Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

[Vonnie]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

On the Wings of Prayer

Just close you eyes and open your heart
And feel your worries and cares depart,
Just yield yourself to the Father above
And let him hold you secure in His love.

For life on earth grows more involved
With Endles problems that can't be solved
But God only ask us to do our best,
Then he will "take over" and finish the rest.

So when yo are tired, discouraged and blue,
There's always one door that is open to you.

Helen Steiner Rice

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Whose Reality Is It Anyway?

If you believe you are a limited being, undeserving, and a victim with very little choice in life, then that is exactly what your reality will be.

If you choose to believe that you are susceptible to colds, the flu, and all sorts of other common maladies every time there's a change in the weather, then that, too, will be your reality.

If, however, you believe you are a limitless, multidimensional person and that abundance, prosperity, and radiant good health are yours for the taking, then that is the reality you will manifest.

--- Douglas Davis.

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

The Transforming Grace of God...Colossians 1:6-12

Have you ever stumbled onto an opportunity that far exceeded your original expectations? Or maybe you have encountered a source of treasure that no one knew even existed? The theme of unanticipated riches appearing in unlikely places surfaces in all kinds of literature. Jesus tapped into that theme with His story of the man who found a treasure hidden in a field. Apparently, no one else knew of its existence, so he quickly covered it and ran in haste to secure the new property. (Matthew 13:44)

Believers have inherited a vast treasure called the grace of God. For years, its great wealth may remain somewhat hidden from our view, but as we seek out its true dimensions, we are astonished to find how wealthy we are. This is what John was getting at when he exclaimed, “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace” (John 1:16). Another version puts it like this: “From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another” (niv).

The course of these successive blessings is spelled out in the first chapter of Colossians. Here Paul regards them as providing “all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (v.9); then he sees them as the ability to please the Lord in “all respects” (v10); next, they bear fruit within us in “every good work” (v. 10); and finally in verse 11, we find that they strengthen us with “all power” and obtain “all steadfastness and patience.” Indeed we are richly endowed with “grace upon grace.”

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Life Is Like That

If you always do what you have always done,
You'll always be what you've always been.

--- Josh McDowell

You cannot do the things you have always done and expect different results. That requires change.

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

FALLACIES VERSUS TRUTH

I am not remote, reserved and unconcerned or indifferent toward you
But intimate and intricately involved
Not distant and unreachable; but near and approachable
I am not apathetic, insensitive and uncharitable
But benevolent and compassionate
Not impassive and unemotional
But acquiescent, warm and affectionate
Not exacting, unyeilding and demanding
But fill with joy, love and accepting
Not impatient and enraged with you
But slow to anger and incomparably forbearing
Not penurious and parsimonious, but liberal and generous
Not always serious; but laughable and humorous
Not absent or too engross for you
But always with you and excited to be with you to
Not trying to eliminate your fun
But desiring you to be safe, unscathed and unharmed
I am not dominating or manipulative
But full of grace, mercy and freedom
Not condemning or unforgiving
But tender hearted, easy to be entreated and condoning
I am not a fault finder waiting to punish you when you fail
But understand your limitations and committed to your success,
Desiring you to prosper in your soul, relationships and finances
And proud of your accomplishments
My will for you is favourable, flawless, unequivocal and full of life!
The fact is that I have been misrepresented by many
And fallacies continually perpetrated by the enemy!
But this truth must be made known
Spread across the globe,
I will bend the heavens down to come expeditiously to your assistance
Travelling on the wings of the wind!
As I am an extraordinarily loving Heavenly Father

LEELA SOOKRAM©

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

No other success in life - not being President, or being wealthy, or going to college, or writing a book, or anything else - comes up to the success of the man or woman who can feel that they have done their duty and that their children and grandchildren rise up and call them blessed.

--- Theodore Roosevelt, 1917

[Queen]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Soaring...Running....walking
Taken from; [i]The Word for you Today" devotional

Those who hope in the Lord...will soar...like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Today let's look at each.

1. Soaring: Birds have 3 ways of flying (a) Flapping thier wings to counteract gravity. This isn't particularly graceful and it's a lot of work. (b).Gliding, where they build up enough speed to coast for a while before gravity kicks in. (c)Soaring, where they utilize thermal currents and without moving a feather, climb to great heights. Sometimes we soar; we're carried on the currents of God's power and He uses us in amazing wasy. We're productive and we experience a strength and wisdom beyond our natural abilities. We all love those times!

2. Running: Some days you can't soar, but you can run without growing weary. You may have to flap a little, but with persistence you see results and know that at least you're still in the race. When you run, never compare yourself with those who are soaring. Don't try to manufacture spiritual ecstacy; just keep running and your time will come.

3. Walking: Some days pain, failure and fatigue make it impossible to soar or run; all you can do is walk without fainting, and even that's hard. Today give yourself permission to be where you are. Walking counts with God. When it's the best you can do - it's enough! God's requirements never exceed the grace He provides. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and following Him, for sometimes God values walking more than running or soaring.

[sistagirl]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

We should say to God as we mingle with our dear ones each day, "God, give them each Thy blessing. They need it, because they live with me, and I am very selfish and unwilling to sacrifice very much for them, although I do love them"

O. Hallesby

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

The Call of God is sometimes difficult to hear. Once discerned, the call of God is difficult to avoid.

--- Anon

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the
room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In
his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window.
The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Epilogue: "There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations"

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

HAPPINESS:

The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully
dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably
coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind,
moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently
passed away, making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing
home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.
As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual
description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had
been hung on her window.

"I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight year old
having just been presented with a new puppy.
"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room... just wait."
"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied.
"Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time." Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged... its
how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it..."its a decision
I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the
day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away... just for this time
in my life. Old age is like a bank Account...you withdraw from what you've put in...So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. Thank you for your part in filing my Memory Bank. I am still depositing.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

The Prayer of Faith James 5:13-16

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

[Vonnie]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Where there is Love

Where there is love the heart is light,
Where there is lover the day is bright.

Where there is love there is a song,
To help when things go wrong.

Where there is love there is a smile,
To make all things seems more worthwhile.

Where there is love there's quiet peace,
A tranquil place where turmoils cease.

Love changes darkness into light
And makes the heart take "wingless flight"

Oh, blest are they who walk in love,
They also walk with God above.

Helen Steiner Rice

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Our Best Selves

The good you find in others, is in you too.
The faults you find in others, are your faults as well.
After all, to recognize something you must know it.
The possibilities you see in others, are possible for you as well.
The beauty you see around you, is your beauty.
The world around you is a reflection, a mirror showing you the person you are.
To change your world, you must change yourself.
To blame and complain will only make matters worse.
Whatever you care about, is your responsibility.
What you see in others, shows you yourself.
See the best in others, and you will be your best.
Give to others, and you give to yourself.
Appreciate beauty, and you will be beautiful.
Admire creativity, and you will be creative.
Love, and you will be loved.
Seek to understand, and you will be understood.
Listen, and your voice will be heard.
Teach, and you will learn.
Show your best face to the mirror,
and you'll be happy with the face looking back at you.

--- Author Unknown

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

If it’s hurtful and untrue, don’t say it.
If it’s helpful and untrue, don’t say it.
It it’s hurtful and true, don’t say it.
If it’s helpful and true, find the right time.

--- Author Unknown