Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

[Vonnie]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Pay Attention to the Signs on the road of Life

As we travel through life, a prudent traveler pays attention to the road signs along the way.

They are for our own good and make the trip easier and safer.

Remember you can take only one route at a time. Don't be distracted by other's routes.

Pay attention to your own trip. Look for the signs. It is a hard road when you choose to walk by faith, and not by sight, so you must be on the lookout constantly for God's signs.

Use the rest stops. Take comfort, get away, rest in God and His Word. Let God take care of you.

Be patient with detours. They are provided for your protection. They may take a bit longer, but they also may take you on far more interesting roads.

Observe the speed limits. Sometimes you get so caught up in your own progress that you don't pay attention to the needs of others.

God's way isn't always the fastest because it
takes time to care, nurture, listen, and help.

Check your direction. You may be on the right road, but traveling in the wrong direction. Check your map often.

Pray. If you are concerned that you may not be on the right road, read Psalm 40.

Look out for road-closed signs. God places these signs on our road when obstacles in the way would threaten our safety.

Don't be disappointed when things you want don't
come to you. Enjoy the open road.

This is a road with no obstacles to stop or slow you down. It is a time of grace, progress in your faith, and given as an encouragement of your journey.

Enjoy the trip. You don't have to rush through life. Savor the moments along the way.

The journey is just as important as the destination. Remember that your destination leads to life.

Author Unknown

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Most likely, you have a good idea of what you would like to do, and what you would like to accomplish. Do you know why? Behind every desire is a reason, and behind every reason is a purpose. Connect your desire with its deepest underlying purpose, and you'll connect with the strength necessary to achieve that desire.
Achievement requires much effort and commitment, time, energy, and persistence. You're absolutely capable of all that and more, when there's a real, meaningful purpose to what you're doing. But without a clear purpose, you're likely to become discouraged, bored, or frustrated into giving up. By contrast, with a strong, driving purpose behind your efforts you'll find a way to work through any challenge.

There is much you can learn from your dreams and desires, even before you begin to reach for them. Understand the reasons and the purpose behind those dreams, and you will gain a better understanding of who you are.

The more you know about yourself and about what drives you, the more effective every effort and every moment will become. Know why, and the road to your dreams will unfold with every step you take.-- Ralph Marston

[DC]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Drop your networth; Develop your self-worth

Your life purpose is NOT your mission statement. You are more than what you DO. Life purpose starts with WHO YOU ARE at the core. Your networth does not define YOU. Invest in who you are.
Amazingly, Jesus told Peter to "Launch out into the deep!"(St Luke Chp 5 v 1-10) Peter's selfworth way below zero after he had been fishing all night and caught nothing. He was a failure in his livelihood; he was failure in what makes him a man; He-Peter-was a failure.

But Jesus sat down in the very boat that brought him failure and commanded Peter to get out of his despairing position and risk all that he think he is worth; risk all the disappointments of the labor from the night before; risk the pain and humiliation of who he think he is. He fished in the night but Jesus instructed him to go and "let down your nets" in the daylight. Go in daylight and do what you failed at in the dark.

When you get clear about your life purpose, you don't have to struggle as much with your career planning and you will find your wealth in the essence of this challenge: What is my life purpose? What Peter did not realise was that he was ready for this challenge. Jesus looked beyond his networth and relized that Peter's self worth was more than he thought himself to be. He was gross-not networth-material. He was ready for the season of transformation of who he really was.
**When the student is ready, the teacher doth appear**

What are you fishing for?

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

There are no shortcuts to holiness. There is no easy way to conquer the flesh. Christian character is a matter of growth, not of secrets or formulas. Growth takes time. It also takes the discipline of prayer, of study, of heart searching, of sensitivity to the Holy Ghost’s pleading, and of consistent obedience. It must always begin with a renewed thankfulness for the never-ending grace of God, and a sense of being set free repeatedly to a life of holiness...John White

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

From within you

Whatever you seek to attain, seek first to attain it within you. Once it is truly within you, it will begin to expand throughout all of your experience.

The value you create within you can never be lost. Every improvement you make in the quality of your consciousness will always be with you.

The dreams that you'll make real are the dreams that come from the deepest part of you. Nurture and build them first within you, and they'll become so powerful as to be undeniable.

When that which is within you is strong and meaningful, the positive energy will flow outward and can touch every part of your life. And nothing outside of you can diminish it.

Others can point the way and give encouragement. Yet ultimately, you are responsible for taking good care of your inner life. It is well worth the effort. For whatever you attain within, is surely who you truly are.-- Ralph Marston

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Being Dead To Sin

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

---Romans 6:1-14, KJV

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

STAY IN HIS WILL

"Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!" (Matthew 12:50, NLT)

When I was a teenager, my parents had a lot to say about those that I hung around with. They were determined to screen my potential friends and make sure I went in a certain direction. This was not a pleasing experience for me; there were some that I wanted to be with that were not on their list.

They knew about things like the fact that we become who we spend a lot of time with. As much as we like to think that others do not affect us, they do.

They take on a little of us and we take on a little of them. With the jobs that some of have, it is important to associate with people outside of work that think the way we want to think. We want their attitude, not the attitude of many we work with.

If we choose those that are doing the will of the Father, we will be on track. Now, I did not say those that are Christians. Not all who profess that are in His will. I want to be considered Jesus brother, so I want to be with others that are in His will. This helps me to stay there myself.

--- Dick Evans

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

The Strength to Stand...2 Corinthians 4:16-18...Early Lights Daily Devotional

Most of us have heard the old saying about an ounce of prevention being worth more than a pound of cure. We all subscribe to it in theory but sometimes fall far short of applying it consistently in our lives.

How about the fluids in your car? Do you top them off regularly, or do you wait for the warning light to flash before you stick your head under the hood? Preventive maintenance pays well in mechanical matters, but yields even better results in our walk with God. Ask the five foolish girls in (Matthew 25) who failed to “top off their fluids” on that fateful trip to meet the bridegroom. They could tell you something about preventive maintenance and how it supplies strength to stand.

We are good at crying out during emergencies. Prayers flow quite easily from inside the belly of the whale. Listen to what Jonah prayed when he was in that situation: “While I was fainting away, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came to You” (Jonah 2:7). It’s good to remember the Lord while you are fainting, but how much better to remember Him before disaster strikes.

Paul tells us that we don’t have to cave in if our inner man is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16) And Jesus says that we don’t have to faint if we are always praying. (Luke 18:1) We can be on the alert, we can stand firm in the faith, and we can be strong. Daily doses of prevention are God’s prescription for victory in the long run.

[Vonnie]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Paid In Full

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told
him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car.

Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.

Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man
opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold.

Angry, he rose his voice to his father and said "with all your money you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house. Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business.

He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day.

Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He
needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart.

He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt.7:11, "And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?"

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of
his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?

Author Unknown

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

He Giveth More Grace

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercies,
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

--- Annie Johnson Flint

[DC]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

The idea that you can get to a place where you are no longer affected by negative statements and beliefs from others, or your own heart is a powerful idea, isn't it?

Knowing who you are is vital to knowing what you can do. There are a lot of things that have shaped our understanding or lack of understanding of who we are. For one, the environment we were raised in has a profound effect on how far we believe we can or cannot go. Second, our genetic history has some effect on us because our make up is derived from the genes we received from our parents and our ancestors.

Yet there is another part of you, in your deep heart, at a gut level. At this 'gut level' there are things you can know that you do not fully understand yet. Understanding will come as you trust God and not "lean" on your own understanding. We tend to only understand what is safe, secure, familiar and predictable for us.

When we are invited to grow, we hit "roadblocks" of internal resistance that invite fear to get in the way of our future. That's where transition kicks in and we end up in a place of disorientation and cut off from everything we found safe, secure, predicable and familiar.

Life is full of surprises and unexpected things. I trust we all want to experience abundance in our total life experience. Abundant life, however requires that I be willing to change and grow. If I am going to experience lasting change and growth, psychological and spiritual transformation, I have to be willing to take the time to get there. Real change takes time and there are no instant fixes. Becoming aware of the internal roadblocks and the resistance that is there isn't enough. You have to apply with faith those truths that will create a pathway to freedom. You need to layer them again and again and develop a capacity for the in-breaking of new truth to transform you.
Faith is a fact and faith is an act, the difference is in the doing.

Dr Mark Chironna

[Vonnie]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Pray for or with someone today.

[sistagirl]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

We walk by faith, not by sight . . . while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. (2 Corinthians 5:7 and 4:18)

The Christian life is a walk. It is comprised of day by day steps from where we are to where the Lord wants us to go (both spiritually and geographically). This walk is undertaken by faith, not by sight. "We walk by faith, not by sight."

Walking by sight is the natural manner by which human beings walk. This is true both for literal walking, as well as for taking the proverbial journey through life. When engaged in physical walking, people rely upon visual data (along with input from other human
senses: like sound, smell, and touch). Likewise, as the unredeemed are engaged in their trek through life, they set their course and proceed by that which their natural abilities provide. We who know the Lord Jesus Christ cannot walk in this manner in His kingdom. We must walk by faith, by depending upon our Lord, His word, and the work of grace by His Holy Spirit. Spiritual progress is made "while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen."

So often, things are not as they appear to be in the natural. Consider Joseph being sold to slave traders by his jealous and deceitful brothers. It did not look like Joseph was being groomed to be Prime Minister in Egypt. Think of Pharoah and his army closing in on Israel, as they were trapped beside the Red Sea. It did not look like Israel would be delivered, while the Egyptian army would be destroyed. Remember young David standing before gigantic Goliath. It did not look like the giant would be defeated, while David would enjoy a thorough victory. Only eyes of faith could really appreciate what was actually happening.

The cross of our Lord Jesus is undoubtedly the greatest example of things not always being what they appear to be. As Jesus hung upon the cross, it appeared that godless men had defeated the most godly man that ever lived. "Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst . . . Him . . . you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death" (Acts 2:22-23). Yet, in fact, God was at work, preparing a resurrection victory over sin and death for all who would believe. "Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it" (Acts 2:24).

Heavenly Father, I want to walk with You by faith. I desire to respond to the circumstances of life by what You have said in Your word and by what You are able to do. Too many times, I have set my course by sight, relying upon the appearance of things. Teach me to trust in You more and more, in Jesus name, Amen.

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Extinguishing Satan’s Fiery Darts...ROMANS 8:1-6

Failure. The word resonates with meaning. For those in school, it signifies the dread news that their efforts and knowledge were insufficient to pass the subject. For prospective employees, it means they did not get selected for the position. For Christians, it often means we believe we have in some way underperformed, neglected to fulfill our Christian duty, or failed to meet expectations. We are left with a bad feeling—even guilt—because of our sense of failure.

Satan is delighted with emotions like these because he knows how they consume our attention and distract us from the Lord. He wants to draw us away from our heavenly Father, hinder His purposes for us, and deny God the glory and honor due Him in our lives. He does that by attacking our thought life. He sends many flaming arrows our way, one right after another, to confuse us and cause us to sin. Messages of failure or guilt, fear or anxiety, pride or inferiority assault our minds. If he gets us believing even a little bit in any of these messages, he has gained a foothold.

Understanding this, God has given us some specific directions to follow in order to protect our minds. Know who God is, and believe what He says. Know our enemy’s tactics, and believe he is at war against God’s children. Work with the Holy Spirit to strengthen areas of weakness. Cling to God’s truth when negative feelings come. By choosing to believe Scripture, we will stand firm, protected by the shield of faith...Early Lights Daily Devotional

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

CLEANING HOUSE

Last Week I threw out Worrying, it was getting old and in the way.
It kept me from being me; I couldn't do things God's way.
I threw out those Inhibitions; they were just crowding me out.
Made room for my New Growth, Got rid of my old dreams and doubts.

I threw out a book on MY PAST (didn't have time to read it anyway).
Replaced it with New Goals, started reading it today.
I threw out hate and bad memories, (remember how I treasured them so)?
Got me a NEW PHILOSOPHY too, threw out the one from long ago.
Brought in some new books too, called I CAN, I WILL, and I MUST.
Threw out I might, I think and I ought. WOW, You should've seen the dust.

I ran across an OLD FRIEND, haven't seen him in a while.
I believe His name is GOD, Yes, I really like His style.
He helped me to do some cleaning and added some things Himself.
Like PRAYER, HOPE and FAITH, Yes I placed them right on the shelf.

I picked up this special thing and placed it at the front door.
I FOUND IT - its called PEACE. Nothing gets me down anymore.
Yes, I've got my house looking nice. Looks good around the place.
For things like Worry and Trouble there just isn't any place.

Its good to do a little house cleaning, get rid of the old things on the shelf.
It sure makes things brighter; maybe you should TRY IT YOURSELF.

BE BLESSED AND BE A BLESSING TO SOMEONE ELSE!!!!

---Anon