Don't give up

'Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don't depend on your own understanding...' Proverbs 3:5 NCV

Has God given you a passion to do something, but things keep coming up to block you or stress you out? Don't worry; you're not alone. Life can throw us a series of challenges that can make you wonder whether you were on the right track to start. Maybe you need a lot of money to pay for a course or your rent, but it unexpectedly dries up, or a personality clash gets in the way of you succeeding.

But you know what, it's through these challenges that God shows you what you are really passionate about, and how He wants you to do things.

Don't get caught up in Plan A, where everything is set in stone. It can make life more stressful than it needs to be. Allow yourself to adapt with your circumstances. So you can't get the money you need, or you don't get the right marks in your work; that doesn't mean God is going to scrap your dream or think differently about you.

A teenage prophet called Jeremiah said these wise words: 'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not harm you...to give you a hope and a future.' (Jeremiah 29: 11 NIV)

Those plans may not work out the way you're expecting, but God knows what He's doing, and He will not leave your side or be disappointed in you if things don't go the way you expect. Just hold on, keep giving your plans to Him, and trust that He is in control of your life.

Wednesday, 29 December 2010 00:00
http://www.word4u2day.com.au/201012282398/Don-t-give-up.html

The True Owner

Did you hear about the church that didn’t have enough room for parking? Fortunately, it was located right next to a store that was closed on Sundays, so a church member asked the store owner if they could overflow into his parking lot. “No problem,” he said. “You can use it 51 weeks out of the year. On the 52nd week, though, it will be chained off.” The man was grateful, but asked curiously, “What happens that week?” The store owner smiled, “Nothing. I just want you to remember that it’s not your parking lot.”

It’s easy to take for granted all the material and spiritual blessings that God has given us. That’s why we need to stop and remember that Scripture says the true owner of all we possess is God: “All that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all” (1 Chron. 29:11). Even our bodies do not belong to us: “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit . . . and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price” (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

As 1 Timothy 6:17 reminds us: “God . . . gives us richly all things to enjoy.” We are so abundantly blessed with good things! Let’s never take our Father for granted, but use wisely and gratefully all that He has given us. — Cindy Hess Kasper

As we all enjoy God’s blessing,
Oh, may we not forget Our Lord,
from whom all good gifts come—
In Him our needs are met. —Fitzhugh

God gives blessing to us so we can give glory to Him.

Our Daily Bread - Monday,December 27, 2010
http://mobi.rbc.org/odb/2010-12-27.html