Thursday, October 27, 2005

Seeing What Others Miss

The purposes in the human mind are like deep water, but the intelligent[man] will
draw them out. - Proverbs 20:5 NRS

Being made in God's likeness gives us amazing potential. But sometimes ittakes
"a man of understanding" to recognize it and "draw it out." Toomany of us are
gifted at seeing the obvious. We're quick to label peopleas arrogant, quick-tempered,
or weak. But a person with spiritual insightsees beyond that to the hopes and fears
behind their behavior.

The people who knew Simon knew his tendency to shoot from the hip and be impulsive.
But Jesus saw something else. That's why He renamed him Peter,meaning a rock or pillar suitable for a foundation. Can you imagine thelook on the disciples' faces when Jesus said,
"You are Peter...upon this rock I will build My church, and...hell will not conquer it" (Mt 16:18NLT)? But Peter did become a pillar, a respected leader and founder ofthe church.
And all because of Jesus' ability and willingness to lookbeyond his surface-level qualities
to what was inside.

Today we need more: Parents who'll pray for their children, look beyond their flaws and
"draw out" their uniqueness; spouses who'll search forthe hidden treasure in their mate; business leaders who'll treat workers with respect and match their talents with their responsibilities; Christians who'll forgive the immature stumbling of young believers and
work to develop them; witnesses who see the lost through the eyes ofJesus and recognize
what His transforming power can do. So, ask God today for eyes to see what others miss.

Rhema Broadcasting Group
Taken from Julie Gaskins, a.k.a. "J"
http://profiles.yahoo.com/tremendousjewel
tremendousjewel@yahoo.com

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

When all else fail....

SCREAM
SCREAM
SCREAM
Then get back to work.
Keep the faith,
~Nia

Thursday, October 20, 2005

ARE YOU THINKING TOO SMALL (of yourself?)

TODAY'S MOTIVATIONAL LESSON:

Years ago, a famous golfer, was invited by the king of Saudi Arabia, to play in a golf tournament. He accepted the invitation and the king flew his private jet over to the United States to pick up the pro. They played golf for several days, and enjoyed a good time. As the golfer was getting on the plane to return the United States, the king stopped him and said,
"I want to give you a gift for coming all this way and making this time so special. Anything you want. What could I get you?"

Such the gentleman, the golfer replied, "Oh please; don't get me anything. You've been such a gracious host. I've had a wonderful time.
I couldn't ask for anything more."

The king was adamant. He said, "No I insist on giving you something so you will always remember your journey to our country."

When the golfer realize that the king was resolute, he said, "Okay, fine. I collect golf clubs. Why don't you get me a golf club?"

He boarded the plane, and on his flight back home, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of golf club the king would give him. He imagined that it might be a solid gold putter, with his name engraved on it, or one encrusted with rubies and diamonds. The more he thought about it, the more excited he got,
as the King was rich from oil.

When the golfer got back home, he watched the mail daily to see if his new golf club had come yet. Much to his dismay, after several weeks he was disappointed, and figured the King had forgotten all about him, as the King has many other duties.

Finally after several more weeks, he had received a letter from the King, which he wondered, where was his golf club, the King must be sending a letter of apology, When he opened the certified letter, the King did indeed apologize for the delay, but told the golfer to rest assured he found him the perfect golf club.
Attached to the letter, was a deed in his name to a 500 acre golf club.

LESSON:
Sometimes people think "BIGGER" than you do!
EXPAND YOUR THINKING!!!!!!

Taken from SaySu of Something_Positive_Yes yahoo group

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Shaped for the Extraordinary

This devotional was written by Leslie Snyder

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. — Acts 4:13

Jell-O is an amazing thing. It can be made into almost anything and comes in almost any
flavor. Despite its use in something as simple as Jigglers for an after school snack or as the
key ingredient in an elaborate dessert, Jell-O, at its core, is quite simple. The movie, My
Best Friend’s Wedding, even used it to compare a person who is rather ordinary to someone
who is more like the elaborate dessert Crème Brulee. Jell-O is even used to celebrate
special events. For example, my 16th birthday fell during the Lenten Season, which I was observing for the first time. I had given up sweets (a critical food staple for any teenager)
so my mom made me a Jell-O mold garnished with fruit and candles. Although it
didn’t hold its shape after the initial cut, it was a beautiful thing…the ordinary made extraordinary.

That’s how our lives are described when we spend time with Jesus. In the Scripture above, Peter and John are on trial before the ruling authorities of the day called the Sanhedrin.
Peter and John have been healing the blind, crippled, and sick and were basically stirring up quite a commotion among the religious leaders. However, when they stood in front of the Sanhedrin, the rulers noticed something very peculiar. These are common men, fishermen
to be exact. They have no formal titles and no formal schooling or training. Yet, they
speak and act with a boldness and courage that obviously comes from somewhere else –
or more specifically – from Someone else. Take a look at what they say: They took note
that these men had been with Jesus.

Spending time with Jesus has a way of turning the ordinary, common, everyday life into
one that is dangerous, bold and courageous. Just as Jell-O takes the shape of whatever
mold it is poured into, our lives begin to take the shape of the One in whom we pour
ourselves. In all honesty, we’re all pretty ordinary. But, when we regularly spend time
with Jesus, others will take notice, for there is no doubt that time with Jesus transforms us.

Today, maybe you feel like just another ordinary person living an ordinary life. The good
news is that your life has the potential of being extraordinary. Spend time with Jesus
and let him remold your life into something extraordinary.

Taken from the SistersNhomeBiz Yahoo group
Join: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/SistersNhomeBiz/join

Friday, October 14, 2005

The Will of God

The will of God will never take you,
Where the grace of God cannot keep you.
Where the arms of God cannot support you,
Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the power of God cannot endow you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.
-- Author Unknown

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Victim or Victor, You Choose

Taken from The BGP Gathering Space contributed by Shaunelle Curry

What is the difference between VICTIM and VICTOR?

Over the summer, I began to prepare curriculum for the awesome work of connecting with women in domestic violence shelters. One of the questions I asked myself in this preparation was, “What is the difference between victim and victor?”

I had my own ideas, but I perused Webster as well. It defined a victim as one that is injured, destroyed, or sacrificed under any of various conditions; one that is subjected to oppression, hardship or mistreatment. Victor, however, is someone that defeats an enemy or opponent: winner. Even still, victory is achievement of mastery or success in a struggle or endeavor
against odds or difficulties.

Both victim and victor imply some battle, some struggle that has taken place. But, while a victim’s story ends with the oppression, hardship and the subsequent wounds, the victor continues on toward mastery through overcoming the odds of what would appear to be her reasonable chances of success.

What is the difference between victim and victor? Two letters found at the end of each word. The difference is what happens in the end. Everything leading up to the ‘i’ and the ‘m,’ and the ‘o’ and the ‘r’ are the same. The beginning may appear to be out of our hands at the moment, but we choose our ending.

Going back to my classroom teaching days, we can use an acronym as an example:
VICTIM

Vile
Injustice
Causing
Tension and an
Injured
Mindset
------------
VICTOR
Vile
Injustice
Causing
Tension and an
Opportunity to
Rise

Vile Injustice Causing Tension can serve as our experience, the backdrop of our choice to
stay a victim or to rise to a victor. And yes, I do say our choice. The way in which our story
ends has little to do with how it begins. It has more to do with whether we settle for an
Injured Mindset, or we take our Opportunity to Rise. We choose this all day everyday in
both large and small ways.

I was telling a friend what a rough week I had last week. It was filled with tension, struggle
and strain. Most of that struggle and strain took place right inside my mind. As I
teeter-tottered between remaining a victim to inconvenient circumstances and rising
to my highest, I asked myself a question.

"How do I want this story to end? What do I choose?”

To read more of this article, click The BGP Gathering Space link http://thebgpgatheringspace.blogspot.com/

Shaunelle Curry is the founder of The Butterfly Garden Project and The BGP Online, a wombman’s wellness resource dedicated to elevating women to our inherent divinity
and power as co-Creators of a dynamic, harmonious, love-enriched Universe.

Visit The BGP Online later this week for a wonder-filled article entitled,
"Life Coaching: The new way to ignite your full potential," by Caroline Shola Arewa, international speaker and life coach.
You will have an opportunity to sign up for her free 7-day e-course on Creating Ease.

To be added to the The BGP Online mailing list and receive regular updates on
the happenings at The BGP Gathering Space, email admin@thebgponline.com and
type "mailing list" in the subject heading.