takeaways from the message...

Yesterday's message was awesome!  I loved some of the thoughts that were provided and want to share them with you today so that as you begin your week, like me, we can make adjustments with the strength the Lord provides us.  How about you, do you have / are you living / what are your focusing on:

• the Mind of Christ vs the Mind of Other Things [I used my own words for the 2nd part of this one because I feel it fits and didn't get what was actually on the screen before the next slide]
• Righteousness vs Unrighteousness
• Sober Vigilance vs Sleeping & Complacent
• by Love Serve Others vs Opportunity for the Flesh
• Thoughts on Things Above vs Thoughts on Earthly Things
• Love the Father vs Love the World
• Based on Faith vs Based on Feelings
• Self Control vs Overzealous
• by Grace Alone vs by Our Efforts
• Sound Mind vs Spirit of Fear

[there were verses for each of these, but I think sometimes we think more, contemplate and concentrate on the actual message of them instead of where they are located and the actual wording of the verse when that is left out - to explain why I left this out]
-Bob Harrison

Quotes

“It takes time to be a success, but time is all it takes.”

― Anonymous

something I love!

Do you have something like this in your house?  If so, what does it say?

I want to surround myself with more positive images, more uplifting messages that I see throughout my home.  I have one in my bedroom, one in my office and a quote in my kitchen/dinning room...but I need a few more.  I absolutely LOVE this!!!  I love it so much that I want to create something just like it for my house...or I may have to hire my friend/cousin over at The Virginia House who makes signs to make me one real similar if not exactly like this!  :)  Either way, I am gathering thoughts...ideas...words of encouragement and wisdom from you...so share what you would put on it below!  It will take some time, some thought, but I know I want one...really bad.  Love, love, love!

Quotes

thought for the day...

Be patient. God knows what He's doing. God knows what is best for you. He can see the end result. You can't. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays -- all the things that make you ask "why" -- one day it will all be clear in the light of God's love. But for now, trust God.
- from a friends status update on Facebook

verse to reflect on...

This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other." - Zechariah 7:9-10 (GodsWord translation)

thought for the day...

Quotes

Gratitude consists of being more aware of what you have, than what you don’t.
–Unknown

Quotes

Living is more a question of what one spends than what one makes.

― Marcel Duchamp

verse to reflect on...

Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me. - Psalm 103:2

Quotes

A loving heart is the truest wisdom. 

– Charles Dickens

Quotes

The promise of heaven allows Christians to live lightly, not clinging so tightly to possessions, accomplishments, and agendas. The best is yet to come.
~ Mark McMinn

how do you help someone who is hurting?

How do you help someone who is hurting?  Going through a very difficult time in their life?  Facing insurmountable trials?  Can't see the forest for the trees?  Is more pessimistic than optimistic?  Has received blow after blow?  Wants to quit?   Thinks giving up is an option?  Wants to run far, far, far away?


We all have these moments in life and depending on the individual will react to them differently.  I know I have at various times depending on what I am facing.  I also know that though I have strong faith and believe that God is with me, I still have moments I doubt, am afraid, lack courage, don't see hope, get discouraged, find the everyday processes of life more of a task then a challenge to conquer.  The longer I live through these times, the more I realize that the person looking in may not see, probably won't comprehend, nor even has a clue what I am facing on my own.  So when you get a little window into their soul, a crack that opens up what is happening inside that shows there are struggles, pain, heartache, difficulties, a need...what do you do to help?  How can you help?  What should you do?

• Pray for that person and ask the Lord to help you know how to be an encouragement
• Take a meal over just because, maybe not even a hot one but one they can prepare later when the time is right for them
• Offer to lend a hand with a task you know is probably behind, not caught up, overwhelming them, creating more chaos in their life
• Send them an email, ecard or even a handwritten note in the mail to encourage and life their spirits
• Contact via phone and if you don't get them, don't be upset, they might not be up to talking to you, you can still leave a voicemail and say the punchline there
• Send a text message saying you love them, care for them, and are praying for them today; don't expect a response
• Be willing to listen if they share.  Don't try to get all the nitty gritty details, seriously, they probably are tired of trying to review all of this with everyone when each of us have our own opinion about stuff and share it many times without thinking
• Take them out for coffee, keep it short, don't overdue your willingness to encourage it just might be more than they can take
• Offer to help, but if it isn't accepted don't be offended, it might be more than they can do to accept
• Share one of your favorite verses from the bible
• Give a gift card or a small gift just because to show you care

What ways do you try to encourage people that you know are hurting and not seeing the light in the dark days they are facing?  We all see different needs and I want to focus my efforts continually on encouraging others...I would love for you to share your ideas.

verse to reflect on...

God is worthy of glory because He created all things. - Revelation 4:11

Quotes

God wants us to become obsessively preoccupied with the needs of others. When we do that through the mechanism of business, we are doing work that matters. 
- Rabbi Daniel Lapin (book Thou Shall Prosper)

verse to reflect on...

Everything God does reveals His glory and majesty.  - Psalm 111:3

Quotes

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. 
- Winston Churchill