Spiritual Motivation and Insight

[Honeykiss1974]

Perhaps you have said, "I will surely be happy when…." Or "I will be glad when…."

We spend a lot of our lives looking forward to some event or the completion of some project that is to make us happier than we have ever been before. In doing so, however, we miss a tremendous amount of joy that the Lord has for us each day.

The Apostle Paul reminded us in Philippians (which was written while Paul was in prison, not the type of prison we have now, but a dungeon) that we should "Rejoice in the Lord always." He also said, "In everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Have you ever thought that being unthankful for everything is to be out of the will of God?

Perhaps you are going through an experience right now that is not of your liking. The natural tendency is to say, "I will surely be happy when this trial is over!" But the right Christian attitude is the attitude of gratitude! Job could say, in the midst of it all, "But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:10) While Job was not comfortable in his trial, he was content that God knew what was happening and that He had a purpose for the trial.

Since "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28), we can give thanks for the current good thing that is happening in our lives.

As Habakkkuk said, "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

[CrimsonTide4]

The U in JesUs

Before U were thought of or time had begun, God even stuck U in the name of His Son.

And each time U pray, you'll see it's true You can't spell out JesUs and not include U.

You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name, For U, He was born; that's why He came.

And His great love for U is the reason He died. It even takes U to spell crUcified.

Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand He rose from the dead, with U in His plan?

The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew, And this word resUrrection is spelled with a U.

When JesUs left earth at His upward ascension, He felt there was one thing He just had to mention.

"Go into the world and tell them it's true That I love them all - Just like I love U."

So many great people are spelled with a U,

Don't they have a right to know JesUs too?

It all depends now on what U will do, He'd like them to know, But it all starts with U.

Will yoU pass it on?

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[CrimsonTide4]

Have you ever felt like there were people in your life that should not be
there? There may be someone who likes you (for you) and likes the things
that you do and project. There are those who like you, but don't like the
things that you are trying to do - or just don't like things about you.
There are also those who don't like you, but like what you stand for, like
what you are doing in your works or your life. And then, there are those
who just don't like you at all. Think about it. Think about everyone who
you surround yourself with and think which one of those four examples do
they fit in. Think long and hard now, and don't try to fit them in more
than one category. Be honest with yourself. Even if you THINK they are your
friend, best friend, family member, WHATEVER, don't fake. Put them in the
category that they truly belong.

Now, think about you being a bus driver. Think about what a bus driver
does and what the bus driver's purpose is. A bus driver drives a bus.
Think of this bus as your life and you are still the driver. Now, on a
bus, people get on and people get off. (You feel where I'm going here ).
Think about the reason people get on and get off. Now, people get off a
bus, why? Because they have reached their destination. Right before they
reach their destination, they ring a bell. Feel me.... Remember, you are
the bus driver and when that person RIDING YOUR BUS rings the bell, you have two choices....To either STOP and let them off....(keep up with me
now), or you can STOP the bus...and beg them to stay on. But remember,
that bell rang TELLING YOU THAT IT WAS TIME TO GET OFF....Right.....

Here is your lesson....Again, the bus driver - YOU...the bus - YOUR
LIFE... the riders...THOSE GOING ALONG FOR THE RIDE...the bell signaling the stop....JESUS and your SPIRIT telling you - IT'S TIME FOR THAT RIDER TO GET OFF THE BUS (out your life)....

BOTTOM LINE...when the bell rings...stop the bus....let that rider/hater
off, shut the door (move on) and pull away....THE GOOD THING IS....there are plenty of bus stops down the road and people will always, always, get on your bus to ride...the key is knowing when to let them off.....

Get them off your bus people....it's your journey.

[De6]

My aunt gets a lot of these little messages and sends them to me. I thought this one was really cute,so,I wanted to share it with you all.


Lunch with God

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God
lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of Root
beer and started his journey.
When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man. He was sitting
in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him
and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer
when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him a
Twinkie.
He gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. His smile was so pleasant
that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer.
Again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all
afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.
As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and got up to leave,
but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back
to the old man and gave him a hug. He gave him his biggest smile ever.
When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his
mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him,
"What did you do today that made you so happy?"
He replied, "I had lunch with God." And before his mother could respond,
he added, "You know what? He's got the most beautiful smile I've ever
seen."
Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home.
His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and asked, "Dad,
what did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I ate
Twinkies in the park with God." And before his son responded, he added,
"You know, he's much younger than I expected."
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a
listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all
of which have the potential to turn a life around.
People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
Embrace all equally.
Send this to people who have touched your life in a special way. Let
them know how important they are...(Have lunch with God!)
And... Thanks for touching my life

[TonyB06]

No Anxieties

"In heaven I'll have no anxieties."

"Why?"

"I won't have to worry about how I'll pay my bills next month, next year."

"Why?"

"My needs will be met."

"But, why?"

"Uh-h-h...."

"Will all the food you need for the next year sitting all at once on the
table in front of you?"

"No"

"So, why won't you have anxieties?"

"B-b-because..... God w-w-will provide."

"So, you will trust Him then?"

"Yes."

"So...does something happen to God when you go to heaven that makes Him
more able?"

[Honeykiss1974]

Praise the Lord

Matthew 14

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?


Many of times we sink so down in our situation is because we are continually looking at the problems we face. We focus to much on the problems and not on the Solution. Peter had faith at the begining when he step out of the Boat his eyes were focusing on the Lord. But when he begin to see the wind and the waves begin to roar up.. that when he lost his faith..

And that how we are today we start off with great faith..but all of the sudden when , children, spouses, love ones, jobs, Financial, sickness, start to come or mess up.. to etc..etc..etc..we get into this panic stage and we forget who holds all the power in his hand.. God can speak a word to your situation.. and it will turn around for you.

the point is.. Don't worry when you feel trouble arising.. stay focus on God. You can't handle it. it's to big, you can tame it, because it stubbon,..etc..etc.. Pray about it and give to the Lord.. Leave it in his hands. I know its hard.. But you can trust God. God will never let you down. nor will he forsake you. Keep your eyes on the solutions which is Jesus. and not the problem.

Trusting God is one of our biggest fears.. We don't want to give the Problem to the Lord.. and let him work it out. When we try to do it on our own .. we will fail. and start sinking.. Like Peter.. God came right in when he was drowing...God don't want us to get into a habit to where the only time we call him when we are drowing in situation.

When you see trouble comes, Give it to the Lord right then.. I don't care if you feel the devil on the back of your heal trying to pull you down.. Keep your eyes on the Lord.Keep praying, keep fasting, keep studying your word.. keep going to church.... the Lord see and he know each and everyone of our struggle. God is our deliverer

!!!!!!KEEP YOUR EYES OFF THE STORM!!!!

[31of31]

"Women are like tea bags. You never know their TRUE strength until they get in hot water."

[CrimsonTide4]

A WORD WITH YOU
By Ron Hutchcraft
#4367 - "Never a Sunset Without a Sunrise"
Jeremiah 31:3-4

The sun never sets without it rising again. That's not just
meteorology. It's theology. It's a spiritual fact of life, and an emotional fact, that it's real
easy to forget when it's been dark for a while. But the sunrise principle is the basis
for hope when things around you seem hopeless. Key word: "seem."

In fact, God has a hope-filled promise for us today in our word for today from the Word
of God in Jeremiah 31:3-4. He says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have
drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you again and you will be rebuilt ... again
you will take up your tambourines and go out and dance with the joyful." God's people had
been plundered, relocated, wounded, with most of what they cared about destroyed. They
hadn't seen the sun for a long time. But God says, "It's not over, kids. The sun's going to
come up again, no matter how dark it looks. Yes, things are in ruins - but I am going to
build you again - and when I get to restoring what you've lost, you will be rebuilt!"

That may well be what He's trying to say to you right now. Yes, the sun went down, and
it's been a long night. But it's not a permanent night - there's no such thing! There's no
such thing as a sunset without a sunrise. And God promises one! He's the great Restorer,
who promises in Joel 2:25: "I will restore to you the years that the locusts have eaten"
(KJV). Yes, that relationship has ended. Yes, you are financially broke. Yes, there has
been a major setback or failure or loss. But it isn't the whole book, my friend - this is
a chapter in the book. And the author has much more to write.

My friend, Audrey, has pretty much defined her past year by unresolved grief over the
death of her closest friend. But last week we walked through Isaiah 61, which promises the
Lord will "bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim ... release from darkness for the
prisoners ... He bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness
instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." And with a
cleansing flood of tears, she let it all go and traded her despair for praise, her ashes for
beauty, and the sun has come up again.

It won't always be like this - unless you decide to make it always be like this. My
prayer for you is Paul's prayer for his friend in Romans 15:13 - "May the God of hope fill
you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the
power of the Holy Spirit." He's going to rebuild you, and you will be rebuilt! You will
dance again! There's no denying that your sun went down and it got dark. But, remember,
there's never a sunset without a sunrise!

[CrimsonTide4]

Thought for Today:

FULL OR LESS


Every day and in every way you choose to be powerless or powerful.

If you want to create more uncertainty and powerlessness in your life
then...
wait
disregard
delay
take no action
despair
neglect
worry
become apathetic
procrastinate
frustrate
hold back

If you want to grow, expand and create power in your life then...
be persuasive
be patient
be gentle
be strong
be teachable
be accepting
be resilient
be kind
be punctual
be forgiving
gain knowledge
be prayerful
speak up
discipline yourself
be active
be consistent
live with integrity
be sincere
be proactive
be different
be helpful
believe in God's unseen hand in all that you do, say and think
--by Jewell Diamond Taylor

[Honeykiss1974]

1.) You cannot fix the problem if you’re consumed with fixing the blame.

2.) Don’t be surprised when God allows pain in your life. Pain is a fuel for passion – it energizes us with an intensity to change that which we don’t normally possess.

3.) Relationships are what matter most in life.

4.) Love cannot be learned in isolation.

5.) Choose to encourage rather than criticize.

6.) Every time you forget that character is one of God’s purposes for your life, you will become frustrated by your circumstances.

7.) Christ-likeness is all about transforming your character, not your personality. God created your uniqueness, so he doesn’t want to destroy it.

8.) The Holy Spirit releases his power the moment you take a step of faith. Obedience unlocks God’s power.

9.) Every behavior is motivated by a belief, and every action is prompted by an attitude. Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.

10.) The best way to become a “doer of the Word” is to always write out an action step as a result of your reading or studying or reflecting on God’s word.

11.) You’ll never know that God is all you need until God is all you’ve got.

12.) Your focus will determine your feelings. Don’t give in to short-term thinking.

13.) We learn real peace by choosing to trust God in circumstances in which we are tempted to worry or be afraid. Patience is developed in circumstances in which we’re forced to wait and are tempted to be angry or have a short fuse.

14.) There is a purpose behind every problem.

15.) God is faithful

[CrimsonTide4]

Psalm 94:17-19

Movies wouldn't be nearly as exciting without those stunt men. You know those high-priced stars aren't going to take all the risks that give the viewer those big thrills. Every once in a while, a script will call for a man to fall off a building or a cliff. And that star says, "I'm outta here, folks." But later the viewer will see a man hurtling through the air backwards, and you know it isn't a dummy because his arms are flailing. Or maybe some might argue that the stunt man is a dummy for taking a plunge like that. But it sure looks like we won't be seeing that falling man again. Oh, but appearances aren't everything. No! It looks like he's headed for a crash, but he's actually headed for a net!

That man going over the edge, arms flailing, out of control - that could be a picture of David's condition in our word for today from the Word of God. It's in Psalm 94 beginning at verse 17. In fact, it could be a picture of your condition right now.

David says, "Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, 'My foot is slipping,' Your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul." The Psalmist has good news for those of us who may be feeling like we're close to the edge, or even over the edge. There's a net there to catch you - the Lord's "support," His "love," and His "consolation." If you belong to the Father through Jesus, there is always, always someone there to catch you.

David was falling, he said. Slipping, anxious, feeling like he was going down. Maybe some feelings you can relate to. And remember this was the one that was called the man after God's own heart. I don't think it's that God was angry with him, but He allowed His man to be pushed right to the breaking point. Now, you have this ironclad guarantee from your Heavenly Father that, though He may allow you to be pushed to the breaking point, He will never allow you to be pushed beyond the breaking point. In God's own words in I Corinthians 10:13, "He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear."

Now, God will allow you seasons of desperation because He can do so much with us in our desperate times. Desperation drives us to release all our earth-idols and cling just to Him. Faith grows only when it is stretched, sometimes to the breaking point. But then, in just the last minute, God will bring you the specific encouragement you need - just in time to break your fall. And He knows just what kind of customized encouragement you need for a moment like this.

Because God sometimes waits to bring an answer, it looks to us like an answer isn't coming. Wrong! When that stunt man is falling, oh, it looks like he's headed for a crash when he's actually headed for a net. So are you. That's why you can experience peace when everything you depend on is shaking, hope when everything feels hopeless, and buoyancy when it feels like you're sinking. Your Heavenly Father will not let you crash. He is always there to catch you!

[CrimsonTide4]

Have you ever
told yourself that you loved him/her.

Now remember how much you wanted
to act like you were in a movie, and
yell to everyone in the football stadium
"I love (fill in the name)!"

You told family and friends how perfect he/she was...
You told your boys/girls how he/she
was just what you were looking for.

Well, I told GOD I love Him today.

And He said to me, "How much do you love Me?
You haven't told anyone how good I've been to you.
You haven't shared how perfect My love is.
You haven't spread the good news that I
am always there to listen to your problems.

You haven't told your family how I helped
you pay your bills when you didn't have a
high paying job, or how I got you a better one.

You didn't tell your boys/girls how I took
away that addiction that would have cost
you not only your job, but that woman/man
that was just what you were looking for.

So how much do ! you really love Me?"

So, I said I would share with my friends
and family (for starters) just how
wonderful,
perfect,
understanding,
patient,
loving,
unselfish,
considerate
and forgiving
GOD really is.

He has blessed me with a family that loves
me, and friends in which I can confide.
But even more than that He has saved me
from a destruction I couldn't even see coming.
He gave to me the peace of knowing Him
and He has never broken a promise.

Truly He is the best thing that has ever
happened to me. And I stand in my stadium
today to yell to all "I love GOD!"

BE BLESSED TODAY & SHARE WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

When was the last time you
told God you Love Him?

[CrimsonTide4]

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh." (2 Corinthians 10:3)

Do you know why so many believers are losing the battles in their lives?

They're fighting the wrong enemy!

They've been deceived into believing that just because a person said or did something to hurt them, that person is the one they need to fight. But they're wrong.

You see, the Bible says we don't wrestle with flesh and blood. And since people are definitely flesh and blood, they're never the source of our problem.

You just don't know what So-and-so did to me!"

It doesn't matter. If you waste your time fighting So-and-so, your real enemy will get away scot-free.

Who is that real enemy? Look at Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Satan and his demons. They are your lifelong enemies! They are behind every personal affront you encounter.

The people who hurt you and persecute you are only Satan's tools. When he wants to strike out at you, he uses them to get the job done.

Remember this: Persecution is not the manifestation of another person's hate for you. It's a manifestation of Satan's fear of you. When you get into the Word and start swinging it around--using it like the sword of the Spirit it is--he gets scared. So he looks for some person he can send in there to stop you.

Next time someone hurts you, don't let yourself get sidetracked into fighting them. Bind the spirit behind them. Put flesh and blood battles behind and war with the weapons of the Spirit. Zero in on Satan with authority and the Word of God and bring your real enemy down!

Scripture Study: Ephesians 6:10-18

[CrimsonTide4]

Grocery list

Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face,
walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a
most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries.
She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they
had seven children and they needed food.

John Longhouse, the grocer scoffed at her and requested that she leave his
store.

Visualizing the family needs, she said: 'Please, sir! I will bring
you the money just as soon as I can."

John told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge
account at his store. Standing beside the counter was a customer who
overheard the conversation between the two.

The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good
for whatever she needed for her family.

The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list?

Louise replied, "Yes sir"

"O.K." he said, "put your grocery list on the scales and whatever
your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries."

Louise, hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her
purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She
then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still
bowed The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the
scales went down and stayed down. The grocer, staring at the scales, turned
slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it."

The customer smiled and the grocer started putting the groceries on the
other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued to put
more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more. The
grocer stood there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper
from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement. It was not a
grocery list, it was a prayer, which said: Dear Lord, you know my Needs
and I am leaving this in your hands."

The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned
silence. Louise thanked him and left the store. The customer handed a
fifty-dollar bill to the grocer and said, "It was worth every penny of
it." Only God Knows how much a prayer weighs.

[TonyB06]

The cheerful girl was almost 5. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?"

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the eyes of her little girl's face. "A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I’ll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday a week later, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. She wore them everywhere - Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"

"Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess --the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite."

"That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night."

And he brushed her cheek with a kiss. About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again,

"Do you love me?"
"Daddy, you know I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."

"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you” And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.

"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace.

With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you." With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny.

He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure.

So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasure.

Isn't God good? YES!
Are you holding onto things which God wants you to let go of.
Are you holding on to harmful or unnecessary partners, relationships, habits and activities which you have come so attached to that it seems impossible to let go?

Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand, but do believe this one thing ..................

God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.