God's Provision

MATTHEW 14:22-34
No one gets through life without trials. Realistically, you are either in a storm, just getting out of a one, or about to enter a turbulent time. That is the bad news. Thankfully, we serve a good God who provides beautifully—especially during the dark periods of life.
Today's passage tells of a stormy night on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus provides for us today just as He did for His disciples in that unsettling situation. Today, we will focus on ways that He does this.
First, the Father gives Christians His presence and the promise that He will never leave (Heb. 13:5-6). This is, perhaps, the greatest gift because from this awareness, He offers a sense of comfort, courage, and confidence.
Second, the Lord blesses His children with a pathway through trouble. He is in total control of our storm and will use the trial for His purpose. We may not understand, but we can trust His hand to guide us and accomplish good. Sometimes the reason and benefit of a difficulty will becomes obvious, while in other cases, it may never be clear.
Third, the Father offers believers the potential to grow. Hardships are exercises in trust and times to learn more fully who God is and how great His power and love are.
No one enjoys trials. But remember to express gratitude for God's hand in your life and the way He will use the adversity. Hardships are chances to trust your Creator and to know Him better. Of course, they are painful, but don't waste the opportunity to become all the Lord has planned for you.

POWER OF PEACE

Put the power of peace into your thoughts. Feel the power of peace throughout your life.   When your thoughts are focused on conflict, those thoughts are in conflict with each other. That drains their power and effectiveness away.
 
Instead of looking for excuses to be in conflict, think of reasons to be at peace. Instead of always striving to get an advantage, allow the ultimate advantage of peace to easily and naturally flow from your center.
 
Your true purpose is not in conflict with anything. Though you will always face challenges, you never have to fight.
 
For you can meet those challenges with love and grace and the positive power of peaceful purpose. Instead of getting caught up in the conflict, with the power of peace you can find a positive way to successfully move beyond it.
 
No one can take peace away from you when you step forward and offer it first. Keep peace in your thoughts, and put real, meaningful power in your life.
 
-- Ralph Marston

Deliver yourself

You will succeed not because you're allowed to, but because you decide to. You will prosper not because of the hand you've been dealt, but because of what you do with it.

 

You can allow yourself to be held back by what is, or you can choose to create what can be. Whatever comes your way is insignificant when compared to what you make of it.

 

Though others may have impressive wealth and other advantages going for them, remember this. You have you going for you.

 

You have a solid, authentic purpose, and the determination to fulfill that purpose. You have a unique perspective, and the ability to leverage that perspective into real, lasting value.

 

That's more than enough to take you wherever you choose to go, no matter what your starting point may be. Whether circumstances favor you or not, your commitment and your actions can always be working in your favor.

 

Don't waste your time obsessing over what's unfair or unfortunate about your situation. Put all your energy into what you can do, into the positive steps you can take, and deliver yourself to wherever you wish to be.

-- Ralph Marston

Making Dreams Come Through

Dreams do indeed come true, but not on their own. Desires are most certainly fulfilled, but not just by wishing.     Dreams and desires provide the powerful energy necessary for achievement, and yet someone must focus and direct that energy. When it comes to your dreams, that is your job.
 
Go ahead, dream the biggest, most wonderful and personally meaningful dream you can imagine, and feel the intensity of your longing for it. Then, with your passion at full throttle, get busy making that dream a reality.
 
The joy of accomplishment is in the doing, and in feeling the dynamic strength of your own capabilities. What you truly seek is not to have, but to do, to create, to experience the feeling of being purposefully effective.
 
If you could have anything just by wishing, what would be the point, what would be the value? Fortunately, you have the opportunity to create great value precisely because your every wish does not instantly materialize.
 
You have the opportunity to give life to any dream by giving your effort, attention, focus and commitment to it. And by so doing, not only are you able to achieve the dream, you also give it real meaning.
 
-- Ralph Marston

Finding Contentment

PROVERBS 3:5-6
Too often we let our circumstances determine our attitude. If life is going smoothly, then we feel good about ourselves; when it gets hard, our mood drops. But we don't have to live this way. Like the apostle Paul, we can learn and practice the secret of being content.
Contentment means accepting things the way they are—in other words, not wanting anything more or different. This requires developing an "I can through Christ" attitude. It means learning to bring God's power into our weakness so we can accept and adapt to changing circumstances.
When we respond to life with that kind of thinking, we move beyond our feelings to living by faith (2 Cor. 5:7).
Submission and trust are needed for such a lifestyle. First, we must surrender our will to God's: in every situation, we are to yield what we want and accept whatever He allows. Our desire to control events is replaced by reliance on Him. This option becomes more appealing when we realize that the alternative—fighting against our circumstances—brings anxiety and distress. The second step is to trust God to oversee our specific situation. If we believe He is working out His perfect plan for us, then we will experience the joy that comes from trusting Him. Contentment will be ours.
Paul submitted his life to God and trusted Him. He faced insults, rejection, and many difficult trials but was still content. When we surrender control to the Lord and believe He has our best interest at heart, we will experience contentment too. Who is in charge of your life? 
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Affecting Change

Many people believe that in order for change to come about someone else must do the changing; how ever we must change ourselves and when others see that change in us it will motivate them to change. Thus Affecting Change

RICH DETAIL

What exactly do you want? What are the specific results you wish to achieve?   If you only have a vague idea of what you'd like, you're simply not going to get it. For it's impossible to reach a destination that doesn't even exist.  
To get what you want, you absolutely must define exactly what that is. Give yourself a clear, meaningful target and you'll then be able to successfully hit that target.
 
Put every one of your senses into richly experiencing, in your mind and in your emotions, the fulfillment of your goal. See in detail the colors, the sounds, the textures, tastes and aromas of what you seek to achieve, and feel the emotions you'll feel when you've arrived there.
 
Make the goal real in your mind. Integrate it into the way your body feels, with all the clear and wonderful details.
 
Give rich detail to your goal, and keep that goal close to you at all times. Then you'll surely and steadfastly take the actions that will indeed make it real in your life.
 
-- Ralph Marston

There is always time

Does it seem that there's not enough time? The fact is, at the moment, there is nothing other than now.   Time is something you look back upon or imagine moving through. Now is what you have to work with.   No matter how long you think it might take, what matters is what you are doing about it right now. Now is when you can make the effort, and now is when you can have an influence.
 
Everything that has ever been accomplished has been done by making use of a succession of present moments. You have just as much time as everyone else because everyone has this same moment right now.
 
Instead of putting off the effort, now is your opportunity to make it real and to make it happen. By making full use of this present moment, you make the next one more valuable.
 
Dream big dreams, then jump right in and live those dreams. There is always time, and it is always now.
 
-- Ralph Marston

Sparkling reality

In this moment, on this day, there is no reason for bitterness, sadness, regret or anger. For everything that has gone before has brought you to the beautiful and valuable place where you are right now.   In the sparkling reality of today, love and gratitude are no longer mere words or concepts. They are infused throughout your being.  
Every breath you take is filled with positive possibility. All around you are choices and options upon which you can begin your journey to the most profound fulfillment you can imagine.
 
Yes, there is drama, there are problems and many difficult challenges. Yet your awareness has risen above them all, and from this higher perspective you can find your way through.
 
Open yourself to the abundance that is already yours. Live so as to transform that abundance into tangible value that fulfills and expresses your unique purpose.
 
Celebrate the sparkling reality of this wondrous day. Live the richness that is yours right now.
 
-- Ralph Marston

Wait Upon the Lord

PSALM 40:1
Practicing patience is hard work! This is especially true when we are waiting upon the Lord, who keeps to His own timetable. But believers who trust God to deliver are richly rewarded with the desires of their heart.
A person's willingness to wait reveals the value of what he or she desires. Imagine, for example, a young woman who yearns for a husband. She must decide whether to place greater importance upon a) getting married or b) waiting patiently for a mate chosen by God. If her priority is the former, she may accept an offer that is less than the Lord's best for her. The fellow in question might be a good Christian but not a man suited for this particular young lady.
No one goes wrong waiting for the Lord to send His best in His perfect timing. Of course, believers don't receive everything they request. At times God simply says no. In other cases, He adjusts our desire to match His own. In our humanness, we can't possibly know all the details of a situation. So we ask for what we think we need, based on our limited information. A submissive heart accepts the omnipotent Father's gentle redirection. When the awaited object of desire comes, it may not look like what the believer originally requested, but it will be exactly what he or she needs.
Waiting patiently on the Lord is an awesome witness. When He responds, others see the reality of God, His faithfulness, and the wisdom of our commitment. In addition, our own faith is strengthened. Fools rush to seize their prize. But wise believers know that blessing will come in God's good time.

Achievement is calling

Ambition is not just for the ambitious. Seeking achievement is not just for those who are young and hungry.   Achievement is also for those who are seasoned and satisfied. No matter how long you've been around, how much or how little you've already achieved, there is so much more that you can do.
 
Sure, it can be nice to sit back and relax for a while, and such relaxation is a healthy part of a balanced life. But relaxation, when it is endless, quickly loses its appeal.
 
Whether you're just starting out, or have come a long way already, or are starting over again, achievement is calling. Whatever your position, whatever your situation, you'll find great fulfillment in making a difference.
 
In all those things that stir your passion, there are valuable achievements waiting for you to bring them to life. In what you love, in the way you like to feel, there are pointers to your next great achievement.
 
Life is great, and yet as great as it is, you can make your own special improvements to it. Your next achievement will be the best one yet.
 
-- Ralph Marston

LIVE THIS DAY‏

Do not merely hope to live, someday, somehow. Open yourself to the beauty and goodness of this moment, and live this day.   Let go of worries and fantasies about what might or might not be. Focus the full energy of your spirit on what is real and what is now, and live this day.
 
Put your most treasured dreams and values into action right now. Here is where you can really do what you've always been longing to do.
 
Now is when you can let yourself feel the way you truly wish to feel. See that there is nothing standing in the way of you filling the world with your own special joy.
 
This is the day that belongs to you. This is the time when you can do anything, and make a real difference.
 
A lifetime of experience has perfectly prepared you for where you are right now. Live this day, and fulfill the possibilities of your own miraculous existence.

-- Ralph Marston

Where Confidence comes From

Where your confidence comes from is not really that important. What matters is where your confidence can take you.

 

Perhaps your confidence is based on your past experiences, or perhaps it is not. Perhaps you are confident in yourself just because you have chosen to be.

 

Confidence is not about what has already happened. Confidence is about moving forward and creating the best of what can be.

 

Even though you have no logical reason to be, you can still be genuinely confident about what you intend to do. Confidence is an attitude you choose, not an evaluation of what you've already been through.

 

Ultimately, confidence does not come from who you know or where you've been or what you've done. It comes from your choice to do what you know you must.

 

Confidence can be yours no matter what. Choose it and use it to follow your dreams.

 

-- Ralph Marston

A moment at a time

You can accomplish great things, yet you must always do it one moment at a time. Today is filled with a wealth of those moments.

Great value is created steadily and diligently, one moment at a time. Live with respect and appreciation for each small moment, and that value will be yours.

If you fill a moment with resentment, nothing of value will come of it. If you hurry through the moment, anxious about what is next, you'll leave behind the opportunity you could have had to make a difference.

You can easily stay focused, you can easily persist, and you can easily stay positive for just one small moment. And when that beautiful, effective moment is over, you'll be ready and willing to do it all again.

In the confines of a single moment, what possible place could there be for worry or despair? After all, it's just a moment, it's yours to use, and while you have it you can take a few positive steps forward.

Pour the fullness of your love and positive purpose into each little moment. By calmly and positively living a moment at a time, you'll bring your true greatness to life.

-- Ralph Marston

The Source of my Strenght

The Lord is my strength and my song and he has become my salvation.

TITUS 3:4-7

The Christian life is just that—a life, not a lifestyle. Sadly, a lot of churches preach Christianity as a list of dos and don'ts. Then faith looks like a formula: JESUS' SAVING GRACE PLUS DOING GOOD THINGS MINUS DOING BAD THINGS = RIGHTEOUSNESS. Most of us have enough problems without worrying about whether we're following the extra-biblical rules of one church.
A man-made formula for righteousness runs counter to scriptural teaching. In fact, Jesus condemned the Pharisees for such heavy-handed religion (Matt. 23:1-4). He, on the other hand, offered liberty through grace. Neither keeping God's Law by self-effort nor adhering to extra rules makes a person free. Legalistic believers are in bondage and growing ever weaker.
When a person accepts the saving grace of Jesus, he or she receives a new life (Rom. 6:4). This is not an uptight lifestyle of doing good works. A believer is a changed person—same body but a transformed mind and heart. Christ lives through you. His Holy Spirit flows into your spirit as sap runs in a grapevine. It's like getting a spiritual blood transfusion! Strength pumps into places where weakness once prevailed. Why rely upon your frail self when the courage and power to follow God's will is available through Christ?
I know what it feels like to burn out from trying to do good in my own strength. My desire for you is that you'll surrender to the Lord. Depend upon Him to change you from the inside out, and trust that He will. Jesus is your life. He will never get tired of transforming you.

Empowered Now

You are just a moment away from the highest level of enthusiasm and effectiveness you've ever known. You are just a moment away from the most empowering positive attitude you've ever experienced.   You can choose your perspective, you can choose your outlook, and you can choose your attitude. The moment you make the choice, whatever you choose is yours.
 
It doesn't matter what you've experienced or how you've felt for the last hour, or month, or year. In the next moment you can be feeling precisely the way you choose to feel.
 
What perspective would best serve you right now? What attitude would enable you to create the most value out of your current situation?
 
You are just a moment away from being the most highly motivated person you know. Choose now to be that person.
 
Your greatest success begins right now. Choose the positive, empowering perspective that will bring it to life.
 
-- Ralph Marston

UNREASONABLE

Many things that were considered completely unreasonable a hundred years ago are so common today that everyone takes them for granted. Great progress is made by those who have the foresight and the courage to be unreasonable.     Are your decisions being guided by the conventional wisdom about what is and what is not possible? That can keep you trapped in frustration and mediocrity.
 
Instead, listen to your heart and decide upon what you must do. Go beyond being merely reasonable, and live the life that you know is you.
 
Instead of worrying about whether something is reasonable or not, focus on how much you truly desire to let it be. Put the power of passion behind your efforts, and it won't really matter whether something is reasonable or not.
 
If fulfilling your true purpose means being unreasonable, then go ahead and be unreasonable. Instead of compromising your dreams to fit into what the rest of the world thinks, lift the world up to match your highest vision.
 
Unreasonable people change the world. Be willing to be unreasonable, and you'll make your own world a more beautiful and fulfilling place.
 
-- Ralph Marston

The Burden of Inadequacy

DEUTERONOMY 1:19-36

Standing on the edge of the Promised Land, the Israelites were overcome by fear. The size and strength of the enemy contrasted sharply with their own weakness and inability. Because we're human, everyone at times will experience inadequacy and the uncomfortable feelings that accompany it. The issue you and I face is not whether we are sufficient for a task, but how we will respond when a challenge is beyond our capabilities.
Like the children of Israel, we can give in to fear and then focus on the expectation of certain failure. As the obstacle grows in our minds, our feet run in the opposite direction, away from the challenge and toward safety. However, turning away from the task that God has given us will lead us not to security but into bondage. By allowing fear to control our choices, we'll become chained to feelings of inadequacy, which will shape our future decisions and, ultimately, our destinies.
As a result of their refusal to trust the Lord and move forward to conquer the land, the Israelites were consigned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. The men who did not believe God's promise never saw the land that He wanted to give them. Opportunities are always lost when we let fear overrule our faith.
When God calls you to a task beyond your abilities, instead of giving in to your feelings, choose to rely on what you know about Him and His promises. By moving forward in faith despite your inadequacy, you will discover the Lord's faithfulness. He always empowers us for the works He assigns. 
In Touch Ministries

Dance in the Rain

http://www.danceintherainmovie.com/my-inspiration-for-life

Determined Enough

You deserve the very best achievement of which you're capable. The challenges and setbacks and disappointments are there to make you determined enough to get it.  

 

When it absolutely seems like there's no way forward, keep going. There's a way.

 

If you're not getting the results you expected, see it as an opportunity to experiment with other approaches. You'll likely find something that works even better than you could have imagined.

 

Eventually you'll look back on all the challenges and be thankful for them. You'll realize that the strength and effectiveness gained in working through those challenges added great value to the whole undertaking.

 

You won't avoid all the setbacks, but then you really wouldn't want to. For you can choose to take them all in stride and let them make you that much stronger, that much more determined, and that much more successful.

 

Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, feel inspired about yourself. After all, you had the courage to get started in the first place and you have the determination to keep going no matter what.

-- Ralph Marston

Stress Advice

A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience,
Raised a glass of water and asked,
"How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter.
It depends on how long you try to hold it.
If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance
In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued,
"And that's the way it is with stress management.
If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,
As the burden becomes increasingly heavy,
We won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water,
You have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.
When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."

"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow."

"Whatever burdens you're carrying now,
Let them down for a moment if you can.
So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while."

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon,
And some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet,
Just in case you have to eat them.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be
"Recalled" by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again,
It was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time,
Because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
Just get up and dance.

* When everything's coming your way,
You're in the wrong lane.

* Birthdays are good for you.
The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world,
But you may also be the world to one person.

* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery

On a detour.

Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today . . . I did.

God's Clear Instructions

JOSHUA 6:1-5
Joshua needed guidance as he faced one of the most crucial moments of his life. Because the Lord had promised him success in conquering Jericho, he knew the outcome of the battle, but as the day of combat approached, he needed a specific strategy for victory. What he heard the Lord say must have made his jaw drop.
Can you imagine the soldiers' thoughts as they carried out this bizarre battle strategy? In confusing times like this, it's good to remember three requirements for benefiting from God's instructions. We need:

• Faith to believe the Lord
• Courage to obey Him
• Patience to wait for His timing.

When God gives us clear instruction through His Word or His Spirit within us, our response shows how much we trust Him. If we truly believe Him and His promises, precise and complete obedience will follow. His victory in any area of struggle is available only to those who act upon His directions.
Submitting to the Lord's timing is also an essential part of obedience. What would have happened if the army decided to bypass God's plans for the first six days and skip straight to the seventh day's march around Jericho? They would have missed the victory.
How often do we beg the Lord for guidance, yet hesitate to obey when He finally gives it? Living by faith can seem like a huge risk when His instructions make no sense or require a lengthy wait. But knowing His eternal perspective and unlimited power can strengthen our resolve to obey. 

In Touch Ministries

Seeing Obstacles through God's Eyes

JOSHUA 2:1-24
Jericho was the first city that the Israelites needed to conquer in their quest for the land of Canaan. When Joshua sent a pair of spies to check it out, he probably didn't realize that he would receive a glimpse of God's impressive behind-the-scenes activity.
God wants us to look at every obstacle through the lens of His unlimited strength and resources. Anything that appears to block His plans is an opportunity for Him to demonstrate His sovereign power. Just because we don't see anything happening, that doesn't mean He's inactive.
Always remember that God is at work on the other side of our obstacles, arrang-ing the details and bringing His plans to fruition. When the spies returned to Joshua, they reported that the people of Jericho were scared to death. Having heard about the Jews' deliverance from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea, they were gripped by fear of the Lord.
The stage was set for the conquest, yet by that point, Joshua had done nothing. Sometimes we think we need to be involved in the solution to our problem, but God is not limited with regard to whom or what He can use to accomplish His will. In this case, He worked in the hearts of the enemy by instilling demoralizing fear.
For Christians, great obstacles need not be reasons for discouragement. Although much of the Lord's activity is silent and invisible, we can be sure He is dynamically working out His will for our lives. When the pieces of His plan are in place, He will move us on to victory. 

In touch Ministries

Beyond comfort

It can be easy to become comfortable, and that comfort can then become a trap. Though comfort feels nice, it can also hold you back from being your best.

 

After a while, as good as it can feel, comfort will become stale and tedious. You have a fundamental need for growth that, sooner or later, must be fulfilled.

 

Instead of using the comfort you've achieved as a refuge from life, use it as a platform from which you will have the confidence to reach even higher. When you're feeling comfortable, see it as an opportunity to raise your standards.

 

No matter what level you've reached, you are always capable of reaching even higher. What a shame it would be to miss out on life's biggest opportunities just because you wanted to stay comfortable.

 

Think back on all the times in your life when you've made the greatest progress. Although those times very likely felt uncomfortable, look at all the wonderful and valuable things you accomplished.

 

Enjoy the comfort you've earned, and then step boldly beyond that comfort. For there's no end to the real value and joy that you can create.

-- Ralph Marston

A Fresh Encounter with the Lord

JOSHUA 5:13-15 Before overcoming a challenging situation, God often brings us through a time of spiritual preparation. Such was the case prior to Israel's conquest of Canaan. As Joshua—the commander of the Hebrew army—stood near Jericho contemplating the battle ahead, God appeared to him.
Joshua's reaction to this fresh encounter with God can help us learn how we should respond when He speaks to us in our hearts through His Word and His Spirit.

• He approached the Lord in order to speak with Him.
• He fell on his face in humility and submission to His authority.
• He asked for further instruction—"What has my lord to say to his servant?" (v. 14).
• He obeyed immediately.
• He feared God and treated Him as holy.

The Lord is always waiting to meet with us, but sadly, we are often too busy to make the effort to approach Him. By neglecting His presence, we miss the opportunity to receive His encouragement, strength, and direction for our challenging situations.
Our attitude during times of Scripture reading and prayer is very important. A humble, submissive, and teachable spirit enables us to hear God, and immediate obedience to His instructions reveals our awesome respect for Him.
If you're struggling with a difficulty and wondering why the Lord hasn't intervened, maybe He's waiting for you to meet with Him and—like Joshua—to humble yourself before Him in absolute dependence. Only then will you be in a position to hear God's voice and follow His instructions.

In touch Ministries daily devotional.

REAL ACCOMPLISHMENT

You can envision and speculate, plan, theorize and guess about how things will turn out. The way to know for sure, though, is to step forward and make the effort.   There are plenty of things that could go wrong, and challenges you probably never thought about. But don't let the mere possibility of those problems prevent you from getting started.
 
When events fail to unfold as you anticipated, you can learn, evaluate, make adjustments and then keep on going. Keep in mind that each difficult challenge brings with it the opportunity to create even greater value by working through it.
 
All the things that are easy and without risk have already been done. If it is real accomplishment you seek, you must be willing to take on real challenge.
 
Look ahead to the goal at the end of the path, and see it clearly. Then step confidently forward, ready to do whatever you must to reach that goal.
 
Real accomplishment is well within your reach. With real effort, real commitment and real persistence you'll absolutely get yourself there.
 
-- Ralph Marston