Pray All The Time

Prayer is important. It is your power source. Do you think your car will run without gas? Prayer feeds your spirit. Are you struggling with something that will not leave you alone? Is there a temptation you just do not have control over? Do you have conflict with your spouse, kids, or at your job/school? Get in your prayer closet and get yourself fueled up. I encourage you to spend an hour or more praying everyday. Get the Holy Ghost power you need to be victorious in life. Be instant, constant, faithful, and devoted to prayer.

O Lord My God,You Are Great

O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent. Psalm 104:1-2
Even when it rains there is still light and beauty. The same is true of hard times. Though the way is often dark and gloomy, God remains there, radiant and beautiful and splendid, the One Ruler, he whom we worship and turn to, knowing that in the end he will bring us the most wonderful thing of all—fulfillment of all that lies within us. For “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
There is still darkness within us, though. We have not understood that we have to hold the light high, the light that God put within us. Darkness has overshadowed it, bringing in much that is evil. But we are firmly convinced that God is still light, and in that lies our hope. In the end, the darkness within us will be overcome, for the Savior says, “I am the light of the world!”
God is light throughout the whole creation; Jesus is the light of all humanity; for this alone he came. He came not to rule within the world but within its people. Their Lord, Jesus Christ, must rule them. To this we give ourselves in all we do.

Walk The Walk And Talk The Talk

It is easier to sin than to live holy." But as I have gotten older I have found that Jesus was right. Because when you sin you lose your joy, love, peace, and your soul finds no rest. There is no satisfaction. The more I walk holy and acceptable to God the greater my joy, love, peace, and satisfaction. You can have it all. Just walk holy and acceptable to God and you will find that it was not a sacrifice. It was the bargain of your life.

Think On These Things

All the good things we have on earth come from our Father in heaven. It is his will that life is bearable for us. The burdens of this world should not be beyond our strength to carry. But this requires a certain gift, which only God can give: he, the father of light, will give us light. That is how he achieves what is good and perfect.

Psalms 139:9-10
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

You cannot escape from God. Even if he takes flight and lives on the far side of the sea, lost from sight, still God will follow after him. You cannot escape God, go where you wish, do what you want—you will always end up in God’s hand. And that is very fortunate, for you and for humankind in general. However far people go, they still remain in God’s hand. After they have committed every possible sin and everything about them looks as though they are far, far from God, God will lead them back and hold them with his right hand, so that good may come out of misfortune. Light can penetrate the darkness, and help is at hand in every possible adversity.

When you imagine yourself far from God, be gentle and humble, not proud,or shameless. Then God will always help you, and into your soul will come the peace of which Jesus speaks when he says,
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

Don't Let Them Get You Down

1 Corinthians 15:33 New King James Version (NKJV)
33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."Who do you love?

The people that you love, your friends, will either bring you closer to God or away from God. Some translations say "Bad company corrupts good morals (or character)". Another translation says…1 Corinthians 15:33 Contemporary English Version (CEV)33 Don't fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you.Watch out. Do not let your heart get attached to anyone that is not seeking God. You can't play in the dirt without getting dirty. So get up, clean yourself off, and leave those relationships behind. Set your sights on God."But I can help them." No you can't. God gave them a free will. You can not take their free will away from them. You can not make them change. They will drag you down with them. Don't let them. The bible says the wages of sin is death. If you're living in sin it will be death to your joy, peace, strength, love… you will be miserable. God will help you make new friends! It's not as hard as you think. Start by loving God with all of you heart, mind, and strength.

Kid's Say The Funniest Things

>> 3-year-old Reese:> "Our Father, Who does art in heaven,> Harold is His name.> Amen.">>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>
A little boy was overheard praying:> "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it.> I'm having a real good time like I am.">> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>
After the christening of his baby brother in church,> Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.> His father asked him three times what was wrong.> Finally, the boy replied,> "That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home,> and I wanted to stay with you guys.">> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>
I had been teaching my three-year old daughter, Caitlin,> the Lord's Prayer for several evenings at bedtime.> She would repeat after me the lines from the prayer.> Finally, she decided to go solo.> I listened with pride as she carefully enunciated each word,> right up to the end of the prayer:> "Lead us not into temptation," she prayed,> "but deliver us from E-mail.>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>
One particular four-year-old prayed,> "And forgive us our trash baskets> as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.">> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>
A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they> were on the way to church service,> "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?"> One bright little girl replied,> "Because people are sleeping.">> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>
Six-year-old Angie and her four-year-old> brother, Joel, were sitting together in church.> Joel giggled, sang, and talked out loud.> Finally, his big sister had had enough.> "You're not supposed to talk out loud in church."> "Why? Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked.> Angie pointed to the back of the church and said,> "See those two men standing by the door?> They're hushers.">> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>
A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3.> The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake.> Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.> "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,> 'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'> Kevin turned to his younger brother and said,> "Ryan, you be Jesus!">> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>
A father was at the beach with his children> when the four-year-old son ran up to him,> grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore> where a seagull lay dead in the sand.> "Daddy, what happened to him?" the son asked.> "He died and went to Heaven," the Dad replied.> The boy thought a moment and then said,> "Did God throw him back down?">> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>
A wife invited some people to dinner.> At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said,> "Would you like to say the blessing?"> "I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied.> "Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife answered.> The daughter bowed her head and said,> "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?">

Let There Be Light

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.Genesis 1:3

These words of God are the foundation on which all else rests. It is from his light that all else comes, as we see in the symbol of the sun. But God’s light is different from sunlight. God’s light is the light of the Spirit. God also needs to say to us human beings, “Let there be light!”—light in our hearts, in our spirits! Let there be light: on such a foundation everything can grow and flourish.
The most important thing for us is that God kindles his glow in our hearts. Then we are ready to be enlightened by his Spirit and can recognize his clarity, the essence of God, so that even in times of distress or in the midst of every kind of evil, we can see God’s face, bright and clear.

Pray Without Ceasing

In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.Philippians 4:6

The Apostle says to us that we should let all our requests be made known to God by prayer and petition. How can we do this? Shall we pray and petition all day long? Because of the command to pray without ceasing, many people think they should use many words or repeat the Lord’s Prayer many times over. But the Savior does not want such prattling. To pray and petition in everything simply means this: to stand prayerfully before the Lord always, day and night, whether one is upright or lying down, walking or sitting, working or resting—at all times, in every situation, in whatever one is doing.
We must understand clearly that our prayer goes to God. We must always remain aware of the presence of the Savior and never lose sight of him.

Be All That You Can Be

1 CORINTHIANS 15:10 NIV
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am....
ROMANS 12:2 Wuest, An Expanded Translation
2 And stop assuming an outward expression that does not come
from within you and is not representative of what you are in
your inner being but is patterned after this age; but change
your outward expression to one that comes from within and is
representative of your inner being, by the renewing of your
mind, resulting in your putting to the test what is the will of
God, the good and well-pleasing and complete will, and having
found that it meets specifications, place your approval upon it.
God is a brilliant Creator. He only makes originals -- not
copies. According to Ephesians 2:10, you are God's work of
art.
God made you unique. So be all that God created you to be.
Don't try to be someone else. Don't try to be an ear in the
Body of Christ, if God made you a foot. Just be yourself.
This does not mean that you cannot improve, or grow. Growth is
part of God's plan. And we can certainly learn from others, and
imitate excellent actions and attitudes.
But too many people are insecure and hope to gain acceptance
from others by conforming to what they think will make them
popular or successful -- even though they hate it and know they
are not being real.
ROMANS 12:2 Phillips
2 Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own
mould....
Don't let the world pressure you into conforming.
Express the originality that God put within you. God made you
the way you are for a purpose -- His purpose.
This is not to encourage rebellion, of course. But it is not
God's plan for us all to be identical and do everything in the
same way.
I am not saying you have to try to be different. Just be who
God made you -- without fear.
Not everyone may like you, or what you do. But that is normal.
You can't always please everyone. Make it your aim to please
God by expressing what He made you.
ROMANS 12:2 NLT
2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let
God transform you into a new person by changing the way you
think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you
will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.
The Bible reveals many truths about who we are once we receive
Jesus Christ. We actually receive new life, a new standing with
God, and new ability. As you feed the Word of God into your
thinking, that new life will be able to manifest more and
more.

Martha,Martha

Luke 10:38-41 New Living Translation (NLT)
38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home.
39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught.
40 But Martha was worrying over the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me."
41 But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details!
There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it--and I won't take it away from her."Martha was "too busy". She had a lot of people in her home. There was cleaning to do, food to fix, clothes to wash. Martha was overworked. Imagine if your parents showed up at your house and they had brought a bunch of hungry friends with them. Here you are rushing about preparing food for them. Maybe it was like that at your house during Thanksgiving or Christmas. Martha was overworked and she asked Jesus to get Mary to help her.Now notice what Jesus said "There is really only one thing worth being concerned about." All that stuff you thought was so important, is not as important as you thought. Sit at the feet of Jesus. Spend some time in prayer and in the Word of God. That is the most important thing you can do today or any day.

Another One For Our Troops!

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!



"Dear Heavenly Father, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Please stop a moment and say a prayer for our troops (land, air, and sea) in Afghanistan , Kuwait , Iraq and all around the world.

Prayer Request

I understand that life in Iraq is very difficult to bear right now. Our troops need our prayers for strength, endurance and safety. "Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen." Please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world.

I Am Trusting In God's Plan

Through it all...I am trusting in God's Plan...
Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."
Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will! feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."
Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the Hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and How Close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest
tree of all time and people will always remember me." After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees.
When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one," and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.
The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.
The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.
Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the secondtree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out onthe water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strongenough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and Hestood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the treeknew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It wascarried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carryingit. When they came to a stop; the man was nailed to the tree and raisedin the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree cameto realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hilland be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified
on it.The moral of this story is that when things don't seemto be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If youplace your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the treesgot what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. Wedon't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are
not our ways, but His ways are always best.

I Can Do ALL THINGS Through Christ That Strengthens Me

2 Peter 1:3-4 Amplified Bible (AMP)
3 For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).
4 By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises…
Is there anything that "all things" does not include? Does "all things" include a home, transportation, clothes, a good job, a good spouse, etc. Is there anything that is not included in "all things"?God wants you to live a good life and God has seen to it that you have everything you need for a good life. It is "all" already here. "But how come I don't have …?" you may ask. Take another look at this verse. It is through the knowledge of HIM and that knowledge will teach you about God's "precious and exceedingly great promises". Just tap into the promises that God has already made to you. God made those promises thousands of years before you were born. They are there just waiting for you to claim them. So get out your Bible and claim the promises of God today.

Top 10 Predictions For 2007

TOP ( 10 ) PREDICTIONS FOR 2007
1. The Bible will still have the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.--

Author Unknown

Jeremiah

The prophecies of Jeremiah are not recorded in chronological order. There are large and small sections from different periods of his life randomly joined together into a record of Jeremiah's prophecies.
JEREMIAH'S CALL TO OFFICE (CH. 1)
PROPHECIES DURING JOSIAH'S REIGN (CH. 2-20) Israel's Sin (Ch. 2) Call to Repentance (Ch. 3) Approaching Judgment (Ch. 4-6) Temple Discourse (Ch. 7-10) Broken Covenant (Ch. 11-12) Five Warnings (Ch. 13) Judah's Punishment (Ch. 14-17) The Potters lessons (Ch. 18-20)
PROPHECIES DURING ZEDEKIAH'S REIGN (CH. 21-24) Zedekiah's Oracles (Ch. 21) Oracle against Kings (Ch. 22) Oracle against Prophets (Ch. 23) Baskets of Figs (Ch. 24)
PROPHECIES OF THE BABYLONIAN EXILE (CH. 25-29)
RESTORATION PROMISED (CH. 30-33)
HISTORICAL SECTION (CH. 34-35)
JEREMIAH'S PERSECUTION (CH. 36-38)
FALL OF JERUSALEM AND EXILE (CH. 39-45) Fall of Jerusalem (Ch. 39) Gedaliah (Ch. 40-41) Flight to Egypt (Ch. 42-43) Jeremiah's Last Words (Ch. 44) Word to Baruch (Ch. 45)
PROPHECIES AGAINST THE NATIONS (Ch. 46-52) Against Egypt (Ch. 46) Against Philistia (Ch. 47) Against Moab (Ch. 48) Against Ammon (Ch. 49:1-6) Against Edom (Ch. 49:7-22) Against Damascus (Ch. 49:23-27) Against Kedar and Hazor (Ch. 49:28-33) Against Elam (Ch. 49:34-39) Against Babylon (Ch. 50-51)
HISTORICAL APPENDIX (CH. 52)
Jeremiah was a prophet during Judah's darkest days. He sought to make sense of the divine will as the Babylonian threat loomed large. He felt compelled to announce Judah's impending defeat, and this took a heavy toll on his spirit.

The Book Of Isaiah

Isaiah has 66 chapters. Isaiah prophesied in Judah during the reigns of King Uzziah,Jotham,Ahaz,and Hezekiah.
Isaiah repeatedly warned the people that Jerusalem and Judah would be judged because of there wickedness.
held to the hope that the kingdom would be restored again.

We Are Family

A family thing. People meaning something to each other. People joyful about spending time together. People sharing a common interest. People ready to embrace and be embraced. People ready to act any time of day or night when the need arises. I believe God intended the family relationship to be special, but what I have really been describing is the special relationship within the spiritual family of believers more than physical blood relations.However, the spiritual relationship is also a blood relationship because it is the blood of Christ that has bought us (1 Peter 1:18-19) and brought about the common ground for such a family relationship. Do we recognize the significance of the JESUS CONNECTION and what comes along with it?

This FAMILY CONNECTION begins with a JESUS CONNECTION! As we consider our relationship with the Heavenly Father and with Christ ,we should recognize the SPECIAL FAMILY we have and the bond that ought to be between us. Through our CONNECTION with JESUS we have been given the right to become children of God (John 1:12-13) and thus members of this family.And the family relationship this JESUS CONNECTION creates.

Ultimate Destination

How are you doing on your new years resolutions? Have you kept them or have you given up? Don't give up just yet! As we have begun the journey into a new year, are we looking ahead or isour focus turned toward the past with a longing for those days? Do we have adesire to return to where we used to be? Is there a lifestyle of our past that is trying to draw us back to it? Today we have the opportunity to return to old ways. Is that our choice?

With journeys there are choices to be made all along the way? Do we continue? Do we back track? Do we change course? Do we keep going? When those opportunities present themselves, we must give serious consideration to what impact our choices will have on the journey and ultimate destination. Perhaps we find ourselves feeling content with where we are and see no need to progress along the way? Do we like the way things are right now and are ready to set up camp and stay?

It's not time to hang up the resolutions just yet.We can overcome them. If God is for us who can be against us? Yes, resolutions are hard to beat I know because I deal with it also. I have broke my habit's? No not yeat but I am working on it. Will I kick it? I pray I do. But we must press toward the goal and try to do the best we can.

Our God is an Awesome God!!!!!!
Happy New Year!

Perpetual New Year Resolutions

Received this in my e-mail from a friend of mine. I thought that we all might be able to get something from it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Let this coming year be better than all the others.
Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time.

Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Share a funny story with someone whose sprits are dragging. A good laugh can be very good medicine.

Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep. Pay a debt. Give a soft answer. Free yourself of envy and malice. Encourage some youth to do his or her best. Share your experience, and offer support. Young people need role models.

Make a genuine effort to stay in closer touch with family and good friends. Resolve to stop magnifying small problems and shooting from the hip. Words that you have to eat can be hard to digest.

Find the time to be kind and thoughtful. All of us have the same allotment:24 hours a day. Give a compliment. It might give someone a badly needed lift.

Think things though. Forgive an injustice. Listen more. Be kind.

Apologize when you realize you are wrong. An apology never diminishes a person. It elevates him.

Don't blow your own horn. If you've done something praiseworthy, someone will notice eventually.

Try to understand a point of view that is different from your own. Few things are 100 percent one way or another. Examine the demands you make on others.

Lighten up. When you feel like blowing your top, ask yourself, "Will it matter in a week from today?". Laugh the loudest when the joke is on you.

The sure way to have a friend is to be one. We are all connected by our humanity, and we need each other. Avoid malcontents and pessimists. They drag you down and contribute nothing.

Don't discourage a beginner from trying something risky. Nothing ventured means nothing gained. Be optimistic. The can-do spirit is the fuel that makes things go.

Read something uplifting. Deep-six the trash. You won't eat garbage – why put it in your head? Don't abandon your old-fashioned principles. They never go out of style. When courage is needed, ask yourself, "If not me, who? If not now, when?"

Look at the person you have blamed for your unhappiness, and ask yourself was the criticism legitimate? Did I do anything to help them or did I just decide I am better than he or she and walk away?

Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look 10 years younger.
Don't be afraid to say, "I love you". Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world.

-- Ann Landers