Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Struggles of Life

 

cocoon of a moth

A man found a cocoon of an emperor moth. He took it home so that he could watch the moth come out of the cocoon. On the day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the moth for several hours as the moth struggled to force the body through that little hole.

The moth seemed to be stuck and appeared to have stopped making progress. It seemed as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther. The man, in his kindness, decided to help the moth; so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The moth then emerged easily. But its body was swollen and small, its wings wrinkled and shrivelled.

The man continued to watch the moth because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the little moth spent the rest of its life crawling around with a small, swollen body and shrivelled wings. It never was able to fly.

The man in his kindness and haste did not understand that the struggle required for the moth to get through the tiny opening was necessary to force fluid from the body of the moth into its wings so that it would be ready for flight upon achieving its freedom from the cocoon. Freedom and flight would only come after the struggle. By depriving the moth of a struggle, he deprived the moth of health.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were to go through our life without any obstacles, we would be crippled. We would not be as strong as we could have been. Give every opportunity a chance, leave no room for regrets, and don’t forget the positives in the struggle.

— Author Unknown

Meditation: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience… – James 1:2-3

You will succeed in Jesus' Name!

Friday, October 21, 2022

Why Jesus Is Better Than Santa Claus

 

jesus and santa claus

Why Jesus Is Better Than Santa Claus

Santa lives at the North Pole…

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh…

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year…

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies…

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited…

JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa…

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap…

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is “Hi little boy or girl,

what’s your name?”

JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows

our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many

hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly…

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO…

JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says “You better not cry”

JESUS says “Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.”

Santa’s little helpers make toys…

JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds

mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but…

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree…

JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.

It’s obvious there is really no comparison.

We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in CHRISTmas,

Jesus is still the reason for the season.

Yes, Jesus is better, he is even better than Santa Claus.

– Author Unknown

Meditation: Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. – Acts 4:12

You will succeed in Jesus' Name!


Thursday, October 20, 2022

Developing The Right Attitude

 

Developing the right attitude

Developing The Right Attitude

Here are 10 suggestions to help you develop and maintain a healthy self-image. Read them slowly. Meditate on them regularly.

1. Hate your sin, but never hate yourself.

2. Be quick to repent.

3. When God gives you light, walk in it.

4. Stop saying negative things about yourself. God loves you and it’s wrong to hate what He loves. He has great plans for you, so you’re in conflict with Him when you speak negatively concerning your future.

5. Never be afraid to admit that you’ve made a mistake and don’t always assume that when things go wrong, it must be ‘my fault’.

6. Don’t meditate excessively on what you’ve done, right or wrong; both of these activities keep your mind on you! Center your thoughts on Christ.

7. Take good care of yourself physically. Make the best of what God gave you to work with, but don’t be obsessed with your appearance.

8. Never stop learning but don’t allow your education to become a point of pride. God doesn’t use you because of what’s in your head: He uses you because of what’s in your heart.

9. Realize that your talents are a gift, not something you have manufactured yourself; never look down on people who can’t do what you do.

10. Don’t despise your weaknesses they keep you dependent on God.

– Author Unknown

Meditation: “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the Lord’s hand Double for all her sins.” – Isaiah 40:1-2

You will succeed in Jesus' Name!

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Angels in the Alley

 

angels in the alley

Angels in the Alley

Diane, a young Christian university student, was home for the summer. She had gone to visit some friends one evening and time passed quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year.

She ended up staying longer than planned and had to walk home alone. She wasn’t afraid, because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away.

As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked God to keep her safe from harm and danger. When she reached the alley, which was a shortcut to her house, she decided to take it. However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing at the end as though he was waiting for her. She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for God’s protection. Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped around her, she felt as though someone was walking with her.

When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely.
The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had been raped in the same alley, just twenty minutes after she had been there. Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep.

Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station. She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story. The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him. She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before. When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed.

The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her. She asked if they would ask the man one question. Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her. When the policeman asked him, he answered, “Because she wasn’t alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her.”

Never underestimate the power of prayer.

Author Unknown

Meditation: Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. – Psalm 50:15

You will succeed in Jesus' Name!

Saturday, October 15, 2022

Thank God

 Dear God,

Finally, it’s time to go home for the weekend.

I want to thank You for what you have already done.

I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards, I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better, I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me, I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears; I am thanking you right now for sound health.

I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am thanking you right now for financial breakthroughs.

I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet, I am going to thank you right now no matter what.

I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job, I am thanking you right now for my promotion and lifting up.

I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now for the strength of character that I developed during this experience.

I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed. I am thanking you right now for victories won and unseen breakthroughs.


I am thanking you because I am alive.

I am thanking you because I made it through the day’s difficulties.

I am thanking you because with your help I have walked around obstacles and triumphed over difficulties.

I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.

I’m thanking you because Father, You haven’t given up on me.

God is just so good and He’s good all the time.

Share this message with your friends. Fill up your heavens with praises and thanks to God.

He is worthy of our praise.

Meditation: But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. – Psalm 22:3 (KJV)

You will succeed in Jesus' Name!

Thursday, October 13, 2022

A Perspective on Disappointment

 

a perspective on disappointment

A Perspective on Disappointment

While I was pondering about life, I discovered that: Sometimes, to succeed in life you need enemies! Yes!

You need people who will mock you so that you can run to God.

You need people who will try to intimidate you so that you can be courageous.

You need people who will say “NO” so that you can learn how to be independent…how to do it yourself.

You need people who will disappoint you so that you can put all your trust in God alone.

You need people who will work towards you losing that job so that you can start your own business.

You need people who will sell your ‘Joseph’ so that ‘he’ can get to Egypt.

You need a cruel landlord so that you won’t be too comfortable in someone else’s house, then you can build your own house on time.

But sometimes, when we are disappointed, we feel very bad and we tend to remain on that spot. Not knowing that the endpoint of disappointment is the beginning of your accomplishments.

Understand this, every disappointment you once had came with a blessing. However, it is not everyone that partakes in this blessing.

You cannot see a newly opened door while you are still putting all your attention, time and energy into trying to force the closed one to open.


No disappointment ever comes without an attached blessing. So, when disappointment comes, thank God for it and tell Him to open your eyes to see the new blessing that He has packaged in it for you.

Disappointment is Phase 1; accomplishment is Phase 2. I doubt if you can jump the protocol. That is why it is called BREAKthrough. Something must BREAK so that you can go through!

Author Unknown

Meditation: No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13

You will succeed because Jesus loves You!

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

The Messiah In Disguise


High in the mountains was a monastery that had once been known throughout the world. Its monks were pious, its students were enthusiastic. The chants from the monastery’s chapel deeply touched the hearts of people who came there to pray and meditate.

But, something had changed. Fewer and fewer young men came to study there; fewer and fewer people came for spiritual nourishment. The monks who remained became disheartened and sad.

Deeply worried, the abbot of the monastery went off in search of an answer. Why had his monastery fallen on such hard times?

The abbot came to a guru, and he asked the master, “Is it because of some sin of ours that the monastery is no longer full of vitality?”

“Yes,” replied the master, “it is the sin of ignorance.”

“The sin of ignorance?” questioned the abbot. “Of what are we ignorant?”

The guru looked at the abbot for a long, long time, and then he said, “One of you is the messiah in disguise. But, you are all ignorant of this.” Then, the guru closed his eyes, and he was silent.

“The messiah?” thought the abbot. “The messiah is one of us? Who could it be? Could it be Brother Cook? Could it be Brother Treasurer? Could it be Brother Bell-Ringer? Could it be Brother Vegetable Grower?


“Which one? Which one? Every one of us has faults, failings, human defects. Isn’t the messiah supposed to be perfect? But, then, perhaps these faults and failings are part of his disguise. Which one? Which one?”

When the abbot returned to the monastery, he gathered all the monks together and told them what the guru had said.

“One of us? The messiah? Impossible!”

But, the master had spoken, and the master was never wrong.

“One of us? The messiah? Incredible! But, it must be so. Which one? Which one? That brother over there? That one? That one?”

Whichever one of the monks was the messiah, he was, surely, in disguise.

Not knowing who amongst them was the messiah, all the monks began treating each other with new respect. “You never know,” they thought, “he might be the one, so I had better deal with him kindly.”

It was not long before the monastery was filled with new found joy. Soon, new students came to learn, and people came from far and wide to be inspired by the chants of the kind, smiling monks.

For once again, the monastery was filled with the spirit of love.

Meditation: Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2

You will succeed in Jesus' Name!