GRACE

from Abide in Christ

 

I am convinced the most important message we can ever proclaim is the free grace of God that forgives us of all our sins and gives us a perfect relationship with God. We are justified by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:21-28; 4:5).
Let’s examine a simple acrostic of the word G-R-A-C-E.
GOD in holy love RECONCILES ruined and rebellious sinners by His ABUNDANT grace and CHANGES ruined men from the inside out and gives ETERNAL LIFE to all who believe on Jesus Christ.
GOD—is the Creator of the universe. His personal name is Jehovah or Yahweh. Most modern English translations use the name LORD, written with four small capital letters to translate the Hebrew word JHVH.
The Bible tells us He is the creator and sustainer of the universe (Gen. 1:1, 27; Psalm 14:1). He did not wind up the universe like a clock and then walk away. He is personally involved in His creation (Ps. 139).
He is holy and righteous (Isaiah 6:1; Rev. 4:8; 1 Timothy 6:15-18). The Hebrew prophet Isaiah saw Him in a vision, sitting on His throne, lofty and exalted. He heard the Seraphim chanting, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts, the whole world is full of His glory” (Isa. 6:3).
The LORD God loves His creation and is patient with mankind. He first loved us and expects us to love Him with all our heart (1 John 4:10, 19). “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 27:37; Deut. 6:5). Jesus said, “Seek first His [God’s] kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).
The LORD God is good to us all the time, and He alone is worthy of our praise (Rev. 4:11).

Chronicles 16:11-12

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.

Hello!  Doesn't the time go quickly!  Christmas Day now past, and five days to the new year!  It's been a busy few days, but so lovely to spend time with family and friends!
I guess it is a time of reflection now, remembering the past year, and wondering what 2012 will bring to us!   Do you have some thoughts on this?

My Christmas Wishes

Hello my friends, 

It's the night of Christmas Eve here in Sydney, Australia.
Although this is our summer time, the real heat has not come yet, and today was a beautiful 'not too hot' day here. 

I have never experienced a cold Christmas, maybe one day!!  

 I went to the shops to finish a bit of last minute food shopping, it was so busy, people everywhere, but there seemed to be a few happy faces in anticipation of  two or more days off, away from the 'hustle and bustle' of pre Christmas preparation.

So I take this time now, to wish you all a very Happy Christmas, to remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ,  and to thank God for all our blessings.

I thank you for taking time out of your day to look at my WOW page,  so many different countries, I wish I could see them all!

God Bless you all,

Kerry :-)

Thought for Today

“Life itself is a journey after all, and what matters most is not what you are getting, but who you are becoming.”

"My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?"Bob Hope

A Thought for Today........
Remember: this December, that love weighs more than gold!

 

Matthew 1:20-21

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

 

The Christmas Story

Hello my friends, such a busy time of the year,
I hope you are all well and enjoying, (not stressing),
as we prepare for Christmas.
I thought you might like this little version of the Christmas Story
I found on YouTube, seeing Christmas through the eyes
of children is so beautiful.
Have a happy day,
God Bless,
Kerry :-)

When Santa Claus met Jesus Christ,
So the story goes ...
He bowed his head, and then he said,
"Dear Lord, I need to know."

"Every year I fill my sleigh,
With lots and lots of toys,
And I fly high across the sky,
Delivering them with joy."

"I get letters from the children,
They ask for many things,
And so hard I try to satisfy,
With each toy that I bring."

"It is my mission every year,
To reach each child I can,
To leave love and joy with every toy,
As I fly throughout the land."

"But lately, Lord, I'm wondering,
Am I doing wrong,
To drive my sleigh on Your Birthday,
And hear cute Santa songs?"

"I'm troubled, for there is no way
I would invade your territory,
I'd feel very bad, if I made you sad,
I do not seek such glory."

So then the Lord ... who's very wise,
Spoke to Santa's heart direct,
"You're a necessary emissary,
You are one of my elect."

"I'm pleased to see your jolly self,
Make so many children smile;
I, too, rejoice for girls and boys,
And I feel you're most worthwhile."

"On my birthday, years ago,
In the manger where I lay,
You bowed to me on bended knee,
You, too, were born that day."

"Dear Santa Claus, I've chosen you,
My First Ambassador of Cheer,
Please celebrate on my birth date,
And do this every year."

"You're a blessed fantasy and dream,
And you're essential on this earth,
You're a needed part in all men's hearts,
Of everlasting childlike mirth."

~ Virginia (Ginny) Ellis ~

Don’t Forget the Real Meaning of Christmas
By Kristen Anderson
Our society seems to be so much more commercial these days when it comes to Christmas. You can walk in any store days before Halloween and already the Christmas decorations are coming out and pre-packaged gifts are on sale.
However, we need to remember the real meaning of Christmas as adults so that our children will not end up so caught up in Christmas being about getting presents and Santa coming that that’s all they will be looking forward to.
The real meaning of Christmas of course is the birth of Christ. Without any of that there wouldn’t even be a Christmas. Even if you don’t do it now, you can start a new tradition of reading the Christmas story from the bible each Christmas Eve so that children begin to understand the real meaning of Christmas.
We all think our children are special when they are born and each and every one of them are, however, when Christ was born in Bethlehem there was no baby more special that him. He was not created the way other children are created. He was created by a Heavenly being and that is what made him so special.
Jesus lived among us just like every other human being does and he did good and miraculous things while he was here. However, he would be the one who would die on a cross, like no other man before him and save all of the mortals from sin for eternity.
We all put up our Christmas Treedecorative ornaments, decorate our doors and our yard, and even put up the nativity scene in our living room for all to see. But do we really live in the spirit of Christmas or merely put on the front and still rush around trying to buy presents for everyone and make sure that everyone is happy on Christmas morning?
Sit down with your children and let them know exactly what Christmas really means. Explain to them that a special child named Jesus was born on this day and that the wise men came to bring him gifts because he was so special. Every child should know the real meaning of Christmas and take pride in being able to share that story and that experience with those who are closest to them; special family and friends.
Don’t continue to let them believe that Christmas is all about how many gifts you get under the tree on Christmas morning or that the gifts that cost the most are what are most important. You have to show them by example and let them know what Christmas really is all about. Plain and simple, it is about the birth of Jesus.

Did you know that the main colours of Christmas are red and green. The red symbolizes the blood that Jesus spilt to redeem us from our sins. Green has always been the colour of life. The ancient Egyptians used the colour green to symbolize the triumph of life over death. Therefore, green symbolizes the potential for eternal life that Jesus' sacrifice made possible for all of us. Other colours generally used with red and green are white, sparkling silver and gold. White symbolizes purity, holiness, and virtue. Because of its brightness, metallic silver is sometimes uses as an alternate colour for white. God symbolizes what is precious and valuable, and so symbolizes majesty, joy, and celebration. Because of its brightness, metallic gold also symbolizes the presence of God. Blue symbolizes the sky or heaven, where heralds proclaimed Jesus' birth.

Who Started Christmas? 

A woman was out Christmas shopping with her two children.  After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable, and after hours of hearing both children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with the kids in tow and her arms loaded with her purchases.

She was feeling what so many of us feel during the Christmas season.  She was overwhelmed with the pressures to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the 'christmas' food and treats, and get that perfect gift for every single person on her shopping list.  She had to make sure she didn't forget anyone on her card list, and the pressure of being sure she responded to everyone who sent her a card. was almost more than she could bear.

Finally the elevator doors opened.  There was already a crowd in the elevator, but she pushed her way into the car, dragging her two kids and all the bags of stuff in with her.  When the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot."

From the back of the car everyone heard a quiet, calm voice respond, "Don't worry.  We already crucified Him."  For the rest of the trip down the elevator it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole Christmas thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and word.  If we all did it, just think of how different this whole world would be.

Isaiah 7:14

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

The Gospel Tree

There once was a shining Christmas tree
Standing out where all could see.
Its brilliance captured every eye
And seemed to cheer each passer by.

And hesitate to walk away.
The tree stood proud ablaze with light
For every light was burning bright.
Then some bulb was heard to say
"I'm tired of burning night and day;
I think I'll just go out and take a rest
For I'm too tired to do my best;
Besides I am so very small
I doubt if I'd be missed at all."
Then a child lovingly touched the light,
"Look, mother, this one shines so very bright.
I think of all the lights upon the tree
This one looks the best to me."
"Oh my goodness," said the light
"I almost dimmed right out of sight.
I thought perhaps no one would care
If I failed to shine my share."
With that a glorious brilliance came
For every light had felt the same.
Our Gospel, like this Christmas tree,
With little lights which are you and me,
We each have a space that we must fill
With love, and lessons and good will.
Let's keep our tree ablaze with light,
With testimonies burning bright.
For our Gospel is a living tree
That lights the way to eternity.

Hallelujah Chorus -Quinhagak, Alaska

Hello my friends, this was sent to me via email, I just love it!! Please watch and enjoy! I hope you are all going well, as we are now only a couple of weeks to Christmas, it is such a busy time for some of us!! God Bless, Kerry :-)

Deuteronomy 8:17-18

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.

Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do yourself.- Norman Wesley Brooks

Learn to get in touch with silence within yourself, and know that everything in this life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.
— Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Sal's rose.....

Matthew 5:14

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

For Christians, there is no playing hide and seek with the world. Having been rescued from darkness, we have to let our light shine. That sometimes means that others see God's light reflected in us and learn to glorify God through us. At other times, however, it means that we stand out in a world of darkness and become targets because of our faith. Either way, there is no place to hide. We are light in a world of darkness; we cannot help but shine!

12 Days of ChristmasThere is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? Today I found out at a ladies luncheon its origin. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.
It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
* The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
* Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments
* Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
* The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
* The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
* The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
* Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit - Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
* The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
* Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
* The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
* The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
* The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol... so pass it on if you wish.

Bing Crosby - It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Success is a way of life

Success is not a secret. Success is a direction, a process, and a way of life.
Success is not merely something that you get. Success is all about the way you choose to live.
You can be successful right now. Simply turn your focus, your awareness, your thoughts and actions in a positive, meaningful direction.
Success is the journey, and not merely the end of the road. Every moment is your opportunity to live the success you seek.
Dream without limits, and act on those dreams. Live without excuses or apologies, and with a persistent, driving desire to make a difference.
Success is a way of life. Choose that way right now, and in every moment of every day.
                                                                                        — Ralph Marston

quote

In the book of life, the answers aren’t in the back.
Charlie Brown

A Gift of Love

     One of my favorite Christmas stories has to do with a missionary in Africa.  Before Christmas she had been telling the students how Christians, in happiness, gave presents to others on the occasion of Christ's birthday.

     A few days later, on Christmas morning, one of these native students brought the missionary a beautiful, lustrous sea shell.  When asked where he had discovered such an extraordinary shell, he said he had walked many miles to a certain ocean bay, the only spot where such shells could be found.  

     She exclaimed, "What a beautiful gift!  It must have been a real sacrifice for you to have travelled so far to get it."

    His eyes brightened as he replied, "Long walk, part of gift!"

Have a happy day friends!!

 2 Chronicles 16:9

"The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him"

A meaningful and personal relationship with God can give us inner energy and strength that can sustain us. Engaging in spiritual exercises like prayer, reading the Bible and abiding in God’s presence can help us tap into special power that only God can provide. When we are alone with God… when we “wait” on him, we are able to receive his strength. When we believe and trust what we read in scripture and in how God works, our hope is bolstered. This strong belief and hope, grounded in scripture, can give us strength. It’s the same strength that the Psalmist writes about inPsalm 138:3  when he says “As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.”

 

House of 1000 Mirrors
(Wherever You Go, There You Are!) 

Long ago in a small, far away village, there was place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the house, he thought to himself, “This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often.”

In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, “That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again.”

All the faces in the world are mirrors.

What kind of reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet?   

                                                                                            Japanese Folktale

Kodi



This bright, new day... complete with 24 hours of opportunities, choices, and attitudes… a perfectly matched set of 1440 minutes.This unique gift, this one day, cannot be exchanged, replaced or refunded. Handle with care. Make the most of it. There is only one to a customer.

The morning sun shines bright outside my window! 

Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Dear friends, I am so thankful today for all the blessings I have received,

I wish you all a happy and blessed day,

Kerry :-)

Proverbs 17:22

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Colossians 2:6-7

“[Spiritual Fullness in Christ] So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Success is a way of life

Success is not a secret. Success is a direction, a process, and a way of life.
Success is not merely something that you get. Success is all about the way you choose to live.
You can be successful right now. Simply turn your focus, your awareness, your thoughts and actions in a positive, meaningful direction.
Success is the journey, and not merely the end of the road. Every moment is your opportunity to live the success you seek.
Dream without limits, and act on those dreams. Live without excuses or apologies, and with a persistent, driving desire to make a difference.
Success is a way of life. Choose that way right now, and in every moment of every day.
                                                                                        — Ralph Marston

Proverbs 1:5
Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance - (NIV)

Revelation 1:8

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

The Secret Of Life

As the Lord God was creating the world

he called upon his archangels.

The Lord asked his archangels to help him decide where to put the Secret of Life.

“Bury it in the ground,” one angel replied.

“Put it on the bottom of the sea”, said another.

“Hide it in the mountains,” another suggested.

The Lord replied, “ If I see to do any of those only a few will find the Secret of Life. The Secret of Life must be accessible to EVERYONE!”.

One angel replied, “I know, put it in each man’s heart. Nobody will think to look there.”

“Yes!” said the Lord.

“Within each man’s heart.”

And so it was -

The SECRET OF LIFE

lies within all of us.

Psalm 94:18-29  (NIV)

¹⁸ When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
   your unfailing love, LORD, supported me.
¹⁹ When anxiety was great within me,
   your consolation brought me joy.

A Beautiful Heart

One day a young man was standing in the middle of the town

proclaiming that he had the most beautiful heart in the whole valley.

A large crowd gathered and they all admired his heart for it was perfect.

There was not a mark or a flaw in it.

Yes, they all agreed it truly was the most beautiful heart they had ever seen.

The young man was very proud and boasted more loudly about his beautiful heart.

Suddenly, an old man appeared at the front of the crowd and said,

"Why your heart is not nearly as beautiful as mine."

The crowd and the young man looked at the old man's heart.

It was beating strongly ... but it was full of scars ...

it had places where pieces had been removed and other pieces put in ...

but they didn't fit quite right and there were several jagged edges.

In fact ... in some places there were deep gouges where whole pieces were missing.

The people stared ... how can he say his heart is more beautiful ... they thought?

The young man looked at the old man's heart ... and saw its state and laughed. 

"You must be joking," he said. "Compare your heart with mine ...

mine is perfect and yours is a mess of scars and tears."

"Yes" ... said the old man ... "yours is perfect looking but ...

I would never trade with you.

You see ... every scar represents a person to whom I have given my love ...

I tear out a piece of my heart and give it to them ...

and often they give me a piece of their heart

which fits into the empty place in my heart ...

but because the pieces aren't exact ...

I have some rough edges ... which I cherish ...

because they remind me of the love we shared.

Sometimes I have given pieces of my heart away ...

and the other person hasn't returned a piece of his heart to me.

These are the empty gouges ... giving love is taking a chance.

Although these gouges are painful ...

they stay open ... reminding me of the love I have for these people too ...

and I hope someday they may return and fill the space I have waiting.

So now do you see what true beauty is?"

The young man stood silently with tears running down his cheeks.

He walked up to the old man ... reached into his perfect young and beautiful heart ...

and ripped a piece out.

He offered it to the old man with trembling hands.

The old man took his offering ... placed it in his heart ...

and then took a piece from his old scarred heart ...

and placed it in the wound in the young man's heart.

It fit ... but not perfectly ... as there were some jagged edges.

The young man looked at his heart ...

not perfect anymore but more beautiful than ever ...

since love from the old man's heart flowed into his.

They embraced and walked away side by side.

Believe in yourself

............and in your dream
though impossible things may seem,
Someday, somehow you'll get through

to the goal you have in view.

Mountains fall and seas divide before
the one who in his stride
Takes a hard road day by day
sweeping obstacles away.

Believe in yourself and in your plan.
Say not - I cannot - but, I can.

The prizes of life we fail to win,

because we doubt the power within.

Surfin´ Bulldog (Beach Boys - Surfin´ USA)

Hello friends, I received this youtube in an email, I just had to share it with you, it put a smile on my face for the day! God Bless, Kerry :-)

God's Elephants

　

No one is insignificant in God's eyes, and His care for sparrows, finches, eagles, and elephants is a constant reminder that He cares for you, and for me. What He makes, He cherishes.

Consider the elephants of the Pavilion Hotel in Phuket, Thailand, where one of the most popular attractions is elephant rides. As many as eight people on one elephant, first into the surrounding forest, then down to the beach, to lunch at a fresh water lagoon, then back to the hotel.
"Our nine elephants," writes Pavilion Hotel Group manager Jim France, "are kept chained to in-ground posts, not because they need to be, but because it makes the tourists feel better because their children seem safe from a tromping when they're feeding the beasts."
"About twenty minutes before the first wave of the recent Tsunami hit, the elephants became extremely agitated and unruly. Four had just returned from a trip and their handler's had not yet chained them. In a desperate panic, the four elephants helped the other five tear free from their chains. They all then climbed a hill and started bellowing. Many people followed them up the hill. Then the waves hit." After the waves subsided, the elephants charged down from the hill, and started picking up children with their trunks and running them back up the hill. When all the children were taken care of, they started helping the adults."

God's elephants rescued forty-two people that day. Then, they returned to the beach and carried up four dead bodies, including one of a child. Not until the task was done did they allow their handlers to mount them. Then, with handlers atop, they began moving wreckage.
So remember, whatever God makes, He cherishes... including elephants, sparrows, and you.
Especially you!

Quote Today

“I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask, 'How many good things have you done in your life?' rather he will ask, 'How much love did you put into what you did?”
― Mother Teresa

“It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing.
It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.”
– Mother Teresa

Hebrews 11:1

Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.

Bible Verse Today

Job 37:5-6

 

“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’”

Once you have started seeing the beauty of life,
ugliness starts disappearing.
If you start looking at life with joy,
sadness starts disappearing.
You cannot have heaven and hell together,
you can have only one.
It is your  choice.

Osho

Bible Verse Today

Genesis 2:8-9

"Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground-trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."

Bible Verse Today

Psalm 121:7-8

The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

 

 

You've got to have a dream...if you don't have a dream then how are you gonna have a dream come true.

- From the musical South Pacific

 

 

Each moment that you are happy
is a gift to the rest of the world. ~ Harry Palmer

When you forgive, the debt doesn't just go away. You absorb the debt. That's why forgiveness is so hard.

(from Weekly Wisdom)

Say you lend a person one thousand dollars, but suppose that when the time comes for the loan to be repaid that person is unable to repay you. If you forgive that person of his debt, then that person no longer owes you anything. By forgiving, you forfeited the money—you absorbed the debt.

How is it that God is able to forgive our sins against him? He absorbed them by sending his son to suffer the penalty for our debts (sins). Christ absorbed the penalty of death so that we don't have to. When God forgave us, he said, "There's no need to repay me." (We couldn't repay God even if we tried, but now we're freed from the burden of trying.)
When you forgive someone, you absorb their debt. That's why forgiveness is so hard.

In Luke 7, Jesus tells this parable to Simon: "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Forgiveness is a sign of love. To forgive someone of a massive debt (in this case, five hundred denarii) is a sign of massive love. How is forgiveness a sign of love? Because if you forgive much, then you must absorb much debt (pain, suffering, loss, etc.). Our sin against God is the biggest possible debt we could have; so for God to absorb that is a sign of his endless, measureless love.

When He forgave us, God didn't just ignore our debt; he absorbed our debt.

The Dalai Lama’s 18 Rules For Living

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three Rs:
   1. Respect for self
   2. Respect for others
   3. Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Thought For Today

30 years from now, it won't matter
what shoes you wore,
how your hair looked,
or the jeans you bought.
What will matter is what you learned,
and how you used it.

God Speaking

The man whispered, "God, speak to me"
And a meadowlark sang.
But the man did not hear.

So the man yelled "God, speak to me"
And the thunder & lightning rolled across the sky.
But the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God, let me see you."
And a star shined brightly.
But the man did not see.

And, the man shouted, "God, show me a miracle."
And a life was born.
But the man did not notice.

So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me, God, and
let me know you are here"
Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man.
But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

The man cried "God, I need your help"
and an e-mail arrived reaching out with good news and encouragement.
But the man deleted it and continued crying.....

The good news is that you are loved.

 Ephesians 1:18

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,”

A little girl and her father were crossing a bridge.
The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter:
"Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river." The little girl said:
"No, Dad. You hold my hand."
"What's the difference?" Asked the puzzled father.

"There's a big difference," replied the little girl.
"If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."

In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond. So hold the hand of the person whom you love rather than expecting them to hold yours...

1 Peter 1:24-25

“For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.”

 

 

Editorial On Sermons

A Church-goer wrote a letter to the editor of the newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me I can't remember a single one of them. So I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: "I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall what the menu was for a single one of those meals.
But I do know this: they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me those meals, I would be dead today."
No comments were made on the sermon contents anymore.

Count Your Blessings

If you have food in the refrigerator clothes on your back, a roof over head and a place to sleep . . .

you are richer than 70% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace . . .
you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness . . .
you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation . . .
you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death . . .
you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If your parents are still alive and still married…
you are very rare, even in Canada.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful . . .
you are blessed because although the majority can, most do not.

If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder . . .
you are blessed because you can offer healing touch.

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore,
you are  more blessed that over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

Have a good day, and . . .

count you blessings.

If you love someone put their name in a circle, not a heart, because hearts can be broken but circles go on forever!

When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, He jumped out of the boat and started walking towards Him. As long as his eyes were on Jesus and not the high waves, he did fine. As soon as He looked at the waves (problem!), he began to sink. He called to Jesus to save him, and immediately Jesus did. Then Jesus asked him, "Peter, why did you doubt?"
I believe this is a valuable lesson to us as Christians. When we have problems all around us, it doesn't matter. The world offers two choices:
1. Sink: Let the problem scare you and cause you to give up hope.
2. Swim: TRY to handle the problem yourself.
But GOD has a better option: To walk on the top with Him!

Walking With Him

Philippians 4:6-7

⁶ Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.
⁷ And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.

Hello friends,  it's hard to pray sometimes isn't it!  We get so busy with our daily work and chores, so just try and talk to God,  just like you would to a good friend, thank Him for the day, ask Him for forgiveness, and to guide through any challengers you might be facing.  He loves you so much, and if you really listen, He will answer you, believe and trust.
I am looking forward to my cousin coming to stay with me for a couple of days, she is flying in from Queensland (Australia), so I am hoping for good weather as it's been fairly overcast the past week, but it was a lovely sunny day today.

God Bless
Kerry

Inspirational Story

The Brick

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What the hell was that all about and who are you? Just what the hell are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?" The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but didn't know what else to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me." Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out his fancy handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!"

God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice.

Humour Today

Quote for Today

When you're looking down on the world

look up to heaven for a second opinion

Psalm 116:1-2

“I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”

Verse for Today

Colossians 3:12

 

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Inspirational Story

The Blind Boy

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: “I am blind, please help.” There were only a few coins in his hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.

That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, “Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?”

The man said, “I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way.” “I wrote: “Today is a beautiful day, but I cannot see it.”

Both signs told people that the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people that they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more

effective?

Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively. When life gives you 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear.

The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling. And even more beautiful, is knowing that you are the reason behind it!!! Just think… God can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart!

John 8:31-32


Then Jesus said to those Jews, who believed in him: "If you continue in my word, you shall be my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

John 8:31-32 says that if we continue in or hold to the word of Jesus then we get three things:

1. We will be his disciples indeed.

2. We will know the truth

3. The truth will make us free

It is a common thought in our modern world that there is no truth but that everything is relative. This is a rather cynical view may be a result of our being overwhelmed with knowledge. We are constantly bombarded with conflicting ideas. One thing sounds good at one time and another at another. Things seem to keep changing. The Bible says however that we will know the truth if we stay in His word. Ephesians 5:17 (KJV) says "17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is". From this verse we learn that God expects that we can understand his word. God made us and knows what we are capable of. This is not to say that understanding the Bible is easy. Peter said of Paul's writings in 2Peter 3:16 that some of them were hard to understand. Certainly the basics of the Gospel and the plan of salvation can be understood by all but the book of Revelation contains mystery.

The third promise of this verse is that we will be free. What will we be free from? A review of the verses following shows that the Jews thought that Jesus was talking of physical freedom and slavery. Jesus explains that continuing in His word makes us free from sin.

Do you lack the unity in community?

from Weekly Wisdom -

All Christians share a common bond—a belief in Jesus. But unfortunately that bond is often overlooked or damaged by strife and discord.
However, the Bible instructs Christians to live in harmony with one another and to bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another (Romans 12:16, Colossians 3:13). This need for love, harmony, and forgiveness is important because we, as Christians, cannot be an effective community without unity—and that means helping each other, forgiving each other, and walking in love with one another.
Galatians 6:2 says, Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. This means that if we help each other—in other words, walk in love—then we, as Christians, will fulfill Christ's law, which is to love one another (see John 13:34-35). Any Christian community must have unity.