I lost my joy.

Finding Your Lost Joy
by Rick Warren

"The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17 NLT)

What's the easiest thing for you to lose? Your glasses? Your keys? Your mind?

The easiest thing of all to lose is your joy. You can lose it with one phone call or email, a letter or conversation. You can watch a commercial on TV and lose your joy. It's the easiest thing in the world to lose. And a lot of people in a lot of circumstances are conspiring to rob it from you.

When God's children aren't filled with joy, it makes God look bad. Cranky Christians are a bad witness. They look like they've been baptized in vinegar because they're never really smiling. And that makes God look bad.

Why? Because God wants us to be witnesses with our countenance.

The Bible tells us that the Christian life can be summed up in three words: goodness, peace, and joy. Romans 14:17 says, "The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (NLT).

The reality is, though, that you can lose your joy so quickly, and there are thousands of ways to lose it. There are thousands of killjoys in life that will rob you of your joy, even to the point that somebody like Jeremiah, a prophet of God, could say this in Lamentations 5:15, "There is no joy left in our hearts" (GW).

I don't know if that's where you are today, but if you've ever gone through that period where you feel like you've lost the spark and you're not as close to God as you used to be and you're just going through the motions of life, you need to know that it's quite easy to get your joy back, too.

So, how do you get your joy back?

The first step you need to do is admit you've lost it.

You simply look at your past and ask yourself a couple of questions: Has there ever been a time in your life when you were closer to God than you are right now? Has there ever been a time in your life when you were more joyful in the Lord than you are right now?

Now is the time to make the change. But you've got to start by admitting that you've lost what you've had in the past. You could ask God about it; he's waiting to help you. David prayed this in Psalm 51:12: "Restore to me the joy of your salvation" (NIV).

interesting insight

Joseph's Prayer
by Max Lucado, from On This Holy Night

Joseph... did what the Lord's angel had told him to do. — Matthew 1:24

The white space between Bible verses is fertile soil for questions. One can hardly read Scripture without whispering, "I wonder..."

"I wonder if Eve ever ate any more fruit."

"I wonder if Noah slept well during storms."

"I wonder if Jonah liked fish or if Jeremiah had friends."

"Did Moses avoid bushes? Did Jesus tell jokes? Did Peter ever try water-walking again?"

"Would any woman have married Paul had he asked?"

The Bible is a fence full of knotholes through which we can peek but not see the whole picture. It's a scrapbook of snapshots capturing people in encounters with God, but not always recording the result.

So we wonder:

When the woman caught in adultery went home, what did she say to her husband?

After the demoniac was delivered, what did he do for a living?

After Jairus's daughter was raised from the dead, did she ever regret it?

Knotholes and snapshots and "I wonders." You'll find them in every chapter about every person. But nothing stirs so many questions as does the birth of Christ. Characters appear and disappear before we can ask them anything. The innkeeper too busy to welcome God — did he ever learn who he turned away? The shepherds — did they ever hum the song the angels sang? The wise men who followed the star — what was it like to worship a toddler? And Joseph, especially Joseph.

I've got questions for Joseph.

Did you and Jesus arm wrestle? Did He ever let you win?

Did you ever look up from your prayers and see Jesus listening?

How do you say "Jesus" in Egyptian?

What ever happened to the wise men?

What ever happened to you?

We don't know what happened to Joseph. His role in Act I is so crucial that we expect to see him the rest of the drama — but with the exception of a short scene with twelve-year-old Jesus in Jerusalem, he never reappears. The rest of his life is left to speculation, and we are left with our questions.

But of all my questions, my first would be about Bethlehem. I'd like to know about the night in the stable. I can picture Joseph there. Moonlit pastures. Stars twinkle above. Bethlehem sparkles in the distance. There he is, pacing outside the stable.

What was he thinking while Jesus was being born? What was on his mind while Mary was giving birth? He'd done all he could do — heated the water, prepared a place for Mary to lie. He'd made Mary as comfortable as she could be in a barn and then he stepped out. She'd asked to be alone, and Joseph had never felt more so.

In that eternity between his wife's dismissal and Jesus' arrival, what was he thinking? He walked into the night and looked into the stars. Did he pray?

For some reason, I don't see him silent; I see Joseph animated, pacing. Head shaking one minute, fist shaking the next. This isn't what he had in mind. I wonder what he said...

This isn't the way I planned it, God. Not at all. My child being born in a stable? This isn't the way I thought it would be. A cave with sheep and donkeys, hay and straw? My wife giving birth with only the stars to hear her pain?

This isn't at all what I imagined. No, I imagined family. I imagined grandmothers. I imagined neighbors clustered outside the door and friends standing at my side. I imagined the house erupting with the first cry of the infant. Slaps on the back. Loud laughter. Jubilation.

That's how I thought it would be.

The midwife would hand me my child and all the people would applaud. Mary would rest, and we would celebrate. All of Nazareth would celebrate.

But now. Now look. Nazareth is five days' journey away. And here we are in a... in a sheep pasture. Who will celebrate with us? The sheep? The shepherds? The stars?

This doesn't seem right. What kind of husband am I? I provide no midwife to aid my wife. No bed to rest her back. Her pillow is a blanket from my donkey. My house for her is a shed of hay and straw.

The smell is bad; the animals are loud. Why, I even smell like a shepherd myself.

Did I miss something? Did I, God?

When You sent the angel and spoke of the Son being born — this isn't what I pictured. I envisioned Jerusalem, the temple, the priests, and the people gathered to watch. A pageant perhaps. A parade. A banquet at least. I mean, this is the Messiah!

Or, if not born in Jerusalem, how about Nazareth? Wouldn't Nazareth have been better? At least there I have my house and my business. Out here, what do I have? A weary mule, a stack of firewood, and a pot of warm water. This is not the way I wanted it to be! This is not the way I wanted my son.

Oh my, I did it again. I did it again, didn't I, Father? I don't mean to do that; it's just that I forget. He's not my son... He's Yours.

The child is Yours. The plan is Yours. The idea is Yours. And forgive me for asking but... is this how God enters the world? The coming of the angel, I've accepted. The questions people asked about the pregnancy, I can tolerate. The trip to Bethlehem, fine. But why a birth in a stable, God?

Any minute now Mary will give birth. Not to a child, but to the Messiah. Not to an infant, but to God. That's what the angel said. That's what Mary believes. And, God, my God, that's what I want to believe. But surely You can understand; it's not easy. It seems so... so... so... bizarre.

I'm unaccustomed to such strangeness, God. I'm a carpenter. I make things fit. I square off the edges. I follow the plumb line. I measure twice before I cut once. Surprises are not the friend of a builder. I like to know the plan. I like to see the plan before I begin.

But this time I'm not the builder, am I? This time I'm a tool. A hammer in Your grip. A nail between Your fingers. A chisel in Your hands. This project is Yours, not mine.

I guess it's foolish of me to question You. Forgive my struggling. Trust doesn't come easy to me, God. But You never said it would be easy, did You?

One final thing, Father. The angel You sent? Any chance You could send another? If not an angel, maybe a person? I don't know anyone around here, and some company would be nice. Maybe the innkeeper or a traveler? Even a shepherd would do.

I wonder. Did Joseph ever pray such a prayer? Perhaps he did. Perhaps he didn't.

But you probably have.

You've stood where Joseph stood. Caught between what God says and what makes sense. You've done what He told you to do only to wonder if it was Him speaking in the first place. You've stared into a sky blackened with doubt. And you've asked what Joseph asked.

You've asked if you're still on the right road. You've asked if you were supposed to turn left when you turned right. And you've asked if there is a plan behind this scheme. Things haven't turned out like you thought they would.

Each of us knows what it's like to search the night for light. Not outside a stable, but perhaps outside an emergency room. On the gravel of a roadside. On the manicured grass of a cemetery. We've asked our questions. We questioned God's plan. And we've wondered why God does what He does.

The Bethlehem sky is not the first to hear the pleading of a confused pilgrim.

If you are asking what Joseph asked, let me urge you to do what Joseph did. Obey. That's what he did. He obeyed. He obeyed when the angel called. He obeyed when Mary explained. He obeyed when God sent.

He was obedient to God.

He was obedient when the sky was bright.

He was obedient when the sky was dark.

He didn't let his confusion disrupt his obedience. He didn't know everything. But he did what he knew. He shut down his business, packed up his family, and went to another country. Why? Because that's what God said to do.

What about you? Just like Joseph, you can't see the whole picture. Just like Joseph, your task is to see that Jesus is brought into your part of your world. And just like Joseph, you have a choice: to obey or disobey. Because Joseph obeyed, God used him to change the world.

Can He do the same with you?

God still looks for Josephs today. Men and women who believe that God is not through with this world. Common people who serve an uncommon God.

Will you be that kind of person? Will you serve... even when you don't understand?

No, the Bethlehem sky is not the first to hear the pleadings of an honest heart, nor the last. And perhaps God didn't answer every question for Joseph. But He answered the most important one. "Are you still with me, God?" And through the first cries of the Godchild the answer came.

"Yes. Yes, Joseph. I'm with you."

There are many questions about the Bible that we won't be able to answer until we get home. Many knotholes and snapshots. Many times we will muse, "I wonder..."

But in our wonderings, there is one question we never need to ask. Does God care? Do we matter to God? Does He still love His children?

Through the small face of the stable-born baby, He says yes.

Yes, your sins are forgiven.

Yes, your name is written in heaven.

Yes, death has been defeated.

And yes, God has entered your world.

Immanuel. God is with us.

Excerpted with permission from On This Holy Night, copyright Thomas Nelson, 2013.

really need to sow the ground deeper from within

Fruit Comes from Deep Roots
by Rick Warren

"The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it. But they don't have deep roots, and they believe only for a little while. As soon as life gets hard, they give up." (Luke 8:13 CEV)

During the springtime, all the grass in Southern California turns green, the wildflowers and poppies bloom, and it's really pretty. But the moment the rains stop, the hills turn brown again. Why? Because the grass has no roots. It can't go down deep enough to get water from the springs that are deep beneath the ground.

When there are no roots, when a plant is in shallow soil, it may initially sprout and look good, but it doesn't last. The plants wither quickly because they don't have roots.

Luke 8:13 says, "The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it. But they don't have deep roots, and they believe only for a little while. As soon as life gets hard, they give up" (CEV).

A lot of times we hear God's Word and get excited about it, but we don't allow it to change us. We act superficially. We react emotionally. We're moved impulsively. But we don't take the time to let it sink in.

Do you really want to be that way? No! You want to be a deep person, not a shallow person. You want to be a person with deep spiritual roots so that when recession comes and lasts several years, you're able to keep bearing fruit. When the rough winds come and somebody in your family gets sick or somebody dies, the trial doesn't blow you away, because you've got roots.

How do you develop spiritual roots? There are two ways: a daily time with God and a weekly small group time with other believers. You've got to spend time alone with God, and you've got to spend time with other believers.

If you're not spending time with God on a daily basis, you're going to dry up and blow away when the pressure is on. You won't be able to handle it. You've got to make time to listen during a daily time with God. You have to sit and be quiet. You have to read the Bible and talk to God. Play some music. If you like to journal, do that. Whatever it takes to keep the focus on God, do it!

You've also got to have a weekly small group. Nobody has a complete perspective on life. Every one of us has blinders on. The people in your small group can see things in your life you can't see. That's why we need each other! You learn from the people in your small group as you encourage each other and your roots go deeper.

Talk It Over

• How does your schedule need to change so that you can spend more time with God?
• On what impulses from spiritually high moments do you need to follow through?
• Why do you think God designed us to do life together?

Think Great Thoughts

by John Ortberg, The Me I Want to Be: Becoming God's Best Version of You

One Saturday night our house was assaulted by an odor so indescribably noxious we had to evacuate. We figured it was a gas leak and called both the gas company and the fire department. As it turned out, a skunk had gotten very close to our house.

I made a few phone calls, but no exterminator would come to look for a skunk, so we figured the problem would go away on its own. Most of the odor faded away, and what lingered we got used to. It didn't bother us — until a visitor would enter and say, "It smells like a skunk  around here."

A week later I was on the road when my family called to say the skunk had struck again. I had to find someone who specialized in the ways of the skunk — a "skunk whisperer." The man discovered that we had two live skunks and one dead one permanently residing in the crawl space under our house. It cost a lot to get the skunks removed. But it was worth it.

You cannot get rid of the skunk odor without getting rid of the skunk.

Our sense of smell has a unique power to evoke emotion, and in our inner lives, our feelings are like aromas. Our positive feelings — joy, pleasure, gratitude — thrill us like the scent of freshly baked bread. Negative feelings — sadness, worry, anger — can make us want to evacuate our lives. When they hit, your mood dips, you lose energy, God seems distant, prayer seems pointless, sin looks tempting, and life looks bleak. But our feelings never descend on us at random.

As a general rule, our emotions flow out of our thoughts.

Discouraged people tend to think discouraging thoughts. Worried people tend to think anxious thoughts. These thoughts become so automatic that, like the lingering skunk odor, after a while we don't even notice we are thinking them.

We get used to what is sometimes called "stinking thinking."

This can happen to anyone. The prophet Elijah had reached a high point of his life when he defeated the prophets of Baal. Then one event — the opposition of Jezebel — plunged him into fear. Look at his thoughts: he felt worthless ("I am no better than my ancestors"), hopeless ("he ran for his life"), isolated ("I am the only one left"), and unable to cope ("I have had enough"). He actually wanted to die ("Take my life, Lord").

But God is the great healer. He had Elijah take a nap and eat a snack, then He did a little divine cognitive therapy to replace each of these life-killing thoughts. He gave Elijah an epiphany ("the Lord is about to pass by"), filled his future with hope because God would accompany him ("go back the way you came"), revealed that he was not isolated ("yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel"), and infused his life full of meaning because God had a mission for him.

Elijah thought his problem was Jezebel, but there will always be a Jezebel in our lives.

The real challenge is between our ears.

The way we live will inevitably be a reflection of the way we think.

True change always begins in our mind.

The good news is that if God can change Elijah's thinking, He can change ours. What makes people the way they are — what makes you you — is mainly the way they think. Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think (Romans 12:2 NLT). Becoming the best version of yourself, then, rests on one simple directive:

Think great thoughts!

People who live great lives are people who habitually think great thoughts.

Their thoughts incline them toward confidence, love, and joy. Trying to change your emotions by willpower without allowing the stream of your thoughts to be changed by the flow of the Spirit is like fumigating the house of the skunk smell while the skunks continue to live in your crawl space. But God can change the way we think! We will look at two ways we can open ourselves up to His work: learning to monitor what happens in our minds, and then resetting our minds to a better frequency. It is time to go after the skunks.

life's always a battle against the fleshy self.

Why Is Life So Hard? by Rick Warren "All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own." (Isaiah 53:6 NLT) Everything seems to be a battle. Nothing is easy. The fact is, life is difficult. So, why is life so hard in this world? The Bible says rebellion against God broke everything. It all started back with the first couple, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden. When God created the world, everything was perfect. It was paradise. And Adam and Eve had no problems, suffering, sadness, temptations, or troubles. But one day Adam and Eve decided that they wanted to do what they wanted to do. God told them, "You can do anything you want to in this paradise except one thing." And what did Adam and Eve do? The one thing God told them not to do. Why did he even give them a choice? Because without a choice, they couldn't choose to love God. If you're forced to love God, then it's not real love. Romans 5:12 says, "Sin came into the world through one man, and his sin brought death with it" (GNT). Before sin, there was no death in the world. There was no sadness in the world. There was no sorrow. There was no difficulty in the world. People would not die. Adam and Eve could have lived forever as long as it was a perfect environment. It was only when everything got broken that sin brought death into the world. Adam and Eve weren't the only ones who made that choice. I've made it, you've made it, and everybody else in the world has made it. We have all said, "I don't want to do the right thing; I want to do the easy thing." We've all said, "I don't want to say the truth; I want to say what's convenient." We've all said, "I don't want to be what God wants me to be; I want to be what I want to be." We've all done this. The Bible says in Isaiah 53:6, "All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own" (NLT). We have all broken God's laws. We have all rebelled by sins, transgressions, and iniquities. And that's why nothing works correctly — your marriage, your health, your finances, your body, your relationships. Nothing works correctly, because sin broke everything. When you understand why life in the world is so hard, you're no longer going to be surprised by it. You're not going to be surprised when things don't go your way. You're not going to be surprised when plans don't pan out. You're not going to be surprised when things actually go bad. And you will be able to handle the hard times of life much more easily. So why is life so hard? Why do we suffer? Why is everything a battle? The answer is that rebellion against God broke everything. Talk About It Why do you think this answer to the cause of the world's problems is not enough for non-believers and even some believers? Think of a time when you followed your own way instead of God's. What was the result?

Stop lying to yourself

the thing about lying, is that none of us can truly say we don't lie. even if not to others, we often lie to ourselves. That we are not unhappy, that everything will be fine even if we don't do something about it, that stop thinking about things will in fact make us feel better and that thing will go away by itself. maybe out of our laziness? procrastinating nature? Sometimes we even took advantage of God and say, let it be, if God wants it for us, He'll make it happen. and so we choose not to do anything, but yet our hearts ain't having peace, nor rest for our souls. because after a while, these thoughts come back and it's like a vicious cycle to these bad thoughts/mood swings or whatever we want to call it.

 

actually all it takes is just one step of faith, with ACTION. stepping out in faith, trusting in God that He will lead us into the second step..and so on. Stop procrastinating and do something about it!

 

 

Let Go of Your Self-defeating Lies
by Rick Warren

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8 NIV)

We lie to ourselves all the time: "I haven't gained any weight. I'm not hurting anyone. No one even noticed."

But one lie is more dangerous than most: "It's not really a problem." You tell yourself that your finances aren't a problem, your marriage isn't in trouble, and your temper isn't out of control.

Lying to ourselves is the number one way we mess up our lives. The Bible says,  "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8 NIV). Sin causes us to deceive ourselves, and deception causes us to sin. 

Behind every self-defeating act in our lives is a lie we've believed. Either we've lied to ourselves or we've believed one of Satan's lies. The Bible says our heart is "deceitful above all things" (Jeremiah 17:9). You and I have an amazing ability to lie to ourselves.

So stop it! Stop rationalizing. Stop minimizing your behavior. Stop excusing. Stop tolerating.

To stop defeating yourself — doing all of those self-defeating behaviors that cripple your ability to follow Jesus faithfully — you have to stop deceiving yourself. Jesus said, "When you know the truth, the truth will set your free." But first, the truth will make you miserable! You can't be free from what you can't admit exists.

You can't beat the problem if you're lying to yourself about it.

Talk It Over

• What self-destructive behavior in your life are you pretending isn't there? What activity do you know is unhealthy?
• What are the lies you believe that keep you from making lasting changes in your life?

the need to de-clutter

The Word "No" Is Important for Your Spiritual Journey
by Rick Warren

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." (Hebrews 12:1 NLT)

The most important word to remember for your spiritual journey may be a surprising one — no.

Your faith journey is a long one. Too many people start off well in their spiritual journey but putter out before the end. God wants you to go the distance.

You've got a marathon ahead of you, and you can't run the marathon with a barbell in your hands. Often people quit their faith journey early because everything they're carrying wears them out.

We need to de-clutter.

A cruise liner can get pretty fast in the middle of the water.  If you add a hundred lifeboats to it, it'll slow down. Plug a battery into one light bulb, and it'll go a long way. Plug it into 15, and it drains much more quickly. Plug it into 100, and it'll drain even more quickly.

That's what happens to us when we try to do too much. Sometimes doing good keeps us from doing the best.

Hebrews 12:1 says, "Let us strip off every weight that slows us down" (NLT).

Weights aren't bad; they're not sinful. They're just unnecessary. It could be a job, a relationship, or a hobby. It's something that slows you down from what God wants from your life. And they're not worth it.

Talk It Over

• What are the weights that are slowing you down? What are you going to do about it?
• What are the good things you're doing that might keep you from the best God has for you?

love the story of ruth

Meditate On

So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another…Again he said, "Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it." So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.

Ruth 3:14–15, NASB

Rest Yields Far More Results

When Ruth worked from morning to evening in the field of Boaz, a wealthy relative, she collected only one measure of barley. That's about 10 days' supply. But when she simply rested overnight at his feet, he gave her six measures of barley—about two months' supply!

Boaz, Ruth's kinsman redeemer, is a picture of Jesus our Redeemer, whom we are to rest in. This rest refers to an inner posture of trust and quiet confidence in Jesus' finished work and in His ability to give you increase and good success as you go about doing what you need to do. Rest is not sitting around doing nothing and waiting for His blessings to fall into our laps.

Beloved, what God doesn't want you to do is worry and do things out of fear. He wants you to rest at Jesus' feet and listen to His words of love and life. Let Him drive out your fears and lead you to good success!

The Bible

The Bible Has One Theme, and That's a Miracle
by Rick Warren

"Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." (Luke 24:27 NIV)

Only God could have put the Bible together. It's 66 books written over 1,600 years by 40 authors — and it has one theme.

Having a single unified theme is one of the reasons we know that the Bible is God's Word. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is all about God redeeming man, and Jesus is its star.

The fact that the Bible has only one theme is nothing short of a miracle. It'd be one thing if one person wrote the Bible. The Koran was written by one person, Mohammed. The Analects of Confucius were written by Confucius. The writings of Buddha were written by Buddha. You'd expect them to be uniform.

The Bible, on the other hand, was written by 40 different people, at every age and in every stage of life, on three continents. And they all wrote the same story — Jesus' story. Prophets and poets, princes and kings, and sailors and soldiers all had the same story. Some were written in homes, others in prisons, and others on ships. You couldn't have put together a more diverse group of authors.

Yet the story is the same.

Imagine I gave 50 people a piece of paper, and I told them to tear their pieces of paper into different shapes — but I never tell them how I'm going to use them. What's the likelihood I'd be able to take those pieces of paper and make a map of the United States out of them? Those odds would be astronomically low. If I did that, most people would think it was a trick.

That's the miracle of how the Bible was put together.

We tend to think that the New Testament is about Jesus and the Old Testament is about Israel. But that's not true. The Bible says in Luke 24:27, "Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself" (NIV). The New Testament wasn't even written then.

The pictures, the metaphors, the analogies, and the illusions — from beginning to end — are about God's plan to redeem people and build a family for eternity. It all began with

Jesus. You can see him in every book.

That's a miracle.

Reminder to never take my eyes off Him regardless of the circumstances, how I feel, etc. Rid of pride.

Meditate On

…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…
Hebrews 12:1–2
Living The Extraordinary Life
Have you always longed to live a life that's beyond the ordinary? Well, you can. You can live in the realm of the extraordinary and even the impossible by the power of the Holy Spirit when you keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith!

The disciple Peter was able to walk on water as long as his eyes were on Jesus. Remember that Peter was just an ordinary man like you and me. But as long as he looked to Jesus, the Holy Spirit was able to work and Peter could do the impossible. And he was doing fine until he took his eyes off Jesus and considered the boisterous wind (Matthew 14:30). The devil must have whispered in his ear, "You're not supposed to be walking on water. Don't you know that? Look at the huge waves. Feel the strong wind. You are going to drown!" And the moment Peter took his eyes off Jesus and looked at his natural circumstances, logic took over and told him that he could not walk on water. That's when he began to sink.

Beloved, realize that the Spirit of God works to the measure you keep your eyes on Jesus. Today, if you're being rocked by 10-foot waves of sickness, debt or depression, don't fix your eyes on the storm. Keep your eyes instead on the Lord. As you meditate on His glory and grace, faith will arise. And you will see His Spirit empower you with His wisdom, His strength and His limitless resources to walk in victory over every single storm!

reminder

Jul 21, 2014 Three Ways to Stay in Conflict by Rick Warren "Any fool can start arguments; the honorable thing is to stay out of them." (Proverbs 20:3 TEV) Wise people are peacemakers, not troublemakers. Wise people don't carry a chip on their shoulder. They're not always looking for a fight, and they don't intentionally antagonize other people. The fact is, if you're around anybody for any length of time, you'll figure out what that person does that irritates you, and you file that information in the back of your mind as a tool to use when you get in an argument. It becomes a personal weapon of mass destruction! When you get in an argument, and that person says something that hurts, offends, or slights you in any way, then you pull out the big gun. You push the hot button. And it works every time! You know what the Bible calls that? Stupid! You're not getting any closer to the resolution. You're not helping the relationship. In fact, you're hurting it. It is not wise. Proverbs 20:3 says this, "Any fool can start arguments; the honorable thing is to stay out of them" (TEV). We all use tools, tricks of the trade, and skills in relationships that are actually counter productive. They're hurtful, they're harmful, and they don't get you what you want out of relationships. In fact, they get you the exact opposite behavior. But when we lack wisdom, we use them anyway. There are many of these tools, but here are just a few: 1. Comparing. Never compare your wife, your husband, your kids, your boss, or anybody else, because everybody's unique. Comparing antagonizes anger. 2. Condemning. When you start laying on the guilt in a relationship, all you're going to do is get the exact opposite of what you expect. It doesn't work. It's foolish. 3. Contradicting. William James, the famous psychologist said, "Wisdom is the art of knowing what to overlook." There's some stuff you just need to overlook. Proverbs 14:29 says, "A wise man controls his temper. He knows that anger causes mistakes" (LB). Have you ever said or done anything stupid out of anger? Yes. Because when you get angry, your intelligence goes out the window. When you get angry, you say and do stupid things that are actually self-defeating. Did you ever think about the fact that there is only one letter difference between "anger" and "danger"? When you get angry, you are in dangerous territory. You are about to hurt others — and yourself — with your own anger. Talk About It What are some of the tricks you've used to try to get what you want from a relationship? What effect did those tricks have on your relationship?

Five Things To Do in the Middle of the Storm
by Rick Warren

"But when [Peter] saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. 'Save me, Lord!' he shouted." (Matthew 14:30 NIV)

When you're going through a storm, God is not distant or uninvolved. He is "I Am," and he is working in your life for your good. But he also has some things he wants you to do. Here are five things God wants you to do if you feel you're sinking in a storm.

Have courage, because Jesus is with you.

Don't ever argue with a fear. Just tell it where to go! Tell it to go talk to Jesus.

Take a risk in faith.

Don't ask God to bless what you're doing. Do what God is blessing. Ask him what he wants you to do, and then be willing to get out of the boat in an instant.

Stay focused on Jesus.

The moment you take your eyes off the Lord, you're going under. Matthew 14:30 says, "But when [Peter] saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. 'Save me, Lord!' he shouted" (NIV). When you focus on the wind and the waves — your circumstances — you're going to sink, just like Peter. If you look at the world, you'll be distressed; if you look within, you'll be depressed; if you look at Christ, you'll be at rest.

Don't doubt.

You don't need great faith to make it through the storm in your life. You just need faith in the right person.

Praise God.

Even in the storm, even when you feel like you're sinking, even when you're scared to death — praise him all the time. Thank God in the middle of the storm.

What storm is scaring you right now? What storm is sinking you right now? Why do you think God is letting you go through this storm?

He's letting you go through this storm for the same reasons he sent the disciples into the storm — to say, "I'm all you need. I can handle anything. I will come to you in the ninth hour. And I'll come walking on the very thing that scares you the most. I'm not asking you to come to me. I'm going to come to you. You need to stop being afraid, and you need to totally trust me in faith."

again!!

Jun 26, 2014 Path to Miracle: Goes Through Uncomfortable Territory by Rick Warren "Then the LORD spoke his word to Elijah, 'Go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I have commanded a widow there to take care of you.' So Elijah went to Zarephath." (1 Kings 17:8-10a NCV) When you're scared to death and vulnerable, you don't know where you're going, you don't know how long it's going to take, and you don't know what's going to happen when you get there, what do you do? You remember that the path to a miracle is always through uncomfortable territory. The Bible gives an illustration in 1 Kings 17:8-10: "Then the LORD spoke his word to Elijah, 'Go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I have commanded a widow there to take care of you.' So Elijah went to Zarephath" (NCV). God told Elijah to walk more than 100 miles during a drought through dangerous territory, where everyone knew who he was, and everyone knew King Ahab had a price on Elijah's head. When Elijah finally made it to Zarephath, he met a poor widow who was going to feed him, but how could she help defend or protect him from a pagan town full of people who wouldn't hesitate to kill him? Miracles don't happen when things are comfortable. Miracles happen when things are uncomfortable. Elijah didn't say, "God, there are three things wrong with this plan. One, you're sending me in the wrong direction. Two, you're sending me to the wrong location. And three, you're sending me to the wrong protection." Elijah just obeyed. The path to a miracle is always through uncomfortable territory. For instance — When Moses led the Israelites out of slavery to the Promised Land, they had to go through the Red Sea first. Before David could slay Goliath, he had to walk onto the battlefield. God told Jehoshaphat to put the choir before the army, and he'd win the victory. How much faith do you think that took? Miracles never happen in your comfort zone, when everything's great and convenient. You don't need a miracle when everything is settled in your life. You only need a miracle when you're on the edge, when you're scared to death, when you're insecure, when you can get hit at any angle. Are you at a place right now in your life where things are a little uncomfortable — financially, emotionally, relationally, or physically? You're a little nervous, a little on the edge, a little insecure. Congratulations. You're on the path to a miracle! Just like Elijah, God wants you to obey, so you can see his miracle at the end of the road. Talk It Over What is God asking you to do that makes you uncomfortable? What do you want God to do in your life? How have you expressed your anticipation of his miracle in your life? Who are the people who can encourage you on the uncomfortable road you may be walking right now?

how apt for 2014..

Arise, shine; for your light has come!

And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,

and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you,

and His glory will be seen upon you.

Deep darkness... ahead.

Jesus, my light. Always. 

for the uncertainty ahead... overcoming fear with confessing of favor continuously..regardless.

For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.
Psalm 5:12
God’s Favor Gives You Rest

Do you remember the story of Ruth? Ruth was a poor Moabite widow who ended up meeting and marrying Boaz, one of the richest men in Bethlehem. Her life started to change for the better after she confessed favor upon herself. When she went out to glean heads of grain, she “happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz” (Ruth 2:2–3).

What God did for Ruth, He can do for you too. He can make right happenings happen for you. Simply believe and confess that you have favor with Him. Ruth confessed favor and happened to find herself in the field of Boaz. Who do you think was leading and guiding her?

With all our “wisdom” and high IQs, we are not always able to put ourselves at the right place at the right time to experience blessings or even escape disasters. Only God can do that supernaturally. That’s why favor with Him gives us rest. Because when you trust in the favor of God, even if you are not very smart in the natural, God can put you at the right place at the right time and prosper you!

Beloved, when you live life believing that you are favored by God, you don’t have to worry about the things that you don’t know. Believe that God will make known to you what you need to know. You don’t have to live life trying to make sure that you have everything covered. Rest in God’s unearned and unmerited favor and watch Him put you at the right place at the right time!

Treading onto unfamiliar territory.. God is ahead of me!

like all humans. fear. basic need for certainty of the path ahead. 

Only God knows, in fact. but He will bring me through, just like how i got here, and got through.. i want to finish this race with His greater glory.

all of us are insecure at any point in time. it's about learning how to live in the moment. when you're still healthily breathing, give thanks for simple things in life. like a msg from a fren, a kind taxi driver, jokes shared by colleagues despite their immense month end stress, etc. just don't ever forget your creator. focus back on Jesus again. He was here.. went through everything we have to, even the cruel death that none of us have to experience. If God is for us, who can be against us? only ourselves! we need to learn to come to the end of US, and let Him take over. He sure can do a better job, why fight?

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” The Lord is (present tense) my shepherd. A shepherd provides for his sheep, feeds them and protects them. Because Jesus is your shepherd, you shall not be in want for anything. You shall not lack wisdom, direction, provision—anything. Amen.

real fuel..

Friday, February 28, 2014

How to Show Love to a Demanding or Selfish Person by Rick Warren

“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT) Love can be absolutely exhausting. Don’t let anyone fool you. The kind of love that really makes a difference in this world will zap everything out of you. Sometimes you just don’t feel like you have any more love to give. Maybe you’re in a people-intensive job, such as teacher, salesman, or waitress, and you come home and think, “I just can’t face another need, another problem, or another heartache.” So you just shut down. Or you need to show love to a particular person who is demanding, selfish, and never returns your love. And you just think to yourself, “I’m done. No more.” While that’s perfectly natural and perfectly human, it’s not the standard of love God calls us to in the Bible. The Bible says, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT). Love nevergives up. How can you have that kind of persistent love for another person? You get refueled. When my kids were young, I remember taking the family to a nearby air show. It was so impressive to see how they would hook up a tanker to a jet in flight to refuel. I’ll never forget that. But, can you imagine someone flying a jet saying, “I don't need to refuel!” The jet would crash and burn. In a long distance flight, a jet has to refuel. To give the kind of persistent love that God wants you to give, you have to refuel your love tank. Look around at society, and you’ll see it’s littered with debris from relationships that have crashed and burned because people didn't refuel their love. How do you refuel your love tank? You start by letting God love you. “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 (NIV). When you’re worn out, tired, and can’t imagine showing love to anyone else, remember that God loved you so much that he sent his Son to die for you. Now that’s real fuel. That’s what keeps you going when you want to quit. Talk It Over What do you need to do this week so you can refuel and love others well? What are the characteristics of God’s love that you can exemplify? Who have you lost faith in or given up on? How can you show love to that person today?

mastery of the eyes i needa learn

Love Looks, and Love Listens
by Rick Warren

“Treat everyone you meet with dignity.” (1 Peter 2:17 MSG)

Loving like Jesus means you must value others the way Jesus values you.

You are a child of the king. God created you, and Christ gave his life for you. The Bible says in 1 Peter 1:19, “The ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ” (NLT). How much are you worth? Look at the cross. Jesus was willing to die for you. God was willing to give his Son for you. That’s how valuable you are.

Jesus wants you to give that kind of value to everybody else — even the people you can’t stand. Christ says, “I love them this much (arms spread wide on the cross). So I expect you, my child, to love these people the same way I love them because I died for them, not just you. Treat them the same way I treat them. Value them the way I value them.”
The Bible says, “Treat everyone you meet with dignity”(1 Peter 2:17 MSG).

How do you do that? One way you treat others with dignity is by looking at them, giving them your attention, and listening to them.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Mark 10:21. Jesus was walking down the street, and a young entrepreneur came up to him and asked him a question. Jesus’ response was that he “looked at him and loved him” (NIV). He looked, and he loved. You can’t love without looking!

When your waitress serves you or the grocery store cashier tries to speak with you and you don’t give them your attention, you’re not being very loving. Love looks, and love listens.

Think of and even write down the name of someone you know who has low self esteem. Then, determine this week to show acceptance to that person and affirm his or her value to you and to God. When everybody else treats that person like an outcast or like she doesn’t matter, you can make her feel like she matters, because she does. She matters to God, so she should matter to you.

Talk It Over
Who in your life needs to know that he or she matters to God and to you?
How would you rate yourself at giving others your undivided attention? What will you do to improve in this area?
Make a point today to give your attention to someone you might normally overlook. What is that person’s reaction?

Dream Big!!!

by Rick Warren

“Now glory be to God, by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of — infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.”Ephesians 3:20 (LB)

Faith is choosing and believing God’s dream for your life. Nothing starts happening in your life until you start dreaming. God gave you the ability to dream, to create, to imagine. Dreaming is an act of faith. Everything you see on this planet started as a dream.

So, how do you get God’s dream for your life? You do three things:

First, you dare to ask for it.Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now glory be to God, by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of — infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.” (LB).
If you want God’s blessing on your life this year, you must dare to ask for it. You must say, “God, what’s your dream for my life? What do you want me to do?” Then you ask yourself, “What would I attempt for God if I knew I couldn’t fail?” Let that expand your vision.

Second, you believe God’s promises. The Bible says in Jeremiah 32:27, “I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” (NLT)
Never let an impossible situation intimidate you. Let it motivate you to pray more, believe more, trust more, experience more, learn more, and grow more. Faith always works in the realm of the impossible.
Hudson Taylor said there are three stages to God’s will in your life: impossible, possible, and done.

Third, you dream big. “Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” Psalm 2:8 (NIV).
The size of your God should determine the size of your goal. You haven’t really believed God until you’ve attempted something that can’t be done in the power of the flesh. If you want to know how big your dream should be, ask yourself two questions: How much time do you have to give to it? If it’s a dream you can give the rest of your life to, then you can really dream big.
Second, what are you shaped to do? What are your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences — the five things that make you you. What do you love to do? What are you gifted to do?

Dream great dreams for God. It’s the first step in your walk of faith.

finally im penning down some thoughts. some years ago i learnt that it's fruitless to pen down depressing thoughts, because they are like a spiral that drags one down even further. even sharing of these with frens don't yield. yes, getting them off the chest does help tat tiny winy bit, and having someone to sulk with over these provides alot of comfort.. but.. but.. what's next? we are all out there alone to face these challenges in the end. 'alone' but not really alone, and yes, all that talk (and posts) on christianity..yada yada...works for me, and to each his own. if my sharing on these 'positives' doesnt comfort others anymore, whats the point of sharing? so, be it sharing of positives or negatives, it all came to a halt. sometimes even to the one closest. just enjoying the days of silence.. quietly.. with God and God alone. and it doesnt matter on days when i dont 'feel' Him that much.. it really doesnt matter. because it's in my own faith that He is always there for me, whether or not i need Him, whether or not i wish for.

 

but silence can get so nerve-wrecking at times. like there's something i should do.. or do more... mind against body...

 

the fight continues.

 

need to learn, to really REST in peace. in the current state and circumstances. even if on days when i read, the words don't feed my soul.. when i pray.. its blabbering out of routine.. when i sing/listen, its just another melody in my ears... i will persevere. with patience. to trust. in days ahead.

Look Again and Think

Do not worry about your life . . . —Matthew 6:25

A warning which needs to be repeated is that "the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches," and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it.

"I say to you, do not worry about your life . . . ." Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing-our relationship to Him. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, "That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink." Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.

"Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34). How much trouble has begun to threaten you today? What kind of mean little demons have been looking into your life and saying, "What are your plans for next month— or next summer?" Jesus tells us not to worry about any of these things. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the "much more" of your heavenly Father (Matthew 6:30).

Five Winning Choices

by Rick Warren

"Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come."2 Corinthians 5:17 (LB)

We learned yesterday that, ultimately, your identity is based on your choices. Here are five winning choices you can make that will help determine your destiny:

You can choose to get healthier. Instead of bemoaning the fact that you don't have an Olympic body, find ways to increase your energy, lower your stress, get more sleep, and have more power. Psalm 119:73 says, "Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands" (NIV). Improving the controllable factors in your life helps you reduce the impact of the uncontrollable factors.

You can choose to deepen relationships. The fear of rejection prevents connection, and the only way to get rid of fear is to do the thing you fear the most. Learn communication skills, replace bad relationships, and reach out risk connecting with someone. "Let love be your highest goal!" (1 Corinthians 14:1a NLT)

You can choose to trust God, no matter what happens. "I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises" (Psalm 34:1 LB). When you get to the point in your life where you can say, "I praise the Lord, no matter what happens," that is a confidence that you won't find anywhere in Hollywood, on Capitol Hill, or on Wall Street. That is a confidence built on a relationship with God!

You can choose what you think about. Throughout the 20th century, scientists believed the adult brain could not be changed. When the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize winner proved that you can rewire your brain, science finally caught up to the Bible: "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." (Romans 12:2 NLT). Your self is created by your memories, and your memories are created by your mental habits. Feed your brain with truth — God's Word.

You can choose Jesus as your Savior. I'm not just talking about Jesus saving you from your sins. I'm talking about letting Jesus be your Savior every day. Letting Jesus save you gives you the power to follow through on the choices you make. "Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come."2 Corinthians 5:17 (LB).
You get to choose how much God blesses your life; he is just waiting on you to use your wild card. It is never too late to change. When you make these five winning choices, God gives you a winning hand.

Pray this prayer today: "Dear God, there are some things you've dealt me and life has dealt me and others have dealt me that I don't like. But I thank you for the wild card. Thank you that you made me in your image and that I can make choices. Today, in your power and your strength, I choose to get healthier. I choose to do the things that will give me more energy and a healthier mind, body, and emotions. Lord, I choose to build healthy relationships. I'm scared to death, but I'm going to risk building new, healthy connections. I want love to be my highest goal; I want my life to be built on love.

"God, I choose to trust you, regardless of the circumstances. I will praise you, no matter what happens! I will trust that every detail of my life is being worked out for good. Lord, I choose what I will think about — no more junk. Help me to fill my life with positive memories and the Word of truth. Most of all, Jesus, I choose you as my Savior. I need your salvation, but I also need you to save me from myself. I need you to help me rewire my body, my heart, my mind, and my relationships so that the rest of my life is the best of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen."

You are what you think

Your Life Is Shaped By Your Thoughts

by Rick Warren

"Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." Romans 12:2a (NLT)

You cannot become all God created you to be until you understand the five factors that influence your identity. The first two are chemistry (how you are made) and connections (your relationships). You are a product of the way God created you and of the relationships in your life.

Your identity is also influenced by your circumstances and your consciousness.

Circumstances are the things that happen to you and around you — none of which you control. You are a product of the trauma, troubles, suffering, shame, shock, pressures, and pain that have shaped your life. Perhaps even abuse has affected your identity. If you've ever had a series of failures or a catastrophe, it has left an indelible mark on who you are.

Consciousness is how you talk to yourself. You know what? If you talked to your friends the way you talk to yourself, you probably wouldn't be friends anymore, because our thoughts are filled with the lies we've heard from other people that we've let simmer and fester. When we repeat other people's thoughts in our head, they go deeper and deeper in our consciousness, and they begin to shape our identity.

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts" (LB). Your thoughts don't have to be true to hurt you; you just have to believe them. If you tell yourself your marriage won't last, then it won't. If you're afraid you can't do something, then you won't. Your thoughts run your life!

Your circumstances may be out of your control, but God is in control of everything. Your thoughts shape who you are, but you can change the way you think. Your circumstances and consciousness have shaped who you are, but the way you respond to your circumstances and the thoughts you choose to believe will shape the rest of your life.

Talk It Over

What is your natural response to a difficult situation or circumstance? Do you run away or face it? Do you worry or trust God?
How do you need to change the way you think?
Who or what around you influences your thoughts in a negative way?

Sweet goodness

Been thru the ups and downs.. never had such extremes before in a frenship. And to this one, 3 cheers for the many years past present and future. Changes so far in our lives are good, very good indeed. Even the bad ones, we take away learnings.. so let them go..free ourselves..and.. needa learn to enjoy day by day.

With love..

Set not resolutions but goals

The Kind of Goals God Blesses

by Rick Warren

"I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something — not just the air." 1 Corinthians 9:26 (NCV)

Without goals you have no chance of a different 2014 than you experienced in 2013. The default in your life will always be more of the same. Long-term goals keep us from being discouraged by short-term setbacks.

We all have setbacks. I deal with them every day, but those setbacks won't slow you down if your focus is on something you're trying to achieve down the road. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 9:26, "I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something — not just the air" (NCV).

You don't want to spend 2014 hitting the air, so ask yourself the following questions:

What's your goal for your marriage?
What's your goal for your family?
What's your goal at work?
What's your goal in your spiritual development?

Without goals, you'll simply coast and never live the life God intends you to live. But goals alone aren't the answer. God doesn't appreciate every goal you set.

God blesses goals that:

Bring him honor: The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (NIV). You can do everything — other than sin — for the glory of God. If you've got the right motivation, anything can be done to his glory.

Are motivated by love: God is far more interested in why you're doing something than what you're actually doing. God won't bless a goal established because of fear, but he will bless a goal established because of love. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 16:14, "Do everything with love" (NLT). Your goal must either be an expression of love to God or people.

Fulfill one of his purposes for your life: God put you on Earth to do five things: bring God pleasure, be a part of his family, become like Christ, serve God, and share your life message. If your goals are part of fulfilling one of these purposes, God will bless them.

Are set in faith: Your goals must be big enough that they'll take God's help to fulfill. Instead of setting a goal of losing 10 pounds in 2014, why not decide to lose 50? You'll need to depend upon God for that one. The Bible says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:6a (NIV).

Are achieved by God's power: You will not stick to your goals for 2014 without God's power. You won't get healthy on your own. You won't improve your marriage on your own. The goals that really matter in life can't be achieved without the power of God.

Take a look at your goals for 2014. Are they goals that will honor Jesus? If you don't have any goals, start today and create some.

What are some of the goals you've set for yourself in 2014?
Are the goals you've set for 2014 the kind that God blesses? Why or why not?
What do you want to be different about 2014 than last year?