Brothers & Sisters In Christ
Sunday, January 30, 2011
A Decided Heart
The tone of your day starts with your attitude. The negative thoughts you keep and the disappointments you hang on to keep you from blossoming and enjoying your life. Train yourself to speak and think positively even before your eyes are opened to the first rays of light. Begin each day in prayer, giving thanks for the roof over your head, the bed you are sleeping in and the ability to think clearly. Nothing is going to ruin your high spirits if you live with a decided heart to be happy.
Everyday Blessings
Everyday Blessings
"Yes! I've got my dream job! Thank You God!" "We've been approved for the house. The Lord was with us." "I didn't think it was possible. . . and then I drove off with my new car. " "Two pulls and I hit the jackpot! The Lord knows I needed it."
The blessings are there always. Fill yourself with the widsom of God so that you will see more than the icing on the cake.
Inspired by Luke 2:36-40
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Pahnuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Gailee, to their own town of Nazareth.
Luke 2:36-40
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
A Decided Heart
The tone of your day starts with your attitude. The negative thoughts you keep and the disappointments you hang on to keep you from blossoming and enjoying your life. Train yourself to speak and think positively even before your eyes are opened to the first rays of light. Begin each day in prayer, giving thanks for the roof over your head, the bed you are sleeping in and the ability to think clearly. Nothing is going to ruin your high spirits if you live with a decided heart to be happy.
"Yes! I've got my dream job! Thank You God!" "We've been approved for the house. The Lord was with us." "I didn't think it was possible. . . and then I drove off with my new car. " "Two pulls and I hit the jackpot! The Lord knows I needed it."
The blessings are there always. Fill yourself with the widsom of God so that you will see more than the icing on the cake.
Inspired by Luke 2:36-40
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Pahnuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Gailee, to their own town of Nazareth.
Luke 2:36-40
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
A Decided Heart
The tone of your day starts with your attitude. The negative thoughts you keep and the disappointments you hang on to keep you from blossoming and enjoying your life. Train yourself to speak and think positively even before your eyes are opened to the first rays of light. Begin each day in prayer, giving thanks for the roof over your head, the bed you are sleeping in and the ability to think clearly. Nothing is going to ruin your high spirits if you live with a decided heart to be happy.
There Is Good In Everyone
There Is Good In Everyone
“I’m going to stop smoking just until I have the baby.” “I only have the problem when I feel stressed. So I try not to stress.” “I know I hurt people when I do that. But I don’t mean to.”
When things go wrong we can make excuses and think temporary change is a fix. Instead use that opportunity to strengthen your good traits, develop fresh attitudes and toss out ones that stink. There is good in everyone! Sparkle even when the world is flawed!
Inspired by Mark 2:18-22
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.
“I’m going to stop smoking just until I have the baby.” “I only have the problem when I feel stressed. So I try not to stress.” “I know I hurt people when I do that. But I don’t mean to.”
When things go wrong we can make excuses and think temporary change is a fix. Instead use that opportunity to strengthen your good traits, develop fresh attitudes and toss out ones that stink. There is good in everyone! Sparkle even when the world is flawed!
Inspired by Mark 2:18-22
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.
Relish, Appreciate, Love
Relish, Appreciate, Love
“Why did you eat it all? Leave some for others.” “You complain all the time. Why can’t I?” “All you do is work. Why don’t you spend time with us?”
Food is a gift and wonderful source of energy not an opportunity to be gluttonous. Complaining is a direct insult to God about the life you have been blessed with. Work is a place to exhibit your skills and it will pay the bills, but it won’t fill the intimate space in people that requires love.
Relish, appreciate and enjoy love in your life, evade going through the motions or simply existing.
Inspired by Mark 2:23-28
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the Sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.
“Why did you eat it all? Leave some for others.” “You complain all the time. Why can’t I?” “All you do is work. Why don’t you spend time with us?”
Food is a gift and wonderful source of energy not an opportunity to be gluttonous. Complaining is a direct insult to God about the life you have been blessed with. Work is a place to exhibit your skills and it will pay the bills, but it won’t fill the intimate space in people that requires love.
Relish, appreciate and enjoy love in your life, evade going through the motions or simply existing.
Inspired by Mark 2:23-28
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the Sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.
We Can Work It Out
We Can Work It Out
“I am done with you.” Your attitude stinks. Her habits drive me crazy. My stomach turns when I look at him.
Where is the love? Learn to turn your anger into compassion so that you will be led to help rather than condemn or kill a spirit. “I love you. But you are not my favorite person right now. Let’s cool off and then we can find a solution that will work for both of us."
Inspired by Mark 3:1-6
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
“I am done with you.” Your attitude stinks. Her habits drive me crazy. My stomach turns when I look at him.
Where is the love? Learn to turn your anger into compassion so that you will be led to help rather than condemn or kill a spirit. “I love you. But you are not my favorite person right now. Let’s cool off and then we can find a solution that will work for both of us."
Inspired by Mark 3:1-6
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
You Talking To Me?
You talking to me?
“Honey, come here a minute.” “I’d like to thank you for coming.” “I was worried when you didn’t answer.”
Our names are called out every day. Take time to listen so that you can respond in love. Enjoy the retold stories, the good and life changing experiences, and even the things that make you want to pull your hair out. Life on earth is precious & temporary. “Just love me. Life beyond this moment is not promised.”
Inspired by Mark 3:13-19
He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, and Juduas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
“Honey, come here a minute.” “I’d like to thank you for coming.” “I was worried when you didn’t answer.”
Our names are called out every day. Take time to listen so that you can respond in love. Enjoy the retold stories, the good and life changing experiences, and even the things that make you want to pull your hair out. Life on earth is precious & temporary. “Just love me. Life beyond this moment is not promised.”
Inspired by Mark 3:13-19
He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, and Juduas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
I"ll Be There
I'll Be There
“I’m afraid to go by myself. Can you go with me?” “Don’t worry about what to say, the right words will come.”
Encouraging words and someone by our side sometimes makes the impossible seem possible. God puts us in special places to do special things for each other. Be open and eager to act on the opportunity to serve.
Inspired by Acts 22:4-11
Paul said: “I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I went there in order to bind those who were there and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment. While I was on my way and approaching Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Then he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. I asked ‘What am I to do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, “Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told everything that has been assigned to you to do.’ Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, those who were with me took my hand and led me to Damascus.”
“I’m afraid to go by myself. Can you go with me?” “Don’t worry about what to say, the right words will come.”
Encouraging words and someone by our side sometimes makes the impossible seem possible. God puts us in special places to do special things for each other. Be open and eager to act on the opportunity to serve.
Inspired by Acts 22:4-11
Paul said: “I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I went there in order to bind those who were there and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment. While I was on my way and approaching Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Then he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. I asked ‘What am I to do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, “Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told everything that has been assigned to you to do.’ Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, those who were with me took my hand and led me to Damascus.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)