Good Morning Dear Friends,
This morning, as I sat and thought about what I should write,
one concept kept overpowering everything else. I am not
sure why, but there must be a need for it out there among you.
It is about the sacredness of God.
What does sacred mean?
It means worthy of high respect and honor,
Holy. This is a rare thing to think about. You do
not hear such terms spoken much. I think this is
very important.
One night when I was in a chat room, a guy came in
and was talking rather freely about his opinions about God.
Not uncommon in chat room, but the way He talked about
God was. He said God is my homey. I found this a odd
term to use for God. Homey means comfortable, homelike,
friendly. I do believe that we should feel at home with God,
and feel comfort in His presence, but we also need to
remember his position, and ours before Him.
We do not bring him down to our level, because
then we forget His holiness and our accountability.
We submit ourselves to Him, and honor Him,
and worship Him. He is above all and over all.
People tend to take God for granted. He is someone
they think of in emergencies, or when they attend church,
but during the week in their everyday life, he takes a back
seat in their thinking and life. He is irrelevant to what they
want to accomplish, say and do. They instead are seeking
their own will above God. This is pretending to be religious,
but neglecting God.
One of the profound things we find when we attend church
is a centralized move towards worship. We put God in
his correct position. Someone to be worshipped. He is above
us over us, Father of us, worthy of respect and honor. He
is not commonplace nor should he be taken for granted.
He is holy, pure, and He is not only a God of love
but a God of judgement.
When one neglects church, you find them getting away from
this reminder of the sacredness of God. We start thinking
about Him in different terms.
The Word of God says that the fear of God is the beginning
of wisdom. What does this mean? The healthy respect for
a living, all powerful God is the beginning of spiritual wisdom.
We remember He is our Father, we are the children, the servants.
We SUBMIT to Him. Daily, hourly, as often as we can.
We are bought with a price, no longer our own, the precious,
shed blood of Jesus purchased our salvation upon the cross.
Once we repent of our sins, and receive that great salvation
our life, mindset, and desires should change.
Think about this. Have you changed? What is your first priority?
Do you fear God? Do you respect Him? Do you honor
Him with your words and deeds? Do your actions speak
of Godliness to those around you or compromise?
To me, friends, one that loves God doesn't compromise.
If we make a mistake, or stumble and fall spiritually,
we repent of it (we turn away from it) confessing that sin,
and we seek to not do it again. We seek to grow and change.
These things are so vital. I feel they are urgent. If this
land where so many Christians dwell, would return to
the worship of God, and the sacredness of His presence,
remembering we are all accountable to him for every
word and deed, many things would be different here.
The same applies to our lives. If we truly mean what we
say and say what we mean, it should show. We are to be
a light. Not a dimly lit one, but one that even though flawed,
seeks God daily. To improve ourselves, to find forgiveness
and to grow.
Do you mean what you say? Do you really love God?
Do you recognize the awesomeness and power of God?
Have you made Him Lord? These answers will affect
not only this life but the next. Better take it seriously.
love always
millie
You have been given a sacred trust by the Almighty God
of the Universe. To receive the precious Salvation of
the son who sacrificed His life for you and to be a light
to the world. If you cannot keep this trust, I question whether
any other trust you try to keep will be successful.
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When Christ Waits
Copyright Annie Johnson Flint
What a wonderful thing is this
That man may choose as he will
To open the door and let Christ in,
Or make Him wait at the sill!
The Sovereign Lord of the Universe
Courteous, stands and knocks;
He will not batter the shut door down,
Nor break the bolts and locks.
For man has the power of choice,
He can lift the latch if he will,
There is no knob on the outer side,
And the Lord Christ waits at the sill.
He patiently knocks and patiently waits,
For man to open the door;
Beware the day when His patience ends,
And the pierced Hand knocks no more!
Annie Johnson Flint
Please do not remove the name from this poem.
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Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Our Comfort Zone
copyright Millie Plastaras
11/26/07
Good Morning Everyone,
Do you ever feel like you are in a rut?
Are you afraid to get out of it?
Is it your own self-invented comfort zone?
Each of us have one. A place where we feel safe,
and where we feel comfortable. A place with boundaries,
limits. Comfortable perhaps, binding, definitely!
What fun is this? Always the same ol same ol.
What if you had oatmeal every meal, every day for the
rest of your life? Ugh huh? Shall I say B O R I N G?
This is what you are doing if you have a self imposed
comfort zone that you are afraid to get out of.
You are eating oatmeal, when you could be out there
having a variety of friends and experiences, and a far
better menu of food to eat.
We have this one life. And we spend it hiding away,
bored, until life passes us by because we were afraid to
break out of that zone and try new things?
How sad is this?
Oh my precious friends, don't let life pass you by.
Don't let the hurts you go through, or the rejection, keep you
from experiencing and savoring life.
Don't spend your life fearing life. Go out and see
the possibilities, and enjoy it.
Set a short term goal. Find one new thing you have been afraid
to try, and go do it. Just keep it simple, but pursue that goal.
For those of you who always wanted to take a class, do it!
For those of you who wanted to take up painting, do it!
For those of you who wanted to play a instrument, do it!
Get involved, get out of your house, get out of your comfort zone.
Reach out to people, meet new friends, and join new groups.
Savor life, break free, and experience the beauty of everyday goals
and friendships. Look around you at the beauty and count your
blessings.
Don't limit your life by limited thinking. You are the one painting
yourself in the corner, don't do it. It is not a happy place to be.
You want to be happy right? Think about that, do you really
want to be happy? If you don't, it is like you are punishing
yourself, for some odd, unfathomable, sad reason.
Happiness starts by learning to be happy where we are,
but also by breaking free of preconceived notions that
have trapped us in this comfort zone of ours.
We then learn to try new adventures to spread our wings and fly
above the crowd, enjoying the things this life has to offer.
Kicking that comfort zone to the curb and experiencing life!
Leave that for a later time in life, when you need to relax,
you don't need a everyday comfort zone. Life is waiting!
I challenge you to set at least one goal a week to try something
new and take steps to accomplish it. And don't be discouraged
if it is hard, or isn't perfect. Just do it. Just try new things
and enjoy the activity of it. Even the failures can spur
us on to try, try again, and enjoy the adventure of the journey.
Let me know what you try and how it works for you.
Love,
millie
´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·°°´·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°
Comfort Zone
Author: Unknown
I use to have a Comfort Zone
Where I knew I couldn't fail
The same four walls of busy work
Were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things
I'd never done before,
But I stayed inside my Comfort Zone
And paced the same old floor
I said it didn't matter,
That I wasn't doing much
I said I didn't care for things
Like diamonds, furs and such
I claimed to be so busy
With the things inside my zone,
But deep inside I longed for
Something special of my own.
I couldn't let my life go by,
Just watching others win.
I held my breath and stepped outside
And let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength
I'd never felt before,
I kissed my Comfort Zone "goodbye"
And closed and locked the door.
If you are in a Comfort Zone,
Afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were
At one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise,
Can make your dreams come true.
Greet your future with a smile,
Success is there for you!
11/26/07
Good Morning Everyone,
Do you ever feel like you are in a rut?
Are you afraid to get out of it?
Is it your own self-invented comfort zone?
Each of us have one. A place where we feel safe,
and where we feel comfortable. A place with boundaries,
limits. Comfortable perhaps, binding, definitely!
What fun is this? Always the same ol same ol.
What if you had oatmeal every meal, every day for the
rest of your life? Ugh huh? Shall I say B O R I N G?
This is what you are doing if you have a self imposed
comfort zone that you are afraid to get out of.
You are eating oatmeal, when you could be out there
having a variety of friends and experiences, and a far
better menu of food to eat.
We have this one life. And we spend it hiding away,
bored, until life passes us by because we were afraid to
break out of that zone and try new things?
How sad is this?
Oh my precious friends, don't let life pass you by.
Don't let the hurts you go through, or the rejection, keep you
from experiencing and savoring life.
Don't spend your life fearing life. Go out and see
the possibilities, and enjoy it.
Set a short term goal. Find one new thing you have been afraid
to try, and go do it. Just keep it simple, but pursue that goal.
For those of you who always wanted to take a class, do it!
For those of you who wanted to take up painting, do it!
For those of you who wanted to play a instrument, do it!
Get involved, get out of your house, get out of your comfort zone.
Reach out to people, meet new friends, and join new groups.
Savor life, break free, and experience the beauty of everyday goals
and friendships. Look around you at the beauty and count your
blessings.
Don't limit your life by limited thinking. You are the one painting
yourself in the corner, don't do it. It is not a happy place to be.
You want to be happy right? Think about that, do you really
want to be happy? If you don't, it is like you are punishing
yourself, for some odd, unfathomable, sad reason.
Happiness starts by learning to be happy where we are,
but also by breaking free of preconceived notions that
have trapped us in this comfort zone of ours.
We then learn to try new adventures to spread our wings and fly
above the crowd, enjoying the things this life has to offer.
Kicking that comfort zone to the curb and experiencing life!
Leave that for a later time in life, when you need to relax,
you don't need a everyday comfort zone. Life is waiting!
I challenge you to set at least one goal a week to try something
new and take steps to accomplish it. And don't be discouraged
if it is hard, or isn't perfect. Just do it. Just try new things
and enjoy the activity of it. Even the failures can spur
us on to try, try again, and enjoy the adventure of the journey.
Let me know what you try and how it works for you.
Love,
millie
´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·°°´·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°
Comfort Zone
Author: Unknown
I use to have a Comfort Zone
Where I knew I couldn't fail
The same four walls of busy work
Were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things
I'd never done before,
But I stayed inside my Comfort Zone
And paced the same old floor
I said it didn't matter,
That I wasn't doing much
I said I didn't care for things
Like diamonds, furs and such
I claimed to be so busy
With the things inside my zone,
But deep inside I longed for
Something special of my own.
I couldn't let my life go by,
Just watching others win.
I held my breath and stepped outside
And let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength
I'd never felt before,
I kissed my Comfort Zone "goodbye"
And closed and locked the door.
If you are in a Comfort Zone,
Afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were
At one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise,
Can make your dreams come true.
Greet your future with a smile,
Success is there for you!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Our Responsibility
If you were to diagram your life today, and try to
put a percentage on what part of your life and
time is spent on different tasks you do, it would probably
prove interesting to you. Most of us do not realize how
much time we spend on certain things, that really are
a waste of time. Then there are some that do not
realize how much time they spend away from their family.
Some do not realize how much time they spend away from God.
If you were to figure out how much time weekly you
spent in God's word, what percentage of time would that
be? Would it even show up as a percentage?
Why is this important?
As a mature child of God we have responsibilities.
We, first of all, are a witness, a light to the people around us.
How can we be a light for God, when we don't know what He
says? How can we know how to please God if we do not
read what He said pleases Him? How can we minister to
others if we are not really living a Godly life ourselves?
When do we get to the point we move past immaturity
and unreliability in our spiritual life, and start growing in Christ
and being useful to His Kingdom?
What exactly does the word of God do for us:
All scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing
people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for
teaching how to live right. Using the scriptures, the person who
serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do
every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
When you went to school, you had textbooks, and when you
studied these textbooks it organized your thinking on a particular
subject and taught you, through studying concepts on that subject.
If you had no textbook, it would have been difficult indeed to learn
much. But a book completely built around a subject such
as history or geography or math, brings order to learning.
It organizes our thinking and as we read it and APPLY it
we become learned in that subject.
This is how it is with Godly things. We have to open up
that door to God, and to His word to go through it,
and seek what He has said for us to do. We have to take
steps to mature in Christ. We cannot be content to do it
when it pleases us, or if we have time. We have to do it
because it is our duty as a mature child of the Living,
All Powerful God to seek Him first, and above all.
Oh friends, if we neglect this, what kind of spiritual life can
we have? At best, it is unorganized, uninformed and useless
for God's work. Each of us have a high priority to be
a witness for Him. It is our first and highest calling. If we
do not know what we believe, and why we believe it
and the urgency of what we believe, how then can we
be equipped to be a witness to anyone?
Here is our where our thinking should be:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God— this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2
We then must leave behind the old life, and daily seek God.
Above all remembering the souls that do not know Christ,
and that we are to be a light to the world. The salt that
seasons it with goodness and the beauty of Christ in us.
My child, pay attention to my words, listen closely to
what I say. Don't ever forget my Words, keep them
always in mind. They are the key to life for those who
find them; they bring health to the whole body.
Be careful what you think, because your thoughts RUN
your life. Don't use your mouth to tell lies; don't
ever say things that are not true. Keep your eyes
focused on what is right, and look straight ahead
to what is good. Be careful what you do, and always do
what is right.
Proverbs 4:20-26
The Lord sees everything you do, and He watches where you go.
Proverbs 5:21
Oh my friends, take it seriously. People are watching.
If our gospel is hid, it is hid to those who are lost.
If we don't pray for them who will? If we are not a light
for Christ who will be? Can we neglect this? And if
we do, whose soul will be lost because of our neglect?
remember
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done, for Christ will last
put a percentage on what part of your life and
time is spent on different tasks you do, it would probably
prove interesting to you. Most of us do not realize how
much time we spend on certain things, that really are
a waste of time. Then there are some that do not
realize how much time they spend away from their family.
Some do not realize how much time they spend away from God.
If you were to figure out how much time weekly you
spent in God's word, what percentage of time would that
be? Would it even show up as a percentage?
Why is this important?
As a mature child of God we have responsibilities.
We, first of all, are a witness, a light to the people around us.
How can we be a light for God, when we don't know what He
says? How can we know how to please God if we do not
read what He said pleases Him? How can we minister to
others if we are not really living a Godly life ourselves?
When do we get to the point we move past immaturity
and unreliability in our spiritual life, and start growing in Christ
and being useful to His Kingdom?
What exactly does the word of God do for us:
All scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing
people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for
teaching how to live right. Using the scriptures, the person who
serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do
every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
When you went to school, you had textbooks, and when you
studied these textbooks it organized your thinking on a particular
subject and taught you, through studying concepts on that subject.
If you had no textbook, it would have been difficult indeed to learn
much. But a book completely built around a subject such
as history or geography or math, brings order to learning.
It organizes our thinking and as we read it and APPLY it
we become learned in that subject.
This is how it is with Godly things. We have to open up
that door to God, and to His word to go through it,
and seek what He has said for us to do. We have to take
steps to mature in Christ. We cannot be content to do it
when it pleases us, or if we have time. We have to do it
because it is our duty as a mature child of the Living,
All Powerful God to seek Him first, and above all.
Oh friends, if we neglect this, what kind of spiritual life can
we have? At best, it is unorganized, uninformed and useless
for God's work. Each of us have a high priority to be
a witness for Him. It is our first and highest calling. If we
do not know what we believe, and why we believe it
and the urgency of what we believe, how then can we
be equipped to be a witness to anyone?
Here is our where our thinking should be:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God— this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2
We then must leave behind the old life, and daily seek God.
Above all remembering the souls that do not know Christ,
and that we are to be a light to the world. The salt that
seasons it with goodness and the beauty of Christ in us.
My child, pay attention to my words, listen closely to
what I say. Don't ever forget my Words, keep them
always in mind. They are the key to life for those who
find them; they bring health to the whole body.
Be careful what you think, because your thoughts RUN
your life. Don't use your mouth to tell lies; don't
ever say things that are not true. Keep your eyes
focused on what is right, and look straight ahead
to what is good. Be careful what you do, and always do
what is right.
Proverbs 4:20-26
The Lord sees everything you do, and He watches where you go.
Proverbs 5:21
Oh my friends, take it seriously. People are watching.
If our gospel is hid, it is hid to those who are lost.
If we don't pray for them who will? If we are not a light
for Christ who will be? Can we neglect this? And if
we do, whose soul will be lost because of our neglect?
remember
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done, for Christ will last
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
A Time Of Refreshing and Thankfulness
Good Morning Everyone,
What are your plans for today?
I am sure there are as many different answers
as there are people reading this. Each of us
with varying degrees of busyness in our lives.
I often see as people go through life how
weary they can become by the cares of it.
And we get so utterly busy with our own thoughts
and activities that we rarely have time for great
fellowship with others.
When is one too busy?
I think perhaps the answer lies in: when you get weary,
you are not enjoying life and you do not feel refreshed.
You need to take time out for God, for yourself, and
for refreshing fellowship with others.
Don't expect people to fulfill all your needs. Just
enjoy them for who they are and enjoy the journey you have
been given. Try to find the good in each day. Learn
to be thankful for what you do have.
Did you know that praise to God is a sacrifice?
We do not do it because we feel joyful, or we are in a setting
where they do it and we feel we must, we do it because
He deserves it.
God watches over us daily, whether we acknowledge
that or not. He gave us our last heartbeat, our last breath.
He helped us wake up this morning. He watched over us as
we slept last night. Who else is providing this for you?
Who else loved you so much they sacrificed their son for your sins?
Remarkable love of Christ! How could we not take time to praise him.
Let me tell you what praise does. It lifts you out of your mind set, doldrums,
and weariness, into the presence of God. It takes your mind off
things that drain you and onto the powerful almighty God of the Universe.
Praise also chases away any darkness. I guarantee you, if you turn
on beautiful Christian music, whether it is praise music or hymns,
you will literally feel a difference in the atmosphere. Why don't we
do it more often? satan hates it. He doesn't want you to take time
to be refreshed. He doesn't want to hear how great God is.
He doesn't want to be defeated. He wants you to stay in
a whirlwind of activities and have no time for God. So that when
hard times hit you are so drained and so weary that despair takes over.
Even satan knows the power of praising God. And he despises it.
satan the loser wants your life to seem meaningless, overwhelming,
without hope, and without answers. He wants you down. Are you going
to recognize this and fight it?
Fight it with a sacrifice of praise. Be thankful. Tell the Lord thanks
every day, with a special time just for Him where you lift your hands
to Him and tell Him how very thankful you are for all you have.
Turn on beautiful music, let it lift your spirit and minister to you
and draw you closer to God. Let it heal your spirit as you worship
God. You do not need to be in a church setting to do this.
Just as you can have a prayer closet, you can have time to praise
God. You will find it so refreshing. Could you use refreshing today?
Don't forget these things. Take time for God. He wants to bring
hope to your heart. He wants to restore your soul. He wants
to tell you the plans He has for you. And He wants you to be fit,
ready, armed and prepared for the work He has just for you to do.
Go forth in His power, His strength, His refreshing, His name,
and reach the world for Jesus Christ, with a heart of thankfulness
and a heart turned towards God everyday.
Here on earth we do not have a city that lasts forever,
but we are looking for the city that we will have in the future.
So through Jesus let us always offer to God our sacrifice of praise, coming
from lips that speak His name.
Hebrews 13:14-15
Because your love is better than life, I will praise you.
I will praise you as long as I live. I will lift my hands in prayer to your
name. I will be content as if I had eaten the best foods. My lips
will sing, and my mouth will praise you.
Psalm 63: 3-5
I will call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I will be saved
from my enemies.
2 Samuel 22:4
Dearest Friends, don't neglect your spiritual life. It is all that will
stand the test of time. It is your Father God who will restore your
thinking, give you guidance for each day, rest for your weary
soul, and hope for your path, and strength for each day.
Praise is a duty. A sacrifice, and it also lifts your spirit into heavenly
places where God can talk to you one on one, and reveal
to you His love, forgiveness, healing and restoration.
Love always
millie
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I Thank God for My Shoes - They Fit
I woke up one day and I realized that there were many things about my life I was not satisfied with or better still, there were challenges that were threatening my soul. And I said to myself, "Why should anyone envy me and
want to be in my shoes." They don't know how far I've come, they don't know what lies ahead of me, and neither do they know how dissatisfied I get with myself from time to time.
People don't know the troubles that you've had or the price you had to get to where you are. All they want to know is that they wish they were like you.
Why should you wish you were in anybody's shoes when you hardly know how they fit?
When you've worn your shoes for a while, they take the shape of your feet and align to the way you walk.
If you were to wear my shoes, you will not be comfortable in them.
So I stopped wishing that I am in someone else shoes because it might not fit; rather I thank God for my shoes, because they fit!
Lord I thank you for my shoes, for they fit ME!!
If you want to share my inspirations, please copy and
paste them to a new email in their entirety. Let them
go forth as part of my ministry, so if anyone wants
to contact me to join, or for prayer, they will have the links
left in the email and be able to reach us. Please do not
leave anything out, or claim it as your own.
Please tell your friends about us!
Thank you :)
(Please remember I never give out your email address to anyone,
if you get mail from someone saying I asked you to join their
list or soliciting your mail, it is never through me)
When you reach the end of your rope
you will find the hem of His garment.
I have often felt that many things that bring us to our knees,
teach us while we are down there to learn to pray.
These possibilities are open to everyone.
Don't tell God you are not good enough, do what He asks.
Don't tell God to send someone else, He asked you.
Don't tell God you don't have time to pray, He said seek me first.
Don't neglect the things of God. He said we are to
pick up His cross daily and follow Him.
Don't tell God anything is bigger than His ability.
God is the Great I Am, I am whatever you need.
There is no pit so deep, God's love is not deeper still.
Not my will but thine oh Lord.
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Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God
X EVEN WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE HIM...GOD IS THERE! O
(run your mouse across the x to zero and highlight it )
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What are your plans for today?
I am sure there are as many different answers
as there are people reading this. Each of us
with varying degrees of busyness in our lives.
I often see as people go through life how
weary they can become by the cares of it.
And we get so utterly busy with our own thoughts
and activities that we rarely have time for great
fellowship with others.
When is one too busy?
I think perhaps the answer lies in: when you get weary,
you are not enjoying life and you do not feel refreshed.
You need to take time out for God, for yourself, and
for refreshing fellowship with others.
Don't expect people to fulfill all your needs. Just
enjoy them for who they are and enjoy the journey you have
been given. Try to find the good in each day. Learn
to be thankful for what you do have.
Did you know that praise to God is a sacrifice?
We do not do it because we feel joyful, or we are in a setting
where they do it and we feel we must, we do it because
He deserves it.
God watches over us daily, whether we acknowledge
that or not. He gave us our last heartbeat, our last breath.
He helped us wake up this morning. He watched over us as
we slept last night. Who else is providing this for you?
Who else loved you so much they sacrificed their son for your sins?
Remarkable love of Christ! How could we not take time to praise him.
Let me tell you what praise does. It lifts you out of your mind set, doldrums,
and weariness, into the presence of God. It takes your mind off
things that drain you and onto the powerful almighty God of the Universe.
Praise also chases away any darkness. I guarantee you, if you turn
on beautiful Christian music, whether it is praise music or hymns,
you will literally feel a difference in the atmosphere. Why don't we
do it more often? satan hates it. He doesn't want you to take time
to be refreshed. He doesn't want to hear how great God is.
He doesn't want to be defeated. He wants you to stay in
a whirlwind of activities and have no time for God. So that when
hard times hit you are so drained and so weary that despair takes over.
Even satan knows the power of praising God. And he despises it.
satan the loser wants your life to seem meaningless, overwhelming,
without hope, and without answers. He wants you down. Are you going
to recognize this and fight it?
Fight it with a sacrifice of praise. Be thankful. Tell the Lord thanks
every day, with a special time just for Him where you lift your hands
to Him and tell Him how very thankful you are for all you have.
Turn on beautiful music, let it lift your spirit and minister to you
and draw you closer to God. Let it heal your spirit as you worship
God. You do not need to be in a church setting to do this.
Just as you can have a prayer closet, you can have time to praise
God. You will find it so refreshing. Could you use refreshing today?
Don't forget these things. Take time for God. He wants to bring
hope to your heart. He wants to restore your soul. He wants
to tell you the plans He has for you. And He wants you to be fit,
ready, armed and prepared for the work He has just for you to do.
Go forth in His power, His strength, His refreshing, His name,
and reach the world for Jesus Christ, with a heart of thankfulness
and a heart turned towards God everyday.
Here on earth we do not have a city that lasts forever,
but we are looking for the city that we will have in the future.
So through Jesus let us always offer to God our sacrifice of praise, coming
from lips that speak His name.
Hebrews 13:14-15
Because your love is better than life, I will praise you.
I will praise you as long as I live. I will lift my hands in prayer to your
name. I will be content as if I had eaten the best foods. My lips
will sing, and my mouth will praise you.
Psalm 63: 3-5
I will call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I will be saved
from my enemies.
2 Samuel 22:4
Dearest Friends, don't neglect your spiritual life. It is all that will
stand the test of time. It is your Father God who will restore your
thinking, give you guidance for each day, rest for your weary
soul, and hope for your path, and strength for each day.
Praise is a duty. A sacrifice, and it also lifts your spirit into heavenly
places where God can talk to you one on one, and reveal
to you His love, forgiveness, healing and restoration.
Love always
millie
´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·°°´·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°
I Thank God for My Shoes - They Fit
I woke up one day and I realized that there were many things about my life I was not satisfied with or better still, there were challenges that were threatening my soul. And I said to myself, "Why should anyone envy me and
want to be in my shoes." They don't know how far I've come, they don't know what lies ahead of me, and neither do they know how dissatisfied I get with myself from time to time.
People don't know the troubles that you've had or the price you had to get to where you are. All they want to know is that they wish they were like you.
Why should you wish you were in anybody's shoes when you hardly know how they fit?
When you've worn your shoes for a while, they take the shape of your feet and align to the way you walk.
If you were to wear my shoes, you will not be comfortable in them.
So I stopped wishing that I am in someone else shoes because it might not fit; rather I thank God for my shoes, because they fit!
Lord I thank you for my shoes, for they fit ME!!
If you want to share my inspirations, please copy and
paste them to a new email in their entirety. Let them
go forth as part of my ministry, so if anyone wants
to contact me to join, or for prayer, they will have the links
left in the email and be able to reach us. Please do not
leave anything out, or claim it as your own.
Please tell your friends about us!
Thank you :)
(Please remember I never give out your email address to anyone,
if you get mail from someone saying I asked you to join their
list or soliciting your mail, it is never through me)
When you reach the end of your rope
you will find the hem of His garment.
I have often felt that many things that bring us to our knees,
teach us while we are down there to learn to pray.
These possibilities are open to everyone.
Don't tell God you are not good enough, do what He asks.
Don't tell God to send someone else, He asked you.
Don't tell God you don't have time to pray, He said seek me first.
Don't neglect the things of God. He said we are to
pick up His cross daily and follow Him.
Don't tell God anything is bigger than His ability.
God is the Great I Am, I am whatever you need.
There is no pit so deep, God's love is not deeper still.
Not my will but thine oh Lord.
´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·°°´·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God
X EVEN WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE HIM...GOD IS THERE! O
(run your mouse across the x to zero and highlight it )
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Monday, November 19, 2007
Fruit Picking
Good Morning Everyone,
A dear friend sent me this little devotion this week,
and I enjoyed reading it and wanted to share it with you.
Often when I am in chats someone who is really angry
will say, well we can judge people by their fruits,
and your fruit stinks. Usually the person saying it
has little control over their anger at the time and is
judging rather than looking through the eyes of Christ.
I am reminded how utterly flawed we all are, imperfect
on our best day. God is the fruit judger.. He sees
the truth about us all. While it may be true some
lights for Christ shine brighter than others, I cannot
imagine telling someone they have stinky fruit inspires
anyone to a greater and higher walk with Christ.
Indeed those hateful kinds of statements chase more
people out of church than draw them in.
Are you a fruit picker? Stop it. Work on your own fruit,
and pray for those who lack it. It works far better in the long
run for all of us. Let God be true and every man a liar.
For none of us know the full truth about anyone. And all
of us have room to grow and change and things we need
forgiveness for.
Just be a light.
Love
millie
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,
but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister
grace to the hearers.
Let all bitterness, and wrath and anger, and clamour, and evil
speaking, be put away from you with all malice;
And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has
forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:29, 31,32
**************************************************
Is Life Just a Bowl of Cherries? - November 15, 2007
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such
things there is no law." Galatians 5:22 (NIV)
Have you ever thought of yourself as a piece of fruit? Now, stop
laughing and really think about it. In Gods eyes, we're just one big,
gigantic fruit bowl!
Paul speaks of the Fruit of the Spirit in the book of Galatians. He
makes it very clear that all of these great gifts of the Spirit are
pulled together to be just one Fruit, not individual section or
slices. In essence, you have all of them working in YOU at the same
time, none better than the other, they are given specifically to work
together always, in our hearts and in our lives.
So, what kind of fruit are you? I picture this huge, perfectly ripe
bowl of fruit laid out on a banquet table before our God. Each fruit
represents something very special. Lets revisit the Fruit above and
apply it to the abundance of goodness He gives us each day.
Love: Think of cherries; a whole bowlful of them, bursting with
luscious color and showing whole lot of love as each one is enjoyed.
Peace: How about a banana? When its perfectly ripe, it tastes so
wonderful and can bring a smile of peace and contentment to the
sourest of hearts.
Joy: Grapes! Lots and lots of grapes. An abundance of them, each
sweeter than the next, filled with joy. They come in many colors and
variety, just like the many joys in our own lives.
Patience: A huge watermelon; just think of how long it takes to grow
one and the reward when it is finally done growing. All of that
patience is worth waiting for!
Gentleness: Sweet Georgia Peaches here. On the outside they are a
little fuzzy and soft, and the inside is just as sweet and filled
with lots of tender flavor, gentle on the tatsebuds.
Kindness: Lets bring in a Kiwi, shall we? A funny little fruit, and
even though it is small, it packs a powerful taste; sort of how an
act of kindness does, especially when unexpected.
Self Control: A bright orange comes to mind. Think of how you sit and
peel, and peel, and peel the outside to finally receive the burst of
color and juiciness on the inside. This can be the most difficult
fruit of all to eat, but it's worth every second of waiting and self
control for the skin to be peeled away to receive the gift that awaits you.
Goodness: One of my favorites: Mango! When it's ripe with perfection,
you can just open it up and scoop out all of the goodness that awaits
you; luscious and filled with just a little tang.
Faithfulness: Couldn't resist throwing this one in: an apple. No
matter what the condition, it will grow. No matter how old or new the
tree, apples still grow. They grow strong and sturdy and are always
faithful to reproduce more apples year after year. Faith should
always continue on, no matter what the circumstances.
As you can see, there are no lemons or persimmons in this bunch. Each
fruit takes its own time to grow to perfection and the abundance,
flavors and taste can satisfy everyone. Fruit can only grow with
light and water provided from our Maker above. Prayer is needed to
make it complete and praise is offered when it is ready to be received.
God is our gardener and our bodies are the clay bowls He fashions in
which to serve His Fruit of the Spirit every day!
So, again I ask, what kind of fruit are you?
Contributed by Diane Check
A dear friend sent me this little devotion this week,
and I enjoyed reading it and wanted to share it with you.
Often when I am in chats someone who is really angry
will say, well we can judge people by their fruits,
and your fruit stinks. Usually the person saying it
has little control over their anger at the time and is
judging rather than looking through the eyes of Christ.
I am reminded how utterly flawed we all are, imperfect
on our best day. God is the fruit judger.. He sees
the truth about us all. While it may be true some
lights for Christ shine brighter than others, I cannot
imagine telling someone they have stinky fruit inspires
anyone to a greater and higher walk with Christ.
Indeed those hateful kinds of statements chase more
people out of church than draw them in.
Are you a fruit picker? Stop it. Work on your own fruit,
and pray for those who lack it. It works far better in the long
run for all of us. Let God be true and every man a liar.
For none of us know the full truth about anyone. And all
of us have room to grow and change and things we need
forgiveness for.
Just be a light.
Love
millie
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,
but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister
grace to the hearers.
Let all bitterness, and wrath and anger, and clamour, and evil
speaking, be put away from you with all malice;
And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has
forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:29, 31,32
**************************************************
Is Life Just a Bowl of Cherries? - November 15, 2007
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such
things there is no law." Galatians 5:22 (NIV)
Have you ever thought of yourself as a piece of fruit? Now, stop
laughing and really think about it. In Gods eyes, we're just one big,
gigantic fruit bowl!
Paul speaks of the Fruit of the Spirit in the book of Galatians. He
makes it very clear that all of these great gifts of the Spirit are
pulled together to be just one Fruit, not individual section or
slices. In essence, you have all of them working in YOU at the same
time, none better than the other, they are given specifically to work
together always, in our hearts and in our lives.
So, what kind of fruit are you? I picture this huge, perfectly ripe
bowl of fruit laid out on a banquet table before our God. Each fruit
represents something very special. Lets revisit the Fruit above and
apply it to the abundance of goodness He gives us each day.
Love: Think of cherries; a whole bowlful of them, bursting with
luscious color and showing whole lot of love as each one is enjoyed.
Peace: How about a banana? When its perfectly ripe, it tastes so
wonderful and can bring a smile of peace and contentment to the
sourest of hearts.
Joy: Grapes! Lots and lots of grapes. An abundance of them, each
sweeter than the next, filled with joy. They come in many colors and
variety, just like the many joys in our own lives.
Patience: A huge watermelon; just think of how long it takes to grow
one and the reward when it is finally done growing. All of that
patience is worth waiting for!
Gentleness: Sweet Georgia Peaches here. On the outside they are a
little fuzzy and soft, and the inside is just as sweet and filled
with lots of tender flavor, gentle on the tatsebuds.
Kindness: Lets bring in a Kiwi, shall we? A funny little fruit, and
even though it is small, it packs a powerful taste; sort of how an
act of kindness does, especially when unexpected.
Self Control: A bright orange comes to mind. Think of how you sit and
peel, and peel, and peel the outside to finally receive the burst of
color and juiciness on the inside. This can be the most difficult
fruit of all to eat, but it's worth every second of waiting and self
control for the skin to be peeled away to receive the gift that awaits you.
Goodness: One of my favorites: Mango! When it's ripe with perfection,
you can just open it up and scoop out all of the goodness that awaits
you; luscious and filled with just a little tang.
Faithfulness: Couldn't resist throwing this one in: an apple. No
matter what the condition, it will grow. No matter how old or new the
tree, apples still grow. They grow strong and sturdy and are always
faithful to reproduce more apples year after year. Faith should
always continue on, no matter what the circumstances.
As you can see, there are no lemons or persimmons in this bunch. Each
fruit takes its own time to grow to perfection and the abundance,
flavors and taste can satisfy everyone. Fruit can only grow with
light and water provided from our Maker above. Prayer is needed to
make it complete and praise is offered when it is ready to be received.
God is our gardener and our bodies are the clay bowls He fashions in
which to serve His Fruit of the Spirit every day!
So, again I ask, what kind of fruit are you?
Contributed by Diane Check
Sunday, November 18, 2007
What Is The Right Way?
copyright Millie Plastaras 11/18/07
For I am determined not to know anything among you
except Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:2
The world pulls us a variety of different ways.
One person is sure that financial gain is the way to go,
earn, save and invest. One person is sure real estate
is the way to go, buy, sell, make profits. One person
is sure that education will solve all the worlds problems,
and spends their life promoting that.
The Bible says that every man thinks He is right
in his own eyes, but the Lord searches the heart.
How can we know the right way?
Is it a specific church? It is a specific teaching? Is it a
specific lifestyle or mind set? How can we, being human
and not fully understanding all there is to know discern what
is right?
For I am determined not to know anything among you
except Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:2
It starts here. Right at the cross of Christ. Where we
find that we are all sinners, and all need to repent of those sins.
True repentance is recognizing our sinful and willful and
rebellious nature against God. We then confess those sins,
repent of them, turn away from them and turn to God.
We ask him to forgive us of those sins, and come into our
hearts and spirit and make us new in Him. To make Jesus
Lord of our lives, ruling and reigning in our spirit.
This is where being right starts.
Many distractions come along the way. We hear many
teachings and many doctrines, and many different ways to go,
but without that atoning shed blood of Jesus on the cross,
and our repentance of our sins, we cannot ever be right before
God. And therefore our thinking will not be right with God, or
in many other areas.
I can hear some laughing and saying, I am doing just fine without
God, look at all I have accomplished, look at all I have gained.
I am rich beyond imagination and you tell me my thinking is not
right? Can you accomplish what I have?
For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world yet
lose his own soul? Mark 8:36
If our soul is not turned towards God, and being a disciple
of Jesus Christ and if we have not repented of our sins,
there is no profit to this life. The only thing that will
stand eternally is how we treat others and what we have done for
God. 100 years from now, no one will remember how clean
you kept your house, how much money you earned,
how many things you did, but God will remember, and
He will reward us accordingly.
This being said, it reminds us daily our first focus
has to be on how to please God, and what He would have us do.
Our prayer should be:
Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew and steadfast
and right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord,
and He ponders all his paths. Proverbs 5:21
You see, nothing is hidden to God. What we have here
is a absolute accountability to God, where nothing we do
is hidden. He knows what you did yesterday, will see what
you do tomorrow, and knows all your past, your failures,
your successes, he knows you better than anyone ever will.
How then can we stand right before such a observant God?
By seeking Him first. By making Him first in our lives.
By surrendering to His will and seeking what He would
have us do daily. And then by following the concepts Jesus
taught, and the teachings throughout the Holy Bible.
Reading them, and applying them. Not just reading them
because we want to feel better or have the appearance
of being religious. But having a actual spiritual revival
in our hearts, a change, a determined, deliberate walk
with Christ.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart
be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord, my strength and my
redeemer. Psalm 19:14
How?
Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105
By truly walking with God daily, by spending time praising Him,
by spending time talking to Him and by renewing our mind
with His precious word, that our spirit may be full of his
eternal and abiding concepts that clean, renew, forgive,
transform and heal.
This is a challenging devotion. I pray that you will print it out
and read it, and think daily. God create in me a right heart.
And focus first on Jesus Christ, him crucified and risen the
third day. He must increase, but we must decrease.
My love to you all,
millie
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done, for Christ will last
For I am determined not to know anything among you
except Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:2
The world pulls us a variety of different ways.
One person is sure that financial gain is the way to go,
earn, save and invest. One person is sure real estate
is the way to go, buy, sell, make profits. One person
is sure that education will solve all the worlds problems,
and spends their life promoting that.
The Bible says that every man thinks He is right
in his own eyes, but the Lord searches the heart.
How can we know the right way?
Is it a specific church? It is a specific teaching? Is it a
specific lifestyle or mind set? How can we, being human
and not fully understanding all there is to know discern what
is right?
For I am determined not to know anything among you
except Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:2
It starts here. Right at the cross of Christ. Where we
find that we are all sinners, and all need to repent of those sins.
True repentance is recognizing our sinful and willful and
rebellious nature against God. We then confess those sins,
repent of them, turn away from them and turn to God.
We ask him to forgive us of those sins, and come into our
hearts and spirit and make us new in Him. To make Jesus
Lord of our lives, ruling and reigning in our spirit.
This is where being right starts.
Many distractions come along the way. We hear many
teachings and many doctrines, and many different ways to go,
but without that atoning shed blood of Jesus on the cross,
and our repentance of our sins, we cannot ever be right before
God. And therefore our thinking will not be right with God, or
in many other areas.
I can hear some laughing and saying, I am doing just fine without
God, look at all I have accomplished, look at all I have gained.
I am rich beyond imagination and you tell me my thinking is not
right? Can you accomplish what I have?
For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world yet
lose his own soul? Mark 8:36
If our soul is not turned towards God, and being a disciple
of Jesus Christ and if we have not repented of our sins,
there is no profit to this life. The only thing that will
stand eternally is how we treat others and what we have done for
God. 100 years from now, no one will remember how clean
you kept your house, how much money you earned,
how many things you did, but God will remember, and
He will reward us accordingly.
This being said, it reminds us daily our first focus
has to be on how to please God, and what He would have us do.
Our prayer should be:
Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew and steadfast
and right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord,
and He ponders all his paths. Proverbs 5:21
You see, nothing is hidden to God. What we have here
is a absolute accountability to God, where nothing we do
is hidden. He knows what you did yesterday, will see what
you do tomorrow, and knows all your past, your failures,
your successes, he knows you better than anyone ever will.
How then can we stand right before such a observant God?
By seeking Him first. By making Him first in our lives.
By surrendering to His will and seeking what He would
have us do daily. And then by following the concepts Jesus
taught, and the teachings throughout the Holy Bible.
Reading them, and applying them. Not just reading them
because we want to feel better or have the appearance
of being religious. But having a actual spiritual revival
in our hearts, a change, a determined, deliberate walk
with Christ.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart
be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord, my strength and my
redeemer. Psalm 19:14
How?
Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105
By truly walking with God daily, by spending time praising Him,
by spending time talking to Him and by renewing our mind
with His precious word, that our spirit may be full of his
eternal and abiding concepts that clean, renew, forgive,
transform and heal.
This is a challenging devotion. I pray that you will print it out
and read it, and think daily. God create in me a right heart.
And focus first on Jesus Christ, him crucified and risen the
third day. He must increase, but we must decrease.
My love to you all,
millie
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done, for Christ will last
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Hope In God, Keep Your Eyes On Him
Good Morning Everyone,
I truly believe that one of the most important things for
a Christian is never to lose hope. No matter what
circumstances come our way, no matter who hurts
us, no matter what illness hits, or what tragedy,
we never take our hands out of the Father's or
our face turned away from His.
We find He is the source of our strength:
God will strengthen you with His own GREAT power
so that you will not give up when troubles come,
but you will be patient. And you will joyfully give thanks
to the Father who has made you able to have a share in all
that He has prepared for His people in the kingdom of Light.
Colossians 1:11-12
He gives strength to those who are tired and more power
to those who are weak. Even children become tired and
need to rest, and the young people trip and fall.
But the people who trust in the Lord will become
strong again. They will rise up as an eagle in the sky,
they will run and not need rest, they will walk and
not become tired.
Isaiah 40:29-31
You see, the secret to hope is peace, resting in God's ability,
and relying on it, clinging to it, and resting in it. Not letting
anything steal that from your mind, heart or grip.
Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking,
because you were all called together in one body to
have peace. Always be thankful!
Colossians 3:15
I go to bed and sleep in peace, because, Lord, only
you keep me safe.
Psalm 4:8
When something happens and you are afraid,
when someone dies or leaves and you feel alone and deserted,
when you find illness taking over your days, and you become
weary with the trials of life, you run to your Father God,
and let him restore your soul. You cry out, tell Him all
your troubles, and let him speak to you. Turn on
praise music, let that beautiful praise penetrate your
spirit and your thinking and lift your heart to a higher
plane of thinking.. out of the gloomies into the possibilities
of God working in your situation.
So even if you feel blind, even if you feel life is out of
control, even if you feel lost, even if you feel utterly alone,
there is no pit so deep, no storm so big, no tragedy so harsh
that God's love and strength and ability is not greater still.
Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God
for everything you need, always giving thanks.
And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand
it, will KEEP your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
So if you feel yourself getting run down or weak spiritually,
you will know you have not spent enough time alone with God,
and you have not filled your spirit up with God's word
to rebuild your faith, and you will know you have allowed
your spirit to become drained, and weary. Time to close
in with God. Never forget these symptoms.
Weariness, defeat, loneliness, overwhelmed feelings,
time to run to God.
love always
millie
´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·°°´·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°
BUT WE SEE JESUS
BY Annie Johnson Flint
I don't look back, God knows the fruitless efforts,
The wasted hours, the sinning, the regrets,
I leave them all with Him who blots the record,
And mercifully forgives, and then forgets.
I don't look forward, God sees all the future,
The road that, short or long will lead me home,
And He will face with me its every trial,
And bear for me the burdens that may come.
But I look up -- into the face of Jesus
For there my heart can rest, my fears are stilled,
And there is joy, and love, and light for darkness,
And perfect peace, and every hope fulfilled.
Copyright Annie Johnson Flint.
Please respect her by not removing her name
from this precious poem
´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·°°´·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°
JUST UP THE ROAD
Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if one stops the car, or is walking by, one will notice something quite amazing.
Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing.
Listening, one will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, one will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.
As one stands and watches these two friends, one sees how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where he is trusting that she will not lead him astray.
Like the owner of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges.
He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.
Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by God and those whom He places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see God.
Author Unknown
´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·°°´·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°
I truly believe that one of the most important things for
a Christian is never to lose hope. No matter what
circumstances come our way, no matter who hurts
us, no matter what illness hits, or what tragedy,
we never take our hands out of the Father's or
our face turned away from His.
We find He is the source of our strength:
God will strengthen you with His own GREAT power
so that you will not give up when troubles come,
but you will be patient. And you will joyfully give thanks
to the Father who has made you able to have a share in all
that He has prepared for His people in the kingdom of Light.
Colossians 1:11-12
He gives strength to those who are tired and more power
to those who are weak. Even children become tired and
need to rest, and the young people trip and fall.
But the people who trust in the Lord will become
strong again. They will rise up as an eagle in the sky,
they will run and not need rest, they will walk and
not become tired.
Isaiah 40:29-31
You see, the secret to hope is peace, resting in God's ability,
and relying on it, clinging to it, and resting in it. Not letting
anything steal that from your mind, heart or grip.
Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking,
because you were all called together in one body to
have peace. Always be thankful!
Colossians 3:15
I go to bed and sleep in peace, because, Lord, only
you keep me safe.
Psalm 4:8
When something happens and you are afraid,
when someone dies or leaves and you feel alone and deserted,
when you find illness taking over your days, and you become
weary with the trials of life, you run to your Father God,
and let him restore your soul. You cry out, tell Him all
your troubles, and let him speak to you. Turn on
praise music, let that beautiful praise penetrate your
spirit and your thinking and lift your heart to a higher
plane of thinking.. out of the gloomies into the possibilities
of God working in your situation.
So even if you feel blind, even if you feel life is out of
control, even if you feel lost, even if you feel utterly alone,
there is no pit so deep, no storm so big, no tragedy so harsh
that God's love and strength and ability is not greater still.
Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God
for everything you need, always giving thanks.
And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand
it, will KEEP your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
So if you feel yourself getting run down or weak spiritually,
you will know you have not spent enough time alone with God,
and you have not filled your spirit up with God's word
to rebuild your faith, and you will know you have allowed
your spirit to become drained, and weary. Time to close
in with God. Never forget these symptoms.
Weariness, defeat, loneliness, overwhelmed feelings,
time to run to God.
love always
millie
´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·°°´·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°
BUT WE SEE JESUS
BY Annie Johnson Flint
I don't look back, God knows the fruitless efforts,
The wasted hours, the sinning, the regrets,
I leave them all with Him who blots the record,
And mercifully forgives, and then forgets.
I don't look forward, God sees all the future,
The road that, short or long will lead me home,
And He will face with me its every trial,
And bear for me the burdens that may come.
But I look up -- into the face of Jesus
For there my heart can rest, my fears are stilled,
And there is joy, and love, and light for darkness,
And perfect peace, and every hope fulfilled.
Copyright Annie Johnson Flint.
Please respect her by not removing her name
from this precious poem
´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·°°´·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°
JUST UP THE ROAD
Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if one stops the car, or is walking by, one will notice something quite amazing.
Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing.
Listening, one will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, one will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.
As one stands and watches these two friends, one sees how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where he is trusting that she will not lead him astray.
Like the owner of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges.
He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.
Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by God and those whom He places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see God.
Author Unknown
´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·°°´·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°
Friday, November 09, 2007
The Highest Calling
copyright Millie Plastaras 11/09/07
Good Morning Everyone,
I came across this verse again this morning,
and as I read it, I thought about the implications of it,
and I wanted to discuss it with you.
Then he called the crowd to him, along with His
disciples and said: "If anyone would come after Me
he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. For what
good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his
own soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous
and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of
him, when he comes in His Father's glory with the holy
angels. Mark 8:34-38
My dear friends, what is the implication of these sayings to us.
First, I have to say it is talking about denying ourselves. Not
dwelling on ourselves. How many can claim to do that even
to a small degree? It is very uncommon. People are too
caught up in THEIR wants and THEIR needs, and THEIR
problems. They have little time for God. If a man or woman
cannot dedicate time to God daily for prayer or reading His
word, how then can he be a disciple in any way?
We have to lay aside our desires and seek to follow Him.
We pick up our cross daily and follow Him. What does this mean?
It means a willingness to submit to God, set our own will aside
and follow Him even if it means to the death. That our life
is wholly dedicated and surrendered. Absolute surrender.
This is a high calling indeed.
What does it mean if someone wants to save his life He will lose it?
It means if someone is so caught up in themselves they cannot
take time for God, and they deny Jesus, they lose their soul over it.
But if one becomes a disciple of Jesus and dedicates their life
to Him, their soul gains eternal life through the precious blood
atonement of Jesus Christ.
What profit is there if a man gets everything he wants in life
and denies God? He cannot take a uhaul into eternity with him.
All his possessions, all he worked for in his lifetime goes to
someone else. What stands the test of eternity? A life surrendered
to Christ.
How many of you can truly say today.. that you are a disciple.
Not just one who goes to church, and knows the right words to say.
But one who sets aside their own selfish desires and looks to the
needs of others. One who sets aside time for God daily, and
one who is dedicated to God's word.
I see many people online fighting over God's word, fighting
about works, and fighting about churches. Is there time left for God?
What is it about? Is it about your church, or your doctrine, or is
it about Jesus Christ, him crucified and risen the third day,
and the decision we must make to repent of our sins, and make
Him Lord and Savior of our life?
If we do not get this right, nothing else in our spiritual life will be
right. Jesus said you must be born again. How? By his blood
sacrifice for your sins. Who else loved you enough to die for you?
Who else could bear our filthy sins upon the cross, and take all
of that upon himself for us?
How could we then freshly crucify him by not truly walking the
walk and talking the talk. Not just lip service, not just church
attendance, not just Bible knowledge, but a life surrendered
to Christ. Never ashamed, never seeking one's own desires
but saying first thing daily, God what would you have me to do?
Can you live this calling? You can if you get on your knees
each day and ask for God's help. And if you make a mistake,
or don't live up to it one day, ask forgiveness, and start again.
Pursue Godliness, leave that behind which is worldly.
This is a sign of a disciple.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another,
even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:34-35
So then we have learned today that we are a disciple,if we deny ourselves and follow Christ, and if we love others as Christ loved us. A lesson for us all.
Good Morning Everyone,
I came across this verse again this morning,
and as I read it, I thought about the implications of it,
and I wanted to discuss it with you.
Then he called the crowd to him, along with His
disciples and said: "If anyone would come after Me
he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. For what
good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his
own soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous
and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of
him, when he comes in His Father's glory with the holy
angels. Mark 8:34-38
My dear friends, what is the implication of these sayings to us.
First, I have to say it is talking about denying ourselves. Not
dwelling on ourselves. How many can claim to do that even
to a small degree? It is very uncommon. People are too
caught up in THEIR wants and THEIR needs, and THEIR
problems. They have little time for God. If a man or woman
cannot dedicate time to God daily for prayer or reading His
word, how then can he be a disciple in any way?
We have to lay aside our desires and seek to follow Him.
We pick up our cross daily and follow Him. What does this mean?
It means a willingness to submit to God, set our own will aside
and follow Him even if it means to the death. That our life
is wholly dedicated and surrendered. Absolute surrender.
This is a high calling indeed.
What does it mean if someone wants to save his life He will lose it?
It means if someone is so caught up in themselves they cannot
take time for God, and they deny Jesus, they lose their soul over it.
But if one becomes a disciple of Jesus and dedicates their life
to Him, their soul gains eternal life through the precious blood
atonement of Jesus Christ.
What profit is there if a man gets everything he wants in life
and denies God? He cannot take a uhaul into eternity with him.
All his possessions, all he worked for in his lifetime goes to
someone else. What stands the test of eternity? A life surrendered
to Christ.
How many of you can truly say today.. that you are a disciple.
Not just one who goes to church, and knows the right words to say.
But one who sets aside their own selfish desires and looks to the
needs of others. One who sets aside time for God daily, and
one who is dedicated to God's word.
I see many people online fighting over God's word, fighting
about works, and fighting about churches. Is there time left for God?
What is it about? Is it about your church, or your doctrine, or is
it about Jesus Christ, him crucified and risen the third day,
and the decision we must make to repent of our sins, and make
Him Lord and Savior of our life?
If we do not get this right, nothing else in our spiritual life will be
right. Jesus said you must be born again. How? By his blood
sacrifice for your sins. Who else loved you enough to die for you?
Who else could bear our filthy sins upon the cross, and take all
of that upon himself for us?
How could we then freshly crucify him by not truly walking the
walk and talking the talk. Not just lip service, not just church
attendance, not just Bible knowledge, but a life surrendered
to Christ. Never ashamed, never seeking one's own desires
but saying first thing daily, God what would you have me to do?
Can you live this calling? You can if you get on your knees
each day and ask for God's help. And if you make a mistake,
or don't live up to it one day, ask forgiveness, and start again.
Pursue Godliness, leave that behind which is worldly.
This is a sign of a disciple.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another,
even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:34-35
So then we have learned today that we are a disciple,if we deny ourselves and follow Christ, and if we love others as Christ loved us. A lesson for us all.
Fighting Fear With Faith
Copyright Millie Plastaras 11/7/2007
He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Psalm 112:7
Good Morning Everyone,
Do any of you ever fight a battle with fear?
I do. I fight it when I cannot get my breath.
Sometimes during the night my oxygen gets too low
I wake up and the world is fuzzy and I find myself
struggling for air. Its a very easy thing to fall into a
habit of letting fear walk in and set up shop.
I find myself controlled by it, and it is literally a battle
to overcome that spirit of fear, which is exactly what it is.
A spirit that wants to draw you away from God and make
you fear everything happening in your life and in the world.
The world situation breeds fear. If you watch
cable news any length of time, you would be hard pressed
to find a positive, uplifting story that gave you hope
the world might get better. The news thrives on bad news,
scandals, and wars and rumors of wars. If we allowed
that to be our thought life and focus, it drains us, and does
not inspire hope or even restore our belief that things
will always work out well.
What does one do to fight fear? I think first of all,
we have to literally recognize it is a spiritual battle, and
a mental battle. That being said, we have to fight it
with spiritual weapons and weapons that make our mind
stronger.
Self discipline comes to mind. We cannot just cave
into things just because they are trying to rule our thinking
We have the power to fight back spiritually and
mentally.
When your spirit gets drained and weary, where do you go
to fill it up? What do you do to restore your hope, your thinking?
What do you do to feel better about your situation, or about
things you see happening that make life seem out of control?
We HAVE to read the word of God. If you sit down for a few minutes
each morning, before you start your day, and read the word, you
will literally feel it restoring your spirit. You can feel the courage
and hope it brings. Because God is greater than any problems
the world can throw our way. God saw our yesterday, He sees
our tomorrow, and He is the only one that can do anything about
most situations.
When your spirit is empty, you have to refill it.
Don't fill it with hopeless things, fill it with the word of God.
You HAVE to spend time talking to God. He has things
to tell you, and He will give you strength for all situations,
and restore your hope. Hope restored, strengthens our faith.
He has the answers you need!
When fear comes in faith walks out.
When We plant God's word in our heart, faith comes back in.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God.
You have to build your faith. One verse at a time, one
building block at a time, one day at a time.
Fight your fear with faith.
When faith comes in fear cannot stay, it runs!
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love,
power and a sound mind.
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7
We can discipline our own minds. We can choose to fight the
fear and speak God's word out loud to it. We can say,
I am not going to fear, talk to my heavenly Father, He
is in charge, and He is guarding me, and protecting me
from all harm and evil. I am not going to allow you in my
mind, in my thinking, in my heart, you have no place,
I rebuke you in the name of Jesus Christ.
For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand,
saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Isaiah 41:13
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help
in the time of trouble.
Psalm 46:1
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you,
not as the world gives, give I unto you, let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
Let me ask you this? Do you want fear to be in your life?
Do you want it ruling your spirit and robbing you of your
joy and hope? Does it feel good? Does it enhance your life?
Let us join together in prayer and fight the good fight of faith.
Father God, today many of us are facing situations we don't
have answers to. And we feel hopeless, and depleted. Some
of us feel depressed, some need comfort, all need peace.
We need you Father God to restore our souls. To help us
keep our eyes on you and not our situation on the world.
Give us a spirit of joy inspite of our circumstances.
Help us to rise above them through the power of prayer,
and the word of God planted and rooted in our spirit
restoring our hope in Your Ability and Strength.
If God be for us, who can be against us?
Father God, forgive us for doubting you. For straying
from our focus on you. Forgive us for trying to control
everything, and then falling apart when we realize we cannot.
Give us strength for the day,
Light for the way,
Hope for each situation,
and abide with us. Help us feel your presence,
and even when we do not, we know you are there.
You said you would never leave us or forsake us.
We cling to that, and we hope in that, and we rely on that.
And God, thank you for loving us even though we are flawed,
or get frightened, or don't discipline our minds and hearts
as we should spiritually. You know we are just children sometimes,
and need a Father to set us straight.
Remind us oh Lord, that you love us and have plans for us,
for a future and a hope, and no one can stop your plans.
You are God and there is no greater.
We give you all the glory and honor and we rest
in you today Father and look to you as the author
and finisher of our faith. Fully able to perform what
you started in us, and to give us all the tools and
weapons we need for all the battles ahead. And
when we get too weary, we know we can run into your arms.
And find safety, security and restoration there.
We take a stand in Jesus name against the spirit of
fear and we discipline our minds in your word and with
your spiritual weapons.. and nothing that comes
against us will prosper.
In Jesus Precious Name We Pray
amen.
No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me," declares the LORD.
Isaiah 54:17
He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Psalm 112:7
Good Morning Everyone,
Do any of you ever fight a battle with fear?
I do. I fight it when I cannot get my breath.
Sometimes during the night my oxygen gets too low
I wake up and the world is fuzzy and I find myself
struggling for air. Its a very easy thing to fall into a
habit of letting fear walk in and set up shop.
I find myself controlled by it, and it is literally a battle
to overcome that spirit of fear, which is exactly what it is.
A spirit that wants to draw you away from God and make
you fear everything happening in your life and in the world.
The world situation breeds fear. If you watch
cable news any length of time, you would be hard pressed
to find a positive, uplifting story that gave you hope
the world might get better. The news thrives on bad news,
scandals, and wars and rumors of wars. If we allowed
that to be our thought life and focus, it drains us, and does
not inspire hope or even restore our belief that things
will always work out well.
What does one do to fight fear? I think first of all,
we have to literally recognize it is a spiritual battle, and
a mental battle. That being said, we have to fight it
with spiritual weapons and weapons that make our mind
stronger.
Self discipline comes to mind. We cannot just cave
into things just because they are trying to rule our thinking
We have the power to fight back spiritually and
mentally.
When your spirit gets drained and weary, where do you go
to fill it up? What do you do to restore your hope, your thinking?
What do you do to feel better about your situation, or about
things you see happening that make life seem out of control?
We HAVE to read the word of God. If you sit down for a few minutes
each morning, before you start your day, and read the word, you
will literally feel it restoring your spirit. You can feel the courage
and hope it brings. Because God is greater than any problems
the world can throw our way. God saw our yesterday, He sees
our tomorrow, and He is the only one that can do anything about
most situations.
When your spirit is empty, you have to refill it.
Don't fill it with hopeless things, fill it with the word of God.
You HAVE to spend time talking to God. He has things
to tell you, and He will give you strength for all situations,
and restore your hope. Hope restored, strengthens our faith.
He has the answers you need!
When fear comes in faith walks out.
When We plant God's word in our heart, faith comes back in.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God.
You have to build your faith. One verse at a time, one
building block at a time, one day at a time.
Fight your fear with faith.
When faith comes in fear cannot stay, it runs!
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love,
power and a sound mind.
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7
We can discipline our own minds. We can choose to fight the
fear and speak God's word out loud to it. We can say,
I am not going to fear, talk to my heavenly Father, He
is in charge, and He is guarding me, and protecting me
from all harm and evil. I am not going to allow you in my
mind, in my thinking, in my heart, you have no place,
I rebuke you in the name of Jesus Christ.
For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand,
saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Isaiah 41:13
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help
in the time of trouble.
Psalm 46:1
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you,
not as the world gives, give I unto you, let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
Let me ask you this? Do you want fear to be in your life?
Do you want it ruling your spirit and robbing you of your
joy and hope? Does it feel good? Does it enhance your life?
Let us join together in prayer and fight the good fight of faith.
Father God, today many of us are facing situations we don't
have answers to. And we feel hopeless, and depleted. Some
of us feel depressed, some need comfort, all need peace.
We need you Father God to restore our souls. To help us
keep our eyes on you and not our situation on the world.
Give us a spirit of joy inspite of our circumstances.
Help us to rise above them through the power of prayer,
and the word of God planted and rooted in our spirit
restoring our hope in Your Ability and Strength.
If God be for us, who can be against us?
Father God, forgive us for doubting you. For straying
from our focus on you. Forgive us for trying to control
everything, and then falling apart when we realize we cannot.
Give us strength for the day,
Light for the way,
Hope for each situation,
and abide with us. Help us feel your presence,
and even when we do not, we know you are there.
You said you would never leave us or forsake us.
We cling to that, and we hope in that, and we rely on that.
And God, thank you for loving us even though we are flawed,
or get frightened, or don't discipline our minds and hearts
as we should spiritually. You know we are just children sometimes,
and need a Father to set us straight.
Remind us oh Lord, that you love us and have plans for us,
for a future and a hope, and no one can stop your plans.
You are God and there is no greater.
We give you all the glory and honor and we rest
in you today Father and look to you as the author
and finisher of our faith. Fully able to perform what
you started in us, and to give us all the tools and
weapons we need for all the battles ahead. And
when we get too weary, we know we can run into your arms.
And find safety, security and restoration there.
We take a stand in Jesus name against the spirit of
fear and we discipline our minds in your word and with
your spiritual weapons.. and nothing that comes
against us will prosper.
In Jesus Precious Name We Pray
amen.
No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me," declares the LORD.
Isaiah 54:17
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Are You Really Happy?
Are You Really Happy?
Copyright Millie Plastaras 11/4/2007
Good Morning Everyone,
A recent survey was taken of a cross section of people and 70
percent of the people who were asked if they were happy
said they were not. My guess is that those who said
they were not happy, also do not feel much peace.
One of the reasons behind the answers was that
people were too busy either watching tv, on the internet too much,
or did not have close interpersonal relationships they found
trustworthy and enjoyable. Truth be told, most people
don't have either the time or the inclination to do what
it takes to invest in long term friendships.
People were also fearful about the world, its events
so easily seen on the news networks, which offer no
hope or solution but constant bombardment of the
problems of the world. Creating a sense of insecurity
and hopelessness in people.
All this together means people are less connected,
feeling more lonely, more unhappy, and less satisfied,
and often more fearful.
What do they do to fill those gaps? Everything you can imagine.
From planning great vacations, to doing recreational drugs,
to drinking alcohol, sex, pornography, overspending money
they do not have, shopping for things that do not satisfy more than
temporarily. At the end of the day, they are no more
happy than they were the day before.
People spend more time thinking about how to satisfy
themselves than they do how to love others or please God.
This is the greatest problem. Selfishness. Me, me, me.
My rights, my life, my choices. No one can stop me, I owe
no one nothing, I can do as I choose and there are no
consequences. At the end of the day when everyone
has claimed their rights and everyone has done their
thing, I want to see a show of hands who feels better?
Happiness comes from several things.
It is a mental choice. It is how we choose to view the world and
face it with our emotions and mental abilities.
Happiness comes from giving not for looking out for what you can get.
Happiness comes from a life that is open to friends, to time
with friends, and that is invested in not only enjoying others
but making others happy also.
What does the Bible say?
I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live
when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at
any time in everything that happens, when I have enough to eat,
and when I go hungry, when I have more than I need and
when I do not have enough. I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:12-13
Paul had learned the secret of internal happiness. Learning
to be content with what you have. Learning to look on the
bright side. Learning to find peace in your situation because
you trust in God, not in men, not in possessions, not in
what you can accumulate, or activities you can do, but in
God.
Mankind cannot be happy without God. We have a place
within our hearts nothing else can satisfy. Look around you.
Look at what you see people doing to try to be happy.
Look how many people are in huge debt now because
they find the instant gratification of shopping a momentary
happiness ... until the bills start rolling in.
What are you doing today to satisfy your soul?
How are you viewing your situation? What are you going to do about
it? Each of us have different problems, different things to deal with,
but we all have the same choice on what to do with them.
We cast our burdens on the Lord. We do what we can to make
the best of our situation and we leave the rest in His hands
and we learn to be content with what we have.
Why spend your money on something that is not real food?
Why work for something that doesn't really satisfy you?
Listen closely to me, and you will eat what is good;
your soul will enjoy the rich food that satisfies.
Isaiah 55:2
Those who want to do right more than anything else
are happy, because God will fully satisfy them.
Matthew 5:6
Even lions may get weak and hungry, but those who
look to the Lord will have every good thing.
Psalm 34:10
The greatest happiness can be found in the arms of God.
It is blanket security. Something you cannot find from
any other source. No one person can satisfy all our needs,
it is impossible, and it isn't their job. We cannot make ourselves
happy if we choose not to. Circumstances should not be
controlling our thinking and our spirit and our outlook.
If we are living a life of faith, we should be faithful to that faith.
Jesus said:
Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust in me.
John 14:1
Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything
you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace which is so
great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and
minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Let the peace that Christ gives CONTROL your thinking,
because you were all called together in ONE body to
have peace. Always be thankful.
Colossians 3:15
You Lord, give true peace to those who depend on you,
because they trust IN you.
Isaiah 26:3
My friends, you have a choice today.. which sounds best?
A life of faith or a life of fear?
A life trusting God or a life trying to control it all yourself?
A life full of possessions that never satisfy, or learning to
share what you have and enjoying how it makes life more satisfying?
What kind of world are you creating around you with your attitude and
mindset? Do people see you as having a life of faith? Do they see
Jesus in your actions, deeds and when you have problems do they see
faith in your heart and how you handle your problems?
A man comes and goes, his ways and words recorded,
and God will reward each person according to what
they say and do.
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done, for Christ will last.
love always
millie
ps. Share what you have with others, do not seek possessions
more than you do to love others. Seek a life that satisfies,
not one that is self seeking. But one that lives a life of faith
and love towards others. This is true religion and practical
religion, to love one another and give the best of what we
have to God and others.
Copyright Millie Plastaras 11/4/2007
Good Morning Everyone,
A recent survey was taken of a cross section of people and 70
percent of the people who were asked if they were happy
said they were not. My guess is that those who said
they were not happy, also do not feel much peace.
One of the reasons behind the answers was that
people were too busy either watching tv, on the internet too much,
or did not have close interpersonal relationships they found
trustworthy and enjoyable. Truth be told, most people
don't have either the time or the inclination to do what
it takes to invest in long term friendships.
People were also fearful about the world, its events
so easily seen on the news networks, which offer no
hope or solution but constant bombardment of the
problems of the world. Creating a sense of insecurity
and hopelessness in people.
All this together means people are less connected,
feeling more lonely, more unhappy, and less satisfied,
and often more fearful.
What do they do to fill those gaps? Everything you can imagine.
From planning great vacations, to doing recreational drugs,
to drinking alcohol, sex, pornography, overspending money
they do not have, shopping for things that do not satisfy more than
temporarily. At the end of the day, they are no more
happy than they were the day before.
People spend more time thinking about how to satisfy
themselves than they do how to love others or please God.
This is the greatest problem. Selfishness. Me, me, me.
My rights, my life, my choices. No one can stop me, I owe
no one nothing, I can do as I choose and there are no
consequences. At the end of the day when everyone
has claimed their rights and everyone has done their
thing, I want to see a show of hands who feels better?
Happiness comes from several things.
It is a mental choice. It is how we choose to view the world and
face it with our emotions and mental abilities.
Happiness comes from giving not for looking out for what you can get.
Happiness comes from a life that is open to friends, to time
with friends, and that is invested in not only enjoying others
but making others happy also.
What does the Bible say?
I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live
when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at
any time in everything that happens, when I have enough to eat,
and when I go hungry, when I have more than I need and
when I do not have enough. I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:12-13
Paul had learned the secret of internal happiness. Learning
to be content with what you have. Learning to look on the
bright side. Learning to find peace in your situation because
you trust in God, not in men, not in possessions, not in
what you can accumulate, or activities you can do, but in
God.
Mankind cannot be happy without God. We have a place
within our hearts nothing else can satisfy. Look around you.
Look at what you see people doing to try to be happy.
Look how many people are in huge debt now because
they find the instant gratification of shopping a momentary
happiness ... until the bills start rolling in.
What are you doing today to satisfy your soul?
How are you viewing your situation? What are you going to do about
it? Each of us have different problems, different things to deal with,
but we all have the same choice on what to do with them.
We cast our burdens on the Lord. We do what we can to make
the best of our situation and we leave the rest in His hands
and we learn to be content with what we have.
Why spend your money on something that is not real food?
Why work for something that doesn't really satisfy you?
Listen closely to me, and you will eat what is good;
your soul will enjoy the rich food that satisfies.
Isaiah 55:2
Those who want to do right more than anything else
are happy, because God will fully satisfy them.
Matthew 5:6
Even lions may get weak and hungry, but those who
look to the Lord will have every good thing.
Psalm 34:10
The greatest happiness can be found in the arms of God.
It is blanket security. Something you cannot find from
any other source. No one person can satisfy all our needs,
it is impossible, and it isn't their job. We cannot make ourselves
happy if we choose not to. Circumstances should not be
controlling our thinking and our spirit and our outlook.
If we are living a life of faith, we should be faithful to that faith.
Jesus said:
Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust in me.
John 14:1
Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything
you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace which is so
great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and
minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Let the peace that Christ gives CONTROL your thinking,
because you were all called together in ONE body to
have peace. Always be thankful.
Colossians 3:15
You Lord, give true peace to those who depend on you,
because they trust IN you.
Isaiah 26:3
My friends, you have a choice today.. which sounds best?
A life of faith or a life of fear?
A life trusting God or a life trying to control it all yourself?
A life full of possessions that never satisfy, or learning to
share what you have and enjoying how it makes life more satisfying?
What kind of world are you creating around you with your attitude and
mindset? Do people see you as having a life of faith? Do they see
Jesus in your actions, deeds and when you have problems do they see
faith in your heart and how you handle your problems?
A man comes and goes, his ways and words recorded,
and God will reward each person according to what
they say and do.
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done, for Christ will last.
love always
millie
ps. Share what you have with others, do not seek possessions
more than you do to love others. Seek a life that satisfies,
not one that is self seeking. But one that lives a life of faith
and love towards others. This is true religion and practical
religion, to love one another and give the best of what we
have to God and others.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Learning, Growing, Overcoming
Good Morning Everyone.
In each of our lifetimes, we will experience many things.
Happy times, sad times, times of grieving, times of laughter,
and times of illness. There will be many happy memories,
and many memories of hard times.
How do we process all this?
What is the big picture?
How do we handle the dark and troubling seasons of life?
Truly, no matter what you say or do, they have to be walked through.
No one escapes problems, or illness or trials. It is part of life.
But the difference is the way we handle it!
We can handle it with grace and courage, or fall apart everytime
something hits. Which I am sure most of us feel like doing.
But looking back over a lifetime of some very difficult and daunting
problems, I have to say all of them made me a stronger, wiser,
more resiliant, less selfish, and drew me closer to God!
When I was younger, I would run from friend to friend and cry
about my situation and fall apart. And I didn't learn a thing,
I became weaker. Then some wise friend told me time after time,
give it to the Lord, and here I was in the middle of a crisis! But she
was right. And I did. I found comfort and sweet healing in his presence.
I had been so busy running around, feeling sorry for the hard knocks
in life, that I had not sat down and had a quiet time with the Lord
and left my burdens totally on him and just rested in his ability to help
me overcome and go through these valleys in my life.
I may still go to trusted friends, but I go to the Lord first. I just ask
my friends when I want wisdom about a situation. But only God will be
with us from birth to death, and prayer REALLY DOES change things.
It is when we find our hope in him daily our spirit is renewed and refreshed
rather than depleted.
Hard times come and go, but Jesus never leaves us or forsakes us.
And weeping endures for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
Many of you understand loss, grief, pain, abandonment and rejection.
That's not the end of the story. We survive, we grow, we learn we move
on, and we learn to savor the good times, and count our blessings,
and not our sorrows.
Don't waste a minute on regret, or self condemnation or hating your life.
Make it a success by forging through the hard times and showing
that you have a life of faith and not of failure.
A heart turned towards overcoming and not giving up.
And a mind set on the things of Christ and not the mind of the world.
We are overcomers by the blood of the Lamb, not given to
defeat nor overcome by sorrow.
Let that precious Word of God flow into your heart daily
and renew your strength and resolve for whatever the day may hold.
We stick our chin out like flint shake our fist at the powers of darkness
and face the day with courage and the hope of God firmly planted in our
heart. We are the army of God, protected, driven by his grace and strength,
and covered by his wings. If God be for us, who can be against us?
Today is a new day.. rejoice in it.
love
millie
ps.. When was the last time you counted your blessings?
This is a important ritual to do everyday.
Don't look at what you don't have, be grateful for what you do have
within your hands.. praise God from whom all blessings flow.
´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·°°´·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°
For Everything God has a Reason
I thought in my heart that I'd give up and die,
for the voyage was rough and why should I try?
I floundered around in a turbulent sea
while the billowing waves kept crashing on me.
The storms raged wildly and the waters rose high;
I knew I was drowning and I cried, "Lord, why?"
I heard a voice answer; it seemed to descend
from out of the clouds and the violent wind.
Then God whispered to me, "I see you down there,
swimming alone in your black sea of despair.
I˜ve watched as you struggled in life˜s hurricane;
I've patiently waited till you called My name.
The waters are swift and it's so hard to sail,
for when you ignored Me I commanded a gale.
I sent the waves crashing in hopes you would see
that you couldn't survive without help from Me.
If your life were easy and storms never came,
be honest, my child, would you call out My name?
If you'll surrender your heart and give it to Me,
I'll be there to calm the most treacherous sea."
The waters at once became still as a breeze;
I said, "Thank You, dear Lord," and fell to my knees.
My heart felt as light as a gull on the wing,
and I lifted my voice His praises to sing.
Now when storms of life rage and waves billow high,
I don't bother my Lord with questions of why.
He gave me His promise and I understand
I've only to ask and He will lend me His hand.
-Author unknown-
I have often felt that many things that bring us to our knees,
teach us while we are down there to learn to pray.
These possibilities are open to everyone.
Don't tell God you are not good enough, do what He asks.
Don't tell God to send someone else, He asked you.
Don't tell God you don't have time to pray, He said seek me first.
Don't neglect the things of God. He said we are to
pick up His cross daily and follow Him.
Don't tell God anything is bigger than His ability.
God is the Great I Am, I am whatever you need.
There is no pit so deep, God's love is not deeper still.
Not my will but thine oh Lord.
´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·°°´·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God
X EVEN WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE HIM...GOD IS THERE! O
(run your mouse across the x to zero and highlight it )
Disclaimer
©§@}»~©©{millieshome1 }©©~»{@§©
This mailing is for Millies Devotions members only and is being sent to those who have subscribed to Millies Devotions
Millieshome1 is a registered member with the Aol community action team. Millies Devotions is not responsible for forwards of any kind.
All disclaimers are on file with Millie(Millieshome1@aol.com) in the event of a TOS violation.
If you wish to stop receiving from this list, just click on the link below.
Millie unsubscribe me
ALLOW AT LEAST 72 HOURS FOR YOUR REMOVAL FROM THE LIST
if you have received this from someone else and are not yet a member and would like to join, please click on the link below. Thanks :)
add me to millie's devotions list
If you wish to join the list, please click on the above link
allow at least 72 hours for this to occur.
thanks for joining!
In each of our lifetimes, we will experience many things.
Happy times, sad times, times of grieving, times of laughter,
and times of illness. There will be many happy memories,
and many memories of hard times.
How do we process all this?
What is the big picture?
How do we handle the dark and troubling seasons of life?
Truly, no matter what you say or do, they have to be walked through.
No one escapes problems, or illness or trials. It is part of life.
But the difference is the way we handle it!
We can handle it with grace and courage, or fall apart everytime
something hits. Which I am sure most of us feel like doing.
But looking back over a lifetime of some very difficult and daunting
problems, I have to say all of them made me a stronger, wiser,
more resiliant, less selfish, and drew me closer to God!
When I was younger, I would run from friend to friend and cry
about my situation and fall apart. And I didn't learn a thing,
I became weaker. Then some wise friend told me time after time,
give it to the Lord, and here I was in the middle of a crisis! But she
was right. And I did. I found comfort and sweet healing in his presence.
I had been so busy running around, feeling sorry for the hard knocks
in life, that I had not sat down and had a quiet time with the Lord
and left my burdens totally on him and just rested in his ability to help
me overcome and go through these valleys in my life.
I may still go to trusted friends, but I go to the Lord first. I just ask
my friends when I want wisdom about a situation. But only God will be
with us from birth to death, and prayer REALLY DOES change things.
It is when we find our hope in him daily our spirit is renewed and refreshed
rather than depleted.
Hard times come and go, but Jesus never leaves us or forsakes us.
And weeping endures for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
Many of you understand loss, grief, pain, abandonment and rejection.
That's not the end of the story. We survive, we grow, we learn we move
on, and we learn to savor the good times, and count our blessings,
and not our sorrows.
Don't waste a minute on regret, or self condemnation or hating your life.
Make it a success by forging through the hard times and showing
that you have a life of faith and not of failure.
A heart turned towards overcoming and not giving up.
And a mind set on the things of Christ and not the mind of the world.
We are overcomers by the blood of the Lamb, not given to
defeat nor overcome by sorrow.
Let that precious Word of God flow into your heart daily
and renew your strength and resolve for whatever the day may hold.
We stick our chin out like flint shake our fist at the powers of darkness
and face the day with courage and the hope of God firmly planted in our
heart. We are the army of God, protected, driven by his grace and strength,
and covered by his wings. If God be for us, who can be against us?
Today is a new day.. rejoice in it.
love
millie
ps.. When was the last time you counted your blessings?
This is a important ritual to do everyday.
Don't look at what you don't have, be grateful for what you do have
within your hands.. praise God from whom all blessings flow.
´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·°°´·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°
For Everything God has a Reason
I thought in my heart that I'd give up and die,
for the voyage was rough and why should I try?
I floundered around in a turbulent sea
while the billowing waves kept crashing on me.
The storms raged wildly and the waters rose high;
I knew I was drowning and I cried, "Lord, why?"
I heard a voice answer; it seemed to descend
from out of the clouds and the violent wind.
Then God whispered to me, "I see you down there,
swimming alone in your black sea of despair.
I˜ve watched as you struggled in life˜s hurricane;
I've patiently waited till you called My name.
The waters are swift and it's so hard to sail,
for when you ignored Me I commanded a gale.
I sent the waves crashing in hopes you would see
that you couldn't survive without help from Me.
If your life were easy and storms never came,
be honest, my child, would you call out My name?
If you'll surrender your heart and give it to Me,
I'll be there to calm the most treacherous sea."
The waters at once became still as a breeze;
I said, "Thank You, dear Lord," and fell to my knees.
My heart felt as light as a gull on the wing,
and I lifted my voice His praises to sing.
Now when storms of life rage and waves billow high,
I don't bother my Lord with questions of why.
He gave me His promise and I understand
I've only to ask and He will lend me His hand.
-Author unknown-
I have often felt that many things that bring us to our knees,
teach us while we are down there to learn to pray.
These possibilities are open to everyone.
Don't tell God you are not good enough, do what He asks.
Don't tell God to send someone else, He asked you.
Don't tell God you don't have time to pray, He said seek me first.
Don't neglect the things of God. He said we are to
pick up His cross daily and follow Him.
Don't tell God anything is bigger than His ability.
God is the Great I Am, I am whatever you need.
There is no pit so deep, God's love is not deeper still.
Not my will but thine oh Lord.
´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·°°´·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God
X EVEN WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE HIM...GOD IS THERE! O
(run your mouse across the x to zero and highlight it )
Disclaimer
©§@}»~©©{millieshome1 }©©~»{@§©
This mailing is for Millies Devotions members only and is being sent to those who have subscribed to Millies Devotions
Millieshome1 is a registered member with the Aol community action team. Millies Devotions is not responsible for forwards of any kind.
All disclaimers are on file with Millie(Millieshome1@aol.com) in the event of a TOS violation.
If you wish to stop receiving from this list, just click on the link below.
Millie unsubscribe me
ALLOW AT LEAST 72 HOURS FOR YOUR REMOVAL FROM THE LIST
if you have received this from someone else and are not yet a member and would like to join, please click on the link below. Thanks :)
add me to millie's devotions list
If you wish to join the list, please click on the above link
allow at least 72 hours for this to occur.
thanks for joining!
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