THOUGHTS TO PONDER

1.  Make peace with your past so it does not foul up your future.
2.  What others think of you is none of your business.
3. Time heals almost everything ...give it time.
4.  Don't compare your life to others and don't judge them. You have no idea what their journey is all about.-7
5.  Stop thinking too much. It's alright not to know the answers. They will come to you when they least expect it.
6.  No one is in charge of your happiness except YOU.
7. You don't own all the problems in the world.

He will give you peace ...pursue it. What others think of you is not important...your reputation others can attack but your character no one can touch. Give God time to heal the wounds and memories. Comparison and judgment will bind you up. Jesus will give you what to say when you need it. You do not always have to know everything just HIM. Happiness is fleeting but the Joy of the Lord is your strength so embrace it. You cannot solve or fix the problems in the world. Leave it to the Lord. 

Just some thoughts for you to ponder. It has been awhile since I posted. Seven points were taken from Whisper of the Heart. Comments are my own. 

He will give you peace whose mind is stayed on Him!

PUMPKINS

How is being a Christian like a pumpkin
-God picked you from the patch.
-brings you in and washes all the dirt off of you.
-cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.
-He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed etc.
-then he carves you a new smiling face 
-He puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to pray the sinner's prayer  
with a relative who was so bitter from the past and I
watched as her face began to shine and He began to wash
all the past and a smile took the place of hurt and bitterness.
It was a beautiful sight.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new. 2 Cor. 5:17

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Peter questioning The Lord asked, "how many times do I forgive a brother who sins against me?" Jesus answers, "seventy times seven" Matthew 18:21-22.

BIBLE - What is it?

WHAT IS THE BIBLE?

• "THIS BOOK contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers.

• Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

• Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy.

• It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you.

• It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword and the Christian's character.

• Here paradise is restored, heaven opened and the gates of hell disclosed.

• Christ is its grand object, our good is its design and the glory of God its end.

• It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.

• Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.

• It is given you in life and will be opened in the judgment and will be remembered forever.

• It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labour, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents."

— Anonymous (found on the flyleaf of an old Bible.) It was posted on FB

Shammah

This is one of my favorite scriptures...one of David's mighty men, Shammah. My seed is my family and the Philistines represent the enemy. He fought the enemy with the sword (Word of God) and won. This is a beautiful truth and I use it in prayer to battle when the enemy comes against my family.

11 Sam. 23:11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.

12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.

CHILD'S FAITH

A child is like a butterfly in the wind.
Some can fly higher than others.
But each one flies the best it can.
Why compare one against the other?
-EACH ONE IF DIFFERENT
-EACH ONE IS SPECIAL
-EACH ONE IS BEAUTIFUL

Jesus words, "Let the little children come to Me, 

and do not forbid them; for of such is the
Kingdom of heaven."

Assuredly I say to you, whoever does not receive

the Kingdom of God as a little child will by

no means enter it.

Mark 10:14-15

When you think of a child they are trusting, fearless, they will
receive love and follow your instructions. 

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way

that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

"Because narrow is the gate and DIFFICULT is the way which leads to

life, and there are few who find it. 

Matthew 7:13-14

We come as a child in faith believing that He will lead and guide us and love us unconditionally.

'We will' face difficult places in our walk with Him but He will never leave or forsake us and will

strengthen us each moment of the day when we put our trust in Him.

John Wesley

A Diligent Preacher: John Wesley preached three sermons a day for 54 years, preaching more than 44,000 times. He travelled by horseback and carriage more than 200,000 miles (around 5,000 miles a year), knew 10 languages, published a four-volume commentary on the Bible, an English dictionary, five volumes on natural philosophy, four volumes on church history, histories of England and Rome, grammar books on Hebrew, Latin, Greek, French and English, three works on medicine, six volumes of church music, seven volumes of sermons and controversial papers, edited a library of fifty books, arose at 4 a.m., and worked solidly to 10 p.m. ARE YOU GETTING TIRED? He said, "I have more hours of private retirement than any man in England." At 83 he was irritated because he could no longer write more than fifteen hours a day without hurting his eyes. On his 85th birthday he wrote that he felt no weariness while travelling or preaching. But at 86 he was ashamed that he could no longer preach more than twice a day. He complained in his diary that he had an increasing tendency to sleep in till 5:30 a.m. 

Moses

STRATEGY....building a plan for success

Exodus 17

vs. 1 Israel set out for their journey at the command of the Lord.

vs. 2 They contend with Moses asking the question "why".

vs. 3 'Why have you brought us up to kill us, our children and livestock with thirst'.

Moses seeks the Lord and God gives a strategy. vs. 6 tells him to take his rod and strike the rock. He obeys and the people drink.

To me it is a bitter sweet victory because they questioned whether the Lord was among them.

Vs. 8 Faced with Amelek(means, warlike, dweller in the valley) whose intent is to fight.

Moses again gives direction and take the rod to the top of the hill. He tells Joshua to fight and he obeys. When Moses held up his hands Israel prevailed and when he let down his hand, Amelek prevailed. Aaron and Hur put a stone under him and he sat and they held his hands up. Joshua defeats Amalek and his people with the sword. Moses rod represented the authority and Joshua's sword the Word. Victory is won on the mountain not in the valley.

Moses build an altar and its name is The Lord is my Banner (JEHOVAH NISSI).

Moses, the leader sought God in the face of trouble and God gave the strategy in both cases and the Lord prevailed.