The Fear of the Lord - John Bevere

Pg 21:
"... and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man. - Romans 1:23
Again e see the one true God's glorious image reduced. This time it is not to a calf but rather to the image of corruptible man. Israel was surrounded by a society that worshiped golden images in the likenesses of animals and insects. The modern-day curch is surrounded by a culture that worships man. ... We have served God in the image we have made."

Wow the idea that we have attempted to make God over in our image and pick and choose what we want from him, so instead of worshiping and believing in our Lord and Savior we're doing such to another entity that we completely made up. Best make sure your understandings and beliefs come straight from the good book.

Love is not enough

Love is not enough. It must be the foundation, the cornerstone - but not the complete structure. It is much too pliable, too yielding.
Bette Davis

We're not ment to understand it all. Acept this and have faith.

We're not ment to understand it all. Acept this and have faith.

Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes ... do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rubuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father to the child he delights in.

Slow to Judge

Slow to judge

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner help with homework do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children. Help us to remember that the pierced tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester. Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares. Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear.
Open our hearts, not just to those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

What can I give

What can I give

57 Cents

A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it "was too crowded." "I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by.

Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found room for her, that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings and the parents called for the kindhearted pastor, who had befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.

Inside was found 57 cents and a note scribbled in childish handwriting which read, "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School. For two years she had saved for this offering of love.

When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.

But the story does not end there!

A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered it for 57 cents.

Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00--a huge sum for that time (near the! turn of the century).

Her unselfish love had paid large dividend. When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300 and Temple University, where hundreds of students are trained.

Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of Sunday Schoolers, so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time. In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russel H. Conwell, author of the book, "Acres of Diamonds" A true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD, CAN DO WITH 57 cents.

this story has been validated by officials at Temple University. Acording to breakthechain.com

http://www.temple.edu/about/temples_founder.html

The Passing

Here and Gone

Crafted so delicately

in Gods hands we're made.

We grow, we shine, we live,

produce our fruit and bear

meaning of life for ourselves

and many others unknown.

We fall flat on our face,

tryin to hard

to be on our own.

Then we stand tall

not on our own feet

and make our father proud.

Our mission is done,

we have complected what

we were made for

we have pollinated and

made smiles on other faces.

Now it's time to go home...

Father is waiting... arms open wide.

Real Soul Mates

Nearly all marriages, even happy ones, are mistakes: in the sense that almost certainly (in a more perfect world, or even with a little more care in this very imperfect one) both partners might be found more suitable mates. But the real soul-mate is the one you are actually married to. -J.R.R Tolkien

Marriage is a covenant

From - Marriage:Questions Women Ask;

Marriage is a covenant relationship - not a contract. By covenant, I mean marriage is a permanent commitment of two people. Genesis 2:24 "A man will leave his father and mother, and be united to his wife and they will become one flesh"

1. Write down all the things you expect from your spouse, why you expedt those things, and think how you would feel if your husband said he expected the same things from you?

2. Write three things that first attracted you to your spouce, three more things that you have come to appreciate during your marriage, List ways you've changed and have you husband do the same then share.

3. Write yourself a contract that pinpoints one area of conflict resolution you need to work on and determine to make a change. For instance, your contract might read, "i hereby resolve never to bring up a problem when we're both tired." Date it and sign it. When you've got one area under control, move on to something else.

4. Make a list of your husbands positeve traits. Remind yourself of them when you get frustrated with his weaknesses.

What if your husband won't go to counseling? Counseling can still be beneficial if a woman goes alonge, tell him saving your marriage is your motivation for going, that you understand he's uncomfortable with it but that your concerned about your marriage, that you want to see if you can find some answers or at least raise some good questions. A counseler can help u see beyond the fog. Christian counselors are preferable because they can draw from the Bible and bring its principles to bear on your particular situation.