Success

I realized a long time ago that a belief which does not 

spring from a conviction in the emotions is no belief 
at all  -  Evelyn Scott.

_______________

  Believe . . .

in order to succeed, we

must first believe we can - Anonymous.
 ____________  
 
Cheers.k.

~ FREEDOM from Offenses (OR Offences) ~

Do I really have peace of heart? Do I daily enjoy the experience of peace, or am I as easily disturbed as the worldling over things that happen minute by minute in the daily routine of living?

What a tremendous promise is contained in the below Bible verse! If we delight in God's Word, we may have freedom from agitation and unrest. Just think: nothing, but nothing will offend us or make us stumble in our walk in the Spirit.

How easily we are offended by little things. Someone takes the parking space we were headed for and we are offended - little things rob us of the peace Jesus wants us to experience.

It is not enough to want peace. Peter says that we must seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11). He also tells us that love "covers over a multitude of sins" (4:8). I once heard a man of God say, "I laid down my critical spirit and picked up a bundle of covers." Love will cover the potential offender and offense and put out the fire.

This is not done by our simply deciding to change our ways. The power comes when we receive His Word. The Holy Spirit then reveals the Father's desire for us - death to self, conformity to the image of Jesus and total abandonment to the Spirit to work all of this in us.

What a lovely fragrance of Christ will then arise from our lives to bring blessing into our homes and to those whom we touch in our daily lives.

J. HOTALEN

Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble (* PSALM 119:165).

~ 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!

* 'ENCIRCLED by Prayer' !!

'Lord things are really rough right now
But I know you're still at the bow
So much we don't understand
But Jesus, please just hold my hand.

Encircled by prayer
From friends all so dear
The peace you give
With nothing can compare.

Lord, help me not to look to far ahead
But simply just to trust instead.
And Lord you promised me today
That you will never go away
Please give me strength for each new day
Whatever comes along the way.

Lord, I know you'll bring me through
And I might learn afresh from you.
Then I can help with others too,
Those who are suffering
And don't know you.'

L. PLATT

* PERSPECTIVE !

WHAT do we do about godless culture that clamours for our attention?

HOW do we defend our children, ourselves and others around us from unhealthy influences?

THE answer is the same for all: Our protection is the Word of God.

TO begin with, we must spend time in God's Word, allowing His precepts and principles to permeate into our thinking and living. WE ought also to teach it to our children from the time they are small, and we should readily share it with others - helping them to understand God's perspective on the situations of their lives.

A Tool for You. So how do we get into God's Word? HOW do we come to understand it so we can apply its truth to our lives? We must read it - and study it - listening and asking Him to speak to us.. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" - Romans 12:2.
ALBERT LEE

The listening side of prayer: Christians who have learned to pray but not to listen will find it difficult to get guidance. Often we treat God the way we treat our friends, and do all the talking!
We allow Him no time to talk to us, to whisper His confirmation or His word of change. To get guidance, you dare not neglect the listening side of prayer. TELL Him your problems, then sit back and listen for the answer. IT will come in a quiet, deliberate witness to your heart. Don't be anxious or too eager. Let all haste and tension go. As you sense His nearness, lay the issue before Him. Then go the way of peace. * Psalm 31: 1-24.

PRAYER: Father, I need so much to learn the art of listening. Quieten my heart today that I might learn to listen for your still small voice. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
SELWYN HUGHES

** UNIVERSAL .. BEAUTY Therapy (Historical) !! **

"A good Dinner warms the heart, enlarges the intellect, brightens the eyes, improves the complexion, sets a man at peace with this world, and .. conduces more than anything else to promote universal good feeling" (AUSTRALIAN COOKERY By A Practical Cook 19th. Century).

* FRESHness ...

"MAY today be all you need it to be.

MAY the peace of God and the freshness of the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts (and heart), then rule in your dreams tonight and conquer all your fears. MAY God manifest Himself in wonderful ways you've never experienced. MAY your joys be fulfilled and your dreams be closer. MAY you enjoy peace, happiness, joy and a true-undying love for Jesus God.

MAY your territory be enlarged" (Anon).