A Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or
a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you
will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON . . . It is
usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have
come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you
with guidance and support, to aid you physically,
emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a
godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason
you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part, or at an
inconvenient time, this person will say or do something
to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.
Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realise is that our need has been met, our
desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you
sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON . . .
Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount
of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things
you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional
foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the
person, and put what you have learned to use in all
other relationships and areas of your life. It is said
that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

~Author Unknown~

Less Dogma

Less Dogma

If you have a silent spouse have you ever wondered why? One husband said, “it’s because every time I share an idea, she pounces on it and tells me how wrong I am.” His wife’s perspective was that she simply wanted the freedom to disagree when she thought he was wrong. What she did not realize was that she was striking at his self-esteem.

We discovered that if she would share her ideas in the form of a question rather than a pronouncement, he was less defensive. “What do you think about this perspective?” was very different from “I disagree with you. That’s simply not true.” Learning to share your ideas with less dogma may open the road to more meaningful conversations. It’s worth the effort. Give it a try.

What a Hamburger Can Teach You About Forgiveness

I once made a disastrous mistake and asked my husband, Dave, for the last bite of his hamburger. If there’s anything hard for a man to sacrifice, it’s that last bite. It’s much easier to give somebody the first bite because he still has so much of it left, but when he’s down to the last bite, it’s tough. I didn’t realize before how much of a test it could be, especially for Dave.
Our exchange began as usual, with his offer, “I’m going to stop here and get a hamburger. Do you want one?”
“No, no, no. I don’t want anything.”
“Are you sure you don’t want anything? Let me get you one.”
I firmly said, “Dave, I don’t want a hamburger.”
He said, “I’ll eat what’s left.”
I said, “I do not want a hamburger.”
“OK.”
He bought a hamburger, and it smelled so good. I waited and waited, trying my best not to ask for a bite of that hamburger. But he got down to the last bite, and I couldn’t stand it.
I asked, “Do you suppose I could have that last bite?”
Dave got upset with me and huffed, “Why didn’t you let me get you a hamburger?! I’ll buy you all the hamburgers you want. Why do you only want to eat mine?”
“It’s only one bite!” I defended. “You don’t have to be so selfish!”
He said, “All right! Here it is.”
I said, “Nope, I don’t want it! I wouldn’t eat that hamburger now! You couldn’t pay me to eat that bite of hamburger!”
He said, “You eat this!”
I said, “I’m not eating it!”
He said, “You eat it!”
I said, “I will not!”
“Well, I’m not eating it,” Dave replied, “so you might as well.” So I took it, shoved it in my mouth and chewed it up.

I was upset not only because Dave had hurt my feelings, but also because I’d compared the way he treated me to the way I saw other men treat their wives. I said, “Well, other men give their wives bites of their food. I just ask you for one stinkin’ bite of your hamburger, and you throw a fit!” I was mad for about an hour after that argument.

It takes a little while for the Lord to get through to us when we’re enjoying our vengeance and self-pity, just as I was. But finally I started feeling the Lord deep within me saying, “Joyce, you are acting ridiculous. The man told you he would buy you a whole sack of hamburgers if you wanted them.”

Dave had offered to buy me a hamburger even if I wanted just one bite of it. He’d clearly asked me in advance not to ask for his. It doesn’t matter what other men do. Sharing that last bite of hamburger bothered Dave. The person to whom you are comparing your spouse probably has some faults your spouse doesn’t have that would drive you crazy and be just as difficult to accept. What’s the sense in pushing something on your spouse if it bothers them? Just don’t do it.

Marriages are not as good as they could be when people hold on to little things that have hurt or offended them. It’s difficult to completely open yourself up after being hurt because you’re afraid you’ll be hurt again. Nobody can promise that loving someone won’t hurt. In fact, you can’t love without being willing to be hurt. It’s not possible.

You can’t have real love unless you’re willing to forgive. Love keeps giving the other person another chance. Love keeps trusting them over and over again, expecting them to do the right thing the next time. I realize there are big hurts and also little things we deal with daily. Sometimes we may not even know what is agitating us, but we need to decide to let go of its irritating hold on us.

Ask the Lord to reveal what it was that caused you to feel bitterness or resentment. You may be surprised at what He drags up, but when you see the truth, decide to let go of that grief. Decide to forgive the person who didn’t respond to you in the right way.

It took me several days to completely get over the hamburger incident. That’s the truth! My feelings had been hurt because Dave didn’t want me to have that bite of his hamburger. But I had to get over it and move on. Don’t trade your happiness for a bite of hamburger! Forget what lies behind and press on to what lies ahead. 

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This article by Joyce Meyer is taken from Joyce’s audio teaching, Do Yourself a Favor…Forgive.

Scripture Meditation

Psalm 37:1-5 (New King James Version)

¹ Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
² For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
³ Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
⁴ Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
⁵ Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

YOU’VE BEEN ON THIS MOUNTAIN LONG ENOUGH

Deuteronomy 1:6-8

The Lord our God said to Horeb, You have dwelt long enough on this mountain. Turn and take up your journey and go to the hill country of the Amorites. behold i have set the land before you; go in and take possession of the land which the lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them and to their descendants after them.

Today I believe God is saying enough is enough, you have been in this situation long enough, its time for you to take what i have promised long before you were even born. God has made promises to our fore fathers long before we were even born and HE swore by himself that He would fulfill each and every promise. But to recognize and obtain those promises is your choice. The devil knows what God has promised and he knows what will keep you from obtaining them. Whether it be healing of your physical being or emotional being, God has promised that by Jesus stripes we are ALREADY healed. Whether you are struggling in your finances, God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, everything belongs to Him, and since you are HIS child He said that He wouldn’t withhold NO good thing, whether its battling the opinions of others, your marriage, your job, God said He has ALREADY conquered the world, the victory is ALREADY yours. You have been on this mountain, this way of thinking, depressed, defeat..long enough! The land has ALREADY been set long before you, GO IN AND TAKE YOUR GOD GIVEN POSSESSIONS! Take it by force! and how you do that is by knowing what God has promised, studying His word and verbally casting down every lie that the enemy tells you! SINCE God said it, let the devil know that that IS enough for you! Fight with the word ( you cant use the word if you don’t know it..STUDY STUDY STUDY) and stand firm, giving thanks for the victory is ALREADY won! 

Will you get off that mountain today??

Good Friday

“So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him…” John 19:16b-18a

 

Good Friday is really good for those who have come to the foot of the cross of Jesus, in repentance and faith. It is a commemoration for Christians of the ultimate and final sacrifice for the sins of the world. Through a cruel and grueling death, Christ gave His life—His body wreathed in pain, so the sick could be healed. He felt abandonment, so the rejected could be accepted. He knew no sin, but became sin, so sinners could be forgiven.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Oh what salvation and love—the Lord’s life consummated on Calvary. Oh what forgiveness—His raspy voice reiterated. Oh what compassion—His swollen face communicated. Oh what grace—His nail pierced hands activated. Oh what good news—His nail pierced feet initiated. Oh what humility—His crown of thorns demonstrated.

It is Good Friday, because the good news of Jesus Christ’s love and forgiveness has been proclaimed around the world for almost two centuries. Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is good on Friday, but He is great on Sunday—because on the first day of the week He rose from the dead. Friday is good—but three days later is better—for He lives!

Indeed, some who killed Him instantly recognized Him for who He was—they believed.

“And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, Surely this man was the son of God” (Mark 15:39)!

Good Friday’s come and Good Friday’s go, but how is it with your soul? Does the cross of Christ move you to emotion—are you a grateful and engaged follower of Jesus? If not, embrace and celebrate the Cross. Ask your heavenly Father to restore the joy of your salvation, or maybe, you are coming to Him for the first time in faith and trust. Surely, this man must be the Son of God—who came to save you and the world from their sins.

Make today a meaningful memory of what your master Jesus did for you. Linger long in reflection of the love that flowed down, and mingled with His precious blood. See His hands, see His feet; oh what love that makes your joy complete. You serve a risen Savior, who’s in the world today—He walks with you—He talks with you—He gave His life just for you. Good Friday is good—because Jesus is good—and His cross is God’s loving gift.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

How can I celebrate Good Friday as a sacrifice of praise and gratitude to God?

Related Readings: 1 Corinthians 1:18; Colossians 1:19-20; Galatians 6:14; Hebrews 12:2

A Little at a Time

Written by Victoria Osteen

If you’re like me, you probably have a “to do” list somewhere nearby. It may not necessarily be written down on paper, but maybe somewhere in the back of your mind is a list of all the things you hope to get done today or sometime soon. I’ve found that we can get so busy in our minds thinking of all things we have to do that it overwhelms us and zaps our energy! We aren’t even able to think of anything else! Sometimes our “to do” list, though full of good intentions, can actually distract us and keep us from God’s best.

God wants us to live in balance. In life, everything doesn’t happen all at once. All of our dreams, desires and goals aren’t fulfilled instantly; it happens a little bit at a time. You grow one step at a time. You increase little by little. You strengthen your marriage a little bit at a time. You lose weight gradually over time. You get healthy one choice at a time. You pay your debt off a little at a time. Scripture tells us that “with God, all things are possible;” but notice that it doesn’t say, “With God, everything happens instantaneously.” Yes, we do serve a God of miracles. We should look for Him to act on our behalf, but we should also do our part to be faithful. Proverbs 12:24 says, “The hand of the diligent will rule.” Hebrews 6:12 says that “through faith AND patience, we inherit His promises.”

Today, I just feel like God is saying to all of us, “Learn balance. Learn to rest your mind. Get into the peace of God.” The only step you have to focus on in life is the next one. Let Him lead and guide you in the way you should go. You don’t have to figure everything out today; you just have to take that next step. You just have to start making that little adjustment. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by what you know you need to do in life. Just start doing a little bit at a time because before you know it, you will see those dreams and desires come to pass in every area of your life!

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin… (Zechariah 4:10, NLT).

Smorgasbord Religion

It is so trendy to practice smorgasbord religion – a little dose of Jesus, a little pinch of Buddha, a little Mohammed here and a little New Age thought there. It makes you sound so “with it”…so spiritual.

But it is fundamentally dishonest. It is an insult to each religion, for it is like spiritual looting. It is a classic refashioning of God into your own chic image. And it is a reminder of the many intellectual airheads today. Make a decision for crying out loud! But don’t be a phony for every faith. They don’t say the same thing. They don’t believe the same things.

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me.” Either He lied or was terribly insane – or is who He said He is. This is in direct conflict with every other religion. With Him, it’s all or nothing. I believe He is the truth about God.

Make a decision about Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, or whomever. But don’t insult them all with this airhead pseudo-sophisticated practice of smorgasbord religion.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. ~ 1 John 4:1

Everyone’s Battle

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Romans 7:15

Everyone battles bad behavior. Becoming a Christian does not obliterate bad behavior. Becoming a Christian gives you the Spirit of Christ in which to choose good behavior. However, the battle still rages. We know the eternal war is won with our salvation in Christ, but the temporal battle with sin does not cease at salvation. You are naïve to think otherwise. It is spiritual warfare that requires spiritual weapons.

Fighting behavioral battles in your own strength leads to defeat. Do not be cocky with your Christianity. It is not a safety net for bad choices. Rather, it is the power of God for wise decision-making. Still the battle over bad behavior is a daily engagement. You know you need to be patient, but you lose your temper instead. 

You know you need not covet another woman, but your lust lingers. You know you are to exercise forgiveness, but you harbor resentment. You practice peace “faking” when you should be humbly confronting. You lie when you know you should be honest and trust God with the outcome. Your pride and ego self-promotes, while you know in your heart you should give God and others the credit and the glory.

These conflicting behaviors do not go away. You find yourself feeling defeated, because you once again gave in to behaving badly. How can this cycle cease? How can we prepare for this sly suicide bomber of bad behavior? This self-inflicted terrorism can drive you crazy. It can even lead you to give up on God. “After all,” you say, “this is the guilt I gave up at salvation.” The battle over behavior is wearisome, but do not give in or give up. 

God cares. God understands. He is there with you moment by moment. In spite of behaving badly, you are not any less a Christian. And He does not love you any less. He feels for you in your conflicting emotions and actions. Most of the time He will not erase the negative consequences of your sin, but He will certainly stay with you during this disruptive time. God does not flee from your failures. He is there to help you pick up the pieces. He is there to help you learn from your mistakes. He equips and empowers you to win this particular behavioral battle in the future.
 
Do not be overwhelmed by the onslaught of the enemy on multiple fronts of your life. Fight each battle one at a time and watch God win. Seek out a mentor to coach you into wise living. Learn how to depend on the Spirit of God living through you. His grace is sufficient. He who lives in you is greater than he who lives in the world. No behavior, no matter how bad, can separate you from the love of your heavenly Father.
 
There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Start by being honest about the ugliness of sin that still seeks to influence your attitude and behavior. Become more self-aware of blind spots that cripple your relational effectiveness with others. Learn how to live by faith and not by sight. Seek reconciliation with another you may have offended or who may have offended you.

Avoid magazines and web sites that flame your lust. These are everyone’s battles, and these are battles that can be won. Fight with the weapons of God’s wisdom and truth, and not man’s ingenuity. Let Him fight on your behalf. Be accountable to God and man. Move beyond the guilt of failure to the non-condemnation in Christ. In Christ is everything we need to fight everyone’s battle!
 
Taken from Dose 50 in the 90-day devotional book “Infusion”. Download the Kindle version here: http://amzn.to/dRobnw

Born Twice

There is a longing within everyone to be a part of a loving family that lasts. In a world of fractured marriages and dysfunctional families, that longing becomes greater. No matter what type of family we’re from, God gives all of us a chance to be part of the only family that lasts. We had no choice on our earthly family but we do have a choice on entering God’s family through faith.

Jesus calls this spiritual birth being “born again.” We all have a physical birthday, but not all of us have a spiritual birthday, which comes when we accept God’s invitation to trust in Christ as Lord and Savior. With no spiritual birth, we die twice–physically and spiritually. But, with a spiritual birth, we die just once (physically), for our spirit lives forever.

Born once, we die twice. Born twice, we die once.

If we’re born twice, we’re saved from spiritual death and we’re in the family of God forever.

John 3:3

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.