Sunday, June 29, 2008

Raise your victory stone!

The lyrics to a popular old hymn that has become a pretty awesome worship song are below. "Here I raise my Ebenezer," is an odd saying with great meaning. An Ebenezer stone is a stone raised when you are in victory! It could be raised for any victory or success you have in your life. So my prayer for you today is to have victory in something. You have conquered something tough--or decide you would like to try. Today I raise my Ebenezar in victory over Satan to have you as my friend reading this blog...


Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Me and God have some good stuff most of the time!

Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. (Proverbs 19:20)

Not to be...

too Holy or anything but how can you go through your life and not love those who need you? How can you not stop and help and do something? I can't. A lot of the time I can't do much but people need people. People need a spiritual well-being in order to live day to day. If you don't you are just thrown into sadness and hopelessness. I refuse to live that I way and I refuse to let you do it too!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Don't Let Others Set YOUR Goals

Too many people choose goals based on what others think. Instead, think about what YOU really care about, and set meaningful goals to accomplish what matters to you!

A friend of mine gave me valuable advice--My friend, Gary, left the military after 20 years of service as a marine pilot. His military friends were surprised that he would leave with the possibility of promotion right before his eyes. They all wondered what could be so wrong that you wouldn't want that rank. He had a great answer. He said, "Holding the highest rank has never been my dream." "It might be your dream, and that's cool, but it isn't mine."

Gary's dream was to serve his country by serving children. He offered his services to his local school and church. In a matter of a few years he was the head of a prestigious high school academic program. He told me it's a lot like flying. "You have your hands on the controls, and you have the power to excel. It is all within your hands." Teaching was a dream come true and one that would have never come true if he had worried about what other people thought he should do.

You know you don't have to be great in everything to be happy. But you do have to believe you have maintained control over your own destiny. For me that destiny was designed by God, I messed it up for a while, then I discerned it. I couldn't be happier! I pray you are happy at what you do and take pride in how well you do it. If you don't, you are not a happy person because you have no sense of accomplishment.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

All you can take

are the random acts of kindness that you give away everyday. Think about it, you want your life here on earth to feel like you did something while you were here. Well really the only things that matter are the things that you freely give of yourself to the people you love and the people you don't even know! So lay your head on your pillow tonight and know that you made a difference in this world. If you can't think of anything then know that you made my life better because you are my friend. Grace and Peace...

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Us

John 15:12-13
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Do What You Say You Are Going To Do

Not much can kill progress or destroy enthusiasm more than someone who talks but never follows through. It is crucial in both your home life and your work life that you stay focused and committed to whatever you say you would do.

The difference between those who have happy relationships and those who have unhappy personal relationships is not the amount of conflicts they have. Indeed, each group has a similar number of conflicts. Instead, it is a greater commitment to following through on agreed-upon changes that contributes to the success of relationships and the 23 % greater happiness of those involved!!

This is something I really struggle with because I have a lot of commitments pulling me one way or the other--so like my dad told me growing up--"You make time for things that are important!"