From: The Purpose Driven Life Ministries
Proverbs 12:25 “An anxious heart weighs a man down.”
Two businessmen were talking about the economy:
Jack: “I’m about to lose my job and our house is in foreclosure, but I don’t worry about it.”
Bob: “How can you not be worried?”
Jack: “I’ve hired a professional worrier. He does all my worrying for me. That way I don’t have to think about it!”
Bob: “That’s a fantastic idea. How much does it cost to hire a professional worrier?”
Jack: “$50,000 a year.”
Bob: “$50,000! Where are you going to get that kind of money?”
Jack: “I don’t know. That’s HIS worry!”
The starting point for overcoming worry is to realize it is useless. It does you no good to worry. It is “stewing without doing.” Worry has never changed anything. Worry cannot change the past.
Worry cannot control the future. Worry only makes you miserable today. Worry has never solved a problem, never paid a bill, and never cured an illness. It only paralyzes you so you can’t work on the solution. Worry is like racing a car when its engine is in neutral; it doesn’t get you anywhere, it just uses up gas.
On top of that, worry exaggerates the problem. It plays on your imagination. Have you ever noticed that when you worry about a problem it gets bigger? Every time you repeat it over and over in your mind you tend to add details, amplifying it so you feel worse.
What’s the solution? Instead of worrying, talk to God about what’s worrying you. He is someone who can do something about it.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
From: Devotions ChopChop
1 John 4:4 "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."
We all face challenges in life. When was the last time you were challenged (not badgered or nagged or scolded) to go deeper spiritually? When was the last time a friend challenged you regarding something you said or did? Or when was the last time you lovingly challenged a fellow Brother or Sister in something he/she had done or said?
Initially we don’t like these challenges because it exposes weaknesses (even as a challenger, it exposes a weakness of not loving the person enough to tell the truth). And yet, what does Scripture teach: “But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
We don’t see the unseen world. We would probably be astounded if we did. Even though we don’t see the invisible spirit world, it exists. Battles are raging even as you read this. The battles are won daily, hourly, and minute by minute. But the battles can be won. All around us is an enemy who wants to destroy us...who tells us our challenges are too great to overcome or respond to positively. If we knew how many times God has protected us, we would be rejoicing daily.
These challenges come along almost daily. Pray that you’ll have the courage to do the right thing when the time comes. The battles can be won!
1 John 4:4 "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."
We all face challenges in life. When was the last time you were challenged (not badgered or nagged or scolded) to go deeper spiritually? When was the last time a friend challenged you regarding something you said or did? Or when was the last time you lovingly challenged a fellow Brother or Sister in something he/she had done or said?
Initially we don’t like these challenges because it exposes weaknesses (even as a challenger, it exposes a weakness of not loving the person enough to tell the truth). And yet, what does Scripture teach: “But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
We don’t see the unseen world. We would probably be astounded if we did. Even though we don’t see the invisible spirit world, it exists. Battles are raging even as you read this. The battles are won daily, hourly, and minute by minute. But the battles can be won. All around us is an enemy who wants to destroy us...who tells us our challenges are too great to overcome or respond to positively. If we knew how many times God has protected us, we would be rejoicing daily.
These challenges come along almost daily. Pray that you’ll have the courage to do the right thing when the time comes. The battles can be won!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Failure Is Not Final
From: Love Worth Finding Ministries - Adrian Rogers
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth were two of the greatest baseball players of all time. Ty Cobb was known for his record number of stolen bases, and Babe Ruth was known for his record number of home runs. What you may not know is that Ty Cobb was also thrown out more than any other man in baseball trying to steal bases. And Babe Ruth struck out more than any other man in baseball! These fellows didn’t let their failures stop them, and neither should you!
Fix your goal.
Face your faults.
Forget your failures.
Failure in the Christian life is not final.
Maybe you or someone you know is feeling discouraged today. Remind them or yourself of the promise in Philippians 4:13.
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth were two of the greatest baseball players of all time. Ty Cobb was known for his record number of stolen bases, and Babe Ruth was known for his record number of home runs. What you may not know is that Ty Cobb was also thrown out more than any other man in baseball trying to steal bases. And Babe Ruth struck out more than any other man in baseball! These fellows didn’t let their failures stop them, and neither should you!
Fix your goal.
Face your faults.
Forget your failures.
Failure in the Christian life is not final.
Maybe you or someone you know is feeling discouraged today. Remind them or yourself of the promise in Philippians 4:13.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Spiritual Shortsightedness
From: Leading The Way - Michael Youssef
Colossians 3:12 "Because you are God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility, meekness and patience."
Have you ever been described as an impatient person? It is easy to feel impatient. Maybe traffic isn't moving fast enough and you are going to be late for your meeting. Or you can't get through the checkout lane quickly enough to pick up your children from the babysitter. These daily irritations can zap your strength and cause you to lose sight of what really matters.
The source of true patience is the Spirit of God. His patience toward us allows us the opportunity to grow and to become more like Him. He does not give up on us. When we are stubborn and fail to learn what God wants to teach us, He continues to demonstrate His patience.
Many times, we grow impatient with a colleague, friend, child, or spouse and forget that God is patient with us and requires us to do the same with others. One of the causes of impatience is spiritual shortsightedness. Our view is limited. Therefore, many times we only see what has a direct impact on our lives. We become impatient because we can't see life from God's perspective!
God has a greater plan. While He does not always show us the details, we can know the big picture—we are in His loving hands.
Colossians 3:12 "Because you are God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility, meekness and patience."
Have you ever been described as an impatient person? It is easy to feel impatient. Maybe traffic isn't moving fast enough and you are going to be late for your meeting. Or you can't get through the checkout lane quickly enough to pick up your children from the babysitter. These daily irritations can zap your strength and cause you to lose sight of what really matters.
The source of true patience is the Spirit of God. His patience toward us allows us the opportunity to grow and to become more like Him. He does not give up on us. When we are stubborn and fail to learn what God wants to teach us, He continues to demonstrate His patience.
Many times, we grow impatient with a colleague, friend, child, or spouse and forget that God is patient with us and requires us to do the same with others. One of the causes of impatience is spiritual shortsightedness. Our view is limited. Therefore, many times we only see what has a direct impact on our lives. We become impatient because we can't see life from God's perspective!
God has a greater plan. While He does not always show us the details, we can know the big picture—we are in His loving hands.
Ecumenism
Excerpts From Decree on Ecumenism - Second Vatican Council 1964
The Sacred Council exhorts all the Catholic faithful to recognize the signs of the times and to take an active and intelligent part in the work of ecumenism.
This Sacred Council is gratified to note that the participation by the Catholic faithful in ecumenical work is growing daily. It commends this work to the bishops everywhere in the world to be vigorously stimulated by them and guided with prudence.
All in the Church must preserve unity in essentials. But let all, according to the gifts they have received enjoy a proper freedom, in their various forms of spiritual life and discipline, in their different liturgical rites, and even in their theological elaborations of revealed truth. In all things let charity prevail. "May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith, and may charity be the root and foundation of your life. Thus you will be able to grasp fully, with all the holy ones, the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love, and experience this love which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may attain to the fullness of God Himself." (Ephesians 3:17-19). If they are true to this course of action, they will be giving ever better expression to the authentic catholicity and apostolicity of the Church.
On the other hand, Catholics must gladly acknowledge and esteem the truly Christian endowments from our common heritage which are to be found among our separated brethren. In the spirit of the Sermon on the Mount, Christians of one confession no longer consider other Christians as enemies or strangers but see them as brothers and sisters. Again, the very expression separated brethren tends to be replaced today by expressions which more readily evoke the deep communion — linked to the baptismal character — which the Spirit fosters in spite of historical and canonical divisions. Today we speak of "other Christians", "others who have received Baptism", and "Christians of other Communities".
The "universal brotherhood" of Christians has become a firm ecumenical conviction. In a word, Christians have been converted to a fraternal charity which embraces all Christ's disciples. It is right and salutary to recognize the riches of Christ and virtuous works in the lives of others who are bearing witness to Christ, sometimes even to the shedding of their blood. For God is always wonderful in His works and worthy of all praise.
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one Baptism" (Ephesians 4:4-5). For "all you who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ ... for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:27-28).
All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are members of Christ's body, and have a right to be called Christian, and so are correctly accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church.
Nor should we forget that anything wrought by the grace of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of our non-Catholic brethren can be a help to our own edification. Whatever is truly Christian is never contrary to what genuinely belongs to the faith; indeed, it can always bring a deeper realization of the mystery of Christ and the Church.
We must get to know the outlook of our non-Catholic brethren. To achieve this purpose, study is of necessity required, and this must be pursued with a sense of realism and good will. Catholics, who already have a proper grounding, need to acquire a more adequate understanding of the respective doctrines of our non-Catholic brethren, their history, their spiritual and liturgical life, their religious psychology and general background.
The way and method in which the Catholic faith is expressed should never become an obstacle to dialogue with our non-Catholic brethren. It is, of course, essential that the doctrine should be clearly presented in its entirety. Nothing is so foreign to the spirit of ecumenism as a false irenicism, in which the purity of Catholic doctrine suffers loss and its genuine and certain meaning is clouded.
In these days when cooperation in social matters is so widespread, all men without exception are called to work together, with much greater reason all those who believe in God, but most of all, all Christians in that they bear the name of Christ. Cooperation among Christians vividly expresses the relationship which in fact already unites them, and it sets in clearer relief the features of Christ the Servant. All believers in Christ can, through this cooperation, be led to acquire a better knowledge and appreciation of one another, and so pave the way to Christian unity.
Sacred Scriptures provide for the work of dialogue an instrument of the highest value in the mighty hand of God for the attainment of that unity which the Saviour holds out to all.
While it is true that many Christians understand the moral teaching of the Gospel differently from Catholics, and do not accept the same solutions to the more difficult problems of modern society, nevertheless they share our desire to stand by the words of Christ as the source of Christian virtue, and to obey the command of the Apostle: "And whatever you do, in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:17). For that reason an ecumenical dialogue might start with discussion of the application of the Gospel to moral conduct.
It is because of this that the Council rests all its hope on the prayer of Christ for the Church, on our Father's love for us, and on the power of the Holy Spirit. "And hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" (Romans 5:5).
Excerpts From Pope John Paul II - Encyclical Letter on Ecumenism 1995
Essentially pastoral in character, it seeks to encourage the efforts of all who work for the cause of unity.
The relationships which the members of the Catholic Church have established with other Christians since the Council have enabled us to discover what God is bringing about in the members of other Churches and Ecclesial Communities. This direct contact, at a variety of levels, with pastors and with the members of these Communities has made us aware of the witness which other Christians bear to God and to Christ.
Pope John XXIII observed: "What unites us is much greater than what divides us". The Second Vatican Council for its part exhorts "all Christ's faithful to remember that the more purely they strive to live according to the Gospel, the more they are fostering and even practising Christian unity. For they can achieve depth and ease in strengthening mutual brotherhood to the degree that they enjoy profound communion with the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit".
The courageous witness of so many martyrs of our century, including members of Churches and Ecclesial Communities not in full communion with the Catholic Church, gives new vigour to the Council's call and reminds us of our duty to listen to and put into practice its exhortation. These brothers and sisters of ours, united in the selfless offering of their lives for the Kingdom of God, are the most powerful proof that every factor of division can be transcended and overcome in the total gift of self for the sake of the Gospel.
Christ calls all his disciples to unity. No one is unaware of the challenge which all this poses to believers. They cannot fail to meet this challenge. Indeed, how could they refuse to do everything possible, with God's help, to break down the walls of division and distrust, to overcome obstacles and prejudices which thwart the proclamation of the Gospel of salvation in the Cross of Jesus, the one Redeemer of man, of every individual?
Consequently, the commitment to ecumenism must be based upon the conversion of hearts and upon prayer, which will also lead to the necessary purification of past memories. With the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Lord's disciples, inspired by love, by the power of the truth and by a sincere desire for mutual forgiveness and reconciliation, are called to re-examine together their painful past and the hurt which that past regrettably continues to provoke even today.
What is needed is a calm, clear-sighted and truthful vision of things, a vision enlivened by divine mercy and capable of freeing people's minds and of inspiring in everyone a renewed willingness, precisely with a view to proclaiming the Gospel to the men and women of every people and nation.
The Catholic Church thus affirms that during the two thousand years of her history she has been preserved in unity, with all the means with which God wishes to endow his Church, and this despite the often grave crises which have shaken her, the infidelity of some of her ministers, and the faults into which her members daily fall. The Catholic Church knows that, by virtue of the strength which comes to her from the Spirit, the weaknesses, mediocrity, sins and at times the betrayals of some of her children cannot destroy what God has bestowed on her as part of his plan of grace. Moreover, "the powers of death shall not prevail against it" (Mt 16:18).
Even so, the Catholic Church does not forget that many among her members cause God's plan to be discernible only with difficulty. Speaking of the lack of unity among Christians, the Decree on Ecumenism does not ignore the fact that "people of both sides were to blame", and acknowledges that responsibility cannot be attributed only to the "other side". By God's grace, however, neither what belongs to the structure of the Church of Christ nor that communion which still exists with the other Churches and Ecclesial Communities has been destroyed.
Love gives rise to the desire for unity, even in those who have never been aware of the need for it. Love builds communion between individuals and between Communities. If we love one another, we strive to deepen our communion and make it perfect. Love is given to God as the perfect source of communion—the unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit—that we may draw from that source the strength to build communion between individuals and Communities, or to re-establish it between Christians still divided. Love is the great undercurrent which gives life and adds vigour to the movement towards unity.
When brothers and sisters who are not in perfect communion with one another come together to pray, the Second Vatican Council defines their prayer as the soul of the whole ecumenical movement. This prayer is "a very effective means of petitioning for the grace of unity."
If Christians, despite their divisions, can grow ever more united in common prayer around Christ, they will grow in the awareness of how little divides them in comparison to what unites them. If they meet more often and more regularly before Christ in prayer, they will be able to gain the courage to face all the painful human reality of their divisions, and they will find themselves together once more in that community of the Church which Christ constantly builds up in the Holy Spirit, in spite of all weaknesses and human limitations.
It is necessary to pass from antagonism and conflict to a situation where each party recognizes the other as a partner. When undertaking dialogue, each side must presuppose in the other a desire for reconciliation, for unity in truth. For this to happen, any display of mutual opposition must disappear. Only thus will dialogue help to overcome division and lead us closer to unity.
Ecumenical dialogue is of essential importance. "Through such dialogue everyone gains a truer knowledge and more just appreciation of the teaching and religious life of both Communions. In addition, these Communions cooperate more closely in whatever projects a Christian conscience demands for the common good.
"Cooperation among all Christians vividly expresses that bond which already unites them, and it sets in clearer relief the features of Christ the Servant". This cooperation based on our common faith is not only filled with fraternal communion, but is a manifestation of Christ himself.
Moreover, ecumenical cooperation is a true school of ecumenism, a dynamic road to unity. Unity of action leads to the full unity of faith: "Through such cooperation, all believers in Christ are able to learn easily how they can understand each other better and esteem each other more, and how the road to the unity of Christians may be made smooth".
Today I see with satisfaction that the already vast network of ecumenical cooperation is constantly growing. Thanks also to the influence of the World Council of Churches, much is being accomplished in this field.
Significant progress in ecumenical cooperation has also been made in another area, that of the Word of God.
The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord, since, especially in the sacred liturgy, she unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God's word and of Christ's body. She has always maintained them, and continues to do so, together with sacred tradition, as the supreme rule of faith, since, as inspired by God and committed once and for all to writing, they impart the word of God Himself without change, and make the voice of the Holy Spirit resound in the words of the prophets and Apostles.
Therefore, like the Christian religion itself, all the preaching of the Church must be nourished and regulated by Sacred Scripture. For in the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them; and the force and power in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church, the strength of faith for her sons, the food of the soul, the pure and everlasting source of spiritual life. Consequently these words are perfectly applicable to Sacred Scripture: "For the word of God is living and active" (Heb. 4:12) and "it has power to build you up and give you your heritage among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32; see 1 Thess. 2:13). - Catholic Church's Dogmatic Decree on Scripture
The sacred synod also earnestly and especially urges all the Christian faithful, especially Religious, to learn by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures the "excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:8). "For ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ." Therefore, they should gladly put themselves in touch with the sacred text itself, whether it be through the liturgy, rich in the divine word, or through devotional reading, or through instructions suitable for the purpose and other aids which, in our time, with approval and active support of the shepherds of the Church, are commendably spread everywhere. And let them remember that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that God and man may talk together; for "we speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the divine saying." - - Catholic Church's Dogmatic Decree on Scripture
It is understandable how the seriousness of the commitment to ecumenism presents a deep challenge to the Catholic faithful. The Spirit calls them to make a serious examination of conscience. The Catholic Church must enter into what might be called a "dialogue of conversion", which constitutes the spiritual foundation of ecumenical dialogue. In this dialogue, which takes place before God, each individual must recognize his own faults, confess his sins and place himself in the hands of the One who is our Intercessor before the Father, Jesus Christ.
Where there is a sincere desire to follow Christ, the Spirit is often able to pour out his grace in extraordinary ways. The experience of ecumenism has enabled us to understand this better.
Since God in his infinite mercy can always bring good even out of situations which are an offence to his plan, we can discover that the Spirit has allowed conflicts to serve in some circumstances to make explicit certain aspects of the Christian vocation, as happens in the lives of the Saints. "Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve His present end, the survival of many people." (Genesis 50:20).
How indeed can we proclaim the Gospel of reconciliation without at the same time being committed to working for reconciliation between Christians? However true it is that the Church, by the prompting of the Holy Spirit and with the promise of indefectibility, has preached and still preaches the Gospel to all nations, it is also true that she must face the difficulties which derive from the lack of unity. When non-believers meet missionaries who do not agree among themselves, even though they all appeal to Christ, will they be in a position to receive the true message? Will they not think that the Gospel is a cause of division, despite the fact that it is presented as the fundamental law of love? "
The division among Christians is a serious reality which impedes the very work of Christ.
In the eyes of the world, cooperation among Christians becomes a form of common Christian witness and a means of evangelization which benefits all involved.
"Mend your ways, encourage one another, live in harmony, and the God of love and peace will be with you ... The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (2 Cor 13:11,13).
Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, on 25 May, the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, in the year 1995, the seventeenth of my Pontificate.
John Paul II
Blessings to all.
The Sacred Council exhorts all the Catholic faithful to recognize the signs of the times and to take an active and intelligent part in the work of ecumenism.
This Sacred Council is gratified to note that the participation by the Catholic faithful in ecumenical work is growing daily. It commends this work to the bishops everywhere in the world to be vigorously stimulated by them and guided with prudence.
All in the Church must preserve unity in essentials. But let all, according to the gifts they have received enjoy a proper freedom, in their various forms of spiritual life and discipline, in their different liturgical rites, and even in their theological elaborations of revealed truth. In all things let charity prevail. "May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith, and may charity be the root and foundation of your life. Thus you will be able to grasp fully, with all the holy ones, the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love, and experience this love which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may attain to the fullness of God Himself." (Ephesians 3:17-19). If they are true to this course of action, they will be giving ever better expression to the authentic catholicity and apostolicity of the Church.
On the other hand, Catholics must gladly acknowledge and esteem the truly Christian endowments from our common heritage which are to be found among our separated brethren. In the spirit of the Sermon on the Mount, Christians of one confession no longer consider other Christians as enemies or strangers but see them as brothers and sisters. Again, the very expression separated brethren tends to be replaced today by expressions which more readily evoke the deep communion — linked to the baptismal character — which the Spirit fosters in spite of historical and canonical divisions. Today we speak of "other Christians", "others who have received Baptism", and "Christians of other Communities".
The "universal brotherhood" of Christians has become a firm ecumenical conviction. In a word, Christians have been converted to a fraternal charity which embraces all Christ's disciples. It is right and salutary to recognize the riches of Christ and virtuous works in the lives of others who are bearing witness to Christ, sometimes even to the shedding of their blood. For God is always wonderful in His works and worthy of all praise.
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one Baptism" (Ephesians 4:4-5). For "all you who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ ... for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:27-28).
All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are members of Christ's body, and have a right to be called Christian, and so are correctly accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church.
Nor should we forget that anything wrought by the grace of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of our non-Catholic brethren can be a help to our own edification. Whatever is truly Christian is never contrary to what genuinely belongs to the faith; indeed, it can always bring a deeper realization of the mystery of Christ and the Church.
We must get to know the outlook of our non-Catholic brethren. To achieve this purpose, study is of necessity required, and this must be pursued with a sense of realism and good will. Catholics, who already have a proper grounding, need to acquire a more adequate understanding of the respective doctrines of our non-Catholic brethren, their history, their spiritual and liturgical life, their religious psychology and general background.
The way and method in which the Catholic faith is expressed should never become an obstacle to dialogue with our non-Catholic brethren. It is, of course, essential that the doctrine should be clearly presented in its entirety. Nothing is so foreign to the spirit of ecumenism as a false irenicism, in which the purity of Catholic doctrine suffers loss and its genuine and certain meaning is clouded.
In these days when cooperation in social matters is so widespread, all men without exception are called to work together, with much greater reason all those who believe in God, but most of all, all Christians in that they bear the name of Christ. Cooperation among Christians vividly expresses the relationship which in fact already unites them, and it sets in clearer relief the features of Christ the Servant. All believers in Christ can, through this cooperation, be led to acquire a better knowledge and appreciation of one another, and so pave the way to Christian unity.
Sacred Scriptures provide for the work of dialogue an instrument of the highest value in the mighty hand of God for the attainment of that unity which the Saviour holds out to all.
While it is true that many Christians understand the moral teaching of the Gospel differently from Catholics, and do not accept the same solutions to the more difficult problems of modern society, nevertheless they share our desire to stand by the words of Christ as the source of Christian virtue, and to obey the command of the Apostle: "And whatever you do, in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:17). For that reason an ecumenical dialogue might start with discussion of the application of the Gospel to moral conduct.
It is because of this that the Council rests all its hope on the prayer of Christ for the Church, on our Father's love for us, and on the power of the Holy Spirit. "And hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" (Romans 5:5).
Excerpts From Pope John Paul II - Encyclical Letter on Ecumenism 1995
Essentially pastoral in character, it seeks to encourage the efforts of all who work for the cause of unity.
The relationships which the members of the Catholic Church have established with other Christians since the Council have enabled us to discover what God is bringing about in the members of other Churches and Ecclesial Communities. This direct contact, at a variety of levels, with pastors and with the members of these Communities has made us aware of the witness which other Christians bear to God and to Christ.
Pope John XXIII observed: "What unites us is much greater than what divides us". The Second Vatican Council for its part exhorts "all Christ's faithful to remember that the more purely they strive to live according to the Gospel, the more they are fostering and even practising Christian unity. For they can achieve depth and ease in strengthening mutual brotherhood to the degree that they enjoy profound communion with the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit".
The courageous witness of so many martyrs of our century, including members of Churches and Ecclesial Communities not in full communion with the Catholic Church, gives new vigour to the Council's call and reminds us of our duty to listen to and put into practice its exhortation. These brothers and sisters of ours, united in the selfless offering of their lives for the Kingdom of God, are the most powerful proof that every factor of division can be transcended and overcome in the total gift of self for the sake of the Gospel.
Christ calls all his disciples to unity. No one is unaware of the challenge which all this poses to believers. They cannot fail to meet this challenge. Indeed, how could they refuse to do everything possible, with God's help, to break down the walls of division and distrust, to overcome obstacles and prejudices which thwart the proclamation of the Gospel of salvation in the Cross of Jesus, the one Redeemer of man, of every individual?
Consequently, the commitment to ecumenism must be based upon the conversion of hearts and upon prayer, which will also lead to the necessary purification of past memories. With the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Lord's disciples, inspired by love, by the power of the truth and by a sincere desire for mutual forgiveness and reconciliation, are called to re-examine together their painful past and the hurt which that past regrettably continues to provoke even today.
What is needed is a calm, clear-sighted and truthful vision of things, a vision enlivened by divine mercy and capable of freeing people's minds and of inspiring in everyone a renewed willingness, precisely with a view to proclaiming the Gospel to the men and women of every people and nation.
The Catholic Church thus affirms that during the two thousand years of her history she has been preserved in unity, with all the means with which God wishes to endow his Church, and this despite the often grave crises which have shaken her, the infidelity of some of her ministers, and the faults into which her members daily fall. The Catholic Church knows that, by virtue of the strength which comes to her from the Spirit, the weaknesses, mediocrity, sins and at times the betrayals of some of her children cannot destroy what God has bestowed on her as part of his plan of grace. Moreover, "the powers of death shall not prevail against it" (Mt 16:18).
Even so, the Catholic Church does not forget that many among her members cause God's plan to be discernible only with difficulty. Speaking of the lack of unity among Christians, the Decree on Ecumenism does not ignore the fact that "people of both sides were to blame", and acknowledges that responsibility cannot be attributed only to the "other side". By God's grace, however, neither what belongs to the structure of the Church of Christ nor that communion which still exists with the other Churches and Ecclesial Communities has been destroyed.
Love gives rise to the desire for unity, even in those who have never been aware of the need for it. Love builds communion between individuals and between Communities. If we love one another, we strive to deepen our communion and make it perfect. Love is given to God as the perfect source of communion—the unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit—that we may draw from that source the strength to build communion between individuals and Communities, or to re-establish it between Christians still divided. Love is the great undercurrent which gives life and adds vigour to the movement towards unity.
When brothers and sisters who are not in perfect communion with one another come together to pray, the Second Vatican Council defines their prayer as the soul of the whole ecumenical movement. This prayer is "a very effective means of petitioning for the grace of unity."
If Christians, despite their divisions, can grow ever more united in common prayer around Christ, they will grow in the awareness of how little divides them in comparison to what unites them. If they meet more often and more regularly before Christ in prayer, they will be able to gain the courage to face all the painful human reality of their divisions, and they will find themselves together once more in that community of the Church which Christ constantly builds up in the Holy Spirit, in spite of all weaknesses and human limitations.
It is necessary to pass from antagonism and conflict to a situation where each party recognizes the other as a partner. When undertaking dialogue, each side must presuppose in the other a desire for reconciliation, for unity in truth. For this to happen, any display of mutual opposition must disappear. Only thus will dialogue help to overcome division and lead us closer to unity.
Ecumenical dialogue is of essential importance. "Through such dialogue everyone gains a truer knowledge and more just appreciation of the teaching and religious life of both Communions. In addition, these Communions cooperate more closely in whatever projects a Christian conscience demands for the common good.
"Cooperation among all Christians vividly expresses that bond which already unites them, and it sets in clearer relief the features of Christ the Servant". This cooperation based on our common faith is not only filled with fraternal communion, but is a manifestation of Christ himself.
Moreover, ecumenical cooperation is a true school of ecumenism, a dynamic road to unity. Unity of action leads to the full unity of faith: "Through such cooperation, all believers in Christ are able to learn easily how they can understand each other better and esteem each other more, and how the road to the unity of Christians may be made smooth".
Today I see with satisfaction that the already vast network of ecumenical cooperation is constantly growing. Thanks also to the influence of the World Council of Churches, much is being accomplished in this field.
Significant progress in ecumenical cooperation has also been made in another area, that of the Word of God.
The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord, since, especially in the sacred liturgy, she unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God's word and of Christ's body. She has always maintained them, and continues to do so, together with sacred tradition, as the supreme rule of faith, since, as inspired by God and committed once and for all to writing, they impart the word of God Himself without change, and make the voice of the Holy Spirit resound in the words of the prophets and Apostles.
Therefore, like the Christian religion itself, all the preaching of the Church must be nourished and regulated by Sacred Scripture. For in the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them; and the force and power in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church, the strength of faith for her sons, the food of the soul, the pure and everlasting source of spiritual life. Consequently these words are perfectly applicable to Sacred Scripture: "For the word of God is living and active" (Heb. 4:12) and "it has power to build you up and give you your heritage among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32; see 1 Thess. 2:13). - Catholic Church's Dogmatic Decree on Scripture
The sacred synod also earnestly and especially urges all the Christian faithful, especially Religious, to learn by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures the "excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:8). "For ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ." Therefore, they should gladly put themselves in touch with the sacred text itself, whether it be through the liturgy, rich in the divine word, or through devotional reading, or through instructions suitable for the purpose and other aids which, in our time, with approval and active support of the shepherds of the Church, are commendably spread everywhere. And let them remember that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that God and man may talk together; for "we speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the divine saying." - - Catholic Church's Dogmatic Decree on Scripture
It is understandable how the seriousness of the commitment to ecumenism presents a deep challenge to the Catholic faithful. The Spirit calls them to make a serious examination of conscience. The Catholic Church must enter into what might be called a "dialogue of conversion", which constitutes the spiritual foundation of ecumenical dialogue. In this dialogue, which takes place before God, each individual must recognize his own faults, confess his sins and place himself in the hands of the One who is our Intercessor before the Father, Jesus Christ.
Where there is a sincere desire to follow Christ, the Spirit is often able to pour out his grace in extraordinary ways. The experience of ecumenism has enabled us to understand this better.
Since God in his infinite mercy can always bring good even out of situations which are an offence to his plan, we can discover that the Spirit has allowed conflicts to serve in some circumstances to make explicit certain aspects of the Christian vocation, as happens in the lives of the Saints. "Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve His present end, the survival of many people." (Genesis 50:20).
How indeed can we proclaim the Gospel of reconciliation without at the same time being committed to working for reconciliation between Christians? However true it is that the Church, by the prompting of the Holy Spirit and with the promise of indefectibility, has preached and still preaches the Gospel to all nations, it is also true that she must face the difficulties which derive from the lack of unity. When non-believers meet missionaries who do not agree among themselves, even though they all appeal to Christ, will they be in a position to receive the true message? Will they not think that the Gospel is a cause of division, despite the fact that it is presented as the fundamental law of love? "
The division among Christians is a serious reality which impedes the very work of Christ.
In the eyes of the world, cooperation among Christians becomes a form of common Christian witness and a means of evangelization which benefits all involved.
"Mend your ways, encourage one another, live in harmony, and the God of love and peace will be with you ... The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (2 Cor 13:11,13).
Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, on 25 May, the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, in the year 1995, the seventeenth of my Pontificate.
John Paul II
Blessings to all.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Love Your Neighbor
From: Bryant Wright Ministries
Galatians 5:23 "In contrast, the fruit of the spirit is...kindness."
Do you know one character trait that is always appreciated? The Biblical proverb tells us. “What is desirable in a man is kindness.”
Acts of kindness inspire us, whether it’s taking time to help an employee at the office, or defending a person who is being picked on by bullies. The recipients of these acts of kindness are always grateful.
The one person who comes to mind when I think of kindness is Jesus Christ. He shows us that God is kind. And because He is so kind to us, we are to be kind to one another.
Especially in a busy world where so many seem to be looking out for number one, acts of kindness are always appreciated.
Galatians 5:23 "In contrast, the fruit of the spirit is...kindness."
Do you know one character trait that is always appreciated? The Biblical proverb tells us. “What is desirable in a man is kindness.”
Acts of kindness inspire us, whether it’s taking time to help an employee at the office, or defending a person who is being picked on by bullies. The recipients of these acts of kindness are always grateful.
The one person who comes to mind when I think of kindness is Jesus Christ. He shows us that God is kind. And because He is so kind to us, we are to be kind to one another.
Especially in a busy world where so many seem to be looking out for number one, acts of kindness are always appreciated.
Monday, August 24, 2009
True Friends
From: New Life Daily Devotional - Steve Arterburn
Luke 12:34 "Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be."
As a member-in-good-standing in this highly competitive, 21st-century world, you know that the demands and expectations of everyday living can seem burdensome, even overwhelming at times. Keeping up with the Joneses can become a fulltime job if you let it. A better strategy, of course, is to stop trying to please the neighbors and to concentrate, instead, upon pleasing God.
Perhaps you have set your goals high; if so, congratulations! You’re willing to dream big dreams, and that’s a very good thing. But as you consider your life’s purpose, don’t allow your quest for excellence to interfere with the spiritual journey that God has planned for you.
As a believer, your instructions are clear: you must strive to please God. How do you please Him? By accepting His Son and obeying His commandments. All other concerns—including, but not limited to, keeping up with the Joneses—are of little or no importance.
True friends will always lift you higher and challenge you to walk in a manner pleasing to our Lord. Lisa Bevere
Luke 12:34 "Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be."
As a member-in-good-standing in this highly competitive, 21st-century world, you know that the demands and expectations of everyday living can seem burdensome, even overwhelming at times. Keeping up with the Joneses can become a fulltime job if you let it. A better strategy, of course, is to stop trying to please the neighbors and to concentrate, instead, upon pleasing God.
Perhaps you have set your goals high; if so, congratulations! You’re willing to dream big dreams, and that’s a very good thing. But as you consider your life’s purpose, don’t allow your quest for excellence to interfere with the spiritual journey that God has planned for you.
As a believer, your instructions are clear: you must strive to please God. How do you please Him? By accepting His Son and obeying His commandments. All other concerns—including, but not limited to, keeping up with the Joneses—are of little or no importance.
True friends will always lift you higher and challenge you to walk in a manner pleasing to our Lord. Lisa Bevere
Winners And Losers
From: New Life Daily Devotional - Steve Arterburn
John 15:12 "This is My commandment: love one another as I have loved You."
From experience, we know that it is easy to criticize others. And we know that it is usually far easier to find faults than to find solutions. Still, the urge to criticize others remains a powerful temptation for most of us.
Negativity is highly contagious: We give it to others who, in turn, give it back to us. This stress-inducing cycle can be broken only by positive thoughts, heartfelt prayers, encouraging words, and meaningful acts of kindness.
As thoughtful servants of a loving God, we have no valid reason—and no legitimate excuse—to be negative. So, when we are tempted to be overly critical of others, or unfairly critical of ourselves, we must use the transforming power of God’s love to break the chains of negativity. We must defeat negativity before negativity defeats us.
Winners see an answer for every problem; losers see a problem in every answer. Barbara Johnson
John 15:12 "This is My commandment: love one another as I have loved You."
From experience, we know that it is easy to criticize others. And we know that it is usually far easier to find faults than to find solutions. Still, the urge to criticize others remains a powerful temptation for most of us.
Negativity is highly contagious: We give it to others who, in turn, give it back to us. This stress-inducing cycle can be broken only by positive thoughts, heartfelt prayers, encouraging words, and meaningful acts of kindness.
As thoughtful servants of a loving God, we have no valid reason—and no legitimate excuse—to be negative. So, when we are tempted to be overly critical of others, or unfairly critical of ourselves, we must use the transforming power of God’s love to break the chains of negativity. We must defeat negativity before negativity defeats us.
Winners see an answer for every problem; losers see a problem in every answer. Barbara Johnson
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Accountability
From: The Purpose Driven Life Ministries
Romans 14:12 “Each of us will have to give a personal account to God.”
At the end of your life on earth you will stand before God, and he is going to evaluate how well you served others with your life. The Bible says, “Each of us will have to give a personal account to God.”
Think about the implications of that. One day God will compare how much time and energy we spent on ourselves compared with what we invested in serving others.
At that point, all our excuses for self-centeredness will sound hollow: “I was too busy” or “I had my own goals” or “I was preoccupied with working, having fun, or preparing for retirement.” To all excuses God will respond, “Sorry, wrong answer. I created, saved, and called you and commanded you to live a life of service. What part did you not understand?”
The Bible warns unbelievers, “He will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves,” but for Christians it will mean a loss of eternal rewards. (Romans 2:8)
We are only fully alive when we’re helping others. Jesus said, “If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for My sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live.” (Mark 8:35)
This truth is so important that it is repeated five times in the Gospels. If you aren’t serving, you’re just existing, because life is meant for ministry. God wants you to learn to love and serve others unselfishly.
Romans 14:12 “Each of us will have to give a personal account to God.”
At the end of your life on earth you will stand before God, and he is going to evaluate how well you served others with your life. The Bible says, “Each of us will have to give a personal account to God.”
Think about the implications of that. One day God will compare how much time and energy we spent on ourselves compared with what we invested in serving others.
At that point, all our excuses for self-centeredness will sound hollow: “I was too busy” or “I had my own goals” or “I was preoccupied with working, having fun, or preparing for retirement.” To all excuses God will respond, “Sorry, wrong answer. I created, saved, and called you and commanded you to live a life of service. What part did you not understand?”
The Bible warns unbelievers, “He will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves,” but for Christians it will mean a loss of eternal rewards. (Romans 2:8)
We are only fully alive when we’re helping others. Jesus said, “If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for My sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live.” (Mark 8:35)
This truth is so important that it is repeated five times in the Gospels. If you aren’t serving, you’re just existing, because life is meant for ministry. God wants you to learn to love and serve others unselfishly.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Our Mind On Parade
From: Our Daily Bread Ministries
Matthew 15:18 "Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart."
Jesus said that our words come from our heart. He offended the Pharisees when He said, “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man” (Matthew 11-12). They thought they were right with God because they followed strict rules, including ritual cleansing of their hands before eating and eating only “clean” foods. Jesus upset their pride.
Jesus upsets our pride too. We may think we’re godly people because we go to church regularly or pray, but then we gossip or talk about people behind their backs. James 3:9-10 says, “With our tongue we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men . . . . Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. . . . These things ought not to be so.”
If discouraging noise blares from our mouth when we open it, we need to examine our heart and ask the Lord to forgive us and to help us be a blessing to others.
Every time we speak, our mind is on parade.
Matthew 15:18 "Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart."
Jesus said that our words come from our heart. He offended the Pharisees when He said, “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man” (Matthew 11-12). They thought they were right with God because they followed strict rules, including ritual cleansing of their hands before eating and eating only “clean” foods. Jesus upset their pride.
Jesus upsets our pride too. We may think we’re godly people because we go to church regularly or pray, but then we gossip or talk about people behind their backs. James 3:9-10 says, “With our tongue we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men . . . . Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. . . . These things ought not to be so.”
If discouraging noise blares from our mouth when we open it, we need to examine our heart and ask the Lord to forgive us and to help us be a blessing to others.
Every time we speak, our mind is on parade.
Thorns
From: Today God Is First - Os Hillman
2 Corinthians 12:7 "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me."
Have you ever had something in your life you wish was not there? If God gave you one wish, perhaps it would be to change that one thing. Perhaps it is the source of pain or challenge in your life. You seek God continually for relief from it, but He seems strangely silent.
Paul also experienced an ongoing burden that he called a "thorn in his flesh." Bible scholars have speculated as to what this thorn might have been, but no one knows for sure. We do know that it was so hurtful to Paul that he asked God on three different occasions to remove it from his life.
Paul had a great calling on his life. The revelations and faith experiences that God gave him would have been too much for any man's humility. So God, in order to insure His investment in Paul's life, gave this man a thorn in his flesh to help him maintain a humble, godly perspective.
Perhaps God has given you such a thorn designed to allow you to place greater trust and reliance upon Him. Ask God to reveal to you the blessing of the thorn He has placed in your life.
The bloom of a rose is beautiful, but the thorn of a rose produces only pain. Thorns hurt us yet they humble us. That is the blessing of thorns.
2 Corinthians 12:7 "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me."
Have you ever had something in your life you wish was not there? If God gave you one wish, perhaps it would be to change that one thing. Perhaps it is the source of pain or challenge in your life. You seek God continually for relief from it, but He seems strangely silent.
Paul also experienced an ongoing burden that he called a "thorn in his flesh." Bible scholars have speculated as to what this thorn might have been, but no one knows for sure. We do know that it was so hurtful to Paul that he asked God on three different occasions to remove it from his life.
Paul had a great calling on his life. The revelations and faith experiences that God gave him would have been too much for any man's humility. So God, in order to insure His investment in Paul's life, gave this man a thorn in his flesh to help him maintain a humble, godly perspective.
Perhaps God has given you such a thorn designed to allow you to place greater trust and reliance upon Him. Ask God to reveal to you the blessing of the thorn He has placed in your life.
The bloom of a rose is beautiful, but the thorn of a rose produces only pain. Thorns hurt us yet they humble us. That is the blessing of thorns.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Tough Times
From: New Life Daily Devotional
Matthew 11:29-30 "Take My yoke upon your shoulders and learn from Me for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest, for My yoke is easy and My burden light."
Have you experienced a recent setback? If so, look for the lesson that God is trying to teach you. Instead of complaining about life’s sad state of affairs, learn what needs to be learned, change what needs to be changed, and move on.
View failure as an opportunity to reassess God’s will for your life. And while you’re at it, consider life’s inevitable disappointments to be powerful opportunities to learn more—more about yourself, more about your circumstances, and more about your world.
Life can be difficult at times. And everybody makes mistakes. Your job is to make them only once. And how can you do that? By learning the lessons of tough times sooner rather than later, that’s how.
Matthew 11:29-30 "Take My yoke upon your shoulders and learn from Me for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest, for My yoke is easy and My burden light."
Have you experienced a recent setback? If so, look for the lesson that God is trying to teach you. Instead of complaining about life’s sad state of affairs, learn what needs to be learned, change what needs to be changed, and move on.
View failure as an opportunity to reassess God’s will for your life. And while you’re at it, consider life’s inevitable disappointments to be powerful opportunities to learn more—more about yourself, more about your circumstances, and more about your world.
Life can be difficult at times. And everybody makes mistakes. Your job is to make them only once. And how can you do that? By learning the lessons of tough times sooner rather than later, that’s how.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Wait For The Lord
From: Ambassadors For Christ International
Psalm 25:5 "Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and for You I wait all the day."
There is a source of inner strength that the secular world knows nothing about, and that source is God Himself. God has set up life in such a way that we are not able to face life victoriously without Him. Neither do we have the strength to minister to others in the way He desires, without His enabling.
Are you wearing out? Have you come to the end of your own strength? Are you “stumbling badly”?
God wants you to learn to “wait for the Lord”. He wants you to wait for His leading before moving forward, even with something good. He wants you to wait for His provision, to wait expectantly for His anointing on your ministry. Learn to pray and ask God for His enabling in your life.
Learning to “wait for the Lord” is one of the most important patterns to establish in your life!
Psalm 25:5 "Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and for You I wait all the day."
There is a source of inner strength that the secular world knows nothing about, and that source is God Himself. God has set up life in such a way that we are not able to face life victoriously without Him. Neither do we have the strength to minister to others in the way He desires, without His enabling.
Are you wearing out? Have you come to the end of your own strength? Are you “stumbling badly”?
God wants you to learn to “wait for the Lord”. He wants you to wait for His leading before moving forward, even with something good. He wants you to wait for His provision, to wait expectantly for His anointing on your ministry. Learn to pray and ask God for His enabling in your life.
Learning to “wait for the Lord” is one of the most important patterns to establish in your life!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Encourage Somebody Today
From: The Word For Today - Bob Gass Ministries
Hebrews 3:13 "Encourage one another daily, while it is still 'today'..."
When times are tough we need encouragement to keep going. When we're on the brink of failure, the right word at the right time can keep us in the game. When we're too tired or discouraged to keep going, an act of compassion can give us new strength.
Encouragement is one of the central themes of the Bible: "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." (Proverbs 12:25)
Encouragement doesn't deny the problem; it enables us to overcome it. It doesn't validate stubbornness or stupidity; it simply corrects and guides us in the right path. It doesn't leave us alone to carry the burden, it lets us know that God is present to help and strengthen us.
Funny how when you encourage others, you also will be encouraged..."30, 60, or 100 times more!" Nothing gets by God! As He says in Matthew's Gospel , "...learn from Me for I am gentle and humble of heart..." So today, encourage somebody!
Hebrews 3:13 "Encourage one another daily, while it is still 'today'..."
When times are tough we need encouragement to keep going. When we're on the brink of failure, the right word at the right time can keep us in the game. When we're too tired or discouraged to keep going, an act of compassion can give us new strength.
Encouragement is one of the central themes of the Bible: "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." (Proverbs 12:25)
Encouragement doesn't deny the problem; it enables us to overcome it. It doesn't validate stubbornness or stupidity; it simply corrects and guides us in the right path. It doesn't leave us alone to carry the burden, it lets us know that God is present to help and strengthen us.
Funny how when you encourage others, you also will be encouraged..."30, 60, or 100 times more!" Nothing gets by God! As He says in Matthew's Gospel , "...learn from Me for I am gentle and humble of heart..." So today, encourage somebody!
Monday, August 10, 2009
So, If You Want To Succeed - Prepare Well!
From: The Word For Today - Bob Gass Ministries
Proverbs 24:3 "Any enterprise… built by wise planning, becomes strong."
What happens when you're not well-prepared? Things you hope won't happen, do, and they occur with greater frequency than the things you hope will happen. The dividing line between winning and losing - is preparation! Tennis champion Arthur Ashe said, 'The key to winning is self-confidence, and the key to self-confidence is preparation.' Singing, 'When you wish upon a star' won't make your dreams come true; you've got to prepare yourself.
Ever wonder what Jesus was doing during those pre-dawn risings and nights of prayer? Preparing! If you plan to keep growing, preparation must become a way of life. You must never stop asking, 'Lord, what do You want me to do? What will it cost me in time, effort and resources? What obstacles must I overcome?' If you live with that mindset you'll be well on your way to fulfilling God's purpose for your life.
Asked how long it would take to bring his ship to a stop, the Queen Mary's captain replied, 'A little over a mile.' Then he added, 'A good captain thinks at least a mile ahead.' Your success in any venture is determined by how important it is to you, and your ability to prepare for it.
Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the United States, said, "Men give me credit for genius, but all the genius I have lies in this: when I have a subject to hand, I study it profoundly." So, if you want to succeed - prepare well!
Proverbs 24:3 "Any enterprise… built by wise planning, becomes strong."
What happens when you're not well-prepared? Things you hope won't happen, do, and they occur with greater frequency than the things you hope will happen. The dividing line between winning and losing - is preparation! Tennis champion Arthur Ashe said, 'The key to winning is self-confidence, and the key to self-confidence is preparation.' Singing, 'When you wish upon a star' won't make your dreams come true; you've got to prepare yourself.
Ever wonder what Jesus was doing during those pre-dawn risings and nights of prayer? Preparing! If you plan to keep growing, preparation must become a way of life. You must never stop asking, 'Lord, what do You want me to do? What will it cost me in time, effort and resources? What obstacles must I overcome?' If you live with that mindset you'll be well on your way to fulfilling God's purpose for your life.
Asked how long it would take to bring his ship to a stop, the Queen Mary's captain replied, 'A little over a mile.' Then he added, 'A good captain thinks at least a mile ahead.' Your success in any venture is determined by how important it is to you, and your ability to prepare for it.
Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the United States, said, "Men give me credit for genius, but all the genius I have lies in this: when I have a subject to hand, I study it profoundly." So, if you want to succeed - prepare well!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
True Friendship
From: Bryant Wright Ministries
Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times…"
What is your definition of true friendship?
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Happy is the house that shelters a friend,” and “a friend is a person with whom I may be sincere and before him I may think aloud. The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.”
Walter Winchell defines a friend as “one who walks in when others walk out.”
Someone else has said that a friend is “a man who laughs at your funny stories, even when they ain’t so good, and sympathizes with your misfortunes, even when they ain’t so bad.”
Do you have a friend? Do you know true friendship?
Many, I’m sad to say, would have to answer no. The good news is this; you can have a best friend forever. That friend is Jesus Christ. I encourage you to get to know Him. You’ll never be disappointed. He’ll always be there with you.
Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times…"
What is your definition of true friendship?
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Happy is the house that shelters a friend,” and “a friend is a person with whom I may be sincere and before him I may think aloud. The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.”
Walter Winchell defines a friend as “one who walks in when others walk out.”
Someone else has said that a friend is “a man who laughs at your funny stories, even when they ain’t so good, and sympathizes with your misfortunes, even when they ain’t so bad.”
Do you have a friend? Do you know true friendship?
Many, I’m sad to say, would have to answer no. The good news is this; you can have a best friend forever. That friend is Jesus Christ. I encourage you to get to know Him. You’ll never be disappointed. He’ll always be there with you.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Our Behavior Is Important
From: New Life Daily Devotion - Steve Arterburn
Proverbs 22:25 "A Bad temper is contagious—don’t let yourself get infected."
Sometimes people can behave badly . . . very badly. When other people are unkind to you, you may be tempted to strike back, either verbally or in some other way. Don’t do it! Instead, remember that God corrects other people’s behaviors in His own way, and He doesn’t need your help (even if you’re totally convinced that He does).
Our behavior is important. People see us in many situations at many different times, and the way we act and react can be a powerful witness to the power of Christ in our lives. Christ calls us to a perfection that we cannot achieve on our own. Rely upon the Lord and He will give you the capacity to live an upright, holy, and pleasing life.
So, when other people behave cruelly, foolishly, or impulsively—as they will from time to time—don’t be hotheaded. Instead, speak up for yourself as politely as you can, and walk away. Then, forgive everybody as quickly as you can, and leave the rest up to God.
Proverbs 22:25 "A Bad temper is contagious—don’t let yourself get infected."
Sometimes people can behave badly . . . very badly. When other people are unkind to you, you may be tempted to strike back, either verbally or in some other way. Don’t do it! Instead, remember that God corrects other people’s behaviors in His own way, and He doesn’t need your help (even if you’re totally convinced that He does).
Our behavior is important. People see us in many situations at many different times, and the way we act and react can be a powerful witness to the power of Christ in our lives. Christ calls us to a perfection that we cannot achieve on our own. Rely upon the Lord and He will give you the capacity to live an upright, holy, and pleasing life.
So, when other people behave cruelly, foolishly, or impulsively—as they will from time to time—don’t be hotheaded. Instead, speak up for yourself as politely as you can, and walk away. Then, forgive everybody as quickly as you can, and leave the rest up to God.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Try "Plan B"
From: New Life Daily Devotion - Steve Aterburn
Joshua 1:9 "I command you: be strong and courageous! Do not fear nor be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Some of our most important dreams are the ones we abandon. Some of our most important goals are the ones we don’t attain. Sometimes, our most important journeys are the ones that we take to the winding conclusion of what seem to be dead-end streets. Thankfully, with God there are no dead-ends; there are only opportunities to learn, to yield, to trust, to serve, and to grow.
The next time you experience one of life’s inevitable disappointments, don’t despair and don’t be afraid to try “Plan B.” Consider every setback an opportunity to choose a different, more appropriate path. Have faith that God may indeed be leading you in an entirely different direction, a direction of His choosing. And as you take your next step, remember that what looks like a dead-end to you may, in fact, be the fast lane according to God.
Often God has to shut a door in our face so that He can subsequently open the door through which He wants us to go. Catherine Marshall
Joshua 1:9 "I command you: be strong and courageous! Do not fear nor be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Some of our most important dreams are the ones we abandon. Some of our most important goals are the ones we don’t attain. Sometimes, our most important journeys are the ones that we take to the winding conclusion of what seem to be dead-end streets. Thankfully, with God there are no dead-ends; there are only opportunities to learn, to yield, to trust, to serve, and to grow.
The next time you experience one of life’s inevitable disappointments, don’t despair and don’t be afraid to try “Plan B.” Consider every setback an opportunity to choose a different, more appropriate path. Have faith that God may indeed be leading you in an entirely different direction, a direction of His choosing. And as you take your next step, remember that what looks like a dead-end to you may, in fact, be the fast lane according to God.
Often God has to shut a door in our face so that He can subsequently open the door through which He wants us to go. Catherine Marshall
Monday, August 3, 2009
Thriving In The Pit
From: The Upper Room Devotionals
Genesis 39:21 "The Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love."
Three years ago I found myself in a deep "pit" when I was falsely accused and threatened with a lawsuit. One certainty in life is that we will find ourselves in the pit at some time. For one young mother the pit is a terminal illness. For some middle-aged man, it is the loss of a job or financial disaster. And for a fragile teenage girl, it is a broken relationship.
No one knew more about surviving in the pit than Joseph. His own brothers cast him into a well and then sold him into slavery. Later he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. Yet Joseph not only survived but also actually thrived in his miserable circumstances.
The statement "The Lord was with him" appears several times in today's Bible reading. The scripture seems to imply that Joseph was able to face misfortune because he knew he was not alone. Joseph understood that the Lord was with him and would deliver him. (See Acts 7:9-10.)
How comforting it is for Christians to know that in whatever "pit" we may find ourselves -- the death of a loved one, health issues, broken relationships, or financial problems -- God is with us and able to lift us out.
Genesis 39:21 "The Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love."
Three years ago I found myself in a deep "pit" when I was falsely accused and threatened with a lawsuit. One certainty in life is that we will find ourselves in the pit at some time. For one young mother the pit is a terminal illness. For some middle-aged man, it is the loss of a job or financial disaster. And for a fragile teenage girl, it is a broken relationship.
No one knew more about surviving in the pit than Joseph. His own brothers cast him into a well and then sold him into slavery. Later he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. Yet Joseph not only survived but also actually thrived in his miserable circumstances.
The statement "The Lord was with him" appears several times in today's Bible reading. The scripture seems to imply that Joseph was able to face misfortune because he knew he was not alone. Joseph understood that the Lord was with him and would deliver him. (See Acts 7:9-10.)
How comforting it is for Christians to know that in whatever "pit" we may find ourselves -- the death of a loved one, health issues, broken relationships, or financial problems -- God is with us and able to lift us out.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Good Out Of Adversity
From: Powerpoint Daily Devotional - Jack Graham
Genesis 50:20 "Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve His present end."
Adversity has a way of getting our attention like other times can’t.
Think about it this way. When was the last time you were drawn closer to God as a result of easy times? It doesn’t happen that often. That’s because it is in life’s dark times that we’re most open to what God is teaching us and are therefore drawn closer to Him.
Over the years, I’ve had adversity and I’ve been with people as they have struggled with adversity. And I’ve come to realize that what we really battle with in times of adversity is the desire to control our own circumstances. We want to be the ones to figure things out and to fix things our own way.
The good news about adversity is that it is not pointless. God promises to bring good out of it if we trust him. So don’t be surprised when adversity comes. Jesus has already told us it will come!
And the next time adversity comes your way, say to the Lord, “What is it you are trying to show me? I want to trust you more.” He will be right there drawing you ever closer to himself.
GOD PROMISES TO BRING GOOD OUT OF ADVERSITY IF WE TRUST HIM.
Genesis 50:20 "Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve His present end."
Adversity has a way of getting our attention like other times can’t.
Think about it this way. When was the last time you were drawn closer to God as a result of easy times? It doesn’t happen that often. That’s because it is in life’s dark times that we’re most open to what God is teaching us and are therefore drawn closer to Him.
Over the years, I’ve had adversity and I’ve been with people as they have struggled with adversity. And I’ve come to realize that what we really battle with in times of adversity is the desire to control our own circumstances. We want to be the ones to figure things out and to fix things our own way.
The good news about adversity is that it is not pointless. God promises to bring good out of it if we trust him. So don’t be surprised when adversity comes. Jesus has already told us it will come!
And the next time adversity comes your way, say to the Lord, “What is it you are trying to show me? I want to trust you more.” He will be right there drawing you ever closer to himself.
GOD PROMISES TO BRING GOOD OUT OF ADVERSITY IF WE TRUST HIM.
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