Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

Worship. In two thousand years we haven't worked out the kinks. We still struggle for the right words in prayer. We still fumble over Scripture. We don't know when to kneel. We don't know when to stand. We don't know when to pray. Worship is a daunting task...Worship is personal. No secret formula exists. What moves you may stymie another. Each worships differently. But each should worship...The language of worship is not polished, perfect, or advanced. It's just honest. Max Lucado.

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

Walking Through Dark Times (1 Peter 4:12-13)

When life becomes hard, the way we react isn’t something we plan, but our responses do matter. (Philippians 1:27)What is necessary for our witness to survive the storms of life undiminished?

Spiritual healthiness is a key to enduring. Check yourself for signs of spiritual illness: lack of meaningful time in God’s Word; using the world’s methods to cope; decreasing interest in prayer; wavering obedience.

Understand the situation from God’s perspective. Seek to view the difficulties as God does; then trust and obey.

Remember whose you are. You are a child of God, bought at a price by His Son Jesus and guided by His Spirit. You are not forgotten no matter what your circumstances imply.

Vanquish fear and worry by recalling God’s promises and walking by faith. (Romans 1:17)

Impart to others the Father’s love through small acts of kindness. Reach out beyond your own pain to those God has placed nearby.

View trials as opportunities to know God more fully, and tell others what you are discovering.

Accept the help of others with gratitude. Allow them to serve you.

Lean on God throughout the ordeal, and learn the spiritual lessons He desires to teach you.

You’ll look back and discover that your testimony not only remains intact but also shines brightly like the stars in a dark sky.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

...it is only by gazing into the mirror of our own wretchedness that we begin to comprehend the magnificence of grace. Randall Balmer

[Queen]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

...Trust is such a delicate word that is often trampled upon by the best of us. It is hard to rekindle broken trust.Love.Faith. Even the word of God says that, “a faithful man who can find” But it is not impossible. In fact I have made up my mind that absolutely nothing is impossible if you can only believe, and that includes getting along with some family members. So I ask myself, what is it going to take for me to get along with the next person? What sacrifices do I have to make? What length do I have to go? I agree that there are some wonderful people that you will just never get along with no matter what you do, but that’s okay. After all, the word of God says that “as much as lies within you, live at peace with all men.” Let’s be honest with ourselves. Sometimes, we just cannot be bothered with going the extra mile for someone, because you can almost predict the outcome.

Let us not forget the words of our creator, which says, “pursue peace (or love) with all men…” To pursue means, to stalk, hunt, trail or chase after something or someone (for some men who have at one time pursued a certain female specie, this might be old news to them).

Okay, so how many of us have truly, really, honestly and totally, stalked someone because we want to love them, and not kill them, I hope? Oftentimes, when we ‘go after' someone, it is because we want something from him or her in return. Do we love our spouses and friends because we want them to love us back, or do we love them because that is our duty and mandate?....

Remember, you will make time for whatever is important and a priority to you. If love is the heartbeat of our Creator, then we will, and must certainly, do whatever it takes to be great lovers.

Excerpt from Mini-Books on Practical Living by F.Iluyomade

[gracie]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

I sit here at work and I'm thinking of the goodness of God and how undeserving I am and all I can say is thank you Lord. The song by Andre Crouch seems comforting and gives solace to my thought...

I dont know why Jesus loves me
I dont know why He cares
I dont know why He sacrifice His life
Oh but I'm glad, I'm so glad He did.

Where would I be if Jesus didn't love me
Where would I be if Jesus didn't care
Where would I be if Jesus didn't sacrifice His life
Oh but I'm glad, I'm so glad He did.

He left His home in glory
To bring to us redemption story
He died and He rose again just for you and me
Oh I'm glad I'm so glad He did.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

Do not expect God to cover what you are not willing to uncover. --Duncan Campbell

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

Conflict

Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional. Use your God-given creative energy to solve conflict before it escalates into combat.

Perhaps the seeds you sow in your areas of conflict won't reach maturity tomorrow, next week, or even for a generation, Does that mean you shouldn't sow the seeds? No! It means you should sow the seeds immediately. Never underestimate the power of the seed of peace: the power of a kind word, a seed of apology, a phone call, an explanation. This is the way we serve a God of peace.

The Inspirational Study Bible - Max Lucado.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

Containers

We are containers of God's glory. We do not allow ourselves to hold anything but what God puts in us. I Corinthians 2:12 says that the spirit we have received is not of the world but of God so that we may know the things that God freely gives to us.

As containers of God's glory, we don't carry around junk. I Corinthians 6:19 says that we are the temple of the Holy Ghost Who lives inside of us. The temple holds things that glorify and praise God. Therefore, that Holy Thing inside us glorifies and praises God.

One Monday night, God spoke to me about us being containers and that He was going to enlarge us so we could contain the coming tidal wave of His glory. Imagine a bowl or cup growing larger as you pour something in it. That's what God's desire is. He wants us to grow and expand as He pours more and more of Himself in us. Get prepared for a tidal wave of God's glory. Allow God to increase your capacity to hold more of His glory.

--Kevin Hendrix

[DC]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

The greatest characteristic a child of God can exhibit is completely unveiled openess before God, which allows that person's life to become a mirror for others.

Oswald Chambers

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

I am most thankful to God for this piece. Just one word from God can change our circumstances.

HURT

Where is God when we hurt? Where is he when sleep won't come? Where is he when we awaken in a hospital bed with pain that won't subside? He's right here! He hung on the gallows to prove once and for all, with pierced hands and blood-stained face - that he's here - that he didn't create the hurt, but he came to take it away.

When you hurt, God hurts with you. When no one listens to you, God listens to you. When you wipe away tears of loneliness or frustration or anguish, in heaven there's a pierced hand approaching a heavenly face wiping away a tear.

Sometimes storms of life come to teach us that God is in control, that we must lean on him and learn to be thankful for the richness of his blessings to us.

We should serve God even if there is darkness enveloping our life and even if we don't understand what's happening...even when circumstances of our life don't make sense: Because he is worthy of praise, because he is God.

FATHER, nothing is louder than the silence of our God. But Father, forgive us for the times we've interrupted your silence as a lack of love. Give us patience, for we know you'll answer, Father, if only we'll wait."

-- Max Lucado's The Inspirational Study Bible

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

Many Christians are believing God for bigger and better things for themselves. Unfortunately, some of these Christians are stretching their faith for million-dollar homes before they have exercised it in the simple things, such as believing for a good parking spot at the mall. Whether you are standing in faith for a promotion, healing, a new car or a house, you must mature in character and faith for the "little things" before you will receive manifestation of the "big things." Take time to develop your character by exercising and developing the fruit of the Spirit in your life. Be diligent in your study and application of God's Word and with your prayer time. Remember to seek first the Provider before seeking the provision. If you want to mature in your manifestation, then take the time to develop your faith muscles!

-- Dr. Creflo A. Dollar

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

FAILURE

I wonder if we stay so busy because we're trying to forget yesterday's failures. We do need to forget those failures of the past, but if we never stop to deal with them, the guilt over those old mistakes will hound us and nip at our hells like an ill-behaved puppy.

When we avoid dealing with our mistakes and pretend they don't exist, they usually express themselves in ways that we would not anticipate: anger at someone else, frustration at something else, lack of control.

Sometimes we try to deal with a mistake by covering it up with more mistakes, or by repressing it, or by justifying it. That's like walking around with a pebble in our shoe - it causes us so much frustration that our whole body compensates for its presence, when all we have to do is take it out and toss it away.

God can take our mistakes and turn them into opportunities. He's shown us over and over, through the lives of people like David, Paul, Peter. He can do the same for us.

FATHER, help us to forgive ourselves - even as you have forgiven us - that we might not live burdened and shackled by yesterday's failures, but that we might live set free by your grace.

-- Max Lucado's The Inspirational Study Bible.

Edited for typo.

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

The only way for Christians to grow in their relationships with Christ is by studying and meditating on God's Word. Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The Bible is your best source of spiritual nourishment. Open it up and discover the treasures it contains! Creflo Dollar

[DC]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

true true Compry [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Contentment is not just reflected in our relationship to things. We can be discontented with our spouse, our job, our place in life, our education, or a long list of other things. Sometimes discontenment can motivate us to righteousness or zealous commitment to God. This is a healthy kind of discontentment. This kind of discontentment,however,that signals a vulnerability to aloneness is a discontentment that seeks personal satisfaction and security in "just one more thing","one more experience", "one more friendship".
Joseph Stowell

It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, who is poor. Lucius Annaeus

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection ...

II Chronicles 16:9 says, "... the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him- " (KJV)