Niciodata!

"Nu criticul este cel important; nu cel care arata cu degetul atunci cand cel puternic se poticneste sau cand binefacatorul ar fi putut face mai mult bine.

Lauda este a aceluia care este in arena...care, in cel mai bun caz, cunoaste la final triumful unei mari realizari si care, in cel mai rau caz, daca pierde, macar pierde pentru ca a indraznit.

Asadar locul lui nu va fi niciodata alaturi de acele suflete timide care nu cunosc nici victorie nici infrangere." Theodore Roosevelt

"Ai fost facut pentru ceva mai mult decat simpla evitare a esecului. Este ceva in interiorul tau care te face sa vrei sa umbli pe apa - sa parasesti confortul existentei monotone si sa te abandonezi in aventura umblarii cu Dumnezeu." John Ortberg

"Poate Dumnezeu te cheama sa te increzi in El intr-un moment de frustrare al vietii tale. Increde-te in El! Nimeni nu a regretat vreodata ca a avut prea mare incredere in Dumnezeu. NICIODATA !" J. Ortberg

Tu sti cine esti?

Astazi toata lumea vorbeste despre noi.
Dupa atatea scole de marginalizare sociala, suntem in sfarsit in centrul atentiei!

In politica, in biserici, in autobuze si in scoli (mai putin poate acasa, unde nimeni nu vede), se intrec barbatii sa ne dea intaietete, sa ne sara in ajutor, sa ne ocroteasca drepturile cum cum numai ei stiu.

Pe un post de televiziune cineva ne apara, spunand ca ar trebui sa ni se acorde mai mult credit. Pe altul suntem descrise la puterea a treia...Cineva ne lauda pentru talent si pentru sensibilitate, altcineva admira independenta noastra, castigata atat de greu.

In ziare si reviste ni se dau o puzderie de sfaturi cum sa mancam , cum sa ne imbrcacam, cum sa slabim, cum sa iubim cum sa gatim, cum sa muncim, cum sa facem copii si cum sa ii crestem.

Se incurajeaza astfel "discret" o competitie acerba intre noi. Dar nimeni nu ne invata cum sa traim cu-adevarat, cum sa atingem implinirea aceea despre care doar am auzit vorbindu-se, dar nu am gustat-o inca.

Invidiez soarta acelor femei neemancipate de acum doua mii de ani si mai bine, a caror existenta a fost innoita pe de-a-ntregul de o simpla si miraculoasa intalnire.

A fost mai intai o fantana si o cerere de Dumnezeu insetat, apoi o mana si o inima de femeie s-au intins dupa Apa vie. O, ce n-as da sa fi fost eu samariteanca aceea..

Apoi a fost un vas de alabastru plin cu mir, turnat de o Marie cu sufletul mai curat si mai frumos ca oirce parfum. Oare -as putea sa fiu astazi ca ea, aplecata la picioarele Lui?...

Si a mai fost cineva fara nume; doar s-a atins de haina Celui in care credea si a fost vindecata... Vindecata si laudata: "Indrazneste, fiica, credinta ta te-a mantuit!". Tanjesc sa mi se spuna si mie candva cuvintele acestea...

Nu stiu cum te simti tu in vartejul acestei lumi contemporane, care epuizeaza pur si simplu cu infinitele ei "oferte " si "posibilitati" , platite mai apoi atat de scump cu timpul, pacea si sanatatea noastra.

Stiu doar ca eu nu ma regasesc cu adevarat decat in linistea acelor seri cand, cu Biblia deschisa , ma asez pe marginea unei fantani de demult, sau la picioarele Celui care
ma cunoaste si ma cheama: "Indrazneste, fiica! ".

Atunci stiu cu-adevarat cine sunt.

Tu sti cine esti?


Martie 2008 (autor anonim)

THE BUS RIDE

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas.

Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.

As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, 'You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.' Then he thought, 'Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a gift from God and keep quiet.'

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, 'Here, you gave me too much change.'

The driver, with a smile, replied, 'Aren't you the new preacher in town? I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you, too much change. I'll
see you at church on Sunday.'

W hen the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, 'Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter.'

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read.. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians and will put us to the test! Always be on guard -- and remember -- You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself 'Christian..'

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

God bless you; I hope you are having a wonderful day!


The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not PROTECT you....

Stay FAITHFUL and Be GRATEFUL!

What Jesus Did! - This First!

Don't worry and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' All the people that don't know God try to get these things.

Don't worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need these things. The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing the good things God wants you to do. Then all these other things you need will be given to you.
- Matthew 6:31-33 (ERV)

THOUGHT:

What's most important to you? Why is it important? Jesus emphasizes all throughout his ministry that three things are of supreme importance: loving God with all our heart, loving our neighbor, and seeking after God's Kingdom. If we do those things, everything else will fall into place; the hand of the Creator will be there helping each thing find its proper place.

He knows what we need. He has a plan for our lives. He will meet our needs. Does this mean things will be easy or always go well for us? No. If our hero was crucified on a cross, do you think we're less vulnerable? But God does assure his Kingdom seekers that we will ultimately get what we seek; we will share with the King in his Kingdom in all of his glory. In addition, in seeking after Kingdom values, we will bless those we love, we will have a redemptive influence on those around us, and we will have all that we really need in life.

PRAYER:

O gracious Father, help me keep my eyes focused on your Kingdom, my heart centered on you, my mind illuminated by your Word, and my spirit empowered and cleansed by your Spirit. Father, please forgive me when I am distracted by things that don't really matter. Use your Word, your Spirit, and your people to help call me back to a proper set of priorities. Please bless me as I make your Kingdom and your righteousness my consuming passion. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Related Scriptures:

We know that in everything God works for the good of those people that love him. These are the people God called (chose), because that was his plan. God knew those people before he made the world. And God decided that those people would be like his Son (Jesus).

Then Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters. God planned for those people to be like his Son. And he called (chose) those people. God called those people and made them right with him. And God gave his glory to those people that he made right. - Romans 8:28-30

Some of you say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to some city. We will stay there a year, do business, and make money." Listen! Think about this: You don't know what will happen tomorrow! Your life is like a fog. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away. So you should say, "If the Lord wants, we will live and do this or that." - James 4:13-15

The thing I want and hope for is that I will not fail Christ in anything. I hope that I will have the courage now, like always, to show the greatness of Christ in my life here on earth. I want to do that if I die or if I live. I mean that to me the only important thing about living is Christ. And even death would be profit for me. - Philippians 1:20-21

What Jesus Did! - Ultimate Splendor

You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. "And why do you worry about clothes? Look at the flowers in the field. See how they grow.

They don't work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. God clothes the grass in the field like that.

That grass is living today, but tomorrow it is thrown into the fire to be burned. So you know that God will clothe you much more. Don't have so little faith! - Matthew 6:27-30 (ERV)






THOUGHT:
What's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen? While God made many wonderful and marvelous sights for us to see on our planet and in the universe, God still calls us his children, his most marvelous work. King Solomon was richest of the Israelite kings. He had clothing beyond compare in the ancient world, but the beauty of his garments couldn't rival that of the wildflowers on the hillside. God gives these flowers beauty and nourishment out of his grace.

Jesus reminds us that if God takes that much care with wildflowers, then won't he do even more to take care of us, his creations of splendor? So let's not worry. Worry is a bad habit. Worry is an undisciplined heart seeking after the wrong things. Instead, let’s pursue our Father. Let’s cast our anxieties at his feet and trust in his care. Yes, there may be some bumpy and heartbreaking times as we make our journey through life here on earth, but his grace will ultimately bring us to his glory and splendor.





















PRAYER:
Please give me patience, O Almighty God. I want to cast my cares and anxieties on you, but I'm not quite sure how to let them go. Through your Spirit, help me relinquish my search for significance in what I can acquire, possess, control, or invest. I want to trust you and rely on your gracious provision. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Related Scriptures:
Let all people see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. And God's peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. That peace which God gives is so great that we cannot understand it. - Philippians 4:5-7

So be humble under God's powerful hand. Then he will lift you up when the right time comes. Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:6-7

Keep your lives free from the love of money. And be satisfied with the things you have. God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never run away from you." So we can feel sure and say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. People can do nothing to me." - Hebrews 13:5-6