Staying When You Feel Like Quitting

Friday, November 25, 2011

The Word For Today by Bob & Debby Gass
www.rhema.co.nz/index.php?opt
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'Love...endures through every circumstance.' 1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT

When Ed and Alice went for marriage counseling the therapist asked Alice, 'What first attracted you to Ed?' She replied, 'His strong, silent temperament.' The counselor continued, 'So why do you want a divorce?' Alice answered, 'His strong, silent temperament!' Sometimes what drew us together ends up a major irritant. In every relationship there are times when it seems it would be easier to quit than to hang in.

But short of physical and emotional abuse, there are advantages to working through your issues. For example, there are: 

(1) Emotional benefits. Contrary to what Hollywood's culture would have us believe, divorced people are more likely to feel depressed due to loneliness. In fact, many say although there were disagreements in the relationship, they miss having somebody to come home to. 

(2) Health benefits. Emotional stress leads to physical problems, and being in a relationship, especially a good marriage, can be beneficial for your health. It's like having your own nurse or therapist. 

(3) Community benefits. What your kids see influences their future choices. Staying in your marriage teaches them how to work through relationship challenges. Couples with strong marriages are helping to build a nation of loving, responsible parents who can guide their children onto the right track. 'Love...endures through every circumstance.'

Author Christy Scannell says, 'When my husband and I got married, we agreed it was for life. Weeks before our wedding we made a pact to work out whatever problems came our way. Yes, we fight. We accuse. We toss barbs but we won't be moving out or filing papers, whatever happens we're staying.'

Read the Bible in a year
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/

Displaying day 330
Saturday, 
November 26, 2011

Old Testament Reading: 
Daniel 1; Daniel 2:1-23
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapte
r/?verse=Daniel+1%3B+Daniel+2%3A1-23&v
ersion=niv

New Testament Reading: 
1 Peter 5
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapte
r/?verse=1+Peter+5&version=niv

Psalms Reading: 
Psalm 134:1-3
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapte
r/?verse=Psalm+134%3A1-3&version=niv

The Bible on one page
www.home.roadrunner.com/~cher
okee/TheBibleOnOnepage.html

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SETAGOAL1 11/25/2011 1:07PM

You have not given up on yourself. You now know you are the only one that can make it happen for you. You have the power to succeed or fail. You have chosen to succeed. Few baby steps complete a long journey Writing is progress!!! Janet Report Inappropriate Comment

More Than Conquerors (3)

Thursday, November 24, 2011

The Word For Today by Bob & Debby Gass
www.rhema.co.nz/index.php?opt
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log&id=97&Itemid=310

'...who always leads us in triumph in Christ...' 2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV

Few things can discourage you like children who don't follow in your path. As Christian parents we long to see our children serve God. If you've prayed, lived your faith before them as best you could and yet they choose another path, your heartache can be deep.

But others have travelled the path before you. Isaac saw his son Jacob surrender to God, while his other son Esau rejected Him. Aaron, the high priest, had two sons who offered 'strange fire' on God's altar. Manoah lived through the suicide of his son, Samson. Even the sons of the prophet Samuel '...did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice' (1 Samuel 8:2-3 NKJV). You're not alone in your concern for your children, and it's too early for guilt, or for giving up on them.

Remember:
First: God alone can save. 'Salvation is of the Lord' (Jonah 2:9 KJV). Don't try to take on God's responsibility or accept guilt that's not yours. Because He knows our hearts, God knows how and when to 'close the deal' with your child. So instead of worrying, keep lifting up their names before Him in prayer.
Secondly: Let God shoulder the load. Your part is to pray and believe God for them, then to get out from under the burden. He can carry it; you can't (1 Peter 5:7)!
Thirdly: If they're alive, there's hope (Jeremiah 31:17). God can arrange circumstances and turn their stubborn hearts around, if you will only trust Him.

Read the Bible in a year
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/

Displaying day 329
Friday, 
November 25, 2011

Old Testament Reading: 
Ezekiel 47; Ezekiel 48
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapte
r/?verse=Ezekiel+47%3B+Ezekiel+48&vers
ion=niv

New Testament Reading: 
1 Peter 4
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapte
r/?verse=1+Peter+4&version=niv

Psalms Reading: 
Psalm 133:1-3
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapte
r/?verse=Psalm+133%3A1-3&version=niv

The Bible on one page
www.home.roadrunner.com/~cher
okee/TheBibleOnOnepage.html

  

More Than Conquerors (2)

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

The Word For Today by Bob & Debby Gass
www.rhema.co.nz/index.php?opt
ion=com_content&view=category&layout=b
log&id=97&Itemid=310

'...who always leads us in triumph in Christ...' 2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV

Sometimes you have to overcome your family environment. None of us comes from an ideal family. We all experience things like rejection; physical, emotional, verbal or sexual abuse; poverty; rage; drug addiction; alcoholism; divorce etc. Years later we still struggle with things like low self-worth, marital failure, loneliness, depression, addiction, anxiety, anger control and dysfunctional parenting. But having a bad start doesn't mean you can't have a great finish. Your life today is more than what happened yesterday; it's about what you do with what happened yesterday. Consider Jephthah's family background. He was born to a prostitute, kicked out of the house by his brothers, robbed of his rightful inheritance, disappointed in religious leaders, a refugee and rebel living in a cave (Judges 11). But unbowed, he defied defeat, trained a motley militia of rejects, delivered Israel from their enemies, and made it into faith's hall of fame with Abraham, Moses and David (Hebrews 11). How did he do it? He started where he was, he took what he had, and he did what he could. By faith he seized his God-given opportunity.

You are more than the product of your environment. Whatever happened back then, you're now '...a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun' (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)! Live in the new and renounce the old! 'He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world' (1 John 4:4 NKJV).

Read the Bible in a year
www.biblica.com/bibles/daily-reading
/

Displaying day 328
Thursday, 
November 24, 2011

Old Testament Reading: 
Ezekiel 45; Ezekiel 46
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapte
r/?verse=Ezekiel+45%3B+Ezekiel+46&vers
ion=niv

New Testament Reading: 
1 Peter 3
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapte
r/?verse=1+Peter+3&version=niv

Psalms Reading: 
Proverbs 28:18-28
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapte
r/?verse=Proverbs+28%3A18-28&version=niv

The Bible on one page
www.home.roadrunner.com/~cher
okee/TheBibleOnOnepage.html

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ANIHAKA 11/23/2011 5:43PM

Thank you for this Christell. over the past week I have come to realise just what you've posted in your blog. Report Inappropriate Comment

More Than Conquerors (1)

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

The Word For Today by Bob & Debby Gass
www.rhema.co.nz/index.php?opt
ion=com_content&view=category&layout=b
log&id=97&Itemid=310

'...who always leads us in triumph in Christ...' 2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV

Jesus said, '...Here on earth you will have many trials...' (John 16:33 NLT). Having problems doesn't mean you're a fake, a failure or the focus of God's displeasure. The storm tested both the believer's and the unbeliever's house (Matthew 7:24-27). But the believer overcame it.

So what's God's goal? To make you an overcomer, not an escape artist! 'Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.' Yes, God will deliver you but first He will develop you.

There are problems you can't avoid and must deal with, such as: Your physical heredity. In a society obsessed with 'looks,' are you unhappy about yours? Feel too tall, too short, unattractive, not athletic; you're apple-shaped, pear-shaped, your nose is all wrong? Got freckles, double chin, protruding ears? Tried to darken it, lighten it, accentuate it, hide it, reduce it, enlarge it, but it never looks the way you wish? Beware of our culture's carnal norms. '...They measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another...without understanding' (2 Corinthians 10:12 ESV). The Bible points out that 'sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator...[who say], "Stop, you're doing it wrong"' (Isaiah 45:9 NLT)! Look your best, but accept what you can't change. God doesn't make mistakes. Don't be like those 'without understanding.' 'People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart' (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT). Adopt God's standard, not man's. Start appreciating yourself.

Read the Bible in a year
www.biblica.com/bibles/daily-reading
/

Displaying day 327
Wednesday, 
November 23, 2011

Old Testament Reading
Ezekiel 43; Ezekiel 44
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapte
r/?verse=Ezekiel+43%3B+Ezekiel+44&vers
ion=niv

New Testament Reading
1 Peter 2:4-45
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapte
r/?verse=1+Peter+2%3A4-45&version=niv

Psalms Reading
Psalm 132:1-18
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapte
r/?verse=Psalm+132%3A1-18&version=niv

The Bible on one page
www.home.roadrunner.com/~cher
okee/TheBibleOnOnepage.html

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KEEP_GOING247 11/22/2011 1:40PM

Very encouraging message. Reminds me to keep saying to myself Psalm 139: 14 "I praise for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Thank you Lord. Report Inappropriate Comment

Don't Give Up!

Monday, November 21, 2011

The Word For Today by Bob & Debby Gass
www.rhema.co.nz/index.php?opt
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log&id=97&Itemid=310

'...There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure...trials...' 1 Peter 1:6 NLT

In the 1950s Mary Kay Ash was the first woman to sit on the board of directors at the World Gift Company. But it wasn't all smooth sailing! Although she'd earned a place in the corporate world, her associates refused to take her seriously and accused her of 'thinking like a woman.' Frustrated, she retired in 1963 to write a book designed to help women in business. Sitting at her kitchen table, she listed all the positives about the companies where she'd worked, as well as the things that could be improved. In doing so she created a marketing plan for her ideal company. Her accountant and her attorney discouraged her but with her husband's support she created a new cosmetic line and recruited and trained an all-female sales force. Her motto was, 'God first, family second, career third.' When her husband died unexpectedly, she stayed on track and launched her new company. From a storefront in Dallas USA and a $5,000 investment, Mary Kay Cosmetics earned $200,000 the first year, quadrupled it the next and, when it went public in1968, sales were over $10 million. Mary Kay wrote three best sellers, her business model is taught at Harvard, Fortune Magazine named her company one of the Ten Best Companies for Women, as well as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America. When she died in 2001 she had 800,000 independent beauty consultants in 37 countries with annual sales over $2 billion.
Never underestimate someone with vision and determination! When you face adversity don't give up. 'There is wonderful joy ahead.'

Read the Bible in a year
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/

Displaying day 326
Tuesday, 
November 22, 2011

Old Testament Reading: 
Ezekiel 41; Ezekiel 42
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapte
r/?verse=Ezekiel+41%3B+Ezekiel+42&vers
ion=niv

New Testament Reading: 
1 Peter 1; 1 Peter 2:1-3
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapte
r/?verse=1+Peter+1%3B+1+Peter+2%3A1-3&
version=niv

Psalms Reading: 
Psalm 131:1-3
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapte
r/?verse=Psalm+131%3A1-3&version=niv

The Bible on one page
www.home.roadrunner.com/~cher
okee/TheBibleOnOnepage.html