Exercise

The best exercise for strengthening the heart is reaching down and lifting people up.

“A man finds joy in giving an apt reply–and how good is
a timely word!” Proverbs 15

God Bless Moms

Who you know…….

At church today, the Sermon was about “it is not about how much you know, but about who you know.”  This expression has always bothered me because when applied to business it implies favoritism, special considerations and the possibility that regardless of how hard you work, you may not achieve what you deserve because someone will take unfair advantage of a relationship against you. I can sometimes get caught up in my own ego, my self-centeredness and my selfishness when it comes to worldly matters.

But the sermon explained that in the context of our spiritual life, “who you know,” in this case “Jesus,” is really ALL that matters. You can never learn all there is to know about scripture and theology. You should strive to live a Christian life everyday, but most of us will never lead a perfect sin-free life. But “knowing Jesus” and nurturing our relationship with HIM is the only way we can be saved and live with HIM for eternity.

So I am changing my negative opinion on the phrase: “it is not about how much you know, but about who you know” because I know Jesus and it is my relationship with HIM that will save me.


Southern Ten Commandments


This is funny!!! And much easier to remember!!!

Southern Ten Commandments
 
Some people have trouble with all those ’shall’s’ and ’shall not’s’ in the Ten Commandments.. Folks just aren’t used to talking in those terms. So, in middle Tennessee they translated the ‘King James’ into ‘ Jackson County ‘ language…..no joke (posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Gainesboro , TN ).
 
(1) Just one God
(2) Put nothin’ before God
(3) Watch yer mouth
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meetin’
(5) Honor yer Ma & Pa
(6) No killin’
(7) No foolin’ around with another fellow’s gal
(8) Don’t take what ain’t yers
(9) No tellin’ tales or gossipin’
(10) Don’t be hankerin’ for yer buddy’s stuff
 
Now that’s plain an’ simple. Y’all have a nice day!

Perserverence

Perseverance is more than just hanging in there—it’s working deliberately with confidence, knowing that God will never be defeated!

 

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  James 1:2-4

 

 

My Favorite Scripture Passage

A reading From the book of Corinthians……………..

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It does not dishonor others,

it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,

it keeps no record of wrongs.  

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 Love never fails…………………….. 

And now these three remain:……..

faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love

National Day of Prayer May 7

Thurs. May 7 is National Day of Prayer.  Spend some quiet time with our precious Lord.
 

Whenever you need reassurance that your are loved, simply look to the Cross of Jesus and you will see that God passionately loves you at great cost to Himself.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The Power of NOW

I read a great book called THE POWER OF NOW by Eckart Tolle which is “a guide to spiritual enlightenment.” It quotes Jesus all the way through the book as well as many other enlightened leaders such as Buddha. The simple premise is that the best way to discover your own Supernatural Being and Spirit and God and attempt to achieve peace and happiness in this world is to focus on the exact and very moment that exists….NOW…which is, in fact, the only moment we can affect and influence.  Most of us allow our mind and ego to fixate and obssess on the past feeling guilty about what we did or didn’t do or pine for our “glory days” or worry about the future rather than enjoy and “be in the moment.”  We tend to let the current moment pass us by without enjoying the simple pleasures in life…. our family….our grandchildren …..a beautiful flower……..a beautiful song bird, even our pets. We are so eager to get to a future time thinking only then will we be happy and at peace when, in fact, the only way we can ever achieve peace and happiness is to experience it in THIS moment, NOW…not the past or future.  ”Stop and smell the roses” takes on a whole new wonderful meaning for me having read the book. 

Eckart’s Tolle’s most recent book is called A NEW EARTH…”Awakening to your life’s purpose” which is equally powerful. I highly recommend both books.


Man in black

 
by John Fischer 

[Why Johnny Cash wore black.]

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,

Why you never see bright colors on my back,

And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.

Well, there’s a reason for the things that I have on.



I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,

Living in the hopeless, hungry side of town,

I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,

But is there because he’s a victim of the times.



I wear the black for those who never read,

Or listened to the words that Jesus said,

About the road to happiness through love and charity,

Why, you’d think He’s talking straight to you and me.



Well, we’re doing mighty fine, I do suppose,

In our streak of lightning cars and fancy clothes,

But just so we’re reminded of the ones who are held back,

Up front there ought ‘a be a man In black.



I wear it for the sick and lonely old,

For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,

I wear the black in mournin’ for the lives that could have been,

Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.



And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,

Believen’ that the Lord was on their side,

I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,

Believen’ that we all were on their side.



Well, there’s things that never will be right I know,

And things need changin’ everywhere you go,

But ’til we start to make a move to make a few things right,

You’ll never see me wear a suit of white.



Ah, I’d love to wear a rainbow every day,

And tell the world that everything’s OK,

But I’ll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,

‘Till things are brighter, I’m the man In black.

“He was despised and rejected by men, 
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.” Isaiah 53:7

B.I.B.L.E.

B-I-B-L-E: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16