Jesus Said

> JESUS SAID, I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN ME, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIE, YET SHALL THEY LIVE, AND WHOEVER LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE......BECAUSE I LIVE, YOU SHALL LIVE ALSO. THE SERVICE OF DEATH AND RESURRECTION IS THE THEME OF THE MEMORIAL SERVICE WHEN SOMEONE DIES. I TAKE GREAT COMFORT IN THIS AFFIRMATION OF FAITH IN GOD'S ETERNAL PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR US. WE SHARE MEMORIES AND INSIGHTS FOR LIVING THAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OUR LOVES ONES WHO ARE GO ON AHEAD OF US. WE ARE NOT PEOPLE WITHOUT HOPE. EVERY DAY AND ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT HOLY SPIRIT IS RESURRECTING US. BE STILL AND QUIET AND KNOW THESE TRUTHS....WE ARE BLESSED BY THOSE WHO HAVE GONE AHEAD OF US AND WE WILL BE A BLESSING TO THOSE WHO COME AFTER US AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE WITH US NOW.

I have overcome this world

"I have told  you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome this world." --John 16: 33 -- our environment both physical and non-physical is contaminated. The "enemy" is everywhere you turn. Insecurity threatens us. Our hungers and needs are real. Of course it has always been so, even in the days of the cave man. As has been all along, so is it now. Trust and obey the life and teachings of Christ. The result is peace and healing in the midst of this troubled world. The only way you are going to come out of this life alive is in God's unconditional love......let the peace of God keep your mind and heart....

Wisdom from the ones that have lived long

SOME PERSONS WHO HAVE LIVED LONG WERE ASKED WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LIFE HAS TAUGHT YOU? THESE ARE SOME RESPONSES: "GOD IS RELIABLE BUT UNPREDICTABLE." == "TO TRY TO ACCEPT DEATH AS WELL AS LIFE, REALIZING THEY ARE PARTS OF ONE WHOLE. TO ACCEPT JOYOUSLY THE FACT THAT OUR SPIRITS NEED NEVER GROW OLD!" == "OUR SOCIETY MOVES FROM ONE OBSESSION TO ANOTHER, SOME GOOD, SOME PARTIAL GOOD, AND SOME ABSURD. GOOD CAUSES MERIT SUPPORT, BUT THE WISE PERSON SEEKS A POSITION WHICH TRANSCENDS THE TRANSIENT. == "THE SEEDS OF PEACE ARE BEING SOWN SILENTLY IN THE MIDST OF OUR PRESENT AGONY." == THESE ARE MEANINGFUL THOUGHTS FROM PERSONS WHO HAVE WEATHERED THE STORMS OF LIFE AND COME OUT WITH GREAT REALIZATIONS OF TRUTH. 

Fwd: thought

"I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE VERY END......"  (Matthew 28:20) -- whatever darkness in which you find yourself you are not alone and the One with you or your loved one is LOVE UNCONDITIONAL. 

Prayer is about Listening

PRAYER IS ESSENTIAL TO A PERSON'S SPIRITUAL GROWTH-PRAYER IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT WE SAY TO GOD, BUT IT IS MUCH ABOUT US LEARNING TO LISTEN TO GOD. I have learned that some of the most effective praying I can do is focusing on a scripture verse or story and listening to what i hear being spoken. For example, "I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me." (Philippians 4: 13) Listen to this, repeat it in your thoughts as you deal with difficult and troubling thoughts and feelings....TRUST GOD'S PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE.

Fwd: thought

Subject: thought

"The lack of understanding brings about a lack of tolerance and true love, which results in the alienation of people......understanding and love are values that transcend all dogma." -- we may look with suspicion  upon someone who is different from us, particularly someone from a different culture, race, religion, nation. The person we do not know or understand is easily  perceived our enemy. It happens in our schools with bullying, in places of work, between nations, in all settings of relationships....understanding someone does not necessarily mean we will agree with them, but we will see them in a different way. 

Fwd: thought

"GOD'S SPIRIT BLOWS WHEREVER IT WISHES...." --John 3:8--and wherever the Wind of Spirit blows comes freshness, renewal, transformation, encouragement, insight, correction in our life direction and above all the fresh winds of Spirit lets us know we are never really alone. --- Of course sometimes those Spirit Winds may be sort of rough if that is what is needed to get us going in the right direction. --- these are some thoughts to consider.

The Mind is Everything

"Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world." --George Bernard Shaw--"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become." --Buddha-- "More than anything you guard, protect hour mind, for life flows from it.// "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts." --Proverbs 4: 23 -- a distinguishing difference between humans and other creatures is our awareness, thinking, imagining. How we feel about ourselves is the result of what we chose to think about ourselves, not what someone else thinks. Think of yourself as a special creation of God, a person of worth made in the image of Eternal Goodness and you will walk out into each day with your head up and your heart at peace and wherever you go others will be blessed.

Thinking of you

THINKING OF YOU....HAVE A BLESSED DAY, AFTER ALL THIS IS THE DAY GOD MADE AND WANTS US TO ENJOY IT. LOVE IS ON DISPLAY ALL AROUND US AND WARMS OUR HEARTS.

You have made known to me the paths of life

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> "YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE PATHS OF LIFE; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE." --Acts 2:28-- I know of no other way to live than to trust the ways of Spiritual counsel. Everything else falls short of the unconditional love ot God revealed in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ.
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Turn the Mess into a Miracle

"Those who have the gale of the Holy Spirit go forward, even in sleep." (The Practice of the Presence of God) - life always moves forward, never backward. Pick up your broken heart and move forward and the Presence of Spirit has your back. No matter what the mess we make of our lives the Spirit of God never stops working to turn the mess into a miracle. Do not ignore this reality of faith and trust and obedience to the sense of right in you.

Our part is to trust,

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> "Our true home is in the present moment. The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment. Peace is all around us-in the world and in nature-and within us-in our bodies and our spirits-The Holy Spirit is in you.." even as you breath right now. Our part is to trust, to be still and quiet and let ourselves become aware...Presence is every where....whether you are living or dying...peaceful or troubled...NOW....
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Be What We Were Made to Be

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> "...let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't." -Romans 12: 6 - i read this thought in the Daily Guidepost today. Two persons met at a conference and introduced themselves. One asked the other the typical question, "what do you do?". The answer was not typical. She said, "I bring hope to people who are hurting." It turns out this lady worked in a grocery store, but it was more than just a job. She saw opportunity to extend hospitality and caring interest in others who came to shop. She was sensitive to persons who were obviously worried or weary. No matter what our situation we can relate to the other person in a spirit of love appreciation and encouragement.
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IN THE STRENGTH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

"I HAVE LEARNED THIS SECRET, SO THAT ANYWHERE, AT ANY TIME. I AM CONTENT, WHETHER I AM FULL OR HUNGRY, WHETHER I HAVE TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE. I HAVE THE STRENGTH TO FACE ALL CONDITIONS BY THE POWER THAT CHRIST GIVES ME." (Philippians 4:12) -- This is the Word that stands out for me this morning. Whether young or old, well or sick, recognized or ignored, successful or not............every day is a work in progress with room for improvement. Thanks be to God I am alive and able to do the good I can in the conditions of the moment.....IN THE STRENGTH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

dad/papa

True Nobility

AN OLD HINDU PROVERB SAYS, "There is nothing noble in being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self." -- "So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace." ( 2 Corinthians 4: 16) -- there simply is no way for us to get to a place where everything is as we want or prefer it. At best we suck up a lot of stuff for the sake of the larger good as it is made known to us in the daily of life. We live in the context of God will in our present circumstance and the circumstance of the world now. But always in the confidence that God' ultimate will is going to get done.

dad/papa