Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Giving Thanks

"O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." (Psalm 136:1)

It is good to remember again and again, what the Lord has done for you, thanking Him for all of His benefits. It ignites our hope and our faith. It reminds us, His compassion is never ending, and His mercy is new each and every morning. We know the blessings God has brought into our lives, but remembering them each day, brings them alive again in our hearts and our souls. He forgives us; He has healed us; He makes His ways known to us; He comforts us; He has extended mercy towards us; He has redeemed our lives; He is our protector; He has set us free, and He satisfies our souls like no other. Waking up to face another day, remembering all the blessings and greatness of our God will most certainly cause it to be brighter. Reminding ourselves, it is Jesus Christ who is the one in whom we trust and place our hope.

Prayer

I love You Lord and I thank You for Your abundant mercy. You are my Savior, my Comforter, healer of my soul. You have loved me and accepted me just as I am. Your way is perfect and I trust in You. What a privilege it is to serve You.

--- God Today Devotions.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

It Is Better To Be Alone, Than In the Wrong Company

Tell me who your best friends are, and I will tell you who you are. If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl. But , if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.

A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses. The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate - for the good and the bad. The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity. An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people. As you grow, your associates will change. Some of your friends will not want you to go on. They will want you to stay where they are.

Friends that don't help you climb, will want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream. Those that don't increase you will eventually decrease you. Consider this: Never receive counsel from unproductive people. Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how.

Not everyone has a right to speak into your life. You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person. Don't follow anyone who's not going anywhere. With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest in. Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life. Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships.

Happy moments? Praise God; Difficult moments; Seek God; Quiet moments? Worship God; Painful moments? Trust God; Every moment? Thank God!

If you see people without a smile today, Give them one of yours.

--- Author Unknown.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Loving In Truth

"My little children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18)

Sometimes the truth hurts. We will go to great lengths, not to offend someone and sometimes we go too far. Truth applied with love is beneficial and although it may sting, it will quickly heal and reap much more benefit than harm in the end. It is much easier to pacify someone and remain in their good graces, but this compromise causes us to no longer be true to ourselves, or to the other person. Relationships, no matter what kind, must be based upon truth and honesty; when its not, it will certainly cause a strain on the best of relationships. We must live every part of our lives, according to the truth of God's word. What a disservice, to allow those whom we love to be deceived. Our motivation should always be love and assisting others as their relationship with God flourishes, not condemning and finger pointing. Love must be our motivation in all things. Not only should we speak the truth in love, but also be able to receive it in love.

Prayer

Lord help me to always be true, to myself and others. Holy Spirit give me the wisdom and words of love and truth to share with others. I desire to grow in Your knowledge and truth. Help me to be honest and to speak and receive Your truth in love. Amen.

--- God Today Devotions

[Vonnie]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Thank you Lord for your grace and mercy. Help us all today to be more like you. Amen

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Being Sons of God

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

--- Romans 8:1-15, KJV.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Random Thoughts

"The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause."

--- Mark Twain

"Begin somewhere; you cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do."

--- Liz Smith

"Do not wait for ideal circumstances, nor the best opportunities; they will never come."

--- Janet E. Stuart

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."

--- Helen Keller

"You can have everything in life you want if you'll just help enough other people to get what they want!"

--- Zig Ziglar

"Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone."

--- Gladys Berthe Stern

"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed."

--- Booker T. Washington

"Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves."

--- Dale Carnegie

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

On Forgiveness

To excuse what can really produce good excuses is not Christian charity; it is only fairness. To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. This is hard. It is perhaps not so hard to forgive a single injury. But to forgive the incessant provocations of daily life -- to keep on forgiving the bossy mother-in-law, the bullying husband, the nagging wife, the selfish daughter, the deceitful son -- how can we do it? Only, I think, by remembering where we stand, by meaning our words when we say in our prayers each night, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." We are offered forgiveness on no other terms. To refuse it means to refuse God's mercy for ourselves. There is no hint of exceptions and God means what He says.

--- C. S. Lewis, "On Forgiveness".

[Vonnie]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

James 5:13

Is any one of you in trouble? He shoud pray......


Lord help us to never let adversity get us down --except on our knees.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.

And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example - to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those that will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray for those that don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every m outh that confesses them willingly.

This is my prayer. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

This prayer was shared with me by a friend, and I just wanted to share it as well.

[Vonnie]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Be more concerned with what God thinks about you than what people thinks about you.


Acts 5:29

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said; "We ought to obey God rather than man"

[nini05]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

I couldn't let this thread go. The other day I read from this book of Daily readings. God takes this man to Hell to show him what it is like. There was a table beautifuly prepared with all kinds of food, Fruits deserts and the like. The people were angry and skinny, starving and mean to each other because they had three foot spoons and couldn't get the food into there mouths. The man was disgusted with what he saw and said take me away from here. God took him to heaven and the man saw the same tables, the beautifuly prepared food,the people were singing and joyous. They had the same three foot spoons BUT they were feeding each other.
Thats what we need to do for each other so we can have a little bit of Heaven on earth. This web site does that for me it lets others feed my soul. THANK-YOU to all who put it together. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Just Because!

Just because no one has been fortunate enough to realize what a gold mine you are, doesn't mean you shine any less.

Just because no one has been smart enough to figure out that you can't be topped, doesn't stop you from being the best.

Just because no one has come along to share your life, doesn't mean that day isn't coming.

Just because no one has made this race worth while, doesn't give you permission to stop running.

Just because no one has realized how much of a woman you are, doesn't mean they can affect your femininity.

Just because no one has come to take the loneliness away, doesn't mean you have to settle for a lower quality.

Just because no one has shown up who can love you on your level, doesn't mean you have to sink to theirs.

Just because you deserve the very best there is, doesn't mean that life is always fair.

Just because God is still preparing your king, doesn't mean that you're not already a queen.

Just because your situation doesn't seem to be progressing right now, doesn't mean you need to change a thing.

Keep shining,
Keep running,
Keep hoping,
Keep praying,

Keep being exactly what you are already ...

COMPLETE!

Edited to add: Author Unknown.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Reflection

Introspection is self-improvement and therefore introspection is self-centeredness. Awareness is not self-improvement. On the contrary, it is the ending of the self, of the “I,” with all its peculiar idiosyncrasies, memories, demands, and pursuits. In introspection there is identification and condemnation. In awareness there is no condemnation or identification; therefore, there is no self-improvement. There is a vast difference between the two.

--- Jiddu Krishnamurti

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

The Power to Love
Matthew 18:21-35

As followers of Jesus Christ, we live in the forgiveness of God. That is not to say that God will not discipline us to correct our wrong conduct; however, Jesus paid our sin-debt on the cross so that we could be forgiven for all of our trespasses. What’s more, His substitutionary, atoning death covered every sin—past, present, and future—for all mankind. How, then, can we as Christians not forgive someone else’s sin, for which God Himself has paid the price?

Think about how undeserved Jesus’ horrible death by crucifixion was. Despite His absolute innocence, His enemies conspired to have Him killed. Yet, as He hung on the cross, what did He say about His executioners? “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). He didn’t hold it against them—He was able to forgive.

You might be thinking, But you don’t know how I’ve been mistreated. I just can’t forgive. Yes, you can. Forgiveness is a choice that you and I make. As children of God, we have God’s love on the inside, flowing through us to others. That is the power of love, which enables us to forgive when we have been wronged.

Then you might ask yourself, If someone continues to wrong me, what is the limit? How many times am I to forgive? But “limit” is not even in God’s vocabulary. If we harbor an unforgiving spirit, we ourselves are held prisoner by it. Allow the Lord Jesus to be your example, and forgive as many times as you are wronged, no matter what.

---Early Lights Daily Devotional

[Debbie4344]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection IV

Love

"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved." II Corinthians 12:15

This is the only language that a confused world understands. A love that is not only vocal, but active. It is not what we say, but what we do that counts.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"He therefore that despiseth, despiseth, not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit." I Thessalonians 4:8

Our attitude toward our earthly brother is a good indication how we actually feel toward our Heavenly Father. "Love one another."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

". .. To love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." St. Mark 12:33

It's not what we offer up, but what we think of our fellow man that impresses God. Money without mercy is meaningless.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"And this commandment have we from him, Than he who loveth God love his brother also." John 4:21

God accepts no love that includes Him and excludes our fellow man. This is the identifying mark of a Christian. Does the world recognize you as such?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"For the love of Christ constraineth us..." II Corinthians 5:14

Self gives way to the Saviour when the love of Christ gets control of the heart. What the world needs today is more compassion and less censure.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up." I Corinthians 13:4

Here is a test of true love. It's not all of it, but enough to let us know if we have the real thing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." Ruth 1:16

Love is a mysterious force imparted by God the Father and gloriously shared by His creatures to Love degrees beyond human comprehension and reason. No wonder the Lord said of the first Christians, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." St. Matthew 5:44

If the spirit of Christ surfaces at this point in your life, you will know that you have done more than joined a church. All men will know that "Ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." St. Matthew 22:36-39

The reason the world is in trouble today is because we have made so little over the great commandment. "Love covers a multitude of sins."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." I Thessalonians 4:9

It is not religious talk, but the love of God relived in Christian acts of the believer that will win this world to Jesus. "In word and deed..."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13

Do something Christ-like! Love people. It is not only have we told someone about Jesus, but have we shown them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17

There ought to be a day set aside as "good friend day," and they should be told so. Today would be a good day to say it. "What a friend we have in Jesus." Start with Him. He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Tell Him and others how much you love and appreciate them. "A friend loveth at all times."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father; art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." St. John 17:21

This is a portion of the prayer of Jesus. Everyone of us should do our part in bringing it to pass. He said, "Love one another as I have loved you."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common." Acts 4:32

Genuine Christianity always makes its appearance in the form of great love and compassion for others. "The greatest of these is love."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"And though 1 bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though 1 give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." I Corinthians 13:3

God sees the heart behind the hand and the motive behind the gift.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"I am that bread of life." St. John 6:48

In an age of miracles and mechanism, it is a sad report that half of the world goes to bed with empty stomachs because the other half retires with empty hearts.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"And this is love, that we walk after his commandment." II John 6

A shallow Christian will walk after his own desires, but love will prompt a person to "walk after his commandments." Follow the leader and always make sure that the leader is Christ.