Thought for the Day

Sowing and reaping

Thought for the day: “The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before horror.” PROVERBS 15:33 NIV
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The Apostle Paul writing to the church at Corinth about the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping, giving and receiving.
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV

I don’t know why this principle works other than the fact that God said so. It has been proven in my life, when I give of my resources God ensures that I have resources to give from. When I give of my sobriety and clean time, I continue to stay sober and clean When I am a friend, I have friends. When I pray and worship to God, God draws closer to me. I can’t explain how it works. All I know is that I don’t want to go back to the way it used to be, me, me, me, me,…..and then nothing to show for it. I am grateful for what was done for me that I could not do for myself. Thanks for letting me share………………………….JRE
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SEEKING SUCCESS
When pride comes, then comes dishonor; but with the humble is wisdom.
PROVERBS 11:2
We are a success-saturated society. The tell-tale signs are everywhere. Each year dozens of books and magazines, scores of audio and video tapes, and hundreds of seminars offer ideas, motivation, techniques, and promises of prosperity.
Curiously, however, few ever address what it is most folks want (but seldom find) in their pursuit of success: contentment, fulfillment, satisfaction, and relief……..
At the risk of sounding ultra-simplistic, I’d like to offer some counsel to those seeking success……
First submit yourself to those who are wise……
Second humble yourself under God’s mighty hand……..
Third, throw yourself on the mercy and care of God.
CHARLES SWINDOLL………….The Finishing Touch
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“True ambition is not what we thought it was. True ambition is the profound desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace of God. BILL W. AA 12X12 pp124-125

Renew my spirit

Thought for the day: “God is more truly imagined than expressed and He exists more truly than is imagined.” ST. AUGUSTINE
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Walk all the way with another person and with God. Do not go a part of the way and then stop. Do not push God so far into the background that He has not effect on your life. Walk all the way with Him. Make a good companion of God, by praying to Him often during the day. Do not let your contact with Him be broken for too long a period. Work all the way with God and with other people, along the path of life, wherever it may lead you.
HAZELDEN……………Twenty-Four Hours A Day
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I praise God for the springtime and new life. At one time spring was my favorite of all the seasons. As I get older I find that I enjoy all four seasons and they are enjoyed for different reasons. Spring for the fresh air and the new growth of leaves and grass. Summer for the warm days and being able to swim and fish, and the longer hours of daylight. Fall for the cool evenings and the beauty. Winter for the view of the landscape without vegetation, and the needed rest, the time spent reading and preparing for the coming warmer seasons. I praise God for the springtime and the renewing that comes with the season. Only God can make a tree, only God can renew my spirit. I give praise for what was done for me that I could not do for myself……………………….JRE
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TWICE BORN
Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
JOHN 3:3
We cannot fully explain the mystery of physical birth, but we can accept its wonder, and we accept the fact of new life. What is it, then, that keeps us from accepting the reality and wonder of spiritual rebirth, of being “born again”? To those who have experienced it or seen it happen in others, it is just as real as physical birth.
Just as surely as God implants the life cell in the tiny seed that produces the mighty oak…….as surely as He instills the heartbeat in the life of the tiny infant yet unborn…..as surely as He puts motion into the planets, stars, and heavenly bodies, so He implants His divine life in the hearts of those who earnestly seek Him through Christ.
This is not conjecture; it is fact. But has it happened to you? If not, you are not only unfit for the kingdom of God, you are cheating yourself out of the greatest, most revolutionary experience known to any human being. By a simple prayer of faith ask Christ into your life right now. He will come in, and you will be born again!
BILLY GRAHAM

Harvest Time

Thought for the day: “The Bible does not tell sinners to go to church, but for the Church to go to sinners.” BM at CTC 4-27-03
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It’s Harvest Time……it’s time to go to the street; time to get the message to the addicts; time to get the message to the broken hearted; time to get the message to the rejected and poor; time to get the message to the high and mighty; time to get the message to the old and set in ways; time to get the message to the young and impressionable; and time to get the message to those we love, family, friends, neighbors, and most of all those who are difficult to love. And what is the message? The message is that we have been set free. We have a new life and a new start. God’s mercy is brand new everyday. The mercy extended to me yesterday is not what I have to draw upon, I have brand new mercy, a fresh supply that will be applied wherever needed today. Without grace (what was done for me that I could not do for myself), and mercy (not getting what I deserve), without these I would be lost and spiritually dead. I am grateful and want to pass it on. Thanks for letting me share…………………….JRE
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STOP RUNNING SCARED
I trust in the LORD, I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the troubles of my soul. PSALM 31:6-7
You may be going through a trial so overwhelming that it’s borderline unbearable. You want to see the end of the tunnel. Which is only natural, because once we see that little speck of light, we feel we can make it through to the finish. But God’s tunnels are often twisting, too complex and dark to see the light for many days. In such settings. He says, “In that dark, twisting, seemingly endless period of time, trust Me. Stop running scared! Stop fearing!”
CHARLES SWINDOLL……………Perfect Trust
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“ In God’s economy, nothing is wasted. Through failure, we learn a lesson in humility which is probably needed, painful though it is.”
BILL W. A letter dated 1942

Stay Teachable

Thought for the day: “Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.” PROVERBS 4:26 NIV
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A few years ago my friend and sponsor told me, “That when entering upon a path of new life, at first the path is very broad, but bumpy and ruff. As we continue on the path it becomes smoother but more narrow.” At first all we have to do is stay on the path taking one step at a time. As we go along we discover that there are behaviors that we must change. Some changes are difficult and take time to see through and work out, others we must ask God to remove. Change will take place if we “ask, seek, and knock,” and have the willingness to allow Gods work to be done. Like the old saying, “Jesus caught His fish first, and then cleaned them,” we too must first be teachable and then be taught. I am so grateful for the parts of this life that I started and did not know which way to go, and for a Loving God who has taken up the slack in my rope, and has done for me what I could not do for myself……………………….JRE
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When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of all the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly. BARBARA J. WINTER
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OUR WILL OR GOD’S WILL
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go.
PSALM 32:8
Following the will of God requires faith and action, which in turn call for risk and release. This is where things get very personal; this is where we persevere and flesh out the will of God.
I have come to the conclusion: Doing the will of God is rarely easy and uncomplicated. Instead, it is often difficult and convoluted. Or…..mysterious. Because we don’t know where He is taking us, we must bend our wills to His, and most of us are not all that excited about bending. We’d much prefer resisting. That’s why Christian life is often such a struggle, I don’t mean that it’s a constant marathon of misery. It’s just a struggle between our will and His will. Someday, when we are caught up with the Lord in glory, we will finally be all the things we have longed to be. Until then, we live in this never-ending tension of give and take, push and pull.
CHARLES SWINDOLL……….The Mystery of God’s Will
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I would rather struggle and be victorious, than take off the armor, lie down and give up. I will stay on the path even at times when I find it ruff. All along the road there is Light and Love. At the end is home. Thanks for letting me share………………………JRE

Plumb Line

Thought for the day: “Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.”
ECCLESIASTES 3:15 NIV
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Today I find it hard to keep my mind centered on what is right. Here it is 2003 and if you watch TV and read the paper you know that what was right yesterday, might not be considered right today. During these times I go to the Author and Finisher of my faith, Jesus Christ. Using Jesus as my plumb line, and the writings of the Bible and many others who have “trudged the road of happy destiny,” as my source of information, I am able to get some direction. Though I may vary form the course, I learn lessons and try to get back to the path. When I do get back it is always better lit than before. I am grateful for what was done for me that I could not do for myself……………….JRE
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.” PHILIPPIANS 4:8
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THE COMING OF FAITH
In my own case, the foundation stone of freedom from fear is that of faith: a faith that, despite all worldly appearances to the contrary, causes me to believe that I live in a universe that makes sense.
To me, this means a belief in a Creator who is all power, justice, and love; a God who intends for me a purpose, a meaning, and a destiny to grow, however little and haltingly, toward His own likeness and image. Before the coming of faith I had lived as an alien in a cosmos that too often seemed both hostile and cruel. In it there could be no inner security for me.
BILL W. ……AA Grapevine, January 1962
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Thanks for letting me share………………………JRE

Growth and Learning

The thought for the day: “The steps of faith fall on the seeming void, but find the rock beneath.” JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER
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DO THE GOOD YOU CAN
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in you power to do it. PROVERBS 3:27

Matthew Henry wrote: “Wherever the Providence of God cast us, we should desire and endeavor to be useful; and , when we cannot do the good we would , we must be ready to do the good we can. And he that is faithful in a little shall be shall be entrusted with more.”
That thought moves me. If you can’t do the good you would, do the good you can. You may have had big-time plans in your life, major league dreams that haven’t panned out. You were going to write a best-selling book, but the opportunities just haven’t come along. Are you willing to write for your church newsletter?……
Maybe you wanted to teach in seminary or Bible school, but the pressures of life forced you in a different direction. Are you willing to teach a Sunday school class?……Maybe you’d hoped to be a missionary….but for one reason or another, that door has never opened…..Are you open to working with Hispanic or Vietnamese people in your own city?
CHARLES SWINDOLL….Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication
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THIS MATTER OF HONESTY
“Only God can fully know what absolute honesty is. Therefore, each of us has to conceive what this great ideal may be, to the best of our ability.
“Fallible as we all are, and will be in this life, it would be presumption to suppose that we could ever really achieve absolute honesty. The best we can do is to strive for a better quality of honesty.
“Sometimes we need to place love ahead of indiscriminate ‘factual honesty.’ We cannot, under the guise of ‘perfect honesty,’ cruelly and unnecessarily hurt others. Always one must ask, ‘What is the best and most loving thing I can do?’”
BILL W. A letter dated 1966
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This was a hard lesson for me to learn. Not too long ago I thought I was right in a certain situation ( I might have been), and I proceeded to let the other people involved know where they were wrong. As a result I stirred up some feelings and hurt some people. Because I am trying to learn and grow, when I hurt the others (my friends), my heart also felt the pain. My ego had started the whole thing, but love took over and set my heart right. I learned that even when I am right, I don’t have the right to hurt others. I give God praise for growth and learning how to live at peace with others. I am grateful for what was done for me that I could not do for myself. ………………………………JRE

Timeless and Timely

Thought for the day: “To be alive, to be able to see, to walk, to have houses, music, paintings, it’s all a miracle. I have adopted the technique of living life from miracle to miracle.” AUTHUR RUBINSTEIN
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The Hebrew word “ayin” (sight), taken from A Prayer of Moses the Man of God, Psalm 90:4 NIV
“For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.”

God is timeless and always timely, seldom early, but never late. When we go through dry periods and the winds blow against us, God is always with us and understands each moment of pain. When we are weak God becomes our strength. When we are lonely God is our companion. When we do not feel well, God is our healing. God is always with us and we must recognize the presence, and learn how to give up our burdens. In our own strength we have very little lasting power. Only God can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves…………………..JRE
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SEEKING GUIDANCE
“Man is supposed to think, and act. He wasn’t made in God’s image to be an automaton .
“My own formula along this line runs as follows: First, think through every situation pro and con, praying meanwhile that I be not influenced by ego considerations. Affirm that I would like to do God’s will.
“Then, having turned the problem over in this fashion and getting no conclusive or compelling answer, I wait for further guidance, which may come into the mind directly or through other people or through circumstances.
“If I feel I can’t wait, and still get no definite indication, I repeat the first measure several times, try to pick out the best course, and then proceed to act. I know if I am wrong, the heavens won’t fall. A lesson will be learned, in any case.”
BILL W. ………………………From a letter dated 1950

Rearview Mirror

Thought for the day: “He came to be like us so we could be more like Him.” Heard on a Promise Keepers tape
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People all the time say to me, “Jerry, you are delivered from your alcohol and drug addiction, why do you keep reminding yourself of your past?” The answer is that I am delivered but my self-will could at any moment take me back to where I don’t want to go. I remember my past, and look at where I am today, and I have hope for tomorrow. I don’t ever want to go back to my old life, and if I ever lose sight of where I’ve been I could make a wrong turn. I try and keep my eyes on Jesus, but the eyes of my mind look out through the rearview mirror. I move forward “one day at a time,” and through the rearview I see where I’ve come from.
I stand upon a Scripture by Jeremiah found in the book of Lamentations 3:19-22 NIV…………………………………JRE

“I remember my affliction and my wanderings, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.”
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Today we have learned to harness the power of the atom, but very few of us have learned how to develop fully the power of prayer. We have not yet learned that a man can be more powerful on his knees than behind the most powerful weapons ever developed.
We have not learned that a nation is more powerful when it unites in earnest prayer to God than when its resources are channeled into weapons. We have not discovered that the answer to our problems can be through contact with the living God.
Weapons by themselves will not keep us safe or solve the world’s problems. Our basic problems are spiritual in nature, and only spiritual solutions will solve them. That is why prayer is so vital, for only God can change the human heart.
Who knows what might happen if millions of believers around the world availed themselves of the greatest privilege this side of Heaven, the privilege of intercessory prayer? Will you be one of them?
BILLY GRAHAM
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Answered prayer for my cousin Shelley, her surgery was a complete success. Thanks for letting me share………………..JRE

Authority

Thought for the day: “People become house-builders through building houses, harp players through playing the harp. We grow to be just by doing things which are just.” ARISTOTLE
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As believers we have the authority to overcome any problem that should ever come our way. I mean every problem. Within each believer is the power to overcome and be victorious regardless of the situation. Jesus gave us this power and we must “use it or lose it.” Jesus said if we have faith in Him we will do what He has done and even greater things (John 14:12). Jesus had authority and if we know Him as LORD we have the same authority. The Roman centurion was one of the few who recognized the authority that Jesus had. His servant was sick and he sent men to ask Jesus to come heal him…………………………JRE

Luke 7:6-10 NIV
So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one “Go,” and he goes, and that one, “Come,” and he comes. I say to my servant , “Do this,” and he does it.
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I TELL YOU, I HAVE NOT FOUND SUCH GREAT FAITH EVEN IN ISRAED.” Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
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THE SENSE OF BELONGING
Perhaps one of the greatest rewards of meditation and prayer is the sense of belonging that comes to us. We no longer live in a completely hostile world. We are on longer lost and frightened and purposeless.
The moment we catch even a glimpse of God’s will, the moment we begin to see truth, justice, and love as the real and eternal things in life, we are no longer deeply disturbed by all the seeming evidence to the contrary that surrounds us in purely human affairs. We know that God lovingly watches over us. We know that when we turn to Him, all will be well with us, here and hereafter.
AA Twelve and Twelve, page 105
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JESUS UNDERSTANDS
He took our suffering on him and felt our pain for us. ISA. 53:4
Jesus knows how you feel. You’re under the gun at work? Jesus knows how you feel. You’ve got more to do than is humanly possible? So did he. People take more from you than they give? Jesus understands. Your teenagers won’t listen? Your students won’t try? Jesus knows how you feel.
You are precious to him. So precious that he became like you so that you would come to him.
When you struggle, he listens. When you yearn, he responds. When you question, he hears. He has been there.
MAX LUCADO……….In the Eve of the Storm
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Thanks for letting me share…………………………JRE

the Truth (capital T )

Thought for the day: “Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lesson afterward.” ANONYMOUS
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I have a friend in AA who has a saying that he always closes his talk with, “ If you keep doing what your doing, you’ll keep getting what your getting.” How True this is. If you want to change what your getting out of life, you’ve got to change what your doing. Even if we can’t see the results we should continue to do right having faith that good will prevail and the end result will be a bountiful harvest…………..JRE

Paul writing to the Galatians the 6th chapter, verses 7-10 NIV.
“Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Years of living for self cost me more than I had expected to pay. The bill came due and I had to face the Truth (capital “T”). The Truth let me know that I was to repent and sin no more, love your fellow man, live in peace. The Truth also let me know that the bill had been paid. I give praise to God for doing for me what I could not do for myself………….JRE
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There should be joy in living the spiritual life. A faith without joy is not entirely genuine. If you are not happier as a result of your faith, there is probably something wrong with it. Faith in God should bring you a deep feeling of happiness and security, no matter what happens on the surface of your life. Each new day is another opportunity to serve God and improve your relationships with other people. This should bring joy. Life should be abundant and out reaching. It should be glowing and outgoing, in ever widening circles.
HAZELDEN……………….Twenty-Four Hours A Day
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Please pray for my cousin Shelley who is having surgery today, and also my friend Brian and his children. Thanks for letting me share……..JRE

Falling Statues

Thought for the day: “Love for God takes in everybody else.”
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Seeing the statues falling in Baghdad (statues erected by a vain man for himself) reminds me of a story from the Old Testament. During the times of Samuel, the Philistines took the ark of God and set it up in their temple for Dagon……………………JRE
1 Samuel 5:1-5 NIV
“After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it form Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then they carried the ark into Dragon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD. His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.”
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The man part of the half-man, half-fish god was cut off and fallen on the threshold and only the fish stump was left on the base. Because the broken-off head and hands were on the threshold it was afterward considered sacred and priests and other people would not walk on it any more. Thus, the curse of Dagon was perpetuated and the superiority of the God of Israel was manifest
THE DAKE BIBLE
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Unity doesn’t begin in examining others but in examining self. Unity begins not in demanding that others change, but in admitting that we aren’t so perfect ourselves………
The answer to arguments? Acceptance. The first step to unity? Acceptance. Not agreement, acceptance. Not unanimity, acceptance. Not negotiation, arbitration, or elaboration. Those might come later but only after the first step, acceptance.
MAX LUCADO……….In the Grip of Grace

The Golden Rule

Thought for the day: “You might forget who owes you, but you never forget whom you owe.” R.L. (heard on the way home from church yesterday)
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THE GOLDEN RULE
Jesus speaking on the mountainside to the people tells them of three principles that can be used to draw closer to the Father, to come to understanding and wisdom, and to venture into new ministries. Jesus tells them to “ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7). Jesus explains more about asking and receiving and then states what we today call the “golden rule.” “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12 NIV) Two words out of this Scripture stick in my mind….”sums up”…. Thanks for letting me share……………………..JRE
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GOLDEN RULE
Other religions (Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism) had some form of this saying, but most were stated negatively: “Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want them to do to you.” Jesus’ version is far more open-ended and challenging.
THE STUDENT BIBLE …………………NIV Zondervan
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MORAL CHARACTER
A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, favor is better than silver and gold. PROVERBS 22:1

Unfortunately, we have grown accustomed to shrugging off lapses in moral character, manifested in secretive and deceptive lifestyles. We are frequently told that trying to find people who value honesty and model responsibility, who promote fairness, accountability, loyalty, respect for others, and who hold to strong, upright convictions is not at all realistic.
“Such people don’t exist……we need to stop requiring personal purity,” we are told. Or, as one air-headed soul said during one recent presidential campaign, “We’re voting for president, not pope.”
To such an analogy, I reply “Nonsense!” That kind of logic (or rather, lack of logic) gives me the jitters.
DAY BY DAY WITH CHALRLES SWINDOLL

Combat Stress

Thought for the day: “The good displeases us when we have not yet grown up to it.” NIETZSCHE
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For some reason I got up this morning and turned on the TV. News of the war was being broadcasted and I listened as they described the battles taking place out side Baghdad. Our troops are starting to see some strong resistance and are taking more causalities than the last couple of weeks. We need to pray for our military people who are experiencing the trauma of war. Many will have the effects of combat stress for the rest of their lives. Sometimes these symptoms take years to come to the surface and appear in many forms, violence, depression, isolation, drug and alcohol abuse, broken relationships, self inflicted injuries and death. We all need to try and understand more of what they will be going through and how to help. They deserve our respect and gratitude….pray for wisdom.
My Scripture reading this morning hit the spot. I found myself reading from 2 Samuel 22. How timely and timeless the Word of God is.
From the NIV verses 1-7:
David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior, from violent men you save me. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my god. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears”

Remember when these men and women come home…RESPECT and GRATITUDE….thanks for letting me share………………JRE

Fruit of the Spirit

Thought for the day: “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” JOHN DONNE
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The Greek word “pistis” (faith, faithfulness), taken from Galatians 5:22-23 NIV.
“BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL . AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW.”
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Faith, the Greek word Pistis, the living, divinely implanted, acquired, and created principle of inward and wholehearted confidence, assurance, trust, and reliance in God and all the He says.
THE DAKE BIBLE
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The “fruit of the Spirit” is singular. There are nine aspects of the Spirit listed but they are all part of one (singular) fruit. I believe there are many, many more than this, but at this time Paul just lists nine. The nine are folded up in such a way, so that they are dependent and built upon each other. Without joy there is no love, without peace there is no joy, without patience there is no peace, without kindness there is no patience, without goodness there is no kindness, without faithfulness there is no goodness, without gentleness there is no faithfulness, and without self-control there is no gentleness. It looks to me that it all comes down to self-control, loving God, and loving our neighbor as ourselves.
“Practice these principles in all our affairs, and carry the message to those in need.” Thanks for letting me share………………JRE
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We should seek to produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Or to put it more accurately, Or to put it more accurately, we should allow the Holy Spirit t produce His fruit in our lives.
You say, “I am powerless t produce such fruit. You don’t know how weak and self-centered I am. It would be utterly impossible for me to do so!”
With that I agree! That is we can’t produce this fruit in our own strength. When the Spirit of God dwells in us and has control of our lives, He will produce that fruit. Our responsibility is to cultivate the soil of our hearts through sincere devotion and surrender, so He might find favorable ground to produce His fruit.
I might have a fruit tree in my yard, but if the soil isn’t enriched and the bugs carefully destroyed, it will not yield a full crop. What keeps the Holy Spirit from producing His fruit in your life?
BILLY GRAHAM

Room for Growth

Thought for the day: “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.” PROVERBS 26:4 NIV
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GOD BENDS OVER TO LISTEN
I have called upon You, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me, hear my speech. PSALM 17:6

So many of us feel as though we have to hide our failures, believing no one else could possibly have failed as we have. Some are even afraid to tell God about it, fearing He might be as put off as we imagine others will be.
But He isn’t like that at all, is He? When we take a tumble and cry out to Him in our shame and our distress, the psalmist says He ”inclines His ear” to us. He bends over to listen. We say, “Oh Father, I’ve failed! I’ve failed terribly. Look at what I’ve done!” And then He puts His arms around us, just as a loving earthly father would do. He then says, “I accept you just as you are. I acknowledge that what you have done was wrong, as you’ve confessed it to Me. Now, My son, My daughter, let’s move on.”
CHARLES SWINDOLL……..Moses: A man of Selfless Dedication
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AA Step Five: “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”
It wasn’t until I took this step that I became free. Scripture says to confess your faults one to another. I don’t really hear much of this in church. Maybe it goes on and I just don’t have a need to know, or possibly people don’t feel they can confide in me. That’s ok, trust is a two way street. I have learned that when I become honest with myself and another human being (God already knows), when I become honest and talk about my wrongs. I become free of the bondage of self. Lying and dishonesty have no power over me after exposure to the truth. Step ten continues to help me maintain on a daily basis this step. “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.” I give God praise for accepting me as I am and giving room for growth. Thanks for letting me share………………………….JRE
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Spiritual development is achieved by daily persistence in living the way you believe God wants you to live. Like the wearing away of a stone by steady drops of water, so will your daily persistence wear away all the difficulties and gain spiritual success for you. Never falter in this daily, steady persistence. Go forward boldly and unafraid. God will help and strengthen you, as long as you are trying to do His will.
HAZELDEN……Twenty-Four Hours A Day

Salt

Thought for the day: “Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look there.”
MARCUS AURELIUS
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Jesus speaking to the people from a mountainside. Matthew 5:13 NIV.

“YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH. BUT IF THE SALT LOSES ITS SALTINESS, HOW CAN IT BE MADE SALTY AGAIN? IT IS NO LONGER GOOD FOR ANYTHING, EXCEPT TO BE THROWN OUT AND TRAMPLED BY MEN.”
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In this wonderful passage Jesus is addressing those who have awakened to the understanding of material bondage, and have acquired some spiritual understanding of the nature of Being. That is to say he is addressing those who understand the meaning of the Allness of God or Good, and the powerlessness of evil in the face of Truth. Such people he describes as being the salt of the earth, and light of the world; and indeed, that is not too much to claim for those who understand the Truth, and who really live the life that corresponds to it. It is possible, and in fact, only too easy, to accept these vital principles as being true; to love the beauty in them; and yet not to put them consistently into practice in one’s own life; but this is a perilous attitude, for in that case the salt has lost its savour, and is good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot.
EMMET FOX
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In the times of the Roman Empire salt had a greater value than today. It was not only used for flavoring but as a preservative. If left to the elements and not protected it became nothing more than fine rock. The Romans took this useless salt and made roads with it (they were great road builders). As Christians we are the salt of the earth. We need to be sprinkled among the people. Just like salt, too much in one place is not good. We need to get out and mingle in search of those who are in need. Some preservative and spiritual light is good for all of us. We are nothing more than the dust of the earth. God gives us the saltiness that preserves us. We must continue to renew the saltiness by prayer, reading the Word, and giving what we have to others in need.
Today I am grateful for what was done for me that I could not do for myself…………………………JRE
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Think of David, the young musician, tending his fathers sheep on the hills of Judea many centuries ago. He was a self-taught, gifted musician. He didn’t go on tour, trying to make a name for himself. Instead, he sang to the sheep. He had no idea that someday his lyrics would find their way into the psalter or would be the very songs that have inspired and comforted millions of people through long and dark nights.
David didn’t seek success; he simply humbled himself under the mighty hand of God, staying close to the Lord and submitting himself to Him. And God exalted David to the highest position in the land……
You don’t have to promote yourself…..God will promote you….Let God do the exalting! In the meantime, sit quietly under His hand.
CHARLES SWINDOLL………………Hope Again