Some lovely thoughts to take us into the weekend from "101 Inspirations from Touched by An Angel 'Everlasting Love'":

"All your life you've been afraid of life.

You'd decide you were too fat or too short or too anything,

as long as it could convince you to hide.

But God made you and He knew what He was doing."

*

"When life keeps you in the dark,

that's when you start looking for the stars."

*

"Sometimes it's the simplest things that are the hardest to say......

like 'I'm sorry'; 'and 'I didn't mean to hurt you'; 'I love you'; or

'we'll get through this.......'"

*

"God's timing is not our timing."

*

"Faith doesn't get you around trouble;

it gets you through it."

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Something sent out today by Anne Graham Lotz. Some sobering statistics:

Paying the Ultimate Price

"No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also."

~ John 15:20 NIV

Today's email of encouragement from Max Lucado:

Why Did Jesus Raise Only A Few

"I've often thought it curious how few people Jesus raised from the dead. He healed hundreds, fed thousands, but as far as we know He only raised three:  the daughter of Jairus, the boy near Nain, and Lazarus. Why so few?

Could it be because He knew He'd be doing them no favors?

Could it be because He couldn't get any volunteers?

Could it be that once someone is there, the last place they want to return to, is here?

Isaiah said, 'The good men perish, the godly die before their time and no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to realize that God is taking them away from the evil days ahead. For the godly who die will rest in peace.' (Isaiah 57:1 - 2)

What a thought. Could death be God's grace? God's protection from the future? Trust in God, Jesus urges, and trust in Me!"

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If we live long enough, chances are  pretty good we have had some things come our way that we'd rather not have happen to us.

Something I read earlier this a.m.:

"When Stradivarius was asked why he used only wood taken from trees

that had weathered the biggest storms to make his violins,

he replied,

'Weather-beaten wood makes the sweetest music.'

So persevere keep trusting God,

and you'll sing a song of victory."

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Today's entry from "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence" by Sarah Young:

"Remember that JOY is not dependent on your circumstances. Some of the world's most miserable people are those whose circumstances seem the most enviable. People who reach the top of the ladder career-wise are often surprised to find emptiness awaiting them. True JOY is a by-product of living in My Presence. Therefore you can experience it in palaces, in prisons.....anywhere.

"Do not judge a day as devoid of JOY just because it contains difficulties. Instead, concentrate on staying in communication with Me. Many of the problems that clamor for you attention will resolve themselves. Other matters you must deal with, but I will help you with them. If you make problem-solving secondary to the goal of living close to Me, you can find JOY even in your most difficult days."

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The Narthex to Eternity

"Now this is eternal life:  that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."

~ John 17:3  NIV

"Several years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Westminster Abbey in London. It is a grand cathedral where many of the kings and dignitaries of England are buried, and where the kings and queens receive their coronation. The narthex is small, dark, and cramped - just a brief space to pass through between the outside door and the door leading into the cathedral itself. I can't imagine anyone visiting the abbey and being satisfied to stay in the narthex. I also can't imagine anyone who would make an enormous effort to stay there with no though to passing through to the glory of what lies beyond.

"Your life and mine here on earth is like the narthex to a grand cathedral. Our lives are simply an area to pass through on our way to the glory of eternal life that lies beyond the door of death. Physical death for a believer is simply a transition into real life. And it's God's purpose that you and I live forever - with Him."

~ by Anne Graham Lotz

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Our Sunday School class is working our way through the book of Genesis. A week ago we looked at Job. Why Job? Seems he lived about the same time as Abraham.

He was a very wealthy man, who worshipped God. He was the father of ten children; owned 7,000 sheep; 3,000 camels; 500 teams of oxen; 500 female donkeys; plus employing many servants.

And in one day, all of these were taken away from him...including all of his children.

When notified of all of the loses, Job said, "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I shall have nothing when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had, and they were His to take away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!"

In my Bible notes, it states, "Job lost his possessions and family in this first of Satan's tests, but he reacted rightly toward God by acknowledging God's sovereign authority over everything God had given him. Job passed the test and proved that people can love God for who He is not to what He has given."

What are you and I going through today? Probably nothing as big as what Job had to endure and experience.

Can we say as Job said, "Blessed be the name of the Lord"?

God, we want to worship you this morning. Blessed by Your Name!"

Installment #2 of quotes by Peanuts and Charlie Brown and its creator Charles Shultz; taken from an email by our Uncle Bud who hails for Tennessee. As before, the email was complete with graphics. If you'd like all of them (and didn't ask from them before), email me.

"Definition of a friend:

Someone who says nice things about you

when you aren't around.

*

"The smile on my face doesn't mean life is perfect.

It means I appreciate what I have

and what I have been blessed with.

I choose to be happy." (Quote by Charlie Brown)

*

"As we grow up, we realize it is less important to have lots of friends

and more important to have real ones.

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"Take time to stop and smell the roses.

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"Thank you for being you.

(As Snoopy kisses Charlie Brown on the nose as he is being fed)

*

"All you need is love.

But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."

(Quote by Charles Schultz)

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Yesterday a friend emailed me a daily Bible verse which meant a lot to her. She sometimes has problems with anxiety and found these words comforting. I have a couple of friends facing surgeries this week.

All of us face things coming at us every day and/or week. See what these words from the Bible mean to you.

TRUST and REST

Faith is about trust. Faith gives you what you need to take one more step into the darkness.

"In the light I've given you through my word, I'm not asking you to walk in blind faith. I'm asking you to believe in who I am and what I've promised. The strength or weakness of your faith is directly proportional to what I've promised you through my word. Faith has nothing to do with feelings. If you are walking by sight and not faith, you are not trusting in me. Do not miss out on the blessings that are just beyond your fears. I have promised to never leave you, there is nothing to fear! Though doubt knocks, let faith answer. It is your faith that moves My heart and My hand. I trust in your word."

~ Psalm 119:42

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