Think on this

There is nothing like a hopeless situation...

people only become hopeless about the situation.

 ~ John Hagee

If you're going through a challenging time...don't forget that once there is life, there is hope. The Bible says: "There is hope for those who are still alive—it does not matter who they are. But this saying is true: A living dog is better than a dead lion." (Ecc 9:4 - Easy-to-read Vern)

There may be times we "low in hope"...I've had some in recent days. I decided to be like David who focussed on God not the situation when in seemingly "hopeless" situations.

In Ps 42:11, he asked and answered: "Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God." (NIV)

The reason is simple:

"the LORD delights in those who fear him, 

who put their hope in his unfailing love. (Ps 147:11 - NIV)

Afterall, He said: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jer 29:11 - NIV)

I respective of the situation(s) you're facing or in now, "There is indeed a future, and your hope will never be cut off." (Prov 23:18 - God's Word Translation)

Keep your focus on Him Who cannot fail...and that is all you need to keep hoping...



The Stranger (Author unknown)

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mum taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger... he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.

"I don't..."

I held myself from laughing out-loud when I read a news clip basically telling people to:
Consider saying "I don't" to living together before marriage.* Based on a psychologist's study, living together before marriage led to more unhappy and/or broken marriages.

I wonder why it should take a psychologist's study for people to realize and believe that living/co-habiting with someone you're not married to is not just wrong - it is sin. Even if you're planning to get married to each other, there is absolutely no justification for it.

Although they are not comparable, some people compare co-habiting to taking a car out for a test drive. Let's toe that line for a bit. If you ask anyone who has test-driven a car and then bought it, they will tell you that they found out more about the car when it was theirs vs. during the test drive not to mention we're more inclined to treat it well so it "treats" them well too. On the flip side, "test-driving" another person's emotions is simply unfair & unkind. You wouldn't want anyone to do that to you...would you?

The best definition I've heard of "Love" outside of the excellent description in 1 Corinthians 13, is:

"Love is acting in the other person's best interest." 

If you love someone that much, you will treat the person honorably and be committed to them. If you're not confident & courageous to make that committment then wait till you're ready - do not complicate your life anymore by co-habiting. 

I also found this article and the comments interesting:

http://www.marriagemissions.com/living-together-before-marriage/   

Source:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/maybe-its-time-to-say-i-dont-to-living-together-before-marriage/article2403319/



P.S. Today marks 12 years since my husband & I first said "I do" in front of witnesses...

Life lessons-Guide dog

Each time I see a person with a guide-dog, it reminds me of the power and essence of trust. Think about it, the person literally believes in that dog and trusts that it will only lead him/her in the right path to ensure a safe arrival at their destination.

I agree with Ernest Hemingway that: The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them. And that is all God expects of us. How would you know if you can trust God (& have faith in Him) if you don't try to trust Him?

Psalm 37: 3-5 encourages us to:

"Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass." (Amplified)

Trusting God is the only way we can be assured that we will achieve a glorious destiny in life and arrive at the glorious eternal destination - Heaven. Each time you see someone with their guide-dog ask yourself if you trust God more than that person trusts their guide-dog.

Ignoring is not Discouraging

Something happened this morning and I just have to vent...

One of my children was not displaying appropriate dining etiquette and I had to reprimand him for that. Then I asked his sibling whether he noticed the "wrong act." The answer was affirmative then I asked: "Why didn't you correct him since you knew it was wrong?" 

With the lack of response it struck me that ignoring a person's wrong doing is not the same as discouraging them. In fact, that is a classic example of where and how "silence is consent."

About Attitude...

I saw this on one of my Facebook friends' page:

A bad attitude is like a flat tire...

...you cannot go anywhere until you change it!!!

When I read, I couldn't agree more and then added that "for those who have tried to drive with a flat tire, they have found out that something more than the tire was destroyed - in most cases the rim was also a write-off. I know that from personal experience - I mean the tire & rim example :)

Things to remember...on one hand...

0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

1] Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout your life. A very wise person said: Prayer should be our first port of call and not a last resort.

2] Do you know why a car’s WINDSHIELD is so large & the Rear-view Mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. Look Ahead and Move on! (Byrd Baggett: Look at life through the windshield, not the rear-view mirror”) Look/go  forward...you cannot live in reverse.

3] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, it's just a bend, not the end!"
A wise unknown person said:

"A bend in the road is not the end of the road...

  unless you fail to make the turn."

There will always be bends and bumps on the way to your destiny. Decide and keep moving forward...

4] A blind person asked Swami Vivekanand: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"

5] WORRYING does not take away tomorrow’s TROUBLES, it takes away today’s PEACE! And, "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.

(Corrie Ten Boom)