Stop it!

'...He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.' Hebrews 10:14 NIVNIV

'I'm too fat!' 'I'm ugly!' 'I'm always getting it wrong!' 'I'm no good!' 'They don't like me'. How many times do you say those things to yourself? Well, what you need to do is STOP IT! Focus on what's right with you, not what's wrong, or you'll end up so negative you can't appreciate the gift of life. If you're always putting yourself down, or beating yourself up, you're setting a bad example to others-which no-one wants. We've all got bits of ourselves we want to improve, none of us will ever be perfect- but being negative isn't the answer. Look at the verse chosen for today. Slowly read what it says. And again. That's you it's talking about!

Max Lucado writes: 'Underline the word perfect. Note, the word isn't better. Not improving... God doesn't improve; He perfects. He doesn't enhance; He completes... I realise there's a sense in which we're imperfect... We still stumble. We still do exactly what we don't want to do...that part of us is 'being made holy'. But when it comes to our position before God, we're perfect. When He sees each of us, He sees someone who has been made perfect through the One who is perfect; Jesus Christ.'

It's ok to want to improve yourself, but take it easy! Stop and remind yourself that you're '...being made new...becoming like the One who made you...' (Colossians 3:10 NCV)

Thursday, 27 May 2010
http://www.word4u2day.com.au/201005262154/Stop-it.html

Before you can love others, you must receive God's love for yourself, because you cannot give away something you don't have

God deeply and intimately loves you! His love for you is unconditional—no strings attached, and there is nothing that you can do to get God not to love you. Indeed, Romans 8:38-39 says that there is nothing that can ever separate us from God's love.

Knowing that God loves you is central to your understanding of the Gospel, for the entire Gospel is based on God's love (See John 3:16, Romans 5:8, 1 John 3:16, 1 John 4:9-10). The good news is that God hasn't withheld His love from us; instead, God has poured out his love into our hearts (Romans 5:5).

But what do we do with that love? We know God loves us, but so what? What should we do with God's love? Give it away! Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1 John 4:11). In other words, our response to the news of God's love for us needs to be to love others. Indeed, Jesus repeatedly commanded us to love others (See Matthew 5:43-47, Mark 12:28-31, Luke 6:27-35, John 13:34-35, John 15:12,17).

However, it is impossible to love others unless you know, believe and receive God's love. 1 John 4:19 says, We love because he first loved us. In other words, we are able to love other people, because God first showed His love to us. If God hadn't shown His love to us, we would have no standard and no example on which to base our love for others.

Similarly, 1 John 4:7 says, Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Here again, our ability to love one another is only because love comes from God.

Think of your ability to love others like a glass of water. At first, the glass is empty. If you don't have any water in your glass, then you obviously can't give water to anyone else. But when you hold your glass under a faucet and let the water pour out into your glass, it will fill up. Then, once it is full, your glass will overflow, and you can let the water pour out to everyone around you.

If you don't have love in you, then you can't give love to anyone else. Therefore, you must first receive God's love, before you can love one another.

Weekly Wisdoms for the week of May 24, 2010
http://www.christnotes.org/ww.php?d=2010-05-24

I Shall Not Want

Before they were a week old, the eaglets were fighting over food. Neither was strong enough to hold up his head for more than a few seconds, so the pair looked like fuzzballs with bobble-heads attached. But whenever the parents brought food to the nest, the bigger eaglet was quick to peck down his brother to keep him from getting a single bite. His aggression would have been understandable if food was scarce, or if the parents couldn’t be trusted to supply what he needed. But nothing could be further from the truth. The eaglets were being fed fish many times their size; there was more than enough for both of them.

The greedy eaglet reminds me of our own foolishness when we try to get for ourselves something that belongs to someone else (James 4:1-5). Conflicts erupt because we want something that God has given to a friend, colleague, relative, or neighbor. Instead of asking God for what we need, we try to get what He’s given to someone else (v.2). But God has something good for each of us. We don’t need what belongs to anyone else. And we certainly never need to harm anyone to get what we need.

Our loving heavenly Father has more than enough for everyone. — Julie Ackerman Link

The secret of contentment is

To let the Lord supply;

Just do your part and put God first

And on His Word rely. —D. De Haan

Our needs will never exhaust God’s supply.

May 22, 2010
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2010/05/22/devotion.aspx

Don't doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light

No matter how hard you try, in a room that's completely dark, you'll never be able to see anything. Even if you know for sure that something is in the room, it's impossible to see it if the room is totally dark. You know it's there, but you just can't see it.

That's what faith is like. You may be absolutely confident that God loves you; however, during the difficult and dark times in life, you may not be able to see that love.

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Even when you don't see God's love for you, you can still have faith that he loves you -- that is, you can be certain that he loves you, even though you don't see it.

During those "dark times" in your spiritual life, you may not be able to see God's love, his faithfulness, his grace, or his promises to you; however, don't lose your faith. Be certain of what [you] do not see.

One day, your faith will be sight.

Weekly Wisdoms for the week of May 17, 2010
http://www.christnotes.org/ww.php?d=2010-05-17

Turn your eyes upon Jesus ♫

O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Saviour,
And life more abundant and free.

Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion -
For more than conquerors we are!

Refrain

His Word shall not fail you - He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell.

He Never Sleeps

Giraffes have the shortest sleep cycle of any mammal. They sleep only between 10 minutes and 2 hours in a 24-hour period and average just 1.9 hours of sleep per day. Seemingly always awake, the giraffe has nothing much in common with most humans in that regard. If we had so little sleep, it would probably mean we had some form of insomnia. But for giraffes, it’s not a sleep disorder that keeps them awake. It’s just the way God has made them.

If you think 1.9 hours a day is not much sleep, consider this fact about the Creator of our tall animal friends: Our heavenly Father never sleeps.

Describing God’s continual concern for us, the psalmist declares, “He who keeps you will not slumber” (Ps. 121:3). In the context of this psalm, the writer makes it clear that God’s sleepless vigilance is for our good. Verse 5 says, “The Lord is your keeper.” God keeps us, protects us, and cares for us—with no need for refreshing. Our Protector is constantly seeking our good. As one song puts it: “He never sleeps, He never slumbers. He watches me both night and day.”

Are you facing difficulties? Turn to the One who never sleeps. Each second of each day, let Him “preserve your going out and your coming in” (v.8). — Bill Crowder

The Rock of Ages stands secure,
He always will be there;
He watches over all His own
To calm their anxious care. —Keith

The One who upholds the universe will never let you down.

April 13, 2010
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2010/04/13/devotion.aspx

Rejected

'Jesus asked, 'Are you also going to leave?'' John 6:67 NLT

Have you ever been dumped by a boyfriend or girlfriend? Rejected by your mates? Abandoned by your parents? If yes to any of these, you wouldn't be human if you didn't feel hurt. Sometimes the pain and sadness lasts for years. What's weird is that even if nothing like this has ever happened to us, we could still worry about it: fearful that one day someone will dump us, reject us or abandon us. No-one wants to be left alone. At some point we all experience the heartbreak of losing someone we love, or being disappointed in people. It's why God tells us over and over, 'Fear not for I am with you.' (Isaiah 43:5 NKJ) Jesus knows what it's like to be rejected by friends, and not just once! A whole bunch of his friends told Him to get lost. 'At this point many of His disciples turned away and deserted Him.' (John 6:66 NLT) So how did He cope? He didn't deny his emotions. He said: 'Are you also going to leave?' (John 6:67 NLT) It's all there: the pain of loss, wondering what's going to happen next. Remember the pain you feel is ok. Those who say, 'You shouldn't feel this way,' are well-meaning but wrong. Acknowledging pain initiates the feeling-dealing-healing process. You can't heal what you won't feel or deal with. So, embrace your feelings, draw on God's grace, and move through the healing process.

Q: When negative experiences happen, what's your greatest enemy? A: Your own head! We worry and let our thoughts dictate the pace. Jesus was about to face His greatest trial, so He went out into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. 'Not My will,' He said to His Father (and ours), 'but yours!' We need to let God in on our thoughts, let God control our thinking. If we don't, our thoughts run riot in our heads making us fearful, depressed, alone. Romans 12:2 NKJ says, '�be transformed by the renewing of your minds.' Get God stuff in your head: When you say, 'I can't solve this!' God tells you, 'I will direct your path.' (Proverbs 3:6) When you say, 'It's impossible!', God tells you, 'Everything is possible.' (Luke 18:27) When you say, 'I feel all alone!', God tells you, 'Never will I leave you.' (Hebrews 13:5) When you say, 'I can't do it!', God tells you, 'I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.' (Philippians 4:13) When you say, 'I don't deserve forgiveness!', God tells you, 'I have forgiven you.' (1 John 1:9, Romans 8:1) When you say, 'I'm afraid!', God tells you, 'Do not fear for I am with you, I will strengthen you and help you.' (Isaiah 41:10) When you say, 'No-one really loves me!', God tells you 'I love you.' (John 3:16) When you say, 'I don't know how to go on!', God tells you 'I will show you.' (Psalm 32:8)

Being abandoned, ditched, dropped, jilted, neglected, rejected can mess with our heads so much. When stuff like this happens, we tend to handle it by turning into one of three characters: The Boxer: We mouth off big time! Never throwing the towel in, we fight to the finish! The Actor: We pretend it doesn't matter, act like it makes no difference to us: 'I'm perfectly fine, thank you!' The Assassin: We plot revenge; 'I don't get mad, I get even!' Mouthing off, pretending we're fine, or plotting revenge will only leave us getting more hurt and probably hurt others in the process. So what should we do? Have you heard of the game Truth or Dare? You choose between Truth and Dare. Pick truth and you have to answer in total honesty any question that your friends ask you. Choose dare and you have to participate in a challenge set to you by your friends. But have you ever played Truth AND Dare? It's not so much a game but a way of life that God wants us to live; especially when we are feeling rejected. Jesus knows how that feels: He went to the Cross not only rejected by His friends but knowing that God Himself would turn away as He took on the sin of the world. TRUTH: Know God's truth about you. Jesus died for you. God says: '�you are precious to me. You are honoured, and I love you.' (Isaiah 43:4 NLT) DARE: to act on God's truth and not on your feelings! Live, knowing you're precious!

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