Never Give Up

"Have a  Championship day every day"

Even if you have been fired from your job there is still plenty of hope for you.

Never give up.

"Having that mentality of having a Championship day every day. At the end of the day, you want to play your best football and that is what we did today",
said Russell Wilsen, quarter back for Denver Broncos.

Now that was football --
 
I'm going to talk about serving God :

The Apostle Paul was going through adverse circumstances but never gave up.

Trial after trial -- one trial was that no man stood with him; and he said,

 "Not withstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me."

Telling us also in verse 17 of Second Timothy,

"The Lord delivered me out of the mouth of the lion."

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course.

I have kept the faith.

Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness

 which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, 

shall give me at that day : 

but not to me only, 

but unto all them also that love his appearing.

-Second Timothy 4:7,8

Did the Apostle Paul have a Championship day? Yes! Everyday!

You and I can have a Championship day as well.

Let's keep being like the Apostle by keeping our mind not on our troubles but on Him who loved us, and died for us.

Having as their mantra all season a Championship day everyday paid off handsomely for the Seattle Seahawks. They beat the fearsome Denver Broncos 43-8.

Jesus, our Friend

A photographer doesn't always need drama to have emotion.

The joy of sheer existence.

By D. Joses

How about you and me?

Do we need drama to make us feel good about ourselves?

Like D. Joses says, "It's the joy of sheer existence."

The fact that Christ resides in our hearts; now that's drama.

The fact that we are born in His image; that's good too. 

No other person looks exactly like you or me. 

Wow, that's good as well.

Let's make our own drama.

In Colossians we read:

Putting on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering;

 bearing one another and forgiving one another, 

if anyone had a complaint against another 

even if Christ forgave you, 

so you must also forgive. 

But above all these things, put on love 

which is the bond of perfection. 

Colossians 3:12-14

Serving our God.

Becoming strong individuals. 

What brings Success

If you love what you are doing you will be successful.

Albert Schweitzer says that you are the happiest 

when you are living out what you value.

Both make such great statements.

If you love what you are doing and what you are 

doing is of great value I believe you will be successful.

God will bring favor your way. 

Loving God and loving people always brings success.

This Day

Ralph Waldo Emerson says; and I quote :

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

The bible says,

Psalm 118 : 24

This is the day which the Lord hath made.

 We will rejoice and be glad in it.

By writing it on our hearts 

this will remind us that 

each day is truly the best day 

of the year. 

Think of it that the God of the universe has made each and every day especially for us.

Now, that's something to think about. Even in these very cold days of January.

Reflectors

Mathew 5 verse 16 says,

Let your light so shine before men

 that they may see your good works

 and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

As I was watching my daughter taking some pictures

 using a reflector screen, this meditation came to me.

If a reflector screen can reflect the light onto the picture taken

 then tell me why would not your light shining from you

 reflect on to ones that are watching you?

The ones who are seeking for love

 and for someone who comes for them.

As a true reflector of His light,

 let us go into this New Year

 with letting our light shine!

What an excellent way to start 

2014!

By shining our light out there

 among the lost and the dying,

who are without

 true light.

The Unspeakable Love

What a wonderful world it would be to be around those encouraging, thrusters and lifters.

 Life would be so much more enjoyable. 

As we read in 1 Corinthians 13 verse 7

Love bears all things, 

believes all things, 

hopes all things, 

endures all things.

Love never fails. 

Love is patient and kind, 

never gets upset easily,

 does not want to be babied.

We have lifters and thrusters, but as well we have downers and draggers, which none of we would have asked for. No, no. 

The gift at Christmas was a gift God gave us of His Son, the Lord, Jesus Christ.

 He came to give you and me this abiding peace. 

As we learn the very hard lesson of love,

 His love as 1 Corinthians says -

 bearing all things and enduring all things -

 for Gods love never fails.

Let us keep Gods loving gift,

 working in our lives, that gift given at Christmas, the gift of His Son - 

The gift of love, 

the Unspeakable Love.

White Water Lilies

       
        On my vacation to Rushing River my daughter, Ruth and I, had a great time.
         As we were paddling along in a small inlet we came across a few beautiful white water lilies.

     I started to wonder how they grow in so much water? Where do they receive their nourishment?

      Apparently they have root stack called rhyzomes or some tuberous roots.

      They had been planted in rotten old wood under which was rich soil well able to provide nourishment for these White Water  Lilies.

      These lilies were tough to the touch but extremely beautiful.

       Some with yellow and others with pink enclosures.

     The bible says we are to be routed and grounded in love.
     Getting our strength and nourishment from God.

 

In Ephesians 3:17

 

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; being routed and grounded in love.