Here is one brief summary of a life's learnings:
Age 5: I learned that things are easier when someone is holding yourhand.
Age 10: I learned to never blow in a cat's ear.
Age 15: I learned that although it's hard to admit it, I'm secretly glad my parents are strict with me.
Age 20: I learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you shouldtry cheering someone else up.
Age 25: I learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it.
Age 30: I learned that there are people who love you dearly but just don't know how to show it.
Age 35: I learned that if I want to do something positive for my children, I should work to improve my marriage.
Age 40: I learned that the greater people's sense of guilt, the greater their need to blame others.
Age 45: I learned that I can never allow the disappointments of life to steal my enthusiasm.
Age 50: I learned that I can tell a lot about a person by the waythey handle these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
Age 55: I learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills.
Age 60: I learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
Age 65: I learned that I shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. I need to be able to throw something back.
Age 70: I learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die.
Age 75: I learned that children and grandparents are natural allies.
Age 80: I learned that even suffering has its gifts.
Age 85: I learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision.
Age 90: I learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
Isn't it true? If we're not learning, we're not improving. If we're not improving, we're not growing. And if we're not growing, we're not living. Some people worry about dying.
I am more concerned with living - as well and as fully as possible. Learn - improve - grow - live. Learn as if you might live forever and you'll live as if you might die tomorrow.
Monday, October 27, 2008
This Weeks Prayer
This week continue to pray that God will give you His wisdom concerning the elections and pray for His will in the outcome. Pray that we will honor Him in the choices we make. Pray for the protection of the candidates and for a peaceful election process. Remember our military and their families, Israel, and the families facing economic hardships during this season. Pray that God will give the administration wisdom concerning the economy, and for President Bush as he nears the end of his term in office. 2 Chron. 7:14
THE CHOICE THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE
By Randi White
My mother passed away last year. Before she died she confessed to me that she had had numerous abortions. I already knew this from listening to her testimony. She would speak of her regret and how grateful she was for the loving forgiveness shown on the cross for her sins. Still, as she would speak to people about her blindness in understanding what she did, her voice held a deeply abiding pain that only God could remove.The unveiling of her story was hard to hear. Even though abortions were illegal then, there was never a time when she could not obtain one by a licensed physician. They were done in their offices after hours, with an attending nurse and complete aftercare; certainly not the stories of back alleys that one might imagine.My mother said, "Even though I would feel a deep emptiness, and sometimes sorrow, I would soon justify that it was necessary and move on." She said that she was very cold. She tried to believe that it wasn't really a baby at all, as the doctors would say. But the stark empty, cold feeling would always return to her."I am sure that they don't tell women that part of it when they go to have abortions. Only my salvation in Christ removed that emptiness," she said before she died. But what I wasn't prepared to hear from my loving mother, who led me to the Lord and taught me of His wonderful ways, was her joy over a decision she made one night. She had scheduled another abortion when a powerful force came over her and brought strong conviction. This time she could not do this terrible thing, and then she turned to me and said, "It was the time that I was pregnant with you!" "Your father and I had gotten married and I had become disenchanted with him and wanted a divorce, but I was pregnant with you. I decided that I didn't need another child to take care of. However, that time was different. I didn't understand it, but I knew that I could not go through with the abortion. It was the beginning of my search for salvation and the love that came to me from having you." My father and mother went on to have two more children with a marriage that lasted until she passed away, and she left behind a strong legacy of witness for our Lord Jesus.Now my husband and I have a ministry to individuals dealing with alcohol and drug abuse. Crosspoint Ministries reaches out to the homeless and mentally ill, as well as those in need of freedom from their addictions. We clothe, house, train, counsel and minister to people no one wants. My husband has a master's degree in mental health and we now have bed space for up to 55. We have ministered to more than 1,250 people. We've seen 850 conversions and baptisms. Several thousand have received prayer ministry and food. It is humbling but awesome to see God's power at work. I am amazed at His goodness.If my mother had chosen abortion I would never have had the opportunity to enjoy what I do today. I just wonder what contribution to mankind the 45 million people who were aborted in this country alone would have made if they had been allowed to live. It boggles the mind. Think of the loss of possibilities—great minds, loving mothers and fathers. Think of the loss of those men and women who could have made differences in the world but were deprived of their chance to fulfill a destiny. Think of the many lives God could have used to witness of His salvation. What a massive loss!I am so grateful to our heavenly Father that He gave me life and that I am living it and giving back to His kingdom. Although my life began at conception, my mother could have chosen to end it, but she first heeded the tug of conviction to allow me to live and then the wooing of the Spirit to receive Christ. That choice made all the difference.So how can we vote for a political party that supports aborting the lives and destinies of those God intended to live? I cannot—and I trust that you will join me in voting for one who believes in the right to life rather than the choice to end it.
My mother passed away last year. Before she died she confessed to me that she had had numerous abortions. I already knew this from listening to her testimony. She would speak of her regret and how grateful she was for the loving forgiveness shown on the cross for her sins. Still, as she would speak to people about her blindness in understanding what she did, her voice held a deeply abiding pain that only God could remove.The unveiling of her story was hard to hear. Even though abortions were illegal then, there was never a time when she could not obtain one by a licensed physician. They were done in their offices after hours, with an attending nurse and complete aftercare; certainly not the stories of back alleys that one might imagine.My mother said, "Even though I would feel a deep emptiness, and sometimes sorrow, I would soon justify that it was necessary and move on." She said that she was very cold. She tried to believe that it wasn't really a baby at all, as the doctors would say. But the stark empty, cold feeling would always return to her."I am sure that they don't tell women that part of it when they go to have abortions. Only my salvation in Christ removed that emptiness," she said before she died. But what I wasn't prepared to hear from my loving mother, who led me to the Lord and taught me of His wonderful ways, was her joy over a decision she made one night. She had scheduled another abortion when a powerful force came over her and brought strong conviction. This time she could not do this terrible thing, and then she turned to me and said, "It was the time that I was pregnant with you!" "Your father and I had gotten married and I had become disenchanted with him and wanted a divorce, but I was pregnant with you. I decided that I didn't need another child to take care of. However, that time was different. I didn't understand it, but I knew that I could not go through with the abortion. It was the beginning of my search for salvation and the love that came to me from having you." My father and mother went on to have two more children with a marriage that lasted until she passed away, and she left behind a strong legacy of witness for our Lord Jesus.Now my husband and I have a ministry to individuals dealing with alcohol and drug abuse. Crosspoint Ministries reaches out to the homeless and mentally ill, as well as those in need of freedom from their addictions. We clothe, house, train, counsel and minister to people no one wants. My husband has a master's degree in mental health and we now have bed space for up to 55. We have ministered to more than 1,250 people. We've seen 850 conversions and baptisms. Several thousand have received prayer ministry and food. It is humbling but awesome to see God's power at work. I am amazed at His goodness.If my mother had chosen abortion I would never have had the opportunity to enjoy what I do today. I just wonder what contribution to mankind the 45 million people who were aborted in this country alone would have made if they had been allowed to live. It boggles the mind. Think of the loss of possibilities—great minds, loving mothers and fathers. Think of the loss of those men and women who could have made differences in the world but were deprived of their chance to fulfill a destiny. Think of the many lives God could have used to witness of His salvation. What a massive loss!I am so grateful to our heavenly Father that He gave me life and that I am living it and giving back to His kingdom. Although my life began at conception, my mother could have chosen to end it, but she first heeded the tug of conviction to allow me to live and then the wooing of the Spirit to receive Christ. That choice made all the difference.So how can we vote for a political party that supports aborting the lives and destinies of those God intended to live? I cannot—and I trust that you will join me in voting for one who believes in the right to life rather than the choice to end it.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Building On Values
"I don't subscribe to the thesis, 'Let the buyer beware,'" said the late writer Isaac Asimov. "I prefer the disregarded one that goes,'Let the seller be honest.'"Look at the financial problems of today's world. How many of these problems were the result of inferior products (dubious mortgages, inthis case) sold to unaware buyers?I am convinced that long-range successful businesses, and truly successful lives, are built on values. Two of those values are honesty and integrity.Over a century ago, clothier John Wanamaker, whose retail business grew into one of the world's first department stores, would have agreed. Wanamaker is sometimes called the father of modern advertising. He instilled the attitude of utmost honesty in his employees.The story is told of one of his advertising people who was instructed to make a sign promoting neck ties that were reduced in price from onedollar apiece to 25 cents. After personally examining the ties, the marketer asked, "Are they any good?""No, they're not," he was told.Wanamaker would have been completely honest, so the ad copy had to reflect the attitude of the store. The necktie advertisement was finally written this way: "They are not as good as they look, but they are good enough at 25 cents." The department sold out of ties almostimmediately and was forced to purchase several more weeks' supply of cheap ties to fill the persistent demand (Selling Solutions, Juanita Ruiz, Ed., Oct. 1995).Wanamaker believed that only a business based on values has real value. And businesses of value are always successful. Can't it also be said that a life built on values has real value? And when you and I build our lives on honesty and integrity, we will likewise know success.
Monday, October 6, 2008
This Weeks Prayer
This week ask God to help you be a good steward of His provision through work. Thank Him that He is faithful to open doors of opportunity for you and to bless the work of your hands. Pray for those who have lost jobs and finances in this current economic crisis. Pray that our governmental leaders will seek God, work together and find the best solutions for our economic challenges. Continue to pray for the protection of the nation, our current president and the upcoming elections. Pray that God's people would unite to work toward making this nation "one nation under God." Remember Israel and the persecuted church during this vulnerable season.Ecc. 9:10, Prov. 12:11, John 5:17
The Blessing of Work by Sunday Adelaja
Hard work and the favor of the Lord rescued me from a life of oblivion. But many believers have wrong ideas about work. They think it's a curse, an obligation, a means of supporting themselves or a means of getting rich. Even worse, some see work as entirely separate from their kingdom life. They think that working for God and advancing their own careers are two different things.
But God has established work as a blessing for mankind and for His kingdom. Work was part of Adam's calling before the fall. His job was to subdue the earth, tend the garden and manage the animals. For us, hard work is a key to subduing our own promised lands.
God Himself works, and so did Jesus: "But Jesus answered them, 'My Father has been working until now, and I have been working'" (John 5:17, NKJV).
Jesus worked, and works still, because work was established by His Father as something good for humanity. During His earthly life, Jesus worked as a carpenter and as a preacher. He fully devoted Himself to the ministry and showed a strong work ethic. Anyone who does not work disgraces himself and steals from the wealth of those who do labor. "He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer" (Prov. 18:9).
If a man does not work, he gives nothing of value to the world. He is a thief. He is useless to God. We are made to bless one another through our labor. Work is good! You will not fulfill your potential in God's kingdom without hard work. Failure in life never means a person lacks gifts. But it may mean he failed to put the gifts to work. God gives everyone a chance to become successful. The resources you need to impose the kingdom on your sphere of influence are inside of you. Each person will give an account before God of how he used these talents and how much of his potential he fulfilled.
Some people don't work because they can't find a job that will pay them what they want. Some don't want to get a job for which they are "overqualified." But God will not give you something big if He doesn't see your faithfulness in small things. That low-paying job may be your first step toward discovering and ruling your promised land.
Some Christians have amazing talents but experience little results because they have not learned to work. Others are nothing but dreamers. They sit and wait for a breakthrough to come. But they forget that success won't drop into their laps like manna from heaven. People who think that God will do everything Himself while they just sit around and make big plans are pitiful.
Work has many side benefits. It gives us money to pay our basic needs. It keeps us mentally healthy by focusing our minds on something productive. It keeps us out of trouble. It reveals our gifts and helps us discover our potential and abilities. Work is the gift of God to man for him to discover himself. It is the means by which dreams, ideas and goals become reality. It allows us to become a co-creator with God. It makes us a blessing to other people. It increases our skills and abilities.
But by far the most important aspect of work is that it allows us to exercise dominion over all of God's creation. As kings and priests of the earth, we are to do more work and be more diligent than anyone else (see Eccl. 9:10 and Prov. 12:11).
Only those who know how to work hard will be satisfied with results. God is not obliged to bless people that do not work hard. But he that tills his land will be satisfied with bread.
It's time to start working hard for the kingdom. Let's all work hard to develop our gifts, passions and callings so we might have maximum impact for Christ. Hard work is necessary to develop the nature and character of Christ in ourselves. And hard work is absolutely critical to successfully bring the principles of God into our spheres of influence and in turn into the life of a nation. Let's train ourselves in this key kingdom principle so the land can become ours for the glory of God.
But God has established work as a blessing for mankind and for His kingdom. Work was part of Adam's calling before the fall. His job was to subdue the earth, tend the garden and manage the animals. For us, hard work is a key to subduing our own promised lands.
God Himself works, and so did Jesus: "But Jesus answered them, 'My Father has been working until now, and I have been working'" (John 5:17, NKJV).
Jesus worked, and works still, because work was established by His Father as something good for humanity. During His earthly life, Jesus worked as a carpenter and as a preacher. He fully devoted Himself to the ministry and showed a strong work ethic. Anyone who does not work disgraces himself and steals from the wealth of those who do labor. "He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer" (Prov. 18:9).
If a man does not work, he gives nothing of value to the world. He is a thief. He is useless to God. We are made to bless one another through our labor. Work is good! You will not fulfill your potential in God's kingdom without hard work. Failure in life never means a person lacks gifts. But it may mean he failed to put the gifts to work. God gives everyone a chance to become successful. The resources you need to impose the kingdom on your sphere of influence are inside of you. Each person will give an account before God of how he used these talents and how much of his potential he fulfilled.
Some people don't work because they can't find a job that will pay them what they want. Some don't want to get a job for which they are "overqualified." But God will not give you something big if He doesn't see your faithfulness in small things. That low-paying job may be your first step toward discovering and ruling your promised land.
Some Christians have amazing talents but experience little results because they have not learned to work. Others are nothing but dreamers. They sit and wait for a breakthrough to come. But they forget that success won't drop into their laps like manna from heaven. People who think that God will do everything Himself while they just sit around and make big plans are pitiful.
Work has many side benefits. It gives us money to pay our basic needs. It keeps us mentally healthy by focusing our minds on something productive. It keeps us out of trouble. It reveals our gifts and helps us discover our potential and abilities. Work is the gift of God to man for him to discover himself. It is the means by which dreams, ideas and goals become reality. It allows us to become a co-creator with God. It makes us a blessing to other people. It increases our skills and abilities.
But by far the most important aspect of work is that it allows us to exercise dominion over all of God's creation. As kings and priests of the earth, we are to do more work and be more diligent than anyone else (see Eccl. 9:10 and Prov. 12:11).
Only those who know how to work hard will be satisfied with results. God is not obliged to bless people that do not work hard. But he that tills his land will be satisfied with bread.
It's time to start working hard for the kingdom. Let's all work hard to develop our gifts, passions and callings so we might have maximum impact for Christ. Hard work is necessary to develop the nature and character of Christ in ourselves. And hard work is absolutely critical to successfully bring the principles of God into our spheres of influence and in turn into the life of a nation. Let's train ourselves in this key kingdom principle so the land can become ours for the glory of God.
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