The Tide is coming back

An executive had an interesting print hanging in his office. It depicted a large rowboat stranded on a beach. Two oars rested gently in the sand, with the ocean at low tide twenty or thirty feet behind it. The boat looked too heavy to drag, too big to move. It was just stuck there in the sand.

The picture wasn't a thing of beauty. It wasn't inspiring. In fact, it was depressing. Here was this boat created for the water, a very nice boat made to dance on top of the ocean waves, stuck in the sand.

But at the bottom of the picture was a small caption that gave meaning to the otherwise unremarkable picture. It read: "The tide always comes back."

With that simple caption, the print took on new meaning: When the tide returned, that stranded boat once again would find its purpose. It would return to the place it was meant to be.

The executive once gone through a great disappointment. He didn't think he would ever be happy again. Then he saw the painting at a small antique store and bought it for just a few dollars. Every time he looked at it, he said to himself: "The tide is coming back."

That print spoke faith into his heart. The caption gave him hope that things would change in his favor.

You may find yourself in a similar situation. Stuck. Stranded. Robbed of your purpose. Things may not be going your way. You've lost your energy and enthusiasm.

Heed those words: "The tide is coming back."

Materials from Joel Osteen: It's Your Time

Song of the day: He
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKdV-D4IzoA&feature=player_embedded

Additional: http://www.amazingfacts.org/FreeStuff/BibleStudies/StudyGuides/tabid/105/ctl/ViewMedia/mid/453/IID/2-8/LNG/en/7/The-Ultimate-Deliverance/SC/R/Default.aspx

The Rat Race

Researchers wanted to see how the rats' attitude in an experiment affected their will to live. They put one rat in a large tub of water with high sides so it could not get out. Then they put the tub in a dark room. They timed how long the rat would keep swimming before it gave up. The rat lasted a little over three minutes.

Then the researchers put another rat in the same tub, but this time they allowed a bright ray of light to shine into the room. That rat swam more than thirty-six hours, seven hundred times longer than the rat with no light.

Why was that? The rat with no light had no hope. When he looked ahead he saw only darkness. There wasn't any reason to keep swimming. "For God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:17

That's what happens when we don't expect God's favor. We lose faith that we can overcome our obstacles. We don't believe that God is in control, so we lose our passion, we lose our enthusiasm. That's why it is so important- especially in times of difficulty, to keep reminding yourself: "The Creator of the universe is directing my steps. He has me in the palm of His hands. And even though this is difficult, I know it's just a matter of time before it turns around. I know my payday is coming."

You may be about to give up on a dream. You think it's been too long. It never will change. It will never work out. But you must get your fire back. Fan that flame. Keep that dream alive. Even though it's taking a long time, the good news is, God still has a way to bring it to pass.

Materials extracted from Joel Osteen: It's Your Time

Song: In His Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtcBURtm5Aw&feature=related

Righteous will live by Faith

Scripture says,"God is effectually at work in those who believe." Notice, His power is activated only when we believe. God can work on your behalf your whole lifetime and you never really get the full benefit of it because you didn't believe. Sure, you may get a break here and there, but when you really believe, when you really get up everyday expecting good things, you're going to see more of God's favor. You're going to see what He's been doing behind the scenes.

In the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:17

Joel Osteen 2010 Calendar 29 October

Good to Evil People?

We can be good to people when they're good to us. That's easy. But God wants us to be good to people even when they're not so good to us. You overcome evil with good.

The tongue has the power of life and death. . . Proverbs 18:21

Joel Osteen 2010 Calendar 28 October

Your Labor in the Lord is not in Vain

You may not have yet stepped into your divine destiny. You're still doing many things for which you have little passion and no enthusiasm. It is time to become a better you. Certainly, you can't just snap your fingers and change careers, but at least examine your life and be aware of how you're spending your time.

Are you pursuing your passion? Are you doing what you are good at naturally? If no, why don't you make some changes? TIME is short. Find one thing that you're passionate about, and start giving yourself to it. And God will lead you one step at a time. :)

My dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the LORD is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Joel Osteen 2010 Calendar 27 October

Song: Seek ye First the Kingdom of God http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qZtAt7trBI&feature=related

Meet a Need

The world does not need to hear another sermon near as much as it needs to see one. Learn to give your time, your money, an encouraging word; meet a need. When you show love, you are showing God to the world.

A new command I give you: Love one another as i have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35

Joel Osteen 2010 Calendar 25 October

Generational Account

We need to understand that the generations are connected. You are sowing seeds for further generations. Whether you realize it or not, everything you do counts. Every time you persevere, every time you are faithful, every time you serve others, you are making a difference; you're storing up equity in your "generational account."

My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped. Psalm 17:5

Joel Osteen 2010 Calendar 23/24 October

Never Stop Growing

I believe we should never stop growing, no matter how old we are. Even if we are 80 years old..

Below are extracted from: Youniquely Woman~Continuing the Adventure

The Desire Within
I believe at your core you want to do your best to follow where God leads. Deep inside or right on the surface- you have a hunger to grow. You really want to be more than you are. You want to experience more (and more and more still) of what God has for you now, in the midst of your present life, and in the days that remain for you.

That's what you want. Does it surprise you that God wants that for you too? It's a tenet in God's creation that every living thing either grows or dies. Nothing alive stays static; its either going forward or slipping back. It's either reaching higher and higher for sunlight or withering into itself.

So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. (2 Peter 1:5-8 MSG)

Active and growing! I LOVE THAT! The God of all growing things has no intention of letting you stay where you are. He wants you to stretch, to learn new things, to live expectantly, to become more fruitful and productive, to nurture that secret, inner spot in your soul, and to make growth one of the priorities in your life.

How do you do that? It's always a good idea to look ahead to the finished products-to think about what you want to grow into. Have you considered what kind of middle-aged or older person you want to be?

One of my favourite songs: As the Deer panteth for the Water
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNhkor8dJ0A&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIlGBQfdzL4&NR=1 (Video clip created by 11yr old)

I Would Treasure God's Word More

God would be happy to teach us many wonderful things if we had taken more time and made a more determined effort to seek Him through Bible study and prayer. I remember telling myself, "I'm just too busy. I'll pursue such things when I'm older and have more time." But the truth is that we all have the same amount of hours in a week, and we choose how to invest every one of them.

Before He left this earth, Jesus said to His disciples, "The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your rembrance all that I have said to you" (John 14:26)

And of course its true. The Holy Spirit is available to us 24/7, and His strong desire is to teach us the Word of God and help us understand and apply its truths. There will be times when that conversation will be very intimate, and He'll go beyond simply teaching us facts. He'll share His treasures with us!

For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. (Proverbs 8:11 NKJV)

God wants to give us such treasures from His heart and from His Word. But most of us are too self-absorbed or running too fast through life to stop and receive His gifts of wisdom. He won't force His treasures on us or press them into our hands as we're running by Him in a frenzy.

Extracted from Youniquely Woman~ If I Could Do It All Again: I Would Treasure God's Word More

Stretching to the next level

You have not seen, heard, or imagined the great things God has in store for you. As you keep stretching to the next level, improving your life and reaching for your highest potential, you will not only give birth to your dreams, but you will become a better you, better than you ever dreamed possible.

Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.

John 9:38

Joel Osteen 2010 Calendar 15 October

To win is to honor God

The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalm 147:11

"To win is to honor God". One of the lines from the film "Chariots of Fire".

We should live by that same philosophy, striving to excel, pursuing our destiny, becoming the best that we can possibly be, and as we do, we will honor God.

Joel Osteen 2010 Calendar 14 October

Obedience

It is important to understand that everything God tells us is for our good. God never holds us back from His Best. Nor does He purposely make our lives more difficult. Quite the contrary, your heavenly Father is waiting for your obedience so He can release more of His favour and blessing in your life.

"It is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous." Romans 2:13

Joel Osteen 2010 Calendar 08 October

Be Still

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7

Thank God, He knows what's best for us.

Thank God that He's merciful and doesn't always give us our way.

I've learned that when my prayers aren't answered or when things aren't happening as fast as I would like, that either means that God is protecting me from danger up ahead, it's not the right time, or God has something better in store.

Joel Osteen 2010 Calendar October 05

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M9wowQaXYk

Taking Care of Business: God's Business

i was just thinking about this recently..

How to incorporate God into every parts of our lives.

Think one of the most difficult is in our workplace.

Truly.. i am still trying and not very sure how i can spread e word of God in my workplace.

i dun wana be judged.. nor be taken advantage..

i just do my fair share and have integrity and uphold good work ethnics as much as possible..

This series of 'Taking Care of Business' by Andy Stanley we are doing in cell group currently; really answered my query. And he quenched my thrist for my question and guide me along..

Thanks God!
:)
Hope to share this with your people.

Your Guide from 9:00 to 5:00

For most people, it’s a necessity.

For some, it’s a passion.

And for others, it’s a four-letter word to be avoided when possible.

But for all of us, only one perspective on WORK really matters: God’s.

He ordained it and He laid out specific guidelines for us to achieve maximum success and fulfillment while on the job. In this six-part DVD, Andy Stanley addresses common and specific problem areas we’re all familiar with—from dealing with coworkers and superiors while exemplifying Christ, to boldly living the Christian faith; to balancing our work and home life.

If We Could Do It All Again

Doing something again is a nice thought, but none of us are granted do-overs in this life. Much as we may wish we could, we can't do it all again. As deeply as we might like to go back to certain seasons of our lives or revisit certain attitudes or decisions we made in our younger years on a timeline, with a specific beginning and a specific end. And wherever we may be on that line, going forward is the only option.

We can't go back, and we can't stand still.

We have to take life as it comes. Each day brings a fresh opportunity to follow the Lord and -in His power and grace-begin life anew from this point forward. Praise His name! The Lord's mercies "are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:23).

So yesterday is yesterday and today is today, and life must be lived to the hilt in the 24 hours directly before us. Even so, here we are-with the deep desire in our hearts to touch your life and the lives of others by pointing you toward wisdom we wish we'd possessed and practised when we were younger.

A woman named Henrietta Mears was asked near the end of her life,"What would you do differently if you could live your life over again?" Without hesitation she replied, "I would trust God more." Now if you knew the history of this remarkable woman, you would say she already trusted God in a deeply significant way. A Sunday school teacher at Hollywood Presbysterian for many years, Henrietta taught generations of young boys, many of whom went into fulltime ministry. She never married, and in the course of her long and fruitful ministry, Henrietta founded the Forest Home Christian Conference Center in Southern California and wrote a layman's overview of Scripture that is widely used to this day: What the Bible Is All About.

Towards the end of her life, however, looking back on all her opportunities and all she had accomplished for the Lord, Henrietta said, "If I had to do over again, I would trust God even more."

All of us has seen miracles of provision, direction, empowerment and headling in our walks with God through the years. Each of us has found the Lord to be completely faithful to His promises, blessing our lives above and beyond what we ever imagined.

Each of us trusts God.
But all if us wish we'd trusted Him even more.

A man stopped on the trail to ponder the view, he noticed a little sparrow by the river's edge, dipping its tiny beak into the water. Then, having satisfied its thrist with a drop or two of the river, it flew away. My friend felt the Lord speak to him in that moment, "That's how much of My grace and power you are appropriating in your life. It's barely a drop of a might river."

No matter how much we trust the Lord, no matter how deeply we dip into His resources, there will always, always be more. . . infinitely more. We can't trust the Lord too much. . . and all of us trust Him too little.

Even though we look back now and wish we'd realized this more in our younger days, you can actually do something about it in your life now!

You've decided to hang in there and trust God through a pressure-filled season of life. Your decision hasn't been easy, and maybe the road ahead doesn't look all that great. But you've made up your mind to trust God more. You will not regret that choice. Not now, not tommorrow, not forever.

Extracted from Chapter Seven: Youniquely Woman

The Steadfast Love of the Lord (Thai Version) Great Voice!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SLArVdZlZ0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsf3CM2Cxas&feature=related