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RE: Reflections - 3/19/2009 9:44:48 AM
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peaceofGod
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From: Now in TX
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The Best Way
It’s interesting that the most skillful way, the most stress-free way, the most straightforward way, the most peaceful way seems to be the best way—not the struggling way, not the “put down” way, not the tense way, not the forceful way, not the “look at me” way, not the manipulating way, not the tricky way, or even the self sacrifice way.
God’s way...the way of Love, Joy, Peace ....
Thank you, Father, for your way of peace.
_____________________________
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Blog:Relationship
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Reflections - 3/26/2009 8:42:31 AM
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peaceofGod
Posts: 11390
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Here’s something I sometimes think about...surprise!...I sometimes think.
Have you noticed that most good things happen on purpose? I mean, they usually occur as the result of deliberate, thoughtful action rather than by accident.
Most of the time accidents are harmful, but not so with deliberate action. Mistakes happen by accident. Of course, a person can deliberately do harm, but true Christians choose to follow Jesus Christ.
Hmmmmmm, what will I do on purpose today?
_____________________________
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Blog:Relationship
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Reflections - 4/7/2009 9:26:39 AM
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peaceofGod
Posts: 11390
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What or who is most important to me? Could it be a car? Maybe a vintage 1957 shiny V8, stick shift Chevy in immaculate condition? Maybe a son, daughter, parent or spouse? Is it God?
Isn’t it kind of hard to be honest about this? Do I love something or someone more than I love God? Do I have an idol? I sure hope not
but ……
_____________________________
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Blog:Relationship
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RE: Reflections - 4/13/2009 8:01:03 AM
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peaceofGod
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He is alive! He is alive and well. He is Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnipotent. He is the ultimate Hero. Besides being such a great I AM, He loves us all.
Awesome!
_____________________________
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Blog:Relationship
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RE: Reflections - 6/2/2009 8:56:24 AM
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peaceofGod
Posts: 11390
Joined: 11/30/2005
From: Now in TX
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Free moral agency.
Aren’t you glad that God gives us space?...that He does not keep us on a tight leash?...that He allows us to make decisions?...that He does not force us to seek Him?...that He wants us to love Him with our whole heart, not because He forces us to love Him, but by our own will?
What a God!
Mark 12:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'
_____________________________
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Blog:Relationship
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RE: Reflections - 7/20/2009 7:56:46 PM
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peaceofGod
Posts: 11390
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From: Now in TX
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My wife and I recently had our granchildren for the weekend. WOW!!! Granchildren are wonderful but ...ooooh!...they have sooooo much energy.
Aren't we glad that God has more energy than we aging grandparents have!
Oh, to have even a little part of God's energy.
Colossians 1:28-29 (New International Version)
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
_____________________________
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Blog:Relationship
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RE: Reflections - 8/1/2009 9:06:18 AM
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peaceofGod
Posts: 11390
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Hmmm, reflecting on something... This may be a little offbeat but I'll write it down here anyway just for the fun of it.
Do you feel tired and wasted at the end of the day? Worse yet, do you feel tired at the beginning of the day? ………. (Sounds like the beginning of a commercial sound-bite, doesn’t it?) ……. Well, you don’t need to feel discouraged. What you need is ……….
Well, maybe we can forget the hyperbolic commercial statements and go straight to the source—the ultimate Authority.
The Great I AM says,Titus 3:4-6 (New International Version)
4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 2 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
_____________________________
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Blog:Relationship
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RE: Reflections - 8/20/2009 11:23:54 AM
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peaceofGod
Posts: 11390
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In earlier posts, I’ve told about the major reformation of our denomination. Now, we have changed our name from the Worldwide Church of God to Grace Communion International. The name change has been in the works for quite some time to consider all the ramifications—legal as well as opinions.
Although we have congregations throughout the United States, Canada and the rest of the world, we still are quite small after what seemed to be a mass exodus due to our reformation of the mid 1990s from a works based church to a Grace based church. Thanks to those of you who have been praying. Leaders of some major denominations have been praying for us and supportive. We are grateful.
_____________________________
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Blog:Relationship
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RE: Reflections - 9/1/2009 1:45:39 PM
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peaceofGod
Posts: 11390
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From: Now in TX
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Let’s Criticize
Why not make a conscience decision to spend all day criticizing?
Criticize our spouse (oh, you do that anyway?).
Criticize articles in the newspaper.
Criticize politicians, traffic lights, grocery products (too high, decreased volume, low quality, diluted), crazy drivers on the freeways, theologians, the weather, the landscape, the neighbor’s yard, somebody’s clothes, someone’s shoes, an editorial, a sermon, our Pastor, the Church, our brothers and sisters in Christ, ... where does it stop?
Well, after all, criticizing all these things would show how much better I am than they are. Right?
No?
Criticisms, especially when they are witty, show how smart I am. Right?
No?
Aren’t I happiest when I’m criticizing? When I’m negative? When I’m sarcastic? When I’m mean?
No?
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Rick Warren: It's no accident that the more blessed your ministry is, the more the Accuser(Rev12:10)hates it.Rejoice! Mt5:11-12.
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Chances are pretty high that just about every person alive has been or maybe is being criticized by somebody, somewhere. Some of us may even know of someone who is incarcerated falsely because criticism and gossip got out hand.
Maybe you are suffering because of being criticized at just about every turn.
It’s often hard to defend one’s self from false accusations and sometimes it’s best to let the accusers wallow in their own …….
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B.Graham's counsel on false attacks:"Rick,if u wrestle w a pig,both of u will get dirty,but only 1of u will like it."Pr26:4
My grandpa always said, "a bulldog can whip a skunk any day, but it's just not worth it."-Tony Liston
~~~~~~~
One thing is for sure, we don’t want to be the accuser. Do we?
Revelation 12:10 (New International Version)
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
_____________________________
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Blog:Relationship
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RE: Reflections - 9/4/2009 12:04:50 PM
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peaceofGod
Posts: 11390
Joined: 11/30/2005
From: Now in TX
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Blessing
Isn’t it great to receive blessings? Of course, you know that blessings come in many forms but they all have in common the fact that they all are good.
Now here’s an idea. Why not be a blessing? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you (if I) could be a blessing where ever we go to whomever we meet?
Worth a try.
May we all have enough of God’s goodness to be such a blessing.
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
_____________________________
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Blog:Relationship
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RE: Reflections - 10/1/2009 2:37:17 PM
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peaceofGod
Posts: 11390
Joined: 11/30/2005
From: Now in TX
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Hush! Be quiet!
“Simmer down!”
Sounds like something my Dad would have said. Doesn’t God say the same thing?
What do we do when we are upset about something? Mouth off? Complain? Criticize? Accuse? Feel sorry for ourselves? Get ourselves more and more worked up? Get other people upset? Such is what ancient Israel did repeatedly. It seems that we, too, are human and do the same.
God tells us to be quiet and watch him at work.
Exodus 14:14
"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Psalm 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Psalm 37:7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Philippians 4:6-8 (New International Version)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Okay, okay. Maybe I should do what Dad says.
After all, Father knows best.
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RE: Reflections - 11/9/2009 1:15:13 PM
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peaceofGod
Posts: 11390
Joined: 11/30/2005
From: Now in TX
Status: offline
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Rejected? Downtrodden? Treated with no respect? Do some of Rodney Dangerfield’s “No Respect” jokes really apply to you?
I try to remember:
The same was true of a shepherd boy, David, of whom God said, “A man after my own heart”.
The same was true of Jesus.
Aren’t we glad that people are not our final judge?
Aren’t we glad that God, who is the real judge, looks on the heart?..Not the outward appearance?
1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Acts 13:22
After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'
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RE: Reflections - 12/10/2009 11:22:42 AM
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peaceofGod
Posts: 11390
Joined: 11/30/2005
From: Now in TX
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2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. :8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; :9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
This scripture comes to mind occasionally. I don't know why ... Maybe because people—sometimes complete strangers—seem to have the inclination to tell me their problems. We Christians are not immune to setbacks are we? We sometimes are ambushed from every conceivable angle. Problems come and sometimes pile up on us. However, they do not have to get us down. That is why I like this passage of God’s Word. Maybe this scripture comes to mind because I need the reminder.
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. :8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; :9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
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RE: Reflections - 1/1/2010 12:09:38 PM
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peaceofGod
Posts: 11390
Joined: 11/30/2005
From: Now in TX
Status: offline
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Caregivers
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Nowadays, more and more people—especially baby boomers and older—have found themselves in the position of being caregivers of their parents. I am one of them.
For the most part, this sort of care giving is not a paying career that we have chosen. It is not a job for which we have gone to school, had an internship, and graduated. Most of us have not received a diploma with special, certified credentials that show that we are qualified to be caregivers.
What seems to have happened with most of us is that we started helping our parents as they became progressively less able to care for themselves until we found ourselves doing just about everything for them. Some of us have even quit our careers to insure that our parents receive the attention that they need and/or want. However, most of us lack the appropriate skills and knowledge. On the other hand, we can find resources online and maybe find someone to replace us while we go to a Caregivers seminar now and again.
After all, our parents deserve it, do they not? They fed us when we were children, nursed our skinned knees, gave us shelter and all that we really needed, right? On the other hand, some of our parents were not so nice. Some of our parents abused their children who now, as adults, care for them.
The red whelps on the back of the legs and the bruises have now healed. The whippings by the wire handle of a flyswatter, the punches, and wrathful threats (and worse) are in the past and are but painful memories of wrathful parents…but memories they are…sometimes-vivid memories.
Yet, some of the same, abused, adult children seem to have no choice but to care for their abusive parents who now are feeble shells of what they once were. Weak, sick, feeble bodies temper the fierce rage that still are in some of those parents who now occasionally lash out at their caregiver children. Such caregiver children surely need God’s love to shine in them and through them to their parents.
All adult/children caregivers, I believe, need God’s love. They, I believe, need our prayers.
Perhaps we agree that all caregivers, professional and otherwise, need a special kind of help to do their job with tenderness and sensitive compassion.
LINK: Prayer Thread for Caregivers
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
< Message edited by peaceofGod -- 1/2/2010 1:08:04 PM >
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RE: Reflections - 2/5/2010 10:01:34 AM
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peaceofGod
Posts: 11390
Joined: 11/30/2005
From: Now in TX
Status: offline
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1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Oh, it seems to be so easy for me to focus all too much on my problems. But when I do so, I act as though the world revolved around me. When I do so, I pray as though the world revolved around me. Problems seem to have a way of narrowing our thoughts. They demand so much of our attention that it’s hard to think of anything else.
A family joined our church several decades ago and asked for prayer. One of the children of that family had a severe, incurable ailment. After several years, God healed the child and guess what happened after the healing. The family left the church.
Sometimes, our relationship with God revolves around a problem. Without the problem, the relationship ends.
Wouldn’t it be much better if our relationship with God revolved around love? What do you think?
1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
< Message edited by peaceofGod -- 2/7/2010 8:53:04 AM >
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