No Grey Area

Wrong is wrong, even if everyone else is doing it. Right is right, even if no one else is doing it.

Courage: understanding the consequences, & choosing to do the right thing anyway.

"Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong."
(1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT)

Use it or lose it!

Faith in God is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it becomes. The manual for getting this muscle in shape is the Bible, and the personal trainer is Jesus Christ. If you submit yourself to His leadership and His guidance, you will discover how to use the faith muscle every day. It's either use it or lose it.

Hard Times

Long ago, a man named Job suffered incredible loss--all his possessions and his children--and he had to endure an agonizing illness. If anyone had a right to end his life, it was Job. And yet, Job chose to put his trust in God. He asked, "Will I accept the good things God gives and refuse the bad?"

This is a question we should all consider. Is freedom from pain my right as a human being? Is life only worth living if everything is going my way? In the face of eternity, trusting a loving and sovereign God is really the best choice. Only God has the right to give and take life.

Let it be beautiful

"Let not your adornment be merely external--but let it be the hidden person of the heart." Outward beauty is temporal, but inner beauty from godly character and spirit is imperishable.

"Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God". (1 Peter 3:3, 4 NLT)

Husband Material

It often amazes me that men who are good athletes, or who pride themselves on hard work and self-reliance, are absolute wimps when it comes to fulfilling God's calling of being the spiritual leader in the home. Many macho men are classic spiritual wimps in this area. They look at religion and church as mostly women's stuff and often rely on the wife and mother to fill the void of spiritual leadership in the family. The guys simply wimp out.

But Scripture is clear. The father is to have this major responsibility. There is no doubt that a primary reason for the disintegration of the family is that so many men are spiritual wimps rather than spiritual leaders.

If you're a husband or a father, stop wimping out on what it means to be a man in God's eyes. Ask the Lord for guidance for what it means to be a spiritual leader. Come on men, rise to the challenge! The future of our land is depending on you.

So men, if you're struggling to meet your wife's needs, the Bible gives a few tips:

Physical affection. Not just sex, but a tender touch which may include a few hugs through the day.

Security. Physical, financial and emotional...a wife desires security in all its forms.

Understanding. Listening more than telling her what to do.

Reassurance Knowing you think she's beautiful, in a society of constant comparison.

Spiritual leadership. Not dictatorship, but servant leadership, like Christ for His church.

These are what a wife needs most from her husband.

"For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her" (Ephesians 5:25 NLT)

Wifey:
So many wives are clueless about what their husbands need the most. They often make the mistake of thinking his greatest need is like hers--the need for romantic love. But the husband's greatest need is for respect. This is how God has wired him. Build him up, in a world where he often gets beaten down. Seek to be his best friend. With his wife, he needs support, not competition. Have a willingness to follow his lead.
"As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything." (Ephesians 5:24 NLT)

Concrete Rose

Pressure

People today live pressure-filled lives and it's taking its toll. The American Academy of Family Physicians says that two-thirds of all visits to doctors are stress related, and that stress is now known as the major contributor to heart disease, cancer, accidental injuries, and suicide.

"In this world you'll face much tribulation." Tribulation also means pressure. Jesus says, "but take heart. I have overcome the world." Jesus does not promise us freedom from pressure, but He does promise us peace amidst the stress. Inner peace is a by-product of knowing Christ as Savior and Lord.

"For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared."
(Ephesians 6:15 NLT)

Human Nature

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. (John 15:4 NLT)

Human beings just aren't disciplined enough to do all we need to do. We can't change ourselves by our own initiative.

Changing human nature calls on something else--a supernatural change agent. Our only responsibility is to be willing to allow that change agent to bring about the needed improvements.

He will adjust your attitude, your character, and your relationships for the better. So just do it. Allow Christ to change you from an ineffective, frustrated self-improver, to a winner in the game of life.

Love in the purest form

The highest love is not based on feelings, but a commitment of our will. It is given unconditionally to another person, no matter how they respond to us. The Bible tells us this love is patient and kind. It's not envious, arrogant, or rude towards others. It's not selfish or easily angered. It's not like a resentment accountant who keeps a record of how others have wronged us. Love hates evil and rejoices in the truth. Real love puts up with a lot, and endures it with hope.

1 Corinthians 13:7

I Need a Man..

So many men today are spiritual wimps.

If you're interested in being a real man, realize God has called you to lead.
Jesus Christ tells us that men are to be servant leaders--not dictatorial leaders--but servant leaders, so men, wake up.

Your families need you. Our nation needs real men--spiritual leaders in the home. And, remember, you lead your family by allowing Christ to lead you.

"But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God."

"But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. For although the first woman came from man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God."

(1 Corinthians 11:3, 11, 12 NLT)


..A Man After God's Own Heart

King David was a man who found special favor with God, even though he was guilty of adultery, murder, & abuse of power. Do these sound like the actions of someone who would have a special place in God's heart?

The Bible shows us that David recognized his mistakes and called them what they were, sins against God. He asked God's forgiveness and then committed himself to living God's way.

Even though we may not have done the same things that David did, we have all sinned. God's word says, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." He died to pay the penalty for our sins and to offer us forgiveness.

When you mess up, confess your sin to God, like David did. Ask for God's forgiveness and for strength to resist sin in the future. He is the only answer to man's ultimate problem of sin.


--Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
Nathan replied, “Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. (2 Samuel 12:13 NLT)--

The " i " in " Team " ..Me, Myself, & I

There's no " i " in " team ", as they say.

Our culture is overrun with the attitude, "It's all about me." But meaningful life begins when we realize it's not all about us. The way we serve God is to serve our fellow man .. especially those in need.

Don’t do anything for selfish purposes but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. (Philippians 2:3-4 )

6 Strong Men

Will it take six strong men to get you back in church again? Six strong men to carry your body in a casket down the aisle?

The church is a place to worship, to be encouraged, to be spiritually rejuvenated, and a place to learn what it means to have a true relationship with God. There's no perfect church because there are no perfect people. And imperfect people need God and the forgiveness and salvation He offers in Jesus. I encourage you to find a church. If six strong men have to carry you there, it will be too late.

Hypocrites, weaklings, self-righteous, religious club.

Churches are made up of people, and people are not perfect. Imperfect people make for imperfect churches.

The church is a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints. It's a place where people go to improve their spiritual health. It's a place where people go for encouragement, and to get their spiritual batteries recharged.

Why not give church a try? After all, what makes you think you're going to like heaven, if you don't want to be with God's people here on earth?

20:12 .. Exodus

“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12 NLT)

One of the more important commandments of God is to "Honor thy father and mother." It is lived out in three phases of the parent-child relationship:

1. When a child is growing up in the home, he is called to obey. Parents have to teach their children to obey, and children honor their parents through obedience.

2. The second phase begins when the children become young adults. They aren't as dependent on their parents and they are no longer called to obey, but to respect their parents. This is usually the longest phase.

3. The third phase of honoring parents is caring for them in their old age when they are no longer able to care for themselves. This is a tough transition when children become parents to their parents.

Obedience, respect, and care--the three stages of honoring Mom and Dad. The welfare of the family is dependent on us obeying God's command.

Phase 2, the middle phase, is usually the longest. It's that time when we become adult children and our parents can still meet their own needs. In this phase, we are called to respect our parents.

Respect doesn't mean obedience. Parents of adult children need to remember this, just as adult children need to remember it. Respect means seeking their input when appropriate, yet doing what God wants you to do, most of all. Respect means showing them love and spending time with them.

To the parents of adult children, are you helping or hindering the opportunity for respect? You may be pushing your adult child away. Remember, respect breeds respect.

The middle phase of honoring our parents is the longest. Let's make the most of it...both parent and child.

“Each of you must show great respect for your mother and father, and you must always observe my Sabbath days of rest. I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 19:3 NLT)

" I just wanna be successful .."

"To a great many people, money is a measure of success. If they are living on a lavish scale, they think they are successes. And yet many are dismal failures."

"The only difference between success and failure is good and bad habits - success is a state of mind."

What is your definition of success? Let me suggest this one: Success is the process of fulfilling your purpose in life and doing it well. In short, success is a by-product of a life well lived.

Done Deeds

Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” (James 2:18 NLT)


True faith always results in good works, especially to the needy. We can't do it all, but the church can. When we have saving faith and begin to give and serve through a local church, we take part in all types of ministries as a part of the body of Christ.

Great Minds

Worldly wisdom leaves you empty and a bit cynical. But Godly wisdom is different. It reveals to us ultimate truth. Discover the wisdom of God over the wisdom of the world, and in the process you will have discovered your answer for life.

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.
Praise him forever! (Psalm 111:10 NLT)

Oooops

Via Joyce Meyer

"You are not an accident. Even if your parents told you they never really wanted you, I can assure you that God wanted you. You are valuable, you have worth, you are gifted, you are talented, and you have a purpose on this earth.

(see John 16:24). If you feel unworthy, you probably won't ask, and even if you do, you won't receive by faith. Believe that you make good decisions, that you are a valuable person with a great future, and something good is going to happen to you today!"

Sideline Flow

There are people who wait for something to happen and people who make something happen. Some people are naturally shy, while others are naturally bold.

We all have something to overcome. A naturally bold person has to overcome pride, excessive aggression, and false confidence, while the naturally shy must overcome anxiety, timidity, the temptation to withdraw from challenges, and low confidence.

Thank God we can benefit from our strengths and overcome our weaknesses through His help.

Timid, may protect you from making mistakes ..but wondering "what could have been."

Bold, on the other hand, make more mistakes ..but they recover and eventually find what is right and fulfilling for them.

God works through our faith, not our fear. Don't sit on the sidelines of life wishing you were doing the things you see other people doing. Take action and make the most of life!

Via Joyce Meyer

Be you tiful

Stress & priorities Via Joyce Meyer

" Eliminate some stress by getting your priorities straight. Your priority is not to keep everyone else in your life happy by doing all the things they expect; it is to live a life that is pleasing to God and one that you can enjoy.

It is time that you started being the person you really want to be. It is time to reach for your dreams.

Pray: Lord, I will delight myself in You today. You know the desires of my heart, and I entrust my dreams to You. Help me to be the person You created me to be. Amen. "

Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD.
Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. (Psalm 37:4-6 NLT)

Sins of Commission & Omission

James 4:17

We tend to think that doing wrong is sin. But James tells us that sin is also not doing right. (These two kinds of sin are sometimes called sins of commission and sins of omission.) It is a sin to lie; it can also be a sin to know the truth and not tell it. It is a sin to speak evil of someone; it is also a sin to avoid him or her when you know he or she needs your friendship. We should be willing to help as the Holy Spirit guides us. If God has directed you to do a kind act, to render a service, or to restore a relationship, do it. You will experience a renewed and refreshed vitality to your Christian faith.

..Begin again

Every person must die, but death is not the end; instead, it is the doorway to a new life.

" Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end. "