Thought For The Day

God gives us many awesome gifts each day from his heart of amazing love .....

When we take the time to look at each fragile one.....

both large and small

and count them.....

It is then.....

we can truly stand strong and firm

upon the journey of life

with

a heart filled with 

gratitude and appreciation

for 

the wonder

that

we have been given.

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The Firm Anchor

A Heart of Strength

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     Strength is like a powerful anchor of purpose.  It holds tightly and allows building upon its very core.  The strength that comes from the heart of God is a precious, eternal gift.

     It is founded and enforced by the beauty of his love.  There are two main parts:  strength of character, and strength of person. 

     Strength of character means looking upon and following in his (your Creator's) image.  All of the wonderful qualities that can only come from him bring light to each day.

     These qualities include:  kindness, compassion, consideration, love and happiness to name a few.  Strength of person means that you, as an individual, have a powerful base.

     It is an eternal foundation of promise upon which to stand and rest on.  It is the armor that you wear internally that allows you to take every step with anticipation.

     It is the source of encouragement and enlightenment that helps you to endure.  So, seek the armor of strength today.  When you feel like giving up, or that your steps have no purpose, you need an extra booster shot.

     Put on your full armor today, and be strong.  Remember, nothing is impossible if you only believe and have faith.  Faith is your compass.  Strength is your foundation.  Love is your lighthouse and hope is your key upon this journey called life.

     Who is your Pilot?  Hopefully, you've given your Creator the job for good.  If so, be prepared for amazing travels.  It may not always be perfectly smooth sailing.  But, it will always be worth the trip!

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 Ticket please!!  Next port of call!  Stay tuned!!

Thought For The Day.....

Just beyond the realm of the impossible

is

the chamber of the miraculous

the greatest area of hope

where God's mighty & dynamic power

moves......

in the grandest, most awesome

and most superior way.

So.....

when you give up

you forfeit your ticket of promise

to get to 

that wonderful place.

Don't give up!

For when you give up......

you give over

you give in

Stand strong in God's love 

cover yourself in his glory

and hold on to your ticket.....

believing .....

You have a front row seat

to 

amazing things ahead

by his grace

and his great name!

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Thought For The Day

The Potter sits at his wheel and takes a lump of clay.....

He molds it and shapes it with precision and care.....

Suddenly, something begins to take shape

A beautiful Masterpiece slowly appears.

He works at it with great power

smoothing out every detail........

But, then something tries to stop his artistry

and the efforts seem to fail

He then works harder with greater detail

working out something better and new

Soon, his masterpiece boldly appears.....

with a beauty so genuine and true 

He is greatly pleased at it all

For it is truly a wonderful delight

A precious and magnificent artistic wonder

that is pleasing in his sight.

You are a Masterpiece from the Potter.....

The Master Craftsman.....

Created with great promise and purpose

You are beautiful and special!

Promise Beyond The Clouds

     Have you ever asked the question - why?  Now, there is a word that we have all asked probably millions of times.  But, there is something that many of us have wondered.  Why do clouds fill the skies of the daily journey of good people?

     It is a fair question to think about.  Why aren't there all sunny days and star-filled nights?  The question could be answered from a personal perspective.  It probably could be addressed in several ways.

     However, essentially, there are only three real answers.  The first answer is nothing is perfect.  We live in an imperfect world filled with imperfect beings.  Now, there are some that think they are 'the greatest thing since sliced bread' as the saying goes.

     But, the only perfect light is God himself.  The second reason is a strong anchor must be built.  What?  You know, there are some things in our human nature that we may never understand.

     But, perhaps one day when we come into the Lord's beautiful presence we'll see it all more clearly.  The Lord wants the absolute best for us.  Although we may not see it, he is at work.  

     Remember, if it wasn't for the clouds you couldn't see the light (the Lord's power and his love) shine brighter.  A more challenging task brings out a more diligent and beautiful task to be done.

     Watch and open your heart with anticipation.  The third reason is simply faith.  Powerful belief is made even stronger on active waters.  You can believe something more and more when you see it in action and have your hope reinforced.

     Remember, also, rugged terrain develops and builds rugged character.  So, when the clouds form as you are on your daily journey, do not fear.  Trust in your mighty creator.

     You may think you'll never see the sun.  But, there may be brighter lights, and more beautiful seas ahead.  It may be a powerful building block to a more beautiful tomorrow.

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Prayer:

Father:  You are my strength, my hope and my peace.  No matter what the weather my look like, when I place my hand in yours, I will grow more beautiful than ever by your love.

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Tickets please!  Take your seats!  All aboard!!  We are proceeding to our next port of call!!  Stay tuned and keep your heart ready!

     

 Thought For The Day.....

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Just beyond my window............far beyond where my eyes can see There is a beautiful sight........a perfect sight the love of a friend is waiting there for me...........to give me inspiration.............and a special hope so true ...............if it wasn't for the dedication and faithfulness of a genuine friend .....what would we do? They make every day brand new.

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Through The Eyes of God

Seeing Ourselves

Through God's Heart

     Here is a challenge for you.  Go to the nearest large mirror.  Now, stand quietly in front of it and look at yourself.  There are probably several dozen things that go through your mind.  Some of which you may not even want to mention.  You'd probably knit pick about this and question that wondering what on earth were your parents thinking.

     You might even shed a tear or two, trying to count the things that you think need to be changed.  But, perhaps what is being viewed is not a perception of what's genuine.

     So, how do you view an honest perception?  You need to have a close bond with your Creator.  Why is this so?  How can you understand the beauty of a work of art if not through the artist who created it?

     When you ask for his help and try to see things through his eyes, every thing becomes more clear.  You can truly understand his motivation and creativity.  Remember, an artist who can never fail, cannot create garbage.

     He can only create a beautiful vision and masterpiece.  Now, sometimes there are some imperfections that try to take hold of his work.  

     But, when that happens it creates a beautiful opportunity for more artistry.  The master creator gets to fine tune his original work of excellence making it more exquisite than before.

     He carefully works out all of the imperfections, making his work better than ever.  So, when you look in the mirror, look with great artistic vision.  Look through the eyes of a craftsman who sees artistic excellence and in any imperfections.....excellence in progress.

     When we look at ourselves through God's heart, we see the truth.  We are wonderfully made in his beautiful image and are very special, creative, and unique works of art!

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TICKETS PLEASE!!  TICKETS!!  WE ARE PROCEEDING TO THE NEXT PORT OF CALL!!  PREPARE YOUR HEART!!  STAY TUNED!!

WORDS ARE LIKE INSTRUMENTS..........
IF YOU COMPOSE THEM PROPERLY.....
THEY CAN BE BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS OF INSPIRATION THAT BRING HOPE AND MOTIVATION TO THE SOUL.

HOWEVER........
IF THEY ARE COMPOSED INCORRECTLY,.....
THEY CAN BECOME LIKE A WEAPON THAT FRACTURES THE HEART
AND DESTROYS THE SPIRIT.
***** LOOK FOR THE GENUINE BEAUTY IN EVERY HEART
***** LET THE LIGHT OF YOUR LOVE AND KINDNESS BE A CATALYST TO HELP THAT BEAUTY SHINE BRIGHTER
***** BRING HOPE AND PROMISE TO EVERY ONE
REMEMBER:
BEHIND EVERY SMILE IS A GOOD FRIEND JUST WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED!!!!!
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A Thought of Inspiration

For The Day.....

The most precious gift.....

cannot be purchased

cannot be wrapped

cannot be given a cost

IT IS PRICE LESS

YET.....

IT COST NOTHING

IS WORTH EVERYTHING

AND CAN BE MULTIPLIED COUNTLESS TIMES.

IT IS A GENTLE SMILE.....

A KIND WORD.....

A MOMENT OF YOUR TIME.....

A PRAYER.....

A SPECIAL THOUGHT.....

A PIECE OF YOU!

IT CAN CHANGE A LIFE.....

MOVE A MOUNTAIN....

BE A RUGGED ANCHOR OF PROMISE.....

SO.....

MAKE A CHOICE.....

PLANT A SMALL SEED.....

AND 

GIVE YOUR SPECIAL GIFT.....

 BE A BLESSING....

AN INSTRUMENT OF HOPE.....

TODAY!!!!!

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF A DEFEATED PERSON..........
***** SOMEONE WHO NEVER TRIES
***** SOMEONE WHO NEVER GOES THAT EXTRA MILE
***** SOMEONE WHO NEVER REACHES FOR THAT IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

A RACE CAN NEVER BE WON JUST STANDING AT THE STARTING LINE.
PACK YOUR JOURNEY TOOL KIT.
THE GREATEST TOOLS ARE:
*** FAITH - AS A COMPASS TO MOVE YOU IN THE BEST DIRECTION
*** LOVE - TO MAKE THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE WITH EVERY STEP
*** HOPE - AS A LIGHT TO BRIGHTEN EVERY PATHWAY
*** PEACE- AS A TRANQUIL STRENGTH FOR THE HEART
*** FRIENDSHIP-AS A JOY TO FILL EVERY MOMENT
***HAPPINESS- AS THE SUNSHINE TO WARM EVERY DAY
***** AND AN UNBREAKABLE BOND WITH AN AWESOME CREATOR WHO HOLDS EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.
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NOW...........TAKE EVERY STEP KNOWING YOU CAN DO ANYTHING!!

I Can Come To You

Father:

I can come to you at any time of the day,

You'll always be there with a love so pure and true:

Ready to help me in the most efficient way

All I have to do Lord is give it all to you.

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You will help me Lord and give me your great power

My compass of inspiration so strong and bright

You will guide all my steps for every hour

and always be my promise plainly in clear sight.

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I must let go of self energy so faulty

and realize that you have my journey in your hands

I don't need to let fear take control over me

I am a journeyman safely in your great plan.

Amen.

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Stay Tuned!

The Luggage Carousel

     Have you ever prepared for a trip or contemplated going on a trip and worried about too much baggage?  You know that you have a certain amount of space and want to use it wisely and bring the right things.

     Even the most economical packer can't do things perfectly.  Now, consider this concept in terms of the journey.  As journeymen, we want to make sure that what we bring on our travels is simple, light weight, practical, and easily carried.

     Yet, we have to remind our hearts about the humanity factor in it all.  We can't look for a perfect, four-sided square.  Nothing is perfect.  Still, there is a beautiful rainbow whose breathtaking presence captivates our hearts.

     He is the mediator or pilot of our journey.  Throughout our travels, we can come to him with not only our ticket but all of our baggage.  He holds that ticket in his hands, and close to his heart.

     He also carries the baggage with us, especially the heaviest ones, and helps us to sort through it.  Have you ever heard of a pilot who does that?  No, it is really unheard of.  But, he is the greatest pilot in all of eternity.

     If you read his word, (King James Version), he plainly says:  'all are welcomed in my Father's house, and at his table.'  Can you find a better definition of love than that?  So, then the question is simply why?

     Why do we worry or fear?  Why do we fret over every little thing and never experience pure happiness?  It is because we are human.  We want to take everything on ourselves.  Obviously, we cannot do that.

     We are not diligent packers.  Yet, why should we when we have the perfect compass and guide who is there for us ever step of the way.  So, here is the million dollar question.  Will you give everything to your pilot and rely on him to lighten your load and pilot your journey?

     The other alternative would be to walk around with bulging eye balls and perspiration trying to do things alone.  There really is only one choice for the wise traveler.  Place your journey in his professional hands today!

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TICKETS PLEASE .....TICKETS!!

WE ARE PROCEEDING TO THE NEXT PORT OF CALL!  PREPARE YOUR HEART AND IMAGINATION!  STAY TUNED!

The Voyage Chronicles

The Continuing Story of

Love's Greatest Gift

Segment 19

     Rick looked at the envelopes with great sadness.  "We are not taking no for an answer."  His family said with decisiveness.  "You need to relax.  You are going."  He didn't see the sense of it all.

     What was the point of going away for a month on a world bible cruise when he didn't know what tomorrow held?  Why not face it all for the disappointment that it is?

     Rick blatantly nodded his head.  He then asked his family to leave.  They vowed that they would return to help him prepare.  As they were leaving, Rick closed the lights, and gazed out of the window.

     Suddenly, he jumped in his seat as two small eerie eyes gazed at him from just outside.

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Stay tuned!

FATHER:

There's power in the simple word that propels the heart to happiness,

Power in a big smile and a kind nature's most gentle touch.

For when you give of yourself to someone else you then know you are blessed,

What is done on another heart's behalf is what really means so much.

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Father, you give of yourself so much every day to us with great love,

We yearn with gratefulness to be a mirror image of all you do

You are our example of hope that radiates from Heaven above

Lord, we strive with everything that is within us to be just like you.

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Let us mirror all of the wonderful things that make up your great heart,

and strive with all of our love to take it just one step further more

Relying on your presence and power to lead us from the first start

and the light of your love as a compass to open every door!

Amen.

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Giving Thanks In All Things

     What is the concept of time?  When we look at it through the aspect of human reasoning, it is a state of moments that seem to run out too quickly.  But, in God's retrospect, there is no concept of time.

     Have you ever prayed for something special?  Yet, it seems like no matter how diligently you tried, you never received an answer.  Maybe you're still waiting for the answer.

     But, our concept of time is not God's concept of time.  He is not confined by time.  He is eternal.  This may be hard to accept.  We want things now.  But, God answers in his way and at his moment.

     You may have heard the saying:  'he is never late but always on time'.  This is true.  But, like kids waiting for Christmas, we have trouble understanding.  We love to ask the question 'why?'. 

     Faith and trust repel that and simply say 'amen' knowing the perfect solution is on its way.  As journeymen, we have to stop and examine our own hearts.

     Perhaps there are things we are holding on to that can stall an answer.  There are many factors to consider, including:  jealousy, hatred, envy, or simply just ungratefulness.

     Do we ever take the time each day to say thank you for the simple blessings, no matter how small?  How can someone increase your heart if you are not happy with the seeds that have already been planted.

     Yet, God knows that we are not perfect vessels, and forgives us.  But, sometimes he likes to see return and happiness on little before it becomes more.

     So, maybe that is the answer.  As journeymen, we should give thanks for each small seed planted along the way.  Those seeds can then become plants and those plants - growths of inspiration.

     Give God the tool of a grateful, faith-filled heart to work with.  The answer will come.  It may not be what we expected.  But, it will be a lot better than we could have ever imagined!

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Prayer:

Father, help me to appreciate and see the beauty in even the smallest things.  For even from the smallest things, the greatest miracles happen!  Amen.

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Get your tickets and stay tuned for the next port of call.  All aboard!!