When God puts you on hold...

We are at our best when we serve God by serving others.

(Read: Matthew 20:17-28)

Be a SERVANT today!

When God Puts You On Hold…

Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:4

The Bible says, "To every thing there is a season" (Ecc 3:1).

There are some seasons you aren't meant to change - you're just meant to survive!

Paul calls these times, "light affliction, which is... for a moment" (2 Corinthians 4:17).

When you can't alter your circumstances you must learn to grow through them.

In winter, trees take advantage of the season to rebuild their strength and prepare to be fruitful next season. Their sap and substance go underground. Then in the spring it pushes its way back up again in the form of new growth. Looking back over your life you'll find that your achievements are seasonal. Growth comes, then struggle, and vice versa. Each season has its purpose.

God has a reason for not wanting you to be productive all the time. When He permits winter winds to blow through your life He's preparing you for the coming spring. James writes, "Consider it a... gift... when tests... come... under pressure, your faith... shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way" (Jam 1:2-4).

One of the issues you'll struggle with in a waiting period is the urge to hurry, to make permanent decisions based on temporary circumstances. Don't do it!

Every situation doesn't call for immediate action. Remember, patience comes from trust, and you can't trust a God you don't know. That's why you need to spend more time getting acquainted with Him and learn to cling to HIM. Patience, Trust !!!

Don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary circumstances.

Have Patience & Trust God!

(by Irma Raymond)

Starving Bakers

Satan uses temptations to tear you down

God uses trials to build you up

Have a Spirit-led day!

Starving Bakers…

I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry. (John 6:35)

Imagine finding a new bakery. You love going there because the baker creates new recipes, better than any you've ever tasted. Soon word gets out and crowds start coming. The baker doesn't have enough help and ends up trying to serve all the customers himself. Gradually you see a change. He's getting thin. Very thin!

What's up? You decide to sit and observe. Suddenly the problem becomes obvious. He's busy serving everyone else but never stops long enough to feed himself. With food all around him, he's starving!

Can you relate? A lot of us, particularly leaders, fail to take care of ourselves Spiritually, emotionally and intellectually, and eventually we end up being unable to take care of others. And when we do read our Bible or listen to CDs, it's always for others. And what's the result? We end up busy but barren, going through the motions without taking time to feed our souls on the bread of life. And we keep promising ourselves to do better: "when the children are raised... when I go on holiday... when things slow down... when I retire."

Solomon wrote: "They made me caretaker of the vineyards, but I have not taken care of my own" (Song of Songs 1:6). The only way things are going to change - is if you change them! Otherwise you'll simply exchange one set of demands for another. Learn to walk away!

Jesus did: "After He had dismissed the multitudes, He went up into the hills by Himself to pray" (Matthew 14:23).

Start doing what Jesus did, otherwise you'll soon end up like the starving baker! Take time to recharge your batteries - ourselves Spiritually, Emotionally and Intellectually.

It will result in a better, happier YOU!

(by Irma Raymond)

Quote for the day

Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase. - Anonymous

School of Hard Knocks

No chastening seems to be joyful for the present...; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. - Hebrews 12:11

Of all my childhood memories, one stands out above the others. While I have no idea what my teacher said, I clearly remember telling her to "shut up". She sent me home, so I got up and left my kindergarten class to walk the half-block home. Walking down the sidewalk, I saw my mother weeding in the garden behind our house. I was now faced with a strategic decision - continue on my way and tell my mother why I was home early from school, or turn around and go back to face my teacher.

When I returned to the classroom, I was immediately escorted to the restroom where my teacher washed my mouth out with soap. That kind of discipline probably wouldn't happen today, but take it from me, it was effective! To this day I am acutely sensitive about the impact of my words.

God is passionately interested in our positive growth as His children. At times He needs to confront us with unpleasant circumstances to catch our attention and reorient our lives to more consistently produce the "peaceable fruit of righteousness" (Heb 12:11).

Don't resist God's corrective hand. Respond to His reproofs with thankfulness that He loves you enough to care about what kind of a person you are becoming.

(by Joe Stowell)

Because our Father's heart is grieved

Each time we go astray

He lifts His chastening hand in love

To help us to His way. - D. De Haan

God's correction is our hope for a better life.