A Best Friend

A best friend is someone who is there for you through thick and thin.  They tell you like it is, always in love, and they pray for you and with you.


  They call you just to say “hi” and they check up on you when they know you’re struggling.  They share in your happiness and cry in your sorrow.  They give more than they take and they ask before you have to tell.

Over the years I’ve learned that who I thought were “friends” turned out to be something entirely different.  Some people want to be there only to have fun.  Some want to be there only when you need a “saviour”.  Some want to be there because they have nowhere else to be.

I’m so grateful that my true, loyal, best friend just happens to be a lady name ingrid..she nurser me in the faith..and was always there and even im married she is still there..she is the kind of person ...we just now she is and will be there

.  Throughout the years, she has shown me what I have not known for years…what it means to be a true friend.  God has put this lady in my life when everyone turn there back to me..when all things saw against me..she believed...in me..thank you ingrid..you are on my mind today dear friend 

and in thrue all  these  years..i have seen you grow too in christ..love you friend..

Associate With Positive People ( encouraging word )

Have you ever heard the phrase, "We become part of what we are around?."

 Have you given much thought to how this principle has been molding and shaping your life? It's worth thinking about. The people you associate with have a profound affect on how you feel and what you'll ultimately achieve.

I'm sure most of you have heard this principle before. Some of you have heard it a hundred times. But this is one of those areas where there is a large gap between theory and practice. In other words, you know it's important to limit involvement with negative people, yet you continue to hang around with them.

By the way, I'm not talking about your relationship with your spouse or significant other. I'm referring to discretionary relationships, both at work and in your leisure hours.

. As you might expect, toxic people are the ones who always dwell on the negative. The dictionary defines toxic as "poisonous" toxic people continually spew their verbal poison. In contrast, the dictionary definition of nourishing is "to nurture or promote the growth of." Nourishing people are positive and supportive. They lift your spirits and are a joy to be around.

Negative people will always drag you down to their level. They hammer away at you with all of the things you can't do and all of the things that are impossible. They barrage you with gloomy statements about the lousy economy, the problems in their lives, the problems soon to be in your life, and the terrible prospects for the future. 

After listening to toxic people, you feel listless, depressed and drained. 

On the other hand, how do you feel when you are around people who are positive, enthusiastic and supportive? I'll bet that you are encouraged and inspired. You start to pick up their attitude, and you feel as if you have added strength to vigorously pursue your own goals.

If you had a choice, wouldn't you rather hang out with nourishing people? Well, in fact, you DO have a choice. It's up to you to determine who you spend your time with. If toxic people surround you in your daily life, you can do something about it.

To begin with, develop friendships and associations with people who are positive and supportive. In addition, seek out people who are action-oriented and service-oriented. As you spend more and more time in the company of people who have these traits, you, too, will develop the same successful characteristics and put them to use in your life.

Consider who you have been spending your time with. Examine your friendships and relationships at work and during your leisure hours. Those who occupy your time have a significant impact on your most priceless possession ... your mind! It is your responsibility to regulate what you allow into your mind.

Here are some steps you can take to be more responsible in this area:

* If you regularly have lunch with toxic people at work, stop it. You should be able to find a diplomatic way of extricating yourself from this "poisonous" group.

* If you have a toxic relative (which could be your mother, father, son or daughter), it is important to put some limits on your involvement with them. This does not mean that you abandon this relative and never speak to him or her. However, you should not go out of your way to call that person several times each day if he or she is going to put you down or fill the conversation with negative remarks.

* Form your own positive group with friends or colleagues. Make a commitment to meet with these people on a regular basis (e.g., once a week or once a month) to discuss goals, exchange ideas and offer support. These should be people who accept you as you are and yet challenge you to be the best that you can be.

In case you're wondering, I'm in favor of trying to help friends who are negative. I think we should make efforts to steer them in a more positive direction. But if we've been trying for the last 9 years and the person insists on being negative, maybe it's time to severely limit the amount of time we spend with that person - or to stop spending any time with that individual.

As you increase your associations with nourishing people, you will feel better about yourself and about your ability to achieve your goals. You'll become a more positive, upbeat person -- the kind of person others love to be around. I used to think that it was important to associate with positive people and to limit involvement with negative people. Now, I believe that it is essential if you want to be a high-achiever and a happy individual.

By the way, as you continue to associate with positive people, the law of attraction starts to kick in. That law states that LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE. When you are positive, you'll attract more positive people into your life. Of course, if you are NEGATIVE, you'll attract negative people.

So, surround yourself with positive, nourishing people -- they will lift you up 

encouraging word this morning...

LIVING HOLY LIVES

We cannot understand what Holy living is unless we first know what it means to be Holy. To be holy simply means to be set aside for God's use or service.  God is a Holy.. God and that He demands we should be holy if we are to be like him (1 Peter 1:15-16; Lev.11:44; Lev.19:2).

Why should we like God? It is because we are created in his image and likeness (Gen.1:26&27). Because we are like God we must give more thought to heavenly things and less attention to worldly attractions.

What  is Holy living?

1.Holy living is to live like God: We should care about what God cares for and live our lives to please him and him alone (Rev. 3:1-6)

2.It is seeking God's presence: Our desire to live like him would always propel us to seek his presence and be much more comfortable dwelling with him and learn from him (Psalm 27:4)

3.It is to have self-control: One of the fruit of the Spirit of God is self-control; a child of God who does not have control over his/her life is not leading a holy life yet. This involves the kinds of things we eat, our temperaments, etc. It also involves what we watch with our eyes (Psalm 101:3)

4.It also involves control over our influence on others: The word of God says we must watch what we wear so as not to push others into sin. 

To live to please God therefore is to be conscious about this and do all we can to control what we put on that is capable of enticing our brothers or sisters to sin (Luke 17:1; 2Tim.2:9; 1 Peter 3:3-4; Deut.22:5; 1 Thess.5:22)

5.It means to control our behaviour: To live a holy life is to control the way we behave especially when with those who are weaker in faith; we must not do anything that would cause those who are weak to lose their faith in Christ Jesus (1 Cor.8:12)

6.It is dedication to God's service: It involves giving one's best into God's service - putting one's time, money, intellect, etc to make the work of God move forward and prosper.

7.It's about faithfulness in Tithing: Holiness cannot be complete without simple obedience to God's command on tithing. Tithing is simply giving a tenth of one's income to God (Mal.3:10; Matt.23:23)

 living a holy life is not to strive to please man but God who has called us out for his service.

encouraging word

ENCOURAGING WORD...

attitude

Do you know of anyone who would want someone with an unhappy attitude trying to teach others about God? I don't think anyone would, that I'm sure of. The sight of an unhappy person wanting to teach others about the Lord is a picture that would not be welcome anywhere.

Positive attitudes can impact others. The children of Israel were belligerent and hopeless, but Moses assured them that God would rescue them. Moses had a positive attitude! When it seemed as if they were trapped, Moses called upon God to intercede. Instead of giving in to despair, we should borrow Moses' attitude to "stand firm" and see the deliverance that the Lord will achieve.

A circumstance occurs in which our life is altered. This could be a catastrophe within our family or friends or a loss of a job or the loss of good health. Our perspective at any event that we encounter either helps us or hinders us. If an unpleasant incident occurs, we need to stop and consider our blessings. Positive attitudes will help overcome adversity. What is your approach when the task you have been given is not up to your true capability? The task at hand may be all you can do, or it may be the work God wants you to do.

"The sentence which has most influenced my life is, 'Some persons grumble because God placed thorns among roses. Why not thank God because He placed roses among thorns?' I first read it when but a mere lad. Since that day it has occupied a front room in my life and has given it an optimistic trend." (Benjamin Franklin)

final

There is little difference in people... the little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.

Clement Stone

depression

depression

The church is God's hospital. It has always been full of people on the mend. Jesus himself made a point of inviting the lame, the blind, and the possessed to be healed and to accompany him in his ministry, an invitation often spurned by those who thought they were fine as is.

 We should not be surprised, then, that the depressed populate not only secular hospitals and clinics, but our churches as well. Yet depression remains both familiar and mysterious to pastors and lay church leaders, not to mention to those who share a pew with depressed persons.

Virtually everyone has experienced a "down" day, often for no clear reason. We might say we "woke up on the wrong side of the bed," are "out of sorts," or just "in a funk." Such polite references are commonplace in America. Yet as familiar as melancholic periods are to us, the depths of a severe depression remain a mystery. 

We may grasp in part the distress of King David: "Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak" (Ps. 31:9-10). But most of us have no idea what David meant when he further lamented,

 "I am forgotten by them as though I were dead" (v.12). Severe depression is often beyond description. And when such deep and painful feelings cannot be explained, they cut to the heart of one's spiritual being.

Humans are intricately complex creatures. When things go wrong in us, they do so in myriad and nuanced ways. If churches want to effectively minister to the whole of fallen humanity, they must reckon with this complexity. Depression indicates that something is amiss. But what? And what should churches be doing about it?

What is depression?

First we need to clarify what we are talking about. In order to distinguish severe or "major depression" from everyday blues, the American Psychiatric Association offers the following diagnostic criteria:

Major depression is diagnosed when an adult exhibits one or both of two core symptoms (depressed mood and lack of interest), along with four or more of the following symptoms, for at least two weeks: feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt; diminished ability to concentrate or make decisions; fatigue; psychomotor agitation (cannot sit still) or retardation

 (just sitting around); insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too much); significant decrease or increase in weight or appetite; and recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation.

This clinical definition is sterile, however, and fails to capture the unique quality of the severely depressed person's suffering.

Deep depression is embodied emotional suffering. It is not simply a state of mind or a negative view of life but something that affects our physical being as well. Signs of a severe episode of depression include unfounded negative evaluations of friends, family, and oneself, emotional "pain," physical problems such as lethargy, difficulty getting one's thoughts together, and virtually no interest in one's surroundings. 

Though most of us know at least an acquaintance who has committed suicide, this tragic act baffles us perhaps as much as it pains us. "I just don't understand," we say. The irony is that survivors of serious suicide attempts frequently reflect on those attempts with a similar attitude: "I have no idea what came over me." The pain and mental dysfunction of major depression are that deep.

attitude adjustment

How’s your week going? OK,  just give it a moment’s thought.

How’s your week going?” I suspect it was easiest to think of the few things which have not gone right with the week instead of the many things that have gone right. I know this is how I often respond.

I’ve caught myself many a time being rather negative, melancholy and even grumpy because things haven’t gone perfectly. Why should I ever expect things to go perfectly? Biblically and theologically I know this to be an imperfect world and, to top it off, I’m not perfect either! No wonder no day is going to be perfect.

I think of the apostle Paul who was a prisoner because of his witness for Jesus Christ. While in this far from perfect situation he wrote the book of Philippians. It’s called the book of joy! In it he writes, 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) The key to Paul’s joy in the midst of a far from perfect set of circumstances was that he focused on the good in his situation and he focused on the Lord.

I’d suggest we do the same two things to succeed at an attitude adjustment. First, identify the many things that have not gone wrong this week and that have gone right. It’s a long list! Second, the biggest source of our joy should be the Lord and we always have Him!

So, let me ask you again, how’s your week going?

sharing this video with you i just love this

The Storm and the Rainbow

The Storm and the Rainbow

I have always loved the ethereal beauty of rainbows, and I’ve always loved associating them with God’s promise in Gen. 9:11-17.

 I realized that God’s promises are often the dividing line between hope and despair in the storms of life. Whether a sudden squall of disaster assails us or a slow-brewing storm erupts over us, only the solid, unmoving, unchangeable promises of God keep up anchored. 

He has promised that He loves His children and always will. He has promised to supply our needs. He has promised sufficient grace. He has promised to work all things together for good to those who love Him. He has promised new mercies every morning and unfailing compassion. There are multitudes of His promises that we can cling to through the storms of life that will make our skies brighter in comparison to the storm clouds above.

For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. Isaiah 25:4.

The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. Nahum 1:3.

Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psalm 107:28-31

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. Psalm 57:1-2.

The secret place...

Psalm 91 is one of the most-often read of all the psalms. It is also one of the least understood as many don’t take the time to truly think about what it means to “dwell in the secret place of the Most High.”

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)

Ask yourself these questions: Are you at home in God, at rest in Him? Are you acquainted with Him throughout your whole being? Is your heart-work the service of God? Do you worship within the veil, loving to be alone with Him and converse with Him in solitude?

Marriage between a man and woman has two faces—one that is seen in public and one that is perceived only in private between the husband and wife. A married couple holding hands, walking arm-in-arm, exchanging winks or touches … all these are “public” faces of a marriage relationship, all good and necessary though superficial and not intimate by definition. But, that which takes place in the “secret place” need not be spoken of, but the fruit of the intimate relationship can be seen without any word of public testimony.

Have you found that place of true intimacy with the Lord? Do you love being alone with Him, conversing with Him, sharing with Him, learning from Him? Have you learned to set aside some quiet, alone time to be in His presence where an intimate relationship can develop and grow?

Father, although our relationship has grown and blossomed since I first met You, I long for a deeper, more intimate relationship with You! I long to find that “secret place” where I can dwell and find my safety under the shadow of Your wing! Lord, help me love You more, know You more, serve You more! Lord, help me surrender to You more and more each day, that our relationship can be seen and perceived by all who meet me without ever having to say a word! Father, be glorified in our relationship today and every day! Amen!

Protecting our children...

Don't take for granted that just because you are in church , a relative's home or some where you think is safe, that satan does not have his minions roaming around looking for a willing heart to do his biding, because he does and he Never stops trying to take our children!

In Jesus' name, I PRAY for our children 

Be Careful who you leave your children with, And who you bring around your children!

If someone in your family makes You uncomfortable, Then do not leave them alone with your children!

The parents or other adults Need to Speak up for the Children instead of worrying about how others will see and treat them If they Speak up!

Mess will have to be faced when We Speak the Truth!

That is what TRUTH does, It cuts through the crap and reveals what has been hidden!

And think about How your Children will look at you, and treat you if you Don't Speak up for them and Protect them--Like We as Parents Are Supposed to!

Jesus Will hold us as parents accountable for what we allow to happen to the children He gave us!

Satan Is Always after the children, he is always stalking through schools, families, anywhere children are, looking for the people who Will allow him to work through them to being harm to the children!

It Is Imperative that we Protect our families especially the children from the evil that satan creates to take them away from the Plans of God for them. He is always attacking the children because he knows many of them have be touched by God to grow up to be Leaders for God. All through history satan (the anti-christ) has created situations in which the children are killed, hurt, stolen, and used in perverted ways.

Our enemy uses parents to pimp their children in all kinds of ways that 'seem' good, but are not. Pushing our children to dress, speak, and act in adult ways under the guise of entertainment. Some parents see the child has a talent of singing or playing a sport, etc... and they PUSH them too hard to succeed, PUSH them into the ways of the world to succeed by the worlds standards not God's standards. In the midst of the parents worldly motives, the devil steals their childhood, the child is placed around molesters, alcoholics and druggies or others who are pimping them for material gain.

If your child has talents and gifts, the devil did Not give them to the children, God did, and it makes Perfect sense to Go To God and ask Him what are the best ways to grow, mature, and guide the children in their gifts and talents. They are to be used for God's glory not to glorify satan.

Too many parents run right to the ways of the world to do this, and thus lose their children to the depths of evil.

These parents are blinded by money, fame, selfishness, and social popularity status and the child is lost, having no spiritual foundation to Stand on or fall back on.

I PRAY in the Name of Jesus, that parents will pay attention and Protect their children from family members, family friends and strangers who make them feel uncomfortable, Protect them from those in their family they KNOW are molesters but no one speaks about it.

I PRAY that parents pray for their children in the name of Jesus and Cover them in the Blood of Jesus to be His and keep a watchful eye on them. Protect them from the drunks and druggies in the family, that they do all they can to feed their children, to clothe them, to put them first as a priority. To make sure that their children to not hurt other children.

I PRAY that parents Turn to God In the name of Jesus and ask Him for the Help they need to raise and take care of the children He has blessed us all with! To ask God what His Plans for each child are and to Help with raising them to achieve what God has for them. Protect them from the motives and false ways of this world. To explain the differences in following the world or the Lord.

I PRAY that parents daily COVER their children in PRAYER and ask God to help guide them in the Ways best to raise them, what to expose them to that will better the children and strengthen their relationship with Jesus so they also have a Spiritual foundation with God.

I PRAY parents pull themselves and their children Away from pagan alters and Establish an altar in their hearts that belongs to God In the name of Jesus. Guarding them in PRAYER, Instructing them and disciplining them, DECLARING that the children belong to God and Are Taught about God and His Son Jesus and to serve and worship Him Only is the Best for their lives.

In the name of Jesus, Amen. So Be It!

Stunting Your Spiritual Growth

Ever wonder why you find it so hard to grow in God? 

Do you ever feel frustrated by your level (or lack) of spirituality? I can't give you all the reasons you might not be growing in God, but I can definitely point out one: You.

If you've been a Christian for any length of time, you know how hard it is to 'go through'. How hard it can be to face trial after trial, tribulation after tribulation. 

How long sleepless nights lead to long empty days until you finally feel you've HAD ENOUGH! That if this 'season' wasn't over, it was definitely time for it to be over. So you take matters into your own hands.

You begin to pray a little less. And hang out with your friends a little more. Or watch a little more tv. 

Anything to avoid doing what you need to do: spend more time with God. Get through these circumstances. Spiritually grow.

I find that many of us cut off our spiritual growth in one of two ways. We either begin to neglect our spiritual activities (prayer, Bible study, meditation and fasting) or throw ourselves into physical activities to avoid thinking about those things.

 Our bodies (or our flesh) can operate in direct opposition to God in many ways, and we often pursue physical activity in order to avoid the things of God. You know what I mean - you start to eat a little more or tv becomes oh so appealing suddenly. 

Here's a sad truth to all that activity: you can delay, but you cannot deny. You can avoid what God is trying to tell you, detour from your trial or tribulation, but it is never going to go away.

Until you deal with what is required of you, you will have to re-visit that territory again and again - until you get it right.

So next time you find yourself in a tough spot, learn to bear it. Go through what you have to go through, cry when you need to cry and....get past it. God truly designs trials to bring out the best in us, so be assured that the 'you' that waits on the other side of the circumstances will be well worth the pain you had to go through to get there!

Strength, Courage & Wisdom

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

It’s okay that you’re not perfect. It’s okay that some days you have are bad. And it’s okay that you’re not going to get everything right, all the time.

Some days you’re going to hit it out of the park. Some days you’re going to get nothing but fouls. And some days you’ll just barely manage to get to first base.

God’s Strength is made to be shown through your weakness. It’s meant to show you that you need Him. You hit a wall, you make a mistake, you show your weakness and, bam!, you find yourself getting down on yourself, thinking negative thoughts 

 And you finally release your thoughts to God and you begin to pray and His Spirit surrounds you and that’s when you realize: This is why I’m weak. This is why I need His strength. Know why? Because if you didn’t have weak moments, you probably wouldn’t call on Him as much as you do. So you need your weakness to demonstrate to you just how much you need Him.

 To remain close to Him. To draw on His strength, which was tailor-made for what you’re going through. And, number two, you need these weak moments to realize you are not capable of doing this alone. If you could accomplish all that you needed without Him, there would be no need to have God. There is a God, however, you do need Him and you NEED Him to do what you have to do.

God’s Strength is made to be shown through your weakness. It’s meant to show others where you strength REALLY lies. Your weakness – and His rescue – make others realize that they quite possibly need Him, too. If all people saw were all your triumphs – and not the growing experiences that got you there – they would mistakenly think that YOU have all the answers and you know that is patently untrue. You know that you only are what you are because God has given you strength. And your weakness to others demonstrates the same to them.

So REJOICE in your weakness. Know that you’re not perfect, you’re never going to be perfect and it’s perfectly okay – no, WONDERFUL – that you’re not perfect because it all demonstrates the MAJESTY and GLORY of God. It reminds you of how much you need God, how futile it is to think you can do anything without Him and even helps others to realize just how much they need God, too. You WILL BE WEAK. So let God handle it. And all will be well…

encouraging word...

It's Between You and God

People are often unreasonable, Illogical, and self-centered; 

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

 Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, You will win some false friends and some true enemies; 

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, People may cheat you;

 Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, Someone could destroy overnight;

 Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, They may be jealous; 

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, People will often forget tomorrow;

 Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, And it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, It is between you and God; It never was between you and them anyway.

by: Mother Theresa, Source Unknown

Love this quote...it keeps me on track...