Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

Thoughts on Love

"It is probably not love that makes the world go around, but rather those mutually supportive alliances through which partners recognize their dependence on each other for the achievement of shared and private goals." --- Fred Allen

"Love is, above all, the gift of oneself." --- Jean Anouilh.

"Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible -- it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could." --- Barbara De Angelis

"Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not boast and is not arrogant; does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not impute evil, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; covers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never falls...But now continue in faith, hope, and love--these three; but the greatest of these is love." --- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, 13 (MSG)

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

A newly arrived soul in Heaven was met by St. Peter. The saint toured the soul around Heaven. Both of them walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels.

St. Peter stopped in front of the first section and said, "This is the Receiving Section. Here, all the petitions to God said in prayer are received".

The soul looked at the section, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets from all the people of the world.

They walked again until they reached the 2nd section, and St. Peter told the soul, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section".

Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are packed and delivered to the persons who asked for them down on earth.

The soul saw how busy it was. There were so many angels working in that room, since so many blessing were being packed and delivered to Earth.

Finally at the farthest corner of the room, the soul stopped at the last section. To the surprise of the soul, only one angel stayed there idly, doing nothing.

"This is the Acknowledging Section," St. Peter told the soul.

"How is it that, there is no work here?"

"That's the sad thing," St. Peter answered. "After the people received the blessings they asked for, very few send their acknowledgements".

"How does one acknowledge God's blessing?"

"Simple," St. Peter answered. "Just say, "'Thank you, Lord'."

Thank you Lord, for giving me the chance to share this message with others and also, for giving me so many wonderful people to share this with.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep .. you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness...you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death ..you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If your parents are still alive and still married.. you are very rare.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder.. you are blessed because you can offer healing touch.

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

[DC]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

We must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or our intellect; our capacity in spiriutal things is measured on the basis of the promises of God. Is God able to fulfil HIs promises?

All the promises of God in Him are Yes and in Him Amen....2Corinthians 1:20

Oswald Chambers

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

The Guy In The Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self,
And the world makes you King for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife,
Who judgement upon you must pass.
The feller whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He's the feller to please, never mind all the rest,
For he's with you clear up to the end,
And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,
And think you're a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you've cheated the guy in the glass.

--- Dale Wimbrow, 1895-1954

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

I asked God...

I asked God why I wasn't rich.
He showed me a man with the wealth of a thousand kings, who was lonely, and had no one to share it with.

I asked God why I wasn't beautiful.
He showed me a woman more beautiful than any other, who was ugly because of her vanity.

I asked God why He'd allowed me to become old.
He showed me a boy of 16, who lay dead at the scene of a car accident.

I asked God why I didn't have a bigger house.
He showed me a family of six, who had just been evicted from their tiny shack, and were forced, to live on the street.

I asked God why I had to work.
He showed me a man, who couldn't find a decent job, because he'd never learned to read.

I asked God why I wasn't more popular.
He showed me a socialite with a thousand friends, who all left the moment the money and parties were no longer there.

I asked God why I wasn't smarter.
He showed me a natural born genius, serving life in prison for making ill use of his knowledge.

I asked God why He put up with a thankless sinner like me.
He showed me His Bible.
He showed me His Son who took my place at the judgment.

I knew then how much He loved me.

---Anon.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.---John 3:16

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

Thoughts on Integrity

"People whose integrity has not been damaged in childhood, who were protected, respected, and treated with honesty by their parents, will be-both in their youth and in adulthood-intelligent, responsive, empathic, and highly sensitive. They will take pleasure in life and will not feel any need to kill or even hurt others or themselves. They will use their power to defend themselves, not to attack others. They will not be able to do otherwise than respect and protect those weaker than themselves, including their children, because this is what they have learned from their own experience." --- Alice Miller

"Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful." --- Samuel Johnson

"A little integrity is better than any career." --- Ralph Waldo Emerson

[JesusDread]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

Be gentle, showing compassion for other men’s faith being careful not to seem judgmental or pumped up. You too were once of little or no faith till your revelation. Let your faith shine in a way that attracts others and not blind them to the liberty you walk in.

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

We all, with unveiled face, beholding...the glory of the Lord... (2 Corinthians 3:18)

A servant of God must stand so very much alone that he never realizes he is alone. In the early stages of Christian life, disappointmens will come--people who used to be lights will flicker out, and those who used to stand with us will turn away. We have to get so used to it that we will not even realze we are standing alone. Paul said, ...no one stood iwth me, but all forsook me...(2 Timothy 4:16-17). We must build our faith not on fading lights but on the Light that never fails. When important individuals go away we are sad, until we see that they are meant to go, so that only one thing is left for us to do---to look into the face of God for ourselves.

Allow nothing to keep you from looking with strong determination into the face of God regarding yourself and your doctrine. And every time you preach make sure you look God in the face about the message first, then the glory will remain through all of it. A Christian servant is one who perpetually looks into the face of God and then goes forth to talk to others. The ministry of Christ is characterized by an abiding glory of which the servant is totally unaware---...Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him (Exodus 34:29)

We are never called on to display our doubts openly or to express the hidden joys and delights of our life with God. The secret of the servant's life is that he stays in tune with God all the time.

-- Oswald Chambers -My Utmost for His Highest- April 22nd

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

Patience

"Do not change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect." (Romans 12:2, NCV)

If you had to make a choice between God's time and your time, which would you choose? I thought so. So, rest in the Lord. Don't think you can handle everything on your own. Don't let the tension and tumult of present-day living distract you from waiting on God's perfect timing.

God will see to it that all you really need, you can have. But it has been said that the mills of the gods grind slowly. Picture a great wheel dipping into the stream of history, a great wheel that keeps rolling with a slow and certain motion. Think of this slow and certain wheel as God's wheel. It never makes mistakes; it is unerring. Its slow, sure movement will grind out justice. God doesn't always win in a hurry, but He always wins."

--- Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, 'Guideposts'.

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

Readiness For The Rough Times
1 Peter 1:13-16

You never want it to happen, but when tragedy or difficult trials strike your life, you must be prepared. Your reactions to these situations demonstrate to God and others if you really believe what you confess to believe. Here are five steps to help prepare you for rocky times: Remove all hindrances to your daily walk. Get rid of anything that’s distorting your mind and attitude. If you can’t see and hear God clearly, then you’re not going to be able to obey Him. Resolve to keep balanced in your judgment. Don’t look for a temporary solution to fix your problem, even though that’s your natural tendency. Trust God to give you discernment. Recognize that your hope is in Christ. When you begin suffering, you should remain joyful, knowing that God has a design and purpose behind this experience. Resist the temptation to return to your former lifestyle. Your old life before Christ was one of fulfilling your desires, a life that was empty. Don’t fall back into that trap. Realize that holiness is the only acceptable goal for the believer. We are holy as a result of our submission to the Holy Spirit, not through our actions. When we prepare ourselves for the rough times this way, our faith won’t be shaken.

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

On Conquering Your Fears...

"You cannot conquer what you cannot confront, and you cannot confront that which you cannot identify." --- Pastor Paula White.

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

The Choices We Make
Galatians 5:13-16

A person does not consider the pros and cons of walking through the wide gate and taking the path that leads to destruction. Instead, he or she drifts onto that path without thinking of the consequences. The narrow gate is different—we must deliberately choose to pass through it and take the sparsely populated way to heaven.

Walking on the narrow road requires faith, discipline, and determination. We must be reading the Bible daily and maintaining an active prayer connection to God. By surrendering our lives to Christ, we keep our hearts on the narrow road.

Truthfully, we all have desires—our fleshly appetites—over on the easier pathway. We are each tempted to sin. As we choose to give in to temptation, our feet may remain on the narrow road, but our hearts return to the broad way. The more we choose to participate in sinful actions and attitudes, the deeper our heart is embedded in the worldly way.

We tell ourselves that we are achieving freedom and that it is our right to do what we want. However, the truth is, we are grasping at false contentment while the “genuine article” awaits us if we just return to obeying God. And we are not the only ones injured by our rebellion. Fellow travelers on the broad way are watching us. When we act just like them, they make a judgment: “Hypocrite!” In that way, we lose our testimony.

The narrow way may be hard to follow, but God promises constant aid and great reward—salvation and joy now; heaven later. Have you chosen the narrow gate?

---Early Lights Daily Devotional, In Touch Ministries

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

Guard Your Tongue

"A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything--or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue--it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you? Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts." --- James 3:3-13, MSG

"The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction; the common sense of the godly preserves them." --- Proverbs 11:9, MSG

"Silence cannot be misquoted." --- Pastor Paula White

[Guest]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

What You Will Get

"I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go" (Jeremiah 45:5)

This is the firm and immovable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him--"I will give your life to you..." What more does a man want than his life? It is the essential thing. "...your life...as a prize..." means that wherever you may go, even if it is into hell, you will come out with your life and nothing can harm it. So many of us are caught up in exhibiting things for others to see, not showing off property and possessions, but our blessings. All these things that we so proudly show have to go. But there is something greater that can never go--the life that "is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3).

Are you prepared to let God take you into total oneness with Himself, paying no more attention to what you call the great things of life? Are you prepared to surrender totally and let go? The true test of abandonment or surrender is in refusing to say, "Well, what about this?" Beware of your own ideas and speculations. The moment you allow yourself to think, "What about this?" you show that you have not surrendered and that you do no really trust God. But once you do surrender, you will no longer think about what God is going to do. Abandonment means to refuse yourself the luxury of asking any questions. If you totally abandon yourself to God, He immediately says to you, "I will give your life to you as a prize..." The reason people are tired of life is that God has not given them anything--they have not been given their life "as a prize." The way to get out of that condition is to abandon yourself to God. And once you do get to the point of total surrender to Him, you will be the most surprised and delighted person on earth. God will have you absolutely, without any limitations, and He will have given you your life. If you are not there, it is either because of disobedience in your life or your refusal to be simple enough.

--My Utmost for His Highest (April 28th) --Oswald Chambers

[Diplomat]

Re: Take 5 - A Moment of Reflection V

Let Go

Just as the bird has to find the courage to let go of the branch in order to fly, so we also must let go of our branches if we are to know the exhilaration of soaring to the highest potential of our life. The branches we hold to are our inner attachments - our beliefs, ideas and memories. And then there are the outer attachments - people, possessions, positions and privileges are a few. But as long as we hold on to them we will live in fear (of letting go and loss) and we will never be free. And just watch those birds, by letting go of one branch they are able to spend the rest of their life alighting on a million other branches, and they enjoy the view from each. Are you flying and soaring in your life, or are you stuck on one branch, cursing others as they fly past? Go on, try it...let go!

--- Author Unknown