Answers

7/31

Think Good Thoughts on Purpose

Ephesians 4:23………………be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind

          We know that when God has renewed our mind with a fresh attitude we can choose to make right decisions. For instance, we know that love is not necessarily a feeling but a choice. We must also choose to think good thoughts about other people. Take a moment and think good thoughts about someone you know, and see how much better you feel.

          Thinking good thoughts opens the door for God to manifest His good plan in your life. So if you have not been working with the Holy Spirit to break old thought patterns and form new ones, it is time to get started. Think good thoughts about people on purpose, and as your attitude starts to change toward others, your relationships will also start to change for the better.

 

Context is everything

Context
Read:  Galatians 6:7-11
Paul wrote, "Let us work for the good of all."   - Galatians 6:10 (NRSV)
 
Audio:  Galatians 6
 
Bible in One Year: Psalms 7-9; Acts 18
 
Context is everything; knowing the context in which someone said something keeps the words from becoming tools of destruction. Knowing the context of a beloved, often-quoted saying may enrich its meaning even more. Like many persons, I grew up hearing snippets from the Bible all the time. Some phrases or sayings from the Bible I heard apart from organized religion.
Even though context is important, tone can carry equal weight. I remember as a child hearing Paul's words to the Galatians, "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow." I often heard these words as chiding and chastising. I received them as a negative warning.
While Paul discourages believers in Galatia from "sowing to the flesh," he presents a balanced picture, reminding them that in sowing to the Spirit they "will reap eternal life from the Spirit." Paul's words build to a great crescendo of encouragement: "So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up."
These are not the words of someone shaking a finger in another's face as if expecting him or her to do the wrong thing. These are words of encouragement, cheering us on as we persist in doing the right thing.  - Gregory V. Palmer (Ohio, USA)
Thought for the Day
God wants to help us make right choices.
 
Prayer
Dear God, help us to know your word and proclaim it. By the power of your word, give us life. Amen.
 
Prayer focus:  Someone making a difficult decision
 
Jeannette
"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.  Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway." ~ Mother Teresa
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Pray For Rain

Subject: Pray For Rain


Many  hands from the Midwest are now joining this  prayer  circle....
 
              
Isaiah  41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;  do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 
 
Large Prayer Circle   

As evidenced by people living in Oklahoma , West  Texas, SouthWest Kansas, South Texas, Arkansas, Colorado and New Mexico ever-increasing

FW: SYDR

Hope all had a wonderful weekend.  This was one of my busiest weekends, but it was the most rewarding.  I attended a women's conference that was truly life changing…and then Pastor Suzie Owens from Washington, DC delivered 2 powerful messages at our church on Sunday.  If you want/expect something from God, be specific and PRAY HARD!!!! He hears you and knows your heart.  Have a blessed week….Much Luv
 

Subject: SYDR
 
7/13
Learn to Wait with Patience
Hebrews 6:12…..do not become sluggish
          Experiencing trials while you are waiting to receive something God has promised you can be very difficult. However, when you understand how important it is to wait, it makes it worthwhile. This Scripture in Hebrews tells you that you inherit God's promises only through faith and patience.
          When you have trials, you grow – or at least you can grow if you learn to develop patience. God does not change, and He says you receive through faith and patience. So you must adapt to His ways - and doing things God's way can bring peace and joy to any situation.
          Patience is a fruit of the Spirit…and a powerful witness to others. So when you're experiencing a difficult trial, exercise patience. It is like a muscle – the more you use it the stronger it gets.
 
7/14
Be transformed, Not Conformed
Romans 12:2 …do not be conformed to this world…...but be transformed by the renewal of your mind….
          God's will for you is transformation, which takes place from the inside out…,not conformation, which is someone's external, superficial idea of what you should be; nor your own efforts to conform to their ideas, expectations, and demands.
          Often the world wants to draw the borders of a box and put you in it. But this will not work because the box is not God's design.
          Most people think you should do what they are doing – that you should be a part of their plan. This is wonderful if God agrees, but when God says no we must say no also.
          In this quiet moment, determine that you will not be conformed to the wishes of your friends and relatives, but that you will be transformed and led by the Spirit of God.
 
7/15
Live in the Now
Matthew 14:27   Take courage! I AM! Stop being afraid!
          This was Jesus' response to the disciples when they encountered a storm while out in a boat. He was saying, "I AM here for you right now, and you must have faith now that everything is going to be all right".
          That is how you should be living your life – with a "now" faith. Today you can have faith that yesterday and all of its mistakes can be taken care of by God. You can also have faith today that tomorrow will be taken care of when it arrives. But do not waste today worrying about yesterday or tomorrow. Jesus is the great "I AM" and He is here for you today!
          God wants you to live for today. Worrying about yesterday or tomorrow steals today. But the great I AM has given you just enough grace for today. Grace for yesterday is all used up and grace for tomorrow will not come until tomorrow. So use the favor and power of the Holy Spirit to do His will right now.
                  
7/16
Love with Your Thoughts
Proverbs 23:7…...For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
          You make a mistake when you have the opinion that your thoughts do not affect other people. You can often feel the thoughts of others, and they can feel your thoughts.
          Your thoughts not only affect others, they also affect you in a most amazing way. This verse in Proverbs teaches you that you become what you think.
          If you think loving thoughts, you become loving. But often you think things about people that you would never say to them, not realizing that even your thoughts can affect them. It is virtually impossible to treat people in a loving way if you are thinking angry thoughts about them.
          This is a good lesson for you. It is possible to sin though, word, or deed, so if you want to be a loving person you must choose to think good thoughts about other people. Learn to love with your thoughts - it will be good for you and others.
 
7/17
Follow Wisdom
Proverbs 8:12
          There is a lot of powerful information in this small Scripture – information you would do well to explore. In the Scriptures, being prudent means being good stewards or managers of the gifts that God has given you to use. Those gifts include time, energy, strength, and health, as well as material possessions.
          Each of us has been given a different set of gifts, and each of us has different abilities to manage those gifts. It is your individual responsibility to develop knowledge and discretion as to how you can best use your gifts. You do this by listening to the Lord and obeying what He tells you to do.
          Following Wisdom is an excellent choice - one that will bring you many blessings!

Accept and Share the Love of God

 

7/18

Accept and Share the love of God

1 John 4:19 …...we love Him, because He first loved us  

          More than anything, you need a revelation of God's love for you personally. God's love for you is the foundation for your faith, your freedom from sin, and your ability to step out in ministry to others without fear in the form of insecurity.

          God made you with a longing in your heart to be loved. And the Word assures you that God loves you. Yet many people mistakenly believe they have worn God out with their failures. You cannot cause God not to love you. Love is not something God does - it is who He is (see 1 John 4:8).

          As you meditate on God's love at the end of the day, accept it and express your great love for Him. Then as you go about your day tomorrow – and all your tomorrows - share that love with others.

Accept and Share the Love of God

 

7/18

Accept and Share the love of God

1 John 4:19 …...we love Him, because He first loved us  

          More than anything, you need a revelation of God's love for you personally. God's love for you is the foundation for your faith, your freedom from sin, and your ability to step out in ministry to others without fear in the form of insecurity.

          God made you with a longing in your heart to be loved. And the Word assures you that God loves you. Yet many people mistakenly believe they have worn God out with their failures. You cannot cause God not to love you. Love is not something God does - it is who He is (see 1 John 4:8).

          As you meditate on God's love at the end of the day, accept it and express your great love for Him. Then as you go about your day tomorrow – and all your tomorrows - share that love with others.

Fwd: SYDR

Arlene Wilson

Field Director for Mission Delivery

Key Markets East

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Johnson, Robin" <Robin_Johnson@rge.com>
Date: July 18, 2012 8:32:49 AM EDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: FW: SYDR

 

 

Subject: SYDR

 

7/18

Accept and Share the love of God

1 John 4:19 …...we love Him, because He first loved us  

          More than anything, you need a revelation of God's love for you personally. God's love for you is the foundation for your faith, your freedom from sin, and your ability to step out in ministry to others without fear in the form of insecurity.

          God made you with a longing in your heart to be loved. And the Word assures you that God loves you. Yet many people mistakenly believe they have worn God out with their failures. You cannot cause God not to love you. Love is not something God does - it is who He is (see 1 John 4:8).

          As you meditate on God's love at the end of the day, accept it and express your great love for Him. Then as you go about your day tomorrow – and all your tomorrows - share that love with others.

Tempted To Control

 
Tempted To Control
 
Read:  Judges 16:4-21
She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it.  - Judges 16:16
 
Audio:  Judges 16
 
Bible in One Year: Job 41-42; Acts 16:22-40
 
I've never stood in high places or wielded authority over the masses, but in my little corner of the world I've felt its pull. Whether I'm trying to keep my heart from pain, make my husband agree with me, or prevent my children from experiencing hardship, the root is the same - control. We all face (and at times succumb to) the temptation to grasp for power. While we may turn to Judges 16 to study Samson, the passage shows us that Delilah had some serious issues. Her story illustrates several lessons why we should resist the desire to control.
 
First, control begins and ends with self. Delilah saw that betraying Samson would benefit her financially (Judges 16:5-6) and help her to gain favor with others. Wrapping her lies in love, she used her affection to get what she wanted. In doing so she defined Samson's love for her based on whether or not her own needs were met. Ironically, she questions the authenticity of his love while planning his capture. Claiming love, she cared only about her own desires, even at someone else's expense.
 
Second, control blinds. Quick to point out Samson's deception, she remained unconcerned about her own web of lies (Judges 16:10). Holding Samson to a different standard than she was willing to follow, she fell into the trap of situational ethics as she let her circumstances determine her moral stance.
 
Lastly, control destroys relationships. Using her lap, a symbol of comfort and nurture, Delilah seemed poised as a safe place - but in reality she was the danger. Control is no different. Pretending to guarantee safety, control instead brings bondage and betrayal.  Jesus asks for our trust. Submitting to Him isn't about losing power, but rather gaining freedom (Galatians 5:1).  - Regina Franklin
  
Jeannette
"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.  Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway." ~ Mother Teresa
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Deposit Yourself with God

 

7/9

Deposit Yourself with God

1 Peter 4:19….those who are ill-treated and suffer

          The same as you deposit money in the bank, trusting them to take care of it; you should also deposit yourself with God, trusting Him to take care of you. As you pray tonight, release yourself and all that concerns you to God.

          If you are spending so much time trying to take care of yourself and make sure nobody is taking advantage of you that you have no time left to enjoy your life, it’s time to deposit yourself into God’s care. You can trust Him….for He never fails.

 

7/10

Offer a Sacrifice of Praise

Hebrews 13:15….lets us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise

          The Bible teaches that you must acknowledge and glorify God and offer up a sacrifice of praise regardless of what you may be going through.

          Perhaps you have been experiencing a time of trouble in your life, and you have been praying and trusting God to meet the need….but nothing has changed. While you are waiting for the answer is a perfect time to offer a sacrifice of praise.

          It is easy to praise God when everything is going well, but when you acknowledge and glorify Him in the midst of a troubling situation, that is a sacrifice - and it does not go unnoticed. So offer a sacrifice of praise as you spend time with God at the end of your day.

Let God Build Your House...Believe in God...Acknowledge God

 

Let God Build Your House

Psalm 127:1-2….except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it

          As a responsible adult who works hard at doing things right and trying to build a good life for yourself and your family, you may sometimes forget God is the Master Builder.

          It is right for you to work and provide the material things you need in life, but only God can build you into all that you should be. This can only happen as you fully yield yourself to Him and allow Him to do the work.

          Only the Spirit can cause you to grow into the perfection of Christ………He has started a good work in you and He will also finish it, so cooperate with the Master Builder and enjoy the blessings of the beloved….even as you sleep.

 

7/6

Believe in God

Colossians 1:4

          Faith is the leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust. That means you need to lean all of yourself on God, believing that only He can accomplish His will and purpose in your life. Your only job is to abide in Him through faith.

          John 6:29 says, “This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger].”

          As you are quiet before the Lord at the end of your day, believe and lean your entire personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence.

 

7/7

Acknowledge God

Proverbs 3:6

          Acknowledging the Lord in all your ways means submitting all your plans to him and allowing Him to work them out according to His will and desire for you. He wants you to come to know Him in the power of His resurrection (see Philippians 3:10).

          It is a sign of maturity to seek God for who He is and not only for what He can do for you. So as you pause at the end of your day, seek God’s face (His presence) and get to know your wonderful, loving heavenly Father better. Acknowledge His power and experience the joy of walking in the paths He chooses for you.

 

7/8

A Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1….to everything there is a season

          If it seems you have been struggling forever with negative things in your life, don’t despair. There is a time and a season for everything, and bad things ultimately give way to better things.

Even the good thing going on in your life may not stay exactly the same, because things are always changing. Sometimes changes are exciting….and sometimes they are difficult. But Jesus never changes – and as long as you keep your eyes on Him, you will make it through the changes in your life and continue growing.

          Be careful not to get too attached to people, places, positions, or things, but always be free to move with the Spirit. Let go of what lies behind and press on to what lies ahead (see Philippians 3:13-14). Reach toward the new horizon God has for you. You will be glad you did.

 

power from heaven

Power from Heaven

Acts 1:8…...but you shall receive power

          It is possible to fill a glass with water without filling it to full capacity. Likewise, when you are born again you have the Holy Spirit in you, but you may not yet be totally filled with the Spirit. Many Christians are very busy doing things for God but do not have enough power in their lives to be what God wants us to be.

          Going through the motions and following religious formulas is a waste of time. You must have the revelation that Jesus is alive within you and allow Him to change you and make you a new creature in Christ. Do not tuck God away for emergencies and Sunday mornings. Allow Him to work freely in every area of your life through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

6/30

A Better Blueprint

Romans 8:28………… all things work together for good.

          Notice here that Paul does not say that all things are good, but that all things work together for good. Paul also says in Romans 12:16 to “readily adjust yourself to [people, things]”. You must learn to become the kind of person who plans things but who doesn’t fall apart if that plan does not work out.

          Perhaps your car does not start tomorrow. You can think, “I knew it! My plans always fail.” Or your can tell yourself, “Well, I’ll go later when the car is fixed. There is probably some reason I need to be at home today, so I’m going to enjoy my time here.” Relax and trust God to work out the details of your life – His blue print is always best.

 

 

Be of Good Cheer

John 16:33…...be confident, certain, undaunted

          Life in today’s world can be stressful and frustrating – but as a Christian, you do not have to operate on the world’s system. Yes, you will face difficult and trying situations, but you can refuse to be agitated, disturbed, and upset (see John 14:27).

          Even in the midst of your problems, you can be happy and confident, cheerful and courageous. Now that is good news!

          When you come to the end of a tiring and frustrating day, it is good to spend time with God, thanking Him for overcoming the world on your behalf. Reflecting on His goodness will calm your spirit and prepare you for a peaceful night of rest.

give yourself a break...

Give Yourself a Break

Philippians 1:6….he who began a good work in you

          If you find it difficult to like yourself, you are not alone. I struggled with self-rejection during much of my life and I have discovered many others also struggle with the same thing. However, that is not God’s plan. He does not want you to feel afraid and insecure…..or to be consumed with achieving perfection in hopes of being considered valuable.

          God is the only one who can perfect the good work He has started in your life, but it takes some time. In addition, during the process, He wants you to recognize you are making progress. So give yourself a break and say, “I’m okay and I’m on my way!

 

7/4

Lighten Up

Proverbs 12:25…Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad.

          If you struggle with anxiety, you know about the uneasiness, worry, and feeling of heaviness that comes with it. Often it is a general feeling of fear that has no specific cause or source.

          Many serious things are going on in the world and you need to be aware of them and prepare for them. But, you also need to learn to relax and take things as they come without getting all nervous and upset.

          You need to learn how to enjoy the good life God has provided for you through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ (see John 10:10). So the next time you are tempted to become anxious or upset, think about what you are doing, and find something to be happy about. Have a talk with yourself about all the good things God has done in your life.

 

a faithful servant

 

A Faithful Servant

1 Corinthians 4:1-2…………should be found faithful

          A faithful person knows what God has put in their heart, and even though they may feel like quitting, they do not give up. They do not get out of a relationship because it is not easy anymore. They do not leave a church because there is some “new” thing across town or a job because it gets too challenging.

          One of the most important lessons you can learn is to be faithful with something until God lets you know you are finished with it. Sometimes God will call you out of one place and put you into another one - but God does not change the plan very frequently. A faithful person is committed to doing whatever God tells them to do – no matter what!

 

The Sneeze (a must read !!)

HOW'S THIS FOR TAKING A STAND AGAINST THE NON BELIEVERS !!!! THE SNEEZE They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With their rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt. Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears. This class would NOT pray during the commencements, not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it. The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families. The speeches were nice, but they were routine until the final speech received a standing ovation. A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened. All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED !!!! The student on stage simply looked at the audience and said, 'GOD BLESS YOU' And he walked off the stage... The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval. Isn't this a wonderful story? Pass it on to all your friends.........and GOD BLESS YOU!!!! This is a true story; it happened at the University of Maryland. Oh, how I wish THIS one would take off and FILL the whole Country!!

 

Life's Blessings in Life's Difficulties

This is a modern parable

Once upon a time, there was a busy professional who had two teenagers, and a husband. Her mother lived in a not so nearby suburb. Her sister had a second stroke, and was getting medical care and services situated at her home. Her mother had been campagining to go visit her brother in a nursing home, in the opposite end of the state. The professional woman hemmed and hawed, with valid excuses as to why she could not go...

She then agreed to do this for a major summer holiday-- in the winter. As the holiday approached, it seemed like the trip would have to be cancelled. [She had a business meeting that week. She would have to fly in from her out of town meeting, go home, drive, organize children, sister, find a hotel, pack, etc. It did not seem that it all could come to fruition...]  Then, everything fell into place:

• power outtage in Washignton, DC
• trip to Washginton DC cancelled
• power outage at corporate headquarters-- office closes one day early
• hotel found online-- able to add an extra day to the trip
• husband, children and sister all checks, packed, and situated...

The business woman was still worried and passed a sleepless night, thinking about :
- how her mom would handle seeing her brother
-how the businesswoman would handle seeing my uncle.

Well, Uncle W-- was waiting for them in the lobby- looking strong, buff and handsome in his wheelchair.
He was peppy, and radiant-- he was glad to see them!

But what was insightful was all the people who hugged him and were talking and joking with him.

What the businesswoman thought would be a sad visit, was quite joyous. She, her mother and uncle went out to the garden and chatted-- and took a happy picture.Things went so well, the usinesswoman drove another fifty miles to bring the uncle's wife to visit at the nursing home. [They all took another picture!]

Moral of the Story-- do the emotionally difficult stufff. There is an opportunity for personal grownth, learning and blessings.

Choose Your Words Carefully

 

Choose Your Words Carefully

Ephesians 4:29….let not foul or polluting language, or evil word, or worthless talk come out of your mouth

          As a Christian, you have an awesome responsibility with regard to the words you speak. The Bible tells us that words are containers for power – either creative or destructive. You can tear down or build up the people around you by what you say.

          There is an abundance of discouragement coming from the world, but you have the great privilege of bringing encouragement to others by being positive in a negative world.

          It can be difficult however, so I encourage you to ask God to help you choose words that will bring positive changes in the lives of others….and in your own life too!