Laminin

A doctor-friend wrote:

A couple of days ago I was running (I use that term very loosely) on my treadmill, watching a DVD sermon by Louie Giglio...and I was BLOWN AWAY! I want to share what I learned....but I fear not being able to convey it as well as I want. I will share anyway.

He (Louie) was talking about how inconceivably BIG our God is.....how He spoke the universe into being...how He breathes stars out of His mouth that are huge raging balls of fire...etc. etc. Then He went on to speak of how this star-breathing, universe creating God ALSO knitted our human bodies together with amazing detail and wonder. At this point I am LOVING it (fascinating from a medical standpoint, you know.) ...and I was remembering how I was constantly amazed during medical school as I learned more and more about God's handiwork. I remember so many times thinking....'How can ANYONE deny that a Creator did all of this???'

Louie went on to talk about how we can trust that the God who created all this, also has the power to hold it all together when things seem to be falling apart...how our loving Creator is also our sustainer.

And then I lost my breath.

And it wasn't because I was running my treadmill, either!!!

It was because he started talking about laminin.

I knew about laminin. Here is how wikipedia describes them: 'Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue.' You see....laminins are what hold us together.... LITERALLY. They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell.. Without them, we would literally fall apart. And I knew all this already. But what I didn't know is what laminin LOOKED LIKE.

But now I do.

And I have thought about it a thousand times since (already)... .

Here is what the structure of laminin looks like...AND THIS IS NOT a 'Christian portrayal' of it....if you look up laminin in any scientific/medical piece of literature, this is what you will see...

Now tell me that our God is not the coolest!!!

Amazing.

The glue that holds us together.... ALL of us....is in the shape of the cross.

Immediately Colossia ns 1:15-17 comes to mind.

'He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth , visible and invisible,

whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

He is before all things, and in him all things HOLD TOGETHER. ' Colossians 1:15-17.

Call me crazy. I just think that is very, very, very cool.

Thousands of years before the world knew anything about laminin, Paul penned those words. And now we see that from a very LITERAL standpoint, we are held together...one cell to another....by the cross.

You would never in a quadrillion years convince me that is anything other than the mark of a Creator who knew EXACTLY what laminin 'glue' would look like long before Adam even breathed his first breath!!

" Faith is not knowing what the future holds, but knowing who holds the future."

I wanted you to know and to undertstand that YOU are being held together by the cross of Jesus Christ. His love. His forgiveness and His marvelous power.....

AND THEY ALL SAID........ ......... .AMEN.

The Emptiest Day

They say You live in hospitals and trenches
And towers in the sky
And I'm not dying or fighting any wars
Except on the inside

The only thing I need is a void that You can fill
And I jump ship and run even further in Your will

And I am looking for the well that won't run dry
The rest that weary thoughts cannot deny
When You wrap Your arms around me
I can walk away or face the emptiest day

The words I find impossible to mention
Are written on a star
They say that I can find You in a flower
But I need You in the car

The optimism of my youth is dead and gone
But I'll save these speculations for another time and song

And life is only perceived through chemicals and emotion
But love, love is the island that overgrows the ocean

Words and music by Caedmon's Call

Shifting Sand

Faith and Patience

BE PATIENT, GOD ISN'T FINISHED WITH ME YET!

Did you ever build a kite as a kid? You'd take a couple of pieces of balsa wood, some paper, glue and string. Then you'd pray for a breeze. But did you ever think about how much faith it took to run a field, dragging your fragile creation behind you?

Some days the kite took off in a matter of minutes, dipping and darting as the wind pulled it up into the sky. Other times, no matter how fast you ran or how high you tried to jump, the kite continued to drag along behind you, until you finally gave up and went inside. Your success depended on something you couldn't control - something you couldn't even see. But you still believed it was there. You'd seen what the wind could do before. You had faith it would happen again.

The book of Hebrews, chapter 11, talks about the essence of faith. It explains that what is done in faith gives evidence to what cannot be seen. Running through the field trying to launch a kite gives evidence that there's something you're trusting in other than your own strength to get that kite up into the air. How much you trust in the power of the wind depends on three things: what others have told you about it, your experience with it, and how much you're wiling to risk trusting something you cannot see.

Your first step of faith in flying a kite was trusting in what others said the wind could do. You may have read a book, seen a kite on TV, learned about wind power in school, or watched as friends ran through the field with a kites of their own. Once you judged that your sources were reliable, things got a little more personal.

You may have had experience with wind in the past. You felt it blow against your face in a storm. You saw it whip leaves down the street on a fall day. You saw video of a hurricane picking up a trailer home. Certainly, in your experience, wind seems strong enough to carry a little balsa wood and paper through the sky.

You may believe in the wind. But until you trust the wind with your precious kite, you don't have faith in it. Faith involves action. You may believe that spring will come again next year. But planting your tulip bulbs in the fall is more than belief. It's an act of faith. You're acting as though something will happen before it actually has. You're putting your trust in something you cannot see.

Do you believe in God? If so, does what you believe have any effect on you life? We can believe in God and not have faith in Him. We may have heard what others have said about Him. We may have examined our own experience as to whether He really is who He says He is. But until we risk doing something where we have to trust Him, our faith is not real. It's just a theory we ponder, a philosophy we agree with.

Faith only grows through exercise. We may risk only small things - at first. "I'll risk wasting a few moments of time in prayer on the off-chance that God will really answer." But as we experience more of God's power in our lives, our faith - and willingness to risk - will grow. "I know this job doesn't pay as much as the one I have now, but I'm willing to risk it because I believe it's where God wants me to be." Our picture of God is as big as our faith.

But what happened on the day that the wind wasn't there - the day that our kites refused to fly? Some days, it feels as though God's doing the same thing that don't change right away. Faith doesn't give up when God's answer or timing isn't the same as our own. It doesn't put the kite in the closet and forget about it. Faith goes out into the field, trusting that God will show up when it's time for the kite to fly. Faith acts in confidence because it knows who God really is.

Taking time every day to talk with God about your life strengthens your faith as He reveals His true self to you. The stronger your faith, the more you can view problems as opportunities for Him to show you just what He can do. - His way. You'll find yourself bravely buying the biggest ball of kite string you can find to wait patiently for just the right breeze to lift your kite above the fences that seem to stand in the way.

Forwarded by a friend. Thanks, Marlou! :D

YES!

It is not enough to say YES just once. It has to be repeated over and over again. We have to set out on a way and we have to carry on step by step. Our YES is a growing reality; the farther we go, the deeper and richer its content. The resistance, of course, is always there. How often our encounter with God, before we set out on a YES, is fist a long dark resistance.

The YES has to be repeated very often so that it includes everything in the past, in the present, and in the future. As long as there is something in my past which I reject, there is still a screen in me that prevents me from being transparent. That which I repress or resent splits my inner spirit, my inner self, and may become a heavy chain which I drag along. It may take time to really accept the suffering or the failure that came to me, maybe long ago, but it is vital that I accept it. The YES can create a meaning where before there was none. The YES, repeated, will become more mature, more profound, more silent, and eventually it will extract light from the dark radiance.

To say YES is to accept the present. It means to acknowledge gratefully the talents and possibilities I have without thinking all of them have to be realized. It means to accept my limitations in health, education, character, and etc. while at the same time trying to overcome them. It means to transform gently the weaknesses into strengths, the innate temptations into grace, the given potential into ripe harvest. It means to say YES to the lives of others, and to give them the room and the sympathy they need. It means to accept the situation I am in, and myself in that situation.

The YES to the future is a profound act of faith, since we do not know fully what we are saying YES to. It is only our confidence in the person of Christ that enables us to say YES. Our faith in Christ constitutes the basis of our commitment. Our efforts to live our option for the poor and our accepted poverty of means, our preferential love for Jesus Christ’s, and our total availability, are explicitly acts of faith.

Posted by Evelyn

I Will Rest In You

Lord, I'm in the dark,
Seems to me the line is dead when I come calling.
No one there, the sky is falling;
Lord, I need to know.
My mind is playing games again,
You're right where You have always been.

Tell me I'm a fool,
Tell me that You love me for the fool I am,
Comfort me like only You can,
And tell me there's a place
Where I can feel your breath
Like sweet caresses on my face again.

Take me back to You
The place that I once knew as a little child,
Constantly the eyes of God watched over me.
Oh, I want to be
In the place that I once knew as a little child,
Fall into the bed of faith prepared for me.

I will rest in You.

Words and music by Michelle Tumes, Brent Burgeois and Jaci Velasquez.

Breathe

Take my sorrow and my sin
I will run into Your arms again
Hold me Father
Once again my tears are dried
By Your perfect love that's river-wide
Over-flowing
As I stand on its bank
With my arms overhead
I am overcome

Covered by the evening sky
I turn my gaze to where Your kingdom lies
Deep inside me
A silent whisper in my mind
Sweet surrender to Your love divine
Peace enfolding
In the stillness, I empty my soul
And Your healing presence
Overflows

As I breathe
The air of Heaven
Drawing in Your fragrance
When I breathe
I feel the fullness
Come alive inside of me
You're the breath that I breathe

It's taking hold
It's second nature
When I savor you
As I breathe

Words and music by John M. Mallory, Leigh Nash and Michelle Tumes

Be Still

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is holy
Be still oh restless soul of mine
Bow before the Prince of Peace
Let the noise and clamor cease

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that He has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change
Be still

Be still and know that He is God
Be still
Be speechless

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know He is our Father
Come rest your head upon His breast
Listen to the rhythm of
His unfailing heart of love
Beating for His little ones
Calling each of us to come
Be still
Be still

Word and music by Steven Curtis Chapman.

Sirach 2:1-11

My child, if you are going to serve the Lord,
Be prepared for times when you will be put to the test.
Be sincere and determined.
Keep calm when trouble comes.
Stay with the Lord; never abandon Him,
And you will be prosperous at the end of your days.
Accept whatever happens to you.
Even if you suffer humiliation, be patient.
Gold is tested by fire,
And human character is tested in the furnace of humiliation.
Trust the Lord, and He will help you.
Walk straight in His ways, and put your hope in Him.
All you that fear the Lord, wait for Him to show you His mercy.
Do not turn away from Him, or you will fall.
All you that fear the Lord,
Trust Him, and you will certainly be rewarded.
All you that fear the Lord,
Look forward to His blessings of mercy and eternal happiness.
Think back to the ancient generations and consider this:
Has the Lord ever disappointed anyone who put his hope in Him?
Has the Lord ever ignored anyone who prayed to Him?
The Lord is kind & merciful;
He forgives our sins and keep us safe in time of trouble.

Scarred People Are Beautiful

MAN SPEAKS:

I’ve seen a number of movies lately, Lord,
like Romeo and Juliet.
The love of young people, at least in those movies
is beautiful…...so simple… so total….so complicated.
They seem so natural, so free in their emotions,
so clear in their feelings.
I wish I could be like that, Lord, but it can’t be.
Why is it so?

I’ve been hurt, Lord.
I’ve trusted and been betrayed at times.
I’ve loved and received nothing in return.
I have tried hard to care and failed often.
I have shared my secrets and heard them whispered to others.
I have been warm and receive a cold shoulder.

I have been through it, Lord.
I’ve fallen on my face.
I’ve banged my shins.
I’ve been bruised.
Look, Lord, I’m all covered with scars!

THE LORD SPEAKS:

Maybe you haven’t understood enough; Maybe you haven’t learned
that human life is like that: All Saints are scarred.
Young love isn’t the highest form of human love. The greatest love
comes from scarred people.
I know that many people stop loving so that they won’t hurt again.
But those who do start over again, who continue inspite of
all, who leave themselves open to the possibility of being
hurt again – These people are able to love again
in a deeper way, a more understanding way, a richer way.

MAN’S RESPONSE:

I think I know what you mean, Lord, I’ve met people like that…
and knowing them gives me courage.
The great people are those who continue to love with their scars…
I like scarred people, Lord – They are beautiful.

Who Am I

Over time You’ve healed so much in me
And I am living proof
That although my darkest hour had come
Your light could still shine through
And though at times it’s just enough to cast
A shadow on the wall
Well, I am grateful that You shine your light on me at all

Well, amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind, but now I see
And the more I sing that sweet old song the more I understand
That I do not comprehend this love that’s coming from Your hand

Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all our sin

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
Amazing love, now flowing down
From hands and feet that were nailed to the tree
His grace flows down and covers me.

Who am I that You would love me so gently?
Who am I that You would recognize my name?
Lord, who am I that You would speak to me so softly
Conversation with the love most high
Who am I?
Lord, who am I?

Words and Music by Watermark

What Will You Write?

You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. —James 4:14

In January 2006, a mine explosion in rural West Virginia threatened the lives of 13 coal miners. Having grown up in that state, I was among the millions riveted to the news for the next few days. Tragically, all but one of the miners were found dead. To compound the pain of that loss, the first reports given to the families said that all but one had been found alive. When the grim news of the deaths came, the grief was compounded with anger—and a desire to blame someone for the whole gut-wrenching event.

At one of the funerals, however, Rev. Wease Day asked the hurting to look in a different direction—within. During their last hours, some of the miners had written notes to their families, in some cases offering comfort and hope. In light of that, Pastor Day urged his congregation not to seek to fix blame. He instead challenged them to imagine what they would write in a farewell note if they had only hours to live.

In some ways we are like those miners. We are trapped in a dark world and are facing physical death. How we live our lives as followers of Christ becomes our “note” to the world. James wrote that life is “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (4:14). By God’s grace, what will you write with your life today? —Bill Crowder

Lord and Savior, Christ divine,
Reign within this heart of mine;
May my witness ever be
Always, only, Lord for Thee. —Brandt

A Christlike life is a message of hope to a searching world.

Taken from Our Daily Bread dated 4 January 2008.

Remember Me

Remember Me
In a Bible cracked and faded by the years
Remember Me
In a sanctuary filled with silent prayer

Remember Me
When the color of the sunset fills the sky
Remember Me
When you pray and tears of joy fall from your eyes.

Remember Me
When the children leave their Sunday school with smiles
Remember Me
When they're old enough to teach,
Old enough to preach
Old enough to leave

And age to age
And heart to heart
Bound by grace and peace
Child of wonder,
Child of God,
I've remembered you,
Remember Me....

No Life Away From God

Two brothers go to a lake to play with a little boat that they had made. The younger boy excitedly places it in the water and watches it sail. The boat slowly begins to drift away, until it is out of his reach. With great fear, he cries out for his elder brother, to save the boat. The elder boy immediately picks up some stones and begins to throw it at the boat. The younger boy starts to yell at him saying, "what are you doing, I said save my boat, not destroy it!?" The elder boy responds, "Relax. I know what I am doing?" He begins to throw the stones, past the boat, causing ripples to form, and that draws the boat closer to the shore. Finally the boat is back in its owner's arms.

A lot of us are sometimes like that little boat. Sin causes us to drift away from God. Then we find so many things going wrong in our lives and wonder why. Sometimes God throws stones 'at us', not to harm us but to cause ripples in our lives that will draw us back to Him and not further away. The more we live our lives according to what WE think is right, the more we will be discouraged, because there is NO LIFE AWAY FROM GOD. God is our source of power, strength , peace and joy .

Whatever your problem may be, don't look at it as a punishment but a challenge to better your self. God has the power to turn things around in your life and He will do it. Problems are always there, but for a reason, that is to make us better and not bitter. How we choose to respond to our problem will determine the results that we get in the end. This is our God.

He can turn a MESS into a MESSAGE

A TEST into a TESTIMONY

A TRIAL into a TRIUMPH

A VICTIM into a VICTOR

Smile

How far are You, how close am I
I know Your words are true and I don't feel them inside
Still I believe You'll never leave
So where are You now

You're all I have, You're all I know
Your breath is breathing in my soul
Still I am gasping, aching, asking
Where are You now

My journey's here, but my heart is There
So I dream and wait, and keep the faith, while You prepare
Our destiny, till You come back for me
Oh, please make it soon!

Cause I just wanna be with You
I just want this waiting to be over
I just want to be with You
And it helps to know the Day is getting closer

Every minute takes an hour
Every inch feels like a mile
Till I won't have to imagine
And I finally get to see You smile

Words and Music by Chris Rice

You Said

You said ask and you'll receive
Whatever you need
You said pray and I'll hear from heaven
And I'll heal your land

You said Your glory will fill the earth
Like water the seas
You said lift up your eyes
The harvest is here
The kingdom is near

You said
Ask and I'll give the nations to you
O Lord, that's the cry of my heart
Distant shores and the islands
Will see your light
As it rises on us

A Place For Him

"Rise, and stand upon your feet: for I have appeared unto you for this purpose..." (Acts 26:16a).

The Lord has a purpose for you, and a destiny for you to fulfill. But things will not always go the way you think they should. That is because the Lord calls you to something bigger than yourself, something beyond your ability, something you cannot originate or perpetuate without Him. It takes time. Noah walked with God for five hundred years and spent one hundred years building the ark. Abraham was one hundred years old before he finally saw God's promise come true. Moses spent forty years in Egypt, then forty years in the desert, before God sent him to Pharaoh. Jesus prepared thirty years for an earthly ministry of three and a half years.

Dear brother, dear sister: walk with God. Find Grace. Discover the One Thing. Focus on being, not doing. And when it IS time for you to do something you can be confident that your labor of love will be the work that God blesses.

Taken from The School of Christ.

Crackpot Friends

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.

At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full..

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?"

"That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them."

"For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.

Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.

You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

So, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!

Forwarded by a friend. Thanks!

Love is the Answer

"A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, must empty ourselves..." - Mother Teresa

Love is a sacrifice.

Love will save this world. But if love is all it takes, then why is it so hard?

Once love is looked at in its truest sense, one can see how and why it should hurt so much. Love is a sacrifice. loving someone who loves you back is easy. But loving someone who isn't lovable is the true test.

There are many people in my life who haven't loved me back the way that i desired them to. friends. People who i considered close. Leaders I looked up to. People I invested my heart in. and to now see that there exists a lack of love between us... is really hard for me to understand.

To feel unloved is just something no one wants to feel. But the worst thing one can do in response to that is to stop loving back. To give up on them is the easier thing to do. But to love despite all odds allows you to soar to the highest of places.

It all comes back to sacrifice. a sacrifice of self is true love.

To love I must...

* Sacrifice my pride and my ego even if it means humiliation by the world's standards or losing some friends.
* Sacrifice "winning" the argument because peace should be my bigger desire.
* Sacrifice having the last word because speaking, writing, blogging, spreading negativity will only add disdain and coldness to my heart.
* Sacrifice my image (vanity) for the sake of Christ's image to be seen in me.
* Sacrifice being with someone if they do not bring me to Christ. (yes, this means breaking up with your boy/girlfriend. It will hurt but maybe it's your needed sacrifice.)
* Sacrifice being popular if it compromises what I stand for inside.
* Sacrifice all I have so others may receive even part.
* Sacrifice inconveniences and hardships just to know it is a way for me to be shaped and molded into a stronger person.
* Sacrifice complaining because I really have nothing to complain about.
* Sacrifice more because I have too much and there's more to be given!

Jesus loved us who rejected Him, who denounced and tortured Him. He loved us so much that even as we forgot Him, He remembered us. Through every second of His suffering, He offered us a love greater than all the whole world's love combined. His love is sacrifice.

So next time you love, if it hurts a little, make sure it only causes you to love harder. Shout "Thank you, Jesus!" when it hurts. For it is through that hurt that Jesus is allowing you to have a taste of what He lived when He loved, and thus... He is making you more like Him. To empty yourself, for love is the type of selflessness that will heal this world. It is through our sacrifice of self that all in this world may experience true love.

"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." ~Mother Teresa

Forwarded by a friend. Thanks!

Handy Little Chart

God has a positive answer:

YOU SAY	GOD SAYS	BIBLE VERSES
You say: "It's impossible"	God says: All things are possible	(Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired"	God says: I will give you rest	(Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me"	God says: I love you	(John 3:16 & John 3:34 )
You say: "I can't go on"	God says: My grace is sufficient	(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out"	God says: I will direct your steps	(Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: "I can't do it"	God says: You can do all things	(Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able"	God says: I am able	(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it"	God says: It will be worth it	(Roman 8:28 )
You say: "I can't forgive myself"	God says: I Forgive you	(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage"	God says: I will supply all your needs	(Philippians 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid"	God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear	(II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"	God says: Cast all your cares on ME	(I Peter 5:7)
You say: "I'm not smart enough"	God says: I give you wisdom	(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone"	God says: I will never leave you or forsake you	(Hebrews 13:5)

PASS THIS ON. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO MAY BE IN NEED

The Scars of Life

"Love is when God became man."

Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could. Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.


From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go.

A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams,raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator..

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go."

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let you go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.

The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead.

The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.

Please pass this on to those you love. God has blessed you, so that you can be a blessing to others. You just never know where a person is in his/her life and what they are going through. Never judge another person's scars, because you don't know how they got them. Also, it is so important that we are not selfish, to receive the blessings of these messages, without forwarding them to someone else.

Right now, someone needs to know that God loves them, and you love them, too - enough to not let them go .

Always Tell Your Family And Friends How Much You Love Them

Opened and Closed Doors

We need to learn to thank the Lord for closed doors just as much as we do for open doors. The reason God closes doors is because He has not prepared anything over there for us.

If he didn't close the wrong door we would never find our way to the right door. Even when we don't realize it, God directs our paths through the closing and opening of doors. When one door closes, it forces us to change our course. Another door closes; it forces us to change our course yet again.

Then finally, we find the open door and walk right into our blessing.

But instead of praising God for the closed door (which kept us out of trouble), we get upset because we "judge by the appearances." And in our own arrogance, or ignorance, we insist that we know what is right.

We have a very present help in the time of need who is always standing guard. Because He walks ahead of us, He can see trouble down the road and HE sets up road blocks and detours accordingly. But through our lack of wisdom we try to tear down the roadblocks or push aside the detour signs. Then the minute we get into trouble, we start crying

"Lord how could this happen to me?"

We have got to realize that the closed door was a blessing. Didn't He say that "No good thing will He withhold from them that love Him?"

If you get terminated from your job - don't be down, instead thank God for the new opportunities that will manifest themselves - it might be a better job, or an opportunity to go to school. If that man or woman won't return your call - it might not be them, it might be the Lord
setting up a roadblock (just let it go).

One time a person had a bank he had been doing business with for many years tell him "NO" for a $10,000 loan. The Lord led him to call another bank. That bank approved a $40,000 loan for him at a lower interest rate than his own bank had advertised.

I'm so grateful, for the many times God has closed doors to me, just to open them in the most unexpected places. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way." (Psalms 37:23) The mountain top is glorious, but it is in the Valley that I will grow!

Always Remember God gives you...
Enough Happiness to keep you Sweet
Enough Trials to keep you Strong
Enough Sorrows to keep you Human
Enough Hope to keep you Happy
Enough Failure to keep you Humble
Enough Success to keep you Eager
Enough Friends to give you Comfort
Enough Wealth to meet your Needs
Enough Enthusiasm to make you look forward
Enough Faith to banish depression
Enough Determination to make each day a better day than the last.

Life must be lived forward but can only be understood backwards. Commit to the Lord in whatever you do and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)

If you love God share this. He will continue to open and close doors for you.

Forwarded by a friend. Thanks!

The Faithfulness of God

Here's today's post from Our Daily Bread.

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Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God." —Mark 11:22

Some of Jesus' words to His disciples about having faith in God leave me wondering if I can ever exercise that level of trust and confidence in prayer. I can't recall telling a mountain to relocate itself into the ocean and watching it happen.

Hudson Taylor, pioneer missionary to China, said that Jesus' words in Mark 11:22, "Have faith in God," could be translated, "Hold on to the faithfulness of God."

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, former pastor of London's Westminster Chapel, appreciated Taylor's insight and said: "Faith is holding on to the faithfulness of God and, as long as you do that, you cannot go wrong. Faith does not look at the difficulties. . . . Faith does not look at itself or at the person who is exercising it. Faith looks at God . . . . Faith is interested in God only, and it talks about God and it praises God and it extols the virtues of God. The measure of the strength of a man's faith, always, is ultimately the measure of his knowledge of God. . . . He knows God so well that he can rest on the knowledge. And it is the prayers of such a man that are answered."

"Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations" (Ps. 119:89-90). — David C. McCasland

Trust in Him, ye saints, forever—
He is faithful, changing never;
Neither force nor guile can sever
Those He loves from Him. —Kelly

Life is not always fair, but God is always faithful.

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When we talk about faith, hope and love, we oftentimes forget that without "trust", we can never realize these 3. Many times we talked so boldly about loving God, and putting our hopes and faith in Him, but at the back of our minds, we have numerous doubts on the extent of His might. Human as we are, the Lord understands and forgives, simply because of love. This alone should awaken us, that God's faithfulness in us is so huge, all we could ever do is to leave everything up to Him. It is so easy to say, "Thy will be done", but do we really mean it when we say these words? Sometimes we have to ask ourselves, to check the status of our faith each day.... I guess it's a healthy and humble way to keep in touch with God, and at the same time, ourselves.

In times of worry and confusion, I always remind myself -- There's a time for everything. Trust in God and you will never go wrong. The best is yet to come.

May we have that constant communication with Him. May we continue to pray for each other so that we continue, re-gain, or deepen, our trust in the Lord. Have a wonderful Wednesday. God bless everyone!

When You Love

You do each deed with all your heart
Moments of waiting don’t matter
You don’t ask for anything in return
You treat each day like no other

You always come up with a surprise
And give it with such loving eyes
You keep each promise that you make
You learn to give more than you take

Little by little, you learn to break
The wall that separates the earth
From your once selfish and skeptical self
That was always proving your worth

You cease to worry about tomorrow
You learn to live by the day
You always pray for the good of the other
And learn to trust in God’s way

Your heart leaps on each hello
And breaks on every goodbye
But deep within, you’ll find good memories –
Real treasures you can forever live by.

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
And make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulder
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Ten Things I Learned From My Dad

In the memories that come with a parent’s passing, I’ve been reminded of what my dad taught those of us who lived and worked with him.

In many ways, Dad didn’t have an easy life. Long before his problems with a detached retina, heart surgery, and Parkinson’s disease, he lived in the shadow of his own father’s colorful and commanding personality. While most people knew Dad as a strong-voiced, caring, and faithful teacher of the Bible, those of us who were close to him knew that along the way Dad also wrestled with serious and deep questions about his own abilities and self-worth.

Looking back, I’m beginning to realize how much he taught us not only by his strengths but also by the way he responded to his weaknesses. I know my three brothers would agree that Dad showed us how to:

Admit when we are wrong. We all remember Dad’s willingness to admit his faults. I’m not sure why that seems important enough to mention first. It could be that I’ve heard my wife Di talk about how that quality impressed her. When visiting in our home before we were married, she saw Dad come to the dinner table and, before sitting down, apologize to the family for his irritability toward Mom. Or, maybe I just can’t think of anything that continues to be more necessary for me than to admit my own wrongs.

Don’t try to be someone else. Dad knew what it was like to be compared to his gifted and much-loved father. Some told him he didn’t have what it would take to lead the ministry his father founded. The comparisons were hard on him. But over time he used the experience to show us how to be the person God made us to be. And as a result of what he found in the trenches of his own battle for self-respect, he gave the rest of us the freedom we needed to be ourselves as well.

Think small while dreaming big. Dad showed us the importance of being honest in little things. He’d go back to a restaurant to return change if he found he’d been given too much at the cash register. What others called “white lies” were big issues to him. He didn’t even like to exaggerate to make a point. For him, issues of urgency or cost were no excuse to forget the principle that “he who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10). Attention to detail, however, didn’t keep him from dreaming. His vision for outreach through television and multiple teachers resulted in years of growth of RBC Ministries.

Be careful what we say about others. Dad wasn’t part of “the grapevine” that circulates news of other people’s failures. I don’t remember hearing him talk about other leaders’ mistakes. Maybe it was because he himself had felt the sting of unkind rumors and remarks. He simply took to heart the Scriptures that call us to love one another. The 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians was one of Dad’s favorite Scripture passages, and he read it often to his staff.

Read biographies with a grain of salt. Dad’s reluctance to be unnecessarily critical of others came with an interesting footnote. He didn’t put a lot of stock in biographies. Although he saw the value of “stories of great people,” he took them with a grain of salt. He knew that the real story of a person’s life is seldom published.

Relax with those who are important to you. Dad worked hard. While taking his leadership responsibilities seriously, he wrote, edited, and rewrote his messages and devotionals until they had the simplicity and clarity he was looking for. But he also knew how to put his work aside and relax. He loved walks on the beach or going for a drive in the country with Mom. He looked forward to spending time on the golf course with friends. I remember how much he enjoyed showing my brothers and me how to use a fly rod to work an orange spider into the lily pads of a quiet lake as we hunted for bluegill or largemouth bass. We also have plenty of memories of him at home with a bowl of popcorn and a board game like Monopoly or Scrabble.

Cultivate balance. Dad learned by experience to listen to both sides of an argument. In his later years he told us how, as a young manager, he’d listen to one side of an employee conflict and think he understood the problem. Then he’d talk to the other side and hear a completely different perspective. The balance and fairness he cultivated in employee relationships showed up in other ways too. In so many ways he taught us to avoid one-sided extremes in thinking or behavior.

Avoid irreverent jokes. Over the years we saw in Dad a healthy fear of the Lord. Jokes about the Scripture were out of bounds as far as he was concerned. It wasn’t that he didn’t have a sense of humor. He loved a good laugh. But he drew the line when it came to talking lightly about God or the Bible.

Question our own use of Scripture. Because of Dad’s reverence for the Word of God, he also taught us to second-guess the way we quote the Bible. When critiquing manuscripts written by his staff, he would repeatedly write in the margin, “Does the Bible really say that? Really?” He showed us that if we really want to trust or teach what God has said, we need to be willing to doubt our own interpretations and motives.

Trust in God and do the right. Since Dad’s passing, many of his friends, co-workers, and family members have agreed on one central focus that seems to best represent his life. Much of the legacy he left us can be summed up in the words, “Trust in God and do the right.” We remember those words as they are repeated in a poem written by Norman Macleod that Dad often read to his staff. —Mart De Haan

Trust In God by Norman Macleod

Courage, Brother, do not stumble,

Though your path be dark as night;

There’s a star to guide the humble,

Trust in God and do the right.

Let the road be rough and dreary,

And its end far out of sight,

Foot it bravely, strong or weary;

Trust in God and do the right.

Perish policy and cunning,

Perish all that fears the light;

Whether losing, whether winning,

Trust in God and do the right.

Trust no party, sect or faction,

Trust no leaders in the fight;

But in every word and action

Trust in God and do the right.

Simple rule and safest guiding,

Inward peace and inward might,

Star upon our path abiding;

Trust in God and do the right.

Some will hate you, some will love you,

Some will flatter, some will slight;

Cease from man, and look above you,

Trust in God and do the right.

Playing with Fire

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’ ” John 8:31-32

No doubt you’ve noticed that people around you are not into absolute truth these days. When it comes to matters of morality, the prevailing philosophy is a multiple-choice view, with competing thoughts and perspectives on what is right and wrong listed as A, B, C, or D. And although these perspectives are often contradictory, prevailing pop philosophers today have added choice E: “all of the above.”

While many people are comfortable with such ambiguity in their personal choices, very few would want their material world to be this arbitrary. Everyone affirms that there are some basic, absolute physical laws that govern our experience and shape our behavior. Take, for example, the reality of heat and fire. I first learned about this when playing in my Dad’s car as a 5-year-old.

I was mesmerized by one particular feature in this new car—the cigarette lighter. I can remember not only discovering the lighter, but pushing it into the socket. I was enamored by the glow of the red circles on the lighter when it popped out. But I pushed my curiosity a little too far when I pulled the glowing lighter out and pressed it on the tip of my index finger. I still can’t explain exactly why I did this, but I quickly realized that it was not a smart idea!

In that moment I discovered that the physical laws governing heat and fire are not arbitrary. The circular lines branded on my finger were powerful evidence to convince me that fire burns and that I needed to keep a healthy distance. Understanding the absolute nature of gravity, mathematics, blood pressure, and other physical realities is essential for living life safely and successfully.

But isn’t it interesting that even though we all believe it is important to respect and submit to physical laws, many of us now believe that moral laws are up for grabs! Unfortunately, believing and living by that philosophy inevitably leads to disastrous consequences.

And the most dangerous outcome of all relates to our eternal destiny. If we live in a morally multiple- choice world where nothing is always wrong and nothing is always right, then there is no sin. No sin means no need for a Savior. If there’s no need for a Savior, there’s no point in the cross. The empty tomb means nothing, and there is neither hell to be shunned nor heaven to be gained. Our Bible becomes at best irrelevant and at worst the scheming work of ancient men designed to oppress and deny us the privilege of pleasure. Yet God has made it clear—some things are right and some things are wrong. There is sin, and we need a Savior. There is a hell to be shunned and a heaven to be gained. To ignore the reality of moral absolutes is to play with a fire that you don’t recover from.

In fact, it isn’t just eternal consequences that should concern us but the impact on life as well. The breakup of homes, the increasing violence on our streets, the alarming rise of sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS, and the general unraveling of a sane and safe environment all testify to the destructive impact of ignoring God’s laws.

Thankfully, God is not a multiple-choice God. Jesus came to assure us that there is truth and that if we know and live in the realm of His truth we are truly free! Free from the inevitable consequences that come when we live to do whatever we want to do.

No wonder the psalmist wrote that those who delight in the law of God are “like a tree planted by streams of water,” and that those who scoff at the truth are “like chaff that the wind blows away” (Psalm 1).

YOUR JOURNEY…

• Why do you think that people are willing to accept the absolute nature of physical laws, yet willing to deny the absolute nature of God’s moral laws?
• How have you seen multiple-choice thinking in action around you? What have been the consequences?
• Has multiple-choice thinking, even in small ways, begun to infect your life? What specific steps can you take to joyfully live in the truth today? Make a specific plan.
• Read Psalm 1 and reflect on which category describes your life—a watered tree or worthless chaff?
• What would it take for you to “delight” in God’s law?

Taken from Strength for the Journey dated 15 January 2007.

Out of Our Minds

"Do you not fear Me?" says the Lord. --Jeremiah 5:22

Why would a prison inmate escape from prison the day before his scheduled release? That's what a Rhode Island prison spokesman wondered as he answered questions from reporters. He said, "For the life of me, I don't know what possessed him to leave with only one day of his sentence left to serve." Once captured, the escapee would be arraigned on charges that could land him back in prison for up to 20 years.

Most of us probably would wonder about the shortsightedness of this inmate. But we might not be as conscious of our own nearsighted approach to sin. We might not see the absolute mindlessness of pursuing a few moments of selfish pleasure in exchange for lasting regret.

Jeremiah pointed out the folly of such actions. In the 5th chapter of his prophecy, he reminded us of how much we should respect God's power (v.22), and that short-term pleasures will bring long-term losses (vv.28-29). Sin thrives on self-deception and doesn't look ahead to the result (v.31).

Father, forgive us for being so stubborn and blind. Thank You for making a provision for our forgiveness. We realize that without Jesus we would have no hope. Help us to do what makes sense—for today, and for tomorrow. —Mart De Haan

We can't afford to play with fire
Nor tempt a serpent's bite;
We can't afford to think that sin
Brings any true delight. —Anon.

Sin sees the bait but is blind to the hook.

Taken from Our Daily Bread dated 18 October 2001.

No Answers?

Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? —Job 40:2

Just before Christmas 2003, Lydia came home from work to the sight of flames shooting out of her house. She was devastated by more than the loss of her home—seven of her family members died in the flames. When news about the tragedy spread that morning, a deacon from her church rushed to comfort her. She had some deep questions for him, but he had no answers.

Lydia could relate to Job's story. He lost all 10 of his children (Job 1:18-19), yet he continued to worship God (v.21). Then his health was affected, and his wife urged him to curse God and die (2:9). Job's friends thought they had the answer—he must have sinned and deserved his troubles.

Job complained bitterly to the Lord and pleaded for an explanation and relief, but God didn't give him any answers. He didn't even tell him about Satan's request to test him (1:6-12; 2:1-6). Instead, He reminded Job that He was the all-wise God and that Job was not. Job was humbled, and he repented for having questioned God's authority (42:1-6).

This side of heaven, we may not find answers for our desperate questions of "Why did this happen?" and "Why me?" But we can rest in the truth that God is in control and that He loves us. —Anne Cetas

Though darker, rougher, grows the way
And cares press harder day by day,
With patience in His love I'll rest,
And whisper that He knoweth best. —Pentecost

God does not have to answer our questions, but He will always keep His promises.

Taken from Our Daily Bread dated 5 December 2004

Inspiration

Not all initiative, the willingness to take the first step, is inspired by God. Someone may say to you, "Get up and get going! Take your reluctance by the throat and throw it overboard— just do what needs to be done!" That is what we mean by ordinary human initiative. But when the Spirit of God comes to us and says, in effect, "Get up and get going," suddenly we find that the initiative is inspired.

We all have many dreams and aspirations when we are young, but sooner or later we realize we have no power to accomplish them. We cannot do the things we long to do, so our tendency is to think of our dreams and aspirations as dead. But God comes and says to us, "Arise from the dead . . . ." When God sends His inspiration, it comes to us with such miraculous power that we are able to "arise from the dead" and do the impossible. The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life and power comes after we "get up and get going." God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. When the inspiration of God comes, and He says, "Arise from the dead . . . ," we have to get ourselves up; God will not lift us up. Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand, "Stretch out your hand" (Matthew 12:13 ). As soon as the man did so, his hand was healed. But he had to take the initiative. If we will take the initiative to overcome, we will find that we have the inspiration of God, because He immediately gives us the power of life.

Taken from My Utmost For His Highest dated 16 February

Surrender

Last night, i was reading about surrender... that to attain complete freedom and peace of mind, we have to surrender EVERYTHING to Him, and that surrender IS an act of worship. Then it occurred to me how little I have actually given up for Him. I thought the process of lifting everything up to God was a one done deal. Then I just realized that we actually have to practice it everyday... until it becomes a habit. We are not perfect, and we are not meant to do goodness out of fear or obligation. We do it out of love... And we cannot truly love anyone else, or even ourselves, unless we love Him first. It seems simple as soon as we realize it, and we need to remind ourselves everyday that it's the ONLY way to keep going. Of course, there comes trust, but you can never really trust if you don't love first. And in order to love Him, we have to know Him more.

There was a time when I couldn't stop thinking about a problem that's been troubling me for weeks. I longed for dreamless sleeps, but was always haunted by exhausting dreams like running, falling or crying. But you know, the choice is always ours. Once we learn to lift our worries up to Him, we are bound to choose to make it all stop. The situation is beyond our control, all we can do is let go, and trust God. Again, it is so easy to say, but there really is truth to it. Once we grasp the real essence of surrender, what doesn't make much sense now will have the greatest sense later on.

No matter how far we go in this world, we ought to go back to square one to understand what 'living' really means. Eventually, we will be made perfect, in His will and time. Let us start knowing, trusting and loving our Lord Jesus Christ NOW. May God be praised forever.