"I love God!"

God wants each one of us to be positive so that we can live our potential.k.

Achievement

Take a little time to reflect on what you have achieved

to date.  It is often easy to forget where you started

from and how far you've come.  Honor and be grateful

for this extraordinary journey that is your life.

T.C. Salerno

~ * "THE real deal" !! * ~

IF God sends you on stony paths, He will provide you with strong shoes.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)."

"LIKE Paul's example, in the confidence of God's care we can say to the next challenge: Bring it on!" D. Branon.

"Live Well, Be Happy."kim.

~ *GIFTS of BEAUTY* !! ~

O Father, You have draped me in the garments of salvation and wrapped me snugly in the robe of righteousness. I am beautifully adorned by You - for You.

You have given me all I need to live a joyful life, and I rejoice in Your gifts of beauty.

In Jesus name. Amen.

~ * God's Wisdom ! ~

The young Christian mother wept as she spoke of her divorce. With a hopeless gesture, she cried, "Why do I always have 20-20 vision - hindsight! Now I know that everything was wrong - my attitude, what I said, what I did. Why didn't God give me wisdom when I prayed?"

HOW many of us remember with tears the things we should have done and how we should have have done them? Do we wonder why we did not see things then as we do now? Naturally, as we follow Christ, His Spirit does impart grace and wisdom for the battles of life. Yet too many of God's children confess a lack of wisdom. Too many tears are shed in retrospection.

In James 3, the author describes two kinds of wisdom. He tells us that wisdom from above is, first of all, pure. God's wisdom cannot come to a sinful heart. Sin causes us to make decisions that bring hurt and failure.

Wisdom from above is also peaceable. "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice" (verse 16). How can wise decisions be made when there is contention and strife in the heart? God comes to hearts that wait until they are quiet enough to hear His still, small voice.

James further describes this wisdom as "submissive" - "It allows discussion and is willing to yield" (verse 17, TLB). A know-it-all attitude obstructs God's wisdom.

If we, as people in His presence, are to face the challenges of life in a troubled world, we need the genuine wisdom from above.

Helen Constance

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without fining fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt (JAMES 1:5-6a)."

~ It's LIFE !! ~

'Life is filled with difficult moments, and few hit us more personally and intimately than when we struggle with a severe illness or traumatic injury. Fear, doubt, anxiety, and despair strike at our heart. Coupled with the physical pain, the times when life hurts can be overwhelming. Comfort seems unattainable, and hope's beyond reach.

We long for relief from our pain and answers for our questions.' "Without question, many people turn away from God because of the problem of pain. They find it hard to believe that a loving and all-powerful God would permit good people to suffer the way they do. On the other hand, thousands have testified that it was during a time of deep sorrow or intense anguish that they found God more real and precious than ever before." - HVL

God can use sickness in the lives of His children to make them more wise and better people.

* READ:
2 Corinthians 1:3-11

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort."
- 2 Corinthians 1:3

'On the last day of her junior year of high school, our
17-year-old daughter passed away in a car accident.

In one horrible instant, everything we knew about God and the Bible and heaven was put to the test. We needed the Christian community to guide us toward hope as we stood at the funeral of a beloved young woman who had touched so many lives with her smile, her godliness, her love of life, and her care for others.

For many weeks, I couldn't do anything. What could I say? How could I find words to help others when my family - when I - needed so much?

Now, months later as I begin to resume living again, I can say that God has not changed. He is still our loving heavenly Father, the "God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3). He is still the source of hope in the face of unexpected grief. I write of Him with a renewed sense of my need for His touch, His love, His strength. Broken, I write of the only One who can make us whole.' - DB

* READ:
Psalm 147:1-11

"He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name." - Psalm 147:4

How amazing to read, "He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite" (Psalm 147:4-5).

Even more amazing though, is the psalmist affirming that God, who is far greater than the universe He created yet cares about our sorrows. Instead of being distant and remote, He is close at hand with love and mercy for His own. "He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds," wrote the psalmist.

Jesus, the creator of all things including the galaxies, visited our planet to pay the penalty for our own sin and to open a way; the ONLY way, to fellowship and have existing friendship with Him!

'Today He stands ready to bring healing and wholeness to our deeply wounded spirits. From naming stars to mending hearts, nothing is too hard for God.' - DM

The Maker of the universe
Knows every need of man,
And made provision for that need
According to His plan. - Crane

* When God permits trials, He also provides comfort.

~ ** POSTscript regarding Posting titled 'JANUARY 12' ** ~

My last posting titled ~ JANUARY 12 ~ is NOT a personal prayer from me!
AS listed in the labels associated with that particular blog; it was a 'daily reading' for the day (even though it's a prayer) and thought I would post it on this blog as it may be of assistance to someone. I'm sure we can relate to it in some small way during our life.
Blessings,
Kim.

~~~ *** 'ENTERTAINING' ( * An Especial Gift ! ! ) *** ~~~

* Delightful !!

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~ A Christmas Prayer ( * wrapped up in joy
and gladness and tied with a colourful bow) ~
"May the joy and peace of Christmas be with
you all through the coming year."
Cheers.k.

~ DAILY Strength .. ~

"PETER says that it is the GOD of GRACE who will make us strong, firm and steadfast (1 PETER 5:10). Our gracious FATHER says over and over, "I will strengthen you," (ISAIAH 41:10). He further adds, "I will strengthen them in the LORD and in his name they will walk" (ZECHARIAH 10:12). WHEN the battle is fierce and our enemy seems to be getting the upper hand, He reminds us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 CORINTHIANS 12:9), and "your strength will equal your days" (DEUTERONOMY 33:25)." "I can do everything through him who gives me strength (PHILIPPIANS 4:13)." MARJORIE E. JONES

* "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (2 CORINTHIANS 12:9)."

"ONE of my favorite people was a tiny, energetic missionary in the southern Philippines - Annetta Holsted, our language supervisor. But more than that, she was an excellent role model because of her love for the Filipinos and her devotion to prayer and the reading and memorization of Scripture.

AFTER we had completed our two years of language study, Annetta returned to the United States for a year of furlough and, in God's providence, was near enough to New York City to be on hand when we were evacuated from the Philippines for a medical emergency. BOTH our two-year-old daughter, Debbie, and my husband, Bob, (in the same year the Salk vaccine was released) had contracted polio.

AFTER the ambulance ride from the airport to the hospital, I was driven to the missionary guest house. Completely exhausted from the 36-hour trip, I turned our two other children over to my parents and started down the hall to the bedroom to get some rest. Down that hallway came Annetta. She put out her arms to me and said these words, "The LORD has given me a message for you: 'GRACE is better than healing."

AT the time, I did not realize the importance of the message and even wondered what it meant.
BUT years later when Debbie returned to the Philippines as a missionary, Annetta's words came back to me with full force. In the midst of the most difficult circumstances, it is possible to experience the full measure of GOD'S GRACE and peace in our lives, trusting Him to use our weakness to further His kingdom." MARJORIE COWLES

* See associated post dated 27/11/2010 - ETERNITY!

~ God Is Enough ~

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8)".

"God is enough. He is our all-suffcient One. He is able to make all things possible for us through His grace. The original word for this grace is "charis" or "free blessing." It is spontaneous and universal. So it is in God's adequacy that we fnd the provision which abounds with every blessing we need. He will keep nothing from us to fulfill His glorious purpose.

For what reason are these wonderful gifts supplied? "So that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work." Or, as one writer put it, you will have ample means in yourself to meet each and every good cause!

As we abound in all the lovely gifts of our Almighty God, there should be a natural overflow of grace from our lives. This overflow can touch those around us who are in need.

We need to ask God to make our service for Him more abounding. Remember, He is able to equip us with the abilities to meet the task.

Daily WAIT upon Him for His grace.
Be WILLING to be emptied of your own desires and to follow His direction for your life.
Seek WISDOM from Him for each day.
Work WORTHILY of God's high calling through diligence and faithfulness."

ARLISS M. ALLEN

( ** Pray; (always talk to Him throughout the day), Praise Him; (thanking Jesus/God for His wonderful character, and being in action - He's working behind the scenes of life), and read the Bible DAILY - absorbing what is being said). Cheers.k.

* See associated post dated 27/11/2010 - ETERNITY.

~ BETTER than perfection ??? ~

Jesus GRACE is superlative compared with our own perfections ! !

* See associated post dated 27/11/2010 - Eternity.

*** ~ GRACE !! ~ ***

WHAT makes Christianity different from all the other religions of the world? Years ago that very question was discussed at a conference. Some of the participants argued that Christianity is unique in teaching that God became man. But someone objected, saying that other religions teach similar doctrines. What about the resurrection? No, it was argued, other faiths believe that the dead rise again. The discussion grew heated.

C.S. Lewis, a strong defender of Christianity, came in late, sat down, and asked, "What's the rumpus about?" When he learned that it was a debate about the uniqueness of Christianity, he immediately commented, "Oh, that's easy. It's grace."

How right he was! The very heart of the gospel is the supreme truth that God accepts us with no conditions whatever when we put our trust in the atoning sacrifice of His incarnate Son. Although we are helplessly sinful, God in grace forgives us completely. It's by His infinite grace that we are saved, not by moral character, works of righteousness, commandment-keeping, or churchgoing. When we do nothing else but accept God's total pardon, we receive the guarantee of eternal life (Ti. 3:4-7).

Good news indeed. What a gospel! What a Saviour! - VCG

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You who are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive? - Johnston

By grace you have been saved. - Ephesians 2:8

GRACE IS EVERYTHING FOR NOTHING TO THOSE WHO DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING

** Everyday !! **

HAVE had quite an uncomfortable day today just struggling (with myself). *Am convinced, as I've been often before, THAT I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for the Lord Jesus who is obviously caring for me in my life through His kindness, goodness, holiness, grace, creation, mercy, justice, compassion, salvation, work in redemption AND for renewing His patience and tolerance with me EVERYDAY. I very much "thank" Jesus (God) for all THAT !!!

** Disability ? !! **

I hate having a disability. It's at war with my members (parts of my body). What do I do? Cry. I've done that, time and time again...but,
" ... God says, " 'My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways,' says the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts' " (Isaiah 55: 8-9). ...

God's promises are not given to all, but to everyone who is willing to seek and trust Him. Isaiah reminds us to seek Him on His terms. ...

The whole Bible makes it clear that God promises to be found only by those willing to surrender to Him. This important condition of surrender is what Jesus taught when He said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). He said this immediately after saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . . Blessed are those who mourn . . . . Blessed are the meek . . . . Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness . . . . Blessed are the merciful" (vv.3-7).

Each of these conditions reflects the need for a surrendered heart as a condition to receive the blessing of God. ...

Salvation itself is a gift. Forgiveness and eternal life come to us only by grace and through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). But seeing God in the Bible requires a willingness to do the will of God. Only in surrender do we have assurance that God will let us see the truth about Christ in our present circumstances. Only in submission can we see the Father and His Son on every page of Scripture".

(extracts are from Knowing God Through The Whole Bible/RBC - RADIO BIBLE CLASS Ministries. READ it on the Web at www.discoveryseries.org/sb001 .)

* ETERNITY ...

"He has put eternity in their hearts" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
"I once came across a scene of beauty outside Anchorage, Alaska. Against a slate-gray sky, the water of an ocean inlet had a slight greenish cast, interrupted by small whitecaps. SOON I saw these were not whitecaps at all but whales-silvery white beluga whales in a pod feeding no more than 50 feet offshore. I stood with other onlookers, listening to the rhythmic motion of the sea, following the graceful, ghostly crescents of surfacing whales. The crowd was hushed, even reverent. For just a moment nothing else mattered.

The author of Ecclesiastes would have understood the crowd's response.
He sees with dazzling clarity the beauty in the created world and that God "has put eternity in their hearts" (Ecc. 3:11). Such an elegant phrase applies to much in human experience. Surely it hints at a religious instinct. Our hearts perceive eternity in ways other than the religious.

Ecclesiates presents both sides of life on this planet: the promise of pleasures so alluring that we may devote our lives to their pursuit, and the haunting realization that these pleasures ultimately do not satisfy. God's tantalizing world is too big for us. UNLESS we acknowledge our limits and subject ourselves to God's rule, unless we TRUST the GIVER of all good gifts, we will end up in despair." P.Y.
'Amid the measured music
What watchful ear can hear
God's voice amidst the garden?
Yet hush! for He is here'!-C.
TO MAKE THE MOST OF today,
KEEP.. Eternity.. IN MIND!