Chapter 24
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Having gone through most of these, here are some stories that I gleaned that I think would help us. They are from Bob & Debby Gass's devotional The Word for Today .
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
When ten-year-old Mary's mother died, she became 'mother of the house', caring for her father who worked the night shift at a local mine. One evening as she was packing his lunch she slipped a Gospel booklet inside, hoping he'd find comfort after the loss of his wife. Suddenly at 1am, an emergency whistle sounded, telling the town's people that miners had been caught in a collapsed mine. Emergency workers worked through the night and finally broke through to a small cavern, where they found the miners. Sadly, it was too late. All eight men had suffocated, including Mary's father. The rescuers were devastated. As they surveyed the scene they noticed that the men had died seated in a circle. Looking closer, they discovered that Mary's father was sitting with a small booklet in his lap, open to the last page where the plan of salvation was explained. On that page he had written a special message to her: 'My dear Mary, by the time you find this I'll be with your mother. I read your little book several times to the others while we waited to be rescued. Our hope is fading for this life – but not for the next. We did as the book told us and prayed. I love you, and one day we'll all be together in heaven.'
One single deed made all the difference to several souls. You can make that difference with just a little effort. And to buttress this, let us share another tale (a personal one now). James saw a boy downcast and carrying his book and a strange rope looking forlorn. He left what he was doing and walked to the boy and spoke to him. James had lots of engagements but decided to spare his time to talk to this sad boy. James came to find out much later that the boy had been on his way to commit suicide. He was a new student and had been bullied around long. People also made fun of him and his home was no different. His parents were always fighting and his siblings also joined the rumble. The boy could find peace no where and had decided to end it all. Then, James came along and was a friend. It changed a lot. He gave a new hope to the boy with the gift of his friendship and saved a life.
RULES FOR LIVING (from Bob Grass again...)
Here are three rules for living. First, learn to control the climate around you. Negativity is contagious; look out for its 'carriers.' Love them, lift them, but don't let them infect you. [You would find several friends with their problems and issues. What you should do is not allow their moods and 'issues' to infect you and cast you down. In essence, love and lift them but don't let their moods bring you down too.] Filter what people say to you through God's Word. '...God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power (ability and a can-do attitude and of love (which always looks for the best) and of a sound mind (which is stable and consistent) (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). Second; learn to laugh at yourself. A certain woman was given a lovely plant. She took it home and put it in a pot. She watered it religiously, fertilised it and used all sorts of pest control. She set it in the sun and watched it. A year later she discovered the plant was not a real plant but silk. You would be amazed that she still laughs at it! This should be the spirit. Laugh at all the issues and remind yourself that it could have been a lot worse. Imagine the plant being something poisonous or something harmful! When you are secure in God's love and approval, you can laugh at yourself; it's a mark of spiritual maturity. So much as you can, try to always remain in God's love. Third, learn to factor God in. Yes, involve God in it all. Ever heard of 90/10 rule? When 90 percent of the circumstances are uncontrollable, focus on the 10 percent you can do something about. Paul (the apostle) did that '...We were troubled on every side; without were fighting's, within were fears. Nevertheless God... (2 Corinthians 7:5-6 KJV). Note the words 'Nevertheless God'. When you are facing a mountain, always remember: God can move it. He can level it. He can tunnel through it, or He can help you climb it. All you have to do is factor Him in by seeking His face and consulting His Word. 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom...' (Colossians 3:16 KJV). Keep a rich deposit of Scripture within you and draw on it daily.
To recap; three rules: 1. Control the climate around you. Don't allow negativity infect you. 2. Learn to laugh at yourself. 3. Factor God in.
LOOKING NICE AINT A SIN...
Let not yours be the merely adorning with elaborate interweaving and knotting of the hair, he wearing of jewellery, or changes of clothes; but let it be inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is not anxious or wrought up, but is very precious in the sight of God. 1 peter 3:3-4
Does God really care what I look like? Do I have to be thin? More than one person has asked themselves some variation of this question. The answer is that God doesn't judge us based on our looks. Thankfully, He sees our hearts. But He does want us to look the best we can for His glory and honour. We represent him and should always live with excellence in every area. Excellence simply means to take what you have and do the most you can do with it. God does care what you feel inside, and, ultimately, looking your best is simply a reflection of a healthy, happy, spirited internal state. I'm not talking Cosmopolitan cover model good looks; the layers of touch-ups and fakery on those covers would astonish you. I'm talking the kind of normal, healthy appearance that makes people respond positively to you and that helps you feel the best you can about yourself.
What Peter means is that you shouldn't confuse outer beauty for what is most important, which is gentle and peaceful spirit.
God cares most that you go forth clothed in righteousness. But righteousness plus a nice outfit never hurt anyone. If people see that you respect yourself, they'll respect you too. Like everything else in life, it is a question of balance. Keep the big picture in mind. Ask yourself, "What is the work that God has put me on earth to do?" Then decide what amount of attention you should pay to how you look and feel to get the maximum energy, health and charisma you need to do work as successfully as possible.
(Culled from Joyce Meyer's devotional 'New Day, New You'- December 22nd)
SHAKE IT OFF…
Share with me this story about a farmer's donkey that fell into a dry well. The animal cried pitifully for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do with the poor donkey. Finally, he concluded that the well was too deep and it really needed to be covered up anyway. Besides, the donkey was old and it would be a lot of trouble to get him out of the pit. The farmer decided that it was not worth trying to retrieve the animal, so he asked his neighbours to help him fill in the well and bury the donkey.
They all grabbed shovels and began to toss dirt into the well. The donkey immediately realised what was happening and he began to bray horribly. Crying would be our normal response if somebody was mistreating us this badly, so this donkey was responding the same way we would at first, but then he got real quiet. A few shovel loads of dirt later, the farmer looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit the donkey's back, the donkey would shake it off and step on top of it.
As the neighbours and the farmer continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he continued to shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon the donkey shook off the last shovel of dirt, took a step up and walked right out of the well. We can learn from this story: when trouble comes, if we get still and listen, God will tell us what to do. Just like the donkey, in order to keep pressing on and have victory in our lives, we are going to have to learn to shake off the troubles that come our way.
(Culled from Joyce Meyer's devotional 'New Day, New You'- October 18th)
NUDITY IN THE NAME OF FASHION. . .
This is a Legendary boxer, Mohammed Ali's advice to his daughters.
An incident transpired when his daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were quite revealing. Here's the story as told by one of his daughters. "When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila and me up to my father's suite.... As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day. My father took a good look at us, and then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said; "Hannah, everything that God made valuable and precious in the world is covered and hard to get to.
#-Where do you find Diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected.
Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www.webnovel.com for visiting.
#-Where do you find Pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered and protected in a beautiful shell.
#-Where do you find Gold? Way down in the mine, covered over and protected by layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them."
He looked at me with seriousness in his eyes, "Your body is Sacred. You are far more precious and valuable than GOLD, DIAMONDS and PEARLS, and you should be covered too." Satan is preaching the message of NUDITY today because he knows that if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has had sex with her. (Matthew 5:28) Be Careful how you dress."
Exposing your body means it has no lasting value and any commoner can access it, either with the hands or eyes…
If our bodies are truly God's temple, then let's make it glorious in appearance. Be a good example in your dressing.
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Having gone through most of these, here are some stories that I gleaned that I think would help us. They are from Bob & Debby Gass's devotional The Word for Today .
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
When ten-year-old Mary's mother died, she became 'mother of the house', caring for her father who worked the night shift at a local mine. One evening as she was packing his lunch she slipped a Gospel booklet inside, hoping he'd find comfort after the loss of his wife. Suddenly at 1am, an emergency whistle sounded, telling the town's people that miners had been caught in a collapsed mine. Emergency workers worked through the night and finally broke through to a small cavern, where they found the miners. Sadly, it was too late. All eight men had suffocated, including Mary's father. The rescuers were devastated. As they surveyed the scene they noticed that the men had died seated in a circle. Looking closer, they discovered that Mary's father was sitting with a small booklet in his lap, open to the last page where the plan of salvation was explained. On that page he had written a special message to her: 'My dear Mary, by the time you find this I'll be with your mother. I read your little book several times to the others while we waited to be rescued. Our hope is fading for this life – but not for the next. We did as the book told us and prayed. I love you, and one day we'll all be together in heaven.'
One single deed made all the difference to several souls. You can make that difference with just a little effort. And to buttress this, let us share another tale (a personal one now). James saw a boy downcast and carrying his book and a strange rope looking forlorn. He left what he was doing and walked to the boy and spoke to him. James had lots of engagements but decided to spare his time to talk to this sad boy. James came to find out much later that the boy had been on his way to commit suicide. He was a new student and had been bullied around long. People also made fun of him and his home was no different. His parents were always fighting and his siblings also joined the rumble. The boy could find peace no where and had decided to end it all. Then, James came along and was a friend. It changed a lot. He gave a new hope to the boy with the gift of his friendship and saved a life.
RULES FOR LIVING (from Bob Grass again...)
Here are three rules for living. First, learn to control the climate around you. Negativity is contagious; look out for its 'carriers.' Love them, lift them, but don't let them infect you. [You would find several friends with their problems and issues. What you should do is not allow their moods and 'issues' to infect you and cast you down. In essence, love and lift them but don't let their moods bring you down too.] Filter what people say to you through God's Word. '...God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power (ability and a can-do attitude and of love (which always looks for the best) and of a sound mind (which is stable and consistent) (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). Second; learn to laugh at yourself. A certain woman was given a lovely plant. She took it home and put it in a pot. She watered it religiously, fertilised it and used all sorts of pest control. She set it in the sun and watched it. A year later she discovered the plant was not a real plant but silk. You would be amazed that she still laughs at it! This should be the spirit. Laugh at all the issues and remind yourself that it could have been a lot worse. Imagine the plant being something poisonous or something harmful! When you are secure in God's love and approval, you can laugh at yourself; it's a mark of spiritual maturity. So much as you can, try to always remain in God's love. Third, learn to factor God in. Yes, involve God in it all. Ever heard of 90/10 rule? When 90 percent of the circumstances are uncontrollable, focus on the 10 percent you can do something about. Paul (the apostle) did that '...We were troubled on every side; without were fighting's, within were fears. Nevertheless God... (2 Corinthians 7:5-6 KJV). Note the words 'Nevertheless God'. When you are facing a mountain, always remember: God can move it. He can level it. He can tunnel through it, or He can help you climb it. All you have to do is factor Him in by seeking His face and consulting His Word. 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom...' (Colossians 3:16 KJV). Keep a rich deposit of Scripture within you and draw on it daily.
To recap; three rules: 1. Control the climate around you. Don't allow negativity infect you. 2. Learn to laugh at yourself. 3. Factor God in.
LOOKING NICE AINT A SIN...
Let not yours be the merely adorning with elaborate interweaving and knotting of the hair, he wearing of jewellery, or changes of clothes; but let it be inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is not anxious or wrought up, but is very precious in the sight of God. 1 peter 3:3-4
Does God really care what I look like? Do I have to be thin? More than one person has asked themselves some variation of this question. The answer is that God doesn't judge us based on our looks. Thankfully, He sees our hearts. But He does want us to look the best we can for His glory and honour. We represent him and should always live with excellence in every area. Excellence simply means to take what you have and do the most you can do with it. God does care what you feel inside, and, ultimately, looking your best is simply a reflection of a healthy, happy, spirited internal state. I'm not talking Cosmopolitan cover model good looks; the layers of touch-ups and fakery on those covers would astonish you. I'm talking the kind of normal, healthy appearance that makes people respond positively to you and that helps you feel the best you can about yourself.
What Peter means is that you shouldn't confuse outer beauty for what is most important, which is gentle and peaceful spirit.
God cares most that you go forth clothed in righteousness. But righteousness plus a nice outfit never hurt anyone. If people see that you respect yourself, they'll respect you too. Like everything else in life, it is a question of balance. Keep the big picture in mind. Ask yourself, "What is the work that God has put me on earth to do?" Then decide what amount of attention you should pay to how you look and feel to get the maximum energy, health and charisma you need to do work as successfully as possible.
(Culled from Joyce Meyer's devotional 'New Day, New You'- December 22nd)
SHAKE IT OFF…
Share with me this story about a farmer's donkey that fell into a dry well. The animal cried pitifully for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do with the poor donkey. Finally, he concluded that the well was too deep and it really needed to be covered up anyway. Besides, the donkey was old and it would be a lot of trouble to get him out of the pit. The farmer decided that it was not worth trying to retrieve the animal, so he asked his neighbours to help him fill in the well and bury the donkey.
They all grabbed shovels and began to toss dirt into the well. The donkey immediately realised what was happening and he began to bray horribly. Crying would be our normal response if somebody was mistreating us this badly, so this donkey was responding the same way we would at first, but then he got real quiet. A few shovel loads of dirt later, the farmer looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit the donkey's back, the donkey would shake it off and step on top of it.
As the neighbours and the farmer continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he continued to shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon the donkey shook off the last shovel of dirt, took a step up and walked right out of the well. We can learn from this story: when trouble comes, if we get still and listen, God will tell us what to do. Just like the donkey, in order to keep pressing on and have victory in our lives, we are going to have to learn to shake off the troubles that come our way.
(Culled from Joyce Meyer's devotional 'New Day, New You'- October 18th)
NUDITY IN THE NAME OF FASHION. . .
This is a Legendary boxer, Mohammed Ali's advice to his daughters.
An incident transpired when his daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were quite revealing. Here's the story as told by one of his daughters. "When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila and me up to my father's suite.... As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day. My father took a good look at us, and then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said; "Hannah, everything that God made valuable and precious in the world is covered and hard to get to.
#-Where do you find Diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected.
Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www.webnovel.com for visiting.
#-Where do you find Pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered and protected in a beautiful shell.
#-Where do you find Gold? Way down in the mine, covered over and protected by layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them."
He looked at me with seriousness in his eyes, "Your body is Sacred. You are far more precious and valuable than GOLD, DIAMONDS and PEARLS, and you should be covered too." Satan is preaching the message of NUDITY today because he knows that if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has had sex with her. (Matthew 5:28) Be Careful how you dress."
Exposing your body means it has no lasting value and any commoner can access it, either with the hands or eyes…
If our bodies are truly God's temple, then let's make it glorious in appearance. Be a good example in your dressing.
Having gone through most of these, here are some stories that I gleaned that I think would help us. They are from Bob & Debby Gass's devotional The Word for Today .YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE:When ten-year-old Mary's mother died, she became 'mother of the house', caring for her father who worked the night shift at a local mine. One evening as she was packing his lunch she slipped a Gospel booklet inside, hoping he'd find comfort after the loss of his wife. Suddenly at 1am, an emergency whistle sounded, telling the town's people that miners had been caught in a collapsed mine. Emergency workers worked through the night and finally broke through to a small cavern, where they found the miners. Sadly, it was too late. All eight men had suffocated, including Mary's father. The rescuers were devastated. As they surveyed the scene they noticed that the men had died seated in a circle. Looking closer, they discovered that Mary's father was sitting with a small booklet in his lap, open to the last page where the plan of salvation was explained. On that page he had written a special message to her: 'My dear Mary, by the time you find this I'll be with your mother. I read your little book several times to the others while we waited to be rescued. Our hope is fading for this life but not for the next. We did as the book told us and prayed. I love you, and one day we'll all be together in heaven.'One single deed made all the difference to several souls. You can make that difference with just a little effort. And to buttress this, let us share another tale a personal one now. James saw a boy downcast and carrying his book and a strange rope looking forlorn. He left what he was doing and walked to the boy and spoke to him. James had lots of engagements but decided to spare his time to talk to this sad boy. James came to find out much later that the boy had been on his way to commit suicide. He was a new student and had been bullied around long. People also made fun of him and his home was no different. His parents were always fighting and his siblings also joined the rumble. The boy could find peace no where and had decided to end it all. Then, James came along and was a friend. It changed a lot. He gave a new hope to the boy with the gift of his friendship and saved a life.RULES FOR LIVING from Bob Grass again...Here are three rules for living. First, learn to control the climate around you. Negativity is contagious; look out for its 'carriers.' Love them, lift them, but don't let them infect you. You would find several friends with their problems and issues. What you should do is not allow their moods and 'issues' to infect you and cast you down. In essence, love and lift them but don't let their moods bring you down too. Filter what people say to you through God's Word. '...God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power ability and a can-do attitude and of love which always looks for the best and of a sound mind which is stable and consistent 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV. Second; learn to laugh at yourself. A certain woman was given a lovely plant. She took it home and put it in a pot. She watered it religiously, fertilised it and used all sorts of pest control. She set it in the sun and watched it. A year later she discovered the plant was not a real plant but silk. You would be amazed that she still laughs at it! This should be the spirit. Laugh at all the issues and remind yourself that it could have been a lot worse. Imagine the plant being something poisonous or something harmful! When you are secure in God's love and approval, you can laugh at yourself; it's a mark of spiritual maturity. So much as you can, try to always remain in God's love. Third, learn to factor God in. Yes, involve God in it all. Ever heard of 90/10 rule? When 90 percent of the circumstances are uncontrollable, focus on the 10 percent you can do something about. Paul the apostle did that '...We were troubled on every side; without were fighting's, within were fears. Nevertheless God... 2 Corinthians 7:5-6 KJV. Note the words 'Nevertheless God'. When you are facing a mountain, always remember: God can move it. He can level it. He can tunnel through it, or He can help you climb it. All you have to do is factor Him in by seeking His face and consulting His Word. 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom...' Colossians 3:16 KJV. Keep a rich deposit of Scripture within you and draw on it daily.To recap; three rules: 1. Control the climate around you. Don't allow negativity infect you. 2. Learn to laugh at yourself. 3. Factor God in.LOOKING NICE AINT A SIN...Let not yours be the merely adorning with elaborate interweaving and knotting of the hair, he wearing of jewellery, or changes of clothes; but let it be inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is not anxious or wrought up, but is very precious in the sight of God. 1 peter 3:3-4Does God really care what I look like? Do I have to be thin? More than one person has asked themselves some variation of this question. The answer is that God doesn't judge us based on our looks. Thankfully, He sees our hearts. But He does want us to look the best we can for His glory and honour. We represent him and should always live with excellence in every area. Excellence simply means to take what you have and do the most you can do with it. God does care what you feel inside, and, ultimately, looking your best is simply a reflection of a healthy, happy, spirited internal state. I'm not talking Cosmopolitan cover model good looks; the layers of touch-ups and fakery on those covers would astonish you. I'm talking the kind of normal, healthy appearance that makes people respond positively to you and that helps you feel the best you can about yourself.What Peter means is that you shouldn't confuse outer beauty for what is most important, which is gentle and peaceful spirit.God cares most that you go forth clothed in righteousness. But righteousness plus a nice outfit never hurt anyone. If people see that you respect yourself, they'll respect you too. Like everything else in life, it is a question of balance. Keep the big picture in mind. Ask yourself, "What is the work that God has put me on earth to do?" Then decide what amount of attention you should pay to how you look and feel to get the maximum energy, health and charisma you need to do work as successfully as possible.Culled from Joyce Meyer's devotional 'New Day, New You'- December 22ndSHAKE IT OFFShare with me this story about a farmer's donkey that fell into a dry well. The animal cried pitifully for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do with the poor donkey. Finally, he concluded that the well was too deep and it really needed to be covered up anyway. Besides, the donkey was old and it would be a lot of trouble to get him out of the pit. The farmer decided that it was not worth trying to retrieve the animal, so he asked his neighbours to help him fill in the well and bury the donkey.They all grabbed shovels and began to toss dirt into the well. The donkey immediately realised what was happening and he began to bray horribly. Crying would be our normal response if somebody was mistreating us this badly, so this donkey was responding the same way we would at first, but then he got real quiet. A few shovel loads of dirt later, the farmer looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit the donkey's back, the donkey would shake it off and step on top of it.As the neighbours and the farmer continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he continued to shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon the donkey shook off the last shovel of dirt, took a step up and walked right out of the well. We can learn from this story: when trouble comes, if we get still and listen, God will tell us what to do. Just like the donkey, in order to keep pressing on and have victory in our lives, we are going to have to learn to shake off the troubles that come our way.Culled from Joyce Meyer's devotional 'New Day, New You'- October 18thNUDITY IN THE NAME OF FASHION. . .This is a Legendary boxer, Mohammed Ali's advice to his daughters.An incident transpired when his daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were quite revealing. Here's the story as told by one of his daughters. "When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila and me up to my father's suite.... As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day. My father took a good look at us, and then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said; "Hannah, everything that God made valuable and precious in the world is covered and hard to get to.#-Where do you find Diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Find authorized novels in Webnovelfaster updates, better experiencePlease click www.webnovel.com for visiting.#-Where do you find Pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered and protected in a beautiful shell.#-Where do you find Gold? Way down in the mine, covered over and protected by layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them."He looked at me with seriousness in his eyes, "Your body is Sacred. You are far more precious and valuable than GOLD, DIAMONDS and PEARLS, and you should be covered too." Satan is preaching the message of NUDITY today because he knows that if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has had sex with her. Matthew 5:28 Be Careful how you dress."Exposing your body means it has no lasting value and any commoner can access it, either with the hands or eyesIf our bodies are truly God's temple, then let's make it glorious in appearance. Be a good example in your dressing.
