A Man's Gift...

A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. (Proverbs 18:16)

We’ll look further at this verse on Monday and Tuesday. For now, just meditate on it. Stay tuned…

Favor

For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield. Psalm 5:12

Favor. In America, this English word generally describes when someone does something for us, especially if it is some undeserved nicety. It can also describe our preference for one thing over another. In the Hebrew, this particular word translated “favor” denotes delight and acceptability, desire and good pleasure. This scripture is telling us that the Lord will bless the righteous and that it is His delight…His good pleasure…His desire to surround the righteous with His favor as a shield. He is protecting us from the enemy, by His favor. Amazing!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 6:3-6)

We are made righteous, we are blessed, we are chosen, we are loved. We are favored by God…surrounded by it, in fact! His favor protects us from the plans of the enemy and makes way for all of those wonderful things that God has planned for us: His dear children. God’s favor is priceless. Praise Him for it!!!!

A Quick Word From my Dear Brother Hector

Self will always be the issue in our lives, we've put self 1st in everything: Relationships, Life, Careers and it has never worked out. The World's Philosophy says to Love Self, but the WORD of GOD tells us otherwise. LOVE GOD 1st, Others 2nd & SELF 3rd and the rest follows. This is the key to a Fulfilled and Free Life. "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." -- Paul The Apostle .........

8 Ways to be a Bad Friend by Pastor Van Moody

By now, you all know how important I believe it is that we each pursue and cultivate deep, transparent, honest, and vulnerable relationships. Pastor Van Moody has put together his thoughts regarding this matter and I found it interesting, so I thought I’d share....

A few tips for those looking to waste their relationships.

The phrase "bad friend" is kind of strange. Friends are supposed to be good things and yet, almost all of us can think of a few (or maybe more than a few) friends who haven't been very "good friends."

And plenty of us have been that sort of friend as well.

The reason is simple: friendships can be tough.

Although relationships are a fundamental part of the human experience, our dealings with friends, family members, significant others, co-workers and superiors are often riddled with strife. Difficult personal and workplace relationships are far more than a nuisance. They can cause anxiety, burnout, clinical depression and even physical illness.

The bottom line is this: the right relationships can propel you to great heights of achievement; the wrong ones will tether you to mediocrity. With this in mind, it’s essential to evaluate connections intelligently: What makes a bad friendship?

Hide

While secret identities might be fun in the movies, a person who harbors secrets and hides their fears and beliefs from others will never be able to enjoy an authentic relationship. Being real with others and even making yourself vulnerable from time to time can foster tremendous emotional connections—including all-important trust—and forge unbreakable bonds.

Tweak the Truth

Studies show that 10-30 percent of applicants admit to “tweaking” their resumes—and that’s no way to start an engagement with a new employer. The same can be true in friendships and other relationships—we present ourselves as we want to be seen instead of as we are. But lying—even small white lies—will do nothing but undermine any relationship. Even slightly altering the truth is one of the most destructive forces that can permanently damage a friendship.

Try to be Close to Everyone

The people in your life right now are setting the course for next week, month, year and possibly the rest of your life. Accordingly, there must be a qualification and selection process for friends and others you choose to surround yourself with. Blocking the wrong people from your life is the only way to make room for the right people who help you achieve your dreams, enrich your lives, and create satisfying life experience.

Rush In and Miss the Red Flags

Understand that any relationship is a journey with changes in direction, twists and turns and roadblocks along the way. It’s imperative to pass through certain experiences and navigate through difficulties to learn from these situations and create a healthy outcome. Resist the desire to take shortcuts or race through certain aspects of a friendship. Even if it is painful or boring, embrace it, knowing that it offers a healthy purpose for the big picture of a relationship.

Repeat the Past

The past should not define a person, and there is no reason to keep looking back. While previous events and actions might be a life lesson, the nature of every journey is to move forward. Don’t repeat those actions that did not produce the intended results; instead, focus on new choices that will affect a better outcome.

Be a Taker

All relationships involve give and take, so it's important to recognize when a friendship could use more of a giving spirit. When we think about what we can do for others instead of what they can do for us, we get to the very heart of healthy, successful interactions. In a strong friendship, both people willingly give, far more than they take.

Stay in an Unhealthy Relationship

Unfortunately, sometimes we make a poor choice and enter into relationships that will never be healthy no matter what actions are taken. We need to know when and how to end a toxic relationship. If someone is not able to accept a change in the status or direction, is not loyal and stable under pressure or in the face of challenge, or had once been dependable but now is unreliable, these are strong clues that the relationship may not be worth saving. Don’t let feelings of misplaced guilt or sympathy get in the way of making good personal choices.

Forget Who and What Really Matters

The most valuable people in life aren’t always the most visible. People of true value bring fulfillment, not frustration. All too often, those taken for granted or overlooked are the ones that silently help us achieve goals, provide encouragement or offer important insights and connections.
 

There are no neutral relationships; each one lifts you up or weighs you down. Only by learning which is which and how to turn the tide on those that are negative—can you then take the appropriate action. Not to be taken lightly, these actions and decisions can make the difference between a great, happy life or one that is riddled with disappointment, failure and regret.

 

Read more at http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/8-ways-be-bad-friend#QeHdOuvtmo8tjKBr.99

God Tends to us in our Trials

My plea:

Father, my heart is hurting and I am disappointed. I have been seeking something from You for a while and thus far, You have not given it. It seems like it is within Your will but Your timing is different from mine so I don’t know if that is a “no” or a “wait”. Father, as I await the final word from You, will You please tend to my heart? I am hurting and in need of care.

His response:

“He will feed His flock like a shepherd: He will gather the lambs in His arm, He will carry them in His bosom and will gently lead those that have their young.” Isaiah 40:11

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you [says the Lord].” Isaiah 49:15

“Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.” Psalm 103:13-14

Every Word of God

Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Proverbs 30:5

Thank You Lord!

Gratefulness

“Give us our food for today” Matthew 6:11

I like this translation of this portion of the prayer we call “The Lord’s Prayer” because it reminds me that I ought to be coming to God on a daily basis to seek His provision.  This is the way I recognize and honor Him as the source of everything I need in my life. I need not trust in anyone or anything more than Him. So daily I come to Him and daily I am given the opportunity to recognize His provision and favor and to be grateful.

I am prone to worry about the future. “Will this or that happen? What about that other thing? If I go over here, will things work out like I plan? Or should I go over there instead?” I don’t just wonder and plan;I often worry. And worry about the future is the number one killer of present day gratefulness. When I’m steeped in worry about the future, I forget to enjoy and appreciate the wonderful provision of today. As a matter of fact, because I’m so focused on the future, I may even believe the lie that God is not fulfilling His word right now!

Gratefulness and thanksgiving, praise and worship, honor and reverence are easy to give to my Father when I recognize today that He gave me what I needed today. Maybe no more…but certainly no less. Thank You Father.