REAL LOVE REAL REAL LOVE ....DONT SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS!

Find a heart that will love you at your worst and arms that will hold you at your weakest !!!

HE WEEPS

He Weeps

 

So many debates

Beliefs

Comfort

Denominationalism gave way to doctrinal debates

The ultimate Tower of Babylon

His children scatter into sects

The rivalry and division so great – He weeps

He cries out to His people, “I am Love!”

Their Sword of the spirit turned sword of righteousness impale their counterparts, tearing into the heart of God

And He weeps

His anguish unheard as the battles rage

Clanging cymbals drown out the voice of God

“I am Love!”

The fruits of the spirit shrivelled from drought

The Son blocked by the eclipse of their Babylon

The harvest yields little

And He weeps

He weeps for the deceived

As the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, their minds are also led astray

And from the Heavens above His voice resounds

“The devotion to Christ is simple and pure”

“I am Love!”

“It is finished”

The tower gives way to His once familiar voice

Alas, oneness in Him

And He weeps

For He is Love

by Rudi Taylor

TRUE FRIEND

 

When I honestly ask myself which friends in my life mean the most to me, I find that they are those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share my pain and touch my wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with me in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with me in an hour of grief and loss, who can tolerate not knowing, and not try to fix things for me, the one who is just willing to sit with me in my powerlessness, that is a true friend.

Mike Myers

BURN

Burn the churches, not the witches.

RESIST THE TEMPTATION

God provides for you a time to rest and come away long enough to be fresh. Remember, the most tragic mistakes in the Bible have occurred in times when godly men—leaders, no less—took on too much, worked too long, got too tired, stretched themselves too thin, or got so caught up in their circumstances that they failed to hear the still small voice of the Lord.

Resist the temptation to burn your rest time during this season in worthless pursuits. TVs, computers and sometimes even books and magazines and one more item on the to-do list can take the place of the sleep we need to fight for. These coming days will be for us, like Elijah, time to rest and eat, rest and eat…drawing our strength from the Word until we can pull ourselves together for a long hike to the mountain! Instead of letting us wander alone in the desert full of fear and feeling whipped, God sends the angels right to where we are, and in mercy and compassion He restoreths our soul. Rest, friends, and eat.

Scripture Of The Day: "And He said to them, [As for you] come away by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest a while--for many were [continually] coming and going, and they had not even leisure enough to eat." – Mark 6:31 (AMP)

THE WORLD INSIDE YOU

Unless you learn to face your own shadows, you will continue to see them in others, because the world outside you is only a reflection of the world inside you.

BUTTERFLY

Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.

PEOPLE CRY

People cry, not because they're weak. It's because they've been strong for too long.

STRONG

You were given this life because you were strong enough to live it.

A WELL-SPENT DAY

If you planted hope today in any hopeless heart, if someones burden was lighter because you did your part, if you caused a laugh that chased some tears away, if tonight your name is named when someone kneels to pray, then your day has been well-spent.

HEART

At some point, you have to realize that some people can stay in your heart... but not in your life.

YOU ARE GREAT BEYOND COMPARE

A little boy once asked a question in the darkness of his room,  "God, who are you?" There in the silence came the reply, "I am you." The boy was confused but said, "It must be sad then, being you?" From the stillness the voice spoke again, "I'ts true. It is sad being you but it doesn't have to be." The boy looked down and his eyes were heavy now as he said, "What can I do to be happy?" The voice said, "Grab a mirror and look at me in you. Realize that you are true and you are never alone. You see me as powerful but you must see that the powerful one is you. Go dear child and love your heart back to health. Go and find the true wealth of your heart as it is coupled with mine."Sometimes the boy dreams that conversations like this one, actually did take place but then he remembers that no voice has ever come from outer space. He sees that no one speaks and so he takes the words of his heart and calls them Gods. Poor poor child. I love you so much....and I am sorry that you had to learn that the heart of God was on the tip of your tongue all of this time. I am sorry that you were never told that you were great beyond compare and that you could love yourself with the very words and imagination that were stored up in your heart from birth. The world made me feel like a dirty beggar but I am a King.

~Jacob Heynen

MISTAKES

You can never make the same mistake twice, because the second time you make it, it's not a mistake, it's a choice.

BE VULNERABLE

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”

DEPRESSION

Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

• The WEAK can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the STRONG" - Mahatma Gandhi

~

• Forgiving does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future." - Lewis B. Smedes

DIFFICULT PEOPLE

I am thankful for the difficult people in my life.
They have shown me exactly who I don't want to be.

GRUDGE

Holding a grudge is letting someone live rent-free in your head.

WEIRD

We are all a little weird & life's a little weird & when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them & fall in mutual weirdness & call it love.

-- Dr. Seuss

WORKING

Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired & discouraged people who kept on working.

I AM TOO...

I am too positive to be doubtful, too optimistic to be fearful, & too determined to be defeated.

ENEMIES / FRIENDS

I told God protect me from my enemies & I started losing friends.

COMFORT ZONE

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.


~ Neale Donald Walshe

OUR LIVES

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

- Martin Luther King

SHE LIES

When my love swears that she is made of truth, I do believe her, though I know she lies.


~ Shakespeare

SILENCE OF FRIENDS

In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

~ Martin Luther King Jr.

LOVE PEOPLE

God gives us people to love & things to use, not things to love & people to use.

LOVE IS EQUAL

"I see them mostly because they are in pain. The others do well on their own but I see the ones who can not live up to the expectations that others excel in. I see them because I am one of them. I see and wonder how anyone could ever believe that God would damn children who have fallen and are crying on their knees. I will never damn you and even if I am gone someday, my love will be the decision that is set in stone, just for you. Rest assured, I learned my character, that is of the highest quality, from my father. I am who I am because he was before me and I learned the way that he established. There is no distinction between my love and his. Love is equal."


- Jacob Heynen

MATURE

I'm mature enough to forgive you, but until further notice, I'm not dumb enough to trust you.

WONDERFUL

Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful, that's what matters to me.

~ Steve Jobs

DALAI LAMA

The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered "Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.

BITTERNESS, IGNORNACE, SMALLNESS, INSECURITIES

Should you find yourself the victim of other peoples bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities, remember this: things could be much worse. You could be one of them!

MASKS

“That's what real love amounts to - letting a person be what he really is. Most people love you for who you pretend to be. To keep their love, you keep pretending - performing. You get to love your pretense. It's true, we're locked in an image, an act - and the sad thing is, people get so used to their image, they grow attached to their masks. They love their chains. They forget all about who they really are. And if you try to remind them, they hate you for it, they feel like you're trying to steal their most precious possession.”

― Jim Morrison

DELIRIUM

"There is in every madman a misunderstood genius whose idea, shining in his head, frightened people, and for whom delirium was the only solution to the strangulation that life had prepared for him."

– Antonin Artaud

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON

Eventually all things fall into place. Until then, laugh at the confusion, live for the moments, and know everything happens for a reason.

GRADES

"Grades are a problem. On the most general level, they're an explicit acknowledgment that what you're doing is insufficiently interesting or rewarding for you to do it on your own. Nobody ever gave you a grade for learning how to play, how to ride a bicycle, or how to kiss. One of the best ways to destroy love for any of these activities would be through the use of grades, and the coercion and judgment they represent. Grades are a cudgel to bludgeon the unwilling into doing what they don't want to do, an important instrument in inculcating children into a lifelong subservience to whatever authority happens to be thrust over them."


~ Derrick Jensen

APOLOGIZING

Apologizing does not always mean that you are wrong & the other person is right. It just means that you value your relationship more than your ego.

SINCERITY

"A seemingly insignificant act with sincerity is far better than great deeds with boast"

CHANGE

Put the politicians on minimum wage and watch how fast things change.

HAPPINESS

Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder...

GOD'S CHARACTER

"You don't know who you are till you are able to see the amount of God's character revealed in you"

I CHOOSE

I choose;
to live by choice, not by chance;
to make changes, not excuses;
to be motivated, not manipulated;
to be useful, not used;
to excel, not compete.
I choose self-esteem, not self pity.
I choose to listen to my inner voice,
not the random opinion of others.

WALLS

Sometimes people put up walls not to keep others out but to see who cares enough to tear them down.

POWER

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.

- Jimi Hendrix

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

We may think we know what God ought to do in troubling situations, but we cannot know all that is at stake. Let's remember that with God, anything is possible--even resurrecting what we believe to be dead and healing what we perceive to be a hopeless situation.

GET A JOB

Teenagers: tired of being harrassed by your stupid parents?
Act now! Move out! Get a job! Pay your bills while you still know everything!

ANSWERED PRAYER

Each of us should carry a thankful heart for every “yes” we receive from God as an answer to prayer. We can also be thankful He doesn’t say “yes” to prayers that are not in agreement with His will—prayers that are based on our wisdom and not on His; that would bring leanness to our souls; that would put us in the wrong place; that would make us ineffective; that would bring us into wrong relationships; that would cause our hearts to cool; that would keep us from His highest and rob us of His best.

LIBERTINE AND LEGALIST

The libertine lives as though there is no God; the legalist lives as though he/she is God to everyone else.

CHRIST

I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.


~ Mohandas Gandhi

EVERYBODY IS A GENIUS

Everybody is a genius!
But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that its stupid.

~ Albert Einstein.

THE BEAUTY OF A WOMAN

“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It's the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.”
~ Audrey Hepburn.

ABORTION

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: 'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together. So the doctor said: 'OK and what do you want me to do?' She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.' The doctor thought for a little, and after som...e silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.' She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request. Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms. The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child! 'I agree', the doctor replied.

OBEY

The problem Christians have caused is that they don't get how desperately God loves us all and how high a value people have to Him! Obeying always follows relationship. If not the obeying will probably result in resentment and despair ultimately. That sadly is the equation of many churches. Obey and you will be loved. It's the same dysfunction as a boy that doesn't get his father's love. He will strive through performance to achieve something or become rebellious

SINNERS IN HEAVEN

I was shocked, confused, bewildered, as I entered Heaven's door, not by the beauty of it all, nor the lights or its decor. But it was the folks in Heaven who made me sputter and gasp--The thieves, the liars, the sinners, the alcoholics and the trash. There stood the kid from seventh grade who swiped my lunch money twice. Next to him was my old neighbor who never said anything nice. Bob, who I always thought was rotting away in hell, was sitting pretty on cloud nine, looking incredibly well. I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal? I would love to hear your take. How'd all these sinners get up here? God must've made a mistake 'And why is everyone so quiet, so somber - give me a clue.' 'Hush, child,' He said, 'They’re all in shock. No one thought they'd be seeing you.'

JUDGE NOT!! Remember...Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car. Every saint has a past... Every sinner has a future! 

Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - It has no point.

LOVE, PEACE, HARMONY

Discord, anger and strife can't co-habitate with Love, Peace & Harmony, they will just never get along :)

WILLING

Jesus calls us to remember that we are all God's children. Just as He loves all His people and is willing to forgive their sins, we must be willing to forgive others who have done wrong to us: Anger can consume us with hatred and block out the love of God. Whether between parent and child, spouses, friends, or nations, expressions of anger divide us and drive us toward open hostility.....

SINGING

The fat lady is singing her head off!!

AUTHENTICITY

Authenticity - Having one face and heart holding the same thoughts, opinions & beliefs before everyone without tweaking or tailoring them to please one here and then the other there. What your best friends know "between us" is real.. why alter it to appease someone else or sustain their 'approval'... it always shows up anyway. Sincerity never promised popularity but does produce trust and consistency of character.

~ Dawn Schale

CHURCHES

Churches run like a polished broadway performance...... Like a woman who is attracted to a slick, smooth-talking man who has no substance, we start falling for the church and in the end we get hurt when we realize that all that glitters is not gold!!!

LIFE

The Adventure of life is to learn.
The Purpose of life is to grow.
The Nature of life is to change.
The Challenge of life is to overcome.
The Essence of life is to care.The Opportunity of life is to serve.
The Secret of life is to dare.
The Spice of life is to befriend.
The Beauty of life is to give.
The Joy of life is to love.

~William Ward

FORGIVE FORGIVE FORGIVE

Jesus calls us to remember that we are all God's children. Just as He loves all His people and is willing to forgive their sins, we must be WILLING to forgive others who have done wrong to us:Anger can consume us with hatred and block out the love of God. Whether between parent and child, spouses, friends, or nations, expressions of anger divide us and drive us toward open hostility.....

More often than not, our angry feelings are based on a misinterpretation of what someone said or did. A grudge clouds our judgment and may lead us to an act of revenge that can never be undone.

BEAUTY IN DARK PLACES

Even the desert has beauty. Good times and bad times are part of living. It is difficult to fully appreciate joy until you have tasted sadness. Laughter is sweeter if you have experienced tears. There may be times when you feel like you're stuck in a dry and desolate place, but an encouraging call or a hug from a friend can be an oasis; beauty in the desert. Though it may not be easy, try to remember that the trials are going to help you fully experience the joy on the horizon.

AUTHENTICITY

Authenticity - Having one face and heart holding the same thoughts, opinions & beliefs before everyone without tweaking or tailoring them to please one here and then the other there. What your best friends know "between us" is real.. why alter it to appease someone else or sustain their 'approval'... it always shows up anyway. Sincerity never promised popularity but does produce trust and consistency of character~ Dawn Schale

THE FALSE CHURCH

Churches run like a polished broadway performance...... Like a woman who is attracted to a slick, smooth-talking man who has no substance, we start falling for the church and in the end we get hurt when we realize that all that glitters is not gold!!!

LIFES PURPOSE...

The Adventure of life is to learn.
The Purpose of life is to grow.
The Nature of life is to change.
The Challenge of life is to overcome.
The Essence of life is to care.
... ... The Opportunity of life is to serve.
The Secret of life is to dare.
The Spice of life is to befriend.
The Beauty of life is to give.
The Joy of life is to love.

~William Ward

YOUR VALUE AND WORTH ...THINK ABOUT IT ...DO YOU KNOW IT ?

May you know your worth !!!

PURGATORY... LOL

When I was a kid we went to catholic church and we loved getting money off our dad to put in the box to buy the candles to light, we didnt know fully that the amount of candles you lit got your dead family members out of purgatory...a little at a time. Gosh hope Aunt Thelma has both her arms in heaven..it would be so sad to not be able to hug her when I get there!!

 Shit ...I forgot to tell dad about that one time I spent the candle money on ice cream and a movie ...Oh No! ....Poor Aunt Thelma and Uncle Bob : (((   LOL

COURAGE ..TO DO THE RIGHT THING...IT WILL BE REWARDED !

Courage [in Jesus] give us the strength to extend grace, despite our pain.

Courage [in Jesus] gives us the desire to speak Truth no matter what.

Courage [in Jesus] moves us to do more than sit behind a computer and type out seemingly profound statements -that we will never actually do ourselves.
...
Courage [in Jesus] gives us the strength to walk away from relationships and circumstances that are not healthy for us.

 Courage [in Jesus] is where we are enabled to begin and finish a great work of God in our lives.

Chronicles 28:20
David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.

Every day is a day of courage.....

SPEAK YOUR MIND....DAMN IT SPEAK!!!

SPEAK YOUR MIND EVEN IF YOUR VOICE SHAKES !

Maggie Kuhn

DEATH AND ETERNAL LIFE

"We're all going to leave this life at some point, and I don't think there's anything to be afraid of. You see, I wasn't raised with hell and damnation. I mean, I lived it . . . but since I wasn't raised with that concept, I'm not afraid of death. I don't think I'm going to hell. I've done that already."

‎"We need to address the vast array of stuff we're taught about death," Louise continues. "If your parents went to a church filled with messages of hellfire and damnation, you could be very frightened of death. You'll wonder, Have I been good enough, and if not, am I going to burn forever? And if you think you're going to burn forever, then you'll be scared shitless of dying. ...

 From Louise and Cheryl's new book, "You Can Create and Exceptional Life."

ABOUNDING ETERNAL WEALTH

I don’t have anything against financial independence or material things. Material wealth has a place and use. I’d just rather pursue wealth that will last eternally and cannot be stolen, rust or rot away. My quest is for the all abounding eternal wealth!

LAY IT DOWN ..ITS TOO BIG TO CARRY...

Is there anything you're facing that's bigger than you can handle? any pain, fear, problem, relationship issue, disease, financial difficulty, addiction, anything at all. that is bigger than our God?

If you're tired of trying to do this thing called life on your own, tired of carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders...it's time to lay it at the feet of the Creator and Sustainer of all things and then rest in Him -

Because He is God....and youre not .

A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE IS THE RELIGIOUS SPIRITS COUNTERFEIT TO THE PRESENCE LED LIFE...

Purpose driven will drive you and you will end up striving….

Presence led will bring you into a place of rest ..

YOUR HEART ...

"Taking a stand for the sanctity of my own heart" ....Its a Beautiful thing!

MORE ABOUT LOVE...ITS A CHOICE !

...."We are told that people stay in love because of chemistry, or because they remain intrigued with each other, because of many kindnesses, because of luck. But part of it has got to be forgiveness and gratefulness." Ellen Goodman
I think it's totally about forgiveness and gratefulness, and continually deciding to stay in love...it IS a decision(The Marriage Files) ~~Joselyn~

LIFE TESTS YOUR FAITH ...

"The rubber of faith meets the road of reality"

EMOTIONAL INCEST....

DO YOUR RESEARCH...THIS IS NOT GOOD ...MOTHERS ..LET YOUR SONS GO!!!

ALL WILL BECOME CLEAR ...

Do not be discouraged by what may be happening around you, always keep your energy high, allow things to manifest in there own time and in there own way, all will become clear.

Thankyou Lynelle

TRUST ME....................

Trust Me in all things, and don't worry. Even when things are undone and seem chaotic, I am with you. I will lead you in the path of righteousness, and establish you on the road to destiny. When the world around you is inconsistent and unreliable, I am your place of stability. I will not leave you nor forsake you. I will remain faithful and perform My word, says the Lord.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

You Have Not Because You Give Not

By Sharon Frame
This week's topic: The Importance Of Giving

She sits alone at lunch time in a crowded cafeteria. She turns down every invitation to socialize with friends. She won’t reach out to others if it means driving out of her way. It’s simply too inconvenient.
She calls no one. So her phone hardly rings. It’s a selfish, self-centered life she leads. Yet she wonders why she’s so lonely; why it seems no one loves her. No one cares. 

Weekends and holidays are the hardest. Her birthdays pass without a gift or even a card from family or friends. Sickness visits, and no one is there to comfort or take her to the doctor. Many nights she cries herself to sleep. What she fails to realize is she has created this sad, empty life. She has not, because she gives not. 
The Bible clearly instructs us to give. It’s for good reason. As we give, we bless others. But giving also creates the channel through which goodness flows in our own life. Simply put, your level of giving triggers your level of getting. It isn’t that we give hoping to get. Giving and getting are two sides of the same coin. You can’t give without getting. You can’t get without giving. It’s a universal principal.
Paul explains it in Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”
Luke 6:38 tells us to “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back."
So, if you give little “amount,” expect to get little back. If you want to cure your bout with loneliness, offer company and comfort to someone else. That wonderful act of charity alone will cheer you up!
You say you love Jesus and are anxious to get the deeper things of God. Give more time to personal bible study. If you want genuine friends, give of your time to cultivate meaningful relationships. It won’t be convenient. It won’t be easy. It can’t be self-centered.
Such giving is rooted in love. So perhaps we have not because we love not. Love compels us to be givers. What better demonstrates that than Jesus’ sacrifice on the Calvary? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son.” John 3:16.
It was not convenient. It was not easy. It was not self-centered. It was sacrificial. Giving often calls for sacrifice.
Have you ever felt as though you were constantly giving and getting nothing in return? You may be the one who is first to forgive after a fight with your spouse. Perhaps you are the designated encourager in your youth or single’s group. You sacrifice your time to pray for and edify others. But when you need a pick-me up, no one is there with a shoulder for you to cry on. It’s tough. But Paul encourages us in Galatians 6:9, saying, “Don’t get weary in well doing.” Remember your ultimate reward comes from God, not from man.
So don’t seek to get. See to give. Give unselfishly and you’ll reap abundance in return. Give love and you’ll never be in short supply of it. Give friendship and you’ll never be without support and fierce loyalty.
Let it not be said of you: “you have not because you give not.”

FREE WILL

Free Will

That's the thing about free will, he told us. You can drag me along, but there's no way in hell you can make me have fun.

"The Story People"

THE FROG / PRINCE ...

"One day you will wake up and see him as he really is... where you saw an Adonis you will see a selfish child .... where you saw a Prince ...you will see a frog" ...from "The Freedom Program"

THE FAIRY TALE STORY ...

The Fairy Story:

Once upon a time there was an unmarried princess who ruled her land wisely and well. She made the laws, collected the taxes and was loved by all her subjects.
One day, when she was sitting by her lake, a frog hopped out of the water. “Hello Princess” said the frog. I am not really a frog at all, he continued. I am in fact, a handsome prince. A wicked witch turned me into a frog. However, if you kiss me I will regain my handsome human form. I will then marry you.
You can have my children and care for them. I would like about eight. You can wash my clothes and cook my meals. You can keep the..palace clean and tidy. I will take over as ruler and enforce the laws.... I will be King. I will collect the taxes and keep all the money. I will of course give you a generous allowance for household expenses.”
Later that night, when the princess was dining on sautéed frogs’ legs in a tarragon, cream and brandy sauce, she said to herself, “I don’t fucking think so!”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





There is a serious point to this story. Why do so many of us ‘jump at’ the frog’s offer?

IN THOSE DAYS ....

Awakening

In those days, we finally chose to walk like giants & hold the world in arms grown strong with love & there may be many things we forget in the days to come, but this will not be one of them.

"The Story People"

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN...(TO ALL MY SISTERS/EVERY WOMAN IN THE WORLD!)

What do you do when ....
You strive for love and peace and a harmonious relationship of healthy discussion and the partner you are with just lashes out alot and gets defensive alot so that your goal of resolution and peace can never be obtained thru open communication ?

What do you do when....
Your calling in life is to be a Life Coach and as you practice by lovingly sharing your insights to all those in your circle and they value and respect you but your significant other reacts as if its a competition of right and wrong or whos better ?

What do you do when..
You applaud the talents and giftings of your partner at every opportunity and highlight all his strengths but when you need to discuss an area of growth he reacts as if you are his enemy?

What do you do when...
Your partner says I love you and then waits for the expected response and when this one time he doesnt get it his feelings are hurt..and u realise that his "I love you" was infact not him loving you but a manipulative request "Tell me you love me"  and when he didnt get it his feelings were hurt.


What do you do when..
You have to walk on eggshells around your partner because he is supersensitive and explosive...and when you accidently trigger it like a tornado it destroys everything in its path, with no regard for adult or child.

What do you do when..
You need to cry cos youre a woman and in that journey of releasing your tears you know it will be cleansing and healing and you might even find something out about yourself...but he gets angry and takes it as if you are telling him he did something wrong and blaming him ...when all you needed was arms to hold you while you release and a tender word of "Its ok baby, we can figure this out"

What do you do when..
You start to cry and its starting to flow and you just need this cry and then his anger sends a message to your spirit that this is not a safe place to be vulnerable.... and your tears stop like a shut off valve..while inside your heart is aching.

What do you do when..
You only have love and goodness to share and his best interests...and he protects himself as if you are the enemy.

What do you do when..
He positions himself behind you in company and when you are talking and sharing honestly and interracting he makes faces behind your back demeaning you and shaking his head so that other people are being told by him you are a liar....when infact you are sharing your heart.


What do you do when..
He says he had a great day, ... but there is one thing that you would like to discuss and all of a sudden he takes it as an attack and starts to throw up so many things about the day when 5 minuites ago he said he had no problem with the day.


What do you do when..
You are emotionally spent and exhausted and need some sleep ....and after struggling and praying for a long time for sleep to come... he wakes you to say he is going home with no regard for your health.


What do you do when..
He has so many weapons stored in his arsenal that at every discussion he pulls out the right one from the past to attack you with so that you can never stay on topic and resolve one issue as he just goes off down another rabbit trail and another...never seeking peace but just venting and destroying as he goes.

What do you do when...
Your goal is peace and he makes war.

What do you do when..
You watch his mother behave the same way and it hits you like a ten ton truck that he is in a toxic relationship with his mother and you realise that he has lived this way with her for 37 years and the toxicity is so thick that he doesnt see it... and he is being damaged by it every single day but he wont stop the cycle by leaving.

What do you do when..
You realise that he has lived such a sheltered life that the majority of what he has ever said to you consisted of movie lines or music videos (if it was good) or learned behaviour from the toxic relationship with his mother (if it was bad) ..and that there was nothing else ... (All the beauty you thought you had was either copied from a movie or music video or was a manipulation to get something to feed his insecurities)

What do you do when..
It all hits you at once and the pieces fall into place and you have to come out of the denial of believing and you feel like your heart is broken because you realise that he is hanging onto all these things and not fully ready to surrender to change and face his demons and live a life of love.

What do you do when..
You just have to let go of the dream...because it was never real in the first place ..it was all just your own hopes and desires and faith and believing..... your own encouraging and overlooking.... your own believing the best.

...and then...

What do you do when your heart is broken and the acceptance of coming out of denial hits you so hard that you feel sick and numb with grief and you walk around in a daze...

then...

What do you do?

I will tell you what you do ! Like every other strong woman before you...You keep on going..putting one foot in front of the other... in hope of a better day.... and it will come !!! Maybe not today or even Tommorrow but it will come!!!

To all my sisters .... every woman in the world !!!!

NEVER TOO OLD

You are Never too old to Rock your inner Goddess!

Anita D'Ambrosie

FAITH THRU THE PAIN...

The rubber of faith meets the road of reality under hardship. The trueness of one’s belief is revealed in pain. Genuineness and character are unveiled in misfortune. Faith is at its best, not in three-piece suits on Sunday mornings or at V.B.S. on summer days, but at hospital bedsides, cancer wards, cemeteries, and lifes tragedies.

....Anybody can preach a sermon on a mount surrounded by daisies. But only one with a gut full of faith can live a sermon on a mountain of pain.

PAIN...

... that the truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for. Look around, look closely at the people in your life right now, and ask yourself about each one: 'Is (s)he worth suffering for?'

BEAUTY AND UGLINESS...WHAT IS WITHIN YOU ?

Sometimes u meet old people and they have such a sweetness, a beauty about them, their character just shines love ...BUT ...Its a disturbing thing when u come across someone old ...and u realise after a few meetings that they are ugly... very ugly... u watch their words hoping to glean some beautiful gem from years of wisdom and all u see is ugliness ...bitterness...self centredness...u see hell already living inside of them...
...When Jesus said "The Kingdom of Heaven is inside of you" ....he was right... and so is the Kingdom of Hell... you dont just die and change ... u actually grow right into one of those two realities that are already within! !!

EQUIPPING

...The Equipping Continues:

In 2008 the Lord said that the years 2009, 2010, and 2011 would be years in which He would equip His people to live in the power of His divine government of 2012.
The Body of Christ has been afflicted in 2009 and 2010 because equipping takes place in adversity.

PREDETERMINED LOVE

... When I have love for someone, I have predetermined that I am going to stand with them, regardless of what they are going through....

GIVE A LITTLE KINDNESS

...Special request to all kids returning to school ......... If you see someone who is struggling to make friends or being bullied because he/she doesn't have many friends or because they are shy or not as pretty or not dressed in the most "in" clothes .... PLEASE step up. Say hi or at least smile at them in the hallway. You never know what that person might be facing outside of school. Your kindness might just make a BIG difference in someone's life!

FORGIVENESS

....Forgiveness is a decision. It's an act of will to release a person from the obligation that resulted when they injured you. (Forgiveness is a choice...which in turn releases you!)

WHAT IS SUCCESS...

Webster defines success as: a favorable or desired outcome.


What is success? Mansions, fancy cars, designer clothes and stacks of money are considered ultimate success by many...


....My foster family owned many of the things people use to define their success—nice cars, nice clothes and a nice-sized home. My first week living with them, my new parents took me out to breakfast to get to know me and one thing my Dad ...said that day never left me. He said, “What you have doesn’t define if you’re a success; doing what you set out to do for the right reason and who you are inside, does.”

At that time (before it was popular) I planned to become a forensic psychologist and catch serial criminals of the worst kind. I wasn’t a success yet because my motivation was to seek vengeance for their victims and shame the criminals. My plans were to be an FBI sensation, expert witness and write books about the most diabolical cases I solved (like the ones I’d read since middle school). Marriage and children were optional. I wanted to be rich and famous for putting away evil people.

God interrupted the plans I made for my life. When I think about the condo, convertible luxury car and crime-fighting future I described to my parents that morning, it was a story of success based on the definition of someone else. It was based on the pain from my past and the circumstances that landed me in foster care. It was based on the admiration I thought I’d receive if I had things I saw in magazines, movies and on television. Watching my parents love each other and experiencing love from my new family even after I hurt them began to change what I viewed as success. Encountering the forgiveness and redemption of God after walking away from Him wiped society’s definition of success out of my mind. It made me wonder if as a child of God how I defined my life’s success should be based more on if I accomplished the things I wanted in life or if I embraced God’s purpose for me.

If I chose to allow what I originally wanted for my life to determine whether or not I am a success, I failed miserably. My plans didn’t include being irreversibly in love with the Creator of the universe, an intercessor, worshipper, wife to a God-fearing husband, and devoted mother to an imaginative daughter. The books I write focus on how much God loves the hurting instead of exacting vengeance on the people or situations that hurt them.

Entering into an intimate relationship with God opened my eyes to the ability to determine my own definition of success. I prayed for God to save me, and today I pray that everything I do prospers His purpose for my being here, and based on the fact that He loves me, I know I live a life of success

CHALLENGING YOUR CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

I have had my theology challenged lately and oh it is good. The result of that challenge has been like getting new glasses after seeing for so long with blurred lenses that are an old prescription.....
We see and understand from such a limited perspective. A lot of our theological understanding comes from things we have heard preached, picked up by osmosis along the way or have studied for ourselves. The trouble is when it comes t...o God and even theology we only see through the lenses of our current theological grid. Things can be ‘hidden in plain sight’ in scripture but because we have been taught to see something from a certain perspective we don’t see that there could be another perspective. Or even, that maybe our current understanding is wrong..

Then along comes God and he challenges what you or I believe. What we do with that challenge is vitally important. That challenge can come in many forms and God is not afraid to use circumstances we face to challenge what we believe about him or his word. What are our options when God challenges us and do we always choose the right one?.

Option 1 – Ignore the challenge. Sometimes God comes and challenges us and we choose to ignore the challenge. Why? It could be we think there is nothing wrong with our theology, that what we believe now is true and is right. Or it could be that we don’t recognize that we see in part and do not know all truth about anything. So it is easy to push the challenge away or even apply it to someone else we know..

Option 2 – Treat the challenge superficially or apathetically. God challenges us and we may even recognize we might not be 100% right but we don’t or won’t search out the truth. We have many justifications for doing this but each one comes down in the end to pride, passivity or apathy. We will rationalize and defend our passivity too. We may think – Its not like I’m going to find out I’m not saved or something like that, so it’s not vital. So we choose to live on the poverty line of revelation and understanding..

Option 3 – Find an excuse to not to let the challenge change us. We may agree in principle to the new update God has given us but that’s where it stays – as a concept and principle. It is easy to give assent with our minds to something but we must let our theology change us, we must live it out. Updated theology should radically affect everything and will often have a domino effect challenging and toppling other wrong beliefs as well..

Option 4 – Admit that we are challenged and let the challenge change us to a certain level – usually to the level of our rights – for example – I may believe I have the right to live comfortably and with ease so no I won’t answer that call to serve on the mission field, but I will support them financially. If I ignore it maybe it will go away – usually it does too and unfortunately we stay in the place of unbelief and fear. At this point also it is all too easy to use excuses – maybe we hide behind our kids or our job or even what our Pastor believes and we don’t want the boat rocked so we do nothing..

Option 5 – Allow the challenge to do its work in us. This is where we recognize that God is at work and is challenging us for a reason – that the image of Christ may fully formed in us. In this option we are willing to hold loosely what we have believed and allow God to challenge it, shake it, sift it and let the wind blow away what is chaff. In this place we are willing to allow ourselves to feel uncomfortable while still trusting that he knows what he is doing and why. It is a place of surrender, a place that while not necessarily easy to be in is absolutely necessary if we are to move into greater revelation..

This is a season of many challenges for the church. Finances, confidence, mind sets, theology; it is a season where everything that can be shaken is being shaken. What a glorious time it is – God is challenging us and we are getting to see the truth about where we stand. For many, if not all of us, we are discovering that we don’t trust God as much as we thought, we don’t believe him as much as we ought to and largely, we don’t really experience the reality of what we believe. Oh the wonderful grace of God in revealing these things to us..

The devil would have us believe that these times are like they are because God is judging us yet the truth is far from that. In these challenging times the whisper from heaven is – “Come closer, come and see the real me, come, see and experience the reality of who I am. And when you see me as I truly am, everything will change. You will see your challenges from a new perspective, you will see the answers I have for those challenges and faith will rise in your heart, so that what you believe and what you see may be manifested in your realm.”.

God is challenging our theology especially in this season – what we believe about him, what we believe about his word, his kingdom and so much more. Let him do it, let him challenge your theology. In doing so you will come out the other side with a wonderfully updated view of God that will change your world. Allowing God to update your theology in this season is vital. The church worldwide is undergoing a reformation that at it’s culmination will dwarf any other that has been before. Out of that reformation the Bride will arise in all her glory, pure and spotless, rightly displaying the character, love and power of God, releasing heaven into earth everywhere she goes..

Letting God change you in this season is not only essential on a personal level but it makes you a part of the pioneering work of birthing reformation. That’s how big this is, it’s not just about you maturing it’s way bigger than that; it’s about the Church becoming who she was created to be.
Bring on the change, I say! Challenge our theology God, change it and change us!.

Filed under Christian Living, Rob & Lyn Packer, Walking in the Spirit

DEPRESSION

"BEFORE you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem,
make sure you ARE NOT, in fact, simply surrounded by assholes."
..- William Gibson

LIFE AND PAIN

The girl you just called fat? She is overdosing on diet pills.The girl you just called ugly? She spends hours putting makeup on hoping people will like her. The boy you just tripped? He is abused enough at home. The girl you just called a slut? She was raped when she was 12. See that man with the ugly scars? He fought for our country. That guy you just made fun of for crying? His mother is dying. You never know what people are going through.

LET YOUR HEART BE YOUR GUIDE

Let your heart guide you... It whispers, so listen carefully. ~Little foot's mother, Land Before Time

WALK IN LOVE

Its ALL about LOVE !!! Lets practice LOVE !!! Lets walk it out ! xoxo

SOME PROFESSING CHRISTIANS WILL NOT BE GOING TO HEAVEN

Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"....

TRUTH AND LIES

The truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.

...By Pema Chodron

THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE

"Truth will never be discovered if we rest contented with discoveries already made."
- Seneca.....

FEAR

We must begin to see that agitation is really a manifestation of fear that is designed to steal our peace. As challenging as it may seem, we must make a quality decision to not become agitated...

CHILD OF GOD

The angels write this to you: “You, like everyone else who is incarnated at this time, are a holy and perfect child of God. We realize you may not always feel perfect and holy, and we also realize that you often don’t act that way. Nonetheless, God created your soul as a literal ‘chip off the old block.’ It contains God-essence, or Divine light, that can never be extinguished, soiled, or taken away from you. Nothing you could ever do would eradicate your Divine heritage.”.... ~ Doreen Virtue ~

LOVE SEEKS YOUR BEST ..

"when someone judges you, they're constantly building a case against you.
when someone loves you, they're constantly building a case *for* you.

the judger smirks when you hurt and wins when you lose.
the lover hurts when you hurt and wins when you win.

love someone today....." S. Robbins.

DONT MUZZLE THE OX...

Dont Muzzle the Ox ! 30 years in an abusive relationship with "The Church" Now is the time to get back what I had lost ...... My Voice! I need to speak against my Abuser ! ..... "FREEDOM" is crying out !!!! "The TRUTH will set you Free" !!!!

WORDS HAVE POWER ...GOD SPOKE THE WORLD INTO CREATION..

I need to be aware of what I think and say about myself (and others). words have power and can change reality.....Thank You Lynelle Morris

A FATHERS HEART

♥ A pastor with a father's heart leads the way for you straight into the arms of your Father so your own relationship with Him can immediately begin, for that is the most important thing ♥ It's time to come off of the life support and be fed daily for yourself ♥.....

FORGIVENESS...

In order to do all that God wants you to do, you must learn how to be criticized, misunderstood, rejected and be able to forgive those who are behind it. –Joyce Meyer

ACCEPTANCE..

As I love and accept myself exactly as I am, right here and right now with all my so-called flaws and imperfections, I find it easier to accept others in the same way. I am learning to release the need to control others and allow them the freedom to be who they are. I am learning to create peace within, and am doing the best I can with the understanding, knowledge, and awareness that I have at this time. .... Louise L. Hay.

DONT JUDGE A BOOK....

"No one has the right to judge you,
because no one really knows what you have been through.
They might have heard the stories,
but they didn't feel what you felt in your heart."

~Unknown.......

LOVING ENOUGH TO LET GO.....

When I love, I love with no limitations. But if you betray me, I love myself enough to let go......

~ Samantha Drew

PROMISE TO MY CHILDREN

My Promise to my Children... I am your Parent 1st - your Friend 2nd. I will stalk you, flip out on you, lecture you, drive you insane, be your worst nightmare & hunt you down like a bloodhound when needed because I LOVE YOU ! When you understand that, I will know you are a responsible adult. You will NEVER find someone who loves, cares, & worries about you more than I do! If you don't hate me at least once in your life - I am not doing my job properly.

LOVE ...JOHN LENNON

"It matters not who you love, where you love, why you love, when you love, or how you love. It matters only that you love". ♥♥♥
John Lennon

FEAR

"There would be nothing to frighten you if you refused to be afraid." -Gandhi.

TRAVELLING LIGHT

"Story People"
The Story of the Day:
Veteran Traveler
She carries a lot of suitcases but all of them are empty because she's expecting to completely fill them with life by the end of this trip & then she'll come home & sort everything out & do it all again ..

FEAR AND FAITH

Its ironic but the place that was supposed to teach us how to live by faith, actually taught us how to live in fear. Now that we have left that place we are learning to live by faith!

GOOD NEWS AND A CHEERFUL LOOK .....

"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health." - Proverbs 15:30

SAYING NO TO YOUR CHILD

http://www.empoweringparents.com/saying-no-to-your-child-how-to-be-a-more-assertive-parent.php?utm_medium=email&utm_source=email08232011NX

FAILURE

If the Lord fails me at this time, it will be the first time.
~George Mueller

EMPTY YOUR HANDS

One by one He took them from me,
All the things I valued most:
Until I was empty-handed,
Every glittering toy was lost.

And I walked earth's highways, grieving,
In my rage and poverty,
Till I heard His voice inviting,
"Lift your empty hands to me."

So I held my hands toward heaven
And He filled them with a store
Of His own transcendent riches
Until they could hold no more.

And at last I comprehended,
With my mind so dull,
That God could not pour His riches
Into hands already full.

FORGIVENESS

“when you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.”
~ Catherine Ponder

HARD THINGS / RIGHT THINGS

Sometimes the right things are the hardest things.......................

UNCONDITIONAL

To Love someone unconditionally ...who can not yet know how to Love themselves....This is a Great Frustration and Most Perplexing!!!!

PAIN AND GROWTH

Pain does two things: It teaches you, tells you that you’re alive. Then it passes away and leaves you changed. It leaves you wiser, sometimes. Sometimes it leaves you stronger. Either way, pain leaves its mark, and everything important that will ever happen to you in life is going to involve it in one degree or another....

DESTRUCTIVE THOUGHTS

A thought is harmless unless we believe it. It’s not our thoughts, but attachment to our thoughts, that causes suffering.
The Work of Byron Katie

PAIN

"When the pain becomes greater than the fear to make the change" ....then....

HEARTS OF LOVE

I actually heard a christian say this morning that "our hearts are deceitful and wicked and can not be trusted" quoting of course an old testament scripture (I remembered my old pastor saying the same thing) Thanfully I have a brain I am using these days as I remembered the scripture that says " God has given us a new heart" ...a heart of Love!

COURAGE TO CHANGE

God Grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change...Courage to change the things I can...and Wisdom to know the differance.

REST

Sabbath means “rest” and it’s only in the Old Testament that it’s associated with a particular day. In the New Testament, our entire lives are meant to be a Sabbath. So today, when we work, we should work out of rest.

OPPOSITES...WEAK FOOLISH FLAWS AND SADNESS

I am strong because i am weak, i am beautiful because I know my flaws, i am a lover because i am a fighter, i am fearless because i have been afraid, i am wise because i have been foolish, & i can laugh, because I have known sadness.

LOVE OF CHRIST

My Love for Christ will be measured in so much as how much I can Love those I am in relationship with ! Love is the fulfilling of the law!

AN ACT OF LOVE

"An act of love that fails is just as much a part of the divine life as an act of love that succeeds, for love is measured by fullness, not by reception." - Harold Lokes

LOVE ASSIGNMENT

A General assignment to Love!

CONVERSATIONS

"conversations that matter with people who care"

PEOPLE

people are not always who you wanted to believe they were

OUTCOMES

“Let go of your investment in outcomes.” !!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!!

TRUE LOVE

One thing I have seen this week in my relationships with men. It never mattered who they were , they were like blank canvasses where I painted my Love, Swirling colours of Tenderness and Affection, Goodness and Kindness. (True Love is not something u look for ...it is something inside of u that u give!!!)

KINDER PEOPLE

It’s unfortunate and I really wish I wouldn’t have to say this, but I like human beings who have known suffering. They’re kinder.
— Emma Thompson

LOVE

Anytime you love a person, you are not far from God. Your love for people is evidence that God is living inside of you. It is impossible to love God more than you do people" (p54 The Misunderstood God

RUTH AND BOAZ

To all single ladies who are in a hurry to get married, here's a quick piece of Biblical advice:

Ruth patiently waited for her mate Boaz. While waiting on YOUR Boaz, don't settle for ANY of his relatives: Brokeaz, Poaz, Lyinaz, Cheatinaz, Dumbaz, Drunkaz, Cheapaz, Lockedupaz Goodfornothinaz, Lazyaz or Marriedaz & especially his third cousin Beatinyoaz.

Please, wait on your Boaz & make sure he respects You!

MAGNIFICENT

God created you to be magnificent, pursue big dreams and know God is with you

FAITHFUL ARE THE WOUNDS...

Sow seeds of friendship, pieces of our destiny are wrapped up in others. Doors of opportunity will come from the people we connect with.
Pressure will come on the relationships we form, be aware the devil brings division.Be a good friend, encourage them! Speak truth into their heart. Faithful are the wounds of a friend. Listen to your friends.
As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend
(Diary of Jane) ~~ Joselyn~~

REFLECTION

As I reflected on my journey for my MRI ...I had such gratitude for all my ex's .... I saw the journey and how each one helped me in my growth without knowing.... I learned to love unconditionally, to have long suffering, to forgive and to put healthy boundaries .....  I thought of all the judgemental people who had observed my life and said I was doing things wrong ...and I felt sorry for them that they didnt know the truth about how my journey has been sooo blessed by the choices I have made and how close I walk with God thru it all. I wished I could show them the relationship I have with God so they would understand why God leads me the way he does. But I concluded I could not show them anything or open there eyes...so instead I prayed...that God would show them ...and I released them to Him.... hoping He would show them so they could also get there hearts right and walk with a softer less judgemental spirit and recieve all the same kind of blessings I get in my life. I wish them well and I think its really sad when we think we know stuff and we dont and we box people in to how we think they should be living there lives and we think we know Gods will for another person. Hmmmm All I know is God is sooo Amazing...and I love what He does in and thru me!!!! Tonight before I go to sleep...I just want to honour God and say ... Hey God ... You Rock!!!! Thanx for Blessing me and always having Grace and Mercy!!! You Rock Big Time !!! Thanx God ... Good Night! xoxoxoxoxo

PERFECT LOVE .........

"We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly."~Sam Keen

LESSONS LEARNED................

Lessons Learned In Life
Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.

PAST IS PAST ....

"Don't judge me by my past. I don't live there anymore." ♥~

Problems Have a Purpose

Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.
Psalm 50:15 NLT

God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems. A season of suffering is a small assignment when compared to the reward.
Rather than begrudge your problem, explore it. Ponder it. And most of all, use it. Use it to the glory of God. . . .
Your pain has a purpose. Your problems, struggles, heartaches, and hassles cooperate toward one end—the glory of God.
—from It’s Not About Me
Heavenly Father, when problems and pain come my way, help me to remember that nothing comes into my life without your approval. Rather than complain and cry about the challenges I face, help me consider them as opportunities to bring glory to you. Give me the strength and patience to bear my burdens in a way that will honor you. I will lift my eyes off the trials and keep them fixed firmly on you, amen.

CHARACTER

~THE TEST OF CHARACTER IS THE AMOUNT OF STRAIN IT CAN BEAR...CHARLES HAMILTON HOUSTON~

EMPTY YOUR HANDS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One by one He took them from me,
All the things I valued most:
Until I was empty-handed,
Every glittering toy was lost.

And I walked earth's highways, grieving,
In my rage and poverty,
Till I heard His voice inviting,
"Lift your empty hands to me."

So I held my hands toward heaven
And He filled them with a store
Of His own transcendent riches
Until they could hold no more.

And at last I comprehended,
With my stupid mind and dull,
That God could not pour His riches
Into hands already full.

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTION

In his final sermon, given the night before his assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. took as his text the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan. In the story, a man is attacked by thieves and left by the roadside. Several travelers happen upon him, but they pass by. Eventually, someone does stop to help, although it is the one person who might have had a reason not to. He is a Samaritan and the victim is a Jew. Those folks didn't get along any better back then than they do now. According to Dr. King, those who passed by the injured man were asking themselves the wrong question: "If I help this man, what will happen to me?"

The Good Samaritan stopped to help because he asked the right question: "If I don't help this man, what will happen to him?" Dr. King spent a lifetime asking the right question. If we truly want to honor him, then we need to ask ourselves that question, too. No matter how many reasons we may think we have not to.                                                                                 

Who Is Your Master?

By Dr. Charles F. Stanley
This week's topic: Freedom In Christ

No man or woman is absolutely free. Romans 6:16 says we are the slaves of the one whom we obey—slaves of either sin or obedience to the Lord. Because every human is born with a fallen nature, being the master of our own lives is the same as being enslaved to sin.

Our heavenly Father’s prescription for this unhealthy situation is submission to Him. But we may reason this way: If I give the Lord control, then I lose it—and that’s scary. God could lead me somewhere I don’t want to go.

When fear seeps into your heart, stop and consider the Lord’s character and motive: He is holy and sinless; He has infinite wisdom, perfect knowledge, and an eternal perspective; He loves you and has the power to work all things for your good (Rom. 8:28). Now compare your credentials to His. Who do you think would make a better master of your life?

If the Lord is to have full authority, all rival rulers must be dethroned. The Spirit will not fill believers who tolerate sin in their lives. The grace of God covers the guilt of our transgressions, but it cannot be used to excuse continued disobedience (Rom. 6:1). We grieve the Spirit by saying yes to sin (Eph. 4:30) and stifle Him by saying no to God (1 Thess. 5:19).

Do not be discouraged by the magnitude of this call to submission. We can’t attain sinless perfection on earth, but with each step of obedience, sin’s hold will lessen. Press on—you’ll soon begin to live in the freedom of enslavement to the most amazing Master you’ve ever known.

FREEDOM FROM THE FLESH

You have come to a high place in the spirit that requires greater wisdom and greater freedom from the works of the flesh.

TRUST AND OBEY

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. ~Prov.3:5-6~

OH LORD OUR HOPE

O Lord, in Whom is our hope, remove far from us, we pray Thee, empty hopes and presumptuous confidence. Make our hearts so right with Thy most holy and loving heart, that hoping in Thee we may do good always! Amen .

TWO MOST VALUABLE PLACES ...

 The Nicest Place to be is in Someone’s Thoughts and The Safest Place is to be in Someone’s Prayers

WHAT IS LOVE?

Lessons Learned In Life:
Love is more than an emotion
or a physical need.
It's a touch or a word
of encouragement and loyalty.
...Love is companionship and laughter.
...The freedom to share beauty and sorrow
the need for two souls to understand each other
to be gentle yet strong.

~Bns

SUNSHINE AND CLOUDS

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.
- Dolly Parton

CLEARANCE RACK

If you’re not being treated with love and respect, check your "Price Tag", perhaps you have marked yourself down. It's "you" who tells people what you're worth by what you accept. Get off the "Clearance Rack" and get behind the glass where they keep all the VALUABLES ... Bottom line is ... VALUE yourself more!

GOD KNOWS !!!!!!

GOD KNOWS..

When you are tired and discouraged from fruitless efforts... God knows how hard you have tried. When you've cried so long and your heart is in anguish... God has counted your tears. If you feel that your life is on hold and time has passed you by... God i...s waiting with you. When you're lonely and your friends are too busy even for a phone call... God is by your side. When you think you've tried everything and don't know where to turn... God has a solution. When nothing makes sense and you are confused or frustrated... God has the answer. If suddenly your outlook is brighter and you find traces of hope... God has whispered to you. When things are going well and you have much to be thankful for... God has blessed you. When something joyful happens and you are filled with awe... God has smiled upon you. When you have a purpose to fulfill and a dream to follow... God has opened your eyes and called you by name. Remember that wherever you are or whatever you are facing... GOD KNOWS!! ~Francisca~

FAITH OR FEAR ?????

Fear rears its ugly head in everybody. When you get it, deal with it. Go to God with your fears, and allow His Love to cast it out then walk by faith. And remind yourself that there is no risk in God. If He says something, it's true! Remember fear can drain you, make you weak.

FEAR OR FAITH I SAY !!!!

Fear will cause you to settle.

FEAR OR FAITH .....

If you let fear creep into your heart, it will cause you to give up fighting for the best. Fear will cause you to settle. Fear will tell you that the price is too high, the road is too hard, and the promise is too difficult to obtain. Just think if Jesus thought like this, where would we be now. I am glad He proceeded and never gave up or in. God says all we have to do is believe Him and He will do the rest.

DAVID AND GOLIATH

We can find ourselves in pretty challenging situations, yet we have the tendency to run to the nearest exit and flee. But have you ever thought that we are called to stay and fight to slay our Goliaths that oppose us? "the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force" We live in a climate of war, do not fear for the Lord your God is with you!(Diary of Jane) ~~Joselyn~~

STANDING STRONG........

He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.

EMOTIONS

Let your emotions inform you, but don’t allow them to take over the steering wheel

CALM ....

Anxiety breeds reactivity and calm breeds calm.

FINAL AUTHORITY ....

Who is against you?


God is not.


Jesus is not.
...
The Holy Spirit is not.

The angels are not.

Those who are for you are greater than any foe that is against you. Nothing and no one can prevail, defeat, conquer, or overcome those who are for you, and they who are for you have the final authority and the final say over everything that concerns you.