Strength for the day

It is in blessing others that we are blessed.

Read: Mt 12:50

Be a Blessing today!

Strength For The Day…

Tomorrow's cares may never come,

They're locked up in the future,

Your troubled thoughts may sometimes roam,

For that is human nature.

You worry what may happen

In future day's events,

What God's great mind has shapen,

For He allows, and He prevents.

His mighty Hand controls all things

His interest lies in you,

In every detail that life brings

He is always true.

He has not promised lives of ease,

Not even a rose-strewn way,

Nor pleasant things that always please,

But strength for every day,

You may not see beyond today,

Or the future far and dim

But He's the God of yesterday,

And tomorrow belongs to Him.

Today your strength's assured,

So live it free from care,

God's promises always have endured

So leave your worries there.

Depend upon His mighty power,

Upon unending love,

Don't doubt His care in any hour,

Just turn your eyes above.

The One who holds the worlds in place

Controls, supports, and cares,

Will keep you by His wondrous grace,

Today, and through the years.

( by Eva Moore)

Pray for God's Favour

Facing a Problem?

Remember:

“In ALL things God works for the good… “ Romans 8:28

Pray for God's Favour…

“I will give [you] favour...” Exodus 3:21

God told Israel , ‘I will give [you] favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and… when ye go, ye shall not go empty [handed].’

God promised His people two things before they left Egypt : favour with their enemies, and great provision.

And when He brought them out, they had both.

There’s a lesson here. Your trouble is only a classroom - a controlled environment for God to work on your behalf.

Look what He used to free His people from slavery and turn their situation around - flies, hailstones and frogs! The things that destroyed their enemies were the very things God used to deliver them.

There’s nothing God can’t do.

He can be your doctor, your counsellor, your stockbroker, your lawyer, and anything else you need Him to be.

Notice, the frogs that invaded the homes of the Egyptians couldn’t cross the property line of God’s people.

That’s because the favour of God will protect you!

Think of the things that have come right up to you, but didn’t touch you.

Ezra said, ‘...The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies...’ (Ezra 8:31).

Why did the same Pharaoh who repeatedly said no to Moses suddenly say 'yes'?

Timing!

When the time is right God will move on your behalf.

So start praying for favour:

favour in unexpected places,

favour that moves mountains,

favour that opens doors,

favour that gives you access to things you otherwise wouldn’t have.

If you can’t cope with the future, check with the past.

‘Surely (not maybe!) goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life...’ (Psalm 23:6).

( by Irma Raymond)

The Pleasure is Mine

I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure . . . All was vanity and grasping for the wind. —Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

I always look forward to summer. The warm sunshine, baseball, beaches, and barbecues are pleasures that bring joy after a long, cold winter. But pleasure-seeking isn’t just seasonal. Don’t we all enjoy good food, engaging conversation, and a crackling fire?

The desire for pleasure isn’t wrong. God has built us for it. Paul reminds us that God “gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17). Other passages welcome us to the healthy pleasure of food, friends, and the intimacy of a marriage relationship. But thinking that we can find lasting pleasure in people and things is ultimately an empty pursuit.

Ultimate pleasure is not found in the short-lived thrills our world offers, but rather in the long-term joy from a deepening intimacy with our Lord. King Solomon learned this the hard way. “I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure,” he admitted (Eccl. 2:10). But after his pleasure-seeking spree, he concluded: “All was vanity and grasping for the wind” (v.11). It’s no wonder he warned, “He who loves pleasure will be a poor man” (Prov. 21:17).

What we are really looking for is satisfied only in a fulfilling and growing relationship with Jesus. Pursue Him and taste His delights!

( by Joe Stowell)

The world is filled with so much good

That brings us joy and pleasure,

But true fulfillment only comes

When Christ we love and treasure. —Sper

Are we living for our own pleasure, or living to please our heavenly Father?

The 'Instead of' Jesus

"Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many Antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour." (1 John 2:18)

Most people in our modern culture don't know much about the Bible, but most everyone has heard of the "Antichrist." We've seen the movies and such and have been told that the Bible predicts the rise of this frightening person.

This interest in the Antichrist is nothing knew. Almost two thousand years ago, the Apostle John wrote about him and expected the Christians of his day would understand him. John lived in the

constant expectancy of Jesus' return, regarding his time as "the last hour" - an expectancy that we should also have, knowing that the Lord's return can come at any time. In this context, John warns: "the Antichrist is coming."

What does the name "Antichrist" mean? In the ancient Greek language, the prefix "anti" can mean "the opposite of" or "instead of." The Antichrist is the "opposite Jesus"; he is the "instead of" Jesus.

Most people have focused on the idea of the "opposite Jesus." This has made them think the Antichrist will appear as a supremely evil person. It follows that in this thinking, that just as much as Jesus went around doing good, the Antichrist will go around doing bad. As much as Jesus' character and personality was beautiful and attractive, the Antichrist's character and personality will be ugly and repulsive. As much as Jesus spoke only truth, the Antichrist will speak only lies. This emphasizes the idea of the "opposite Jesus" too much. The Antichrist, when he comes, will be more a "instead of" Jesus. He will look wonderful, be charming and successful. He will be the ultimate winner, and appear as an angel of light.

Some have wondered if this Antichrist will be an individual or a political system. This is really a small distinction, because the Bible tells us there will be both a person and a political system running the world before Jesus' return in glory. To a large extent, a man does represent and personify an entire government or system; when we think of the Soviet Union in the 1930s and 1940s, the figures of Stalin as an individual and Soviet Communism as a state are virtually the same. There will be an individual, and there will be a state, and the two will be closely identified.

Here's a point to focus on: John speaks of "the Antichrist" and "many Antichrists." There is a "spirit" of Antichrist, and this spirit of Antichrist will one day find its ultimate fulfillment in the Antichrist, who will lead humanity in an end-times rebellion against God. In other words, though the world still waits to see the ultimate revealing of the Antichrist, there are little previews of this man and his mission to come. These are the Antichrists with a little "a."

So, what might be an "instead of" Jesus in your life? What might there be that you love or serve more than Him? Don't only look to the bad things. Something that looks good and attractive can take the place of Jesus in our life, and thereby become an Antichrist to us – an "instead of" Jesus. If we let anything – even good things – get between us and Jesus, we've gone after some kind of an Antichrist. Many who would never dream of following the Antichrist in the last days are serving some kind of an Antichrist today. Is Jesus first in your life today?

( by David Guzik)

Let God hold your hand

One day you were crossing a bridge with God. You were scared so you asked GOD, “Can I hold your hand so I won’t fall into the river?”

GOD said, “No my child, I should hold your hand…”

You asked, “What’s the difference?”

GOD replied, “If you hold my hand and something happens, you might let go. If I hold your hand, no matter what happens, I’ll never let go….”

——————————————————–

It is not GOD who let go and distance himself from us, it is us.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our lives that we forget HE is there! But GOD loves us. He is steadfast and faithful. As the Bible says, For God said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.” – Hebrews 13:5

The question is not “Are you holding on to God’s hand?” but “Are you letting God hold your hand?”

Is He holding my hand? YES. Will you let Him hold yours?

( taken from turnbacktogod.com)

Trouble Ahead

Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land; . . . the Lord is with us. Do not fear them. —Numbers 14:9

Inevitably, trouble will invade our lives: A bad report from a medical test, the betrayal of a trusted friend, a child who rejects us, or a spouse who leaves us. The list of possibilities is long, but there are only two options: forge ahead on our own, or turn to God.

Flying solo into the face of trouble is not a good idea. It can lead to bad behavior patterns, blaming God, and retreating into defeat. Like the Israelites, we may spin out of control and into despair (Num. 14:1-4).

When the majority of the spies brought a report of intimidating giants and dangers ahead, they used the pronoun “we” seven times with no reference to the Lord (13:31-33). The Israelites were on the cusp of the ultimate blessing that God promised to them. They were eyewitnesses to the miracles in Egypt and their feet had walked the dry bottom of the Red Sea in jaw-dropping victory. God’s faithfulness had been amazingly evident. What short memories! What disappointing faithlessness! Sadly, they turned their backs on God and left the blessing behind.

Caleb and Joshua, on the other hand, opted to turn to the Lord with this confidence: “The Lord is with us” (14:9). When your giants show up, what will you do?

(by Joe Stowell)

In this world of sin and trouble

Where so many ills are known,

If I shun the ways of evil,

I am kept by Him alone. —Smith

God’s presence is a life preserver that keeps the soul from sinking in a sea of trouble.

Pause on Purpose

Need Answers?

God has all the answers & wants to give them to us,

but can’t untill we give him our problems & ear.

Pause on Purpose…

Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while. (Mark 6:31)

Ernie Johnson Jr. knows baseball. His father announced three decades’ worth of major-league games, following the Braves from Milwaukee to Atlanta . In the quarter century since Ernie inherited the microphone, he has covered six sports on three continents, voicing blowouts and nail-biters, interviewing losers and buzzer beaters.

But one game stands out above all the rest. Not because of who played, but because of who stopped playing. Ernie was a nine-year-old Little Leaguer, dutifully playing shortstop. An opposing batter hit a ground rule double that bounced over the fence. Two outfielders scampered over the fence to retrieve the ball so the game could continue. (Apparently the league operated on a tight budget.)

Both teams waited for them to return. They waited … and waited … but no one appeared. Concerned coaches finally jogged into the outfield and scaled the fence. Curious players, including Ernie, followed them. They found the missing duo just a few feet beyond the fence, gloves dropped on the ground, found ball at their feet, blackberries and smiles on their faces.

The two players had stepped away from the game.

How long since you did the same? We need regular recalibrations. Besides, who couldn’t use a few blackberries? But who has time to gather them? You have carpools to run; businesses to run; sales efforts to run; machines, organizations, and budgets to run. You gotta run.

Jesus understands. He knew the frenzy of life. People back-to-backed his calendar with demands. But he also knew how to step away from the game.

Having withstood the devil’s wilderness temptation and his hometown’s harsh rejection, Jesus journeyed to Capernaum , where the citizens give him a ticker-tape reception.

They were astonished at His teaching. (Luke 4:32)

The story of what he had done spread like wildfire throughout the whole region. (v. 37)

People throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one. (v. 40)

Could Christ want more? Enthralled masses, just-healed believers, and thousands who will go where he leads. So Jesus …

Rallied a movement?

Organized a leadership team?

Mobilized a political-action society?

No. He baffled the public-relations experts by placing the mob in the rearview mirror and ducking into a wildlife preserve, a hidden cove, a vacant building, a deserted place.

Verse 42 identifies the reason: “the crowd … tried to keep Him from leaving them.”

More than once he exercised crowd control. “When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he told his followers to go to the other side of the lake” (Mt. 8:18).

When the crowd ridiculed his power to raise a girl from the dead, he evicted them from the premises. “After the crowd had been thrown out of the house, Jesus went into the girl’s room and took hold of her hand, and she stood up” (Mt. 9:25).

After a day of teaching, “Jesus left the crowd and went into the house” (Mt. 13:36).

Though surrounded by possibly twenty thousand fans, he turned away from them: “After Jesus had sent the crowds away” (Mt. 15:39).

Christ repeatedly escaped the noise of the crowd in order to hear the voice of God.

He resisted the undertow of the people by anchoring to the rock of his purpose: employing his uniqueness (to “preach … to the other cities also”) to make a big deal out of God (“the kingdom of God ”) everywhere he could.

And aren’t you glad he did? Suppose he had heeded the crowd and set up camp in Capernaum , reasoning, “I thought the whole world was my target and the cross my destiny. But the entire town tells me to stay in Capernaum . Could all these people be wrong?”

Yes, they could! In defiance of the crowd, Jesus turned his back on the Capernaum pastorate and followed the will of God. Doing so meant leaving some sick people unhealed and some confused people untaught. He said no to good things so he could say yes to the right thing: his unique call.

Not an easy choice for anyone.

God may want you to leave your Capernaum , but you’re staying. Or he may want you to stay, and you’re leaving. How can you know unless you mute the crowd and meet with Jesus in a deserted place?

“Deserted” need not mean desolate, just quiet. Simply a place to which you, like Jesus, depart. “Now when it was day, He departed” (Luke 4:42). “Depart” presupposes a decision on the part of Jesus. “I need to get away. To think. To ponder. To rechart my course.” He determined the time, selected a place. With resolve, he pressed the pause button on his life.

The devil implants taximeters in our brains. We hear the relentless tick, tick, tick telling us to hurry, hurry, hurry, time is money … resulting in this roaring blur called the human race.

But Jesus stands against the tide, countering the crescendo with these words: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28). Follow the example of Jesus, who “often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed” (Luke 5:16).

God rested after six days of work, and the world didn’t collapse. What makes us think it will if we do? (Or do we fear it won’t?)

Follow Jesus into the desert. A thousand and one voices will scream like banana-tree monkeys telling you not to. Ignore them. Heed him. Quit your work. Contemplate his.

Accept your Maker’s invitation: “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31).

(by Max Lucado)

Lack of Time! Does it bother you?

It was a class on Time Management. The teacher took a big bucket and filled it with stones. Once it was filled with stones, he asked; ‘Is it full?’ Students replied loudly, ‘Yes.’ But the teacher took some small pieces of stone and filled the gap between the stones. Then he repeated the question, ‘Is it full?’ The students were in a dilemma. They were silent. The teacher took some sand and filled it in the bucket again. The bucket was full and no space left. He asked the question again, ‘Is it full?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ But the teacher was clever. He took some water and poured it into the bucket. The bucket contained the water too.

The professor asked the children about the message they received from the experiment. As it was a class on time management, one of the students understood the point and said, ‘Even those who complain of having no time, can find some valuable time left, if they try.’ The teacher interrupted and said, ‘the moral of this experiment is not so.’

It is because we filled the bucket with big stones first, that we could add more things into it. If you had gone with the small things first, you could have never filled it with big things.

Thus if you find time for important things first, then you could manage your time fruitfully and with ease. Time spent for unnecessary purposes, will take a lot of valuable time away from our life.

---------------

“I have no time to pray, love, speak with others or help others… not enough time to finish up my jobs. These are the complaints of the modern man. Even I had gone through this problem many times. But now I learn that God was not at the center of my life during those tough times. God is the most important factor in our life. Shortage of time is the result of God loosing importance in our life and less important matters finding more importance in our heart. In other words God has given us enough time to take over all the responsibilities that He has entrusted us.

When the Holy Spirit takes control of our life, we can find time for everything. The Holy Spirit helps us to accomplish more things in a short time. Sometime I find it difficult to write editorials for our periodicals. But when the Holy Spirit helps me I can do it even between the intervals of meetings or during a journey. The problem is not time, but the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Busy schedules and lack of time will lead us to spiritual aridity. God is never busy with anything. If we tune ourselves with God in prayer, we could find enough time. If we are not to lose important time, spend time with the most important in our life. Spend more time with God, we will find time to do our responsibilities that He has entrusted us.

Useless reading, unnecessary conversations through mobile phone, fruitless journeys, spending time in day dreams and thoughts of despair… if we could be free from it, we would find enough time for useful and fruitful things. For this we need the help of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray: “Dear Lord, teach me to use my time fruitfully.”

( by Benny Punnathara, taken from www.turnbacktogod.com)