November 23
The true calling of a Christian is not to do extraordinary things but to do ordinary things in an extraordinary way. - Dean Stanley
Joy — I delight in giving and receiving the joy of God's Spirit.
My joy is not dependent on the events, material things, or even the people around me. True gladness flows from the Spirit of God within me.
A joyful spirit from the Spirit is strengthening, for it encourages me to find good in any situation. Joy keeps me focused and positive, even when those around me are not. There is a joy in watching the flight of a butterfly or hearing a baby's laughter. There is an overflowing joy of spirit in spending time in prayer.
Joy is not something I keep to myself. The more I share it, the more I receive in return. As I let the light of joy shine in my eyes and through my voice and actions, I find that the people I meet respond in positive, cheerful ways. I delight in giving and receiving the joy of the Holy Spirit. Author Unknown.
Christ the King Sunday is such a wonderful celebration! After some sobering messages of heaven and hell, we get to rejoice in His coming. Of course, we still cannot forget the underlying message that many people will bow to Him, but have not accepted Him in their hearts--we’ve got to stay busy in living for the King so more and more will know Him as Savior and Lord. We have great imagery again in these lessons. The comfort of a King Shepherd who tenderly gathers his flock to his side, and the serving King--who feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, and visits those in captivity. We are to imitate this King--how? The same power which raised Christ from the dead is working in us to live as a child of the King. With this kind of King, this kind of Kingdom, and this kind of Kingly power, why would we want to turn to anything else?
When God is about to work out any great purpose, He usually lays it as a burden of prayer on the heart of some of His saints whom He can fully trust. --A. B. Simpson
The reason you don't like the Bible, you old sinner, is because it knows all about you.
--Billy Sunday
Success is not measured by what you do compared to what others do, it is measured by what you do with the ability God gave you. Zig Ziglar
Too many people expect God to work through them when they don't even let Him work in them.
Lord, do in me what You need to do so You can do through me what You have to do.
There is no greater freedom than being a bond servant to Christ.
A Christian without commitment is like a promise made with your fingers crossed.
It is hard to be distracted by the world when we are attracted by Christ.
Chesterton quote on the wall: “A dead thing goes with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.” great Christian thinker and writer G. K. Chesterton
A Time to Pursue Truth By Chuck Colson 11/14/2008
It’s getting to the point where I hesitate to turn on the TV. From the financial crisis, to hurricanes, to Iran, to fuel prices, you name it. And it’s not just the news, it’s the media’s—and the public’s—voyeuristic preoccupation with chaos that troubles me. The news is grim.
But don’t just hide in bed and pull the blanket over you. We need to understand what’s happening in the world, not as mere spectators, but in order to engage the world in a winsome way, ourselves to be light in the darkness.
I can’t help but be reminded of a lesson taught by a certain Oxford don named C.S. Lewis. Yes, these are frightening times today. But 60 years ago the entire world was at war. It was then that he preached his famous sermon The Weight of Glory. This is what he had to say: “Human culture has always had to exist under the shadow of something infinitely more important than itself. If men had postponed the search for knowledge and beauty until they were secure, the search would never have begun.”
Lewis’ words could not be more appropriate for us today. It’s precisely during times of crisis that we must persevere all the more in our quest for beauty and truth.
Sometimes God will deny you many things, to see if you will be satisfied with his provision. Do you bear poverty well, or are you envious at the rich? Are you, in your poverty, what Christ would have been in your circumstances? Thus riches and poverty, sickness and health, and a thousand other things are sent to try us and prove to us, and to those around us, what our real state is. --Charles G. Finney
Letter to a bank...
Dear Sirs:
In view of what seems to be happening internationally with banks at the moment I was wondering if you could advise me correctly... This letter you sent stating "insufficient funds," is that you or me? Sincerely yours,
Pray not for easy lives; Pray to be stronger people!
Pray not for tasks equal to your powers; pray for power equal to your tasks. Phillip Brooks
Pray not for easy lives; Pray to be stronger people!
Pray not for tasks equal to your powers; pray for power equal to your tasks. Phillip Brooks
Compulsive Christmas Shopping
We can do the alcoholics in our circles a favor by not serving alcoholic beverages at holiday parties. They can't control themselves. We do compulsive gamblers a favor by not having office wagers. What do we do for family, friends and coworkers who are compulsive shoppers relative to Christmas gift-giving?
Gift giving traditions provide both a huge temptation and a cover for compulsive shopping. Perhaps the worst is media treatment of "shop till you drop" as a harmless sport instead of the malady that it is. Another cover for compulsive shopping can be elaborate office gift exchanges, which may have a compulsive shopper as the motivator behind them. Compulsive shopping means, in part, purchasing sprees that are out of control and cause problems financially and emotionally. Women who are compulsive shoppers tend to want things like new Christmas decorations every year, beauty products, clothes, make-up and cosmetics for themselves, in addition to what they buy for others. Men tend to prefer to buy electronic devices, sports items and care accessories. They also "collect" things. We may unwittingly reinforce problem shopping by voicing admiration for the items when we visit their homes, or when we effusively thank them for the excessive generosity of their gifts. Considerate abstinence from alcohol is not that difficult in many social groups, but putting the brakes on excessive gift giving is awkward. Even when price limits are made, what do you do when someone exceeds the limit? Sometimes eliminating gift-giving entirely in favor of a group contribution to a charity, or a similar gesture, may be a helpful alternative.
Joy — I delight in giving and receiving the joy of God's Spirit.
My joy is not dependent on the events, material things, or even the people around me. True gladness flows from the Spirit of God within me.
A joyful spirit from the Spirit is strengthening, for it encourages me to find good in any situation. Joy keeps me focused and positive, even when those around me are not. There is a joy in watching the flight of a butterfly or hearing a baby's laughter. There is an overflowing joy of spirit in spending time in prayer.
Joy is not something I keep to myself. The more I share it, the more I receive in return. As I let the light of joy shine in my eyes and through my voice and actions, I find that the people I meet respond in positive, cheerful ways. I delight in giving and receiving the joy of the Holy Spirit. Author Unknown.
Christ the King Sunday is such a wonderful celebration! After some sobering messages of heaven and hell, we get to rejoice in His coming. Of course, we still cannot forget the underlying message that many people will bow to Him, but have not accepted Him in their hearts--we’ve got to stay busy in living for the King so more and more will know Him as Savior and Lord. We have great imagery again in these lessons. The comfort of a King Shepherd who tenderly gathers his flock to his side, and the serving King--who feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, and visits those in captivity. We are to imitate this King--how? The same power which raised Christ from the dead is working in us to live as a child of the King. With this kind of King, this kind of Kingdom, and this kind of Kingly power, why would we want to turn to anything else?
When God is about to work out any great purpose, He usually lays it as a burden of prayer on the heart of some of His saints whom He can fully trust. --A. B. Simpson
The reason you don't like the Bible, you old sinner, is because it knows all about you.
--Billy Sunday
Success is not measured by what you do compared to what others do, it is measured by what you do with the ability God gave you. Zig Ziglar
Too many people expect God to work through them when they don't even let Him work in them.
Lord, do in me what You need to do so You can do through me what You have to do.
There is no greater freedom than being a bond servant to Christ.
A Christian without commitment is like a promise made with your fingers crossed.
It is hard to be distracted by the world when we are attracted by Christ.
Chesterton quote on the wall: “A dead thing goes with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.” great Christian thinker and writer G. K. Chesterton
A Time to Pursue Truth By Chuck Colson 11/14/2008
It’s getting to the point where I hesitate to turn on the TV. From the financial crisis, to hurricanes, to Iran, to fuel prices, you name it. And it’s not just the news, it’s the media’s—and the public’s—voyeuristic preoccupation with chaos that troubles me. The news is grim.
But don’t just hide in bed and pull the blanket over you. We need to understand what’s happening in the world, not as mere spectators, but in order to engage the world in a winsome way, ourselves to be light in the darkness.
I can’t help but be reminded of a lesson taught by a certain Oxford don named C.S. Lewis. Yes, these are frightening times today. But 60 years ago the entire world was at war. It was then that he preached his famous sermon The Weight of Glory. This is what he had to say: “Human culture has always had to exist under the shadow of something infinitely more important than itself. If men had postponed the search for knowledge and beauty until they were secure, the search would never have begun.”
Lewis’ words could not be more appropriate for us today. It’s precisely during times of crisis that we must persevere all the more in our quest for beauty and truth.
Sometimes God will deny you many things, to see if you will be satisfied with his provision. Do you bear poverty well, or are you envious at the rich? Are you, in your poverty, what Christ would have been in your circumstances? Thus riches and poverty, sickness and health, and a thousand other things are sent to try us and prove to us, and to those around us, what our real state is. --Charles G. Finney
Letter to a bank...
Dear Sirs:
In view of what seems to be happening internationally with banks at the moment I was wondering if you could advise me correctly... This letter you sent stating "insufficient funds," is that you or me? Sincerely yours,
Pray not for easy lives; Pray to be stronger people!
Pray not for tasks equal to your powers; pray for power equal to your tasks. Phillip Brooks
Pray not for easy lives; Pray to be stronger people!
Pray not for tasks equal to your powers; pray for power equal to your tasks. Phillip Brooks
Compulsive Christmas Shopping
We can do the alcoholics in our circles a favor by not serving alcoholic beverages at holiday parties. They can't control themselves. We do compulsive gamblers a favor by not having office wagers. What do we do for family, friends and coworkers who are compulsive shoppers relative to Christmas gift-giving?
Gift giving traditions provide both a huge temptation and a cover for compulsive shopping. Perhaps the worst is media treatment of "shop till you drop" as a harmless sport instead of the malady that it is. Another cover for compulsive shopping can be elaborate office gift exchanges, which may have a compulsive shopper as the motivator behind them. Compulsive shopping means, in part, purchasing sprees that are out of control and cause problems financially and emotionally. Women who are compulsive shoppers tend to want things like new Christmas decorations every year, beauty products, clothes, make-up and cosmetics for themselves, in addition to what they buy for others. Men tend to prefer to buy electronic devices, sports items and care accessories. They also "collect" things. We may unwittingly reinforce problem shopping by voicing admiration for the items when we visit their homes, or when we effusively thank them for the excessive generosity of their gifts. Considerate abstinence from alcohol is not that difficult in many social groups, but putting the brakes on excessive gift giving is awkward. Even when price limits are made, what do you do when someone exceeds the limit? Sometimes eliminating gift-giving entirely in favor of a group contribution to a charity, or a similar gesture, may be a helpful alternative.
posted by joypastordon at 5:53 PM
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