Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

[Diplomat]

As with the Parts I & II, this thread is not about discussions, but rather the posting of any inspirational piece - a poem, a verse, a paragraph from a book, sayings - that you may have found personally encouraging, and wish to share with other members.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the day, we all could use a moment of quiet reflection to regain our balance, and the restoration of our inner peace.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek; I want to drink God, deep draughts of God. I'm thirsty for God -- alive. I wonder, "Will I ever make it -- arrive and drink in God's presence?" I'm on a diet of tears--tears for breakfast, tears for supper. All day long people knock at my door, pestering, "Where is this God of yours?"

These are the things I go over and over, emptying out the pockets of my life. I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd, right out in front, Leading them all, eager to arrive and worship, shouting praises, singing thanksgiving -- celebrating, all of us, God's feast!

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God -- soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.

When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, From Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar. Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. Then GOD promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God's prayer.

Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God, "Why did you let me down? Why am I walking around in tears, harassed by enemies?" They're out for the kill, these tormentors with their obscenities,
Taunting day after day, "Where is this God of yours?"

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God -- soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.

Psalm 42, The Message Translation

[Vonnie]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Trust Your Lord

Take the Saviour's loving hand
and do not try to understand.
Just let Him lead you where He will
Through pastures green, by waters still
And place yourself in His loving care
And he will gladly help you bear
Whatever lies ahead of you
He will see you safely through
No earthly pain is ever too much
if God bestows His merciful touch.

HSR

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

This one reminds me of you. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

The inner you

The innermost part of you can only be reached by those things you allow. Though the world around you may be filled with turbulence and noisy confusion, the inner you can be at peace at any time.

Others may hurl insults or anger or disruption in your direction, and such things will often affect your outer world. Yet deep inside, it does not have to get to you.

Deep inside, you can remain strong, confident and peaceful, affected only by the things you truly value and desire. The stronger and more positive you are on the inside, the more that strength will surely and steadily make its way to the outside as well.

Yes, you can allow the negative and disruptive things to get to you, to affect you all the way to your very core. And yet, you can just as surely keep them out. On the inside, when you choose, you can stay strong, confident, and true to your highest purpose. And that strength will, without fail, radiate outward.

You cannot always control your outer world, yet you can always choose to fill the inner you with strength, with faith, with confidence, with love. Put positive energy into the inner you, and the rest of you will benefit greatly.-- Ralph Marston

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Courage does not always roar. Sometimes, it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow".- Anonymous

[Vonnie]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Count Your Blessings

Today I stood at my window and cursed the pouring rain
Today a desperate farmer prayed for his fields of grain

My weekend plans are ruined, it almost makes me cry
While the farmer lifts his arms and blesses the clouded sky.

The alarm went off on Monday and I cursed my work routine,
Next door a laid off mechanic feels the empty pockets of his jeans.

I can't wait for my vacation, some time to take for me,
He doesn't know tonight how he'll feed his family.

I cursed my leaky roof and the grass I need to mow,
A homeless man downtown checks for change in the telephone.

I need a new car, mine is getting really old,
He huddles in a doorway, seeking shelter from the cold.

With blessings I'm surrounded, the rain, a job, a home, Though my eyes are often blinded by the things I think I own.

Author Unknown

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

I believe in God like I believe in the sun rise. Not because I can see it, but because I can see all that it touches. - C.S. Lewis

[Vonnie]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Life is a Mixture of sunshine and Rain


Life is a Mixture of Sunshine and Rain
Laughter of teardrops, pleasure and pain

Low tides and high tides, mountains and plains
Triumphs, defeats, and loses and gains

But always in all ways God's guiding and leading
And he alone knows the things we're most needing

And when He sends sorrow or some dreaded affliction, be assured that it comes with God's kind benediction;

And if we accept it as a gift of His love, We'll be showered with blessings from our Father above.

HSR

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Justification & Reconciliation

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:...For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

Romans 5:1-12,19(KJV)

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

"Chickens Can't Fly"

Don't spend major time with minor people. If there are people in your life that continually disappoint you, break promises, stomp on your dreams, too judgmental, have different values and don't have your back during difficult times...that is not a friend.

To have a friend, be a friend. Sometimes in life as you grow, your friends will either grow or go. Surround yourself with people who reflect your values,goals interests and lifestyle. When I think of any of my successes, I am thankful to GOD from whom all blessings flow, and to my family and friends that enrich my life. Over the years my phone book has changed because I changed for the better. At first you think you're going to be alone, but after a while new people show up in your life that make your life so much sweeter and easier to endure.

Remember what your elders used to say, "Birds of a feather flock together." If you're an eagle, don't hang around chickens: Chickens Can't Fly!

--- Author Unknown

[Vonnie]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

True peace is not the absence of war but the presence of God.

Our Daily Bread

[Queen]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

In Romans 12:2 we read, “Do not be conformed to this world…” Whatever you do now, it should not conform to this world’s way of thinking. In order to be transformed, you must renew your mind every day. When the renewed mind lines up with the conversation that is in your heart, you are a new creature – completely, inside and out. The only way your renewed mind can fail to come into harmony with your new heart is by your choice. You must choose whether to follow the stubborn habits that are stored in your memories or to submit to the wisdom that flows out of your new heart.

Juanita Bynum Weeks

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Success is not a secret. It is a choice that is made over and over again. Success is not something that can be denied to you. It is something that you can always choose to accept.
How do you accept success? You accept success by making the effort instead of making excuses. You accept success by taking responsibility instead of counting on someone else to do it for you. You accept success by being truthful with others and, just as importantly, with yourself.

You accept success when things get tough, by being positive and innovative instead of becoming despondent. You accept success by being who you are and by contributing what you can, rather than pretending to be someone else.

Every day you can choose either to accept success or to just let it pass you by. With each thought, each word, each action, choose to accept success.-- Ralph Marston

[DC]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

A virtuous woman is a woman of spirit, who has the command of her own spirit and knows how to manage other people's.

A virtuous woman is a woman of resolution, who, having espoused good principles, is firm and steady to them, and will not be frightened with winds and clouds from any part of her duty.
Who can find her?


Matthew Henry's Commentary

[DC]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Before we can be filled with the Spirit, the desire to be filled must be all-consuming. It must be for the time the biggest thing in the life, so acute, so intrusive as to crowd out everything else. The degree of fullness in any life accords perfectly with the intensity of true desire.
We have as much of God as we actually want

A.W. Tozer