Great is thy faithfulness, O God my father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou for ever will be
Great is thy faithfulness, Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me. ~Thomas Chisolm
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Think Right So You Can Speak Right
Think Right So You Can Speak Right
(Joyce Meyer - Promises For Your Everyday Life)
Imagine that an employee hears a rumor that the company he works for is going to lay off some employees, so he thinks, "Every time things start to go well, something bad always happens." Then he says, "I'll probably lose my job." Negative statements like this start with a negative thought.
My thoughts used to be so negative, which caused my words to be negative, which all reflected poorly on my life. Finally, I decided to change my ways and stop talking so negatively. After awhile I realized that I needed to do more than just not talk negatively. Cutting out the negative talk wasn't enough - I had to begin to think positively!
Our negative thoughts cause us to speak the words that will shape our future. When we speak the wrong things, it can be like a fire (see James 3:6) in our lives.
But we can stop the fire before it starts by speaking right, and we can only speak right when we think right. I urge you to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Let Him influence your thoughts and lead you into a lifestyle of positive words.
Imagine that an employee hears a rumor that the company he works for is going to lay off some employees, so he thinks, "Every time things start to go well, something bad always happens." Then he says, "I'll probably lose my job." Negative statements like this start with a negative thought.
My thoughts used to be so negative, which caused my words to be negative, which all reflected poorly on my life. Finally, I decided to change my ways and stop talking so negatively. After awhile I realized that I needed to do more than just not talk negatively. Cutting out the negative talk wasn't enough - I had to begin to think positively!
Our negative thoughts cause us to speak the words that will shape our future. When we speak the wrong things, it can be like a fire (see James 3:6) in our lives.
But we can stop the fire before it starts by speaking right, and we can only speak right when we think right. I urge you to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Let Him influence your thoughts and lead you into a lifestyle of positive words.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
twas' 11 days before Christmas
twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air,
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"This is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
And as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"Come now my children, let me show you around."
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
And i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."
Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air,
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"This is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
And as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"Come now my children, let me show you around."
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
And i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."
Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA
Monday, December 17, 2012
I Don't Understand It.....
A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner,
the people were in and out of the cold.
The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell
many papers.
He walked up to a policeman and said,
"Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy could
find a warm place to sleep tonight would you?
You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and
down the alley and its awful cold in there for tonight.
"Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay."
The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, "You
go down the street to that big white house and you knock
on the door. When they come out the door you just say
John 3:16 and they will let you in."
So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked on the
door, and a lady answered. He looked up and said,
"John 3:16." The lady said, "Come on in, Son."
She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom
rocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went
off. The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself:
John 3:16... I don't understand it, but it sure makes
a cold boy warm.
Later she came back and asked him "Are you hungry?"
He said, "Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of
days, and I guess I could stand a little bit of food,"
The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table
full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat
any more. Then he thought to himself:
John 3:16... Boy, I sure don't understand it but it sure
makes a hungry boy full.
She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub
filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a
while. As he soaked, he thought to himself: John 3:16 ...
I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy
clean. You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my
whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in
front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out.
The lady came in and got him. She took him to a room,
tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers
up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned out
the lights. As he lay in the darkness and looked out the
window at the snow coming down on that cold night,
he thought to himself: John 3:16 ... I don't understand it but
it sure makes a tired boy rest.
The next morning the lady came back up and took him
down again to that same big table full of food. After he
ate, she took him back to that same big old split bottom
rocker in front of the fireplace and
picked up a big old Bible.
She sat down in front of him and looked into his young face.
"Do you understand John 3:16?" she asked gently. He
replied, "No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it
was last night when the policeman told me to use it,"She opened the Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain
to him about Jesus. Right there, in front of that big old fireplace,
he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there
and thought: John 3:16 . don't understand it, but it sure
makes a lost boy feel safe.
You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either,
how God was willing to send His Son to die for me, and how
Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand
the agony of the Father and every angel in heaven as
they watched Jesus suffer and die. I don't understand the intense
love for ME that kept Jesus on the cross till the end.
I don't understand it, but it sure does make life worth living.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life.
the people were in and out of the cold.
The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell
many papers.
He walked up to a policeman and said,
"Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy could
find a warm place to sleep tonight would you?
You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and
down the alley and its awful cold in there for tonight.
"Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay."
The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, "You
go down the street to that big white house and you knock
on the door. When they come out the door you just say
John 3:16 and they will let you in."
So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked on the
door, and a lady answered. He looked up and said,
"John 3:16." The lady said, "Come on in, Son."
She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom
rocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went
off. The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself:
John 3:16... I don't understand it, but it sure makes
a cold boy warm.
Later she came back and asked him "Are you hungry?"
He said, "Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of
days, and I guess I could stand a little bit of food,"
The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table
full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat
any more. Then he thought to himself:
John 3:16... Boy, I sure don't understand it but it sure
makes a hungry boy full.
She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub
filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a
while. As he soaked, he thought to himself: John 3:16 ...
I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy
clean. You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my
whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in
front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out.
The lady came in and got him. She took him to a room,
tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers
up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned out
the lights. As he lay in the darkness and looked out the
window at the snow coming down on that cold night,
he thought to himself: John 3:16 ... I don't understand it but
it sure makes a tired boy rest.
The next morning the lady came back up and took him
down again to that same big table full of food. After he
ate, she took him back to that same big old split bottom
rocker in front of the fireplace and
picked up a big old Bible.
She sat down in front of him and looked into his young face.
"Do you understand John 3:16?" she asked gently. He
replied, "No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it
was last night when the policeman told me to use it,"She opened the Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain
to him about Jesus. Right there, in front of that big old fireplace,
he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there
and thought: John 3:16 . don't understand it, but it sure
makes a lost boy feel safe.
You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either,
how God was willing to send His Son to die for me, and how
Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand
the agony of the Father and every angel in heaven as
they watched Jesus suffer and die. I don't understand the intense
love for ME that kept Jesus on the cross till the end.
I don't understand it, but it sure does make life worth living.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life.
me n’ God love ya! <:><
Life is short
Life is short no matter how many years we live. Don't be deceived into thinking that you have lots of remaining time to live for Christ, to enjoy your loved ones, or to do what you know you should. Live for God today! Then, no matter when your life ends, you will have fulfilled God's plan for you. (Life Application Study Bible)
http://bible.us/116/jas.4.14.nlt
Remembering to families in Newtown, CT. #Prayers
http://bible.us/116/jas.4.14.nlt
Remembering to families in Newtown, CT. #Prayers
Friday, December 14, 2012
Fix Your Thoughts on Jesus
Fix Your Thoughts on Jesus
(Rick Warren's Daily Devotional)
When you are tempted, do whatever is necessary to turn your attention to something else.
Satan can't get your attention when your mind is preoccupied with something else. That's why the Bible teaches us to fix our thoughts on Jesus (Hebrews 3:1) and to fill our minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable." (Philippians 4:8 TEV)
When we're serious about defeating temptation, we will manage our thoughts and monitor our media intake. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived warned: "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts." (Proverbs 4:23 TEV)
Don't allow thoughts to run indiscriminately in your mind. Be selective. Choose carefully what you think about. Follow Paul's model: "We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5 NCV)
This takes a lifetime of practice, but with the help of the Holy Spirit you can discipline the way you think.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Read the Christmas Story… with Everyone in the World
The story of our Savior’s birth has been told and retold for thousands of years, but this year, for the first time, you’ll be able to see how many people are actually reading it.
The Christmas Story Tracker is a fun live map we created to watch the world read about the birth of Jesus. When someone uses the Bible App to read a verse about the Christmas story, the map lights a star on their country. A counter at the top right shows the total number of readings from the YouVersion community since December 1.
Whether you’re reading a Christmas Bible Plan or just a verse about Jesus’ birth, you’ll light up a star on the map and add to the running tally. And it’s easy to get your friends in on the fun: look for the Facebook and Twitter icons.
Go check out christmas.youversion.com!
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The Anchor of Hope
The Anchor of Hope
(by Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life)
All of us go through difficult times in our lives, and like a ship in a storm, we need help to remain steady. A ship has an anchor to help it hold steady, and the Bible says that the anchor of our soul is hope.
When you and I base our hope firmly on God and His Word, we may feel the wind and waves, but in the end we will not be moved.
During a storm, hope gives us the ability to look at things as they are and still be confident that something better is coming. That makes hope a very powerful and important quality for you and me to have - especially in times of trouble. In fact, I believe it's the foundation that our faith must be built on.
No one - not even God - can promise that we will never have to deal with disappointment or trouble. But the important thing is that we never stop hoping. Maintaining a positive attitude and holding on to the hope we have in Christ puts us in a position to see God's miracle-working power.
Prayer: God, I put my hope in You. My expectation for the great things You're going to do in my life is my anchor in trying times.
(by Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life)
All of us go through difficult times in our lives, and like a ship in a storm, we need help to remain steady. A ship has an anchor to help it hold steady, and the Bible says that the anchor of our soul is hope.
When you and I base our hope firmly on God and His Word, we may feel the wind and waves, but in the end we will not be moved.
During a storm, hope gives us the ability to look at things as they are and still be confident that something better is coming. That makes hope a very powerful and important quality for you and me to have - especially in times of trouble. In fact, I believe it's the foundation that our faith must be built on.
No one - not even God - can promise that we will never have to deal with disappointment or trouble. But the important thing is that we never stop hoping. Maintaining a positive attitude and holding on to the hope we have in Christ puts us in a position to see God's miracle-working power.
Prayer: God, I put my hope in You. My expectation for the great things You're going to do in my life is my anchor in trying times.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Don't forget, they are only 13!!!
Don't forget, they are only 13!!
(by Mike Knighten...father to Reid Knighten age 13)
The quarterback took the snap from center and turned to hand off to the receiver coming on an end-around play. The defensive end crashed down on the left side and forced the runner to the sideline. All seemed right with the world. I let out a premature cheer of approval only to have my exuberance dashed as the runner danced into the endzone for a 30 yard touchdown. Thank goodness this was only a jamboree game.
As a parent, I have to constantly remind myself, "Oh yeah, they are only 10!" They are just learning the game of football that we as adults get so obsessed with at times. Yes, my son did his job, although he did not realize it. The two defensive backs behind him followed the quarterback as he ran to the opposite side before handing the ball to the receiver. The lesson we have to teach these players, not by screaming or by criticism, is to "keep your eyes open." "Things are not always what they appear." As the season progresses, they will learn to "stay home" and not bite on those type plays.
I will always cheer for my son and his team, regardless of the outcome. We often criticize young kids for mistakes like this instead of helping build their character through praise and instruction. Don't be a parent that lives vicariously through your child. Your children have a hard enough time in today's world without the burden of your short-comings in life heaped upon them as well. Go to the game. Cheer for your child. Win, lose or draw, hug them, love them, high-five them, knuckle-bump them and support them. In the end, you too will be a big winner!!
(by Mike Knighten...father to Reid Knighten age 13)
The quarterback took the snap from center and turned to hand off to the receiver coming on an end-around play. The defensive end crashed down on the left side and forced the runner to the sideline. All seemed right with the world. I let out a premature cheer of approval only to have my exuberance dashed as the runner danced into the endzone for a 30 yard touchdown. Thank goodness this was only a jamboree game.
As a parent, I have to constantly remind myself, "Oh yeah, they are only 10!" They are just learning the game of football that we as adults get so obsessed with at times. Yes, my son did his job, although he did not realize it. The two defensive backs behind him followed the quarterback as he ran to the opposite side before handing the ball to the receiver. The lesson we have to teach these players, not by screaming or by criticism, is to "keep your eyes open." "Things are not always what they appear." As the season progresses, they will learn to "stay home" and not bite on those type plays.
I will always cheer for my son and his team, regardless of the outcome. We often criticize young kids for mistakes like this instead of helping build their character through praise and instruction. Don't be a parent that lives vicariously through your child. Your children have a hard enough time in today's world without the burden of your short-comings in life heaped upon them as well. Go to the game. Cheer for your child. Win, lose or draw, hug them, love them, high-five them, knuckle-bump them and support them. In the end, you too will be a big winner!!
Rx for Worry
Rx for Worry
(Coach Joe Gibbs - Two Minute Drills - Game Plan for Life)
Live long enough, and you'll find yourself in a thin hospital gown, crawling up on the table for some kind of test procedure. You'll wait by the phone for the results, trying not to worry but unable to keep from wondering what you'll do if it's bad.
Is there a game plan for this kind of situation?
Let's just say that one of the blessings of living in daily fellowship with God is developing a settled heart. You realize your salvation is accomplished and complete. You recognize how many things are beyond your control. And you begin to understand that trusting him is a lot more effective than fretting and losing sleep. He takes care of you either way. So why waste the nervous energy?
Inner peace is not a formula. It's not treating God like a good-luck charm. It's about spending time reading His Word. Praying when you could be listening to sports radio. Talking to himinstead of talking to yourself. Relationship, not ritual. Try it consistently for a month, and you'll look back a few weeks from now amazed at the amount of perspective and security he's given you. You'll be more like a man who has "no fear of bad news," whose "heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord" (Psalm 112:7).
Want to be ready for that next trip to the doctor? Then run your laps, watch your portions . . . and start relying on the Great Physician to get you through each day.
Pray this prayer: Lord, I waste so much of my time worrying about things you're already taking care of. I long for a settled, peaceful heart—one that's ready for trouble because I've been trusting you all along.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Now Like Us on Facebook
Hello friends of the Cross, you now have a place where you can go to on facebook and share your love of God with all who wish to visit.
Just click HERE to access, and then like us there.
God bless!
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