Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3).

God wants you whole. If you trust Him and keep your thoughts focused on Him and His Word instead of on your present situation, your welfare, safety, health and prosperity will be complete...Creflo Dollar

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

The Favorable Hand of the Lord...Proverbs 8 (Early Lights Daily Devotional)

It is hard to think of Jesus as ever needing improvement or growth of any kind, but the Word of God tells us that He “kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). As God, He was complete and had everything, but as a human being, He had to grow in wisdom and favor. So do we.

When we become children of God by placing our faith in Jesus, we are fully accepted and deeply loved regardless of our behavior. It is not possible for God to love us more at some times than at others, because He is love and cannot stop loving. But favor is a different story. It can be conferred or withdrawn by our Father. It is up to us, therefore, to choose the paths that lead to His favor. These paths are outlined throughout the Bible. And some of them are specifically described in Proverbs chapter eight.

Here we find wisdom calling in the streets and inviting the simple to come. She finishes her discourse by saying that “he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord” (v. 35). This passage goes on to teach that obtaining wisdom and favor is not a one-time event. It is a growing process that includes some very specific steps. First, we have to listen and keep her ways. Then we are advised to heed instruction and not neglect it. And finally, we are exhorted to watch daily and wait at her doorposts. (verses 32-34) Listening, heeding, keeping, watching, and waiting—these are some steps to growing in favor with God.

[DC]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

"It is not my business to think about myself. My business is to think about God. It is for God to think about me."

Simone Weil

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

It's Friday.

Jesus and Satan have an argument as to who is the better computer programmer. This goes on for a few hours until they agree to hold a contest with God as the judge.

They set themselves before their computers and begin. They type furiously for several hours, lines of code streaming up the screen.

Seconds before the end of the competition, a bolt of lightning strikes, taking out the electricity. Moments later, the power is restored, and God announces that the contest is over. He asks Satan to show what he has come up with. Satan is visibly upset, and cries, "I have nothing! I lost it all when the power went out."

"Very well, then," says God, "let us see if Jesus fared any better."

Jesus enters a command, and the screen comes to life in vivid display, the voices of an angelic choir pour forth from the speakers. Satan is astonished.

He stutters, "But how?! I lost everything yet Jesus' program is intact! How did he do it?"

God chuckles, "Jesus saves."

[Jiggry]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

One Easter I went to Church and afterwards went home to an empty room. My first time being away from loved ones and Friends. I was a Missionary and far away without Telephone, Money and all those luxuries we get so used to. I was crying and sought the Lord for help. He answered in this Poem He gave to me:

Never Alone

I feel alone, so alone
And yet, I am not really alone,
For God who is ominpresent
Is always with me.

I feel alone, so alone
Because I do not call,
Just an indication that I'm in need
Will bring Him to me.

Loneliness was not meant to be,
God has always had a friend for me,
One who is closer than a brother,
This Friend is to me.

Now I am no longer alone,
As I am never alone,
My Jesus in me and I in Him,
This makes two of me.

My words of encouragement to you this day is to look to Jesus to fill that void that emptiness in your heart that being alone can cause. Jesus cares and because He loves us He will answer when we call and fill our hearts with so much love that we would want to reach out to someone else in need. God bless you richly.

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.

He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy-when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

In the demonstration of acts of kindness, you never know who you will meet.

One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, She decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her - generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi cab. She seemed to be in a big hurry! She wrote down his address, thanked him and drove away. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read:

"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night.

The rain drenched not only my clothes but my spirits. Then you came along.

Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away.

God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole"

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

If music be the food of love,
Sing on till I am fill'd with joy;
For then my list'ning soul you move
To pleasures that can never cloy.
Your eyes, your mien, your tongue declare
That you are music ev'rywhere.
Pleasures invade both eye and ear,
So fierce the transports are, they wound,
And all my senses feasted are,
Tho' yet the treat is only sound,
Sure I must perish by your charms,
Unless you save me in your arms.

--- by Colonel Henry Heveningham , first line by William Shakespeare (1564-1616), from Twelfth Night.

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

The key to experiencing the peace of God is as simple as believing Him. Not only must we believe in Him; we must also trust what He says. He always has our best interest in mind, and He knows the end from the beginning. Trusting His motive and purpose makes all the difference in the world....Excerpt from today's Early Lights devotional

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Although we do not usually see it, God is actively involved in every area of our lives. His invisible hand is at work providing and protecting. Even if your life is surrounded by a storm, you can still have peace knowing God is in control.

--- Michael Bronson, Finding the Elusive Will of God.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.

The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm. When the storms of life come upon us - and all of us will experience them - we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God's power to lift us above them.

God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.

The Bible says, "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles." Isaiah 40:31

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

The Ultimate Rejection...Matthew 11:28-30 (Early Lights Daily Devotional)

Many people—perhaps even you—have a difficult time accepting the fact that some individuals do not go to heaven when they die. They may argue, “Well, I just don’t believe in a God that would send anyone to hell. A good God would never do such a thing.” But is this a fair assumption?

After all, (1 John 4:16) tells us that God is love, and the whole idea of hell seems to cut against the very notion of love, doesn’t it? At first glance, I suppose it might. However, if we want to have a mature, growing relationship with God, we cannot settle for shallow, cursory glances at Scripture. We have to get into it and discover the truth of the whole Word of God.

With this in mind, we look at (John 3:16), in which Jesus declares that God, in His amazing love, gave His only Son to provide for mankind’s salvation. We also see in (Hebrews 10:8-14) that we were in need of a once-for-all sacrifice to wipe away our sins, and so Christ came down and met that need. Further, we see the beautiful, poignant call of Christ in (Matthew 11:28): “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

You see, God is not some frightening warlord who wants us to cower in fear. Instead, He is a loving, gracious, saving Father whose great desire is to know you intimately and eternally. When we refuse to engage in that relationship, we—not God—are the ones guilty of the ultimate rejection.

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends....George Mullen

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

Get Out of Your Own Way

Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it:
<ul type="square">[*]Your words, your dreams, and your thoughts have power to create conditions in your life.[/list]
<ul type="square">[*]What you speak about, you can bring about.[/list]
<ul type="square">[*]If you keep saying you can't stand your job, you might lose your job.[/list]

<ul type="square">[*]If you keep saying you can't stand your body, your body can become sick.[/list]

<ul type="square">[*]If you keep saying you can't stand your car, your car could be stolen or just stop operating.[/list]

<ul type="square">[*]If you keep saying you're always broke, guess what? You'll always be broke.[/list]

<ul type="square">[*]If you keep saying you can't trust a man or trust a woman, you will always find someone in your life to hurt and betray you.[/list]

<ul type="square">[*]If you keep saying you can't find a job, you will remain unemployed.[/list]

<ul type="square">[*]If you keep saying you can't find someone to love you or believe in you, your very thoughts will attract more experiences to confirm your beliefs.[/list]

<ul type="square">[*]Turn your thoughts and conversations around to be more positive and power packed with faith, hope, love and action.[/list]

<ul type="square">[*]Don't be afraid to believe that you can have what you want and deserve.[/list]

<ul type="square">[*]Watch your "thoughts," they become words.[/list]

<ul type="square">[*]Watch your "words," they become actions.[/list]

<ul type="square">[*]Watch your "actions," they become habits.[/list]

<ul type="square">[*]Watch your "habits," they become character.[/list]
<ul type="square">[*]Watch your "character," for it becomes your "Destiny."[/list]

GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY!

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection II

The Influence of Attitude

"The reality of life is that your perceptions - right or wrong - influence everything else you do. When you get a proper perspective of your perceptions, you may be surprised how many other things fall into place." - Roger Birkman

"You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you." - James Allen

"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve." - Napoleon Hill