Insight

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not
unto your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will
direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

There are times in each of our lives where we feel
like we need a sense of direction. We either feel
bogged down in our current situation and we don't know
how to change it, or we recognize we are going
the wrong direction and need help to change
ourselves. Then there are those times where
we truly want to know God's will for our life, and
feel like we are just not hearing what it is.

In this busy world, where people are involved
in so many activities it is easy for our time with God
to go on the back burner as we pursue other things.
Then we ask God why are we not hearing from you?

It would be like you wanting to talk to someone on
the phone, and thinking about them a lot, and wanting
to spend time with them, but you never get in touch.
How could you have a relationship on that basis?

My friends, if you want direction from God, you have
to spend time with Him. You have to get to know the
nature of God by reading his word and seeing what his
promises are, and what He really requires from us.

If you have a job, you go in and do the duties that go
with your job. It is something mapped out by your
employer to get you from A to B. Something that is
a clear direction to accomplish the tasks that must be done.
You wouldn't think of telling the employer that this work
doesn't need to be done, it will get done by itself, and
just leave it there.

How can you expect to hear from God, if you don't talk to
Him and listen to him? He speaks to our hearts in the quiet
moments where we talk to him about our problems, or what
is in our heart, or times we spend praising Him. We need
focus time with God. Time dedicated to Him, for his service,
His glory and time for us to hear back.

Can you change direction today and dedicate specific time
for God each day? If you can realize that the only thing
that counts in this life is what we do for God, it should
become your primary focus. Everything else will fall into place.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33

I realize that you have busy lives. But you also need a
time of refreshing, and a time dedicated to your spiritual life.
Make a goal today, to set aside specific time daily for your
devotional life, and stick to it. It will change your life
and encourage you greatly everyday.

love,
millie

Hypocrisy or Humanity?

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves,
you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Make allowance
for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.
Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us
all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace
that comes from Christ RULE in your hearts. For as members
of one body you are called to live in peace, always
being thankful.
Colossians 3:12-15
NLT Translation

Have you ever been around people who were said to be very spiritual, they knew all the correct
things to say and motions to make, but they spent a majority of their time finding fault with each other?

We often see people tear each other down
to make themselves feel better. Usually that
is a sign one feels inadequate themselves.
Inward introspection and addressing our own flaws
and correcting them, is a far better daily pursuit
than looking at what is wrong with everyone else.
Truth be told, we cannot fix someone else anyway.
What we have control over is our own emotions and actions,
and we always have things we need to correct in ourselves.
Let God be the judge!

I think most of us have a tendency to be critical,
but it is not a profitable pursuit, and we need to
bring our thinking in alignment with the word of God.
Have you ever heard someone say I don't go to church because there are too many hypocrites? It always amazes me to hear people say that. Because no matter if you go to church or not.. you do things you know are not right, and wish you had not. You are compelled to do that which you do not want to do, instead of that which you know you should. That is hypocrisy. We all do it.. we all feel ashamed, and we all know that we were not being true to ourselves. I believe hypocrites live on every block, in every home, are on every job, and in every company, and in every country. Because people often say what they think they are, and it is not who they really are. So next time you go to church, remember no one there is perfect. Just like they are not any place else. We are all under construction, we have all done things wrong. And knowing this.. we should be more compassionate, understanding, and far less judgmental of people.

Everyone you know has a past, including yourself!

The building blocks of a person who is maturing, is knowing their faults, addressing them, and not wasting their time trying to "fix" everyone else. If you disagree with someone, or the way they live, the most powerful thing you can do is pray for them. Jesus said: But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who spitefully use and persecute you. Matthew 5:44 Prayer can change any situation, any person, and any problem. It is not our last resort, it is our greatest hope!

Love always,

millie

PS. We must always forgive, but it doesn't mean we are able
to forge close intimate relationships with everyone. It is just
wisdom to choose your companions carefully

10 Little Christians

10 Little Christians standing in line
1 disliked the preacher, then there were 9

9 little Christians stayed up very late
1 overslept Sunday, then there were 8

8 little Christians on their way to Heaven
1 took the low road and then there were 7

7 little Christians chirping like chicks
1 disliked music, then there were 6

6 little Christians seemed very much alive
but one lost his interest then there was 5

5 little Christians pulling for Heaven's Shore
but one stopped to rest, then there were 4

4 little Christians each busy as a bee
1 got his feelings hurt, then there were 3

3 little Christians knew not what to do
1 joined the sporty crowd, then there were 2

2 little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done
differed with each other, then there was 1

1 little Christian can't do much 'tis true
brought his friend to Bible study -- then there were 2

2 earnest Christians, each won one more
that doubled the number, then there were 4

4 sincere Christians worked early and late
Each won another then there were 8

8 splendid Christians if they doubled as before
In just so many Sundays, we'd have 1,024

In this little jingle, there is a lesson true,
You belong either to the
building or to the wrecking crew!
- Author Unknown

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"THE PERFECT CHURCH"

If you should find the perfect church
Without one fault or smear,
For goodness sake! Don't join that church;
You'd spoil the atmosphere.

If you should find the perfect church
Where all anxieties cease
Then pass it by, lest joining it
You'd mar the masterpiece.

If you should find the perfect church
Then don't you ever dare,
To tread upon such holy ground;
You'd be a misfit there.

But since no perfect church exists
Made of imperfect men,
Then let's cease looking for that church
And love the church we're in.

Of course, it's not a perfect church,
That's simple to discern
But you and I and all of us
Could cause the tide to turn.

What fools we are to flee our post
In that unfruitful search
To find at last where problems loom
God proudly builds His church.

So let's keep working in our church
Until the resurrection.
And then we each will join that church
Without an imperfection.
--Mavis Williams

Making It Real

Isaiah 29:13

And so the Lord says, "These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.
NLT translation.

It is so easy when we are in church to feel a sense of being near God,
and feeling all is right with the world. We can sing praises with
the best of them, and say all the right words.
But the real test of a Christian
is what they do outside of church.

For instance, after a church service when people are leaving
the parking lot and someone gets in their way, does their
temper return? Does your flesh rule your spirit? Symptom
1 of not being submitted to Christ.

After we leave church is the Bible placed in a bookshelf and forgotten
until our next visit to church? Symptom 2 of putting yourself
before God.

A life with Christ requires discipline, dedication and focus.
It isn't a game, it is a reality. It is something that should show
outwardly in all we do, and inwardly, it convicts us of things
we should change and do.

The truth is, if we are just playing church and not really
taking it serious, it is a soul issue. We are not submitting
to Christ, we are not changing anything, we are merely
covering up the truth of what is in our hearts.

Yet a life in Christ brings freedom of spirit, freedom from sin,
it brings light to our path, hope to our heart, inspiration
to our soul, and strength for each day. A life in Christ
is a path strewn with many things, but most of all the
presence of Christ each minute.

If you are serving God with your lips only, and you
are far from his heart, what good is that doing you?

Will you make a dedication of your heart today, to serve
God with all your heart soul and mind? Then get in
the word of God, and read it, and plant it in your spirit
and take those words to heart. Live by those words
and speak them to others. Make a heart change,
for your own soul's sake, and to please your heavenly
Father. He, who knew from the beginning the very
intentions of and hidden things in your heart.

Remember
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done for Christ will last.

For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Facing the Truth About Ourselves

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ
has made us free, and do not be entangled again
with a yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1

In each of our lives we have issues, flaws, and things
that need correcting. Just when we think we have things
conquered, we realize something in our life is out of
control, and out of line with liberty in Christ.

The Word says if God sets us free, we are free indeed.

My question to you, is have you ALLOWED him to set you free?

This morning and last night, God took me to task over some
things I was holding in my heart. They were not worthy of him.
I was allowing things to come in that were not pleasing,
I was allowing negative emotions, and hurts to rule my thinking.

I had to hear someone else talk about their own battle with that
and realize it was spiritual poison to allow those things in my spirit.

Funny how we all seem to need to be reminded again and
again of things we must let go of and overcome. Stubborn people
we are.

My friend is there anything in your life that is not surrendered to
Christ today? Charles Stanley said yesterday in his sermon:
If there is a area of your life that is not surrendered to Christ,
it is in rebellion to Christ."

My friend, this should not be so. We have a new life in Christ,
we are no longer our own, we were bought with a price, his
precious blood on the cross.

Take time today, to ask God to shed light on any area of your
life that is not pleasing to him, that is un surrendered,
then have the courage to pray and ask forgiveness,
and work on that area. Surrender it to Christ, and walk
in the freedom and liberty he promises to those who
truly follow him and allow Him to rule and reign in their life.

Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done for Christ will last.

The Storms of Life

About the 4th watch of the night He cometh unto them,
walking upon the sea.
Mark 6:48

There are times in our lives that are so full of trouble,
or sorrow, that it seems like we are in the middle of
a raging storm. Watching the billowy waves pound
our soul and we cry out for the hand of God to rescue
us.

So it was on this long night for the disciples
out on this boat. The wind came and swept waves
onto their boat, and the boat swayed and dipped
with the power of the waves. But Jesus saw them,
they were never truly alone. He watched them from
the shore and eventually He came to rescue them.

Sometimes in our lives we see something happening
to someone we love, and we are powerless to stop it.
We watch them from the shore, and our heart longs
to rescue them, but it is not within our power.

This is the time we know the blessedness of prayer
and the presence of God. We know of His great power
to save, rescue, guide, and protect. This is when we
must get serious, and get vigilant in our prayers,
and not let the waves crush us, but fight back with the
warfare of prayer. The fervent prayer that cries out
to God and never gives up until we feel the answer is
on the way. Persistent, powerful prayer.

We see miracles everyday, because
someone chose to fight the good fight of faith,
rather than wimp out and give up.

Have you ever stood on the shore and watched a loved
one suffer? I have, and it is wrenching. And there
are no words that anyone can say that will bring
total comfort. And there is nothing your friends
can do except say kind words, or try to help you with
things that need to be done. The greatest gift from a
friend can be their heart felt prayers, and loving encouragement.

Sometimes in life there are things we must face alone.

This more than ever should teach us that our sufficiency
only comes from God. No matter how well meaning
our friends or family, they cannot be there in every
way we need. It is not only not possible, but it is
not something many of us have the tools or power to do.
No one is going to rescue us from life's troubles.

No one but Jesus.
People come and go from our lives. Our loved ones
are a gift for a time. But Jesus stays with us from birth
to eternity.

He watches us from the shore, and listens to our cries,
and then comes to save us. Jesus, the great Physician,
the Great I Am, the Bright and Morning star. Our hope,
our salvation, our sufficiency. But until we seek Him
with all our heart, we will not know his sufficiency,
because we are blocking it by our very worry and
doubt.

My friend, if you find that there are situations beyond your
control, I know someone who made heaven and
earth, and nothing is too hard for His hands.

For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all
points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help
us at the time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16

I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy, for thou hast
considered my trouble; thou has known my soul in
adversities.
Psalm 31:7

Yes, Jesus knows every fibre of your being, He has
seen the shed tears, the loneliness and the illness.
and even now, his hand is stretched out.
Come my child, rest with me, and let me
calm the waves and the storms.

Peace be still.

I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou, Lord
only makes me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8

Peace and safety.
Jesus.

remember
only one life, will soon be past
only what is done for Christ will last