Character

"Character provides the opportunity for longevity in any career, any relationship, and any worthwhile goal... What a man is, survives him, and that -- makes a lasting difference!"

("The Word for You Today, Spring 2008, pg. 35)

Overload

"When life gets overwhelming remember:
1. God's still looking out for you. When things look bad, remind yourself that God's bigger than your problem...
2. Don't think about quitting. Every time you reach the breaking point it's a test. You have before you a series of choices that will add up to either quitting, or persevering through to victory...
3. If it doesn't have your name on it, don't pick it up! Stress comes from micr0-managing others and assuming responsibilities that aren't yours. Establish healthy boundaries...
4. Your breaking point can be the start of a breakthrough... So keep going -- by God's grace you'll make it!"

("The Word for You Today", Spring 2008, pg. 35)

Just Do It!

"Understand this: you don't have to do anything to earn God's love, but you must obey Him in order to walk in His blessings. So, what has God told you to do? If you want victory in your battles and success in your endeavors, start doing it!"

("The Word for You Today", Spring 2008, pg. 33)

Hanging in There

"If what you're doing doesn't produce resistance, it's not worth doing. The winners in your Bible are described this way: 'Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle.' What turns weakness into strength? Faith that refuses to back up, back down, or settle for less than what God has promised."

("The Word for You Today", Spring 2008, pg. 32)

Patience

"God allows certain things to take place in our lives to teach us important principles like: (a) developing new skills and ways of thinking; (b) showing grace and controlling our responses; (c) maintaining our faith when times get tough. Paul writes: Patience...is the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper (Col.3:12 AMP); Be glad for all God is planning...Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always (Ro 12:12 TLB). When you spend time in God's waiting room, He's developing qualities in you that simply can't be developed any other way. When He's finished you'll come out stronger and wiser. And you'll have the maturity to handle what He has in mind for you. So don't let the enemy rattle you or engineer circumstances that put you into overdrive. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him. (Psalm 37:7)"

("The Word for You Today, Spring 2008, pg. 32)

2 Corinthians 4:1-5:10 (various)

God in his mercy has given us this work to do, and so we do not become discouraged. We put aside all secret and shameful deeds; we do not act with deceit, nor do we falsify the word of God. In the full light of truth we live in God's sight and try to commend ourselves to everyone's good conscience. For if the gospel we preach is hidden, it is hidden only from those who are being lost. They do not believe, because their minds have been kept in the dark by the evil god of this world...

Yet we who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us. We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed. At all times we carry in our mortal bodies the death of Jesus, so that his life also may be seen in our bodies...

The scripture says, 'I spoke because I believed.' In the same spirit of faith we also speak because we believe. We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus to life, will also raise us up with Jesus and take us, together with you, into his presence...

For we know that when this tent we live in--our body here on earth--is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever...

So we are always full of courage. We know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord's home. For our life is a matter of faith, not of sight. We are full of courage and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and be at home with the Lord. More than anything else, however, we want to please him, whether in our home here or there. For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him. Each one will receive what he deserves, according to everything he has done, good or bad, in his bodily life.

Forgive Yourself

"When guilt and condemnation tell you your sins are too big for God's forgiveness, remember what Paul said: "Jesus...came...to save sinners. I'm proof -- Public Sinner Number One...someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy...evidence of his endless patience." Before his conversion Paul persecuted the church, killing and torturing believers. It's how he made his living! And if he could learn to forgive himself, you can to! In fact, when you don't you're implying that your transgressions are beyond the scope of God's grace to forgive and Jesus' blood to cleanse. And that's a bigger sin - pride! Pride and a judgmental attitude feed off each other the way humility feeds off forgiveness. God said, "I am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake. And I will not remember your sins." (Isa 43:25) When you adopt a humble attitude and work on forgiving yourself the way God has, it is a lot easier to overlook other people's mistakes. Give it a try; you'll be amazed!"

("The Word for You Today", Spring 2008,pg. 31)

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Now, "the Lord" in this passage is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom. All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory.

Forgiveness

"A grudge shackles you to the offender, and you become the hostage! Dwelling on something your parents did, or on how an associate took credit for your work, or on what someone said about you, makes you, not them, miserable. You walk around in turmoil and they don't even know you're upset! Why give somebody that kind of control over your life? What's important is what happens in you, not to you. So forgive, forget, and move on!"

("The Word for You Today", Spring 2008,pg. 31)

I Corinthians 15:58 and 16:13

So then, my dear brothers, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord's service is ever useless.

Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave, be strong. Do all your work in love.

Overcoming Pride (1)

"To overcome your pride you must:

• Recognize your pride. Benjamin Franklin observed, "Not one of our natural passions is harder to subdue than pride. Even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility."
• Express gratitude often. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you'll never have enough. If you focus on what you have, you will always see that the universe is abundant and you'll have more.
• Learn to laugh at yourself. The Chinese proverb says, "Blessed are they that laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be entertained." "

("The Word for You Today", Spring 2008, pg. 29)

Hope

"When we come into this world kicking and screaming, none of us know exactly what we're supposed to do with our lives. That's okay. Just start where you are right now. When God puts your life on track, He begins by giving you a sense of hope. Only God-given hope will sustain you through the tough times. Maybe you're wondering, "Am I ever going to get to where I'm supposed to be?" If that's how you feel today, read these words spoken by God to a group of people who'd spent their last 70 years in Babylonian slavery as a result of having done things the wrong way:

I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out--plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed...I'll turn things around for you. (Jeremiah 29:11-14 TM)

And those words are from God's mouth to your ear!"

("The Word for You Today", Spring 2008, pg. 29)

I Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.

Focus - Part 5

"Focused people don't hide their weaknesses or excuse them; instead they focus on their strengths!

Anthony Campolo says, "What you commit yourself to, will change what you are and make you into a completely different person. The future conditions you, not the past. What you commit yourself to become, determines what you are--more than anything that ever happened to you yesterday. Therefore, I ask you, 'What are your commitments? Where are you going? What are you going to be? Show me somebody who hasn't decided, and I'll show you somebody who has no identity, no personality, no direction.'"

("The Word for You Today", Spring 2008, pg. 28)

Focus - Part 4

1. "Focused people don't live in the past. Too many of us yearn for the past and get stuck in it. Instead we should learn from the past and let go of it.
2. Focused people don't think about the difficulties, but the rewards. If you dwell on the difficulties too long you'll start to develop self-pity instead of self-discipline.
3. Focused people choose their friends carefully. Here are 5 types of people you'll encounter:

Refreshers - who strengthen your faith and energize you.

Refiners - who sharpen you and clarify your vision.

Reflectors - who mirror your energy, neither adding to nor subtracting from it.

Reducers - who try to diminish your goals and efforts to their comfort level.

Rejecters - who don't understand your or what God's called you to do.

So, remain focused and you'll stay grounded; the praise of others is less likely to go to your head, and the negative impact of your critics will be minimized."

("The Word for You Today, Spring 2008, pg. 27)

I Corinthians 10:24

No one should be looking out for his own interests, but for the interests of others.

This is one of those verses that shouldn't be taken out of context...it could be interpreted so many ways. Basically I believe Paul was saying to esteem others higher than ourselves...to not use our freedom to offend others. If what I do hurts my brother or sister, I should not do it.

It's a verse that calls for compassion also. It calls for servanthood, to follow the example Jesus displayed for us while he walked this earth. He was God Himself, yet he humbled himself to serve the needs of lost and hurting humanity, whatever the occasion called for. I fall so short of his example. Forgive me, Lord, and keep showing me the way...be patient with me..be tough with me. Keep molding me into your image so you shine through me!

Focus - Part 3

1. "Focused people always look for a better way.
2. Focused people concentrate a little harder, and a little longer... Focused thinking is the ability to remove distractions and mental clutter so that you can concentrate with clarity.
3. Focused people make commitments, not excuses."

So in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:6)

(The Word for You Today, Spring 2008, pg 27)

I Corinthians 10:11b-13

For we live at a time when the end is about to come. Whoever thinks he is standing firm had better be careful that he does not fall. Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.

Focus - Part 2

"Focus does 3 things for you:

1. It keeps you on target. We find ourselves pulled in a dozen different directions, spending much of our time and energy on things we don't really care about. Don Marquis puts is this way: "Ours is a world where people don't know what they want, and are willingly to go to hell to get it."
2. It increases your energy. Attempting everything, like attempting nothing, will suck the life out of you. The mind doesn't reach toward achievement until it has clear objectives.
3. It lifts you. In a sea of mediocrity, just knowing what you want to do and making an effort to pursue it distinguishes you from almost everybody else... Just by striving to become better than you are, you become elevated--even if you don't accomplish what you desire, and even if others don't step aside for you."

("The Word for You Today", Spring Quarter 2008, pg. 26)

Focus

"You become effective by being selective. We're like gyroscopes, spinning around at a frantic pace but not getting anywhere. Without a clear purpose you keep changing directions, jobs, relationships, churches, etc, hoping each change will settle the confusion or fill the emptiness in your heart. You think "This time it will be different", but it doesn't solve your real problem -- lack of focus.

...Nothing is as potent as a focused life. The men and women who make the greatest difference in life are the most focused... So if you want your life to have impact, focus it! Stop dabbling. Stop trying to do it all. Do less. Turn away from even good activities, and do only that which matters most. Never confuse activity with productivity... The first law of success in this day when so many things are clamoring for attention is concentration--to bend our energies to one point and to go directly to that point, looking neither to the right nor the left. Does focus come easily or naturally? No. It's a discipline that must be practiced every day."

("The Word for You Today", Spring 2008, 4-11-08, pg. 26)

Hebrews 12:14

Try to live in peace with everyone, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

Seems to me that if this verse be true, there are a whole lot of people who will not see the Lord. Can one go to heaven and not see the Lord? I have never thought that was possible. I have a tender conscience. I have always believed this verse, and I have tried to live such a life that pleases God so that I can one day be with him in heaven. But perhaps I do not have a good handle on a holy lifestyle. My list of no-no's is probably longer than most. I do not feel like I have missed out on anything, though.

Help me, Lord, not to judge others on the basis of what I believe and live by...but to allow you to work in their lives and be their final advocate. Meanwhile, I don't intend to loosen the screws...I'm comfortable striving to live a life pleasing to you in all I say, do, and think. You know I'm still growing, still in process, but you will see me through to glorification/perfection. Thank you, Father, for being patient with me!

Romans 12:6-21

So we are to use our different gifts in accorance with the grace that God has given us. If God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.



If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. Live in harmony with each other. Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible. Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord. Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you." Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Self Worth

"If your self-worth comes from any opinion other than God's you'll always be vulnerable. Your critics will diminish you; trying and failing will keep you from rising again. Worst of all, you'll never discover or be discovered for the unique and wonderful person God made you to be." (The Word for You Today, pg. 21)