Read this...and respond to me today

Proverbs 27:17 – Who Sharpens You?
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17 ESV)

When you are stuck in sin, what are you compelled to do? Are you compelled to engage other believers and prayerfully work through sin’s power in your life? Hopefully that is the case, but for many believers we urge ourselves to withdraw, retract, and disengage from those who would walk through our sin with us. This is the last thing we should do! It can be embarrassing admitting we have messed up.

Let us remember, as Christians, we are called to confess our sins to one another (James 5:16).  This is not an irrational rule meant to shame us into compliance. Contrarily, it is intended for our benefit and building one another up in love and grace. What we seem to forget is that what we struggle with others have or do as well. Our Christian brother or sister has already been through what we have and can be there to help us through it. Don’t let pride keep you in sin!! We may be grieved by our sin but continue to live in it because we aren’t confessing it and being sharpened in our fight against it. Repentance is much more than feeling sorry about our sin, it is literally turning around and going the opposite direction.  Rather than living in the dark and returning to sin, confess your sin to a brother or sister and stay accountable to him or her. When this happens, you will find you both become sharper, more useful tools for the Lord.

Who sharpens you?

Prov. 28:2

Proverbs 28:2 – Transgression as Idolatry
When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue. (Proverbs 28:2)

Today, let’s do something a little different, and outline, unpack, and apply Proverbs 28:2.

When a land transgresses,…

What is transgression? Transgression is sin, or leaving the bounds of right relationship with God. It is idolatry because it flows from our hearts being satisfied with things far below God (Psalm 16:11).

…it has many rulers,…

What’s wrong with many rulers? When we transgress the bounds of our devotion and relationship with God, we submit to the rule of the false gods (idols) that we pursue. However, rather than serving a God who is One (Deuteronomy 6:4-6) and unchanging, we are ruled by many gods unified in chaos and destruction. Their rule will always result in strife, enmity, and the degradation of relationships.

What’s so bad about idolatry? Transgression is idolatry, and as we can see, idolatry is tyranny—or being ruled by a really, really bad king(s). This is because it puts us under the strangle hold of spiritual oppression which keeps us locked up in chains, instead of free as Jesus wants us (John 8:32).

…but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue.

What does it look like to have understanding and knowledge? The picture of transgression is contrasted with the man (or people) of understanding and knowledge. The combination of the two can and should be understood as wisdom; which begins with the fear of the One true God (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10), and the pursuit of him alone.

Is there chaos in your life? Is there destruction, strife, or enmity? Trace the areas of struggle and strain back to the roots of idolatry, repent, and know peace.

Be aware but not afraid!

Morning reflection

How can you walk in greater boldness with the Lord and still maintain wise counsel? What will this look like in your life, or those around you?

Men lets gather!

Jeremiah 5:26-31 – A Transformation Towards a Relationship
For wicked men are found among my people;
they lurk like fowlers lying in wait.
They set a trap;
they catch men.
Like a cage full of birds,
their houses are full of deceit;
therefore they have become great and rich;
they have grown fat and sleek.
They know no bounds in deeds of evil;
they judge not with justice
the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper,
and they do not defend the rights of the needy.
Shall I not punish them for these things?
declares the Lord,
and shall I not avenge myself
on a nation such as this?”
An appalling and horrible thing
has happened in the land:
the prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests rule at their direction;
my people love to have it so,
but what will you do when the end comes? (Jeremiah 5:26-31, ESV)

Tell me this doesn’t sound familiar.

It isn’t about putting God in schools, or having laws that reflect things that sway towards your interpretation of the bible. It’s not about religion. It’s not about legality. It’s more than that. A lot more. This is about PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS with God. This warning, first applied to Israel now applies to us. We’re on the clock, friends. It’s time to stop trying to win people over with our minds and our pride. It’s time to stop trying to win people over with our laws. It’s time to stop trying to win people over by telling them what they CAN’T do. Instead, let’s tell them what they CAN do.

Let’s tell them the transformation we’ve gone through. Let’s tell them of how God has moved in our lives. Let’s tell them that believing in God is no longer enough. Let’s tell them how our lives have changed since we met Christ. Let’s tell them that their lives can be changed. Let’s tell them that God wants THEM more than ever. And even better, let’s get OURSELVES on a better relationship with Him so when He tells us to move, we do nothing else BUT move in the way He tells us.

We need to improve ourselves before we can improve others. If He is our potter, and we are the clay, then we need to let Him mold us, instead of us trying to mold others. After all, clay cannot mold other clay. And if clay doesn’t have that relationship with the potter, then it dies.

“…my people love to have it so”

Let’s change that. The change starts with you. It starts with YOUR relationship with God, and it all starts on your knees.

God is speaking to you

Monday's vitamin:
. John 1:35-39 – What are you seeking?
 

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. (John 1:35-39 ESV)

“What are you seeking?” are the first words of Jesus that John records and the big question that he asks of these two men who are interested in becoming his disciples. This question could also be translated, “what purpose do you have?” The same question applies to us today- what is our purpose in seeking to follow Jesus? Are you seeking a Jesus that is there to meet all of your wishes or to answer all of life’s questions for you? Maybe you are seeking meaning and purpose in your life through Jesus. Some come seeking Jesus to find fault and to critique the Christian faith.

What we learn from these two men is that they simply wanted to go to where Jesus was staying, to spend time with Jesus, and to gain insight into who Jesus was and what he was about . They were coming to spend quality time with Him to listen and learn. We can learn from these men what it means to seek Jesus today. Seeking is more than just saying a prayer or one day a week in a church.

Here are three questions we can asks ourselves as we seek Jesus:

What is your purpose in seeking to follow Jesus?

When was the last time you carved out significant time to listen and learn to Jesus?

When can you make some time this week (not just a 10 minute devotional) to listen and learn from Jesus?

Hello! Man of purpose

Numbers 12:1-2 - Finger pointing
 

Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard it. (Numbers 12:1-2 ESV)

Have you ever heard that when you point at someone you have three fingers pointing back at you? Generally speaking, we ensure others understand this euphemism very well when they attempt to point out our flaws in order to make themselves look better. Essentially, we simply point back at them! Moses was dealing with this very issue as he was leading the Israelites through the wilderness. Miriam and Aaron were pointing to what they considered a sin or flaw in Moses’ life in order that the people would look to them as leaders rather than Moses.

He could have easily pushed back toward them, pointing an accusing finger at their flaws and prove himself the right leader for the job. But, he didn’t. Instead he did two things we can imitate when we find ourselves in similar situations:

He didn’t respond, rather he let God answer for him (Numbers 12:3-4). Instead of defending himself and demeaning his accusers, he let God handle it.
He prayed for his accusers (Numbers 12:13). Instead of brooding over their finger pointing and cultivating a bitter spirit toward them, he prayed that they would be better.
It can often be easier to fight back at those who point out issues/problems in our lives in order to make themselves feel better. In reality, we are just as guilty as them when we point back. We can learn much from the humble attitude of Moses in dealing with those who are finger pointers.

Remember Moses and his actions toward his finger pointers as you encounter them throughout your life.

Happy vet day

Matthew 5:13 – You are the salt of the Earth – A Preservative!
 

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. (Matthew 5:13 ESV)

Jesus said that we are the Salt of the Earth. What does that mean exactly? Well beyond simply adding flavor to the people and world around us, salt had many other uses and implications.

For starters, salt was once a rare, valuable, and precious commodity. This is hard to imagine since nowadays salt is very accessible and inexpensive. Just as salt was valuable and precious to the people of that time, God’s children we are valuable and precious. No one else in the world has our DNA or fingerprints. God has breathed His life into us and in addition to being made in His image and likeness, we are filled with His Spirit and presence. Because of this, we are precious and extremely valuable.

Furthermore, as salt was a preservative for food, we are a preservative on the earth. You see, prior to refrigeration, meats were packed in salt to prolong and prevent the rotting process due to the growth of bacteria. Without salt, the meat would slowly decay and become foul to both the sense of smell and taste. Likewise, this world without God and without Christians around them will start to decay and becoming more and more unpleasant to be associated with. Without Christians in the world, the growth and spread of spiritual and moral decay would be even more rampant than it already is.

By being in the world and living in close proximity to people who don’t know God, we are helping to preserve the atmosphere of love, unity, and healthy interpersonal relationships that God originally intended for humankind.

So be encouraged today. You are precious, valuable, and you are the preservative that God is using in the earth today! Go and be the Salt of the Earth!

Hump day wisdom

Luke 9:23-25 – A Costly Cross
 

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
(Luke 9:23-25 ESV)

Living well comes at a great cost, but so does living poorly. There is a price to pay and a sacrifice to be made for every decision in life. These costs vary, from something as mundane as a speeding ticket, to something as great as the loss of friends or familial ties (Luke 12:53). Following Jesus is costly. In fact, that word falls short to describe the depth of sacrifice required in walking after him. Taking up a “cross” would not have been the sanitized allegory to Jesus’ original hearers that it can be to us today. The cross took everything from men. It was a torturous end to human life. It was not meant to merely punish, but to kill. In fact, the legacy of the cross lives on even in our language, as the word excruciating literally means “from the cross”. A pain so intense, a loss so tremendous, it had to be associated with the worst death a human could die. This phrase cannot be glazed over, it cannot be brushed aside. There is a reality here we must rediscover: following Jesus Christ means death. And though death costs much, it is the price of eternal life. Save your life and follow Jesus today.

Dwell on these texts, and don’t allow their familiarity to cheapen the costly call they contain:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)

You need this today

Tuesday medical advice:

"Listen, O heavens, and I will speak!
  Hear, O earth, the words that I say!
Let my teaching fall on you like rain;
  let my speech settle like dew.
Let my words fall like rain on tender grass,
  like gentle showers on young plants."

Deuteronomy 32:1–2

Are there ever times you feel like "tender grass," just planted, spouting up? A heavy rain would beat you down. A gentle rain is just what tender grass and newly transplanted young plants need to thrive. This passage depicts God's Word as being like this kind of rain. For those times when you feel tender and vulnerable, go to God's Word and let it settle like dew in your soul.

Monday head start!

Numbers 16:13 - Don’t Look Back
 

Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also make yourself a prince over us? (Numbers 16:13 ESV)

The Israelites were miraculously brought out of Egypt by God. They had been slaves to the Egyptians and were treated with contempt. In turn, they cry out to God (Exodus 2:23-25) and he hears their cries and rescues them from oppression. God never tells them that it will be an easy journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land. On their way through the wilderness God continually provides for them as only he can. We read though, that some of the leaders were getting tired of the wilderness and looked back at their Egyptian slavery through rose colored glasses to see it as a place of milk and honey, which was what the Promised Land was to be.

We can often be like the Israelites as we are making a life change God has brought us to. This life change could be the stopping of a particular sin, ending a bad relationship, or even attending a new church God needs you to help at. These changes God has called us to are not an easy journey. Often times, our experience through the wilderness is the hardest. Like the Israelites, we can choose to look back in the past and see it through rose colored glasses or look toward the land flowing with milk and honey God has for us. As you come to that crossroad, you can look back or keep trekking forward, remember that there are greener pastures ahead.

Have you been looking back lately?

Jesus?

And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.
(Exodus 33:15 ESV)

Do you ever become more passionate about completing the task and accomplishing the mission than about knowing and experiencing Jesus? Maybe you worry more about checking off your Christian list of things to do than to feel the presence of God? Moses realized that the Promised Land (and really any blessing from God) meant absolutely nothing without God’s presence. Moses only wanted the Promised Land if it was the byproduct of knowing and following God. The big danger for many of us is that having a great ministry or succeeding can be more important than, experiencing, and following Jesus.

Moses understood that the only thing that set him and the Hebrew people apart was the presence of God. Whether you are doing life and ministry in Atlanta, New Brunswick, Burlington, Mexico, Haiti or Indonesia, the only thing that sets you and the people you are ministering to apart is the presence of God. In fact, we can have the most talented people, abundant resources, cutting edge strategy, and even be doing all the right things and without God’s presence it just won’t matter. It is only as God leads us and works through us that we can become the aroma of Jesus to the world around us (2 Corinthians 4). It is only as we know, experience, and follow Jesus that we can make an eternal difference where God has placed us.

Do you really want to know and experience Jesus more than anything?

Hump Day

Good morning!

"The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences."

Proverbs 18:21

Some of us do love to talk! In doing so, we can become careless with words. "Sharing" can slip into gossip. Anger can flare into harsh words. What if you considered every word you spoke as if it were a coin? Would you spend recklessly, never considering the consequences? Or would you invest each coin (word) wisely, making sure your words would bring healing and love? The choice is yours … and the consequences could ripple into eternity, for better or worse, life or death.

Friday

Friday exhale!

"An open rebuke is better than hidden love! . . . As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."

Proverbs 27:5, 17

Do you have a friend who can point out your shortcomings, and you can take it? Several verses in Proverbs mention the wisdom of being open to rebuke. Yet how many of us welcome such correction? How many of us are willing to rebuke a friend when it's needed? It takes wisdom, tact, and humility to give the kind of feedback that "sharpens" another. Moreover, it takes humility to receive a rebuke without getting defensive. Yet, no matter how difficult it is to give or receive correction, it's the mark of both wisdom and love to do so.

Thursday

ood morning to you!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever."

Psalm 118:1 (and 118:29)

This verse brackets the beginning and end of Psalm 118, encapsulating the psalmist's personal experiences of God's goodness and faithful love in his life. Between the brackets he mentions not just high points of his life, when God clearly delivered him, but also a few low spots as well. He has been punished severely (verse 18), and is still waiting to be saved, still looking for success (verse 25). Yet, his overall experience is gratitude. Though your life may not yet be perfect, when you focus on God's grace in your life, it will color every other experience, past and present.

Monday 10/21

A great monday to trust God.

"He made heaven and earth,
  the sea, and everything in them.
  He keeps every promise forever.
He gives justice to the oppressed
  and food to the hungry.
The LORD frees the prisoners.
  The LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are weighed down.
  The LORD loves the godly."

Psalm 146:6–8

Encouragement for Today

What oppresses you, imprisons you, weighs you down? Your own problems, other people's problems, an emotional or physical issue, injustice? These verses remind us that God not only created all that exists, he also faithfully keeps his promise and takes care of everything he created. He does not turn a blind eye to our problems; he actively works to free us from oppression. In these verses, God takes all the action. The only characteristic of the people in this passage, besides their neediness, is that they are godly. They trust God, and God acts on their behalf.

Thursday

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,' says the LORD. 'I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.'"

Jeremiah 29:11–14

View In Context

Encouragement for Today

Do you believe deep down that God has good plans for you? Sometimes life throws some pretty hard curveballs, and it's tempting to believe that God is unaware of our plight. Certainly the exiled Israelites to whom God was speaking must have felt that way. Here God assures us that his plans are for our good. But these good plans are bound up in our relationship with him. Finding him, we connect with his good plan. If it feels as if God is nowhere to be seen, seek him wholeheartedly. When you find him, you'll find your future hope as well.

Lord I trust you

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. … Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer."

2 Corinthians 1:3–4, 6

God doesn't always reveal why he lets us suffer, but here he gives us clues as to how he redeems it. When we suffer, he comforts us (if we allow him to). Then, when we encounter someone who is going through something similar, we can offer our own empathy from having gone through a similar trial. That in itself is often a comfort to the other person. If we can share specific instances of God's comfort, that further encourages the other person. In this process, our sense of God's purpose for our pain further strengthens us.

A good one

A good friday read I found:

.

Here are ten signs it’s time to let go:

Someone expects you to be someone you’re not. – Don’t change who you are for anyone else.  It’s wiser to lose someone over being who you are, than to keep them by being someone you’re not.  Because it’s easier to mend a broken heart, than it is to piece together a shattered identity.  It’s easier to fill an empty space in your life where someone else used to be, than it is to fill the empty space inside yourself where YOU used to be.
A person’s actions don’t match their words. – Everybody deserves somebody who helps them look forward to tomorrow.  If someone has the opposite effect on you, because they are consistently inconsistent and their actions don’t match up with their words, it’s time to let them go.  It’s always better to be alone than to be in bad company.  True friendship is a promise made in the heart – silent, unwritten, unbreakable by distance, and unchangeable by time.  Don’t listen to what people say; watch what they do.  Your true friends will slowly reveal themselves over time.
You catch yourself forcing someone to love you. – Let us keep in mind that we can’t force anyone to love us.  We shouldn’t beg someone to stay when they want to leave.  That’s what love is all about – freedom.  However, the end of love is not the end of life.  It should be the beginning of an understanding that love sometimes leaves for a reason, but never leaves without a lesson.  If someone truly loves you, they will never give you a reason to doubt it.  Anyone can come into your life and say how much they love you, but it takes someone really special to stay in your life and prove how much they love you.  Sometimes it takes awhile to find the right person, but the right person is always worth the wait.  Read The Road Less Traveled.
An intimate relationship is based strictly on physical attraction. – Being beautiful is more than how many people you can get to look at you, or how others perceive you at a single glance.  It’s about what you live for.  It’s about what defines you.  It’s about the depth of your heart, and what makes you unique.  It’s about being who you are and living out your life honestly.  It’s about those little quirks that make you, you.  People who are only attracted to you because of your pretty face or nice body won’t stay by your side forever.  But the people who can see how beautiful your heart is will never leave you.
Someone continuously breaks your trust. – Love means giving someone the chance to hurt you, but trusting them not to.  When you completely trust a person, without any doubt, you’ll automatically get one of two results - a FRIEND for life or a LESSON for life.  Either way there’s a positive outcome.  Either you confirm the fact that this person cares about you, or you get the opportunity to weed them out of your life and make room for those who do.  In the end you’ll discover who’s fake, who’s true, and who would risk it all for you.  And trust me, some people will totally surprise you.
Someone continuously overlooks your worth. – Know your worth!  When you give yourself to someone who doesn’t respect you, you surrender pieces of your soul that you’ll never get back.  There comes a point when you have to let go and stop chasing some people.  If someone wants you in their life, they’ll find a way to put you there.  Sometimes you just need to let go and accept the fact that they don’t care for you the way you care for them.  Let them leave your life quietly.  Letting go is oftentimes easier than holding on.  We think it’s too hard to let go, until we actually do.  Then we ask ourselves, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?”
You are never given a chance to speak your mind. – Sometimes an argument saves a relationship, whereas silence breaks it.  Speak up for your heart so that you won’t have regrets.  Life is not about making others happy.  Life is about being honest and sharing your happiness with others.
You are frequently forced to sacrifice your happiness. – If you allow people to make more withdrawals than deposits in your life, you will be out of balance and in the negative before you know it.  Know when to close the account.  It’s always better to be alone with dignity than in a relationship that constantly requires you to sacrifice your happiness and self-respect.  Read Stumbling on Happiness.
You truly dislike your current situation, routine, job, etc. – It’s better to be a failure at something you love than to succeed at doing something you hate.  Don’t let someone who gave up on their dreams talk you out of going after yours.  The best thing you can do in life is follow your heart.  Take risks.  Don’t just make the safe and easy choices because you’re afraid of what might happen.  If you do, nothing will ever happen.  Chances must be taken, mistakes must be made, and lessons must be learned.  It might be an uphill climb, but when you reach that mountaintop it will be worth every ounce of blood, sweat and tears you put into it.
You catch yourself obsessing over, and living in, the past. – Eventually you will overcome the heartache, and forget the reasons you cried, and who caused the pain.  Eventually you will realize that the secret to happiness and freedom is not about control or revenge, but in letting things unfold naturally, and learning from your experiences over the course of time.  After all, what matters most is not the first, but the final chapter of your life, which unveils the details of how well you wrote your story.  So let go of the past, set yourself free, and open your mind to the possibility of new relationships and priceless experiences.  Read The Power of Now.
And the one thing you should never let go of is hope.  Remember what you deserve and keep pushing forward.  Someday all the pieces will come together.  Unimaginably good things will transpire in your life, even if everything doesn’t turn out exactly the way you had anticipated.  And you will look back at the times that have passed, smile, and ask yourself, “How did I get through all of that?”

Check this out★★★★

Thursday wisdom:

"Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish."

Proverbs 18:13

How easy it is to offer advice or respond to someone's need before we've thoroughly listened to all the person has to say. And how often do we jump to conclusions and spout off our opinions before we know all the facts? Even worse is gossiping about another person when it's most likely we don't know the full story of his or her situation. This proverb reminds us to make sure we have the full story before we respond in any way, lest we expose our own foolishness.

This encourages me

"But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter,
and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do."

Psalm 73:28

The psalmist affirms it is good to be near God. Note that it's a choice: "I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter." When you choose to dwell in God, you can see all the wonderful things he does (rather than focus on the evil around you). Then you will want to tell everyone about God's goodness!

This will put the wind under your wings

You aren't alone!

"So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family."

Ephesians 2:19

When Paul wrote this, Gentiles were definitely "outsiders" to Jews, who considered themselves the (only) holy people of God. The good news of the new Kingdom in which Jesus reigns is that there are no outsiders anymore. United in mutual faith in Jesus, all who believe share a new identity: members of God's family. No believer is ever alone again. Not only are we united with Christ and a new child of God the Father, but we now belong to a huge family of brothers and sisters who believe likewise. What a comfort!

Hump day

Good hump.day!

"So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith."

Galatians 6:9, 10

While our culture encourages us to look to our own interests, these verses refocus us on doing good to others. They also acknowledge that sometimes we will get weary, and that the rewards are not always immediate. Here's where we need to take the long-term perspective. Just as farmers must plow, plant, water, and cultivate the land so that a harvest can come at the right time, so we continue to do whatever good we can in the course of our everyday lives, trusting that a harvest will come in due time.

Let it hit your veins

So you want to juice this morning?
Here is a good sample:

"Don't be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith."

Galatians 6:7–10

To keep from getting discouraged, we need to take the long view. What we sow, we will eventually reap. Eventually. The harvest of blessing will come at the appropriate time—and God determines what that time is. So keep on doing good to everyone, especially other Christians, and never give up.

Monday

Careful consideration:

"Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself."

Galatians 6:1

Do you know anyone who has succumbed to sin? If you yourself are living a life of faith, with resultant good works, you have a responsibility to help others who struggle. It's too easy to ignore it to keep the peace; isn't it their business alone? Not according to this verse. But we must confront others gently, humbly, knowing any one of us could easily be in the same position.

Bugging God?

“…‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming…’” (Read the whole passage here: Luke 18:1-8 ESV)

To be brutally honest, I’ve always had trouble seeing a need for prayer. Sounds like heresy, I know! I guess my human logic tends to get in the way of faith often, and this is a perfect example: If God knows everything (and He does), and if he knows my needs before I even ask (and He does), then … well, why do I need to ask? Doesn’t it seem illogical?Maybe you can relate to my struggle, or maybe it sounds silly to you, but I know that it has affected my prayer life through my years of walking with God. This passage from Luke 18 does not perhaps answer my “logic issues,” but it does show a remarkably faithful God. He wants us to ask, and He wants us to keep asking.It is in the asking that we grow closer to Him, learn to trust Him and learn perseverance. His thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are His ways our ways (see Isaiah 55:8). He knows that for some reason, we need to pursue Him. Yes, He knows our needs from the dawn of eternity, but He invites us to come, to ask, and to receive. What a gracious God!Have you been bugging God enough lately? He would really appreciate it.

Oh God, give me a heart to seek You! May I never be satisfied until I see Your face, hear Your voice, and Love Your ways. Lord, make me the pray-er You want me to be.

Monday evening news

Evening encouragement!

"Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.
  The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.
Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers
  and singing and joy!
The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,
  as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.
There the LORD will display his glory,
  the splendor of our God.
With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
  and encourage those who have weak knees.
Say to those with fearful hearts,
  'Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
  He is coming to save you.'"

Isaiah 35:1–4

No matter what kind of wasteland your life has become, God is able to make it blossom with an abundance of flowers. Picture it! A wasteland transformed into a lush meadow of colorful spring flowers. God can do that! Tell your fearful heart this good news. Tell it, "be strong, do not fear." God is coming in, and when he enters the scene, his light chases away all the darkness and causes beautiful growth.

Labor day???

! FRIDAY

"So the Lord must wait for you to come to him
  so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
  Blessed are those who wait for his help."

Isaiah 30:18

Is there any area of your life where you've wandered from God? The clue is a lack of peace. Anxiety that "looks to Egypt" rather than God for help. If there is any such area of anxiety in your life, confess it. Return to God, rest in him, and trust him alone to take care of your problem. Quietness and confidence in him is the answer. Rest in God today as you wait for him to act, rather than running off in your own strength to "Egypt."

Ahhhh

This is what you need..right?

"God has told his people,
'Here is a place of rest;
  let the weary rest here.
This is a place of quiet rest.'
  But they would not listen."

Isaiah 28:12

What does God long to do for his people, as expressed here? Give them rest! He does not desire that they be oppressed by enemies all the time. He desires rest, peace, for his people. The reason they did not experience this was that they would not listen. God wants to bless you! He wants to give you rest. If you believe anything else, it's a lie. Don't be dull of hearing; listen for his voice. He's speaking to you right now—through this word, through the Spirit's gentle invitation: "Come and rest. This is a place of quiet rest."

We are off!

Smile

Just SMILE!

"But for those who are righteous,
  the way is not steep and rough.
You are a God who does what is right,
  and you smooth out the path ahead of them.
LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws;
  our heart's desire is to glorify your name."

Isaiah 26:7–8

Is God's way easy or difficult? This verse suggests that it's actually easier because he smoothes the way for those who trust and obey and have the heart attitude described in verse 8: to glorify God's name. The natural fruit or result of this heart attitude is obedience. We don't have to try to obey; when our hearts are bent on loving and trusting God, obedience will flow easily.

Be at peace

"You will keep in perfect peace
  all who trust in you,
  all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the LORD always,
  for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock."

Isaiah 26:3–4

If you keep your eyes on Jesus, if you trust in him alone and always, he will keep you in perfect peace. All you need to do moment by moment is ask him what he wants of you, and then do it. This is security. This is freedom. This is peace.

Trust only God

"O God, listen to my cry!
  Hear my prayer!
From the ends of the earth,
  I cry to you for help
  when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
  for you are my safe refuge,
  a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me."

Psalm 61:1–3

Ever feel overwhelmed? This is the prayer for you. Cry out to God, express yourself to him. Picture yourself running to a fortress on a towering rock that no enemy can penetrate. This is what your God wants, this level of trust, for he will keep you safe.

Consider buying a home?

Wise Choices. Improved Finances. A Better Life.

Are Your Ready For A Mortgage?

Part Two: What Size Mortgage Can You Afford?

Before you begin shopping for a home (or a mortgage), it’s vital to evaluate your personal financial situation, how much debt you carry, how much money you make, how much you spend, and how much you pay out in living and lifestyle expenses each month. To do a complete evaluation:

Analyze your personal financial situation.
Determine your maximum mortgage amount.
Review your credit score.
Gather and organize the information lenders will require.
Previously, we analyzed our finances but today, we will focus on the second part of a typical mortgage lender’s evaluation:

Determine How Much You Can Afford

Unless you have a bad credit history or bankruptcy, most lenders prefer that borrowers have a mortgage with a monthly payment less than one-third of their monthly pre-tax income. So if your pretax income is $6,000, you’d likely get approved for a mortgage with a monthly payment of up to $2,000. Even that can be a financial stretch.

Should You Get the Biggest Mortgage You Can?

Flat out – NO! Approval does not equal affordable. On a personal note, I was approved for a mortgage that was 50 percent larger than the one I took out. By doing so, I made certain that my mortgage expenses weren’t out of control and in the event I had a drastic change of income, I wouldn’t necessarily lose my home.

To decide whether you can afford a particular sized mortgage, consider these factors:

Your current financial situation
Your future job prospects
Your plans for children
Your plans for aging parents
Home maintenance and repair costs
These factors help you personally determine the amount of risk that you can tolerate and should help you decide, for example, whether you should consider a riskier mortgage, such as an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), or stick with a safer, more predictable option, such as a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

You alone should determine how much you can afford

Never rely on a lender to tell you how much of a mortgage you can afford. Always determined this information yourself. Keep in mind that real estate agents, brokers, home sellers, and possibly even the mortgage lender want you to take out the largest possible mortgage. After all, they’re paid a percentage. When one of these pros tries to convince you how large your mortgage can or should be … I personally consider that a conflict of interest.

Instead, always assess your financial situation yourself (Part One of this series!) and arrive at an amount that you feel comfortable borrowing – the amount of debt AND payment that you would feel comfortable with.

Again: Never rely on a lender to tell you how large your mortgage “should” be.

Subtraction method

One way to determine the mortgage you can afford is to subtract your total monthly expenses (excluding your rental payment but including everything else) from your total monthly income. The difference should equal an amount that exceeds the monthly mortgage payment you expect to take on by at least several hundred dollars. For example, if you have $1,500 left over after paying all your monthly expenses, you should feel comfortable getting a mortgage with a monthly payment of $1,000–1,200 at the most.

200 times your rent rule

If you currently rent your home, this general guideline could also help you estimate what size mortgage you can afford, but it assumes you’re already maxed out on your rent.

Multiply your rental payment by 200. This rule states that most home buyers can afford a mortgage worth 200 times their current rent payment. For example, if your current rent is $1,100 a month, you can likely afford a mortgage of 200 × $1,100, or $220,000.

How much mortgage can you afford?

Only you should determine that number, whether you “back into it” by calculating your payment at one-third your monthly pre-tax income, use the subtraction method, or the 200 times your rent rule. Always do your own assessment and never let a commissioned salesperson convince you to take on more debt or a bigger mortgage payment than you feel comfortable with.

Vitamin gw66

ther great addition to your faith:(smile)

"How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?"

Galatians 3:3

It's an easy trap to fall into: trying to become perfect by our own human effort. But life with God begins with faith in Christ's work on our behalf, and it must also continue that way. Being dependent on God for every aspect of your life is not spiritual immaturity. It is exactly what God wants of us.

Pride

Good morning all who are still fighting the good fight of faith.

"Who has brought this disaster on Tyre,
  that great creator of kingdoms?
Her traders were all princes,
  her merchants were nobles.
The LORD of Heaven's Armies has done it
  to destroy your pride
  and bring low all earth's nobility."

Isaiah 23:8–9

What God hates is human pride—the kind of pride that says, "I don't need God." The kind of pride that seeks to be great apart from God. Again and again in Scripture, God says he opposes the proud. He wants us to be like trusting children, looking to him for every need, every breath we take. That kind of attitude goes against the world … but reaches God's heart every time.

A must read

TGIF

ITS FRIDAY! LEGGGOOO

"Between the city walls, you build a reservoir
  for water from the old pool.
But you never ask for help from the One who did all this.
  You never considered the One who planned this long ago."

Isaiah 22:11

The people of Judah were very busy preparing for war in every human way. Their plans were of no avail because they were not doing the one thing that could save them—asking God for help, seeking his way (which was repentance). Are you making feverish plans rather than asking God for help? Plans should come only after seeking God's wisdom.

Smile

Be grateful you made it through last night! (Smile)

"Their largest cities will be like a deserted forest,
  like the land the Hivites and Amorites abandoned
when the Israelites came here so long ago.
  It will be utterly desolate.
Why? Because you have turned from the God who can save you.
  You have forgotten the Rock who can hide you."

Isaiah 17:9–10b

God gives the reason for his judgment: They have turned from the God who can save them, the Rock who can hide them. When people turn away from God, they step out of his protection and into his judgment. This is the basis of "the fear of the LORD." Our choice is either wonderful protection and salvation, or terrible judgment. God allows us to decide freely, though it's clear he longs for our trust and devotion. Are you trusting the God who can save you, the Rock that can hide you?

Smile

Just smile, despite of it all:

"Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin.
By fearing the LORD, people avoid evil."

Proverbs 16:6

Whose unfailing love and faithfulness atone for whose sin? God's own character covers our sin, ultimately. But perhaps this works on a human plane, too. If the overarching tenor of your family is love and faithfulness, that can cover when you blow it with your spouse, children, parents, siblings. The same goes in friendship. Let love and faithfulness be the defining features of your relationships (as you're grounded in a relationship with God—"fearing the LORD"), and the first benefit is that many sins can be avoided. Second, even when sin does get the upper hand, the relationship

I challenge you

Good morning vitamin (smile)

"I will feed the poor in my pasture;
  the needy will lie down in peace.
But as for you, I will wipe you out with famine
  and destroy the few who remain.
Wail at the gates! Weep in the cities!
  Melt with fear, you Philistines!
A powerful army comes like smoke from the north.
  Each soldier rushes forward eager to fight.
What should we tell the Philistine messengers? Tell them,
'The LORD has built Jerusalem;
  its walls will give refuge to his oppressed people.'"

Isaiah 14:30–32

God cares about the poor! He cares about the plight of anyone who is unemployed, can't pay their bills, lacks what they need, or suffers injustice in any way. He will provide and bless, if only we trust him to "give refuge to his oppressed people." Whatever your oppression, God is on your side, not the oppressors'. Trust this, and wait for him to work.

Trust God

"In that day you will sing:
  'I will praise you, O LORD!
You were angry with me, but not any more.
  Now you comfort me.
See, God has come to save me.
  I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The LORD GOD is my strength and my song;
  he has given me victory.'
With joy you will drink deeply
  from the fountain of salvation!"

Isaiah 12:1–3

This is the experience of salvation, the gospel in a nutshell: Because of our sin, we were separated from God and subject to his anger. But he sent Jesus to save us. Now we can trust in him and not be afraid. Now he is our strength, our song, our salvation and wholeness. Now with joy we drink deeply from the fountain of salvation. Can you make this your meditation and song of praise today?

Monday jolt (smile)

"But when I am afraid,
  I will put my trust in you.
You keep track of all my sorrows.
  You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
  You have recorded each one in your book."

Psalm 56:3, 8

This is what David trusts about God: that God keeps track of all his sorrows and cares about everything that has caused every tear. That God cares so much he's recorded every tear in his book. God remembers your sorrows, every ache of your heart, even if you have buried them in your subconscious to avoid the pain. God knows, and he cares. And he will someday wipe away every single tear. Personally. This is why David does not have to feel afraid. Can you trust a God like this?

A wow moment

This blew my being! Morning revelation. .catch it..

The one of many benefits a as a believer that we have, is the authority to represent God in the earth.
So as God speaks;

Isaiah 14:24

24 The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:

Begin today to align your thoughts and refine your purpose with Gods purpose and thoughts and watch miracles be an everyday norm for you!
Bless you all,
Rah

Self help?

Self-help is a popular idea that implies we can become whatever we want to become—without help from anyone. This speaks to the essence of what we long for: to be the self-made man.But this desire for self-sufficiency isn't all it's cracked up to be. Case in point: it helped pave the way for sin to enter the world. The lure of knowing all God knows drew Eve into [wrong] thinking. Dependence on her Creator seemed limiting, not freeing.Lest you think I'm throwing Eve under the bus, we all follow in her footsteps seeking knowledge that will empower us apart from God. We relegate him to certain times and spaces in our lives, insisting on handling the rest by ourselves. We fail to realize that building a life apart from God would mean, well, a life apart from God.

Key Study Passage: Galatians 3:1-5

Prayer :

Heavenly Father, forgive me when I try to live my faith on my own power; change me from the inside out so that the fruit of your Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) will be evident in my life.

Happy fathers day

How to Be a Godly Father

Many men desire to be good fathers, but the criterion that really counts is whether or not they are godly fathers. Here are four Biblical principles that, by God’s grace, will lay a sound foundation in helping fathers become godly fathers.First, godly fathers are first godly men. It doesn’t work for fathers to bail out and say to their children, "Do as I say, not as I do" (Matthew 23:3). Children must be able to see an example of Christ in their fathers. Paul says to his spiritual children in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." Until men by faith follow in the example of Christ themselves, they cannot be godly examples for their own children. Those who imitate Christ in thoughts, attitudes, and actions are those who have the right and Biblical ability to properly train and disciple their own children.Second, godly fathers love their children unconditionally.Unconditionally is a significant word. It implies that love is not merited or earned and that the father’s treatment of his children is not dictated by what they can offer him in return. Some fathers want to see their children work their way into their favor or accomplish something which will make the father appear more successful. In other words, their focus is on themselves and upon what they can gain rather than upon unconditional love for their children. I think of the father of the prodigal son who stood waiting and watching for his son to return to him (Luke 15:20). When he finally did return, the father didn’t judge the son or force him to earn back his favor, love, and approval. He simply embraced him and threw a celebratory party for his son (Luke 15:21-24). He could do this because his love for his son wasn’t based upon what his son could do for him but simply and strictly upon the fact that he was his son. He never disowned his son for leaving in a pattern of rebellion, but he waited, hoped, and longed for his lost son’s return. Godly fathers don’t make their children earn their approval, and they don’t use their children’s behavior as a condition for their love. That doesn’t mean that they don’t discipline, but it does mean that they never disown. Such is the nature of unconditional love.Third, godly fathers train their children how to love and honor God. The willingness and ability to train in righteousness is the call of every godly father. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it." Ephesians 6:4 echoes the Proverbs passage, saying, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." It is not good enough just to make children go to church, say their prayers, and learn Bible verses. Those things ought to be part of the training process; however, we don’t come to know Jesus or grow in Him by having external practices forced upon us. The issue as a father is teaching a child to love the Lord as they model their own love for Him. Kids aren’t stupid. In fact, they are a lot smarter than most parents give them credit for. They can tell when religious rituals are empty or hypocritical, and even though the child might come to know the Bible inside and out, he or she will likely develop a hatred or bitterness towards Christianity if the only Christianity the child knows is vain and ugly. Training in righteousness requires learning the Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17), but how that Scripture is applied must correlate with true righteousness. Otherwise, the child will be left spending years trying to reconcile the Bible with his own experience. But let us not forget the role of discipline in the training process. Even our heavenly father disciplines those sons whom He loves (Hebrews 12:6), and the fact that a father is willing to discipline his children demonstrates love. Young children need to know their boundaries as it makes them feel secure. As kids grow older, they must see that they don’t run the home and that Biblical principles will be followed in the home. Discipline reinforces these realities through imposing consequences. But it must be evident to the children when they are being disciplined that the father’s love for them has not changed. Discipline is never aligned with wrath because it is kindness that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). Discipline is simply another expression of love (Deuteronomy 8:1-6, Hebrews 12:6).Fourth, a godly father seeks to give his children good gifts such that his children are blessed through him. Of course, love and discipline and the training of the Lord in righteousness are blessings of eternal value, but godly fathers go beyond just spiritual gifts to seeking to give good gifts of all kinds. Our heavenly Father is the ultimate example of this. James 1:7 says, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." Our Father is the giver of every good and perfect gift because He knows when, how, and what to give us. He knows what we desire and ask for because He knows and cares for what we really want and need (Psalm 37:4, Philippians 4:19). He is the Father of lights that don’t vary or shift because He is pure, consistent, and devoted to His children. He can constantly be believed and relied upon to offer His children that which is kindest, wisest, and best. He is not a deified Santa Claus that spoils children and is subject to their every whim. Spoiling is not the purpose of giving good and perfect gifts. Rather, the purpose of such provisions and blessings is the security that God cares about us perfectly and intimately. Knowing that He knows what we need and that He cares about what we want and hope for is so important in our relationship with Him. In the same way, earthly fathers should seek to be in tune with what their children hope for, desire, and need such that they can wisely meet and address those needs and wants. A father’s wisdom is a blessing and security to his children as they can trust what he does for them and gives to them.

What are you thinking?

"One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. Esau said to Jacob, 'I'm starved! Give me some of that red stew!' (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means 'red.')

'All right,' Jacob replied, 'but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.'

'Look, I'm dying of starvation!' said Esau. 'What good is my birthright to me now?'

But Jacob said, 'First you must swear that your birthright is mine.' So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.

Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn."

Genesis 25:29–34

Jacob apparently wanted the firstborn's rights and was looking for a way to get it. He seized his opportunity when he saw that Esau would do anything for some food right now. Esau had his eyes only on the now; Jacob looked to the future. Esau lost, Jacob won. Esau never even seemed to understand what he'd just done. But Jacob would remember. Are your decisions made with an eye to what has lasting value, or only to temporary pleasure?

First things first

"Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, 'Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.'

But Jesus replied, 'Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.'

Another of his disciples said, 'Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.'

But Jesus told him, 'Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.'"

Following Jesus means putting him ahead of all else, from our own comfort to social obligations. There is to be no, "first let me …" situation. Are you truly following Jesus? It's not an impulsive decision. It needs to be made after soberly counting the cost. It's not going to be easy, Jesus warns. But it will be worthwhile, because he's the one leading. Remember that you are following Someone—and that it means he will be with you. It is not just a way, it is a person.

In case you missed it

http://db.tt/V5J0X0rv

Man up

Stepping up means owning up

Its never too late to step up, even when that means- especially when that means- facing our own failures and setting things right with the ones we've wounded.

Friend or foe

Scorpion

To dream of a scorpion, foretells that false friends will improve opportunities to undermine your prosperity. If you fail to kill it, you will suffer loss from an enemy’s attack.

Church? Or not

Six Reasons People Leave Your Church
Written by John D. Duncan www.Lifeway.com
If you travel the bumpy roads of ministry long enough, some treasured soul will exit your church. Years ago I entered the open road of a new ministry. I pastored a new church. I investigated the potholes, the inclines, and the danger zones of my new path of ministry.
My search drove me into living rooms, into advice on what’s best for the church, into the hearts of the members whom I served. Clearly things were not going well. Every curve greeted me with another surprise.
Six Reasons People Leave
1. Poor leadership
When the family announced their departure, I made it a point to visit in their home. I asked them to share their feelings. I requested honesty. “We just don’t like the way you’re running things.”
As a young pastor, my inexperience led to poor decisions.
Financial problems worried the church.
Morale problems infected the church.
A lack of vision created an internal sickness.
Members began to place blame for the troubles.
Since I was their leader, they pointed a finger at me. I had only served the church for six months, but I tried to cure the church with my own diagnosis and prescription. I did not listen to my people. I attempted to solve the dilemmas on my own. The result? Members left the church.
2. Different Style
When church members leave your church, they might travel to another church because they yearn for another style of ministry. They desire a different style of preaching or worship. They hunger for a certain style of music. Their expectations about a church might come from a church, pastor, or program they had in another town.
3. Specific Program
“How did you discover our church?” I asked a woman who quizzed me about the church. “We heard about the church because of the youth program. Some friends told us about your youth ministry.”
“Why did you leave our church?” I questioned a former member. “We really like the Music Ministry of our new church,” they responded.
4. Disillusionment
William D. Hendricks talks about a “dark side” to the church. He details numerous stories about people leaving their churches in his book, Exit Interviews. He writes, “Despite glowing reports of surging church attendance, more and more Christians in North America are feeling disillusioned with the church and other formal, institutional expressions of Christianity." (Chicago: Moody Press, 1993, p. 17)
These people remove themselves from the church out of frustration with structure or bureaucracy.
5. Inner Hurts
A close church member invited me to lunch one day. He shocked me when he informed me of his imminent departure from our church. “It’s in the best interest of our family,” he softly spoke. I drove to the church that day disappointed. A year later I received news about the family. The sad news explained the couple’s divorce. Rather than seek help in the church, they fled the church. They retreated to ease the surprise of their impending breakup.
Not every person who leaves the church because of inner hurt leaves on bad terms. Some leave to seek answers to their hurt. Still others take flight to find the acceptance they have missed.
6. Church Size
“I sure have missed you at church,” I said in casual conversation. “Don’t take it personally, but the church has gotten too big for us. We’re used to a smaller church.” Sometimes the church may grow too large. In other cases the church may not be large enough.
How to Handle the Departure
1. Learn From It
By listening, I learn about people. I also learn about myself. Better yet, I learn more about service to God.
A seminary student called his mentor. “I’m ready to quit,” he muttered in tones of despair. “One of our best deacons is leaving the church. He says it’s because of me.” “Son,” the wise mentor replied, “I’ve lost members in every church I’ve pastored. Focus on God’s call. Listen to people and learn from them. Work hard. Love Jesus. Love people. Then remember, you can’t ring everybody’s bell all the time. Trust God and do the best you can in serving the Lord.”
When church members leave your church, learn what you can from it. Learn, then refuse to dwell on it. Too much analysis paralyzes you. As you learn, grow. Then get back to work.
2. Pray For Them
Pray that those people can find a church that feeds them spiritually. Ask God to provide healing for their hurts.
Request the Lord’s guidance as they wander down uncertain trails. Praying for them nourishes their spiritual life.
It also encourages your attitude toward them, especially if they spoke painful words upon their exit.
3. Open the Gate
When church members leave your church, let them go, bless them as they leave, but leave the gate open for their return.
Eugene Petersen challenges pastors not to become inflated in their self- perception. God works through people. The church moves forward rhythmically like a clock ticking. He writes, “Years ago I noticed, as all pastors must, that when a pastor left a neighboring congregation, the congregational life carried on very well, thank you.” (The Contemplative Pastor, Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1989, p. 25)
As harsh as this sounds, exchange pastor for member and you have a strong truth. Churches carry on. Oh, they miss members who depart. But God has a way of supplying new ones.
The key is to remember, it’s the Lord’s church. When the back door opens, God often brings twice the number in the front door. When the church is a revolving door, maybe the key to church growth is to have more coming than you do going.

You are not your own

Do you not know that . . . you are not your own? —1 Corinthians 6:19

There is no such thing as a private life, or a place to hide in this world, for a man or woman who is intimately aware of and shares in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. God divides the private life of His saints and makes it a highway for the world on one hand and for Himself on the other. No human being can stand that unless he is identified with Jesus Christ. We are not sanctified for ourselves. We are called into intimacy with the gospel, and things happen that appear to have nothing to do with us. But God is getting us into fellowship with Himself. Let Him have His way. If you refuse, you will be of no value to God in His redemptive work in the world, but will be a hindrance and a stumbling block.

The first thing God does is get us grounded on strong reality and truth. He does this until our cares for ourselves individually have been brought into submission to His way for the purpose of His redemption. Why shouldn’t we experience heartbreak? Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son. Most of us collapse at the first grip of pain. We sit down at the door of God’s purpose and enter a slow death through self-pity. And all the so-called Christian sympathy of others helps us to our deathbed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, as if to say, “Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine.” If God can accomplish His purposes in this world through a broken heart, then why not thank Him for breaking yours?

Sexual purity

Live in such a way as to hear your Lord say to you one day, “Well done.” Get on the right side of the universe’s moral system. Honor God by living in sexual purity. If you do, you’ll experience his blessing and rewards not only today, tomorrow, and ten years from now, but throughout eternity. “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl. For what is man’s lot from God above, his heritage from the Almighty on high? Is it not ruin for the wicked, disaster for those who do wrong? Does he not see my ways and count my every step? If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit—let God weigh me in honest scales and he will know that I am blameless—if my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has been led by my eyes, or if my hands have been defiled, then may others eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted. If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door, then may my wife grind another man’s grain, and may other men sleep with her. For that would have been shameful, a sin to be judged. It is a fire that burns to Destruction; it would have uprooted my harvest.” (Job 31:1-12)

You can make it

Press through it


As I have reflected over the events of the past few days and months I was drawn to the first chapter of James. In the first 13 verses we are given some understanding of the purpose of trials that come our way.

The good that has come from trials.
The comfort we can have in trials.
So this passage speaks to us to help us in our time of trial when we need understanding and comfort. And yet in a real way I have also thought that the life of our friend and loved one actually was a living example of this passage:

As she and her family demonstrated before us the reality of this portion of God's Word.
I shall never be able to read these verses without thinking of (Name) and how her life reflected this passage.
So for a few minutes, think with me as we look into God's Word. (Read verses 2-4) The Lord would first of all have us know that there is. . .

Purpose in Trials
(verses 2-4)
1. When difficult times come into our lives and we find ourselves unable to comprehend/to understand; the enemy is quick to throw doubts/questions into our minds.

2. We find ourselves questioning God's goodness/God's wisdom in allowing these things to happen.

3. We may even be bitter and angry with God for allowing this to happen to us and wonder if He really understands.

4. But God's word confidently reminds us that God does understand . . .

Things do not just happen haphazardly to the Christian.
With no meaning/no purpose.
5. God is in control and as Paul reminds us no one or nothing can separate us from God's love. Rom. 8--even the most difficult of circumstances.

6. James reminds us that God wants us to trust Him in the trials of life.

For as we trust Him in the trials God can use the difficult trial to mold us:
To mature us.
So that we will be more like Jesus Christ our Savior.
7. Isaiah the prophet said in trying to comprehend God's ways: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:8-9)

8. God would have us trust Him in the difficult trials:

For even though we cannot understand He loves us and He is in control.
He will use this trial to help us grow spiritually and to help us mature and become more like Jesus Christ.
9. Trust Him! Keep your eyes on Him! And God will use even this trial for His glory.

10. But James goes on to tell us that not only does Gold have purpose in trials--but also that God gives wisdom in trials.

Wisdom in Trials
(verses 5-11)
(Read verses 5 and 6)

1. James recognizes that we may not always be able to see the purpose in trials or see the good that can come from trials.

2. When we find ourselves unable to see the good and the purpose in trials we are to:

Keep on asking Him for wisdom.
In faith.
And our God who loves to give will respond so that we can see the good and the purpose in trials.
3. Then James illustrates and says:

That even a poor man has much good in his trial of poverty if he knows God--the owner of the universe.
And a rich man through he lose everything can rejoice in the good of having learned not to place his faith in riches which quickly pass away.
4. God has been very good to us in allowing us to see the good even in this difficult trial.

For so much good has already come from this trial:
As a church family we are growing spiritually and united together.
As individuals we have seen faith in action and we have learned lessons we shall never forget.
As we have seen at least three people come to Jesus Christ through faith. (As NAME shared her vital faith with Jesus Christ with others)
5. Yet in the days to come we will continue to need wisdom to see the purpose and the good in this trial.

James exhorts us to keep on asking God in faith for wisdom.
And our generous loving God will give us the wisdom needed.
(But finally James reminds us that not only does God have a purpose in trials; and gives wisdom in trials but thirdly there is comfort in trials.)

Comfort in Trials
(verse 12)
(Read verse 12)

1. James here reminds us that this life is not all there is to life.

That right will be commended.
That due reward will be give for faithfulness.
2. We often live as if we are the living on the way to the dying.

3. But God's word makes it very clear that we are the dying on the way to the living.

4. What is in store then for one who knows Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and passes from this life?

Phil. l tells us that when a Christian departs he is with Christ.
II Cor. 5 tells that when we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord
And I Corinthians 15 and I Thessalonians 4 tells us that someday that body which for the present sleeps in the grave will be resurrected and united with our soul/spirit and in this glorified state we will be with the Lord forever.
And there rewards will be given for endurance through trials and for faithfulness to God in difficult times.
5. So today we sorrow - but we sorrow not as others who have no hope.

We have the assurance of the word of God that (name) is with Christ.
(Name) had trusted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior from sin.
6. But I cannot help but think that perhaps some of you are not prepared to face death and you are not prepared to meet Jesus Christ face to face. Nor are you ready to face a trial like (Name) has faced with peace in your heart.

The strength that enabled this dear one to face her trial with confidence and assurance was not her own.
It came as she allowed the life of her Savior to live His life through her. It came from a confidence that she was ready to meet her Savior.
She had made her peace with God through faith in Christ and desired above all else to glorify Him with her life.
7. I invite you right where you are sitting to invite Christ into your life as your Savior from sin.

Jesus Christ died as your substitute paying the penalty for your sin.
But He asks you ;by an act of your will to trust Him as your personal Savior from sin.
If you do this, on the authority of God's word you are a new creature/born again and prepared to meet your Savior.
Conclusion
James (The Holy Spirit of God) in the quietness of this hour reminds us that . . .

l. There is purpose in trials:

God is still in control
He has not forsaken us but wants us to trust Him so we can mature.
2. God has and will give us wisdom to see the purpose and the good in this trial--As we ask in faith.

3. And there is comfort in knowing that this life is not all there is--that absent from the body means present with the Lord.

4. These truths were demonstrated before us in the life of (Name). (Name) faith in Christ enabled her to face her trial with the peace that passes understanding. Phil. 4:7

5. And I trust that now as her family as her family and friends we may lay hold of the same Savior and the same truths from God's word to enable us to bear this trial together.

Financial wisdom

How Bankruptcy Affects Your Financial Reputation -

Your credit report is an official record of how you’ve used and managed credit (borrowed money) in the past. Every time you apply for a loan, lenders examine your report or credit score to assess your “financial reputation.” That’s really what the information in your credit file is – a listing of your financial history and an inference of how you will repay future debt. Bankruptcy severely damages your financial reputation.

When your financial reputation is good, lenders will want to lend money to you and will offer you the lowest available interest rates.
When your financial reputation is bad, lenders may be less willing to lend you money. If they do lend you money, they’ll do so at high interest rates to protect themselves from the risk that you won’t pay on time and in full throughout the life of the loan.
Chapter 7 bankruptcies usually remain on your credit report for 10 years after your discharge date. Chapter 13 bankruptcies remain on your credit report for seven years. Any bankruptcy on your credit file can automatically give you a bad financial reputation, even if your financial record since your filing date has been perfect.

Why Your Financial Reputation Matters

Just like you probably don’t want your family to hang out with people having a bad reputation, banks and other financial institutions don’t want their money in the hands of anyone having a reputation of NOT repaying loans. Bankruptcy broadcasts to others that, at least recently, you were unable to make regular payments on your debt. In particular, bankruptcy can reduce your:

Access to credit: Some, though not all, lenders will simply refuse to lend money to people with a bankruptcy on their credit report.
Access to large amounts of credit: Many lenders will agree to lend to people with a bankruptcy on their credit report, but only in small amounts. Since most people use credit to finance major purchases, such as a car or home, having access to only a few thousand dollars’ worth of credit often won’t suffice.
Access to credit at low interest rates: People with good credit receive lower interest rates, which can result in enormous savings. For instance, a person with good credit may be able to get a mortgage at an interest rate a full 1% lower than someone with bad credit. Though 1% seems insignificant, over time that difference adds up to tens of thousands of dollars.
How to Get Credit After Bankruptcy

Despite the negative effects bankruptcy has on your credit rating, you can still get credit afterward. The most difficult time to get credit is immediately after you file, but over time lenders will feel less anxious and will offer you loans at rates approaching those available to borrowers with better credit. Generally, you should wait at least 18 months after your filing date before trying to get new credit. At that point, your wisest step is to apply for a secured credit card.

Secured Credit Cards

Secured credit cards are credit cards that require you to deposit a certain amount of cash into a savings account to which you and the credit card company have access. This cash deposit serves as collateral against your credit limit, the amount of credit that the secured card gives you. If you fail to pay your secured credit card bills, the company that issued your card can withdraw funds from your savings account equal to the amount you’ve failed to pay.

Secured credit cards look just like regular, unsecured credit cards. The amount of money you must deposit varies but usually equals 50–100% of the credit limit (though some lenders require only 10–20% of the credit limit).

After obtaining and responsibly using your secured credit card, you’ll have proof that you can manage credit responsibly, and you’ll begin to get additional credit more easily and at better interest rates.

Word for now

The process

Page 66

"This program has become a part of me... I understand more clearly the things that are happening in my life today I no longer fight the process."

Basic Text, p. 127

In active addiction, things happened seemingly without rhyme or reason. We just "did things" often without knowing why or what the results would be. Life had little value or meaning.

The Twelve Step process gives meaning to our lives; in working the steps, we come to accept both the dark and the bright sides of ourselves. We strip away the denial that kept us from comprehending addiction's affect on us. We honestly examine ourselves, picking out the patterns in our thoughts, our feelings, and our behavior We gain humility and perspective by fully disclosing ourselves to another human being. In seeking to have our shortcomings removed, we develop a working appreciation of our own powerlessness and the strength provided by a Power greater than we are. With our enhanced understanding of ourselves, we gain greater insight into and acceptance of others.

The Twelve Steps are the key to a process we call "life." In working the steps, they become a part of us and we become a part of the life around us. Our world is no longer meaningless; we understand more about what happens in our lives today. We no longer fight the process. Today, in working the steps, we live it.

Just for Today: Life is a process; the Twelve Steps are the key. Today, I will use the steps to participate in that process, understanding and enjoying myself and my recovery.

Finances

Wise Choices. Improved Finances. A Better Life.
New iShares ETFs Have Great Expense Ratios - 2013-02-27 08:00:00-05
I personally invest in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in both my traditional IRA and my Roth IRA. ETFs allow investors to put money into a wide variety of investments at expense ratios that are usually well below those of mutual funds. But just because many ETFs have lower expense ratios than their mutual fund cousins doesn’t mean they’re as low as they could be. A lot of them out there are far too expensive.

Thankfully, BlackRock recently overhauled its core lineup of ETFs by launching four new ones and repositioning six existing ETFs with expense ratios that are very low. I mean WAY low. So now, the choice is obvious (for me) when investing my hard-earned money: the new iShares Core ETFs provide broad, diversified coverage AND are less expensive — two key components that make a healthier portfolio (read my book review of How A Second Grader Beats Wall Street). But before you move your money from an existing ETF or other investment, you may have other factors to consider including tax consequences and any transaction costs in your decision-making process.

Find out the #1 reason people don’t invest.

10 New iShares ETFs

The 10 new iShares ETFs from BlackRock cover three major asset classes, have a really aggressive pricing structure and make up the new “iShares Core”. What’s unique about this move is that it essentially eliminates the pricing differences between the major ETFs from iShares, Vanguard, and Charles Schwab.

Now, the real difference between these three ETF families boils down to how they’re indexed (adjusting how an investment is weighted so that it matches an index such as the S&P 500) because once the expense ratio drop to 0.10%, any further reduction doesn’t produce significantly measurable results for investors. So, when expense levels fall to the 0.10% range (or less), other factors become more important. Factors such as indexing methodology and frequency, transaction costs, and the fund’s distribution policies.

The new iShares Core ETFs track indexes well known and loved by US investors, namely S&P indexes for domestic equities and Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) indexes for international stocks.

The four new iShares Core ETFs were launched back on October 22, 2012. I’ve listed them here, with the underlying index, the fund’s expense ratio, and a link to the fund’s overview page:

IXUS will track the MSCI ACWI ex-USA Investable Market Index with a 0.16% expense ratio.
IEFA will track the MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index with a 0.14% expense ratio.
IEMG will track the MSCI Emerging Markets Investable Market Index with a 0.18% expense ratio.
ISTB will track the Barclays U.S. Government/Credit 1-5 Year Bond Index with a 0.12% expense ratio.
Six renovated iShares Core ETFs (effective Oct. 17) with expense ratios and links to overview pages:

ITOT, 0.07%, previously named the iShares S&P 1500 Index Fund.
IVV, 0.07%, previously named the iShares S&P 500 Index Fund.
IJH, 0.15%, previously named the iShares S&P MidCap 400 Index Fund.
IJR, 0.16%, previously named the iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund.
AGG, 0.08%, previously named the iShares Barclays Aggregate Bond Fund.
ILTB, 0.12%, previously named the iShares 10+ Year Government/Credit Bond Fund.
BlackRock has two PDF files explaining how their new “core” works:

Strengthen Your Core With iShares ETFs (pdf)
A Closer Look At iShares Core (pdf)
The fact sheet and prospectus for each of these ETFs is available at the overview links I’ve listed above.

$7 Online Trading. Free trading tools. Real-time research. Open a no-fee Roth IRA at Scottrade!

I personally invest and currently hold positions in ITOT, IXUS and AGG, along with one not listed above, HDV (iShares High Dividend ETF with an expense ration of 0.4%). I’m hoping they reduce the fees on HDV as well!

So, check out the new ETFs from BlackRock. You may find that your own portfolio can grow much faster when the fees you WERE paying are now at work

To be happy?

Dear _____,

Many people think the goal of life is to be
happy. I don't think so.

Have you ever been to a funeral? That's not a
time to be happy. It's a time to be sad.

Did you ever take the SAT's, the MCAT's, or any
other important entrance test? That's not a time
to be happy. It's a time for intensity.

Have you ever waited for test results from a
medical exam? That's not a time to be happy. It's
a time to worry.

Have you ever encountered a lot of turbulence on
an airplane? That's not a time to be happy. It's
a time to be scared.

The goal of life is NOT to be happy. The goal of
life is to know what time it is.

In the words of King Solomon:

"Everything has its season. And there is a time
for everything under the heaven."

"A time to be born and a time to die."

"A time to weep and time to laugh."

"A time to wail and time to dance."

"A time to rend and time to mend."

"A time to be silent and a time to speak."

"A time to love and a time to hate."

"A time for war and a time for peace."

What time is it for you ______? If you're
reading this, then maybe it's time to renew your
marriage. It can be a difficult and painful
process, but maybe that's what time it is for
you. If you like, I'd be happy to help you with
it.

I'm sorry

______,have you ever heard the expression,
"Love is never having to say you're sorry?"

Sometimes I wonder how such utterly ridiculous
expressions become commonly accepted. If you're
close to someone, you're going to step on their
toes occasionally. And when you hurt someone,
ESPECIALLY YOUR SPOUSE, it's important to say,
"I'm sorry."

Not only is it important to say "I'm sorry," but
it's important to say it well. Usually the words
alone are not enough. You have to get inside your
spouse's heart, feel their pain, and in order for
them to forgive you, they have to feel COMPLETELY
understood. Otherwise, you might say, "I'm
sorry," and your spouse might say, "It's okay,"
but nothing will change. You could be stuck in
that hurt for years.

I wish for you and your spouse that you
SUCCESSFULLY move through your past hurt and that
"I'm sorry" restores your relationship the way
those 2 magic words have the power to do.

Morning mind exercise

Our Greatest Fear —Marianne Williamson

it is our light not our darkness that most frightens us

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other

people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

—Marianne Williamson

Lent

Lent
This article is principally about Lent in Western Christianity. For details about Lent in Orthodox Christianity, see Great Lent. For other uses see Lent (disambiguation).

An acolyte preparing to veil religious statues and extinguish candles on the altar. Note the crucifix and statues begin to be solemnly draped in violet while being incensed, and flowers are removed. Ash Wednesday at the Holy Oratory of Saint Francis de Sales, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America.

Lent celebrants carrying out a street procession during Holy Week. The violet color is often associated with penance and detachment. Similar Christian penitential practice is seen in other Catholic countries, sometimes associated with mortification of the flesh. Granada, Nicaragua.
Lent (Latin: Quadragesima) is a solemn observance in the liturgical year of many Christian denominations, lasting for a period of approximately six weeks leading up to Easter Sunday. In the general Latin-rite and most Western denominations Lent is taken to run from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) or to Easter Eve.

The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer—through prayer, penance, repentance, almsgiving, and self-denial. Its institutional purpose is heightened in the annual commemoration of Holy Week, marking the death and resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events of the Passion of Christ on Good Friday, which then culminates in the celebration on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

During Lent, many of the faithful commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxuries as a form of penitence. The Stations of the Cross, a devotional commemoration of Christ's carrying the Cross and of his execution, are often observed. Many Roman Catholic and some Protestant churches devoid their altars of candles, flowers, and other devotional offerings, while Crucifixes, religious statues, and other elaborate religious paraphernalia are often veiled in violet fabrics in solemn observance of this event. In certain pious Catholic countries, the consumption of meat is traditionally yet varyingly[1] self-abstained by the faithful, while grand religious processions and cultural customs are observed, and the faithful attempt to visit seven churches during Holy Week in honor of Jesus Christ heading to Mount Calvary.

Lent is traditionally described as lasting for forty days, in commemoration of the forty days which, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, where he endured temptation by the Devil.[2][3] However, different Christian denominations calculate the "forty days" of Lent differently. In most Western traditions the Sundays are not counted as part of Lent; thus the period from Ash Wednesday until Easter consists of 40 days when the Sundays are excluded. However in the Roman Catholic Church Lent is now taken to end on Holy Thursday rather than Easter Eve, and hence lasts 38 days excluding Sundays, or 44 days in total.

This event, along with its pious customs are observed by Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, as well as some Baptists and Mennonites.

Word of the day

Control Your World — Keep Family, Work Balanced


Have you ever felt like pulling your hair out? Everyone wants and needs your attention. You have too many jobs at home, and then you come to work and have another full day of tasks that need to be done.

One of the challenges that many of us face today is balancing our work and family life. If you feel like I do, both are important. One of the things I love about USANA is its values regarding the importance of taking time with your family and keeping both home and family balanced.

One thing that works for me is to give my full attention to whichever place I am at. So if I am at home, I focus on my family. I take time to walk the dog, play with the cats and enjoy my children. I take time to laugh with my girlfriend and daughters, and talk about their day.

As a working father, I have to find time to do something for myself — take a few minutes just for me each day. It is easy to get caught up in going to work, then racing home to take care of the family. Now days, it takes everyone at home to take on more responsibility when we all work. We divide the jobs; take turns cooking dinner and doing the dishes.

When I am at work, I focus and plan my day in order to accomplish the priorities I need to handle as vice president of project management. As I am driving to work, I prepare myself for the day. What are the critical tasks I need to handle?

It is important when I am at work to also take a few minutes to stretch, look out the window and take a lunch break. This keeps me focused and fresh when I am working away behind my barber chair or facilitating a meeting.

I have learned the hard way — it is OK to say NO. This has been a tough lesson for me both at home and at work, but let’s face it, none of us are Superman. I know there are some things I can’t fix, so I let them go. I also have to prioritize when I need to do business work at home such as check emails or participate in conference calls and when it can just wait for the next day.

Life has turned into a fast-paced race, but you can control your world and slow down to keep both family and work balanced. Take time to breathe prioritize what is really important and start enjoying life. You will end up happier and healthier.