Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

A man’s growth is seen in the successive choirs of his friends. For every friend whom he loses for truth, he gains a better.

--- Ralph Waldo Emerson

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

--- Psalm 100, KJV

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

The Lady And Her Neighbor

There’s a little old Christian lady living next door to an atheist. Every morning the lady comes out on her front porch and shouts “Praise the Lord!”. The atheist yells back, “There is no God!”

She does this every morning with the same result. As time goes on the lady runs into financial difficulties and has trouble buying food. She goes out onto the porch and asks God for help with groceries, then says, “Praise the Lord!”

The next morning she goes out onto the porch and there’s the groceries she’s asked for, and of course, she says, “Praise the Lord!”

The atheist jumps out from behind a bush and says, “Ha, I bought those groceries – there is no God!”

The lady looks at him and smiles and shouts, “Praise the Lord! Not only did you provide for me, Lord, you made Satan pay for the groceries!”

"With God, all things are possible." (Mark 19:26, KJV)

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Jesus took on our sicknesses so that you and I could be well (Isaiah 53:10); however, if the truth of God's healing Word never takes root in your heart, then long-lasting health and divine healing will never manifest. Proverbs 23:7 (AMP) says, "As [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he." Entertaining thoughts that do not line up with God's Word will do nothing but hinder Him from answering your prayers where healing and health are concerned. For example, for you to say, "I am sick; I'm going to die" goes against God's Word that says, "...With his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Flood your heart with God's truths and experience the wholeness that is your blood-bought-right! -Dr. Creflo A. Dollar

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

The Riches of the Grace of God...Ephesians 1:1-8

What would it take for you to consider yourself rich? Would it require a healthy bank account? A fancy new car in the garage? The freedom to go online, click a few buttons, and have anything you wanted delivered right to your door?

You may not be so bold as to answer “yes” to the above questions, but does your life reflect this kind of attitude? Sadly, many believers are completely overtaken by the world’s standard of riches.

This happens whether the individual is wealthy or not. For the well-off, the temptation is to see money as the defining characteristic of their lives; for the poor, money becomes the be-all-end-all goal of comfort and satisfaction. You see, greed is no respecter of persons. It attacks rich and poor alike.

What many believers fail to realize is that in Christ, we are all rich. Sure, you may have a mortgage, a monthly car payment, and credit card bills; however, if you have placed your faith in Jesus, you can boldly acknowledge that almighty God has already poured His richest blessings upon you. Hallelujah!

(Ephesians 1:3) says that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. Did you notice the tense of the verb there? He said “blessed,” meaning it has already happened. And, He does not give just a little bit here and there; rather, He lavishly pours out His blessings upon us.

Look beyond your finances today, and prayerfully list all of the blessings in your life....Early Light Daily Devotional

[PamellaRose]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Originally posted by Compry:
[qb] 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 [/qb]

Compry, thank you for this post, I really needed to be reminded of this today. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

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.

SweetRose, thanks for bringing this one back up as I needed the reminder as well.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Freedom of Choice

Many people convince themselves that they "have to" know so much, do so much, and be capable of so much. Seeing life as a series of "have to's" can be destructive. In reality, we don't have to do anything. On the contrary, we choose to do everything. If, in fact, you were governed by "have to's," you would be renouncing all responsibility for your life. Taking full responsibility for your existence on Earth gives you the key to recognizing your freedom of choice.

Of course, consequences follow from our decisions, and become apparent as we actively make choices. If we decide not to choose, there will be consequences nonetheless. Taking a step back from our lives lets us see that what we are, and where we are, results from the choices, conscious or not, that we've made along the way. That's why it's so important to try to be mindful of our choices. Take a moment now to give yourself the freedom to choose, and then think about how it would feel to be without it. What are your choices?

At the point where emotions interact with thought -- where a good mood leads you to think positively -- you can expect emotional intelligence to arise. You need to tap this emotional intelligence to make better choices, which create a better life.

Giving yourself the gift of choice can be overwhelming, especially if you're not in the habit. To help yourself, try to remember your happiest moments. Start this journey into the past by searching for five joyful memories. Once you identify them, dig a little deeper and consider why they made you happy. I promise that by doing this exercise you'll uncover new strength and an ability that will illuminate a goal.

Take care, though, not to be swayed by the events in your life that others deem "successful" or "exciting." It's dangerous to let other people's approbation define happiness for you. Instead, focus on those moments in your life that gave you the most pleasure, regardless of others' reactions.

When you've taken time to find out what you really like to do, the next step is to better understand why it makes you happy. Knowing will help you develop goals that fit your true nature. Aligning your passions with your goals produces a powerful energy that permeates your entire life.

Understanding and giving intention to your goals engenders a depth of meaning that creates a whole that's greater than the sum of its parts. If you feel you've lost the inner fire that propels you along, try to chart a new path for yourself.

Knowing that we have to get up and pay our bills or take out of the garbage isn't what makes us jump happily out of bed every morning. Our goals do that. Goals have to be rich and attractive enough to hold our attention. Psychologists often say that we should have realistic goals that are in proportion to our abilities. This might be true with respect to some goals, but I encourage you to grant yourself the luxurious pleasure of exciting, ambitious dreams. Dare to surpass the confining limits that you yourself have set. Let go of your inhibitions, and reach for a goal that makes your heart sing and your blood run faster in your veins.

Do you dare to achieve your goal? Do you care what other people say? Do you care if they laugh, or gloat over the fact that you didn't succeed? Remember that this isn't about the rest of the world, it's about you. Never abandon a goal that resonates deeply in your heart. That's the same as saying "No" to life. Don't give up on anything that really excites you, even if it looks impossible at first. And don't underestimate the tremendous power that comes from within when you truly believe in your goal and make a commitment to achieving it. That is when you can do the "impossible."

--- by Randi B. Noyes, "Innerself".

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Do Not Worry

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

---Matthew 6:25-27 NIV

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Think on These Things

The most destructive habit...............................Worry

The greatest Joy.........................................Giving

The greatest loss................Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work............................Helping others

The ugliest personality trait..............................Selfishness

The most endangered species......................Dedicated leaders

Our greatest natural resource............................Our youth

The greatest "shot in the arm".....................Encouragement

The greatest problem to overcome.........................Fear

The most effective sleeping pill.............................Peace of mind

The most crippling failure disease...........................Excuses

The most powerful force in life..................................Love

The most dangerous pariah.........................A gossiper

The world's most incredible computer..................The brain

The worst thing to be without.......................Hope

The deadliest weapon................The tongue

The two most power-filled words...................."I Can"

The greatest asset...............................Faith

The most worthless emotion.......................Self-pity

The most beautiful attire.........................SMILE!

The most prized possession.........................Integrity

The most powerful channel of communication........Prayer

The most contagious spirit...........................Enthusiasm

---Anon

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Right Now ...

- Somebody is very proud of you.
- Somebody is thinking of you.
- Somebody cares about you.
- Somebody misses you.
- Somebody wants to talk to you.
- Somebody wants to be with you.
- Somebody hopes you aren't in trouble.
- Somebody is thankful for the support you have provided.
- Somebody wants to hold your hand.
- Somebody hopes everything will turn out all right.
- Somebody wants you to be happy.
- Somebody wants you to find him/her.
- Somebody is celebrating your successes.
- Somebody wants to give you a gift.
- Somebody thinks that you ARE a gift.
- Somebody hopes you're not too cold, or too hot
- Somebody wants to hug you.
- Somebody loves you.
- Somebody admires your strength.
- Somebody is thinking of you and smiling.
- Somebody wants to be your shoulder upon which to cry.
- Somebody wants to go out with you and have a lot of fun.
- Somebody thinks the world of you.
- Somebody wants to protect you.
- Somebody would do anything for you.
- Somebody wants to be forgiven.
- Somebody is grateful for your forgiveness.
- Somebody wants to laugh with you.
- Somebody remembers you and wishes that you were there.
- Somebody is praising God for you.
- Somebody needs to know that your love is unconditional.
- Somebody values your advice.
- Somebody wants to tell you how much he/she cares.
- Somebody wants to share his/her dreams with you.
- Somebody wants to hold you in his/her arms.
- Somebody wants YOU to hold him/her in your arms.
- Somebody treasures your spirit.
- Somebody wishes to STOP time because of you.
- Somebody praises God for your friendship and love.
- Somebody can't wait to see you.
- Somebody loves you for who you are.
- Somebody loves the way you make him/her feel.
- Somebody wants to be with you.
- Somebody wants you to know they are there for you.
- Somebody is glad that you're a friend.
- Somebody wants to be your friend.
- Somebody stayed up all night thinking about you.
- Somebody is alive because of you.
- Somebody is wishing to be noticed by you.
- Somebody wants to get to know you better.
- Somebody wants to be near you.
- Somebody misses your advice/guidance.
- Somebody has faith in you.
- Somebody trusts you.
- Somebody needs you to send this letter.
- Somebody needs your support.
- Somebody needs you to have faith in him/her.
- Somebody will cry when reading this.
- Somebody needs you to let him/her be your friend.
- Somebody hears a song that reminds him/her of you.

---Author Unknown

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

WHO TOOK YOUR PLACE?

One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car, and got out. Another car pulled up near and the driver got out and said, "I always Park there! You took my place!"

The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my Seat! You took my place!"

The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.

After Sunday School, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always Sit! You took my place!"

The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still he said nothing.

Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?"

The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, "I took your place."

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

The Grace to Keep Going
2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When you listen to someone speak, what gives their words “weight”? Why should you heed what they say? Most often, we measure a person’s message against his experience.

Therefore, when we come to the apostle Paul’s discussion of God’s sufficiency, we ask, “Is this something Paul can really talk about?” We see from his life that the answer is a resounding YES.

The apostle’s personal testimony reviews some of the hardships that confronted him. (2 Corinthians 11:22-28) He was imprisoned, beaten, threatened, stoned, shipwrecked, robbed, chased, and mocked throughout his entire ministry. On top of all this, he had a persistent, unrelenting “thorn” oppressing his body. (2 Corinthians 12:7-8 )

You’d think that God would keep His best servants in perfect health. Yet, here we see that although Paul prayed for relief, God’s answer was not what he expected. Rather than bringing a grand, sweeping cure, Paul received a deeper answer: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Through that difficulty, God taught Paul a vital lesson: It does not matter how weak we think we are, or how oppressed, or how downtrodden. In God’s hands, we can do amazing things.

Perhaps you struggle with your own “thorn.” If so, rather than praying for a quick fix, ask God what He wants to accomplish through your weakness. Your human frailty just may be the vessel through which God can display His unlimited power to the world....Early Lights Daily Devotional

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

Integrity

It is not what we eat
but what we digest
that makes us strong;
not what we gain
but what we save
that make us rich;
not what we read
but what we remember
that makes us learned;
and not what we profess
but what we practice
that gives us Integrity.

--- Anonymous

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection III

This Is My Bible!

I have what it says I have.
I can do what it say I can do.
Today, I will be taught the Word of God.
I boldly confess, that my mind is alert.
That my heart is receptive.
I am about to receive the incorruptible,
ever living seed of the Word of God.
I will never be the same.
Never, never, never!!!
I will never be the same.
In Jesus' name,
AMEN!

---SWAT Ministries