Thought for the day

Believers are always under the canopy of God’s grace and love. Nothing we do can change that. At the same time, our behavior and heart condition do determine whether we receive the fullness of His blessings.

Thought for the day

The Lamb who died to save us
is the Shepherd who lives to lead us.

True contentment

Contentment is found in drawing close to the Lord, sensing His approval, and looking forward to hearing, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Thought for the day

Human beings are an independent lot. We want things our way, in our time, on our terms. But Jesus said that anyone who wanted to follow Him must deny him- or herself (Matt. 16:24a). Of course, that covers obvious issues like sinful habits and evil thoughts. But it also means we at times decline good things because they come at the wrong time or don’t fit God’s plan.

Thought for the day

No one is more secure than the one who is held in God’s hand.

Some wisdom from Dr. Stanley

Our lives are about fulfilling God’s purpose. Many people miss His awesome plan for them because they choose to follow their preferences. Obedience is sometimes hard, but the struggle and sacrifice are worth it. There is joy and peace for the believer who pleases the Lord and lives by His principles.—Charles Stanley

Thought for the day

The Christian who neglects the Holy Spirit is like a lamp that’s not plugged in.

Attributes of the Holy Spirit

Attributes of the Holy Spirit

• He is present everywhere
• He knows all things
• He has infinite power
• He is equal in every way with the other Persons of the Trinity—the Father and the Son.
• The Holy Spirit is a Person who engages in personal ways with us.
• He grieves when we sin
• He teaches us
• prays for us
• guides us
• gives us spiritual gifts
• and assures us of salvation

Thought for the day

Our relationship with Jesus is to have first place above all else in life. Thoughts, attitudes, and actions are to flow out of our intimate connection with Him. But this is not easy to do. Our own selfish nature clamors for supremacy, and the world with all its temptations encourages us to indulge ourselves. Even while carrying out the Lord’s work, we can lose sight of our first priority–deepening our intimacy with Christ.

Thought for the day

Whether you’re a candle in a corner or a beacon on a hill, let your light shine.

Thought for the Day

No matter who your boss is, you are really working for God.

Purpose for our lives

The Lord has a purpose for your life, and He is constantly working to achieve it. Although He has an individualized plan for each one of His children, He also has an overarching goal—to conform every believer to the image of His Son Jesus Christ. In order to accomplish this, He may have to bring us through some struggles and heartaches. It might make no sense to us, but God knows exactly what He’s doing.—Charles Stanley

Our Inheritance

Anytime we base our sense of security on the things of this world, we can expect disappointment. This is especially true when it comes to our finances.  However, believers have an inheritance in heaven that never depreciates and cannot be stolen? It was given to us when we placed our hope in Christ and will never be taken away because it's reserved and protected for us in heaven.   Every day we live on this earth, we have an opportunity to build up that inheritance by investing in the things the Lord values and credits to our account. 

How to be happy

Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

When you say, “I love you,” mean it.

When you say, “I’m sorry,” look the person in the eye.

Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

Believe in love at first sight.

Never laugh at anyone’s dreams. People who don’t have dreams don’t have much.

Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely.

In disagreements, fight fairly. Please No name calling.

Don’t judge people by their relatives.

Talk slowly but think quickly.

When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, smile and ask, “Why do you want to know?”

Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

Say “bless you” when you hear someone sneeze.

When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

Remember the three R’s: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.

Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

Spend some time alone.

Thought for the day

To live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us.

Pride vs Humility

Pride tends to want to know how we are doing compared to others, and it thrives on the foolish idea that we are better in some way. Pride depends on comparison to shape identity.  Humility doesn’t compare us to others. It calls us to see ourselves in the light of God’s standards. Humility leads us to realize how much we need God, and it understands that our need is no less than anyone else’s. Humility desires that we see ourselves as God sees us.

Living a life of integrity

To develop and maintain a lifestyle of integrity, we need to....

• Formulate beliefs on the basis of Scripture
• Submit to Christ's lordship
• Build relationships with individuals who value Godly living
• Acknowledge our mistakes

Thought for the day....

A good example is the best sermon.

Fasting

Fasting does not bring us a quicker answer from God or persuade Him to follow our plan. Instead, it prepares us to see our situation through His eyes and to act on what we learn.  Fasting involves a strong desire to hear from God, a period of time to connect with Him, and a willingness to abstain from food or some activity. If the idea intimidates you, remember its purpose is preparation so we might draw closer to God and receive His encouragement and direction.—Charles Stanley

Self Control

When we struggle with bad habits and sinful weaknesses, we need to know that self-control is possible. But self-control that really works is not driven by our willpower. It’s guided by “our great God and Savior,” who gives us a new self in place of our old sinful self (see Ephesians 2:4-5; 4:17-5:20). That’s why self-control is described as part of the “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23. In Christ, we are given a new, Spirit-guided self that can truly help us overcome our sinful weaknesses.

God wants us to have new life, guided by his Spirit, so that sin will not hurt us or our relationships with him and others. The Spirit leads us to grow in prayer (conversation with God) and Bible reading (learning from his Word) and worship (praising and thanking God and hearing his Word). And all of this happens best in community with other Christians (the church of Christ, our Savior, who gave himself to purify us).

Security in Unsettling Times

Just listening to the news these days can rattle our sense of well-being. There is always something unsettling taking place. But as believers, we should look at life from a biblical perspective. We are children of the living God, not people who seek security only in the natural, secular world. Our hope and refuge is firm: through Jesus Christ, our relationship with the Lord is eternal. Everything else we possess could be destroyed in a moment.

Worldly circumstances—natural disasters, wars, and assorted turmoil—may have an effect on everyone, but they can't control the believer's heart. Let your hope rest in Christ alone. Only by finding security in the arms of Almighty God can you remain unshaken in times of uncertainty.