Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Because He Came, We Must Go
Luke 2:40-52

It’s a growing trend among businesses and corporations to compose a mission statement in order to keep focused on what really matters to the company. When we look at Jesus, we see He had a clear focus on His mission. As early as at age 12, He was able to identify His purpose by telling His parents that He had to be about His Father’s business.

As Christians, we need our own personal mission statement. The Great Commission with its global mandate is so vast in scope that we sometimes lose sight of how to implement it at home.

As one bumper sticker puts it, we should “think globally—act locally.” What it means to act locally is well outlined in the lovely old hymn “Brighten the Corner Where You Are.” (I. D. Ogden, 1913) It starts out like this:

Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do; Do not wait to shed your light afar. To the many duties ever near you now be true. Brighten the corner where you are.

We should never underestimate the power of attending to the many duties ever near us. It may mean nothing more than standing in a plot of lentils with Shammah—in 2 Samuel 23:11-12 (kjv), the Bible says that, while all the people were fleeing from the field, Shammah “stood” and “the Lord wrought a great victory.” Your mission right now may be simply to stand. Sometimes that is all it takes for the Lord to bring about a powerful victory.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

God's Waiting Room
by smokey the dog

We’ve all been there.
God’s waiting room that is.

We’ve asked for an appointment with God,
and have been told to wait, he’ll be right with us.

The problem is, a day is like a thousand years, and a
thousand years is like a day with God.

So how long do we have to wait? I mean like we have lives to live,
appointments to keep, stuff to do. We have problems right now Lord!

We pace back and forth on the carpet until it is worn,
and we can see the linoleum floor underneath.

We look at the “religious” prints framed and hanging on the wall
until we know every detail, every smudge on the glass.

We sit on the fading furniture and read the old magazines
till we know every word, and we are stiff from sitting.

So we lean back and stare at the ceiling and try to make something
of the discolored shapes and stains there.

We wonder again for the umteenth time, when is God going to meet us?
He promised! We are children of God! He promised!
We know it chapter and verse, in different translations even!

Then we hear Him call our name, and we suddenly realize,
He’s been right next to us all the time,
But we couldn’t see him.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Loving Relationships

A reporter in USA TODAY quoted a young woman who said of her baseball superstar father: "I don't know why he never spent any time with us. All we wanted him to do was spend time with us. He never liked us." When the athlete was told what she said, he responded, "I don't know what she's complaining about. I just bought her a Mercedes last week."

He obviously didn't realize that a loving relationship has much more value than anything money can buy. This is true in every aspect of our lives. We need people far more than we need possessions.

The apostle Paul highlighted the value of relationships as he closed his letter to the believers in Rome (Rom. 16:1-16). After teaching them deep truths about the gospel, he sent his personal greetings to more than 25 individuals and the people associated with them. His co-workers joined him in sending their greetings. They obviously treasured the friendship of the saints.

Loving relationships! They enrich our individual lives. They encourage us in our Christian faith. They make a house a home. They vitalize our churches. Give yourself to developing loving relationships and you will be greatly blessed. - HVL

--Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries.

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Our Incomparable Companion (Proverbs 18:24), Early Lights Daily Devotional

The Bible expresses caution about making many friends but goes on to add that “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). This is a lovely picture of the Holy Spirit. He’s no fair-weather friend, slipping in and out of our lives when it’s to His advantage. Although His ministry is varied and His accomplishments are many, it is most comforting to know that when He takes up residence within us, He comes to stay forever. Jesus put it this way: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever” (John 14:16).

In most relationships, we try to avoid the use of sweeping negative statements, such as “you are always late,” or “you never remember to call.” Even when we attempt to be positive, it is rare that we can truthfully indulge in generalized superlatives, such as “you are always there for me,” “you never forget my birthday,” or “you have everything in place at all times.”

With the Holy Spirit, however, sweeping statements are in order. Listen to the words the Lord Jesus used to describe Him: “He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26). “He . . . will tell you all about me” (John 15:26). “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you” (John 16:15). How wealthy we are to have the Holy Spirit—He is a Friend who truly sticks closer than a brother!

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Life's Lessons

During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz.

I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.

Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello'." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

--- Anon.

[Ephratahe]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Originally posted by churchgirl:
[qb] WHERE GOD WANTS ME

One day I happened to call a man on business whom I didn't know, have not nor will probably ever talk to again. But this day, he felt like talking.

He was head of security at a company that had invited the remaining members of a company who had been decimated by the attack on the Twin Towers to share their office space.

With his voice full of awe, he told me stories of why these people were alive and their counterparts were dead. All the stories were just little things.

You might know about the head of the company who got in late that day because his son started kindergarten. Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts. There were other stories that I hope and pray will someday be gathered and put in a book.

The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning. He took the various means to get to work, but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive.

Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone ... all the little things that annoy me ... I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment. May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things.

-author unknown- [/qb]

(((Churchgirl))) thanks, I needed that today (and possibly for the rest of the week).

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.

— Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Prize-winning 20th-century American civil rights leader (from his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech)

[Vonnie]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Proverbs 22.6

Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

[DC]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Disipline itself does not produce godliness. We are not made spiritual by being "under the law", depending on our own strength to win God's approval. Rather, the purpose of these disciplines is that we might learn to draw our strength from Christ. Erwin Lutzer

No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown William Penn

[DC]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

So relevant I had to share this also.. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

“First Day of School” Faith

I remember two things about the first day of school. The first was how exciting it was. New clothes. New notebooks. New teacher. On the first day of school, it seemed like the world was full of endless possibilities.

As an adult, I sometimes miss that excitement. Life can be pretty routine at times. When I start feeling that way, it's good to remind myself that while I may be through with first days of school, I have a God who loves to do new things in and through me. He told Isaiah in the Bible, “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth...” (Isaiah 43:19 KJV). God likes to begin new things in our lives. The “first day of school” experience He has for you or me might be a new friend who is going to teach us things we never knew about ourselves. Or it might be a new ministry where we get to see God use us in ways He never has before.

The other thing I remember about the first day of school was how scary it was. What if I couldn't find my classroom? What if I got lost in the hall? What if none of my friends were in my class?

God understands that part of new experiences too. Even though He loves to do new things, the Bible tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 KJV). So even when we face something brand new that seems scary or strange, we can trust that Jesus is always the same. He'll be there for us like He always has been and He'll guide us through. We can count on His character.

So as the new school year begins, whether we’re a part of it or not, let’s ask God to do something new in and through us.

Then we can move forward in confidence knowing that however God answers that prayer, it will be good, because we know He is good.

Holley Gerth, DaySpring

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

God’s Master Plan of Finance...PSALM 37:3-5, 23 (Early Lights Daily Devotional)

Clogged gutters are one of those troublesome homeowner problems. Falling leaves seem to find them a handy resting place. Eventually they pile up so high that there is no place for rainwater to go but over the top of the gutter. The blocked pipe then no longer fulfills its purpose of directing rainwater from the roof to a designated spot on the ground.

There is a parallel here to our Christian life. When we receive new life in Christ, we are to be a channel for the Holy Spirit’s work of blessing in the lives of other people. We are to act as a conduit that God uses to generously pour out His love. However, we tend to get stopped up.

Consider our financial resources. God’s plan is that we are to share what we have received, first with Him through our local church, and then sacrificially with people in need around us. But we look at our bills and our plans, and we want to have a reserve of funds to pay for those projects. So we attempt to accomplish both God’s plan and our own: we give a little to His work and to other people, and a lot to meet our own desires. When we view money as our possession to spend as we choose, we have become a clogged channel.

The Scriptures are clear that all of our resources come from God and belong to Him. He calls on us to give sacrificially according to His plan. Won’t you take a step of faith by surrendering your plans and resources to Him? Then experience God’s delight as you become a free-flowing channel of giving.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

10 Ways to Practice Purity

When you fall in love, it's natural to want to express your love in physical ways. But you also know God wants you to remain sexually pure—in both your actions and your thoughts. Sometimes it's a tough balance, but showing love for another and remaining pure is possible. Here are some suggestions:

1) Keep innocent expressions special. Rather than making the innocent expressions a mere prelude to the "heavier stuff," make the most of them. Let holding hands mean something. Express tenderness by simply putting your arms around each other. Make sure a kiss communicates true feeling and isn't just the first step to further physical involvement.

2) Pace your passion. Every marathon runner knows that you don't use up your energy at the beginning of the race; you need most of it at the end. Pacing your passion means that you realize you're trying to remain pure all the way to your wedding day. It's OK to express your love in little ways, but don't start messing with the package that is sex. To get real practical, avoid French kissing and petting—anything that is sure to ignite the fires of passion.

3) Don't feed your fantasies. It's normal to think about sex sometimes. In fact, with the way advertising and Hollywood exploit sex, it would be impossible not to think about it. So choose your entertainment carefully. Soap operas, certain songs, books, television shows, movies and Web sites only turn up the pressure. Feeding your thought life with junk only makes it harder to remain pure in your actions.

4) Remember whose property you're touching. You do not own the person you're dating. That person belongs to God. Imagine there's a sign on everyone you date that reads: PROPERTY OF JESUS.

5) Make a promise to God, and daily renew your commitment. Decide where you're going to draw the line, and tell God that with his help, you are not going to cross that line until marriage. Don't commit to it unless you mean it, though. The Bible says it's a serious thing to make a vow to God. At the same time, realize that you can't stick to your promise without his help. That's why it's important to renew your commitment daily.

6) Acknowledge Jesus' presence on every date. Before a date, it's normal to spend a lot of time getting ready. After all, you want to look your best. But you also want to make sure you're spiritually prepared. So spend at least as much time in prayer as you do in front of a mirror. As it says in Proverbs 3:6: "Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths."

7) Agree on your standards. Before sex becomes an issue in the relationship, talk about your standards with your boyfriend or girlfriend. Don't dwell only on the negative—what you won't do. Hebrews 10:24 tells us to "encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds." Discuss ways your friendship can help each of you become a better person.

8) Don't always go it alone. Sure, you want to be alone with your date; that's only normal. Yet too much time alone can lead you to do things you'll regret later. Your relationship will be a lot healthier if you spend time with each other's families and friends.

9) Put real love first. Genuine love always respects the other person. It never says, "If you love me, you'll …" Real love says instead, "Since I care about you so much, I will respect you, treat you with kindness, and never ask you to do something you know or feel is wrong."

10) Declare a new beginning. If you think you've already given away too much, don't give up. The beauty of Christianity is that sins are forgiven and erased. You can start over today.

-- by Ron Hutchcraft, Campus Life

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Never a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Happiness

"To get up each morning with the resolve to be happy . . . is to set our own conditions to the events of each day. To do this is to condition circumstances instead of being conditioned by them."

—- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I think myself happy..." (The Apostle Paul, Acts 26:2)

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Fully Alive 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-2:5 (Early Lights Daily Devotional)

Because the apostle Paul understood the limitations of human understanding, he used word pictures to illustrate spiritual concepts. In several letters, Paul wrote about being “alive in Christ.” He pointed out that before Christ rescued us, we were spiritually dead. But once we received Him as Savior, we became alive in Christ. (Romans 6:11) He wanted us to realize we have a new freedom, a new nature, and a new standard of conduct. To show this, he used two word pictures: circumcision and baptism. (Colossians 2:9-17) Neither one presents the complete picture, but together they provide a starting point for us to grasp the glorious foundational truth of being alive in Christ.

If we use human reasoning to understand a spiritual truth like this one, we often become confused. Only through the teaching of the Holy Spirit can we begin to comprehend its full meaning. Besides, God’s living Word is meant to be experienced. We can know the fact that Jesus has given us a new nature, but when we experience this new nature and the freedom it brings, we discover what “alive in Christ” truly means.

Ponder the examples Paul chose— baptism and circumcision. Set aside human logic, and depend on the Holy Spirit for understanding. Believe that you are a new creation—that the old nature has gone and the new one has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Practice what you learn. Spiritual joy will fill your being as you experience the truth of the revealed mystery, “fully alive in Christ.”