Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Love isn't about becoming somebody else's perfect person. It's about finding someone who helps you become the best person you can be.

--- Author Unknown

[DC]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart.....He will direct your paths.....

Prov. 3v 5-6

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

The Words of Our Mouth
Psalm 19:12-14

Our voices can be tools for great good: we can talk to our heavenly Father on behalf of ourselves and others; we can speak the truth of Jesus Christ and sing praises to Him; we can train, motivate, encourage, and warn; and we can express loving devotion to one another.

However, our voices also have the power to injure. It often starts out with something small—a comment regarding a church policy or a brief conversation about an acquaintance can snowball, causing unforeseen damage. At times, we may express our opinion in a critical way (“Did you see how he . . .?”) or out of curiosity, ask a question that elicits the negative (“Do you know why she . . . ?”) Our questions and comments may sow seeds of doubt and distrust that can hurt another person’s reputation. Another word for such observations is “gossip.”

God has strong words to say about gossips. They separate close friends, betray confidences, and stir dissension. Most alarming of all, in the eyes of God, a gossip’s traveling companions are the unrighteous, wicked, greedy slanderers, and haters of God. ( Romans 1:29-30 ) God takes our words seriously.

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into the truth about your words. Receive the truth and let it transform any heart attitudes that might be prompting gossip. “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart ( Matthew 12:34b ).” Be one who protects the reputation of others, including family, coworkers, and believers. Be a blessing with your words.

---Early Lights Daily Devotional

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

The willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life is the source from which self-respect springs.

--- Joan Didion

[sistactry]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

In everything give Thanks!!

He will keep you and make u not slumber nor sleep!!!

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Controlling Your Thoughts
Colossians 3:1-4

A thought can be happy, pleasant, sad, or depressing. It also can be tempting, the kind of thought that will cause you to question its origin.

As tempting thoughts bear down on us, we may find ourselves surrendering to them and falling into sin. Whether it is for just a moment or for months, tempting thoughts have a way of breaking down our resistance and causing us to rationalize away the action.

Everyone is subject to these tempting thoughts, both Christians and non-Christians. However, as Christians we can prevent these thoughts from lingering in our minds by knowing our position in Christ.

So, what is your position in Christ? If you are a Christian, Christ lives in you, and you are in Him. And if He is in you, then you should honor Him by doing what Paul urges in verse 2: "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth."

If you continue to think like you did before you came to know the Lord, you will never reach the full potential God has for you in this life. Tempting thoughts will come your way. This is not a sin. But dwelling on these thoughts only breeds sin.

Remember, every action you take begins with a thought in your mind. "For as he thinks within himself, so he is" (Proverbs 23:7).

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Why Settle For Less?

Have you ever found yourself settling for less when you know there is so much more to attain? Sort of like settling for crumbs when you can sit at the Master's table?

"We come to Jesus Christ: and He does for us what He promised; and the thing works out. To our amazement, it works out. And then we settle down. We have had our own first-hand and irrefutable experience. But, instead of opening the windows to the glory of the sunshine so evidently there, instead of being incited to a hugeness of faith by what Christ has already done for us, we can't believe that there can be anything more, or that even He can work, for us, anything better. That first foretaste satisfies us. And so we camp for life out on the confines of the Kingdom, and never press on to inherit what is there and meant for us."

--- A. J. Gossip, Experience Worketh Hope

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

The 7 Ups

1. Wake Up!!
Decide to have a good day. "This is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up!!
The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!!
Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!
. . . for what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up!!
. . . to the Lord. "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me". Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up!!
. . . for something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up!!
. . . your Prayers. "Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING." Philippians 4:6

A POSITIVE THOUGHT
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring, and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He could live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart. What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem; not to mention that Friday at Calvary. Face it, He's crazy about you.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Judge Me By the Footprints I Leave Behind

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.

"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring me with me."

"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."

"There's something you should know," the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."

"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."

"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."

"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide.

The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way.

Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.

Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!!

--- Author Unknown.

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Give me a man of God - one man
Whose faith is master of his mind
And I will right all wrongs
And bless the name of all mankind.

Give me a man of God - one man
Whose tongue is touched with heaven's fire
And I will flame the darkest hearts
With high resolve and clean desire.

Give me a man of God - one man
One mighty prophet of the Lord
And I will give you peace on earth
Bought with a prayer and not a sword.

Give me a man of God - one man
True to the vision that he sees
And I will build your broken shrines
And bring the nations to their knees.

---George Liddell

[Vonnie]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

ENRICHING THOUGHTS

The highest aim in life -
To know God and do His will!

The most enriching good habit -
Complimenting others

The most destructive bad habit - Worry
The greatest joy - Giving

The greatest lost - 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 ugliest look - A frown

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 surest way to limit God - Unbelief
The most powerful forces in life - Love

The most dangerous piranha - A gossiper
The Greatest Life-Giver - The Creator

The worlds 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 - A SMILE!
The most prized possession - Self esteem

The most powerful channel of communication - Prayer

The most contagious sprit - Enthusiasm
The most urgent need - SALVATION

The greatest attribute of Jesus - Obedience
The GREATEST - GOD

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Nothing else but seeing God in everything will make us loving and patient with those who annoy and trouble us. They will be to us then only instruments for accomplishing His tender and wise purposes toward us, and we shall even find ourselves at last inwardly thanking them for the blessings they bring us. Nothing else will completely put an end to all murmuring or rebelling thoughts.

--- H.W. Smith

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Praising the Lamb of God
Revelation 5:13-14

I want to challenge you to think about your own worship and service to God. The Word of God teaches us that there are three requirements for offering acceptable praise and worship to our heavenly Father—namely, to know Him, to submit to Him, and to have a pure heart. It is easy to say the words and sing the songs of praise, but how can you and I stand in the presence of almighty God with an impure heart and succeed in genuinely worshiping Him?

We live in an ungodly society where nothing is holy and nothing is sacred. What’s more, nothing really matters to most people. However, even pervasive unbelief does not excuse us from having to come with pure hearts before a holy God. Notice that I did not say we have to be sinless; Instead, I said we must approach the Lord with a pure heart. When we acknowledge our weaknesses before the Lord and repent of our sins, we are still a purchased possession saved by the grace of God—but one with a pure heart.

Before we can ever hope to see a significant spiritual revival break out, we must get an entirely new perspective on the holiness of almighty God: it is a necessity that we see ourselves as absolutely nothing while recognizing Him, on the other hand, as everything. The pursuit of holiness must begin in the house of God, with the people of God. By becoming pure in heart, we will be enabled to truly praise the Lamb: Jesus Christ.

---Early Light Daily Devotional

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

My Child…

You may not know me, but I know everything about you …Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up …Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways …Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered …Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image …Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being …Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring …Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived …Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation …Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book …Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live …Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made …Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb …Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born …Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me …John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love …1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you …1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your father …1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could …Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father …Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand …James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs …Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope …Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love …Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore ...Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing …Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you …Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession …Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul …Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things …Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me …Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart …Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires …Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine …Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager …2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles …2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you …Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart …Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes …Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth …Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus …John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed …John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being …Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you …Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins …2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled …2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you …1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love …Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me …1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again …Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen …Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father …Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…Will you be my child? …John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you …Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad.
Almighty God

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Honor

We must bear in mind the distinction between fame and honor. A virtuous person is an honorable person, a person who ought to be honored by the community in which he or she lives. But the virtuous person does not seek honor, being secure in his or her own self-respect. Lack of honor does not in any way detract from the efficacy of moral virtue as an indispensable operative means in the pursuit of happiness.... Those totally lacking in virtue may achieve fame as readily as, perhaps even more easily than those who are virtuous. Fame belongs to the great, the outstanding, the exceptional, without regard to virtue or vice. Infamy is fame no less than good repute. The great scoundrel can be as famous as the great hero; there can be famous villains as well as famous saints. Existing in the reputation a person has regardless of his or her accomplishments, fame does not tarnish as honor does when it is unmerited.

--- Mortimer J. Adler