The Best Irony

Here is a question that will make many of you laugh out loud if you know me at all...

How in the world does anybody live without a daytimer? 

I think I might be addicted to the organization and the fact it yields me a much more organized life.  It only took 30+ years to come to this conclusion.  I think that there might be hope for me yet.  :) 

Prayers for Haiti

Please join me in praying for Haiti for today has seen some massive devastation in the 7.0 earthquake. 

Lord, we ask that you be with these Haitian people as a country and as 10 million individuals living in probably the greatest nightmare they have ever imagined.  Wandering around, homeless, no clean water, no food, dirty, no loved ones within arms length in streets littered with bodies cracked and broken by this catastrophic event.  We don't presume to understand why these things happen but we pray for provision both practically, emotionally and spiritually for these people and that after all is said and done, Your name will be glorified in ways we will probably never comprehend.  

"ATTITUDE" - by Chuck Swindoll

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. 

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. 

It is more important than the past,

than education,

than money,

than circumnstances,

than failures,

than successes,

than what other people think or say or do. 

It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. 

It will make or break a company... a church... a home. 

The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.  We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.  We cannot change the inevitable.  The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. 

And so it is with you...

we are in charge of our attitudes."

Best Ways to Pray for the Next Generation (Part 2)

Pray for a spirit of HOLINESS manifesting in Christ-like behavior
...1 Peter 1:16

Pray for a spirit of RELIABILITY manifesting in a depth of dependability
...1 Corinthians 4:2

Pray for a spirit of REVELATION manifesting in learning to listen
...Ephesians 1:15-18

Pray for a spirit of DENIAL manifesting in a sacrifice of surrender
...Luke 9:23

Pray for a spirit of  CONFIDENCE minfesting in a baptism of boldness
...Philippians 4:13

Pray for a spirit of INTEGRITY manifesting in quality of truthfulness
...Romans 12:17

Pray for a spirit of REPENTANCE manifesting in a willingness to change
...Luke 3:8

Pray for a spirit of TRUST manifesting in a fearless reliance
...Psalm 125:1

Pray for a spirit of SUBMISSION manifesting in choosing to yield
....Ephesians 5:21

Pray for a spirit of TEACHABILITY manifesting in a quality of meekness
...Titus 3:2

Pray for a spirit of PRAYER manifesting in a longing to wait
...Isaiah 40:31

Pray for a spirit of UNITY manifesting in a respect for others
...1 Corinthians 1:10

Pray for spirit of RESTORATION manifesting in a ministry of healing
...Isaiah 61:1,2

Pray for a spirit of AUTHORITY manifesting in a capacity to command
...Matthew 16:19

Pray for a spirit of GENEROSITY manifesting in a desire to give
...Matthew 10:8

__________________________________________________
***Taken from Dick Eastman, President - Every Home For Christ, (C) 1988
__________________________________________________

This list was originally titled "31 Ways to Pray for Our Youth".... Oh, what I would give to be prayed for in these 31 ways as an adult.  Lord, please let it be so in my life as we pray for our upcoming generation of political leaders, teachers, pastors, community builders and parents.  We need so much of these qualities in our own lives everyday.  Thank you for forgiving us for our character gaps when we don't act at all like how You want us to act.

Best Ways to Pray for the Next Generation

Pray for a spirit of REVERENCE manifesting in fear of the Lord
... Proverbs 9:10

Pray for a spirit of HUMILITY manifesting through the willingness to submit
....James 4:10

Pray for a spirit of PURITY manifesting in a desire to be clean
....Matthew 5:8

Pray for a spirit of PURPOSE manifesting in the wisdom to set goals
....Proverbs 4:25

Pray for a spirit of SIMPLICITY manifesting in an uncluttered life style
....Romans 12:8

Pray for a spirit of COMMITMENT manifesting in a dedication to "the cause"
....Joshua 24:15

Pray for a spirit of DILIGENCE manifesting in the willingness to work hard
....2 Peter 1:5

Pray for a spirit of SERVANTHOOD manifesting in the ministry of helps
....Galatians 6:9, 10

Pray for a spirit of  CONSISTENCY manifesting a quality of faithfulness
....James 1:8

Pray for a spirit of ASSURANCE manifesting it a depth of faith
....Hebrews 10:22

Pray for a spirit of AVAILABILITY manifesting in a readiness to go
..... Isaiah 6:8

Pray for a spirit of LOYALTY manifesting in a zeal for fidelity
.... Ruth 1:16

Pray for a spirit of SENSITIVITY manifesting in openness of heart
.... Luke 10:30-37

Pray for a spirit of COMPASSION manifesting in love in action
....Mark 8:1-2

Pray for a spirit of TENDERNESS manifesting in a willingness to weep
....2 Kings 22:19

Pray for a spirit of MATURITY manifesting in the capacity to grow

....Hebrews 5:12-14

_________________________________________________

***Taken from Dick Eastman, President - Every Home For Christ, (C) 1988

The Best Fiction

I am a big reader and let it be on record that I think I have identified the best work of fiction that I have read in as long as I can remember...

Redeeming Love

By Francine Rivers

Ladies (and gents), this book is one for the ages!  I know I am dramatic but I have read this book twice and I can't wait to read it once again.  It is one of the most powerful books I have read in that it will bring out emotions that no other fiction book has brought out in me... awe, sympathy, compassion, anticipation, disappointment, optimism, trust, and gratefulness.  It is amazing and one I would recommend to either male of female but it is a HOME RUN with every female that I know has read it. 

It is the fictional story depicting the book of Hosea that takes place in California's gold country around 1850.  It is a story of redemption and selfless love of God that changes lives in the most powerful ways.  I can't say enough about it.  A must read for anyone who likes to read fiction, spiritual books, historical books, love stories, or just interested in seeing how in the world God can take a prostitute and all the baggage that comes with that and changing her from the inside out through the love of a good Man. 

I don't want you to think it is your typical romance because it is far more than that... it is the story of a wandering soul.  A soul like mine that wanders from place to place looking for something that can only be filled by One thing.  A soul that knows deep down that it can never be more than it really is... a dysfunctional and dirty blemish amidst a myriad of pitiful, self-seeking, love starved stains on the garment of Christ.  And yet, there He is... wearing our sin and then washing it away.  A soul maybe like yours who knows there is more but doesn't want to find it there.  A soul that looks under every rock, behind every door, around every corner, in every person, at the bottoms of every bottle, and at the top of every heap always searching for that Thing that will fulfill.  

You will keep looking until you find Him.  

And when you do, He will fill you to the depths that you never knew you had and your cup will be running over.  It's joy, it's safety, it's faithfulness, it's beauty, it's love... nothing can compare.  In this book, we see her learn this life changing truth through the depths of despair to the heights of joy and everywhere in between.

You won't be able to put it down ... and He's not gonna let you leave without teaching you something powerful about Him.     

Who's the Best: A Study in Comparisons

I just heard a sermon recently that focused on comparisons of ourselves to others versus comparisons of ourselves to Christ.  John Piper was quoted as saying to always compare yourself to Christ first because it will humble you as there is a vast distance between you and the great God we serve.  Then, upon realizing our rightful place in comparison to the King of Kings, it allows us to view others as greater than ourselves rather than finding areas in which we find ourselves "blowing out" the competition whether than be in physical appearance, talent levels, personality characteristics, knowledge and wisdom, academic excellence, or spiritual maturity.  It serves us well to remember Who the standard is... and it is not us.

Top 5 Worst Places to "Travel" (..Again, IMHO)

Not to complain, but there are some places that are just not fun to go... I actually can't stand doing them.  I would rather eat chocolate ice cream than go to these places... and if you know me at all, THAT is saying something!!  Among those are:

The Doctor

(and certain ones are worse than others!)

Funerals

(typically unpleasant, wouldn't you say?)

Lavergne

(good people, but bad experiences keep happening there)

L  o  n  g, d r a w n out, emotional discussions that don't solve anything

(Oh, for the love...)

Grocery Shopping!

(The WORST kind of shopping!!!)

Top 5 Best Places to Travel (...In My Humble Opinion, of course)

I love to travel!  It is such a great opportunity of living in this day and age to be able to travel for relatively fair prices with such ease and accessibility generally speaking... I have been blessed to take time away and travel to many different places - some for school, some for vacation, some for spiritual purposes, some for work.

My Top 5 Travel Destinations are:

(in reverse order)

Alaska, US
(I prefer by cruise, if I get to choose)

Vancouver, Canada
(Lake Louise is worth the trip itself)

Paris, France
(Try to time with the Bastille Day Parade through the city)

Hvar, Croatia
(surprisingly beautiful and not at all like I envisioned)

Ambergris Caye, Belize
(Yep... sweating it out for Jesus in Central American resort)

I have also been to 37-38 states and I love seeing new parts of the country where I live and love but there is something about leaving American soil and seeing the rest of the world... maybe it is the fact that when I finish seeing international beauty and culture, I get to come back to the greatest country on earth!

Seven Best Practices of an Effective Woman

1. She rises early.

2. She maintains the spiritual disciplines.

3. She focuses on relational priorities for every season.

4. She sets up regular times for planning.

5. She develops an effective to-do list system and calendar/planner system.

6. She establishes an efficient routine for managing her home.

7. She organizes her house systematically.

I found this random list that I had written down and stuck in a notebook and I don't know the original source of this list compilation.  It is one which I need so much work on!  Wow... unfortunately, I could get stuck on number 1.  I thought this was an excellent list to get us thinking about starting the new year off right as the best and most effective woman.  Good luck!  

Wisdom in Doing Your Best

Here are a few quotes about doing your best and becoming all you can be and what the Bible has to say on the subject of doing your best:

Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news.

The good news is that you don't know how great you can be!

How much you can love! What you can accomplish!

And what your potential is! --Anne Frank

God does not judge us by the multitude of works we perform, but how well we do the work that is ours to do. The happiness of too many days is often destroyed by trying to accomplish too much in one day. We would do well to follow a common rule for our daily lives--

"DO LESS, AND DO IT BETTER"--Dale Turner

Go out and change the world. The more you study, the more you should have
A GOAL you should be pursuing;
A DREAM your should be launching

A PLAN you should be executing;
A PROJECT you should be starting;

A POSSIBILITY you should be exploring;
An OPPORTUNITY you should be grabbing;
An IDEA you should be working;
A PROBLEM you should be tackling;
A DECISION you should be making. ~ Anonymous

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it, you will land among the stars.--Les Brown

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me."--Erma Bombeck

People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered (including me).

Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down

by the littlest people with the littlest ideas.

Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs.

Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

People really need help, but may attack you if you do help them.

Help them anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you will get kicked in the teeth.

Give the best you have anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway. -Kent M. Keith

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men. --Colossians 3:23

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who handles the word of truth. --2 Timothy 2:15

The BEST...

... is the theme for this month of NaBloPoMo. I tried to do this in November but so many things came up entering into the holiday season, I fell short of posting an entry everyday. I am going to try again to get at least something little up each day in January and I am going to try to stick to the theme as much as I can. However, you know me... there could be some pretty big stretches.

So relax, sit back and enjoy the month of "Best" entries.

It should be fun and informative.... among other things, for sure.

I can't wait to see what I will write.

Suggestions about the theme "BEST"??? Feel free to comment and share ideas of what you would like to see this month.

The Best is Yet To Come

Do you remember that 10 years and one day ago, we were waiting for "the worst". The worst power outage in the history. The worst power outage that would potentially send the hospitalized into a premature death, allow unfiltered water to pass through our lips, dictate that banks lose all control of our bank accounts (mine most particularly) and our frozen Blue Bell Moolenium Crunch would become puddles of yum and ruin the hardwoods.

So what did we do? We prepared. We bought food, lanterns, batteries, dug a well, got every kind of tape imaginable, bought storage shelves for the garage, determined worst case scenarios and how we would deal with them, and took protective measures against "the worst".

We stopped just short, not by much, I might add, of hoarding and boarding up toilet paper in case of looters struck with IBS.

And then... the worst happened.

Y2K came....

....like a soft breeze in the quiet night.

No fanfare of disaster... in fact, the sick were eventually healed, we drank the tap water, Bank of America still has my accounts in order (maybe better than I do) and heaven knows we've eaten through more than a half gallon of Blue Bell in this decade.

And, shockingly, the looters never came and we are still using the same stash of toilet paper lined up in the garage on storage shelves. The problem now is, after 10 years of storage in the garage, quality has become an issue. Can you say thin and scratchy? Plus, who wants to use 10 year old toilet paper?

My point, and I do have one, is that there are things that we fear that may happen in the future but does not add a single moment to our lives. As my mom has always told us, the things we insist on worrying about, normally never happen and if they do they are never as good or as bad as we anticipate them to be.

She's a smart woman. (I hope I have picked up even a hairs breadth of her wisdom being her daughter. One should be so blessed.)

So to begin the new decade, I anticipate so many things. I hope that some of them happen. I hope that some of them don't. I believe that some of them will and some of them will not. I also trust that the things I want most in the world, will not be as good as I envision them being. I am thankful that the things I fear worst in this world, will never be as bad.

For I know the plans I have for you,

declares the LORD,

plans for wholeness and not for evil,

to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

He was there at the beginning and He has planned out the end and here in the middle, He is orchestrating amazing things in each life He created to bring Him glory and to demonstrate His great love for us. He knows we are short-sighted and still He forgives and loves us in spite of ourselves. He sings over us as we sleep and He is prepared for the future He will bring us to and through.

As humans, we prepared for a power outage by finding items and/or procedures needed to meet our basic needs like food and water and shelter, we knew routes to take us to healthcare and how we would get there, we knew who would be there with us and we knew that we would not ever be alone.

Look at the birds of the air,

do they not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet

your heavenly father feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:26 (NIV)

He cares infinitely more for us than we could ever care for ourselves and yet we still worry. Save yourself the time and energy and pour that extra into a life God has envisioned for you. It is way better than things that may or may not even happen. Take it from Mom...

Trust and believe...

the best is yet to come.

Welcome Another New Year, New Decade

I got this great, thought-provoking entry directly from The Center of Biblical Spirituality and its director, Donald Whitney. Excellent food for thought as the year ends and the New Year is upon us.

What is God's best for us in the year to come?

A few things to consider...

Ten Questions to Ask
at the Start of a New Year

Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. "Consider your ways!" (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them.

Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It's so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we're going and where we should be going.

The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

In addition to these ten questions, here are twenty-one more to help you "Consider your ways." Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month.

11. What's the most important decision you need to make this year?

12. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area?

13. What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?

14. What habit would you most like to establish this year?

15. Who is the person you most want to encourage this year?

16. What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?

17. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?

18. What's one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?

19. What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?

20. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?

21. What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?

22. What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?

23. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?

24. What's the most important trip you want to take this year?

25. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?

26. To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year?

27. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?

28. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?

29. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?

30. What's the most important new item you want to buy this year?

31. In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?

The value of many of these questions is not in their profundity, but in the simple fact that they bring an issue or commitment into focus. For example, just by articulating which person you most want to encourage this year is more likely to help you remember to encourage that person than if you hadn't considered the question.

If you've found these questions helpful, you might want to put them someplace—in a day planner, PDA, calendar, bulletin board, etc.—where you can review them more frequently than once a year.

So let's evaluate our lives, make plans and goals, and live this new year with biblical diligence, remembering that, "The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage" (Proverbs 21:5). But in all things let's also remember our dependence on our King who said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

Copyright © 2003 Donald S. Whitney.

Copyright Disclaimer: All the information contained on the Center for Biblical Spirituality website is copyrighted by Donald S. Whitney. Permission granted to copy this material in its complete text only for not-for-profit use (sharing with a friend, church, school, Bible study, etc.) and including all copyright information. No portion of this website may be sold, distributed, published, edited, altered, changed, broadcast, or commercially exploited without the prior written permission from Donald S. Whitney.

"We Are Fam-i-ly"

Thought this was a great post/resource to share with Christmas being next Friday and family flying in from all corners of the earth. Though it is hard to admit and seemingly at times even more difficult to deal with practically, family get-togethers can be a strain. I know many families that are personally dealing with family relationship issues, and some of them are a little too close for comfort, if I am being honest. Hopefully, you won't have to deal with these things this Christmas season but I am willing to bet that you or someone you love is dealing with this up close and personal.

I think what bothers me most about it is that it affects Christian households as often as those who are not believers. It's not that I expect that Christian households be exempt from family problems. My concern is that when these problems arise in Christian homes, there should be a distinct difference in the way that they are handled. Responses and actions should not look like the world's playbook for dealing with difficult circumstances: Back biting, gossiping, sarcasm, having attitudes that indicate self-centeredness, entitlement, "me first", and being egocentric manifestations of hypersensitivity and blathering arrogance.

There's more... fill in your own blanks... ______________

Christ modeled what we are supposed to do as people in His family: Speak the truth in love, treat others as greater than yourselves, turn the other cheek, honor your father and mother, forgive others as Christ forgave you, do not let the sun go down on your anger...

Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Here are a few truths discussed in Tim Lane's booklet, "Family Feuds: How to Respond"

1. Every family is flawed
2. Flawed families need God's grace
3. Your family of origin does not determine your identity
4. God's call to love includes your family
5. Families can be changed by the cross of Christ

Some stated practical strategies for change:

1. Respond with grace to your family
2. Take responsibility for your own sins, not your family's
3. Become and instrument of grace
4. Make wise choices for your children
5. Persevere in love

Something to think about this Christmas season as we spend time with loved ones who may or may not be able to be with us this time next year. May the Lord bless your time together during the holidays!

HT: Justin Taylor

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