Tag: unfriendly world

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A Day Hemmed in Prayer Keeps Your Day From Coming Unraveled

I am very pleased with the amount of daily hits I have been getting here. There are now over 900 a day. Thank you for dropping by each day to read. I would also like you to sign-up for the RSS feed. It raises the ranking on the Google Search Rankings. Just click on the icon right after title and sign-up, if you haven’t already.

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Just a reminder about ordering my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” You will need to order it by December 17th to make sure it gets to you in time for Christmas. This book reaches out to those who may suffer from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, or hopelessness.

There is s special sale going on for now until Christmas. Just click on the “Bookstore,” tab above to take a look at it.

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Below is anothe exceprt from the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive an an Unfriendly World.” We spend to many hours in a day fight through the muck and mire of life. We need to know we have someone to go to through prayer, who will take us by the hand and lead us out of the pits of dispair.

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A Day Hemmed in Prayer Keeps Your Day from Coming Unraveled

 

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

 

Ephesians 6:18

 

A survey in which 47,000 people participated on the comcast.com website revealed the following reasons for divorce:

Money 26%

Growing apart 22%

Easy way out after the “honeymoon is over” 22%

Personality conflicts 16%

Infidelity 15%

Cultural differences 1%

Religion 0%

 

These results are very interesting. The root of all evil, which some say is money, is the number one reason for divorce. This is alarming because so many people feel that money can buy happiness. If the poll is correct, then money does nothing to buy happiness. In this instance, it “buys” discontent with a marriage partner.

We look in the wrong places for happiness. Instead, all we have to do is look around us—in our own homes. Happiness comes in many forms. You see your children growing. You have a home for them to live in. You have friends to help you be happy. Why would you let money destroy everything you already have? You even have God who lives within you.

Think of the little things you have that are more important than money. Think small. It’s often the little pleasures in life—not the big things like lavish parties or cruises or exotic vacations—that bring happiness. Having all your family getting together for a holiday can be a source of happiness. Think about each member of your family and what each means to you. Money can’t buy that feeling.

If everything above makes sense to you then you shouldn’t use money as an excuse in your marriage. Time could be tough for your family because of the lack of money, but don’t make the family be torn further apart by having a fragmented home.

Study the rest of the poll to see where you may fit in as far as where you are hurting. Then concentrate on ways to erase that problem from your memory banks. Any of the excuses have a way to be turned around and made into a positive.

Living for God eliminates all of the excuses.

Each of us has to realize that we are not perfect, and that our spouses aren’t either. Don’t expect a spouse to be the dream person you pictured when you were in high school. Accept them for what they are, and realize they are not the enemy. They love you, and they want you to love them.

The word hurting describes what happens when we say awful things to our spouses. We often say things that cut deeply into their hearts. Remember to use words that heal, not hurt. I have a prayer in my daily devotions that simply says, “Help me to say nice things that do not hurt.”

Write your own hurts in the sand and your blessings in stone. (Another great bumper sticker!)You will be going in the right direction if you can do this.

To me, the most striking result of the survey is that no one out of 47,000 people listed religion as the reason for divorce. That is amazing. Perhaps it is because people who have religion/Christ in their lives seem to handle differences in people much better. I think a lot of it is how they stay close to God and turn their troubles over to Him.

As the bumper sticker says, using prayer to keep your life intact is the most important thing to do. Pray without ceasing, and God will be there for you.

 

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all

without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5

 

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.

Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

John 16:24

 

Further Adventures

“Survey says …” Have you ever watched Family Feud? The family gets together and tries to come up with a good answer to the survey question. What a great idea for a marriage! Whenever you feel hurt or left out by your spouse, get together and try to come up with a good answer.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny how we always seek perfection when we should concentrate on progress instead?


 

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Don’t Put a Question Mark Where God Put a Period

Just a reminder that today is the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I was two yesr old. Thank a soldier for the sacrifices they go through to keep our freedoms.

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I am very pleased with the amount of daily hits I have been getting here. I now get over 900 a day. Thank you for dropping by each day to read. I would also like you to sign-up for the RSS feed. It raises the ranking on the Google Search Rankings. Just click on the icon right after title and sign-up, if you haven’t already.

__________________________________________________________

Just a reminder about ordering my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” You will need to order it by December 17th to make sure it gets to you in time for Christmas. This book reaches out to those who may suffer from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, or hopelessness.

There is s special sale going on for now until Christmas. Just click on the “Bookstore,” tab above to take a look at it.

___________________________________________________________

I have another excerpt from my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” This chapter talks about how we spend so much of our lives searching for love and comfort. All we need to remember is that we are never alone. We are never forsaken, and we are never unloved.

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Chapter 11

 

Don’t Put a Question Mark Where God Put a Period

 

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us

from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38–39

 

I wrote a letter to my kids and sent it to them by e-mail. I wanted to talk to them about acceptance. This is something I had trouble with for many years. I never knew if God really loved me.

 

May 12, 2005

Guys (and gals):

I have been thinking again (and I know that is dangerous!), but I want to share some thoughts with the most important people in my life.

            As you can agree, I have spent much of my life seeking love and acceptance. It had been a constant struggle for me to feel like I am a person of self-worth. I always rode a roller coaster. I would do great for a while, and then I would be in serious trouble with deep depression.

I had an incident last week, and it was the worst timing. It was on our wedding anniversary. I was out of control. I couldn’t stop crying. It took a heavy toll onCharlotte, but she was beside me the whole time, letting me know she was there for me.

Why did I allow myself to feel unwanted, and unloved?????

I knew I was a Christian, but I didn’t know I was ACCEPTED by God because of my past sins. It is one thing to ask for forgiveness, but another to feel that God will accept you for some of the things you have done in the past. I knew He loved me, but did He accept me?

            Let me give you guys an illustration:

            I love you very much, but have you always known I accepted you? I know you are sure that I love you, but acceptance could be another thing. It would be easy for me as a father to wish that each of you had become a lawyer, or a doctor, and that those professions would let me accept you more.

RUBBISH!!! I accept you as you are. I accept what you have done with your lives, and how your lives have turned out. It means unconditional love—ANDunconditional acceptance!!!

            That is exactly what I was struggling with!!! I knew God loved me, but did He accept me? I fell down every time I did just a little sin. I decided that I am not worthy of His love or acceptance.

            The Bible has helped me a great deal with this. Greg and I have been hearing wonderful sermons on acceptance and love from God at Morning Star Community Church. I am also going to a Bible study on Monday nights, plus I am doing a great deal of reading. What is happening is that this 66-year-old dad of yours has finally come out of his cocoon, and is becoming a butterfly. It was a struggle, but I see many more good days than bad days, and it is getting better as I read God’s Word. I needed to feel righteous in God’s eyes, and I felt I was failing at that.

            Let me give you another illustration I read in a book: 1

            A man was doing a seminar with a group of men and he started his seminar with these questions:

“How may of you are as righteous in the sight of God as I am?” Every hand was raised.

“How many of you are as righteous as Billy Graham?” About half of the group raised their hands.

“How about the Apostle Paul?” About 10% raised their hands. 

He then asked the final tough question: “How many of you feel you are as righteous as Jesus Christ?” Only three hands went up in the whole place!!!

            Now the question could be how could those three people raise their hands? No one could be as righteous as Jesus!

            He blew them away by saying, “If you are a true Christian, then you are as righteous as Jesus.”

He just had to read one passage from the Bible to clarify what he meant: “For if, by the trespass of one man [Adam], death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of THEGIFTOF RIGHTEOUSNESS reign in life through one man, Jesus Christ.” Romans5:17(emphasis mine)

Righteousness is a gift. WE DO NOT HAVE TO EARN IT!!!

            What that is telling me is that if I accepted Jesus as my Savior, I am accepted, and I am as righteous as He is as long as I stay in His love.

            A word in the Bible is “justified.” It comes up a lot in the New Testament. In Greek, it means “totally righteous.” Jesus used it often to say, “You are totally justified to be in theKingdomofGodby believing in me.”

            It is that simple!!

            We are loved! We are accepted just as we are!!! We are righteous, because Jesus is righteous!!!

I feed on these thoughts daily now. I want you to know that you are loved! You are accepted just as you are, and you are righteous because of your commitment to the Lord!!!

Love,

                                                                                                            Dad

 

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed,

yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken.

Isaiah 54:10

 

Further Adventures

Parents, think about your own children. How do they perceive you as parents? Do they accept you for who you are, and love you unconditionally? Perhaps they don’t see you that way. What could you do to change that outlook? A Bible-based home with Christian values can make a big change in your whole family. It is up to you to take the first step.

Young people, do your parents accept you? If they do not, what do you think is happening? What steps could you take to turn that feeling around? Do you have peace in your own heart that Jesus accepts you? If not, seek Him right now. Ask Him to forgive you for any past sins you may have committed, and then you know you are accepted by your heavenly Father if not by your earthly father.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny that when your newly born child first holds your finger in their little fist, you are hooked for life?

 

Posted on

Exercise Daily; Walk With God

I am very pleased with the amount of daily hits I have been getting here. I now get over 900 a day. Thank you for dropping by each day to read. I would also like you to sign-up for the RSS feed. It raises the ranking on the Google Search Rankings. Just click on the icon right after title and sign-up, if you haven’t already.

__________________________________________________________

Just a reminder about ordering my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” You will need to order it by December 17th to make sure it gets to you in time for Christmas. This book reaches out to those who may suffer from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, or hopelessness.

There is s special sale going on for now until Christmas. Just click on the “Bookstore,” tab above to take a look at it.

__________________________________________________________

Below is another excerpt from the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” It talks about how we can get spiritually out of shape if we don’t walk with God daily.

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Chapter 10

 

Exercise Daily; Walk with God

 

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26

 

During a time when I had several surgeries, I had major setbacks in my exercise routine. I had been working out steadily for several months and was told that was what kept me from having side problems during the open heart surgery. My heart was very strong.

But then I had a couple of months of not being able to exercise much at all. I got out of shape very quickly. I put on some weight, even though I was trying to eat carefully. I needed the exercise to help me keep up with my daily routine.

Then I had gall bladder surgery. The same thing happened. I wasn’t able to exercise nearly as much as I would have liked. I again got out of shape and gained some weight.

I then had to recuperate from back surgery. By the time I got to the point where I could start taking walks, I had gained almost ten pounds. I hadn’t been able to do much of anything for two months before the surgery because of the pain and then for over two weeks after the surgery. I took quite awhile to get the weight of and feel good again.

That is the way it is with God. If we don’t read the Bible every day, we will get out of spiritual shape very quickly. It is very easy to forget to have time for God. When we spend time doing other things and not thinking about God, we get “out of shape.” We don’t feel as strong as we did before. We struggle with daily problems. Just making it through a normal day becomes a monumental task.

If we exercise daily with God, we develop a strong resistance to the evil side of the world and become healthier as we feed on the words from the Bible.

We start losing those weighty problems like fear, anxiety, frustration, shame and guilt. These problems weigh us down so much we can’t do our daily routine. Spiritual exercise can make us stronger each day and get us back into top shape as a Christian.

I know what it is like to get out of shape as a Christian. When I was out of commission from all those surgeries, I let my reading go because I felt sorry for myself. I didn’t want to do anything. I got out of spiritual shape and let depression slowly take over my thinking.

Then I realized I needed God to sustain me through the storm. I needed Him to carry me when I couldn’t walk on my own. He was there all the time, but I let Him slide out of my thinking. I got out of shape and let depression control me.

If you’re out of shape from not reading the Bible or praying to God daily, get with it! Start today to “work out” every day. You may have to even do daily doubles. (Read twice a day.)

God is always there for us, but if we stop seeking Him every day, we will begin to forget that He is there for us. We will get spiritually out of shape.

When we set up a time each day to praise Him and read His Word and also spend time praying for others, we will be amazed how our strength will come back. We will be spiritually healthy and able to withstand the attacks of Satan when we hide in God’s love.

 

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble

and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Psalm 32:7

 

Further Adventures

Since you’re training so hard on the Word, why not go down to your local Christian bookstore and find a good Christian book? I suggest any book by Max Lucado, Bruce Wilkinson or Joyce Meyer to make you stronger spiritually. You can also find all their books and many others at www.crossings.com, a Christian website.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny how we think we can make it without God?