~A lady with a wonderful testimony~

 [ send green star]

'The righteous face many troubles, but the Lord rescues them from each and every one.'  Psalm 34:19

David begins this Psalm with a bold promise to the Lord that he will praise Him and boast of Him at ALL times.  What has caused him to make such a commitment?  He tells us why.

"I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me, freeing me from ALL my (debilitating) fears....I cried out to the Lord in my suffering, and He heard me.  He sets me free from ALL my (debilitating) fears...The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help.  He rescues them from ALL their troubles." (Psalm 34:4, 6, 17)

 [ send green star]

Stillness of Winter

Surely there is no better time to sit and contemplate God and His world than early in the morning while the house is quiet and there is a snowstorm going on outside.  What a reminder of His power and glory!  Snow turns the December landscape of browns and grays into a winter wonderland just as the forgiveness of Jesus purifies our hearts.

Snow erases the noise that distracts us from the beauty of nature's sounds.  Step outside after a snowfall and listen.  The silence is like no other.  You can almost hear Him whisper, 'Be still and know that I am God.'

Snow serves to slow us down.  We can't (or shouldn't drive as fast.)  We certainly can't walk as fast.  In a world that is obsessed with motion and going places, again we are reminded, 'Be still'.

Spend quiet time in reflection and prayer with your Lord.

Teresa Bell Kindred

More to view:

http://www.teresakindred.com/

 [ send green star]

'All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.' 

I Corinthians 12:11

Proverbs 18:16 says that your gift will make room for you.  You won't have any problem finding work, friends or opportunity.  In fact, if you'll focus on your strengths and do what you're gifted to do, you'll probably have to turn down opportunities.

If you are not fullfilled, it may well be because you are not pursuing your destiny.  Make sure that you are fulfilling the dreams that God has placed in your heart. 

If you are called to ba a stay-at-home mom and raise your children, do it to the best of your ability.  Don't allow society to pressure you into some career simply becaue your friends are doing it.  Recognize your purpose and do it well.

If you are gifted in the area of sales, don't sit behind a desk all day long in a room by yourself.  Get into the area of your gifts, and do it to the best of your ability.  If you're going to fullfill your destiny, you must do what God hardwired you to do.  Make sure you operate a realm where you are passionate.

You may not have yet stepped into your divine destiny.  You're still doing many things for which you have little passion and no enthusiasm.  It is time to become a better you.

Certainly, you can't just snap your fingers and change careers, but at least examine your life and be aware of how you're spending your time.  Are you pursuing your passion?  Are you doing what you are good at naturally?  If not, why don't you make some changes?  Time is short.  Find one thing that you're passionate about and start giving yourself to it.  And God will lead you one step at a time.

Follow God's divine desiny for your life, discover your calling, and stay in your purpose.  Make a decision and keep pressing forward, keep believing,and keep stretching until you see your dreams fullfilled.  Then one day, you will look back and say with confidence, "This is why God God put me here."

- Joel Osteen

The Comforter Has Come:

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/comfortr.htm

 [ send green star]

Get Excited!

Are you burning with enthusiasm about your life, your friends, and your future?  If so, congratulations and keep up the good work!  But if your spiritual batteries are running low, perhaps you're spending too much energy focusing on your losses and too little time planning for futue victories.

Writer Sara Jordan gave this simple but good advice: "Every day give yourself a good mental shampoo."

If you're feeling tired or troubled or both, take time to soak in your blessings as you focus on things that are positive.  And while you're at it, seek strength from the Source that never fails.  When you sincerely petition God, He will give you all the power and enthusiasm you need to live victoriously through Him.

Success is a state of mind.  If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success.

Joyce Brothers

 [ send green star]

Fretting is Futile

No one has to remind you of the high cost of anxiety.  Worry divides the mind.  The biblical word for worry  (merimnao) is a compound word of two Greek words, merizo ("to divide") and nous ("the mind").  Anxiety splits our energy between troday's priorties and tomorrow's problems.  Part of our mind is on the now, the rest is on the not yet. The result is half-minded living.

That's not the only result.  Worrying is not a disease, but it causes diseases.  It has been connected to high blood pressure, heart trouble, blindess, migraine headaches, thyroid malfunctions and a host of stomach disorders.

Anxiety is an expensive habit.  Of course, it might be worth the cost, if it worked.  But it doesn't. Our frets are futile.  Worry has never brightened a day, solved a problem, or cured a disease.

Max Lucado

 [ send green star]

Take Risks for God

Use your uniqueness to take great risk for God!

If you're great with kids, volunteer at the orphanage.

If you have a head for business, start a soup kitchen.

If God bent you toward medicine, dedicate a day or a dedicate to AIDS patients.

The only mistake is not to risk making one...

He lavished you with strengths in this lfe and a promise of the next.  Go out on a limb; He won't let you fall.  Take a big risk; He would let you fail.  He invites you to dream of the day you feel His hand on your shoulder and His eyes on your face.  "Well done, " He will say, "good and faithful servant."

- Max Lucado

 [ send green star]

Columinist Rick Reilly gave this advice to rookie professional athletes: "Stop thumping your chest.  The line blocked, the quarterback threw you a perfect spiral while getting his head knocked off, and the good receiver blew the double coverage.  Get over yourself."

The truth is, every touchdown in life is a team effort.  Applaud your teammates.  An elementary boy came home from the tryouts for the school play: "Mommy, Mommy," he announced, "I got a  part.  I've been chosen to sit in the audience and clap and cheer." 

Richard "Rick" Paul Reilly (born February 3, 1958 in Boulder, Colorado) is an American sportswriter.

 [ send green star]