Blessings in Disguise

Everyone has heard the saying, I can complain because roses have thorns, or I can rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.
I want to talk about the blessings in disguise. Yes, God can hide blessings in the most unexpected places, like illness for example.
I have always been a very healthy person, other than the 2 x a yr I get bronchitis, but lately I have been so ill from antibiotic colitis, I have wondered if I would ever recover. It is in those times, when God gets you still, He can teach you.
Scripture text is Mark 6:47-54
47And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. 51And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. 53And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. 54And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

The first thing in this story, they find themselves in the middle of a storm, and Jesus see's them struggling. (vs48) He always does; nothing escapes the Master's watchful eye. And even though Jesus is right there in the middle of the storm with them, they don't recognize him, their eye's were on the storm. That is usually the way it is, we are focused on what is bothering us. When Jesus showed up on the scene the storm ceased.(vs 50,51)They still don't recognize Him, they were amazed at what they were seeing. Immediately in verse 52 it talks about them forgetting about the past miracle of the loaves, their heart was hardened. Does that sound familiar? God works so many things out for us, but as soon as the next storm approaches all of that is forgotten. When they returned to shore(safe ground) they recognized Him. Hmmm, sounds something like being sick, while you are sick you are focused on the illness, when it is all over and you are on "safe ground" you look back and see Jesus everywhere, He was right there all the time through the struggle. Praise God! I am so thankful for Jesus, for His mercy and His grace. No matter how many things I go through, and how I act through them, He is still there, through it all, patiently waiting for me to recognize him. Can sickness be a blessing in disguise? I think it can.

Out of the mouth of babes...

A small boy lived by the ocean. He loved all the creatures of the sea, especially the starfish, and spent much of his time exploring the seashores. One day he learned that there would be a minus tide that would leave the starfish stranded on the sand. The day of the tide he went down to the beach and began picking up the stranded starfish and started tossing them back in the sea. An elderly man who lived next door came to down to the beach to see what he was doing. "I’m saving the starfish." The boy proudly declared. When the neighbor saw all of the stranded starfish he shook his head and said, "I’m sorry to disappoint you young man, but if you look down the beach one way, there are stranded starfish as far as the eye can see. And if you look the other way, it’s the same. One boy like you isn’t going to make much of a difference." The boy thought about this for a moment. Then he reached his small hand down to the sand, picked up a starfish, tossed it back into the ocean and said, "I sure made a difference for that one"
-Unknown

Kids Who Are Different...

Here's to the kids who are different,
the kids who don't always get A's.
The kids who have ears twice the size of their peers,
and noses that go on for days...
Here's to the kids who are different,
the kids they call crazy or dumb.
The kids who don't fit,
with the guts and the grit,
who dance to a different drum...
Here's to the kids who are different,
the kids with the mischievous streak,
for when they are grown,
as history has shown,
it's their difference that makes them unique.


Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 19:14

Prayer Guide for the Election

Prayer Guide for the Election - Begin with Heart Preparation: Come into God's Presence with Worship. Thank God for his great mercy and many blessings. Ask God to extend his mercy to us and to our nation.
Pray for the upcoming election
1. Those running for office nationally: Instead of praying for specific candidates or political parties Pray that the person of righteousness, the person of God's choosing, would be selected in every congressional district, every senate race and for the office of President.
Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a disgrace to any people. (Proverbs 14:34)
2. Those running for office at the state and local level: Pray that the person of righteousness, the person of God's choosing, would be selected in every elected office at the state and local levels. When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. (Proverbs 29:2)
3. Those voting: Pray that each person voting will be convicted to vote for the person of righteousness, the person of God's choosing, in each elected office and in each ballot initiative. Pray for God's Presence to overshadow each person as they make their decision.
The Spirit of the Lord will be upon him - the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord - and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears. (Isaiah 11:2-3)
4. Those involved in the election process: Pray that every official involved in the election process would serve with honesty and integrity of heart. The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight. (Proverbs 11:1)
5. Those praying: Pray that God would empower intercessors and people across the nation and around the world to call out to Him day and night in extraordinary prayer during this season. And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a Spirit of grace and supplication. (Zechariah 12:10)
6. The Church: Pray that the Church would be fully awakened, engaged and empowered during this critical season. Pray that we would understand the urgency and importance of this election and the implications for the advancement of God's purposes in our nation and around the world. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:7)
7. Our nation: Pray that God's plans and purposes for our nation would be established during this election season. Pray that we would be a nation who follows God and is a blessing to the nations of the earth. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

Reasons Not to Wash...

If you took the same excuses that people use for not going to church and apply them to other important areas of life you'd realize how inconsistent we can be in our logic.
For example:
1. I was forced to as a child.
2. People who make soap are only after your money.
3. I wash on special occasions like Christmas and Easter.
4. People who wash are hypocrites-they think they are cleaner than everyone else.
5. There are so many different kinds of soap, I can't decide which one is best.
6. I used to wash, but it got boring, so I stopped.
7. None of my friends wash.
8. The bathroom is never warm enough in the winter or cool enough in the summer.
9. I'll start washing when I get older and dirtier.
10. I can't spare the time.

The Greatness of America

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and ample rivers, and it was not there.
I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her fertile fields and boundless forests, and it was not there.
I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her rich mines and vast world commerce, and it was not there.
I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her public school system and her institutions of learning, and it was not there.
I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her democratic congress and her matchless constitution, and it was not there.
Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.
America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.

Alexis De Tocqueville (19th century French writer and statesman)

Why did Jesus fold the napkin?

WHY DID JESUS FOLD THE NAPKIN? Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded and was placed at the head of that stony coffin. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put Him!" Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table until the master was finished. Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers and mouth with that napkin and toss it on to the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm done." But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant knew that the folded napkin meant, "I'm not finished yet." The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back."

Word of Wisdom

If you keep saying that things are going to be bad, you have a chance of being a prophet.
-Isaac Singer

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. -Proverbs 13:3

Achievement

Lincoln's Road to the White House
Failed in business in 1831.
Defeated for Legislature in 1832.
Second failure in business in 1833.
Suffered nervous breakdown in 1836.
Defeated for Speaker in 1838.
Defeated for Elector in 1840.
Defeated for Congress in 1843.
Defeated for Congress in 1848.
Defeated for Senate in 1855.
Defeated for Vice President in 1856.
Defeated for Senate in 1858.
Elected President in 1860.

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven.- Ecclesiastes 3:1

DON'T EVER GIVE UP!

A merry heart...

Pastor Jones was reading the classifieds when he came across an ad for a free talking parrot. He called the number listed, and advised the owner he was interested in his free talking parrot. The owner gave Pastor Jones directions to his location. When Pastor Jones arrived he was surprised to see the location was a gambling casino and lounge. He went inside and saw the parrot sitting on the bar. He told the owner he was Pastor Jones and he was there to get the free parrot. The owner told him he did not know he was a preacher, and it was probably not a good idea for him to have the bird. He told Pastor Jones the parrot had lived there all of his life in the bar and casino and may say anything. Pastor Jones assured the owner it would be ok, that he would retrain the parrot to say good things. The following Sunday Pastor Jones takes the bird to church with him. As Pastor Jones is preparing to speak he puts the bird on the pulpit. He notices the bird is looking back and forth over the congregation. The bird takes a second look at the congregation, then looks up at Pastor Jones and says, "yep, same old crowd!"

Daily Bread

HE guides our feet,
He guards our way,
His morning smiles bless all the day;
He spreads the evening veil,
and keepsThe silent hours while Israel sleeps.-I WATTS

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
-Psalm 4:8

Word of Wisdom

If a task is once begun,never leave it till it's done. Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all.


Whatever your hands finds to do, do it with all your might. -Ecclesiastes 9:10

Wise Words from Erma Bombeck

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck (written after she found out she was dying from cancer).



I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.



I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.



I would have talked less and listened more.



I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.



I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.



I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.



I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.



I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.



I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.



I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.



I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.


Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.


When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.'


There would have been more 'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.'


But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.look at it and really see it . . live it and never give it back.


STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!! Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what. Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

Daily Bread

When asked what contributed to his success as supreme allied commander during WWII, Eisenhower said that one of the things he found helpful to remember was that the urgent things were seldom important, and the important things were seldom urgent.

Worry is like a rocking chair. It will give you something to do, but it won't get you anywhere.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.- Matthew 6:34

Word of Wisdom

To have what we want is riches; but to be able to do without is power. -McDonald

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. -Philippians 4:12,13

Daily Bread

"Oh, Lord, give me a back-bone as big as a saw log, and ribs like the sleepers under the church floor; put iron shoes on me, and galvanized breeches. And give me a rhinocerous hide for a skin, and hang a wagon load of determination up in the gable-end of my soul, and help me to sign the contract to fight the devil as long as I've got a fist, and bite him as long as I've got a tooth, and then gum him till I die. All this I ask for Christ's sake. AMEN! -Bud Robinson



Finally, my brethern, be strong in the Lord, and the power of His might. -Ephesians 6:10

Don't Forget To Live

Someone wrote, "The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it."

• First I was dying to finish high school and start college.
• And then I was dying to finish college and start working.
• And then I was dying to marry and have children.
• And then I was dying for my children to grow old enough for school so I could return to work.
• And then I was dying to retire.
• And now, I am dying...and suddenly I realize I forgot to live.

"For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" -James 4:14

Thought for the Day

Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to deal with it.


Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
Psalm 34:19

Daily Bread

The dictionary is the only place success comes before work.


I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
-Proverbs 24:30 - 34

Word of Wisdom

Until we are nailed to the cross, let's not boast about being filled with the Spirit, or carry on about the "victorious Christian life" and "spiritual growth."What does all this crucifixion talk mean? Not that the self is dead, but rather that we are dead to self. It is not enough to survey the cross, to be near the cross, to kneel at the cross, or even to bear the cross. According to Scriptures we need to be nailed to the cross. Don't be fooled. Spiritual growth as human achievement is not the gospel. Crucifixion is the gospel. When we join Christ at Calvary it means we are all through being off-again, on-again Christians, picking up the cross one day, dropping it the next. Our nominal Christianity has a nail driven through it. Crucifixion becomes for us neither a great victory nor a crushing defeat. It simply means we are no longer playing church, selecting whom we like or dislike, using evangelical terminology to smokescreen our blatant self-interest.

Excerpts from the book, "The Inner Life of the Believer" by Sherwood Eliot Wirt.

A merry heart......

So God asked Adam, "What is wrong with you?"Adam said, "I don't have anyone to talk to."God said that He was going to make Adam a companion, and that it would be a woman.He said, "This person will gather food for you, cook for you, and when you discover clothing she'll wash it for you.She will always agree with every decision you make.She will bear your children and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them.She will not nag you and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you've had a disagreement.She will never have a headache and will freely give you love and passion whenever you need it."Adam asked God, "What will a woman like that cost?"God replied, "An arm and a leg."Then Adam asked, "What can I get for a rib?"The rest is history.

Daily Bread

Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.-Vernon Law



Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. IPeter 1:6,7

What God Does With Our Sin

He removes them from us "as far as the east is from the west"(Psalm 103:12) It is interesting that God did not use the similar figure of "as far as the north is from the south" because you can only go so far north and then you must go south. Therefore, the distance from the North Pole to South Pole is a specific distance-12,403 miles. But when will east meet west? It never will, because you can go east for the rest of your life and never start to go west. How far is east from west? It is infinite. That is how far God removes our sins from us! Praise God!
Isn't God's Word awesome? You can read it every day for the rest of your life and never glean everything out of it.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.
-Psalm 103:12

Daily Bread

How to keep your husband:

Be to his virtues very kind.

Be to his faults a little blind.

Love is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs...but rejoiceth with the truth.-I Corinthinas 13:5,6 NIV

Today's Word

Today's WordWednesday, October 8, 2008
The Big Blue
according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience Ephesians 2:2
Authority of the Air – In spite of this very odd phrase, you don’t have to worry that you will encounter Satan’s minions when your airplane leaves the ground. It’s not about the atmosphere. Nevertheless, we need to understand what Paul has in mind here if we are going to be aware of the subtlety and ruthlessness of the ruler of this age. Paul’s use of the metaphor of the “air” demonstrates just how powerful and how subtle the rule of the enemy actually is. No one thinks much about the air that surrounds us but it is a very important factor in living. We only notice it when something goes wrong, like a tornado or the loss of breath. The rest of the time, it is our invisible reality. In the same way, unless we deliberately pay attention to the reality of the authority of the ruler of this age, we will breathe in his plans and purposes without ever realizing it. If you’re going to be a part of the Kingdom, you will need an oxygen mask. You can’t breathe the air of this age and not expect it to affect you. Notice how Paul constructs this metaphor. It’s not just the air of the age. It is the authority that is ubiquitous and invisible. Yes, I know that several translation use the word “power” but the Greek is exousia, “authority”. Actually, the entire spiritual battle is about authority. Satan challenges God’s rightful authority and he is actively at work manipulating anyone and anything to endorse that challenge. There was never a battle about power. God’s power is unquestioned. It’s mythology to believe that God and Satan are fighting a battle over power, or even over good and evil. The battle is about authority. It always has been about authority and it always will be about authority until God ends the conflict with power. So, the armaments that you need are not implements of power. The armaments you need are the implements of authority and since authority can only be granted, not earned, the weapons of this warfare come from submitting to God’s authority rather than Satan’s. In other words, God wins this war when we submit to Him, not when we attempt to gather spiritual power to defeat the already-beaten enemy. Satan might temporarily have authority over the spirit of this age, but his only tactic left is to delude as many as he can into endorsing his attempted coup. He knows it’s over. He just wants to take as many as possible with him because in doing so he wounds God’s heart of compassion.What can we learn from this verse about today’s behaviors? We can start by examining our understanding of power versus authority. We can examine our quest for power, recognizing that power plays into the hands of this deceitful enemy. Think of it like this: Power is ultimately ego-centric. It is focused on me. When I have power or try to gain power, I am accumulating. Authority, on the other hand, is focused on the one who grants it, not on me. I bear the image of the grantor. I have no authority without the grantor. So, it can never be about me. In order to have authority, I have to submit to the one who grants it. The more I submit, the more authority I have – but none of it is mine.How do we use this information to battle the authority of the air? It’s really pretty simple. Wherever power raises its head in our lives, we give it away. Wherever authority calls us, we submit. No, it’s not what you think. Submission is not always compliance, as we shall see.Topical Index: Authority
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Skip Moen www.atgodstable.com

Daily Bread

Never dread tomorrow

or what the future brings,

Just pray for strength and courage

And trust God in all things.

-Helen Steiner Rice

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:6

Daily Bread

Well done is better than well said.
(Benjamin Franklin)


Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. -Matthew 7:20

Which is a greater testimony to the power of God: healing a sick man in a matter of seconds or exercising self-control throughout a lifetime of temptation? -Charles Stanley "The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life"

Mom's Birthday

Today would have been mom's 86th b'day. She passed away 1-8-1999. I love this picture of her with her great grandbaby! Also in the pic from left, my brother-in-law Dick, my sister Shelia, my mom, Nancy, my nephew Richie.

We still miss you mom!

Sign on a Pastor's Door

T.G.I.M.

Thank God It's Monday!

Daily Bread

The trouble with some self-made men is that they worship their creator.


Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. -Proverbs 16:18

Today's Word

Today's WordSaturday, October 4, 2008
Proof of Life
The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked Psalm 11:5
My new book is out. If you've been an avid reader of TW but have wanted a summary in book form to be able to give your friends, this is for you.. You can order by clicking here. Thanks so much! Skip
Tests – I don’t know about you, but I have enough to deal with in life without God adding a few tests here and there. You would think that if God really loves us, He would remove all those trials, not add to them. Yes, I know. We all rationalize life’s difficulties by saying that they are tests of faith, but do we really know why God tests us? A look at this Hebrew word shows us something we may not have seen before.The word is bachan. In Hebrew is refers to any kind of test from tasting food (Job 12:11) to testing loyalty (Genesis 42:15). It’s used to describe refining metals (Zechariah 13:9) but most of the time it is used of God’s testing men and women. Let’s look a little deeper to see what this word involves. The pictograph of this word (the consonants Bet-Chet-Nun) shows us “something that separates life.” It’s a picture of being inside a fence that surrounds life. In other words, the “test” really establishes a border (a fence) that protects the life that is inside. It separates what is deadly from what is nourishing. A test is a shield against what would destroy, not an examination of quality. Even when the word is applied to refining metals, the idea is removing what destroys the purity of gold or silver. That’s what God’s tests do for us. Each one is designed to protect us from harm by removing what will corrupt and destroy the life God has given. No wonder James tells us to rejoice when we have trials and tests. Each one is life insurance.So, what do God’s tests look like? Just like life insurance policies, tests come in all shapes and sizes. And just like life insurance policies, they all have one thing in common. They are always about trusting Him. From the simplest suggestion to the greatest trial, God’s tests are designed to lead us toward greater trust. Why? Because trust is the absolute foundation of our relationship with God. Where there is little trust, the relationship is weak. Where there is no trust, the relationship doesn’t exist. Oh, yes, by the way, trust is a verb, not a noun. It can only be seen in action, not in creeds or doctrines. If I trust God, it will show in my behavior. If it doesn’t show in the way I act, then I don’t trust Him no matter what I say.Because the issue of trust is at the heart of these tests, the examinations are tailored to each one of us. You might find yourself tested over something almost unnoticeable, like the humility needed to accept criticism from your spouse without attempting to justify yourself. Or you might find yourself in a major faith challenge. My guess is that there are a lot more tiny tests than we recognize. As God raises our awareness, we find that He is putting up fences all around us. All we have to do is step inside and close the gate.In the final analysis, God is interested in proof of life. Since life is only in Him, tests determine the quality of life we have under His care. He wants us to enjoy that maximum living relationship that we can have. To help us get to that place, He provides fences and gates. They are for our protection, not for His analysis. God already knows what our trust level is, but He also knows what it could be if we just step inside the fence. Maybe tests aren’t so bad after all.Topical Index: Safety
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Skip Moen www.atgodstable.com

Daily Bread

I REST beneath the Almighty's shade,

My griefs expire, my troubles cease;

Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stayed,

Wilt keep me still in perfect peace.-

C. Wesley

The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. -Psalm 121:5

My Prayer For You

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him; The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:17 - 20And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9 - 11For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and logsuffering with joyfulness;

Colossians 1:9 - 11

The Cost of Children

This is just too good not to pass on to all. Something absolutely positive for a change. I have repeatedlyseen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, butthis is the first time I have seen the rewards listedthis way. It's nice. The government recently calculated the cost of raisinga child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 fora middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! Thatdoesn't even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. Ittranslates into: * $8,896.66 a year, * $741.38 a month, or * $171.08 a week. * That's a mere $24.24 a day! * Just over a dollar an hour. ... Still, you might think the best financial advice isdon't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get foryour $160,140? * Naming rights. First, middle, and last! * Glimpses of God every day. * Giggles under the covers every night. * More love than your heart can hold. * Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs. * Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warmcookies. * A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly orchocolate. * A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites * Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter whatthe boss said or how your stocks performed that day. ... For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to: * finger-paint, * carve pumpkins, * play hide-and-seek, * catch lightning bugs, and * never stop believing in Santa Claus. ...You have an excuse to: * keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, * watching Saturday morning cartoons, * going to Disney movies, and * wishing on stars. * You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers underrefrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodlewreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay forMother's Day, and cards with backward letters forFather's Day. ... For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for: * retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof, * taking the training wheels off a bike, * removing a splinter, * filling a wading pool, * coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching abaseball team that never wins but always gets treatedto ice cream or pizza regardless. ... You get a front row seat to history, to witness the: * first step, * first word, * first bra, * first date, and * first time behind the wheel. You get to be immortal. You get another branch addedto your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long listof limbs in your obituary called grandchildren andgreat grandchildren. You get an education inpsychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications,and human sexuality that no college can match. ... In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there underGod. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scareaway the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart,police a slumber party, ground them forever, and lovethem without limits. So, one day they will, like you,love without counting the cost. That is quite a dealfor the price!!! Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren!!! ____________________________________________________________________________________Looking