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Dayzee
I got THE- power!! Jesus.
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 | | Barked: Thu Nov 12, '09 6:05am PST | |  | |  | | November 12, 2009
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me. . . .
Philippians 3:14 (NIV)
For years I was in awe of the “hard” Bible study at my church. They met for an hour longer than my class next door, and when I’d peek in as I walked by, they’d be poring over the Bible with highlighters and marking pens. I’d heard they even had hours of homework each week! They seemed to know so much about the Bible. I could never be like that, I thought. Where would I start?
Then our son Ross, learning about the world’s religions in a history class, came home with some questions I couldn’t answer: Were the Gospels close to eyewitness accounts or written many years later? Did Jesus ever really say He was God? I knew I had to dig deeper into God’s Word and find the answers to help Ross strengthen his faith. So I signed up for the hard Bible study, promising myself that I’d attend the first day and see if I could handle it.
That was four years ago. Since then I’ve come to know God much better. But I’ve also learned a simple plan for facing intimidating situations, one that’s worked for me whether it’s taking a hard class, sticking to an exercise regimen or giving up a bad habit:
Go. Make an effort to get started, even if it’s only a baby step.
Stay. Don’t quit that first day; stick with it, even if you can’t keep up.
Return. Keep going back and making one more try. Soon all those “just one more day” attempts pile up, and you’ve made a lot of progress.
Stay close by me, Lord, so that when I feel weak or my will begins to fail, Your gentle nudging helps me press on.
By Gina Bridgeman |  |  | |  |
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Dayzee
I got THE- power!! Jesus.
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| | Barked: Fri Nov 13, '09 8:25am PST | | | | | | The Rose
=========
James was a highly respected officer in the army. In his spare
time, he liked to surf the net and talk to new people online.
He had been talking to a woman for some time now and had a sort
of internet relationship with her. He had actually fallen in
love with her. The only problem was that any time he asked her
about sending a picture her response was "if you love me this
much then what I look like doesn't matter."
So he agreed and let it go.
Later, even without seeing her but only knowing her personality
and how loving and caring she was, he asked her to marry him, to
which she answered yes. They decided to meet at a train station
for the first time and she told him that she would be wearing a
red rose so that he would know who she was.
Well the time came and James stood there in his full officers
uniform waiting ever so anxiously for her to come off of the
train.
Then he looked over to see a tall blonde with a short cut dress,
nice legs, long hair waving back and forth in the wind and the
most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. He couldn't believe his
eyes. . .
. . .then from behind her appeared an older heavyset woman
wearing a red rose.
As the beautiful woman walked by she asked, "Goin my way
soldier?" but James, as if he didn't even hear her, just turned
around standing at attention with tears of joy in his eyes and
looking at the older woman and said,
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," to which the older lady
said, "I don't know why but that lady that just walked by told me
to wear this and if you came to me to tell you to meet her in
the restaurant across the street."
That is the way most of our lives are. The decisions we make
can change our lives. If you make the wrong choice you could
end up empty-handed but choosing the right way, even though it
may be the harder way, will work out always in the end.
We all have at least two choices to make,
the right one and the wrong one.
Which one will you make?
~Author Unknown~ | | | | |
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Dayzee
I got THE- power!! Jesus.
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| | Barked: Sat Nov 14, '09 8:52am PST | | | | | | Ten Seconds
===========
You are right; it is the little things.
I was getting a special x-ray last week and the clerk put on my
ID bracelet. She must have noticed I was nervous. Because as
she put on my bracelet, she touched me with both hands...and
rubbed my arm.
She said something. But, I don't remember what she said!
I do remember, the touch............it has stayed with me for
weeks now.
The above was a response to the issue, Itty-Bitty Things,
http://www.mountainwings.com/past/1148.htm
It is amazing how such a simple thing can be remembered for so
long. Think back on an act of kindness that you remember from
long ago.
It was a dark morning in downtown Atlanta.
My father was a businessman, he had a store downtown, a wig and
cosmetics store. He would take his sons downtown before school
around 5:30 am and we would pass out flyers to women hurrying to
work.
I stood on a particular corner. I learned a lot about crowd
psychology from those early cold downtown mornings. If there
was a crowd of people coming across the crosswalk as the light
changed, it was vital that you got the first person in the crowd
to take one of your flyers.
If the first person took one, the rest would likely take one.
If the first person refused, the rest would likely refuse.
One morning a particularly rude lady brushed me aside with a
rather mean look. That wasn't unusual and it is not her that I
remember. The rest of the crowd following her across the street
also refused my proffered circulars.
It was just a circular, and you get used to rejection when
passing out circulars in the pre-dawn hours of a major city.
I don't remember the rude lady in front of the crowd.
I remember the last lady.
She was an older lady, perhaps mid-sixties to early seventies.
Her race was different from mine.
Her hair was white with age and her frame frail from the years.
She wore a black dress.
Did those things matter?
No, I just remember them.
She didn't need a wig and looked as if she never had or would
wear one. That I could plainly see.
Knowing the demeanor of the rest of the crowd, I made no real
attempt to give her a circular, after all, she was the one
person in the crowd that couldn't use what I was selling.
She stopped and extended her aged hand for one of my circulars.
I gladly gave her one and with that transfer, it lifted the
rejection of countless others before her.
She spoke three words . . .
"Jesus loves you"
and walked away.
That was 30 years ago.
It was an Itty-Bitty Thing that made a big difference.
Think on this:
What Itty-Bitty Thing made a big difference in your life?
Think also on this:
What Itty-Bitty Thing can you do to make a big difference in
someone else's life?
Neither of the two examples above cost anything or took more
than ten seconds.
Got ten seconds?
~A MountainWings Original~ | | | | |
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Dayzee
I got THE- power!! Jesus.
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| | Barked: Sun Nov 15, '09 6:26am PST | | | | | | November 15, 2009
“For John baptized with water, but . . . you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 1:5 (NIV)
Something strange has been happening to me in the last few years: I cry in church. For no reason that I can understand or explain, right in the middle of worship my eyes will cloud with tears. I blink furiously and take deep, even breaths to keep them at bay, but it rarely helps. My husband Wayne has gotten into the habit of carrying a handkerchief with him on Sunday morning. Apparently, he recognizes the signs now, because halfway through the service he tucks the hankie into my hand and gives my fingers a gentle squeeze.
If those tears in church weren’t embarrassing enough, the same thing started happening during my morning prayer time. I’m most comfortable communicating with God in writing, but these days many of my prayers are smudged with tears. I was convinced that this was a side effect of menopause, but that didn’t seem to affect anything other than my worship and prayer time.
My friend Wendy came to visit recently. I casually mentioned how easily the tears flowed when I communicated with God. She smiled knowingly. “That happens to me too.”
“It does?”
She nodded. “Those tears are an indication that the Holy Spirit has touched me in some way.”
I pondered her words for a long time and recognized the truth in them. My tears in church don’t embarrass me any longer; they’re my emotional response to the overwhelming love of God as He touches my heart with His Spirit.
Holy Spirit, sweep down over Your people and touch our hearts that we might serve God. Amen.
By Debbie Macomber | | | | |
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Dayzee
I got THE- power!! Jesus.
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| | Barked: Mon Nov 16, '09 9:31am PST | | | | | | *Twas the month before Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See the PC Police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*
*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
* December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.*
*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
* At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*
*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*
*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,
not Happy Holiday !*
Please, all Christians join together and
wish everyone you meet
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season! | | | | |
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Dayzee
I got THE- power!! Jesus.
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| | Barked: Fri Nov 20, '09 9:16am PST | | | | | | Divine Provision
=================
How can I climb this mountain?
I can merely speak and the mountain has to move
but can I make the connection?
Can I bring forth liberation
after such a long time in hibernation?
Oh My God!
What appeared to be such a problem
was my training for elevation.
I see the signs and wonders
as I go forth to eliminate the obstacles with my obedience.
Oh My God!
I am really destined for success.
What in the world happened?
Thank God it wasn’t quitting time in my school of opposition.
It was merely recess.
Recess, preparing me for success
Even during the times of duress
God was stamping His approval on my access.
~©Evangelist Freda Slaughter~ | | | | |
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Dayzee
I got THE- power!! Jesus.
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| | Barked: Sun Nov 22, '09 7:36am PST | | | | | | November 22, 2009
The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
Ecclesiastes 12:10
I was seated in church with my grandson Caleb, age five. He reached for the small pencil and envelope used for recording attendance and giving, and said, “This is so you can write, ‘I love You, God.’”
God wrote an entire book saying “I love you” to the human race. But not once did I ever think of scribbling those words on a pew envelope to be offered at the altar in blessing to Him.
My granddaughter Hannah, age seven, once sang me a song she had learned in summer Bible school about following Jesus. She paused midsentence to say, “I know how you turn back on the path to God.”
“How?” I asked.
“When you read the Bible and pray and obey the commandments . . . and then you stop.”
Her explanation was so stark and pure I felt myself squirm. I had been experiencing a season of struggle regarding those very issues. I needed a jolt.
I found myself backing away from that abrupt edge, the “stop.” I wanted once again to open my Bible and pray and have a heart to obey— to move forward on the holy path. I missed saying, “I love You, God.”
Jesus, in the pages of my Bible, I find Your reassuring promises telling me that I can start following Your path anytime.
By Carol Knapp | | | | |
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Dayzee
I got THE- power!! Jesus.
|
| | Barked: Tue Nov 24, '09 6:17am PST | | | | | | November 24, 2009
“When the people willingly offer themselves—praise the Lord!”
Judges 5:2 (NIV)
One of my morning rituals at work is a quick hello to the head custodian in my building. I always look forward to my conversations with Mr. Al, and today was no exception. “Good morning, Mr. Al,” I called out when he passed by my office door.
“How are you on this great fall day?” he asked.
“Okay, I guess,” I sighed. “I just opened an e-mail from a coworker asking me to fill in for her at a presentation this morning.” I paused. “Of course, I’ll do it, but I don’t feel very prepared to talk about the points she needs me to cover.”
“Oh, you’ll do fine,” he said. “Remember, it’s really God doing the asking, and He wouldn’t ask you if He didn’t think you could do it.”
Mr. Al took off his cap and wiped his brow. “A while back I was visiting a church down the way. They needed someone to read the Scripture to the congregation during the service. The minister walked over and asked me to help out. I did it, even though I was nervous. I figured I wouldn’t have been asked if God didn’t think I was up to it.”
Later that day, our staff met for our annual Thanksgiving meal. Mr. Al was asked to say a blessing. Not expecting the request, he hesitated for a moment. Then he bowed his head to lead us in prayer. “Oh, precious Lord, thank You for the food before us and for all the opportunities You give us to serve You. Amen.” When he was done, he looked up at me with a smile. “You see, Miss Melody? We just have to keep saying yes whenever God calls.”
Father, give me a heart willing to be used by You. Amen.
By Melody Bonnette | | | | |
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Dayzee
I got THE- power!! Jesus.
|
| | Barked: Wed Nov 25, '09 8:08am PST | | | | | | November 25, 2009
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving. . . .
Psalm 95:2
It was the day before Thanksgiving, and my wife Sandee and I were arguing about . . . something. I was at work—which may have contributed to my black mood—and the shuttle to the parking garage was running late. Both the turkey back home and I were stewing in our own juices.
Then a young man and his parents walked by. The young man jumped on the shuttle, gleeful for the free ride. His parents called for him to get off the bus but to no avail. Finally the mother looked at the driver, tapped the side of her head and said, “He’s not right.”
They weren’t walking to the garage; they were walking to Western Psychiatric Clinic. This young man was checking in. Imagine the festive holiday dinner at their house.
I wasn’t just humbled; I felt something beyond shame. I’d been blind to the sweet routine of my wonderful life. Did I really need to see another family’s suffering to recognize what I’d been given? Had I been with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, even the One beside me would have escaped my notice.
I could tell you that I went home and kissed my children and my ever-patient wife—which I did—but it’s hardly a fitting end to the story. I must live with my lapses, my blindness, my . . . well, ingratitude. Thanksgiving is still my favorite holiday, and now I have another reason: I’m grateful for a second (third, fourth, millionth) chance at grace, however undeserved it might be.
Thank You, Lord. And please be with that young man’s family, who might have some trouble giving thanks.
By Mark Collins | | | | |
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Dayzee
I got THE- power!! Jesus.
|
| | Barked: Sat Nov 28, '09 4:21pm PST | | | | | | The Most Powerful Book in America
=================================
They lie on the table side by side
The Holy Bible and the TV guide.
One is well worn and cherished with pride.
Not the Bible, but the TV guide.
One is used daily to help folks decide.
No, not the Bible, but the TV guide.
As the pages are turned, what shall they see.
Oh, what does it matter, turn on the TV.
Then confusion reigns, they can't all agree
On what they should watch on the old TV.
So they open the book in which they confide,
No, not the Bible, but the TV guide.
The Word of God is seldom read,
Maybe a verse as they fall into bed.
Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be;
Not from reading the Bible, from watching TV.
So then back to the table side by side,
Lie the Holy Bible and the TV guide.
No time for prayer, no time for the Word,
The plan of Salvation is seldom heard.
But forgiveness of sin, so full and free,
Is found in the Bible, not on TV.
Choose which book will rule your family.
~The author is unfortunately "unknown" | | | | |
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