THE WOMAN
THE WOMANOct 28, '11 1:08 AM
for everyone
Link: http://Beauty Inside & Out
When a man was sitting beside a sleeping woman after working late one day
A little boy came by and said:
“Why do you spend so much time beside her ?”
And the man answered:“
Son, Have you seen all what she is capable of ?"
“she functions on all kinds of food,
she is able to embrace several kids at
the same time, gives a hug that can heal anything from a bruised knee
to a broken heart and she does all this with only two hands”.
The little boy was impressed.
“Just two hands....impossible!“
And this is a normal woman?!
“Too much work for one day.... “.
“Indeed”, said the man. “That is why she is my favorite”.
“She cures herself when sick and she can work 18 hours a day”.
The little boy came nearer and touched the woman.
“But she is so soft” “She is soft", said the man, “But she is also so strong.
You can’t imagine what she can endure and overcome.“
“Can she think?" the little boy asked.
The man answered:
“Not only can she think, she can reason and negotiate."
The little boy touched the woman’s cheek....
“It seems she is leaking! You have put too many burdens on her.”*
“She is not leaking....it’s a tear” the man corrected the little man.
“What’s it for?" asked the little boy.
And the man said:
“Tears are her way of expressing grief, her doubts, her love,
her loneliness, her suffering and her pride.”
This made a big impression on the little boy; “Hey, you are lucky.
You know everything. The woman is indeed marvellous!"
Indeed she is!
Woman has strengths that amazes man.
She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens.
She holds happiness, love and opinions.
She smiles when feeling like screaming.
She sings when she feels like crying,
cries when she is happy and laughs when she is afraid.
She fights for what she belives in.
Stands up against injustice.
She doesn’t take “no” for an answer, when she can see a better solution.
She gives herself so her family can thrive.
She takes her friend to the doctor if she is afraid.
Her love is unconditional.
She cries when her kids are victorious. She is happy when her friends do well.
She is glad when she hears of a birth or a wedding.
Her heart is broken when a next of kin or friend dies.
But she finds the strength to get on with life.
She knows that a kiss and a hug can heal a broken heart.
There is only one thing wrong with her,
She forgets what she is worth...
for everyone
Link: http://Beauty Inside & Out
When a man was sitting beside a sleeping woman after working late one day
A little boy came by and said:
“Why do you spend so much time beside her ?”
And the man answered:“
Son, Have you seen all what she is capable of ?"
“she functions on all kinds of food,
she is able to embrace several kids at
the same time, gives a hug that can heal anything from a bruised knee
to a broken heart and she does all this with only two hands”.
The little boy was impressed.
“Just two hands....impossible!“
And this is a normal woman?!
“Too much work for one day.... “.
“Indeed”, said the man. “That is why she is my favorite”.
“She cures herself when sick and she can work 18 hours a day”.
The little boy came nearer and touched the woman.
“But she is so soft” “She is soft", said the man, “But she is also so strong.
You can’t imagine what she can endure and overcome.“
“Can she think?" the little boy asked.
The man answered:
“Not only can she think, she can reason and negotiate."
The little boy touched the woman’s cheek....
“It seems she is leaking! You have put too many burdens on her.”*
“She is not leaking....it’s a tear” the man corrected the little man.
“What’s it for?" asked the little boy.
And the man said:
“Tears are her way of expressing grief, her doubts, her love,
her loneliness, her suffering and her pride.”
This made a big impression on the little boy; “Hey, you are lucky.
You know everything. The woman is indeed marvellous!"
Indeed she is!
Woman has strengths that amazes man.
She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens.
She holds happiness, love and opinions.
She smiles when feeling like screaming.
She sings when she feels like crying,
cries when she is happy and laughs when she is afraid.
She fights for what she belives in.
Stands up against injustice.
She doesn’t take “no” for an answer, when she can see a better solution.
She gives herself so her family can thrive.
She takes her friend to the doctor if she is afraid.
Her love is unconditional.
She cries when her kids are victorious. She is happy when her friends do well.
She is glad when she hears of a birth or a wedding.
Her heart is broken when a next of kin or friend dies.
But she finds the strength to get on with life.
She knows that a kiss and a hug can heal a broken heart.
There is only one thing wrong with her,
She forgets what she is worth...
HOW TO HANDLE LIFE SHORTAGES
How to Handle Life ShortagesFeb 8, '12 9:25 PM
for everyone
Link: http://Only Hope
How do you handle life shortages if you run out of time, supply, finances, resources because of present crisis?
Things you should not do if you have shortages :
To Procrastinate - Hoping to find someother time later on. We see problem coming but we delay things (Self defeating attitude)
To pass the buck - (fix the blame not the problem) or blame other people for our shortages.
To worry - we always worry. Whose gonna clean up the mess?
You should accept the responsibility. Whatever is happening in your life or if you choose to fix the blame in someone else, you'd be paralize for life and you're gonna be living with regret most of the time because people will not be responsible for you.
We have a quest to posses mentality. We want to have more rather than just be satisfied with having enough.
We were living for today and we don't want to be responsible for tomorrow. We will wake us up to reality one day that you cannot just say that tomorrow will take care of itself. May mga kontexto din tayo sa ating Bibliya na may mga payo din na magplano tayo sa ating kinabukasan.
There's a big difference from buying the things that you need (food,utility) and buying the things that you want (mountains of problems)
Heto na ang problema - not putting some for a rainy day so kailangan nating mangutang. You borrow, borrow and borrow and you realize how difficult it is to get out of debt, it is like a quick sand, higop ang paa mo nyan kahit anong pagpapanik mo, lulubog ka nyan.
Ignorance about finances is deadly. God is so concern about the blessing that he gives to us and how we manage it because we are his stewart. If you're not keeping a good record on your finances, certainly you're never gonna see the blessings of God in your life if you don't know what's happening to your material blessings.
May theme song nga tayo dyan diba? "I OWE, I OWE, SO OFF TO WORK I GO" We need to work to pay our debt.
Most marriage that I know fall apart because of two things, they did not talk about money. Top 5 problems of couples, No 1 is MONEY. Kaya tamang tama yung sumpa "FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH, TILL DEBT DO US PART" Pag nagkautang na, goodbye!
Time - reason why we have lack of time is because we have to hassle so much. Filipino couples who worked in America normally they work double jobs. Halos di na sila nagkikita at kung magkita man, Hi & Hello, then tulog na. The average communication time between husband and wife is 5 mins everyday. Yung 3 mins dun, nagaaway pa. So we won't be surprised why families are falling apart.
So here in the Philippines, we have to do this:
1 day out of 7 - Husband give it to your wife and call it wife's day.
6 days out of 7 - Wife submit to your husband.
l day out of 7 - Husband submit to your wife.
Find time to be together make it an important special day for her. Any relationship that is not nurtured or kindled will one day die.
Stop living in denial about our problems. You need to assess your resources. The most spiritual thing that you probably do tonight is to write down and sit down your resources and maybe this is the first time you will acknowledge God first in our shortages.
Follow what God says to add sparkle in your life:
You give what you have - Never under estimate what God can do with ordinary people with limited resources that is being offered to God. It is not the amount of offering, it is always the biggest of the heart that you offer.
You give and thank - Give and it will be given unto you. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Don't bargain to God, he bless us abundantly.
Give cheerfully - Put God first in your life. Tight 10%, give 10% and live on the rest. It's a 10/10/80 principles.
Giving is not a debt I owe but it is rather a seed that you sew. Anticipate God to multiply it. God was asking for the impossible. He still ask for that resources.No matter how impossible it is.Put God first in your life. All things are possible with God. He specializes in the impossible. GIVE AND IT WILL GIVEN UNTO YOU.
for everyone
Link: http://Only Hope
How do you handle life shortages if you run out of time, supply, finances, resources because of present crisis?
Things you should not do if you have shortages :
To Procrastinate - Hoping to find someother time later on. We see problem coming but we delay things (Self defeating attitude)
To pass the buck - (fix the blame not the problem) or blame other people for our shortages.
To worry - we always worry. Whose gonna clean up the mess?
You should accept the responsibility. Whatever is happening in your life or if you choose to fix the blame in someone else, you'd be paralize for life and you're gonna be living with regret most of the time because people will not be responsible for you.
We have a quest to posses mentality. We want to have more rather than just be satisfied with having enough.
We were living for today and we don't want to be responsible for tomorrow. We will wake us up to reality one day that you cannot just say that tomorrow will take care of itself. May mga kontexto din tayo sa ating Bibliya na may mga payo din na magplano tayo sa ating kinabukasan.
There's a big difference from buying the things that you need (food,utility) and buying the things that you want (mountains of problems)
Heto na ang problema - not putting some for a rainy day so kailangan nating mangutang. You borrow, borrow and borrow and you realize how difficult it is to get out of debt, it is like a quick sand, higop ang paa mo nyan kahit anong pagpapanik mo, lulubog ka nyan.
Ignorance about finances is deadly. God is so concern about the blessing that he gives to us and how we manage it because we are his stewart. If you're not keeping a good record on your finances, certainly you're never gonna see the blessings of God in your life if you don't know what's happening to your material blessings.
May theme song nga tayo dyan diba? "I OWE, I OWE, SO OFF TO WORK I GO" We need to work to pay our debt.
Most marriage that I know fall apart because of two things, they did not talk about money. Top 5 problems of couples, No 1 is MONEY. Kaya tamang tama yung sumpa "FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH, TILL DEBT DO US PART" Pag nagkautang na, goodbye!
Time - reason why we have lack of time is because we have to hassle so much. Filipino couples who worked in America normally they work double jobs. Halos di na sila nagkikita at kung magkita man, Hi & Hello, then tulog na. The average communication time between husband and wife is 5 mins everyday. Yung 3 mins dun, nagaaway pa. So we won't be surprised why families are falling apart.
So here in the Philippines, we have to do this:
1 day out of 7 - Husband give it to your wife and call it wife's day.
6 days out of 7 - Wife submit to your husband.
l day out of 7 - Husband submit to your wife.
Find time to be together make it an important special day for her. Any relationship that is not nurtured or kindled will one day die.
Stop living in denial about our problems. You need to assess your resources. The most spiritual thing that you probably do tonight is to write down and sit down your resources and maybe this is the first time you will acknowledge God first in our shortages.
Follow what God says to add sparkle in your life:
You give what you have - Never under estimate what God can do with ordinary people with limited resources that is being offered to God. It is not the amount of offering, it is always the biggest of the heart that you offer.
You give and thank - Give and it will be given unto you. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Don't bargain to God, he bless us abundantly.
Give cheerfully - Put God first in your life. Tight 10%, give 10% and live on the rest. It's a 10/10/80 principles.
Giving is not a debt I owe but it is rather a seed that you sew. Anticipate God to multiply it. God was asking for the impossible. He still ask for that resources.No matter how impossible it is.Put God first in your life. All things are possible with God. He specializes in the impossible. GIVE AND IT WILL GIVEN UNTO YOU.
IF A LIZARD CAN, WHY CAN'T WE
IF A LIZARD CAN, WHY CAN'T WE?Oct 15, '11 10:02 AM
for everyone
Link: http://Only Hope
This is a true story that happened in Japan. In order to renovate the house, someone in Japan broke open the wall.
Japanese houses normally have a hollow space between the wooden walls.
While tearing down the walls, he found that there was a lizard there because a nail from outside hammered into one of its feet. When he checked the nail, he found out that the lizard was nailed 10 years ago when the house was first built.
What happened?
The lizard has survived in such position in a dark wall partition for 10 years without moving. It is impossible and mind boggling!
Then he wondered how this lizard survived for 10 years without moving a single step - since its foot was nailed!
So he stopped his work and observed the lizard, what it has been doing, what and how it has been eating. Later, not knowing from where it came, appeared another lizard, with food in its mouth.
Ah! He was stunned and touched deeply.
For, another lizard has been feeding the lizard that was stuck by nail for the past 10 years.
Imagine that? It has been doing that untiringly for 10 long years, without giving up hope on its partner.
Think, will you do that to your partner?
Imagine what a small creature can do that a creature blessed with a brilliant mind can't.
As information and communication technology advances, our access to information becomes faster and faster.
But the distance between human beings...is it getting closer as well?
Please never abandon your loved ones.
Never say you are busy when they really need you...
You may have the entire world at your feet...
But you might be the only world to them...
A moment of negligence might break the very heart that loves you through all odds.
Before you say something, just remember: It takes a moment to break what has been made in an entire life.
To live, use your heart and to survive, use brains.
Then life would be a paradise unfurling only love, joy and happiness...
Live life and not merely survive...
for everyone
Link: http://Only Hope
This is a true story that happened in Japan. In order to renovate the house, someone in Japan broke open the wall.
Japanese houses normally have a hollow space between the wooden walls.
While tearing down the walls, he found that there was a lizard there because a nail from outside hammered into one of its feet. When he checked the nail, he found out that the lizard was nailed 10 years ago when the house was first built.
What happened?
The lizard has survived in such position in a dark wall partition for 10 years without moving. It is impossible and mind boggling!
Then he wondered how this lizard survived for 10 years without moving a single step - since its foot was nailed!
So he stopped his work and observed the lizard, what it has been doing, what and how it has been eating. Later, not knowing from where it came, appeared another lizard, with food in its mouth.
Ah! He was stunned and touched deeply.
For, another lizard has been feeding the lizard that was stuck by nail for the past 10 years.
Imagine that? It has been doing that untiringly for 10 long years, without giving up hope on its partner.
Think, will you do that to your partner?
Imagine what a small creature can do that a creature blessed with a brilliant mind can't.
As information and communication technology advances, our access to information becomes faster and faster.
But the distance between human beings...is it getting closer as well?
Please never abandon your loved ones.
Never say you are busy when they really need you...
You may have the entire world at your feet...
But you might be the only world to them...
A moment of negligence might break the very heart that loves you through all odds.
Before you say something, just remember: It takes a moment to break what has been made in an entire life.
To live, use your heart and to survive, use brains.
Then life would be a paradise unfurling only love, joy and happiness...
Live life and not merely survive...
THE EFFICACY OF PRAYER
THE EFFICACY OF PRAYERSep 7, '11 4:35 AM
for everyone
Link: http://Didache
By Fr. Steve Tynan
Sometimes people ask me why we should bother with praying because it is not as if God needs our prayers. This is precisely true but it misses one point — that prayer is primarily for us. We pray for our own sake, not for God’s sake; it is we who need the prayers. Prayer also reminds us as to what our life’s focus should be. The further reason for praying is that if we want a relationship with God, then there is no other way to maintain that relationship than by spending time talking to Him in prayer.
When our loved ones are far from us, we take the time to write them, email them, call them or use any of the Internet communication networks such as Facebook and Twitter to keep in touch with them. We do this to fulfill our felt need to communicate with them. The same is true in our relationship with God — it needs to be attended to if we want it to flourish. Any relationship needs sufficient attention if it is going to survive in our busy world.
One of the great dangers to any relationship is that it gets crowded out by the many other things that we have in our lives. This is why we have to constantly make choices and prioritize what we do with our time. When someone talks to me about his spiritual life, one of the first questions I often ask is what priority he gives to prayer. If little priority is given to prayer, there is very little point in the person seeking spiritual direction. I will just tell them the same thing every time, “Prioritize prayer in your life and then it will be possible for you to grow closer to God!” It is amazing how a great number of people say they want to grow closer to God but are not willing to prioritize prayer in their lives. It is like saying that you are hungry but you cannot be bothered taking time out to eat. Anyone can see that this just does not make any sense at all
for everyone
Link: http://Didache
By Fr. Steve Tynan
Sometimes people ask me why we should bother with praying because it is not as if God needs our prayers. This is precisely true but it misses one point — that prayer is primarily for us. We pray for our own sake, not for God’s sake; it is we who need the prayers. Prayer also reminds us as to what our life’s focus should be. The further reason for praying is that if we want a relationship with God, then there is no other way to maintain that relationship than by spending time talking to Him in prayer.
When our loved ones are far from us, we take the time to write them, email them, call them or use any of the Internet communication networks such as Facebook and Twitter to keep in touch with them. We do this to fulfill our felt need to communicate with them. The same is true in our relationship with God — it needs to be attended to if we want it to flourish. Any relationship needs sufficient attention if it is going to survive in our busy world.
One of the great dangers to any relationship is that it gets crowded out by the many other things that we have in our lives. This is why we have to constantly make choices and prioritize what we do with our time. When someone talks to me about his spiritual life, one of the first questions I often ask is what priority he gives to prayer. If little priority is given to prayer, there is very little point in the person seeking spiritual direction. I will just tell them the same thing every time, “Prioritize prayer in your life and then it will be possible for you to grow closer to God!” It is amazing how a great number of people say they want to grow closer to God but are not willing to prioritize prayer in their lives. It is like saying that you are hungry but you cannot be bothered taking time out to eat. Anyone can see that this just does not make any sense at all
YOU CAN CATCH MORE FLIES WITH HONEY
YOU CAN CATCH MORE FLIES WITH HONEYSep 6, '11 12:18 AM
for everyone
Link: http://Kevin Leman
I read about a woman who had recently moved to a small town. She had to go into a local drugstore and was absolutely appalled by the way she was treated. The pharmacist, who was also the store's owner, was much too slow, she didn't like the attitude of the clerk, and there were several other problems that frankly ticked her off.
Later that afternoon, she began to complain to her next-door neighbor about the service she had received in the pharmacy.
The neighbor seemed to be concerned and said, "Listen...I know Tom, the pharmacist, really well. Maybe I should talk to him for you."
The woman said "I wish you would!"
A few days later, she had cause to go into the little drugstore again, and this time everything was totally different. The pharmacist was pleasant and efficient, the clerk--who was his wife--was friendly and helpful, and it was a complete contrast to her first visit to the store.
When she got back home she called the neighbor and told her what had happened. "I guess you talked to him, just like you said you would."
"I sure did."
"And you really let him have it, huh--told him how unhappy I had been?"
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. "Well...no...no exactly."
"Well, what did you tell him?"
"I told him you were absolutely delighted by the service he gave you. I told him that you loved his little store, and you planned to be a regular customer."
Well, I'm not sure if the story is true, but I know that the point it illustrates is true. Positive tactics work much better than negative tactics when it comes to changing behavior.
for everyone
Link: http://Kevin Leman
I read about a woman who had recently moved to a small town. She had to go into a local drugstore and was absolutely appalled by the way she was treated. The pharmacist, who was also the store's owner, was much too slow, she didn't like the attitude of the clerk, and there were several other problems that frankly ticked her off.
Later that afternoon, she began to complain to her next-door neighbor about the service she had received in the pharmacy.
The neighbor seemed to be concerned and said, "Listen...I know Tom, the pharmacist, really well. Maybe I should talk to him for you."
The woman said "I wish you would!"
A few days later, she had cause to go into the little drugstore again, and this time everything was totally different. The pharmacist was pleasant and efficient, the clerk--who was his wife--was friendly and helpful, and it was a complete contrast to her first visit to the store.
When she got back home she called the neighbor and told her what had happened. "I guess you talked to him, just like you said you would."
"I sure did."
"And you really let him have it, huh--told him how unhappy I had been?"
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. "Well...no...no exactly."
"Well, what did you tell him?"
"I told him you were absolutely delighted by the service he gave you. I told him that you loved his little store, and you planned to be a regular customer."
Well, I'm not sure if the story is true, but I know that the point it illustrates is true. Positive tactics work much better than negative tactics when it comes to changing behavior.
FAITH MEANS TAKING RISKS
FAITH MEANS TAKING RISKSJul 27, '11 9:15 PM
for everyone
Link: http://DAILY HOPE
Faith Means Taking Risks
by Jon Walker
Faith always means risk. Everything in life is a risk. Ecclesiastes 10:8 says, “When you work in a quarry, stones might fall and crush you! When you chop wood, there is danger with each stroke of your ax! Such are the risks of life” There’s nothing we can do that doesn’t have some element of risk in it.
But the greatest risk of all is how we relate to other people and how we relate to God – the risk to do something about those relationships. Mark 12:30 says, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” . You take a risk when you love with all your heart. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Jesus reminded us that one of the greatest mistakes we can make is to play it safe with our lives. He said, “If you try to keep your life for yourself, you’ll lose it.”
You probably remember the part in the third Indiana Jones movie where Indiana Jones came to the edge of a cliff. He was challenged to step out over the cliff even though he couldn't see a bridge beforehand. That's not a bad picture of genuine faith. Faith is stepping out and doing what God has asked you to do when you can't see what will happen in the end. You don't know exactly what God's going to do in the end, but you know he’s asking you to step out in faith.
Many times we’ll come to the edge of faith in our own lives. We’re not sure where things are headed. Maybe it is a decision to start a relationship with Jesus for the first time. Maybe you need to trust him with a business decision or something related to a relationship. There is a risk in stepping out in faith. Who will you trust? Will you trust in the Lord with all your heart? What if you’re wrong? Is it really God telling you to take the step of faith?
Practice the 80/20 principle
If you'll do the 80 percent of God's will that's clear in the Bible, he'll show you the 20 percent that's not clear. In other words, love your neighbor. Spend time in God's Word. Talk to God in prayer. Spend time with God's people. Love your family. Love your kids. Protect the way that you speak to people. Be kind in your relationships. Be patient. Do the 80 percent that’s clear, and God will show you the rest.
So take the risk. Trust God with everything you have. Do what God has told you to do in His Word. Then, when God challenges you with a risk of faith, you’ll be more confident to do what God tells you to do.
for everyone
Link: http://DAILY HOPE
Faith Means Taking Risks
by Jon Walker
Faith always means risk. Everything in life is a risk. Ecclesiastes 10:8 says, “When you work in a quarry, stones might fall and crush you! When you chop wood, there is danger with each stroke of your ax! Such are the risks of life” There’s nothing we can do that doesn’t have some element of risk in it.
But the greatest risk of all is how we relate to other people and how we relate to God – the risk to do something about those relationships. Mark 12:30 says, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” . You take a risk when you love with all your heart. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Jesus reminded us that one of the greatest mistakes we can make is to play it safe with our lives. He said, “If you try to keep your life for yourself, you’ll lose it.”
You probably remember the part in the third Indiana Jones movie where Indiana Jones came to the edge of a cliff. He was challenged to step out over the cliff even though he couldn't see a bridge beforehand. That's not a bad picture of genuine faith. Faith is stepping out and doing what God has asked you to do when you can't see what will happen in the end. You don't know exactly what God's going to do in the end, but you know he’s asking you to step out in faith.
Many times we’ll come to the edge of faith in our own lives. We’re not sure where things are headed. Maybe it is a decision to start a relationship with Jesus for the first time. Maybe you need to trust him with a business decision or something related to a relationship. There is a risk in stepping out in faith. Who will you trust? Will you trust in the Lord with all your heart? What if you’re wrong? Is it really God telling you to take the step of faith?
Practice the 80/20 principle
If you'll do the 80 percent of God's will that's clear in the Bible, he'll show you the 20 percent that's not clear. In other words, love your neighbor. Spend time in God's Word. Talk to God in prayer. Spend time with God's people. Love your family. Love your kids. Protect the way that you speak to people. Be kind in your relationships. Be patient. Do the 80 percent that’s clear, and God will show you the rest.
So take the risk. Trust God with everything you have. Do what God has told you to do in His Word. Then, when God challenges you with a risk of faith, you’ll be more confident to do what God tells you to do.
WHEN YOU ARE REJECTED, CHOOSE TO FORGIVE
WHEN YOU ARE REJECTED, CHOOSE TO FORGIVEJun 11, '11 11:25 PM
for everyone
Link: http://Only Hope
Saturday, June 11, 2011
When You Are Rejected, Choose to Forgive
by Tom Holladay
“You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13 (NLT)
It’s tough being rejected, especially when it is by someone you love. It might be one of your kids, your spouse, or a close friend. But the Bible says you need to forgive that person because God forgave you.
The key to being able to forgive somebody is in today’s verse. It’s the word “remember”. When you remember what Jesus Christ did for you, then you have the power to forgive somebody else.
If you hold on to the hurt, it will only end up hurting you. When you don’t forgive others, it creates bitterness and anger in you. It will eat you up on the inside and drain you of your energy, leaving you tired all the time.
Every time you start to feel bitterness towards someone, remember Jesus on the cross, how he loved you enough to give his life so your sins can be forgiven. He was rejected and insulted as he hung there, but he looked at everyone and prayed, “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NIV).
In complete meekness and humility, Jesus gave his life because he loves you. He wasn’t thinking of himself; he was thinking of you. Peter says, “They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things straight” (1 Peter 2:23 MSG).
The definition of forgiveness is found in two words in that verse: “let God.” You let God set things right. Forgiveness is not about trusting the person again or forgetting everything that happened. It’s about putting the situation in God’s hands instead of seeking revenge or holding a grudge.
As you read this, someone might be coming to mind. Don’t wait. Take a moment right now to pray this prayer: “God, I am giving you this hurt right now. I am letting it go to you. You’re in charge. Enable me to forgive the person who hurt me.”
This probably won’t be the last time you pray that prayer. If it’s a deep hurt, you might have to pray that 70 times a day as you struggle with it. But keep doing it, and then maybe next week you’ll only have to pray that prayer 30 times a day, and maybe only 10 times the week after that. And eventually, there will come a time when you realize that you haven’t thought about the hurt for several months. That’s how you let go and let God.
for everyone
Link: http://Only Hope
Saturday, June 11, 2011
When You Are Rejected, Choose to Forgive
by Tom Holladay
“You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13 (NLT)
It’s tough being rejected, especially when it is by someone you love. It might be one of your kids, your spouse, or a close friend. But the Bible says you need to forgive that person because God forgave you.
The key to being able to forgive somebody is in today’s verse. It’s the word “remember”. When you remember what Jesus Christ did for you, then you have the power to forgive somebody else.
If you hold on to the hurt, it will only end up hurting you. When you don’t forgive others, it creates bitterness and anger in you. It will eat you up on the inside and drain you of your energy, leaving you tired all the time.
Every time you start to feel bitterness towards someone, remember Jesus on the cross, how he loved you enough to give his life so your sins can be forgiven. He was rejected and insulted as he hung there, but he looked at everyone and prayed, “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NIV).
In complete meekness and humility, Jesus gave his life because he loves you. He wasn’t thinking of himself; he was thinking of you. Peter says, “They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things straight” (1 Peter 2:23 MSG).
The definition of forgiveness is found in two words in that verse: “let God.” You let God set things right. Forgiveness is not about trusting the person again or forgetting everything that happened. It’s about putting the situation in God’s hands instead of seeking revenge or holding a grudge.
As you read this, someone might be coming to mind. Don’t wait. Take a moment right now to pray this prayer: “God, I am giving you this hurt right now. I am letting it go to you. You’re in charge. Enable me to forgive the person who hurt me.”
This probably won’t be the last time you pray that prayer. If it’s a deep hurt, you might have to pray that 70 times a day as you struggle with it. But keep doing it, and then maybe next week you’ll only have to pray that prayer 30 times a day, and maybe only 10 times the week after that. And eventually, there will come a time when you realize that you haven’t thought about the hurt for several months. That’s how you let go and let God.
FORGETTING
FORGETTING (this is a MUST read)May 6, '11 12:29 AM
for everyone
Link: http://PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
By Raoul Felipe, M.D.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:52:00 05/03/2011
“How do you measure a year in the life?... Measure in love.”—“Rent”
IT WAS your usual Monday morning: the hustle and bustle of patients, papers and clinical abstracts that needed to be written, spilled coffee—you know, that kind of Monday. In fact, you would have missed it if you were too busy texting or going about your business. (And indeed, most people did.) There was no fanfare after all, no parade or entourage or flower girls or sweet music, and yet there we were in the middle of Ward 1, a huddle of doctors slowly gathering for the culmination of a most captivating love story. You could feel the charm flitting about the place, a contagious energy infecting a group eager with anticipation yet hushed by the sacredness of what was happening.
Lola had been diagnosed with stage 4 nasopharyngeal cancer (a brutal disease), and doctors had given her only weeks to live. The mass had grown beyond normal proportions (it was the size of a football) and it didn’t take long to know that her prognosis was beyond awful. She was unable to stand anymore, crippled and bedridden by a sickness that not only drains you physically but mentally and emotionally as well. She had become dependent and needy, relying on Lolo for pretty much everything, including going to the bathroom.
Throughout all this, I never heard Lolo complain. Not one bit. And he never left her side. In the months that I had been rotating in Internal Medicine, I never saw a more committed bantay—running around like a headless chicken, trying to cope with whatever orders we gave: “Lolo, paki lakad po itong dugo sa laboratoryo. Lolo, kailangan po natin bumili ng gamot. Lolo, dalhin niyo na po siya sa X-ray.”
It didn’t matter how demanding the task or how intimidating the Philippine General Hospital can get (I actually still get lost here) or how expensive the medicines were, Lolo never failed to deliver. I didn’t know how he managed to make ends meet but every time we needed something, it was Lolo who supplied it.
So there we were in Ward 1, underdressed in our scrub suits, trying to contain our kilig. The other patients paid no attention—they had, after all, their own sicknesses to worry about. And the other doctors didn’t mind us too, being too busy doing what was important for them. The nurses were apathetic as well: a celebration like this didn’t need attending when you are too busy doing your job and what-not. But those of us who came, those of us who thought that we couldn’t let the event go unwitnessed, we all learned a lesson we will never forget.
And so on Sept. 13, 2010 at 10 o’clock in the morning, Lola and Lolo got married after spending nearly 50 years together. They had spent every waking hour together—literally in sickness and in health—and now it was time to end it together, too. It was Lola’s last request, her dying wish.
In a world that values resumés and bank accounts and positions and accomplishments, Lola had nothing to offer. She was beyond poor, had no resumé to brag about, and certainly had no position except what she was by choice: a humble mother and wife who spent her afternoons doing laundry and frying kamote-cue on the street. She had done nothing out of the ordinary, either. She never played in a band or reigned as prom queen or appeared on TV. But when she smiled, she smiled like she meant it. The edge of her eyes were creased with the lines of age and wisdom and her laugh penetrated through you, making you wish that you could smile like she did and laugh like she did—with sincerity and substance. Her bald head, long battered by bouts of chemotherapy, was always covered with a bonnet (the ones you find along Minesview Park, with “Baguio” embroidered along the edge, which never failed to make me smile because like hers some of my best memories were of Baguio).
Lolo was as unassuming and normal as Lola. He was a fisherman. His dark skin had been baked by the sun, his hands callused by hauling nets all day, his thin body no longer framed by taut muscles because they could barely afford one meal a day now. When I looked at Lolo I was always reminded that what I was doing was nothing compared to what he did.
In spite of all they had done—or rather all they had not done—they taught me what I had known all along but chose to disregard: that life is not about remembering or even re-learning what is important, but about forgetting what is not.
I believe that deep in our hearts we already know what is important. We were created with that truth and beauty in us. Yet along the way, distracted by a world that places value on what is seen and measured, we have replaced what is important with what is not.
We need to develop the habit, we need to develop the skill of forgetting. We need to because every waking day is a constant battle between what is valuable and what is not. We already know what matters, but we need to forget what doesn’t.
In the twilight of her life, as the sun set and the end of her journey neared, Lola had already forgotten what was unimportant. After 80 years worth of living and working and smiling and laughing, she knew love is all there is to it. That money lasts weeks, positions last years, careers last decades—but relationships are forever.
for everyone
Link: http://PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
By Raoul Felipe, M.D.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:52:00 05/03/2011
“How do you measure a year in the life?... Measure in love.”—“Rent”
IT WAS your usual Monday morning: the hustle and bustle of patients, papers and clinical abstracts that needed to be written, spilled coffee—you know, that kind of Monday. In fact, you would have missed it if you were too busy texting or going about your business. (And indeed, most people did.) There was no fanfare after all, no parade or entourage or flower girls or sweet music, and yet there we were in the middle of Ward 1, a huddle of doctors slowly gathering for the culmination of a most captivating love story. You could feel the charm flitting about the place, a contagious energy infecting a group eager with anticipation yet hushed by the sacredness of what was happening.
Lola had been diagnosed with stage 4 nasopharyngeal cancer (a brutal disease), and doctors had given her only weeks to live. The mass had grown beyond normal proportions (it was the size of a football) and it didn’t take long to know that her prognosis was beyond awful. She was unable to stand anymore, crippled and bedridden by a sickness that not only drains you physically but mentally and emotionally as well. She had become dependent and needy, relying on Lolo for pretty much everything, including going to the bathroom.
Throughout all this, I never heard Lolo complain. Not one bit. And he never left her side. In the months that I had been rotating in Internal Medicine, I never saw a more committed bantay—running around like a headless chicken, trying to cope with whatever orders we gave: “Lolo, paki lakad po itong dugo sa laboratoryo. Lolo, kailangan po natin bumili ng gamot. Lolo, dalhin niyo na po siya sa X-ray.”
It didn’t matter how demanding the task or how intimidating the Philippine General Hospital can get (I actually still get lost here) or how expensive the medicines were, Lolo never failed to deliver. I didn’t know how he managed to make ends meet but every time we needed something, it was Lolo who supplied it.
So there we were in Ward 1, underdressed in our scrub suits, trying to contain our kilig. The other patients paid no attention—they had, after all, their own sicknesses to worry about. And the other doctors didn’t mind us too, being too busy doing what was important for them. The nurses were apathetic as well: a celebration like this didn’t need attending when you are too busy doing your job and what-not. But those of us who came, those of us who thought that we couldn’t let the event go unwitnessed, we all learned a lesson we will never forget.
And so on Sept. 13, 2010 at 10 o’clock in the morning, Lola and Lolo got married after spending nearly 50 years together. They had spent every waking hour together—literally in sickness and in health—and now it was time to end it together, too. It was Lola’s last request, her dying wish.
In a world that values resumés and bank accounts and positions and accomplishments, Lola had nothing to offer. She was beyond poor, had no resumé to brag about, and certainly had no position except what she was by choice: a humble mother and wife who spent her afternoons doing laundry and frying kamote-cue on the street. She had done nothing out of the ordinary, either. She never played in a band or reigned as prom queen or appeared on TV. But when she smiled, she smiled like she meant it. The edge of her eyes were creased with the lines of age and wisdom and her laugh penetrated through you, making you wish that you could smile like she did and laugh like she did—with sincerity and substance. Her bald head, long battered by bouts of chemotherapy, was always covered with a bonnet (the ones you find along Minesview Park, with “Baguio” embroidered along the edge, which never failed to make me smile because like hers some of my best memories were of Baguio).
Lolo was as unassuming and normal as Lola. He was a fisherman. His dark skin had been baked by the sun, his hands callused by hauling nets all day, his thin body no longer framed by taut muscles because they could barely afford one meal a day now. When I looked at Lolo I was always reminded that what I was doing was nothing compared to what he did.
In spite of all they had done—or rather all they had not done—they taught me what I had known all along but chose to disregard: that life is not about remembering or even re-learning what is important, but about forgetting what is not.
I believe that deep in our hearts we already know what is important. We were created with that truth and beauty in us. Yet along the way, distracted by a world that places value on what is seen and measured, we have replaced what is important with what is not.
We need to develop the habit, we need to develop the skill of forgetting. We need to because every waking day is a constant battle between what is valuable and what is not. We already know what matters, but we need to forget what doesn’t.
In the twilight of her life, as the sun set and the end of her journey neared, Lola had already forgotten what was unimportant. After 80 years worth of living and working and smiling and laughing, she knew love is all there is to it. That money lasts weeks, positions last years, careers last decades—but relationships are forever.
HEAVEN'S 24-HOUR EMERGENCY HOT LINE
HEAVEN'S 24-HOUR EMERGENCY HOT LINEApr 26, '11 8:37 PM
for everyone
Link: http://DAILY HOPE
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
by Rick Warren
Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory. Psalm 50:15 (NLT)
"If you love me and truly know who I am, I will RESCUE you and keep you safe." Psalm 91:14 (CEV)
God wants you to ask him for help when you are in trouble. He says, “Call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me.” (Psalm 50:15 GW)
I call this a “microwave” prayer because it is quick and to the point: Help! SOS! Mayday! For instance, when temptation strikes and you don’t have time for a long conversation with God -- simply cry out! David, Daniel, Peter, Paul, and millions of others have prayed this kind of instant prayer for help in trouble.
The Bible guarantees that our cry for help will be heard because Jesus is sympathetic to our struggle. He faced the same kind of problems we do. He “understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15 NLT)
If God is waiting to help us, why don’t we turn to him more often? Honestly, sometimes we don’t want to be helped! At that moment we think we know what’s best for us more than God does. At other times we’re embarrassed to ask God for help. But the Bible says, “Let us have confidence, then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.” (Hebrews 4:16 TEV)
God’s love is everlasting, and his patience endures forever. Ask him for help and then watch how he provides.
From Saddleback Resources –
for everyone
Link: http://DAILY HOPE
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
by Rick Warren
Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory. Psalm 50:15 (NLT)
"If you love me and truly know who I am, I will RESCUE you and keep you safe." Psalm 91:14 (CEV)
God wants you to ask him for help when you are in trouble. He says, “Call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me.” (Psalm 50:15 GW)
I call this a “microwave” prayer because it is quick and to the point: Help! SOS! Mayday! For instance, when temptation strikes and you don’t have time for a long conversation with God -- simply cry out! David, Daniel, Peter, Paul, and millions of others have prayed this kind of instant prayer for help in trouble.
The Bible guarantees that our cry for help will be heard because Jesus is sympathetic to our struggle. He faced the same kind of problems we do. He “understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15 NLT)
If God is waiting to help us, why don’t we turn to him more often? Honestly, sometimes we don’t want to be helped! At that moment we think we know what’s best for us more than God does. At other times we’re embarrassed to ask God for help. But the Bible says, “Let us have confidence, then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.” (Hebrews 4:16 TEV)
God’s love is everlasting, and his patience endures forever. Ask him for help and then watch how he provides.
From Saddleback Resources –
TWO WORDS NEEDED TO BECOME A NEW PERSON
TWO WORDS NEEDED TO BECOME A NEW PERSONFeb 8, '11 7:23 PM
for everyone
Link: http://Buddy Owen
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
by Buddy Owens
Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:2 (Msg)
"Confession is simply agreeing with God, not arguing with him."
There are two words that are absolutely necessary for you to understand if you want to become a new person: confession and repentance.
You may think these words sound too religious or that confession and repentance will only make you feel rotten about yourself. But actually, when you understand what these words mean, you’ll see that they are positive, freeing, enlightening, liberating, and filled with hope. Confession and repentance are actually joyful words.
Confession means we say the same thing God says. Confession means we simply agree with God. We don’t argue with him about our sin; instead, we say the same thing about our sin that God says about our sin. We say, “You’re right, God. What I did was wrong.”
And it is our confession then leads to repentance. Repentance means to change the way you think. It is more than just changing your behavior; it means you also change your mind.
So confession (saying the same thing God says) leads to repentance (thinking the way God thinks). Saying what God says enables you to think what God thinks. And when you learn to think differently, you begin to behave differently: “Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:2b (Msg)
for everyone
Link: http://Buddy Owen
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
by Buddy Owens
Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:2 (Msg)
"Confession is simply agreeing with God, not arguing with him."
There are two words that are absolutely necessary for you to understand if you want to become a new person: confession and repentance.
You may think these words sound too religious or that confession and repentance will only make you feel rotten about yourself. But actually, when you understand what these words mean, you’ll see that they are positive, freeing, enlightening, liberating, and filled with hope. Confession and repentance are actually joyful words.
Confession means we say the same thing God says. Confession means we simply agree with God. We don’t argue with him about our sin; instead, we say the same thing about our sin that God says about our sin. We say, “You’re right, God. What I did was wrong.”
And it is our confession then leads to repentance. Repentance means to change the way you think. It is more than just changing your behavior; it means you also change your mind.
So confession (saying the same thing God says) leads to repentance (thinking the way God thinks). Saying what God says enables you to think what God thinks. And when you learn to think differently, you begin to behave differently: “Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:2b (Msg)
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR DAY
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR DAYJan 24, '11 7:32 PM
for everyone
Link: http://rick warren
Monday, January 24, 2011
by Rick Warren
“Lord, every morning you hear my voice. Every morning, I tell you what I need, and I wait for your answer.” Psalm 5:3 (NCV)
"'Without review, I lose my view.' Make sure you allocate part of your quiet time to review the vision God wants you to have."
Any doctor will tell you the most important meal of the day is breakfast because the way you start your day influences the rest of your day. That’s true not just physically, but spiritually.
That’s why the most important part of your day is your time alone with God. Setting aside time in the morning to be alone with God will set the pattern of your attitude and response to every event and person for the rest of your day.
Whether it takes five minutes or thirty, there are four things you need to do in this time alone with God that will set your spiritual thermostat for the day.
Read God’s Word. You don’t have to read a lot, just enough until God speaks to you. It’s amazing how God will use his Word in your life. As the prophet Isaiah said, “The sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom” (Isaiah 50:4). I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read something in my morning quiet time that was exactly what I needed to share with someone later in the day.
Be quiet before God. Noise is one of the major sources of stress in peoples’ lives. Your body needs a certain amount of quiet, and you need to carve out time in your life for this quietness. You will be less stressed if you start your day with quiet time before God.
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15 NIV). The worst thing you can do in the morning is get up and immediately check your e-mail or turn on the news. You need time to meditate on God’s good news before you fill your mind with bad news.
Talk with God. Notice it says “talk with God,” not “talk to God.” Prayer is a conversation, not a one-way street. And it’s not the amount of words you say in prayer that make it effective. It’s about sharing what’s on your heart with God – your feelings, concerns, thoughts, and adoration. Just talk with God and then wait on him to respond.
Review your day and goals with God. Take time to go over your schedule, your goals and your day’s to-do list with God. There are dozens of verses in Proverbs that talk about planning with God and teaching you to number your days, which means looking at your time and pondering where you are going.
It’s easy to set goals, but if you don’t look at your goals every day, you will never accomplish them. Or as I like to say, “Without review, I lose my view.” Make sure you allocate part of your quiet time to review the vision God wants you to have.
for everyone
Link: http://rick warren
Monday, January 24, 2011
by Rick Warren
“Lord, every morning you hear my voice. Every morning, I tell you what I need, and I wait for your answer.” Psalm 5:3 (NCV)
"'Without review, I lose my view.' Make sure you allocate part of your quiet time to review the vision God wants you to have."
Any doctor will tell you the most important meal of the day is breakfast because the way you start your day influences the rest of your day. That’s true not just physically, but spiritually.
That’s why the most important part of your day is your time alone with God. Setting aside time in the morning to be alone with God will set the pattern of your attitude and response to every event and person for the rest of your day.
Whether it takes five minutes or thirty, there are four things you need to do in this time alone with God that will set your spiritual thermostat for the day.
Read God’s Word. You don’t have to read a lot, just enough until God speaks to you. It’s amazing how God will use his Word in your life. As the prophet Isaiah said, “The sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom” (Isaiah 50:4). I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read something in my morning quiet time that was exactly what I needed to share with someone later in the day.
Be quiet before God. Noise is one of the major sources of stress in peoples’ lives. Your body needs a certain amount of quiet, and you need to carve out time in your life for this quietness. You will be less stressed if you start your day with quiet time before God.
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15 NIV). The worst thing you can do in the morning is get up and immediately check your e-mail or turn on the news. You need time to meditate on God’s good news before you fill your mind with bad news.
Talk with God. Notice it says “talk with God,” not “talk to God.” Prayer is a conversation, not a one-way street. And it’s not the amount of words you say in prayer that make it effective. It’s about sharing what’s on your heart with God – your feelings, concerns, thoughts, and adoration. Just talk with God and then wait on him to respond.
Review your day and goals with God. Take time to go over your schedule, your goals and your day’s to-do list with God. There are dozens of verses in Proverbs that talk about planning with God and teaching you to number your days, which means looking at your time and pondering where you are going.
It’s easy to set goals, but if you don’t look at your goals every day, you will never accomplish them. Or as I like to say, “Without review, I lose my view.” Make sure you allocate part of your quiet time to review the vision God wants you to have.
WEEP WITH THE WEEPING
WEEP WITH THE WEEPINGDec 6, '10 5:12 PM
for everyone
Link: http://Only Hope
Dec. 7, 2010
“‘Comfort, give comfort to my people,’ says your God.” – Isaiah 40:1
I attended a wake of the daughter of a community member. I sat near the sobbing mother who couldn’t understand why her daughter had to die before her. I couldn’t help but notice that most of the people were trying to comfort her with words like, “God has a reason… She is happy in heaven… Don’t cry anymore…”
It got me thinking: when I’m broken, wounded and sad, how does God deal with me? The answer? He embraces me. He loves me. He comforts me.
At the moment when that mother was wallowing in pain, I’m not sure if any of those “words of comfort” brought comfort. I wonder if she would really choose to rejoice at that moment. Can you really tell someone not to feel bad anymore? Or can we only wait for them to be healed?
I believe God weeps with us. When we’re sprawled on the floor, sobbing in sorrow, He gets down on His knees and puts His arms around us. He doesn’t tell us to stop hurting or stop feeling bad. That will come in time. Instead, He lets us know He’s there and that He understands our pain.
And He stays with us… until we are healed. George Tolentino Gabriel ([email protected])
REFLECTION:
When we’re weeping, what do we really want to hear from someone trying to comfort us? Shouldn’t we do the same to others?
Lord, teach me to be one with others in their suffering just as You are one with us in ours.
for everyone
Link: http://Only Hope
Dec. 7, 2010
“‘Comfort, give comfort to my people,’ says your God.” – Isaiah 40:1
I attended a wake of the daughter of a community member. I sat near the sobbing mother who couldn’t understand why her daughter had to die before her. I couldn’t help but notice that most of the people were trying to comfort her with words like, “God has a reason… She is happy in heaven… Don’t cry anymore…”
It got me thinking: when I’m broken, wounded and sad, how does God deal with me? The answer? He embraces me. He loves me. He comforts me.
At the moment when that mother was wallowing in pain, I’m not sure if any of those “words of comfort” brought comfort. I wonder if she would really choose to rejoice at that moment. Can you really tell someone not to feel bad anymore? Or can we only wait for them to be healed?
I believe God weeps with us. When we’re sprawled on the floor, sobbing in sorrow, He gets down on His knees and puts His arms around us. He doesn’t tell us to stop hurting or stop feeling bad. That will come in time. Instead, He lets us know He’s there and that He understands our pain.
And He stays with us… until we are healed. George Tolentino Gabriel ([email protected])
REFLECTION:
When we’re weeping, what do we really want to hear from someone trying to comfort us? Shouldn’t we do the same to others?
Lord, teach me to be one with others in their suffering just as You are one with us in ours.
GIVE MORE AND LIVE WITH AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
GIVE MORE AND LIVE WITH AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDENov 21, '10 9:42 AM
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion ... your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV)
"When you let go of what's in your hand, it's now empty to receive greater blessings from God."
What an amazing verse! God makes you rich in every way so you can be generous on every occasion, which will result in thanksgiving to God.
God doesn't bless you so you can be greedy; he blesses you so you can be generous. You give away and God gives back to you so you can give more away and he can give more back to you and on and on and on. God doesn't give you things so you can pile them up. When you let go of what's in your hand, it's now empty to receive greater blessings from God.
But as I've said before, God's giving to you is based on your attitude. That's why it's so important to live with an attitude of gratitude. The Bible says, "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God" (2 Corinthians 9:12 NIV).
When you give, you are performing a service. To serve and to give is the same thing. It's two actions of love. You can't love without serving and giving. And the best part is this: your service leads to expressions of thanksgiving to God.
Take a moment to pray and express your gratitude to God.
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion ... your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV)
"When you let go of what's in your hand, it's now empty to receive greater blessings from God."
What an amazing verse! God makes you rich in every way so you can be generous on every occasion, which will result in thanksgiving to God.
God doesn't bless you so you can be greedy; he blesses you so you can be generous. You give away and God gives back to you so you can give more away and he can give more back to you and on and on and on. God doesn't give you things so you can pile them up. When you let go of what's in your hand, it's now empty to receive greater blessings from God.
But as I've said before, God's giving to you is based on your attitude. That's why it's so important to live with an attitude of gratitude. The Bible says, "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God" (2 Corinthians 9:12 NIV).
When you give, you are performing a service. To serve and to give is the same thing. It's two actions of love. You can't love without serving and giving. And the best part is this: your service leads to expressions of thanksgiving to God.
Take a moment to pray and express your gratitude to God.
LIVING A LIFE OF GENEROSITY
LIVING A LIFE OF GENEROSITYNov 19, '10 4:38 AM
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
"Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God's blessing in everything you do, in all your work and ventures." Deuteronomy 15:10 (MSG)
"But I don't give to get a blessing. I give to be a blessing. Do you see the difference there?"
God is a generous God. Everything you have in life is because God gave it to you. It's a gift. It's God's generosity.
God wants us to follow his example. He wants us to create a spiritual legacy of generosity. We do this by learning to be a giver, not a taker. Our culture is all about being self-serving. It encourages us to take, take, take. It's all about acquiring money and things, like that bumper sticker that says, "He who dies with the most toys, wins."
But God says that's not the way it is. I love how The Message paraphrases our verse today, "Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God's blessing in everything you do, in all your work and ventures."
As a pastor, I care about you and I want God's blessing on all your work. I want God's blessing on all your ventures. I want God's blessing to be triggered in your life. The Bible says the only way that happens is by learning to be generous.
Now, this is important. I don't give to get a blessing. I give to be a blessing. Do you see the difference there?
To give in order to get is the wrong motivation. I give to be a blessing, not to get a blessing. But when I continue to give more and more away, God makes sure he out gives me.
The Bible is full of promises about generosity. God says that if you trust him and give generously, he will bless your wealth, your health, you family, your career, your time, your past, your present and your future.
What a way to create a lasting spiritual legacy!
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
"Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God's blessing in everything you do, in all your work and ventures." Deuteronomy 15:10 (MSG)
"But I don't give to get a blessing. I give to be a blessing. Do you see the difference there?"
God is a generous God. Everything you have in life is because God gave it to you. It's a gift. It's God's generosity.
God wants us to follow his example. He wants us to create a spiritual legacy of generosity. We do this by learning to be a giver, not a taker. Our culture is all about being self-serving. It encourages us to take, take, take. It's all about acquiring money and things, like that bumper sticker that says, "He who dies with the most toys, wins."
But God says that's not the way it is. I love how The Message paraphrases our verse today, "Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God's blessing in everything you do, in all your work and ventures."
As a pastor, I care about you and I want God's blessing on all your work. I want God's blessing on all your ventures. I want God's blessing to be triggered in your life. The Bible says the only way that happens is by learning to be generous.
Now, this is important. I don't give to get a blessing. I give to be a blessing. Do you see the difference there?
To give in order to get is the wrong motivation. I give to be a blessing, not to get a blessing. But when I continue to give more and more away, God makes sure he out gives me.
The Bible is full of promises about generosity. God says that if you trust him and give generously, he will bless your wealth, your health, you family, your career, your time, your past, your present and your future.
What a way to create a lasting spiritual legacy!
GOD'S PRESCRIPTION FOR GOOD HEALTH : Generosity and Fun
GOD'S PRESCRIPTION FOR GOOD HEALTH: Generosity and FunNov 12, '10 5:13 PM
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Friday November 12 2010
"These instructions are not mere words - they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life ..." Deuteronomy 32:47 (NLT)
"He who laughs, lasts."
Many people think the Bible is only filled with commands labeled "Thou shalt not..." They assume the Bible is all about restrictions and making you lead a boring life.
But God wants you to live a joy-filled, healthy life. The last two factors for good health that I want to share with you should put a smile on your face.
Giving generously is good for my health. Every time I'm generous, every time I'm giving, it improves my health. You know there are more promises in the Bible about giving than anything else because God wants you to be like him. God is a giver.
Everything you have is a gift from God. He's generous and he wants you to be generous too. The Bible says, "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed" (Proverbs 11:25 NIV). Doesn't that verse just make you smile? There's a reason why it always feels good to help others, whether you're giving financially, giving materially, or giving of your time.
Having fun is good for your health. God tells us in his Word that life is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured. "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" (Proverbs 17:22 NIV). I like to put it this way, "He who laughs, lasts." Learn to laugh at yourself, put some play in every day, relax, chill out, have some fun.
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Friday November 12 2010
"These instructions are not mere words - they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life ..." Deuteronomy 32:47 (NLT)
"He who laughs, lasts."
Many people think the Bible is only filled with commands labeled "Thou shalt not..." They assume the Bible is all about restrictions and making you lead a boring life.
But God wants you to live a joy-filled, healthy life. The last two factors for good health that I want to share with you should put a smile on your face.
Giving generously is good for my health. Every time I'm generous, every time I'm giving, it improves my health. You know there are more promises in the Bible about giving than anything else because God wants you to be like him. God is a giver.
Everything you have is a gift from God. He's generous and he wants you to be generous too. The Bible says, "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed" (Proverbs 11:25 NIV). Doesn't that verse just make you smile? There's a reason why it always feels good to help others, whether you're giving financially, giving materially, or giving of your time.
Having fun is good for your health. God tells us in his Word that life is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured. "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" (Proverbs 17:22 NIV). I like to put it this way, "He who laughs, lasts." Learn to laugh at yourself, put some play in every day, relax, chill out, have some fun.
GIVING BACK TO GOD
GIVING BACK TO GODNov 4, '10 6:22 PM
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Thursday, November 04, 201
Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 (HCSB)
"We give back to God as a demonstration of our priorities and as a demonstration of our faith in his promises. "
The purpose of tithing is to teach us to always put God first in our lives. God doesn't need our money. He wants what it represents: our gratitude, our priorities and our faith.
Now look at these verses in Proverbs 3. Do you see where it says, 'Honor the Lord by giving him the leftovers of all your income'. Now, you can see, that's NOT what it says at all.
It says, "Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest ...". We give to God first, before anyone else, right off the top of our income.
And here is the promise, "Then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine". Many of you know that Kay and I have always lived this way, we give the first 10% to God. If we're going to be in debt, we will be in debt to other people, but we are not going to be in debt to God.
You and I are called to give back to God in gratitude, but also as a demonstration of our priorities. And, it is a demonstration of our faith in his promises.
In Malachi 3:10, God says, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse ...". That means the place where you worship. Then God says, "Put me to the test!" In a sense, 'Test me and see how I will bless you for your obedience'.
God says he will provide all that you need. He doesn't say he'll provide all that we greed, but all that we need.
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Thursday, November 04, 201
Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 (HCSB)
"We give back to God as a demonstration of our priorities and as a demonstration of our faith in his promises. "
The purpose of tithing is to teach us to always put God first in our lives. God doesn't need our money. He wants what it represents: our gratitude, our priorities and our faith.
Now look at these verses in Proverbs 3. Do you see where it says, 'Honor the Lord by giving him the leftovers of all your income'. Now, you can see, that's NOT what it says at all.
It says, "Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest ...". We give to God first, before anyone else, right off the top of our income.
And here is the promise, "Then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine". Many of you know that Kay and I have always lived this way, we give the first 10% to God. If we're going to be in debt, we will be in debt to other people, but we are not going to be in debt to God.
You and I are called to give back to God in gratitude, but also as a demonstration of our priorities. And, it is a demonstration of our faith in his promises.
In Malachi 3:10, God says, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse ...". That means the place where you worship. Then God says, "Put me to the test!" In a sense, 'Test me and see how I will bless you for your obedience'.
God says he will provide all that you need. He doesn't say he'll provide all that we greed, but all that we need.
YOU CAN'T PLEASE EVERYBODY
YOU CAN'T PLEASE EVERYBODYOct 30, '10 2:28 AM
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Tuesday August 17 2010
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 (NIV)
"Even God can't please everybody. Only a fool would try to do what even God can't do."
Have you realized that there are some people you can't please? No matter what you do or what you try or how nice you are to them. You just can't please everybody.
But the Bible tells says you don't need to please everybody. "It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you." (Proverbs 29:25 LB) It's an emotional trap when you start worrying about what other people think. We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't even like -- all because we think we must be liked by everyone in order to be happy. That's foolish!
Jesus said, "I only seek to please Him who sent me." (John 5:30 LB) Even Jesus didn't try to please everybody. One person wants it to rain; another doesn't want it to rain. I was one in Texas talking to oil people. They want oil prices to go up; the rest of us are hoping they'll go down. Even God can't please everybody. Only a fool would try to do what even God can't do.
In Luke 6:26 Jesus said, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you." (NIV) That's probably because the only time everybody's going to speak well of you is at your funeral!
I meet Christians all the time who must live with someone who makes life crazy. Every day they face someone who is an EGR (extra grace required). They say, "I try and try to make peace with this person, but I fail and I feel so guilty." The fact is, it may not be your fault. It may be the person you're trying to make peace with is just flat out difficult.
Give that person to God and focus on pleasing Him.
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Tuesday August 17 2010
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 (NIV)
"Even God can't please everybody. Only a fool would try to do what even God can't do."
Have you realized that there are some people you can't please? No matter what you do or what you try or how nice you are to them. You just can't please everybody.
But the Bible tells says you don't need to please everybody. "It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you." (Proverbs 29:25 LB) It's an emotional trap when you start worrying about what other people think. We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't even like -- all because we think we must be liked by everyone in order to be happy. That's foolish!
Jesus said, "I only seek to please Him who sent me." (John 5:30 LB) Even Jesus didn't try to please everybody. One person wants it to rain; another doesn't want it to rain. I was one in Texas talking to oil people. They want oil prices to go up; the rest of us are hoping they'll go down. Even God can't please everybody. Only a fool would try to do what even God can't do.
In Luke 6:26 Jesus said, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you." (NIV) That's probably because the only time everybody's going to speak well of you is at your funeral!
I meet Christians all the time who must live with someone who makes life crazy. Every day they face someone who is an EGR (extra grace required). They say, "I try and try to make peace with this person, but I fail and I feel so guilty." The fact is, it may not be your fault. It may be the person you're trying to make peace with is just flat out difficult.
Give that person to God and focus on pleasing Him.
DEAL WITH YOUR ANGER - NOW
DEAL WITH YOUR ANGER - NOWOct 29, '10 11:59 PM
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Thursday September 23 2010
"Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." Ephesians 4:26 (NIV)
"When you get angry, deal with it immediately, so the devil doesn't get a foothold in your life. "
I believe today's verse should be taken literally. When you go to bed at night, make sure your conscious is clear and there's no disharmony.
Why? God knows how dangerous and destructive anger is to our bodies. The anger gets inside of you and starts to eat you up.
Have you ever heard anybody say, "That really burns me up!" They're speaking the truth. It literally does that. Scientists have proven that when a person gets angry there is a definite biochemical change in their body. When you get angry it attacks your adrenal glands and shoots out all kinds of things in your body. Your palms start sweating, your temperature is raised, your blood sugar increases, your heart beat elevates, you get nervous, you get primed for action.
All of this is pent up inside of you and God says, "Don't get that all built up in your life and then try to go to sleep with it. It will eat on you."
God is explaining this for your own good. When you hold on to your anger it has a damaging effect upon your health. You can't sleep. You get high blood pressure. You get depressed - you can get all kinds of different illnesses.
Anger is dangerous to our lives. It's dangerous to us physically. It's dangerous to us socially -- it ruins relationships, it destroys homes. It's dangerous to us spiritually -- it affects our relationship with God.
That's what Paul goes on to say in Ephesians 4:27, "And do not give the devil a foothold." (NIV) When you get angry, deal with it immediately, so the devil doesn't get a foothold in your life.
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Thursday September 23 2010
"Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." Ephesians 4:26 (NIV)
"When you get angry, deal with it immediately, so the devil doesn't get a foothold in your life. "
I believe today's verse should be taken literally. When you go to bed at night, make sure your conscious is clear and there's no disharmony.
Why? God knows how dangerous and destructive anger is to our bodies. The anger gets inside of you and starts to eat you up.
Have you ever heard anybody say, "That really burns me up!" They're speaking the truth. It literally does that. Scientists have proven that when a person gets angry there is a definite biochemical change in their body. When you get angry it attacks your adrenal glands and shoots out all kinds of things in your body. Your palms start sweating, your temperature is raised, your blood sugar increases, your heart beat elevates, you get nervous, you get primed for action.
All of this is pent up inside of you and God says, "Don't get that all built up in your life and then try to go to sleep with it. It will eat on you."
God is explaining this for your own good. When you hold on to your anger it has a damaging effect upon your health. You can't sleep. You get high blood pressure. You get depressed - you can get all kinds of different illnesses.
Anger is dangerous to our lives. It's dangerous to us physically. It's dangerous to us socially -- it ruins relationships, it destroys homes. It's dangerous to us spiritually -- it affects our relationship with God.
That's what Paul goes on to say in Ephesians 4:27, "And do not give the devil a foothold." (NIV) When you get angry, deal with it immediately, so the devil doesn't get a foothold in your life.
HOW TO BE GOOD AND MAD
HOW TO BE GOOD AND MADOct 29, '10 11:23 PM
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Monday September 20 2010
"Be angry and do not sin ..." Ephesians 4:26 (ESV)
"We should admit that we are angry, but we should never use our anger as an excuse to sin."
Everybody gets angry at some time. The only difference is how we deal with it: some people blow up, other people clam up. Some people express it, other people repress it. The most important thing you can do is admit you're angry.
God doesn't forbid anger. In fact, in today's verse God says, "Go ahead and get mad." That's a pretty easy command to follow. Sometimes anger is a valid response to life. In the Old Testament, God got mad. In the New Testament, Jesus got mad. He got mad at the hypocrites. Anger is a God-given emotion. It's emotional energy. If you're never upset by anything, you'd better check your pulse. You're either dead or you're not in touch with reality.
Some Christians get false guilt thinking, "I should never feel angry." That's not only unhealthy, it's unbiblical. God says, "Be angry, but when you are, don't sin." We should admit that we are angry, but we should never use our anger as an excuse to sin.
Isn't it amazing that we hate to admit it when we're angry. "I am not yelling! I am not angry! I'm not mad!" -- and the veins are popping out! We deny that we are angry.
But the fact is, internalizing your anger does not make you a better Christian than the person who blows up. Either way, it's wrong and it's an ineffective way to get others to understand your point-of-view.
I believe if most people obeyed this verse, we'd have a lot less depression in our society. The number one cause of depression is repressed anger. If you don't talk it out, you're going to take it out -- on yourself or somebody else.
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Monday September 20 2010
"Be angry and do not sin ..." Ephesians 4:26 (ESV)
"We should admit that we are angry, but we should never use our anger as an excuse to sin."
Everybody gets angry at some time. The only difference is how we deal with it: some people blow up, other people clam up. Some people express it, other people repress it. The most important thing you can do is admit you're angry.
God doesn't forbid anger. In fact, in today's verse God says, "Go ahead and get mad." That's a pretty easy command to follow. Sometimes anger is a valid response to life. In the Old Testament, God got mad. In the New Testament, Jesus got mad. He got mad at the hypocrites. Anger is a God-given emotion. It's emotional energy. If you're never upset by anything, you'd better check your pulse. You're either dead or you're not in touch with reality.
Some Christians get false guilt thinking, "I should never feel angry." That's not only unhealthy, it's unbiblical. God says, "Be angry, but when you are, don't sin." We should admit that we are angry, but we should never use our anger as an excuse to sin.
Isn't it amazing that we hate to admit it when we're angry. "I am not yelling! I am not angry! I'm not mad!" -- and the veins are popping out! We deny that we are angry.
But the fact is, internalizing your anger does not make you a better Christian than the person who blows up. Either way, it's wrong and it's an ineffective way to get others to understand your point-of-view.
I believe if most people obeyed this verse, we'd have a lot less depression in our society. The number one cause of depression is repressed anger. If you don't talk it out, you're going to take it out -- on yourself or somebody else.
THE TEST OF MATURITY IS CHARACTER
THE TEST OF MATURITY IS CHARACTEROct 29, '10 11:04 PM
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Tuesday September 28 2010
"Do not merely listen to what the word says and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22 (NIV)
"I think the simplest definition of maturity is to be a doer of the word. You do what the Bible says. "
James says it is self-deception when we don't merely listen to God's Word and don't let it change us. We think that just gaining knowledge makes us spiritually mature. The test of maturity is not knowledge. The test of maturity is character. A lot of people have great Bible knowledge but they are spiritual midgets.
We need to put God's Word into practice. We need to continually apply it in our lives.
In fact, knowledge increases responsibility. The more we know, the more we're accountable for. What am I doing about what I know? Jesus said, "To whom much is given, much is required." (Luke 12:48)
In Matthew 7,Jesus tells the story of the wise and the foolish builders. He says the foolish builder builds on sand. He is like the guy who hears the Word of God but doesn't do what it says. The wise man is the one who hears it and then goes out and makes an honest attempt to apply God's Word in his life.
Jesus said John 13:17, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (NIV) I think the simplest definition of maturity is to be a doer of the word. You do what the Bible says. We must not only read the Word, we must heed the Word.
Every single one of us knows more spiritual truth than we're putting into practice right now. We don't need to know more, we already know enough. We just need to put into practice what we already know. Be a doer of the Word.
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Tuesday September 28 2010
"Do not merely listen to what the word says and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22 (NIV)
"I think the simplest definition of maturity is to be a doer of the word. You do what the Bible says. "
James says it is self-deception when we don't merely listen to God's Word and don't let it change us. We think that just gaining knowledge makes us spiritually mature. The test of maturity is not knowledge. The test of maturity is character. A lot of people have great Bible knowledge but they are spiritual midgets.
We need to put God's Word into practice. We need to continually apply it in our lives.
In fact, knowledge increases responsibility. The more we know, the more we're accountable for. What am I doing about what I know? Jesus said, "To whom much is given, much is required." (Luke 12:48)
In Matthew 7,Jesus tells the story of the wise and the foolish builders. He says the foolish builder builds on sand. He is like the guy who hears the Word of God but doesn't do what it says. The wise man is the one who hears it and then goes out and makes an honest attempt to apply God's Word in his life.
Jesus said John 13:17, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (NIV) I think the simplest definition of maturity is to be a doer of the word. You do what the Bible says. We must not only read the Word, we must heed the Word.
Every single one of us knows more spiritual truth than we're putting into practice right now. We don't need to know more, we already know enough. We just need to put into practice what we already know. Be a doer of the Word.
YOUR PRAYERS HAVE AN IMPACT
YOUR PRAYERS HAVE AN IMPACTOct 29, '10 10:58 PM
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Monday September 27 2010
"God hears us whenever we ask Him and we know also that He gives us what we ask from Him." 1 John 5:15 (GNT)
Prayer can do whatever God can do. His resources are available to you. Twenty times in the New Testament it says, "Ask."
Do you ever wonder if prayer really works? You're praying about something and Satan whispers to you, "This is a waste of time. Forget it! Who do you think you are? What do you think you're doing? God is not listening. Don't waste your time."
Prayer works because God is in control. The basis of all miracles is God's sovereignty. Why does He do one and not another? Because God is in control. We have to trust His wisdom and His goodness.
Ephesians 3:20 says, "God is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes."(LB)
Prayer can do whatever God can do. His resources are available to you. Twenty times in the New Testament it says, "Ask." It's encouraging to know that things that are out of my control are not out of God's. I may not be able to change a situation but I can pray and God can change it.
I know exactly what some of you are thinking right now. "If I can pray and ask God to change things and if God is really in control of everything, why don't I get everything I pray for?" Good question. Here are three reasons:
1) God is not a genie. You don't put in a prayer, rub a thing and get whatever you want. If every prayer were answered we'd be spoiled brats. Do you give your children everything they ask for? I hope not. You know what's best for them. You can see the bigger picture. If you can see the bigger picture for your kids, how much bigger is the picture God can see?
2) Sometimes Christians pray in conflict. You get two Christians praying at the Super Bowl for different teams. Who's God going to answer? Obviously, God can't answer every prayer at the same time.
But I think the real reason is this:
3) God knows what's best and you don't. If you think you do, that is very presumptuous. First John 5:14 tells us, "We are sure that He (God) hears us if we ask Him for anything that's according to His will."(GNT) Look at the phrase "according to His will." The attitude of your prayer needs to be: "Lord, this is my prayer request, but Thy will be done." That's what Jesus prayed, "Lord if it's possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless let Thy will..." (Luke 22:42).
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Monday September 27 2010
"God hears us whenever we ask Him and we know also that He gives us what we ask from Him." 1 John 5:15 (GNT)
Prayer can do whatever God can do. His resources are available to you. Twenty times in the New Testament it says, "Ask."
Do you ever wonder if prayer really works? You're praying about something and Satan whispers to you, "This is a waste of time. Forget it! Who do you think you are? What do you think you're doing? God is not listening. Don't waste your time."
Prayer works because God is in control. The basis of all miracles is God's sovereignty. Why does He do one and not another? Because God is in control. We have to trust His wisdom and His goodness.
Ephesians 3:20 says, "God is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes."(LB)
Prayer can do whatever God can do. His resources are available to you. Twenty times in the New Testament it says, "Ask." It's encouraging to know that things that are out of my control are not out of God's. I may not be able to change a situation but I can pray and God can change it.
I know exactly what some of you are thinking right now. "If I can pray and ask God to change things and if God is really in control of everything, why don't I get everything I pray for?" Good question. Here are three reasons:
1) God is not a genie. You don't put in a prayer, rub a thing and get whatever you want. If every prayer were answered we'd be spoiled brats. Do you give your children everything they ask for? I hope not. You know what's best for them. You can see the bigger picture. If you can see the bigger picture for your kids, how much bigger is the picture God can see?
2) Sometimes Christians pray in conflict. You get two Christians praying at the Super Bowl for different teams. Who's God going to answer? Obviously, God can't answer every prayer at the same time.
But I think the real reason is this:
3) God knows what's best and you don't. If you think you do, that is very presumptuous. First John 5:14 tells us, "We are sure that He (God) hears us if we ask Him for anything that's according to His will."(GNT) Look at the phrase "according to His will." The attitude of your prayer needs to be: "Lord, this is my prayer request, but Thy will be done." That's what Jesus prayed, "Lord if it's possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless let Thy will..." (Luke 22:42).
SOMETIMES GOD HAS A BETTER IDEA
SOMETIMES GOD HAS A BETTER IDEAOct 29, '10 10:53 PM
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Sunday October 03 2010
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
"If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. (James 4:15 NIV) "
Have you noticed that things don't always turn out the way you want them to? That sometimes God has a better idea?
The Bible says in Proverbs 27:1, "Don't boast about tomorrow. You don't know what tomorrow's going to bring." (ESV)
It's okay to make your plans, but remember that life is unpredictable and God says we shouldn't presume on it. On the other hand, we shouldn't worry about it because God is in control.
James 4 tells us the proper attitude to have: "Now listen you who say 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.' Why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. ... Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" (vv. 13-15, NIV)
James is saying it's OK to make plans, but just realize that ultimately God has the final word.
The right attitude is to always keep your plans submitted to God. Make your plans but say, "God, if this is what You want, this is the direction I'm going to go. I'm doing this with flexible faith."
Proverbs 16:9 says, "We should make our plans counting on God to direct us." How do you do that? By praying. When you get up in the morning and have your quiet time, say, "God, what do You want to do with this day?"
Then when interruptions come, you'll remember God is in control. It will dramatically lower the frustration level in your life as you remember it is not all up to you.
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Sunday October 03 2010
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
"If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. (James 4:15 NIV) "
Have you noticed that things don't always turn out the way you want them to? That sometimes God has a better idea?
The Bible says in Proverbs 27:1, "Don't boast about tomorrow. You don't know what tomorrow's going to bring." (ESV)
It's okay to make your plans, but remember that life is unpredictable and God says we shouldn't presume on it. On the other hand, we shouldn't worry about it because God is in control.
James 4 tells us the proper attitude to have: "Now listen you who say 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.' Why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. ... Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" (vv. 13-15, NIV)
James is saying it's OK to make plans, but just realize that ultimately God has the final word.
The right attitude is to always keep your plans submitted to God. Make your plans but say, "God, if this is what You want, this is the direction I'm going to go. I'm doing this with flexible faith."
Proverbs 16:9 says, "We should make our plans counting on God to direct us." How do you do that? By praying. When you get up in the morning and have your quiet time, say, "God, what do You want to do with this day?"
Then when interruptions come, you'll remember God is in control. It will dramatically lower the frustration level in your life as you remember it is not all up to you.
LIFE ON EARTH IS A TEST
LIFE ON EARTH IS A TESTOct 29, '10 10:46 PM
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Sunday October 24 2010
"When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life. "
Over your Decade of Destiny, you will be tested by God as he develops your character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty.
Words like trials, temptations, refining, and testing occur more than 200 times in Scripture. God tested Abraham by asking him to offer his son Isaac. God tested Jacob when he had to work extra years to earn Rachel as his wife.
Adam and Eve failed their test in the Garden of Eden, and David failed a test from God on several occasions. But the Bible also gives us many examples of people who passed great tests, such as Joseph, Ruth, Esther, and Daniel.
"Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test. "
Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test. You are always being tested. God constantly watches your response to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointment, and even the weather! He even watches the simplest actions such as when you open a door for others, when you pick up a piece of trash, or when you're polite toward a clerk or waitress.
We don't know all the tests God will give you, but we can predict some of them, based on the Bible. You will be tested by major changes, by delayed promises, by impossible problems, by unanswered prayers, undeserved criticism, and even senseless tragedies. In my own life I have noticed that God tests my faith through problems, tests my hope by how I handle possessions, and tests my love through people.
A very important test is how you act when you can't feel God's presence in your life. Sometimes God intentionally draws back, and we don't sense his closeness. A king named Hezekiah experienced this test. The Bible says, "God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart." (2 Chronicles 32:31 NLT)
Hezekiah had enjoyed a close fellowship with God, but at a crucial point in his life God left him alone to test his character, to reveal a weakness, and to prepare him for more responsibility.
When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life. Even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.
The good news is that God wants you to pass the tests of life, so he never allows them to be greater than the grace he gives you to handle them (1 Corinthians 10:13).
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Sunday October 24 2010
"When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life. "
Over your Decade of Destiny, you will be tested by God as he develops your character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty.
Words like trials, temptations, refining, and testing occur more than 200 times in Scripture. God tested Abraham by asking him to offer his son Isaac. God tested Jacob when he had to work extra years to earn Rachel as his wife.
Adam and Eve failed their test in the Garden of Eden, and David failed a test from God on several occasions. But the Bible also gives us many examples of people who passed great tests, such as Joseph, Ruth, Esther, and Daniel.
"Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test. "
Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test. You are always being tested. God constantly watches your response to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointment, and even the weather! He even watches the simplest actions such as when you open a door for others, when you pick up a piece of trash, or when you're polite toward a clerk or waitress.
We don't know all the tests God will give you, but we can predict some of them, based on the Bible. You will be tested by major changes, by delayed promises, by impossible problems, by unanswered prayers, undeserved criticism, and even senseless tragedies. In my own life I have noticed that God tests my faith through problems, tests my hope by how I handle possessions, and tests my love through people.
A very important test is how you act when you can't feel God's presence in your life. Sometimes God intentionally draws back, and we don't sense his closeness. A king named Hezekiah experienced this test. The Bible says, "God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart." (2 Chronicles 32:31 NLT)
Hezekiah had enjoyed a close fellowship with God, but at a crucial point in his life God left him alone to test his character, to reveal a weakness, and to prepare him for more responsibility.
When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life. Even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.
The good news is that God wants you to pass the tests of life, so he never allows them to be greater than the grace he gives you to handle them (1 Corinthians 10:13).
GOD IS AN EXPERT AT BRINGING GOOD OUT OF BAD
GOD IS AN EXPERT AT BRINGING GOOD OUT OF BADOct 29, '10 10:43 PM
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Friday October 01 2010
"At present you may be temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials. This is no accident. It happens to prove your faith which is infinitely more valuable than gold." 1 Peter 1:6-7 (Phillips)
"The things you wish were most removed from your life are often the very things that God is using to shape you and make you into the believer of character He wants you to be. "
Life is not a series of random, freak accidents. Life is not totally unplanned. Life is not without meaning. God knows what's going on. He's weaving the fabric in your life, and a tapestry has light and dark threads -- happy and sad times -- to give richness and texture and color to your life. Nothing can come into the life of a child of God without God's permission. Everything is Father-filtered.
Don't misunderstand. I am not saying that everything that happens to you in life is God's perfect will. That's just not true. There are a lot of things that are not God's will. If you go out and sin, that's not God's will. If somebody sins against you, that's not God's perfect will.
But God does have a permissive will. If I go out and I overeat, I pay the consequences. If I go out and wreck my body, I pay the consequences. God does not cause evil and God does not cause suffering. But He does allow them because they have a purpose. God permits them and then He uses them.
God is an expert at bringing good out of bad. He could have kept Paul out of prison in Philippi but instead He let Paul go to prison and the jailer became a believer as a result. God could have kept Jesus from the cross but He let Him go -- His own Son -- He let Him suffer and die. Did He bring any good out of that? I'd say He did!
God loves to turn crucifixions into resurrections. The things you wish were most removed from your life are often the very things that God is using to shape you and make you into the believer of character He wants you to be. He wants to use that problem for good in your life. There's something more important than your pain. It's what you're learning from that pain. God is in control.
So what's the key? What's our response? Our response is to look past the pain. "This is the reason we never lose heart. These troubles which are temporary are winning for us a permanent, a glorious and solid reward out of proportion to our pain. So we don't look at the temporary situation. We look beyond to see the eternal benefits." (2 Corinthians 4:16-17 Phillips)
for everyone
Link: http://daily hope by rick warren
Friday October 01 2010
"At present you may be temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials. This is no accident. It happens to prove your faith which is infinitely more valuable than gold." 1 Peter 1:6-7 (Phillips)
"The things you wish were most removed from your life are often the very things that God is using to shape you and make you into the believer of character He wants you to be. "
Life is not a series of random, freak accidents. Life is not totally unplanned. Life is not without meaning. God knows what's going on. He's weaving the fabric in your life, and a tapestry has light and dark threads -- happy and sad times -- to give richness and texture and color to your life. Nothing can come into the life of a child of God without God's permission. Everything is Father-filtered.
Don't misunderstand. I am not saying that everything that happens to you in life is God's perfect will. That's just not true. There are a lot of things that are not God's will. If you go out and sin, that's not God's will. If somebody sins against you, that's not God's perfect will.
But God does have a permissive will. If I go out and I overeat, I pay the consequences. If I go out and wreck my body, I pay the consequences. God does not cause evil and God does not cause suffering. But He does allow them because they have a purpose. God permits them and then He uses them.
God is an expert at bringing good out of bad. He could have kept Paul out of prison in Philippi but instead He let Paul go to prison and the jailer became a believer as a result. God could have kept Jesus from the cross but He let Him go -- His own Son -- He let Him suffer and die. Did He bring any good out of that? I'd say He did!
God loves to turn crucifixions into resurrections. The things you wish were most removed from your life are often the very things that God is using to shape you and make you into the believer of character He wants you to be. He wants to use that problem for good in your life. There's something more important than your pain. It's what you're learning from that pain. God is in control.
So what's the key? What's our response? Our response is to look past the pain. "This is the reason we never lose heart. These troubles which are temporary are winning for us a permanent, a glorious and solid reward out of proportion to our pain. So we don't look at the temporary situation. We look beyond to see the eternal benefits." (2 Corinthians 4:16-17 Phillips)
GOOD EXAMPLE
GOOD EXAMPLEFeb 22, '11 9:52 AM
for everyone
Link: http://HEBREWS 10:24
I went out of our gate and saw some teenagers who just had their snack at the store in front of our house. Strewn on the ground around them were their wrappers of chips and empty bottles. Without a word, I started picking the trash and threw them into the waste bin. One of the teens nudged his friends as they cleaned up after their mess.
It would have been more dramatic if I had shouted and admonished them. But I chose instead to show them the right thing to do.
More love and good works are imitated and passed on when seen, not heard. Children will be more compassionate to the less privilege when they see adults giving to the poor. When you pray as a family, your children will adopt this practice when they grow up and have their own families. More than telling them what to do, show love and good works.
(We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. Hebrews 10:24)
for everyone
Link: http://HEBREWS 10:24
I went out of our gate and saw some teenagers who just had their snack at the store in front of our house. Strewn on the ground around them were their wrappers of chips and empty bottles. Without a word, I started picking the trash and threw them into the waste bin. One of the teens nudged his friends as they cleaned up after their mess.
It would have been more dramatic if I had shouted and admonished them. But I chose instead to show them the right thing to do.
More love and good works are imitated and passed on when seen, not heard. Children will be more compassionate to the less privilege when they see adults giving to the poor. When you pray as a family, your children will adopt this practice when they grow up and have their own families. More than telling them what to do, show love and good works.
(We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. Hebrews 10:24)