If you woke up this morning with more health than illness,you are more blessed than the million who won't survive the week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world.
If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep,you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish some place, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If your parents are still married and alive,you are very rare, especially in the United States.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.
If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.
If you can read this message,you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.
You are so blessed in ways you may never even know.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Who God Uses...
Do you feel like God can't use you? Please meditate on the following verse:
And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam....Numbers 22:28
If God can use a donkey to speak His Word, He can certainly use you!
For ye see your calling, brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and t hings which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence.I Corinthians 1:26-29
And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam....Numbers 22:28
If God can use a donkey to speak His Word, He can certainly use you!
For ye see your calling, brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and t hings which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence.I Corinthians 1:26-29
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The American's Creed
I believe in the United States of America as a Government of the People,By the People,For the People,
Whose just powers are derived from the Consent of the Governed;
A Democracy in a Republic, A Sovereign Nation of Many Sovereign States;
A Perfect Union, One and Inseparable;
Established upon those Principles of Freedom, Equality, Justice, and Humanity For which American Patriots Sacrificed their lives and Fortunes.
I Therefore Believe it is my duty to my Country To Love It; To Support its Constitution; To Obey its Laws; To Respect its Flag; And to Defend it against all enemies.
The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His Heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD. -Psalm 33:11,12
Whose just powers are derived from the Consent of the Governed;
A Democracy in a Republic, A Sovereign Nation of Many Sovereign States;
A Perfect Union, One and Inseparable;
Established upon those Principles of Freedom, Equality, Justice, and Humanity For which American Patriots Sacrificed their lives and Fortunes.
I Therefore Believe it is my duty to my Country To Love It; To Support its Constitution; To Obey its Laws; To Respect its Flag; And to Defend it against all enemies.
The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His Heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD. -Psalm 33:11,12
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Daily Bread
Christ turns a piece of bread into a banquet; a few fish into a feast. What little do you have to give Him today? Like the song says, if all you hold is broken pieces of a life that makes no sense, He wants to lift you up and hold you, and mend each torn event. He will find a way. Because if He can paint a sunset and put the stars in place, if He can raise up mountains, and calm the storm tossed waves, I know for you, My God can do, He will find a way.
Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burded light. -Matthew 11:28-30
Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burded light. -Matthew 11:28-30
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Wise Words from Mother Theresa
The Final Analysis
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered, Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight;Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is all between you and God;It was never between you and them anyway. -Mother Theresa
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered, Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight;Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is all between you and God;It was never between you and them anyway. -Mother Theresa
Handy Bible Chart
YOU SAY
GOD SAYS
BIBLE VERSES
You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)
You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)
You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)
You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)
God determines who walks into your life....it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.'
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Gerat Expectations
And they said to her, “You are out of your mind.” Acts 12:15
Out Of Your Mind – Mainê! No, it’s not the smallest, coldest state in the Union. It’s the transliteration of the Greek word that means, “You’re insane.” It’s the root of our word maniac. “You’re raving mad.” Given the circumstances, it’s quite humorous. Maybe we all need to be a little more like maniacs and a little less like the ones who were praying.Those who were fervently praying for Peter in prison weren’t doing anything wrong. Their prayers affected the marvelous outcome of this event. But what’s really hilarious about all this is that even while they were praying, they revealed the fatal human flaw. They didn’t believe it when God answered them. We don’t know what they expected, but we know that they didn’t expect Peter to knock on the door.This is a good lesson for all of us. It teaches us two critical things about prayer. First, it teaches us that we are all vulnerable to doubt. Too many times we idolize the early Christians. We see them as more than human – as saints elevated above the common concerns and mistakes of ordinary believers. This incident paints a more realistic picture. In the midst of calamity, even the best of us allows doubt to enter into our expectations about God. We are all in the same boat. When you feel as though your prayers are just stumbling along, when you pray with real heart-felt intensity and at the same time worry about God’s response, remember these companions of Peter. God heard them in spite of their doubt. They weren’t ready for His answer, but they pressed through to His throne nevertheless.The second lesson is even more important. God responds to prayer. God’s answers do not depend on our ability to embrace His reply. Even doubters can be surprised by the goodness of God. Prayer is about God’s character, not about His actions. Once we understand that God is good, every response is possible, even those responses that strike us as insane. These early Christians needed to learn that God’s goodness is at the center of every response to prayer – and it needs to be at the center of every request in prayer.The rabbis teach us that prayer is our effort to prepare our hearts to accept whatever God provides. Prayer is the practice of contentment. Because God is good and He loves His children, He always answers our prayers with what best serves His purposes and our involvement in His purposes. Certainly we need to make our requests known to Him, but in the end, our prayers are about us, not about God. Our prayers bring our hearts into alignment with His will so that His answers are perfectly acceptable to us. I imagine that these prayer warriors had a good laugh after they discovered Peter was outside knocking on the door. That laugh must have been about themselves. God taught them to expect to see His goodness in the land of the living. God taught them that hope can be converted to present reality; but most of all, God taught them to trust Him. That’s what we need to ask in our prayers. Do we trust Him? Are we ready for God to respond as He chooses? Are we expecting to be surprised?Topical Index: Prayer
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Copyright 2003-2008 © Skip Moen and AtGodsTable.com. All Rights Reserved.Articles may be reproduced in whole under the following provisions: 1) A proper credit must be given to the author at the end of each story, along with a link to http://www.atgodstable.com/ 2) Content may not be arranged or "mirrored" as a competitive online service.
Out Of Your Mind – Mainê! No, it’s not the smallest, coldest state in the Union. It’s the transliteration of the Greek word that means, “You’re insane.” It’s the root of our word maniac. “You’re raving mad.” Given the circumstances, it’s quite humorous. Maybe we all need to be a little more like maniacs and a little less like the ones who were praying.Those who were fervently praying for Peter in prison weren’t doing anything wrong. Their prayers affected the marvelous outcome of this event. But what’s really hilarious about all this is that even while they were praying, they revealed the fatal human flaw. They didn’t believe it when God answered them. We don’t know what they expected, but we know that they didn’t expect Peter to knock on the door.This is a good lesson for all of us. It teaches us two critical things about prayer. First, it teaches us that we are all vulnerable to doubt. Too many times we idolize the early Christians. We see them as more than human – as saints elevated above the common concerns and mistakes of ordinary believers. This incident paints a more realistic picture. In the midst of calamity, even the best of us allows doubt to enter into our expectations about God. We are all in the same boat. When you feel as though your prayers are just stumbling along, when you pray with real heart-felt intensity and at the same time worry about God’s response, remember these companions of Peter. God heard them in spite of their doubt. They weren’t ready for His answer, but they pressed through to His throne nevertheless.The second lesson is even more important. God responds to prayer. God’s answers do not depend on our ability to embrace His reply. Even doubters can be surprised by the goodness of God. Prayer is about God’s character, not about His actions. Once we understand that God is good, every response is possible, even those responses that strike us as insane. These early Christians needed to learn that God’s goodness is at the center of every response to prayer – and it needs to be at the center of every request in prayer.The rabbis teach us that prayer is our effort to prepare our hearts to accept whatever God provides. Prayer is the practice of contentment. Because God is good and He loves His children, He always answers our prayers with what best serves His purposes and our involvement in His purposes. Certainly we need to make our requests known to Him, but in the end, our prayers are about us, not about God. Our prayers bring our hearts into alignment with His will so that His answers are perfectly acceptable to us. I imagine that these prayer warriors had a good laugh after they discovered Peter was outside knocking on the door. That laugh must have been about themselves. God taught them to expect to see His goodness in the land of the living. God taught them that hope can be converted to present reality; but most of all, God taught them to trust Him. That’s what we need to ask in our prayers. Do we trust Him? Are we ready for God to respond as He chooses? Are we expecting to be surprised?Topical Index: Prayer
Printer-friendly Version
Copyright 2003-2008 © Skip Moen and AtGodsTable.com. All Rights Reserved.Articles may be reproduced in whole under the following provisions: 1) A proper credit must be given to the author at the end of each story, along with a link to http://www.atgodstable.com/ 2) Content may not be arranged or "mirrored" as a competitive online service.
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