120723 When Pain and Suffering Come...

When Pain and Suffering Come...

 

When pain and suffering come,

Which seem so very hard to bear,

Don’t hesitate to turn, yea, “run”!

To God and plead your cause in prayer.

 

Remember Hezekiah now…

He boldly prayed to God in tears,

When death he faced with sickness grave.

Jehovah God prolonged his life,

And blessed with fifteen extra years.

 

Remember now how Jesus died!

That awful death on Calvary.

In full He drank that bitter cup.

As faithful priest He qualified.

To sympathize with you and me.

 

When pain and suffering come

Which are so very hard to bear,

Don’t hesitate to turn, yea, “run,”

And plead your cause to God in prayer.

- James E. Gibbons

 

“So put away all pride from yourselves.

You are standing under the powerful hand of God.

At the right time He will lift you up.

 Give all your worries to Him because He cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:6-7

 

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

 

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

 

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

- Joseph Scriven

 

 

 

 

Thank You Lord, Don Moen

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN3_tSDhDpY

 

120623 Jesus Christ...

Our Greatest Need…

If our greatest need had been information,

God would have sent us an educator.

If your greatest need had been technology,

God would have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need had been money,

God would have sent us an economist.

If our greatest need had been pleasure,

God would have sent us an entertainer.

But our greatest need was forgiveness,

So God sent us a Savior.

- Anonymous

 

Christ, Who He Wasn’t…        

He was not a doctor…

Yet he cured all manner of sickness

He was not a lawyer…

But he explained all the principles of the law

He was not a writer…

But he inspired men to write the best literature

He was not a poet or singer…

Yet he is the soul of all immortal songs

He was not an artist…

But he is the subject of the world’s greatest paintings

He was not a politician…

But he showed men how to live together

He was not a general…

Yet he conquered millions with his teachings

He was not a discoverer…

But has showed the world the way to Heaven.

- Anonymous

  

The Central Figure of All the Ages…

He was born in obscurity,

The son of a humble maiden.

He lived in a small village of little importance.

He worked as a carpenter until he was 30 years of age.

He preached and taught for only three and a half years.

He healed the broken-hearted and healed all manner of sickness

He never wrote a book.

He never had an office.

He never established a family or had a home of his own.

He never went to a University

He never was in a large city.

He traveled less than 200 miles from where he was born.

He never lived in a palace.

He never carried credentials because his works were his

Credentials.

He was just 33 years old when public opinion turned

Against him.

His friends all left him.

He was delivered into the hands of his enemies and

Condemned falsely.

He was nailed to a cross between robbers.

The soldiers cast lots for his last earthly possessions.

In his death he was placed in a borrowed tomb.

More than twenty centuries have passed and this one

Born in obscurity has become the central figure in the

Human race and the inspiration of all mankind.

All the writings of great men, or the great accomplishments

Of mankind, or the accomplishments of all the ruling bodies

Of this earth have been able to rival the influence this One

Has had on mankind. 

Surely Jesus is the central figure of all time.

- Anonymous

 

Jesus Christ…

"Meaning no disrespect to the religious convictions of others,

I still can't help wondering how we can explain away what to

Me is the greatest miracle of all and which is recorded in history.

No one denies there was such a man, that he lived and that he

Was put to death by crucifixion.

Where...  is the miracle I spoke of?

Well consider this and let your

Imagination translate the story into our own time…

Possibly to your own home town.

A young man whose father is a carpenter grows up working in

His father's shop. One day he puts down his tools and walks out

Of his father's shop.

He starts preaching on street corners and in he nearby countryside,

Walking from place to place, preaching all the while, even though

he is not an ordained minister. He does this for three years.

Then he is arrested, tried and convicted.

There is no court of appeal, so he is executed at age 33 along with

Two common thieves.

Those in charge of his execution roll dice to see who gets his

clothing… the only possessions he has.

His family cannot afford a burial place for him so he is interred

In a borrowed tomb.

End of story?

No, this uneducated, property-less young man who...

Left no written word has, for 2000 years,

Had a greater effect on the world than all the rulers, kings,

Emperors; all the conquerors, generals and admirals,

All the scholars, scientists and philosophers who have ever lived…

All of them put together.

How do we explain that?

Unless he really was who he said he was." 

- Ronald Wilson Reagan

 

The Christian’s Riches…

In Christ we have…

A love that can never be fathomed;

A life that can never die;

A righteousness that can never be tarnished;

A peace that can never be understood;

A rest that can never be disturbed;

A joy that can never be diminished;

A hope that can never be disappointed;

A glory that can never be clouded;

A light that can never be darkened;

A happiness that can never be interrupted;

A strength that can never be enfeebled;

A purity that can never be defiled;

A beauty that can never be marred;

A wisdom that can never be baffled;

And resources that can never be exhausted.

Jesus is our all in all!

- Anonymous

 

Christ My All…

Christ for sickness, Christ for health,

Christ for poverty, Christ for wealth,

Christ for joy, Christ for sorrow,

Christ today and Christ tomorrow;

Christ my Life, and Christ my Light,

Christ for morning, noon and night,

Christ when all around gives way

Christ my everlasting Stay;

Christ my Rest and Christ my Food

Christ above my highest good,

Christ my Well-beloved Friend

Christ my Pleasure without end;

Christ my Savior, Christ my Lord

Christ my Portion, Christ my God,

Christ my Shepherd, I His sheep

Christ Himself my soul to keep;

Christ my Leader, Christ my Peace

Christ hath wrought my soul’s release,

Christ my Righteousness divine

Christ for me, for He is mine;

Christ my Wisdom, Christ my Meat,

Christ restores my wandering feet,

Christ my Advocate and Priest

Christ who ne’er forgets the least;

Christ my Teacher, Christ my Guide,

Christ my Rock, in Christ I hide,

Christ the Ever-living Bread,

Christ His precious Blood hath shed;

Christ hath brought me nigh to God,

Christ the everlasting Word

Christ my Master, Christ my Head,

Christ who for my sins hath bled;

Christ my Glory, Christ my Crown,

Christ the Plant of great renown,

Christ my Comforter on high,

Christ my Hope draws ever nigh.

- Anonymous

 

 

 

For further study…

https://searchingfortruth.org/

 

 

 

 

 

120523 Choices...

Choices…

I've heard it said that life's unfair;
that too many people just don't care,
and while that opinion may be true,
perhaps the answer may lie within you.

No one chooses from whence he came,
the color of his skin, his parents or name.
Each of us is given, by God's own plan,
free will to choose any card in our hand.

Wealth and fame don't guarantee success,
without God in your life, you don't stand a chance.
There is only one right guaranteed to be true,
and the choice that you make well, it's all up to you.

Not a day goes by that a memory isn't made;
not a word ever spoken will entirely fade.
Love isn't love till you given away,
and hate never ends till you call it a day.

Revenge is the reason that many are lost;
they cling to their slights no matter their cost.
There are none as blind as those who won't see
that forgiveness begins with a person called, me.

- Linda Lee Gleason

 

The Power of Choice…

Just for a minute, think about where you are today,

Think about where you have been, and think about

Where you will be going.

Where you are today with your life is a result of the

Choices you've made in the past.

What you will become in the future will be the result

Of the choices you make today and tomorrow.

Scary proposition… isn't it?

Here's a short list of choices you are faced with almost

On a daily basis. 

Yes I can't! That's a choice isn't it, believing and feeling

That you can't do something.

Yes I can! That's also a choice… choosing to believe that

You can do anything within reason.

I can't. I can. I will.

Can you see the subtle and powerful difference at work here?

There's a huge difference in outcomes between I can't, I can,

And I will.

You get to choose!

You get to choose your expectations everyday. For example,

You’re scheduled to make a sales call with an especially

Difficult customer.

Do you walk into the sales call thinking you'll get hammered

On your pricing, or do you walk into the sales call expecting

This sales call to be your best ever with this particular customer.

You get to choose!

You get to choose your career.

If you don't like your work, change it. If you don't like your career,

Change it.

Forget about the economy and the recession because they have

Little to do with the choices you make.

You get to choose!

You get to choose to be prepared.

Funny thing about preparation is that it takes more work than

Improvisation. Funny thing about the results too, preparation

Generally achieves far superior results than improvisation.

You get to choose!

You get to choose excellence over mediocrity.

Why is it that a majority of salespeople choose mediocrity?

If you always choose excellence you'll never, and I mean never,

Be a part of the mediocrity brigade.

You get to choose!

You get to choose excellence over mediocrity.

You get to choose whether or not you want to exceed your

Customers’ expectations.

You can be slow to commit and quick deliver.

You can go out of your way to make every sales call a

Magic moment for your customers.

You get to choose!

You get to choose to be ordinary or extraordinary.

You realize of course it only takes a little extra in everything

You do to be viewed as an extraordinary salesperson.

You get to choose!

You get to choose by design to leave people feeling good

When ever you meet with them.

You recognize their accomplishments.

They show gratitude for their business.

You always walk in with a smile and walk out leaving them

Smiling.

You get to choose!

You choose to keep learning instead of mental stagnation.

You are an avid reader. You read the Wall Street Journal daily.

You listen to CDs as you drive from account to account.

You get to choose!

You choose to be rich or choose to struggle financially.

You get to choose!

You choose to be cheerful or choose to be grouchy.

You get to choose!

You can choose to be happy or choose to feel sorry for yourself.

You get to choose!

You get to choose your attitude.

Some people think the glass is half full.

Others think it's half empty.

A person with an extremely positive attitude believes his glass is

Overflowing with opportunities and possibilities.

During the Vietnam War, Air Force Colonel George Hall was

Shot down and captured in North Vietnam.

He was a prisoner of war for 5.5 years.

“Though he was barefoot and dressed in his black prison uniform,

Shut up in a tiny cubicle, he discovered that through his mind he

Had an amazing freedom.

He was able to leave his prison cell clad in a Polo shirt and slacks.

He wore clean black and white golf shoes.

He could feel the thick green grass of Pebble Beach golf course

In northern California.

The sun was shining and there was a gentle breeze coming off

The Pacific Ocean.

The Colonel played each hole, starting with the first and ending

With the eighteenth.

He studied each shot, measured each swing, felt each blade of grass

Between his fingers as he replaced every divot.

He noted the sand in each bunker, hit each shot, sank each putt and

strode on to the next hole… all in his imagination.

Every day for five and a half years he played a perfect game of golf

On the Pebble Beach course.

The Colonel realized that only he had the power to make a choice

Between being resigned to his fate, of fear and hopelessness,

Or he could replay his happiest moments from the past,

Taking his mind off solitary confinement and setting it free upon a

Beautiful and famous golf course.

When he returned from his captivity, in his first golf game he shot

A 76-not a bad score for a professional golfer,

But even more amazing for an amateur.

When asked how he had accomplished such a feat, he said,

I never putted a green in more than two strokes during the last

Five years.

All those years of playing perfect games in the recesses of his mind,

Had produced a near perfect performance on a real golf course!”

You see, your attitude is everything about everything.

When it’s all said and done according to Joyce Nidetch,

“Your choices determine your destiny."

 

- Jim Meisenheimer   

 

The Two Choices We Face…

Each of us has two distinct choices to make about what we will do

With our lives.

The first choice we can make is to be less than we have the

Capacity to be. To earn less. To have less. To read less and think less.

To try less and discipline ourselves less.

These are the choices that lead to an empty life.

These are the choices that, once made, lead to a life of constant

Apprehension instead of a life of wondrous anticipation.

And the second choice?

To do it all!

To become all that we can possibly be. To read every book that we

Possibly can. To earn as much as we possibly can.

To give and share as much as we possibly can.

To strive and produce and accomplish as much as we possibly can.

All of us have the choice.

To do or not to do. To be or not to be.

To be all or to be less or to be nothing at all.

Like the tree, it would be a worthy challenge for us all to stretch upward

And outward to the full measure of our capabilities.

Why not do all that we can, every moment that we can, the best that we can,

For as long as we can?

Our ultimate life objective should be to create as much as our talent and

Ability and desire will permit.

To settle for doing less than we could do is to fail in this worthiest of

Undertakings.

Results are the best measurement of human progress.

Not conversation. Not explanation. Not justification. Results!

And if our results are less than our potential suggests that they should be,

Then we must strive to become more today than we were the day before.

The greatest rewards are always reserved for those who bring great value

To themselves and the world around them as a result of who and what they

Have become.

 

- Jim Rohn

 

 

 

120423 quotes

Christmas Gift Suggestions…
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.

- Oren Arnold

 

A Gift for My Neighbor…

If my neighbor needed a cup of sugar,

I would give it to him;

But what if he needed a friend?

If my neighbor needed bread,

I would share with him;

But what if he needed love?

If my neighbor needed shoes,

I would provide them for him;

But what if he needed compassion?

If my neighbor needed water,

I would dig him a well;

But what if he needed God?

God grant me the wisdom

To give my neighbor

What he really needs!

- Anonymous

 

 

The Greatest Gift…

The greatest gift

You can give someone

Is your time,

Your attention,

Your love,

Your concern.

- Anonymous

  

Eight Gifts that Don't Cost a Cent!

 

This simple checklist can help measure how you

Are nurturing your relationships.

 

1. The Gift of Listening…

But you must really listen.

Don't interrupt, don't daydream,

And don’t plan your response. Just listen.

 

2. The Gift of Affection…

Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses,

Pats on the back and handholds.

Let these small actions demonstrate the

Love you have for family and friends.

 

3. The Gift of Laughter…

Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories.

Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."

 

4. The Gift of Solitude…

There are times when we want nothing better

Than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times

and give the gift of solitude to others.

 

5. The Gift of a Favor…

Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

Good deeds are cool.

 

6. The Gift of a Written Note…

it can be a simple "Thanks for your help" note,

Or a longer expression of your appreciation for

That person being in your life.  A brief handwritten

note May be remembered for a lifetime.

 

7. The Gift of a Compliment…

A simple and sincere, "You look great in red,"

"You did a super job," or "That was a wonderful meal"

Can make someone's day.

 

8. The Gift of a Cheerful Disposition…

The easiest way to feel good is to extend a

Kind word to someone.

 

These are eight important ways we can contribute

Toward whole and healthy Relationships.

They cost nothing, yet they may well be the most

Valuable gifts we can ever offer another person.

 

- Phil Evans

 

 

 

 

 

120123 Coach Nick Saban Quotes...

 

You try to avoid complacency.

When you have success,

People think I’m supposed to

Get some time off…

They start to resent the hard work.

They start to question some of the

Principles and values that helped

Them become successful.

- Coach Nick Saban

 

Every team has to

Develop their own identity,

Their own personality,

And that gets done by

Everybody accepting their

Role to make this team better.

- Coach Nick Saban

 

 

The most important thing

Is for players to stay focused

On what they need to do to

Play well…

Now’s the time for you to be

Your best as a football player

And that’s what you’ve got

To focus on.

- Coach Nick Saban

 

ROLL TIDE ROLL...