Yes, yes, yes. Amen. This is so true. So often I have seen Christians take the approach of either adopting the worlds way and becoming like the world, as well as in the world, or bunkering down and hiding themselves from the world, and are not willing to go tell others the great truth that we know is true. There are so many verses that speak of go tell the others the good news, or go into the world, but do not become as they are. The Lord knew what He had placed us in and he wanted us to learn some valuable lessons that I know I have missed in times past. Love the sinner, not the sin, teach those that do not know him, do not be swayed, and so much more. When you read this devotional I am sure you will get something more out of it, but this is what I saw this morning.
Morning Verse
"Be ye separate." 2Corinthians 6:17
The Christian, while in the world, is not to be of the world. He should be distinguished from it in the great object of his life. To him, "to live," should be "Christ." Whether he eats, or drinks, or whatever he does, he should do all to God's glory. You may lay up treasure; but lay it up in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, where thieves break not through nor steal. You may strive to be rich; but be it your ambition to be "rich in faith," and good works. You may have pleasure; but when you are merry, sing psalms and make melody in your hearts to the Lord. In your spirit, as well as in your aim, you should differ from the world. Waiting humbly before God, always conscious of His presence, delighting in communion with Him, and seeking to know His will, you will prove that you are of heavenly race. And you should be separate from the world in your actions. If a thing be right, though you lose by it, it must be done; if it be wrong, though you would gain by it, you must scorn the sin for your Master's sake. You must have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Walk worthy of your high calling and dignity. Remember, O Christian, that thou art a son of the King of kings. Therefore, keep thyself unspotted from the world. Soil not the fingers which are soon to sweep celestial strings; let not these eyes become the windows of lust which are soon to see the King in His beauty--let not those feet be defiled in miry places, which are soon to walk the golden streets--let not those hearts be filled with pride and bitterness which are ere long to be filled with heaven, and to overflow with ecstatic joy.
Then rise my soul!
and soar away,
Above the thoughtless crowd;
Above the pleasures of the gay,
And splendours of the proud;
Up where eternal beauties bloom,
And pleasures all divine;
Where wealth,
that never can consume,
And endless glories shine.
Evening Verse
"Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies." Psalms 5:8
Very bitter is the enmity of the world against the people of Christ. Men will forgive a thousand faults in others, but they will magnify the most trivial offence in the followers of Jesus. Instead of vainly regretting this, let us turn it to account, and since so many are watching for our halting, let this be a special motive for walking very carefully before God. If we live carelessly, the lynx-eyed world will soon see it, and with its hundred tongues, it will spread the story, exaggerated and emblazoned by the zeal of slander. They will shout triumphantly. "Aha! So would we have it! See how these Christians act! They are hypocrites to a man." Thus will much damage be done to the cause of Christ, and much insult offered to His name. The cross of Christ is in itself an offence to the world; let us take heed that we add no offence of our own. It is "to the Jews a stumblingblock": let us mind that we put no stumblingblocks where there are enough already. "To the Greeks it is foolishness": let us not add our folly to give point to the scorn with which the worldly-wise deride the gospel. How jealous should we be of ourselves! How rigid with our consciences! In the presence of adversaries who will misrepresent our best deeds, and impugn our motives where they cannot censure our actions, how circumspect should we be! Pilgrims travel as suspected persons through Vanity Fair. Not only are we under surveillance, but there are more spies than we reck of. The espionage is everywhere, at home and abroad. If we fall into the enemies' hands we may sooner expect generosity from a wolf, or mercy from a fiend, than anything like patience with our infirmities from men who spice their infidelity towards God with scandals against His people. O Lord, lead us ever, lest our enemies trip us up!
—Morning and Evening
Monday, September 12, 2005
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Colorado
In my humble opinion Colorado is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I know most of its desert and it’s hard to get anything to grow, but the view is spectacular. I love the mornings when it is still cold outside, and you are looking towards mountains, sun shining down on you, while having devotions with a cup of coffee; always a must.:) It was a relaxing & inspiring routine.
I just got back home last week from a trip to Colorado. My brother & I were gone for 11 days. It was fabulous! We did not go rafting, climbing, hiking, or skiing; the things you think of when you think of Colorado, but we did get to do some enjoyable things while we were there. We stayed with some friends that we have known for years and are like family to us. While there we visited family & friends in the area. I liked getting to see what people are up to now and hear how they've grown. Everyone has changed. I absolutely love to see people that I haven't seen for a while and hear what God is doing in their lives.
We did sleep in some.:) Most of the time, our friend's dog would come and wake me up around 7am and we would go outside; me with my Bible and cup of coffee, the dog with a chew toy and a yard to explore. We usually stayed up late visiting with the oldest child in the family and the parents. That was refreshing and a learning time for us all. I enjoyed sharing viewpoints. I also had a memorable time being with Austin all week.
We went there primarily for training, and that went well. The altitude made exercising more difficult, but it felt great to be tired and pushed. I have missed the feeling of challenge and exertion. We worked out every night with our instructors, and occasionally taught some of the younger students. I already miss that time we had being pushed and learning. I'm still working out 3 nights a week, but it is not the same. I also miss the conversations we had after working out & our winding down times. (I shall have to bombard them with emails). I sort of already have.:)
I also got to drink some excellent coffee while I was there. One of my favorite things to do. :) The little town we were staying in had coffee shops all over the place, and some of them were quite quaint. I also got some fascinating books that I am looking forward to getting to read, when I have more spare time. LOL…
It has been strange being home though. I am doing the normal things of life again, and I have to try to work in my work out time in the morning, and evening. It is very nice to be home as well though, more nice then strange. :) The first night home my siblings put on a magic show and they were adorable. I saw pennies multiplied, cards disappear, and many dazzling tricks. They were great to watch. I had missed them and it was fun to have them astound us.
I have gone back to work now and I am enjoying the busy atmosphere. It is amazing how much work can accumulate while you are away. It is more to my taste though to be busy.
I am glad that I'm back at home with my family. I'd missed them, and it’s nice to read and laugh together. I am afraid that I have the traveling bug though and I'm just itching to go travel somewhere, anywhere.:) For those that know me at all, they know that I love to travel. I find it exciting to see new people, new places, try new foods, and experience new situations. I am longing to go. Sigh…., I guess I will just have to wait and enjoy what I am doing now. When the times right, I'll travel. :)
I just got back home last week from a trip to Colorado. My brother & I were gone for 11 days. It was fabulous! We did not go rafting, climbing, hiking, or skiing; the things you think of when you think of Colorado, but we did get to do some enjoyable things while we were there. We stayed with some friends that we have known for years and are like family to us. While there we visited family & friends in the area. I liked getting to see what people are up to now and hear how they've grown. Everyone has changed. I absolutely love to see people that I haven't seen for a while and hear what God is doing in their lives.
We did sleep in some.:) Most of the time, our friend's dog would come and wake me up around 7am and we would go outside; me with my Bible and cup of coffee, the dog with a chew toy and a yard to explore. We usually stayed up late visiting with the oldest child in the family and the parents. That was refreshing and a learning time for us all. I enjoyed sharing viewpoints. I also had a memorable time being with Austin all week.
We went there primarily for training, and that went well. The altitude made exercising more difficult, but it felt great to be tired and pushed. I have missed the feeling of challenge and exertion. We worked out every night with our instructors, and occasionally taught some of the younger students. I already miss that time we had being pushed and learning. I'm still working out 3 nights a week, but it is not the same. I also miss the conversations we had after working out & our winding down times. (I shall have to bombard them with emails). I sort of already have.:)
I also got to drink some excellent coffee while I was there. One of my favorite things to do. :) The little town we were staying in had coffee shops all over the place, and some of them were quite quaint. I also got some fascinating books that I am looking forward to getting to read, when I have more spare time. LOL…
It has been strange being home though. I am doing the normal things of life again, and I have to try to work in my work out time in the morning, and evening. It is very nice to be home as well though, more nice then strange. :) The first night home my siblings put on a magic show and they were adorable. I saw pennies multiplied, cards disappear, and many dazzling tricks. They were great to watch. I had missed them and it was fun to have them astound us.
I have gone back to work now and I am enjoying the busy atmosphere. It is amazing how much work can accumulate while you are away. It is more to my taste though to be busy.
I am glad that I'm back at home with my family. I'd missed them, and it’s nice to read and laugh together. I am afraid that I have the traveling bug though and I'm just itching to go travel somewhere, anywhere.:) For those that know me at all, they know that I love to travel. I find it exciting to see new people, new places, try new foods, and experience new situations. I am longing to go. Sigh…., I guess I will just have to wait and enjoy what I am doing now. When the times right, I'll travel. :)
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Quote for the week.:)
What is morally wrong can never be advantageous, even when it enables you to make some gain that you believe to be to your advantage. The mere act of believing that some wrongful course of action constitutes an advantage is pernicious. -Marcus Tullius Cicero, statesman, orator, writer (106-43 BCE)
* Our soul waiteth for the LORD, HE is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him because we have trusted in His holy name. Ps 33:20. : } The LORD will come through FOR US. What a wonderful thing to be waiting on Him to see what He can do!
Even if we think we can justify a thing we want to do, it boils down to what we know is right and wrong. If we are not sure, then we need to be in the Word, searching for an answer, counseling with those that are older then us, that have more experience, and love the Lord. We should not do something because we think we can justify it, if it is wrong, it is wrong period...
* Our soul waiteth for the LORD, HE is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him because we have trusted in His holy name. Ps 33:20. : } The LORD will come through FOR US. What a wonderful thing to be waiting on Him to see what He can do!
Even if we think we can justify a thing we want to do, it boils down to what we know is right and wrong. If we are not sure, then we need to be in the Word, searching for an answer, counseling with those that are older then us, that have more experience, and love the Lord. We should not do something because we think we can justify it, if it is wrong, it is wrong period...
Phillippians 2:15
September 6
Morning Verse
"In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."
We use lights to make manifest. A Christian man should so shine in his life, that a person could not live with him a week without knowing the gospel. His conversation should be such that all who are about him should clearly perceive whose he is, and whom he serves; and should see the image of Jesus reflected in his daily actions. Lights are intended for guidance. We are to help those around us who are in the dark. We are to hold forth to them the Word of life. We are to point sinners to the Saviour, and the weary to a divine resting-place. Men sometimes read their Bibles, and fail to understand them; we should be ready, like Philip, to instruct the inquirer in the meaning of God's Word, the way of salvation, and the life of godliness. Lights are also used for warning. On our rocks and shoals a light-house is sure to be erected. Christian men should know that there are many false lights shown everywhere in the world, and therefore the right light is needed. The wreckers of Satan are always abroad, tempting the ungodly to sin under the name of pleasure; they hoist the wrong light, be it ours to put up the true light upon every dangerous rock, to point out every sin, and tell what it leads to, that so we may be clear of the blood of all men, shining as lights in the world. Lights also have a very cheering influence, and so have Christians. A Christian ought to be a comforter, with kind words on his lips, and sympathy in his heart; he should carry sunshine wherever he goes, and diffuse happiness around him.
Gracious Spirit dwell with me; I myself would gracious be, And with words that help and heal Would thy life in mine reveal, And with actions bold and meek Would for Christ my Saviour speak.
—Morning and Evening
I found these this morning and thought that they went well with the devtional above.
Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Luke 1:79 - To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace
We are to shine, so that others may know Him, the Father that has blessed us with Himself. We do not keep Him to ourselves, but we let others know who He is and what He has done for us, and so many others throughout the world, in all days and ages.
Morning Verse
"In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."
We use lights to make manifest. A Christian man should so shine in his life, that a person could not live with him a week without knowing the gospel. His conversation should be such that all who are about him should clearly perceive whose he is, and whom he serves; and should see the image of Jesus reflected in his daily actions. Lights are intended for guidance. We are to help those around us who are in the dark. We are to hold forth to them the Word of life. We are to point sinners to the Saviour, and the weary to a divine resting-place. Men sometimes read their Bibles, and fail to understand them; we should be ready, like Philip, to instruct the inquirer in the meaning of God's Word, the way of salvation, and the life of godliness. Lights are also used for warning. On our rocks and shoals a light-house is sure to be erected. Christian men should know that there are many false lights shown everywhere in the world, and therefore the right light is needed. The wreckers of Satan are always abroad, tempting the ungodly to sin under the name of pleasure; they hoist the wrong light, be it ours to put up the true light upon every dangerous rock, to point out every sin, and tell what it leads to, that so we may be clear of the blood of all men, shining as lights in the world. Lights also have a very cheering influence, and so have Christians. A Christian ought to be a comforter, with kind words on his lips, and sympathy in his heart; he should carry sunshine wherever he goes, and diffuse happiness around him.
Gracious Spirit dwell with me; I myself would gracious be, And with words that help and heal Would thy life in mine reveal, And with actions bold and meek Would for Christ my Saviour speak.
—Morning and Evening
I found these this morning and thought that they went well with the devtional above.
Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Luke 1:79 - To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace
We are to shine, so that others may know Him, the Father that has blessed us with Himself. We do not keep Him to ourselves, but we let others know who He is and what He has done for us, and so many others throughout the world, in all days and ages.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Song of Solomon 2:3
"His fruit was sweet to my taste." Song 2:3
Faith, in the Scripture, is spoken of under the emblem of all the senses. It is sight: "Look unto me and be ye saved." It is hearing: "Hear, and your soul shall live." Faith is smelling: "All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia"; "thy name is as ointment poured forth." Faith is spiritual touch. By this faith the woman came behind and touched the hem of Christ's garment, and by this we handle the things of the good word of life. Faith is equally the spirit's taste. "How sweet are Thy words to my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my lips." "Except a man eat my flesh," saith Christ, "and drink my blood, there is no life in him."
This "taste" is faith in one of its highest operations. One of the first performances of faith is hearing. We hear the voice of God, not with the outward ear alone, but with the inward ear; we hear it as God's Word, and we believe it to be so; that is the "hearing" of faith. Then our mind looketh upon the truth as it is presented to us; that is to say, we understand it, we perceive its meaning; that is the "seeing" of faith. Next we discover its preciousness; we begin to admire it, and find how fragrant it is; that is faith in its "smell." Then we appropriate the mercies which are prepared for us in Christ; that is faith in its "touch." Hence follow the enjoyments, peace, delight, communion; which are faith in its "taste." Any one of these acts of faith is saving. To hear Christ's voice as the sure voice of God in the soul will save us; but that which gives true enjoyment is the aspect of faith wherein Christ, by holy taste, is received into us, and made, by inward and spiritual apprehension of His sweetness and preciousness, to be the food of our souls. It is then we sit "under His shadow with great delight," and find His fruit sweet to our taste.
—Morning and Evening
To hear the word of God with our inner ear, so that it touches our hearts.
Faith, in the Scripture, is spoken of under the emblem of all the senses. It is sight: "Look unto me and be ye saved." It is hearing: "Hear, and your soul shall live." Faith is smelling: "All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia"; "thy name is as ointment poured forth." Faith is spiritual touch. By this faith the woman came behind and touched the hem of Christ's garment, and by this we handle the things of the good word of life. Faith is equally the spirit's taste. "How sweet are Thy words to my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my lips." "Except a man eat my flesh," saith Christ, "and drink my blood, there is no life in him."
This "taste" is faith in one of its highest operations. One of the first performances of faith is hearing. We hear the voice of God, not with the outward ear alone, but with the inward ear; we hear it as God's Word, and we believe it to be so; that is the "hearing" of faith. Then our mind looketh upon the truth as it is presented to us; that is to say, we understand it, we perceive its meaning; that is the "seeing" of faith. Next we discover its preciousness; we begin to admire it, and find how fragrant it is; that is faith in its "smell." Then we appropriate the mercies which are prepared for us in Christ; that is faith in its "touch." Hence follow the enjoyments, peace, delight, communion; which are faith in its "taste." Any one of these acts of faith is saving. To hear Christ's voice as the sure voice of God in the soul will save us; but that which gives true enjoyment is the aspect of faith wherein Christ, by holy taste, is received into us, and made, by inward and spiritual apprehension of His sweetness and preciousness, to be the food of our souls. It is then we sit "under His shadow with great delight," and find His fruit sweet to our taste.
—Morning and Evening
To hear the word of God with our inner ear, so that it touches our hearts.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Ephesians 3:8
Evening Verse
"The unsearchable riches of Christ." Ephesians 3:8
My Master has riches beyond the count of arithmetic, the measurement of reason, the dream of imagination, or the eloquence of words. They are unsearchable! You may look, and study, and weigh, but Jesus is a greater Saviour than you think Him to be when your thoughts are at the greatest. My Lord is more ready to pardon than you to sin, more able to forgive than you to transgress. My Master is more willing to supply your wants than you are to confess them. Never tolerate low thoughts of my Lord Jesus. When you put the crown on His head, you will only crown Him with silver when He deserves gold. My Master has riches of happiness to bestow upon you now. He can make you to lie down in green pastures, and lead you beside still waters. There is no music like the music of His pipe, when He is the Shepherd and you are the sheep, and you lie down at His feet. There is no love like His, neither earth nor heaven can match it. To know Christ and to be found in Him--oh! this is life, this is joy, this is marrow and fatness, wine on the lees well refined. My Master does not treat His servants churlishly; He gives to them as a king giveth to a king; He gives them two heavens--a heaven below in serving Him here, and a heaven above in delighting in Him for ever. His unsearchable riches will be best known in eternity. He will give you on the way to heaven all you need; your place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks, your bread shall be given you, and your waters shall be sure; but it is there, THERE, where you shall hear the song of them that triumph, the shout of them that feast, and shall have a face-to-face view of the glorious and beloved One. The unsearchable riches of Christ! This is the tune for the minstrels of earth, and the song for the harpers of heaven. Lord, teach us more and more of Jesus, and we will tell out the good news to others.
—Morning and Evening
He is more able, than I ever will be, and He is watching over me....
He is guiding me the way in which He wants me to go. What an encouraging and wonderful knowledge to have. He is there, and I have nothing to fear.
"The unsearchable riches of Christ." Ephesians 3:8
My Master has riches beyond the count of arithmetic, the measurement of reason, the dream of imagination, or the eloquence of words. They are unsearchable! You may look, and study, and weigh, but Jesus is a greater Saviour than you think Him to be when your thoughts are at the greatest. My Lord is more ready to pardon than you to sin, more able to forgive than you to transgress. My Master is more willing to supply your wants than you are to confess them. Never tolerate low thoughts of my Lord Jesus. When you put the crown on His head, you will only crown Him with silver when He deserves gold. My Master has riches of happiness to bestow upon you now. He can make you to lie down in green pastures, and lead you beside still waters. There is no music like the music of His pipe, when He is the Shepherd and you are the sheep, and you lie down at His feet. There is no love like His, neither earth nor heaven can match it. To know Christ and to be found in Him--oh! this is life, this is joy, this is marrow and fatness, wine on the lees well refined. My Master does not treat His servants churlishly; He gives to them as a king giveth to a king; He gives them two heavens--a heaven below in serving Him here, and a heaven above in delighting in Him for ever. His unsearchable riches will be best known in eternity. He will give you on the way to heaven all you need; your place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks, your bread shall be given you, and your waters shall be sure; but it is there, THERE, where you shall hear the song of them that triumph, the shout of them that feast, and shall have a face-to-face view of the glorious and beloved One. The unsearchable riches of Christ! This is the tune for the minstrels of earth, and the song for the harpers of heaven. Lord, teach us more and more of Jesus, and we will tell out the good news to others.
—Morning and Evening
He is more able, than I ever will be, and He is watching over me....
He is guiding me the way in which He wants me to go. What an encouraging and wonderful knowledge to have. He is there, and I have nothing to fear.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Devotional from this morning
"He shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord." Micah 5:4
Christ's reign in His Church is that of a shepherd-king. He has supremacy, but it is the superiority of a wise and tender shepherd over his needy and loving flock; He commands and receives obedience, but it is the willing obedience of the well-cared-for sheep, rendered joyfully to their beloved Shepherd, whose voice they know so well. He rules by the force of love and the energy of goodness.
His reign is practical in its character. It is said, "He shall stand and feed." The great Head of the Church is actively engaged in providing for His people. He does not sit down upon the throne in empty state, or hold a sceptre without wielding it in government. No, He stands and feeds. The expression "feed," in the original, is like an analogous one in the Greek, which means to shepherdize, to do everything expected of a shepherd: to guide, to watch, to preserve, to restore, to tend, as well as to feed.
His reign is continual in its duration. It is said, "He shall stand and feed"; not "He shall feed now and then, and leave His position"; not, "He shall one day grant a revival, and then next day leave His Church to barrenness." His eyes never slumber, and His hands never rest; His heart never ceases to beat with love, and His shoulders are never weary of carrying His people's burdens.
His reign is effectually powerful in its action; "He shall feed in the strength of Jehovah." Wherever Christ is, there is God; and whatever Christ does is the act of the Most High. Oh! it is a joyful truth to consider that He who stands to-day representing the interests of His people is very God of very God, to whom every knee shall bow. Happy are we who belong to such a shepherd, whose humanity communes with us, and whose divinity protects us. Let us worship and bow down before Him as the people of His pasture.
—Morning and Evening
I don't think I could ever add anything to that and make it better. We are taken care of by a Savior that loves us, that wants to be a part of our lives, that already has taken care of our lives. I keep thinking of the poem about the footprints in the sand. When you do not see 2 sets of prints, it is when He is carrying us. What a beautiful thought.
Christ's reign in His Church is that of a shepherd-king. He has supremacy, but it is the superiority of a wise and tender shepherd over his needy and loving flock; He commands and receives obedience, but it is the willing obedience of the well-cared-for sheep, rendered joyfully to their beloved Shepherd, whose voice they know so well. He rules by the force of love and the energy of goodness.
His reign is practical in its character. It is said, "He shall stand and feed." The great Head of the Church is actively engaged in providing for His people. He does not sit down upon the throne in empty state, or hold a sceptre without wielding it in government. No, He stands and feeds. The expression "feed," in the original, is like an analogous one in the Greek, which means to shepherdize, to do everything expected of a shepherd: to guide, to watch, to preserve, to restore, to tend, as well as to feed.
His reign is continual in its duration. It is said, "He shall stand and feed"; not "He shall feed now and then, and leave His position"; not, "He shall one day grant a revival, and then next day leave His Church to barrenness." His eyes never slumber, and His hands never rest; His heart never ceases to beat with love, and His shoulders are never weary of carrying His people's burdens.
His reign is effectually powerful in its action; "He shall feed in the strength of Jehovah." Wherever Christ is, there is God; and whatever Christ does is the act of the Most High. Oh! it is a joyful truth to consider that He who stands to-day representing the interests of His people is very God of very God, to whom every knee shall bow. Happy are we who belong to such a shepherd, whose humanity communes with us, and whose divinity protects us. Let us worship and bow down before Him as the people of His pasture.
—Morning and Evening
I don't think I could ever add anything to that and make it better. We are taken care of by a Savior that loves us, that wants to be a part of our lives, that already has taken care of our lives. I keep thinking of the poem about the footprints in the sand. When you do not see 2 sets of prints, it is when He is carrying us. What a beautiful thought.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Morning and Evening
Meditate a little on this mercy of the Lord. It is tender mercy. With gentle, loving touch, He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He is as gracious in the manner of His mercy as in the matter of it. It is great mercy. There is nothing little in God; His mercy is like Himself--it is infinite. You cannot measure it. His mercy is so great that it forgives great sins to great sinners, after great lengths of time, and then gives great favours and great privileges, and raises us up to great enjoyments in the great heaven of the great God. It is undeserved mercy, as indeed all true mercy must be, for deserved mercy is only a misnomer for justice. There was no right on the sinner's part to the kind consideration of the Most High; had the rebel been doomed at once to eternal fire he would have richly merited the doom, and if delivered from wrath, sovereign love alone has found a cause, for there was none in the sinner himself. It is rich mercy. Some things are great, but have little efficacy in them, but this mercy is a cordial to your drooping spirits; a golden ointment to your bleeding wounds; a heavenly bandage to your broken bones; a royal chariot for your weary feet; a bosom of love for your trembling heart. It is manifold mercy. As Bunyan says, "All the flowers in God's garden are double." There is no single mercy. You may think you have but one mercy, but you shall find it to be a whole cluster of mercies. It is abounding mercy. Millions have received it, yet far from its being exhausted; it is as fresh, as full, and as free as ever. It is unfailing mercy. It will never leave thee. If mercy be thy friend, mercy will be with thee in temptation to keep thee from yielding; with thee in trouble to prevent thee from sinking; with thee living to be the light and life of thy countenance; and with thee dying to be the joy of thy soul when earthly comfort is ebbing fast. —Morning and Evening
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Things to do.....
I thought that these were amusing. Some of them I really liked, others I found funny, and some are just there.:) Enjoy...
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other. (amen, I like that.)
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye. That is so importan!!!
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married. I am not sure I like that idea. :-)
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love ! deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?" (or I have been programmed with limited answers you must ask the right question)...:-)
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice. It is true.
TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.
TWENTY-TWO. Spend time everyday with the Lord.
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other. (amen, I like that.)
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye. That is so importan!!!
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married. I am not sure I like that idea. :-)
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love ! deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?" (or I have been programmed with limited answers you must ask the right question)...:-)
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice. It is true.
TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.
TWENTY-TWO. Spend time everyday with the Lord.
Friday, July 01, 2005
Friendship
I have been thinking about a subject that I haven't heard talked about all that much.....Friendship between opposite genders. Everyone wants to have friends, but how does a friend behave? Here are some things I've been thinking over.
First, friends of opposite genders do not ever need to become romantic. I have heard over and over again cases of people that start out "friends", and then one of them gets upset with the other for not caring about them romantically. Girls especially..... You need to stop romanticizing. You need to look at this guy as a brother. He is your friend and he has trusted you to view him as such. He has opened up and been himself with you because of this trust. Have the integrity to keep your emotions under control. Emotions are fine if they are subjected to the teaching of the scriptures and brought under the control of the Holy Spirit. Be honest with yourself before the Lord. You are being selfish, unkind, and unloving, and dishonest when you romanticize about your friend. Shame on you!!! Stop and think about how you would want him to treat & think of you. You would want him to care about you as a sister and protect you, physically, spiritually & emotionally. You would want to be able to count on trusting him to be a brother to you. You would not want him to use you as an easy date. That is what you are doing when you romanticize about him, and sir , that is what you are doing to her when you flirt, lead her on & have no intention to commit to anything. Both of you need to stop and think about what you would really like from the other person. Girls, if he changes his mind and wants the relationship to become romantic, he will tell you. Believe that when he told you he wants to be your brother in Christ that he meant exactly that, and nothing more. Believe the last thing he told you! Guys please do not do this "she should just know how I feel" thing. Tell her if you are wanting to keep the relationship on a friendship/brother/sister plane. Tell her if you are wanting to become more then friends. You are supposed to make that move, not her, so make it. Either way you should tell her what you want the relationship to be. Communication is vital in friendships. You have got to take a moment to explain to each other where you are going and what you are wanting out of your friendship. I heard a quote that I think makes this point beautifully. “60% of all communication is miscommunication.” For all of you that know me, you are probably really tired of me saying this, but it is so true.:)) It is easy to think you are making perfect sense when in reality you are not making any sense to the person you are trying to converse with. Take the time to explain things; you will be glad you did later.
Second-- You may notice I do not call it " just friends ". THIS is on purpose. Friends can be one of the best things you ever have in life. The friendship in itself is a treasure! Friends accept you as you are and can become the brother or sister you never had. They are the person with whom you can share what the Lord is doing in your life, and they don't think the worse of you for it. (Within reason, there are some things you should NEVER share with the opposite gender. Stay within guidelines of friends.) A friend is someone that knows the bad and the good and still wants to maintain the relationship. They may have been hurt by you and had to forgive you and it may have been the other way around as well. You can call them and just say hi. Friends are your pals, your teachers, and your support team. They are a treasure that we only have for a short, golden time. Do not overlook this and take them for granted.
Third-- When you have friends you should let them know when they do something to hurt you. If it was a family member you would, and you should in this situation as well. If you hurt them you should go to them. They are your family in Christ. You should be willing to listen and learn from your mistakes. We all continue to learn and make adjustments.
Fourth-- If you can't talk and you have to run, a friend understands and lets you go. They are okay with the fact that you are out with someone else for the evening and you need to run. Friends are open and honest. They do not hide things in the shadows and act funny around one another. That only breeds distrust and confusion, as well as hurt. Your friendship should be something you hold in open hands because over time it will have to change. A close friend may become engaged and need to concentrate on this new relationship; they may have a number of other close friends and one might need extra attention for a time. At the same time you should take care of the friendship. It should not be taken for granted; It needs to be maintained, and we need to allow it to 'sharpen' us. One of the hardest things in life is having friends you can be yourself around. I know you are thinking I said it backwards, but I didn’t. When you choose to be yourself with someone you are opening yourself up to hurt. That is frightening. When you do so though, others will begin to feel that they can be themselves. Be someone that others can trust to be themselves around and trust with their peculiarities.
If you find a friend to be untrustworthy in an area pray, & look for a way of sharing that with them. They may not be aware of it. There are people it is very hard to be myself around. I am afraid that they will think I am weird, loud, crazy, too quiet, or bizarre. Basically, I am just afraid and that is wrong of me. If I want those that I am friends with to be open with me and trust me, I need to do the same with them. God tells us in the scripture not to seek our own selfish wants and needs, but to seek God's best for others. Friendship should be this charitable practice of giving oneself and seeking to bless our friend. The Lord will bless in ways we can not see, nor fathom, when we are willing to obey him.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not: charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. Beareth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth:
How does a friend behave? In all circumstances we are instructed to behave with Charity. It is given to us as a guide for personal interaction and a visible way to show God's perfect love. Love never fails
First, friends of opposite genders do not ever need to become romantic. I have heard over and over again cases of people that start out "friends", and then one of them gets upset with the other for not caring about them romantically. Girls especially..... You need to stop romanticizing. You need to look at this guy as a brother. He is your friend and he has trusted you to view him as such. He has opened up and been himself with you because of this trust. Have the integrity to keep your emotions under control. Emotions are fine if they are subjected to the teaching of the scriptures and brought under the control of the Holy Spirit. Be honest with yourself before the Lord. You are being selfish, unkind, and unloving, and dishonest when you romanticize about your friend. Shame on you!!! Stop and think about how you would want him to treat & think of you. You would want him to care about you as a sister and protect you, physically, spiritually & emotionally. You would want to be able to count on trusting him to be a brother to you. You would not want him to use you as an easy date. That is what you are doing when you romanticize about him, and sir , that is what you are doing to her when you flirt, lead her on & have no intention to commit to anything. Both of you need to stop and think about what you would really like from the other person. Girls, if he changes his mind and wants the relationship to become romantic, he will tell you. Believe that when he told you he wants to be your brother in Christ that he meant exactly that, and nothing more. Believe the last thing he told you! Guys please do not do this "she should just know how I feel" thing. Tell her if you are wanting to keep the relationship on a friendship/brother/sister plane. Tell her if you are wanting to become more then friends. You are supposed to make that move, not her, so make it. Either way you should tell her what you want the relationship to be. Communication is vital in friendships. You have got to take a moment to explain to each other where you are going and what you are wanting out of your friendship. I heard a quote that I think makes this point beautifully. “60% of all communication is miscommunication.” For all of you that know me, you are probably really tired of me saying this, but it is so true.:)) It is easy to think you are making perfect sense when in reality you are not making any sense to the person you are trying to converse with. Take the time to explain things; you will be glad you did later.
Second-- You may notice I do not call it " just friends ". THIS is on purpose. Friends can be one of the best things you ever have in life. The friendship in itself is a treasure! Friends accept you as you are and can become the brother or sister you never had. They are the person with whom you can share what the Lord is doing in your life, and they don't think the worse of you for it. (Within reason, there are some things you should NEVER share with the opposite gender. Stay within guidelines of friends.) A friend is someone that knows the bad and the good and still wants to maintain the relationship. They may have been hurt by you and had to forgive you and it may have been the other way around as well. You can call them and just say hi. Friends are your pals, your teachers, and your support team. They are a treasure that we only have for a short, golden time. Do not overlook this and take them for granted.
Third-- When you have friends you should let them know when they do something to hurt you. If it was a family member you would, and you should in this situation as well. If you hurt them you should go to them. They are your family in Christ. You should be willing to listen and learn from your mistakes. We all continue to learn and make adjustments.
Fourth-- If you can't talk and you have to run, a friend understands and lets you go. They are okay with the fact that you are out with someone else for the evening and you need to run. Friends are open and honest. They do not hide things in the shadows and act funny around one another. That only breeds distrust and confusion, as well as hurt. Your friendship should be something you hold in open hands because over time it will have to change. A close friend may become engaged and need to concentrate on this new relationship; they may have a number of other close friends and one might need extra attention for a time. At the same time you should take care of the friendship. It should not be taken for granted; It needs to be maintained, and we need to allow it to 'sharpen' us. One of the hardest things in life is having friends you can be yourself around. I know you are thinking I said it backwards, but I didn’t. When you choose to be yourself with someone you are opening yourself up to hurt. That is frightening. When you do so though, others will begin to feel that they can be themselves. Be someone that others can trust to be themselves around and trust with their peculiarities.
If you find a friend to be untrustworthy in an area pray, & look for a way of sharing that with them. They may not be aware of it. There are people it is very hard to be myself around. I am afraid that they will think I am weird, loud, crazy, too quiet, or bizarre. Basically, I am just afraid and that is wrong of me. If I want those that I am friends with to be open with me and trust me, I need to do the same with them. God tells us in the scripture not to seek our own selfish wants and needs, but to seek God's best for others. Friendship should be this charitable practice of giving oneself and seeking to bless our friend. The Lord will bless in ways we can not see, nor fathom, when we are willing to obey him.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not: charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. Beareth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth:
How does a friend behave? In all circumstances we are instructed to behave with Charity. It is given to us as a guide for personal interaction and a visible way to show God's perfect love. Love never fails
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
