Sunday, April 27, 2008

Dorothy Gale Syndrome: Do You Have It?


You remember Dorothy Gale don’t you? She was the girl in the Wizard of Oz. She left home to go with Professor Marvel to see the crowned heads. Dorothy wound up in another land and spent her stay there trying to get back home. She searched high and low for the way back, and when she finally got back vowed that she’d never go searching farther than her own back yard. Dorothy’s biggest problem was that she never searched in her own back yard to begin with.

Jesus told us, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). And I agree totally with Him; We are to preach the gospel in ALL THE WORLD! Did you know that you can not get to the whole world without going through your own back yard? Your neighborhood stands between you and every other part of the world. Yet, we struggle so hard with teaching those in our own back yards. In all of our areas there are hurting people, homeless people, hungry people, and people who have never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ. Yet, for most of us it remains an unconquered mission filled.

We have no problem with sending money to support overseas missions. And, rightly so: we shouldn’t have a problem with it. But, by the same token we shouldn’t neglect the missions that are all around us. We have become farsighted: we can see all the mission needs afar off, yet our near vision is blurry at best. We need to get adjusted back to 20/20.

Each Sunday as we go to church and give money to be sent to far away missions we walk through, drive through and view some of the best overlooked mission fields. Are you like Dorothy Gale and realize that we need to look in our own back yards? Or, are you more like the “WIZ” and prefer to just “Ease On Down The Road?”

Thanks



If I could sit on the porch with God, the first thing I would do is thank him for you....

I Don't Have Time...


Read only if you have time for God










God, when I received this e-mail, I thought...I don't have time for this... And, this is really inappropriate during work.

Then, I realized that this kind of thinking is... Exactly, what has caused lot of the problems in our world today.

We try to keep God in church on Sabbath morning...

Maybe, Saturday night...

And, the unlikely event of a midweek service.

We do like to have Him around during sickness...

And, of course, at funerals.

However, we don't have time, or room, for Him during work or play...

Because.. That's the part of our lives we think... We can, and should, handle on our own.

May God forgive me for ever thinking...

That... there is a time or place where.. HE/SHE is not to be always in my life.

We easily could make time to remember all HE/SHE has done for us. Being grateful for the little things in our daily life. Say THANK YOU to Life!

Yes, I do Love God.

God is my source of existence and from where I gain strength. God keeps me functioning each and every day. Without GOD, I will be nothing. But, with Christ, He strengthens me. (Phil 4:13)

Of all the free gifts we may receive, Prayer is the very best one....

There are no costs, but wonderful rewards...

GOD BLESS!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

CHRIST -LIKE WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS . .



An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.'


1. Pray


2. Go to bed on time.


3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.


4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.



5. Delegate tasks to capable others..



6. Simplify and unclutter your life.


7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)


8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.



9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.


10. Take one day at a time.


11. Separate worries from concerns If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.


12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases..



13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.


14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.


15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.



16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.


17. Get enough rest.


18. Eat right.


19 Get organized so everything has its place.



20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.


21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.


22. Every day, find time to be alone.


23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.


24. Make friends with Godly people.



25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.


26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jesus.'


27. Laugh.


28. Laugh some more!


29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.


30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).



31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).


32. Sit on your ego.


33 Talk less; listen more.


34. Slow down.


35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.


36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.

'If God is for us, who can be against us?'

(Romans 8:31)

Prayers


This is one of the best prayers I think I have ever read

PRAY THIS EVEN IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT!!

IT WILL ONLY TAKE A MINUTE.

I started not to do this, but as I read it....

I understood God to say, 'You need a miracle tomorrow.... So here goes... Prov. 29:25...


You never know when God is going to bless you!!

Good things happen when you least expect them to !!!
Change the number in the subject box when you forward it by adding one!!!

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day,

I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.

I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God.

You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.

Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.

I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm.

Help me to start this Day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.

Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.
And give the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.

I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.

Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others Keep me strong that I may help the weak...

Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.

I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way.

I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.

I pray for those who don't know You intimately.

I pray for those that will delete this without sharing it with others.

I pray for those that don't believe.

But I thank you that I believe that God changes people and God changes things.

I pray for all my sisters and brothers.

I pray for each and every family member in their households.

I pray for peace, love, and joy in their homes.

I pray that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God.

Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.
I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it.
If you prayed this prayer, change the number in the subject box before forwarding the message so people can See how many people have done so.

God Bless You!!!!!

Just repeat this phrase and see how God moves!!
God, I love you and I need you.

Come into my heart, please.

Amen.

God Said "NO!"


God Said NO!!
I hope that you can get the effects on your computers!
The words are great, but the movements of the faces add a lot....

I asked God to take away my habit.

God said, No.


It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.

God said, No.

His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience.

God said, No.

Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned.
I asked God to give me happiness.

God said, No.

I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you. I asked God to spare me pain.

God said, No.

Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow.

God said, No.

You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.

God said, No.

I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.


I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.

THIS DAY IS YOURS DON'T THROW IT AWAY


May God Bless You,

"To the world you might be one person,
But to one person you just might be the world"

"May the Lord Bless you and keep you,
May the Lord Make his face shine upon you,
And give you Peace......Forever"

"Good friends are like stars...
You don't always see them, But you know they are always there.

Wash Day...........

Monday
Wash Day

Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility through the week ahead.

Tuesday
Ironing Day

Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles of prejudice I have collected though the years so that I may see the beauty in others.

Wednesday
Mending Day

O God, help me mend my ways so I will not set a bad example for others.

Thursday
Cleaning Day

Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.

Friday
Shopping Day

O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase eternal
happiness for myself and all others in need of love.

Saturday
Cooking Day

Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly love and serve it
with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.

Sunday
The Lord's Day

O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please come into my heart so I may spend the day and the rest of my life in your presence.
***************************************************************************************
If this message has inspired you in anyway or you feel that it can brighten someone else's day, please forward it.


'Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.'

God Has Amazing Things in Store for You (This is a heavy prayer)




Stars do not struggle to shine; rivers do not struggle to flow, and you will never struggle to excel in life, because you deserve the best. Hold on to Your dream and it shall be well with you... Amen. The eyes beholding this message shall not behold evil, the hand that will send this message to others shall not labor in vain, the mouth saying Amen to this prayer shall laugh forever, remain in God's love.

Good morning, your dream will not die, your plans will not fail, your destiny will not be aborted, and the desire of your heart will be granted in Jesus' name. Say a big Amen and if you believe it, share it with all your friends. Money will know your name and address before the end of this month. If you believe, send it back to all your friends.

None goes to the river early in the morning and brings dirty water. As you are up this morning may your life be clean, calm and clear like the early morning water. May the grace of the Almighty support, sustain and supply all your needs according to His riches in glory. Amen.

Love the Lord. Have a wonderful day in Jesus' name. The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you. I see something good happening to you, something that you have been waiting to experience. This is not a joke; you are going to receive a divine visitation that will move your life forward mightily by the outworking of God's unstoppable Power.

Do not break this prayer; share it with a minimum of seven people. You are Blessed beyond all curses in Jesus' name

DEATH~

A sick man turned to his doctor. As he was preparing to leave the examination room and said,

'Doctor, I am afraid to die.

Tell me what lies on the other side.'

Very quietly, the doctor said, 'I don't know.'

'You don't know?

You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?'

The doctor was holding the handle of the door;

On the other side came a sound of scratching and whining,

And as he opened the door,

A dog sprang into the room

And leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said,

'Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before.

He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here,

And when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.

I know little of what is on the other side of death,

But I do know one thing..

I know my Master is there and that is enough.'

May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly

Where you are meant to be.

I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet

When our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.
"Laws alone cannot secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present his views without penalty there must be a spirit of tolerance in the entire population." - - Albert Einstein

A Church's Pastor

AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS, THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP,
WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND, BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING,
HE BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING.

IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST MINISTER WAS
ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS
TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE.

WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.

"A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST," HE BEGAN. "WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE.

THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED."

THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT, MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE,
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN, LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY.

THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY, "GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOY WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE. HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION. THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND HE, ALSO, KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT.
THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THE TORRENT OF WAVES.

AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!' HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND. BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT.

HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED.

BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP STRAIGHT IN THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S MOUTH.

"THE FATHER," HE CONTINUED, "KNEW HIS SON WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPING INTO AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS.. THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND. "

HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR US. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED. I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE."

WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM.

THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT THE END HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL.

WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE.

"THAT WAS A NICE STORY," POLITELY STATED ONE OF THEM,"BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN."

"WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE," THE OLD MAN REPLIED, GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE. A BIG SMILE BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE. HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS
AND SAID, "IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT? BUT, I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME.

YOU SEE...

I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND."


Take 60 seconds & give this a shot.
Let's see if Satan can stop this one!

All you do is simply:

1) Say this small prayer for the person who sent you this, Father, God bless this E-mail sender in whatever it is you know he or she may be needing this day!
Amen

2) Then send it on to say five other people. Within hours, five people have prayed for you, and you caused multitudes of people to pray to God for other people.

Then sit back and watch the power of God work in your life for doing the thing that you know he loves.

I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is.

The Concert

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing.

Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out

"Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star."

At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear,

"Don't quit.""Keep playing."

Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling
in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child,
and he added a running obbligato.

Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.

The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played.

Only the classic,

" Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

Perhaps that's the way it is with God! What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can truly be beautiful.

The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear,

"Don't quit." "Keep playing."

May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there, helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.

Remember, God doesn't seem to call the equipped, rather, He equips the 'called.'
Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the things you acquire. So touch someone by passing this little message along.

May God bless you and be with you always!

and remember,

"Don't quit."

"Keep playing."

God and Doors

God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close.

If you need God to open some doors for you,
Send this to everyone who needs a door opened on this day.
And if you don't need God to open some doors for you pass it on anyway.
Be a Blessing to Someone on this day.

Peaceable Kingdom