Song of Solomon 8:7

Your Heavenly Heritage

Your Heavenly Heritage TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26, NIV. TODAY'S WORD: In life, we all have negative things that happen to us. We go through situations that are unfair. I know people who were raised in an unhealthy environment. Their parents had issues, and now it’s making life much more difficult on them. But here is the truth: when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He gives you a new heart. In other words, your bloodline changes. No longer are you subject to your earthly heritage; you become subject to your heavenly heritage! His spiritual blessing always overrides the curse in the natural realm. When you understand who you are and what God has already done, then no matter what someone else did, no matter how unfair it was, no matter how you were raised, you won’t get bitter. You won’t live with a chip on your shoulder. You realize that nothing can stop you from fulfilling your God-given destiny! Today, remember you came from Almighty God. He gave you life. When you choose Him, you are choosing your heavenly heritage of blessing and eternal, abundant life! PRAYER FOR TODAY: God in heaven, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus so that I may be saved. Today I surrender every area of my life to You. Have Your way in me; let Your will be done in my life. Thank You for making me new in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PS...

Bring Your Love and Work to Together by Rick Warren “Do all your work in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14 (TEV) The apostle Paul says, “Do all your work in love.” He doesn’t say some of your work but all of your work. He also says that no matter “what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.” 1 Corinthians 13:3 (MSG). The point is, any job can be turned into worship when it is built on the model of Christ's love; that love is expressed to co-workers, clients, and customers. Mother Teresa said, “It’s not what you do so much that matters, but how much love you put into it.” Think about it like this: Two-thirds of the word “career” is C-A-R-E. The English philanthropist John Ruskin once said, “When love and skill come together, expect a masterpiece.” So, I want you to pray a prayer every day this week — whether it's at home or at school, in your backyard, or at an office or wherever you work. I want you to pray, “Father, today I want to worship you through my work. I want to express my gifts. I want to do it as if I'm doing it for you, and I want to do it in love." “So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer” (Romans 12:1 TEV). Talk It Over What do you think is the difference in ministry and work? How would your co-workers characterize you by the way you treat others? What are the gifts God has given you? How are you using your gifts in your work or career?

e-Hug =)

Cool =)

Photo of the Day! =)

Philippians 2:2

Created for Greatness

Created for Greatness TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10, NIV. TODAY'S WORD: It’s easy to go through life thinking that we’re average; we’re ordinary. “There’s nothing special about me. I’m just one of the six billion people on earth.” No, when God created you, He put a part of Himself in you. You could say that you have the DNA of Almighty God. You are destined to do great things, destined to leave your mark on this generation. The truth is, there is nothing average about you; but too many times we don’t realize who we are. We focus on our weaknesses or what we don’t have. We focus on the mistakes we’ve made or the family from which we’ve come. We end up settling for mediocrity when we were created for greatness! If you’re going to break out of average, you need to remind yourself every day, “I have the DNA of the Most High God. Greatness is in my genes. I come from a bloodline of champions.” If you’ll have the attitude of a champion, you’ll live the life of a champion and boldly embrace the blessings He has in store for you! PRAYER FOR TODAY: Father, thank You for preparing me to do the good works You have prepared. I am not average. I am not ordinary. I am created for greatness, and I belong to Almighty God. Thank You for Your faithfulness in Jesus’ name! Amen. PS... Love Expects the Best by Rick Warren “Love ... never stops hoping.” 1 Corinthians 13:7b (GW) Lasting love expects the best. It’s forward looking. It’s optimistic. It’s not stuck in the past. It’s not always looking backward. Lasting love is hopeful. The Bible says, “Love ... never stops hoping” (1 Corinthians 13:7 GW). The Living Bible translation says love will “always expect the best.” The Message paraphrase says love “always looks for the best.” The poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning said, “Whoever loves believes in miracles.” Have you noticed that people tend to live up to your expectations of them? We shape the people around us by what we expect of them. You set people up all the time. You set your wife up by what you expect of her and what you don’t expect of her. You set your friends up by what you expect and what you don’t expect. Whatever you want the people in your life to become, treat them that way — not the way they are. Guys, you want your wife to treat you like a king? The solution is real simple: Treat her like a queen. Emphasize the positive. Forget the nagging. Tell it like it is? No. Tell it like it can be. Start expecting the best from each other. A family in our church went over to Chili’s after one weekend service. The waitress was very kind and asked their little boy, “Now, what would you like, sir?” After she took his order and walked away, he said, “Mommy, she treated me like I was a human!” Love never stops hoping. Love expects the best. Talk It Over How have you seen your high expectations met in others? What about low expectations? From whom in your life do you need to expect the best? What are the things you hope for in your relationships? Do you expect God to provide those things?

The President is coming =)

A Baby's Birth =)

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Psalm 90:12

Winning the Respect of Others

Winning the Respect of Others TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: So that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders… 1 Thessalonians 4:12, NIV. TODAY'S WORD: When others look at your life, what do they see? Does your daily life win the respect of others? As believers, we are Christ’s representatives in the earth. We are called to a higher standard. The way we live our lives should bring glory to God the Father. Notice this verse doesn’t say, “Go out of your way to do something major so that everyone will respect you.” It doesn’t say, “Win a gold medal or Pulitzer prize so that people will glorify your Father in heaven.” No, it says that your daily life should win the respect of others. That simply means to always take the high road and live a life of excellence. It means doing the right thing even when no one is looking. It means finding common ground in order to be a peacemaker. It means going out with an attitude of faith and thanksgiving. Remember, you will become like whomever you spend the most time with. If you are committed to spending time with God the Father every day, you’ll develop His character. You’ll win the respect of outsiders and bring glory to your Father in heaven! PRAYER FOR TODAY: Father, today I dedicate every area of my mind, will and emotions to You today. Help me live my daily life as an example of Your love. Let me honor You in all I do so that my daily life wins the respect of others in Jesus’ name! Amen.

PS... 

Love Always Trusts

 

by Rick Warren

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6 (NIV)

Lasting love doesn’t just extend grace; it expresses faith. Faith and love are intertwined because love is built on trust. It says, “I believe in you. I trust you. I have confidence in you.”

You cannot love someone you don’t trust. So if you’re going to love somebody, you have to not only extend him grace; you have to express faith. The Bible says,“Love ... never stops believing.” 1 Corinthians 13:7b (GW). The New International Version says love “always trusts.” The New Living Translation says love “never loses faith.”

To be trusted is the greatest gift you can give somebody. When I was just 25 years old and living in Fort Worth, Texas, God put this crazy idea in my mind. I told Kay, “Honey, I think God wants us to move to Southern California and start a church. Here’s the problem: We don’t have any money, we don’t have any members, we don’t have any buildings, we don’t have any sponsors, I don’t know anybody in this city, and I’ve never been a senior pastor before. What do you think?”

I’ll never forget what my wife said to me: “It scares me to death. But I believe in God, and I believe in you, so let’s go for it.”

I’ve often wondered how history would be different if my wife had said “No. I’m afraid. Let’s not do it.” There would be no Saddleback Church or 20,000 people baptized in the last 10 years. There would be no “Purpose Driven Life” or peace Plan. There would be no half a million pastors trained in a 162 countries. Our lives would be very different.

Wives, your husband is dying for you to say, “I trust you.” It is more important than saying, “I love you” because when you say, “I trust you,” you are saying, “I love you” — because love always trusts.

The Bible says in Galatians 5:6, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (NIV). Why? Because life is all about learning how to love. Lasting love extends grace and expresses faith.

Talk It Over

• In whom do you need to express trust this week?
• What are ways you can show someone and not just say that you trust him or her?
• What are the fears that keep you from fully trusting in someone you love?

At your service =)

The 25 Most Perfectly Timed Photos…

The 25 Most Perfectly Timed Photos…

It is amazing what a photographer can capture with his camera – the perfect moment, the perfect shot. You will find the following 25 most perfectly timed photos truly amazing.

And no, they are not Photoshopped to make the subject/s appear in that manner. It is simply the case of being able to take a shot of something at the right time, the right angle, and at the right place.

Photo credit: Sindri Skúlason / Flickr

A Bohemian Waxwing catches (?) its food – one more second and the fruit would have been in its mouth already.

Photo credit: Ensign John Gay/U.S. Navy

The moment a jet breaks the sound barrier – not too many vehicles can move fast enough to break the sound barrier!

Photo credit: Marco Queral

A diver and a whale appear to dance underwater. Wow! I bet you would have loved to be able to do this with a whale.

Photo credit: Liammm on Reddit

Sometimes, even the most ordinary things can become extraordinary. What first looks like a drain actually looks like an eye if you view it a little further! Lucky shot for the photographer.

Photo credit: REUTERS/Luke MacGrego (via Reuters Olympics on Facebook)

What do you get when an extremely lucky photographer chances on a full moon and the rings under the Tower Bridge during the London 2012 Olympic Games? A fantastic shot of a rare 6-ring Olympic Rings, of course!

Photo credit: Former_Manc on Reddit

Everything is really a matter of perspective.

Photo credit: Jay Fine (via The Big Picture)

The perfect shot of the Statue of Liberty hit by a lightning bolt.

Photo credit: RedditorJoker on Reddit

Oh yeah, another selfie shot – but look closely! The background event is way more interesting!

Photo credit: Adam Pretty (via Photo Blog on NBC News)

Is that an alien? Uh oh! Ah! Nope! That’s just a swimmer captured by a lucky (and talented photographer).

Photo credit: Jörn Kessels (via Foto Kessels on Facebook)

That exact moment a seagull steals ice cream from a bewildered man. Unbelievable!

Photo credit: hmistry on Reddit

Flying birds create a dolphin pattern up in the sky.

Photo credit: Pam Mullins (via The Telegraph)

Leaving on a jet eagle? Cool!

Photo credit: PDP-11 on Reddit

So, therefore, ladies and gentlemen, this is how they put the Eiffel Tower in place!

Photo credit: Martin Bernetti (via rusrep.ru)

A new breed of gymnasts: headless!

Photo credit: Lentilcia on deviantART

A ladybug is riding a dandelion – alright, we aren’t so sure this wasn’t Photoshopped but it is still quite cool!

Photo credit: Robert Haas

A giant flamingo made of real flamingos! Amazing!

Photo credit: Bruno Gerber (via Huffington Post)

A giant crane appears to carry the moon.

Photo credit: Carolyn Kaster (via The Atlantic: In Focus)

US President Obama could easily pass for a teacher in Hogwarts in this shot!

Photo credit: Peter Wienerroither

A beautiful yet scary shot of a partial solar eclipse in which the sun looks likes the devil’s horns.

Photo credit: Tustel Ico

Cuteness overload! A praying mantis riding a green bike…

Photo credit: Deeman9 on Reddit

That perfectly hilarious moment a football player appears to fart some mean gases into the air and causes a fire.

Photo credit: Frode Sandbech

A snowboarder walks over the edge of the earth and steps over the moon! Excellent trick shot!

Photo credit: Stephane Ducandas (via The Telegraph)

A talented fisherman takes spear fishing to a whole new level.

Photo credit: Loco Lol

A great shot of a statue blowing clouds from his trumpet.

Photo credit: Nick Kelly

We bet the diver didn’t mind being photobombed by a beautiful fish – unless there was only one underwater shot and it was ruined by the fish!