as they once were, but the intangibles that matter most, those personal qualities that make them the unique people they are, have not diminished. In fact, it is often in the later years that qualities such as love, thoughtfulness, loyalty, humility, humor, optimism, and wisdom come to full fruition.

That makes seniors some of the most fascinating people in the world. So does the fact that they have lived through times that those who are younger can never experience firsthand. Take the time to unearth their latent treasures, and you'll be surprised at what you'll find. They may even surprise themselves.

3. Show love and appreciation.

Sometimes simply knowing that we are loved can make all the difference in how we view and deal with our present circumstances. Knowing that they are appreciated for past efforts can also help seniors put their lives in perspective and counter feelings of regret over failures and shortcomings, both real and imagined.

Some of the saddest words ever spoken are heard at funerals: "I hope he knew how much he meant to me," or, "I wish I'd told her more often how much I loved her." Show love and appreciation while you can.

4. Help them stay active.

Numerous studies have shown that physical activity slows the aging process, which results in both prolonged life and improved quality of life. Conversely, a sedentary lifestyle increases the chances of age-related disease and premature death. Even a short walk in the fresh air is beneficial. (Recommendations vary, but a sensible approach is to start low and gradually increase the duration and frequency of exercise to at least 20 minutes, five days a week.)

Other studies have shown that intellectual stimulation can bolster the mind and stave off memory loss in the same way that physical exercise strengthens and protects the body.

Asked why they aren't more active physically and intellectually, many seniors say it's because they don't have anyone with whom they can exercise or engage in mentally challenging activities. Help them stay active, and you will be investing in your own future at the same time.

5. Pray for them.

It has been said that praying for others is not the least we can do for them, but the most. Prayer moves the heart and hand of God to take action according to our requests, to do things that we couldn't possibly do ourselves. "Things which are impossible with men are possible with God" (Luke 18:27).

Prayer opens a two-way channel of communication between us and God, and it works both ways. When we're asking God for His ear, it's easier for Him to get ours. Some of His most immediate answers to our prayers come when He is able to involve us.

The very fact that you pray for others shows that you're concerned about their happiness and well-being, and this puts you in a position to better understand His loving plan for their lives and how you can help bring it to pass. When you pray for someone to not be lonely, for example, God may give you some ideas as to how you can help alleviate that loneliness—perhaps a visit or an afternoon out together, or a phone call, email, or card.

Greater Love

Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13).

Greater love means taking the initiative to reach out; to feel what the other person is feeling; to dry their tears; to bear their burdens; to feel their afflictions; to minister to those who are sick and nurse them back to health; to listen with a loving, open ear to those who need to pour out; to be a caring and understanding friend to those who need a friend; to pray for those in need; to let their heartaches be your heartaches; to make their hopes and dreams your hopes and dreams.

Knowing that you're loved gives you hope and faith. It cheers up your whole outlook!—David Brandt Berg