John Pape Online Blog

We’ve all seen those medical television programs where the patient is brought into the emergency room. They have some sort of trauma and then they have cardiac arrest. The doctors and nurses all go into action. They start the chest compressions and put on the air bag. The inject some medicine into the the patient. Then they get the defibrillator to shock the heart and get it pumping again. Then there is a small heart beat. Giving a glimmer of hope to the doctors. Then just as they are about to relax, the heart stops again. And the process starts all over again. They work on the patient for an hour or more trying to save their life. Then someone says that it’s no use the person is dead. To add to the drama someone else just has to try a little harder. Eventually, they need stop. The person cannot be revived.

Perhaps you’ve watched a boxing match. It been hyped for months. It’s for the championship and a lot is at stake. It gets around the fifth round and one of the fighters is getting beat very badly. Their legs are wobbly, they can hardly stand. Their punches miss their mark. The bell rings and the fighters go their corner. The trainer checks the eyes, see his condition and suggests calling the fight. The fighter say no, they still have some fight left. They go out for another round. They barely make it. The trainer seeing the condition of the fighter and see no hope of winning, and to save the fighter from further injury will make the decision to “Throw in the Towel”. Essentially, ending the fight.

I have a friend who for years was constantly “saving the life” of the company they worked for. With enormous stress, they would move, adjust, plead, beg and borrow to keep things running. They did this for years. It was a constant up hill battle. As it seemed that whenever there was a glimmer of hope that everything would work out, something would happen that set in motion another tailspin. With this stoic attitude they were for years able to dig the company our of the hole. They finally made the decision to “Throw in the Towel”. The stress became too much for them.

Making this kind of decision is extremely difficult to make. The thoughts of the time invested weighs heavily on you. The dedication and investment put into the activity is mulled over in your mind. Thoughts of failure may even enter your thoughts. That is why it is so difficult for some to make the leap. Perhaps there is something in your life that you need to “throw in the towel”. Don’t think of it as quitting. Think of it a way to liberate yourself for the next thing you were created to do.

Technorati Tags: ideas, Life, Life Purpose, Personal Relationship, Society

By Edwin Joseph Sotomango Villagomez

How do you define a ministry? Is it about supporting every church activity and gathering? Or joining the music team? Or is it about being active in church evangelism programs? etc…

As I analyze the term “Ministry”, it seems that there will be 2 types:

1. General Ministry – this is the type of ministry where most people get joined with. Just like what the term implies, this is intended for the general public who is interested. For example, music team, ushering team, pastor support team, evangelism team and many more.
2. Personal Ministry – this is not about any other people, its all about you. We all have our own calling, own destiny to live in, own skill to use and develop, and own life to dedicate for God.

God has a very unique plan for all of us. Hard to imagine and think of but easy to know especially if we will truly seek God.

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
Romans 12:3-8

It clearly states that we all have our own spiritual gifts to nurture and use everyday. We may have different capabilities but what matters most is that we all use it to fulfill God’s plan in our lives.

Daily Devotion Conclusion:

God will judge us not based from all those things we did but on those things we obeyed. If you still don’t know yet your spiritual gift, try seeking God because it will be the only solution.

You may start by sharing His marvelous Word. Believe me, we are all called to share the Gospel. It is a fact that you should consider.

Edwin Joseph is a former self help and personal development writer which is now focused on writing christian devotionals which aims to share the Word of God online.

To read daily devotionals, visit http://www.InstantDevotion.com
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/instantdevotion

Technorati Tags: Bible, encourgement, ministry, Personal Relationship, Romans 12

By Parker Jaymes

One of the ways we can develop greater health and greater success is to develop some of these habits below. These habits have secular origins, but I believe that they demonstrate the truth in Scripture.

Psalm 77:11-13 (King James Version)

I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?

One of the lessons in our e-book discusses the process of recalling all God has done. It comes from Psalm 77:11-13 and I believe exercising in this does several things. Some of these insights come from reading a decidedly secular book called “Learned Optimism.”

Again, because the origin comes from a psychologist shows that the outcome is true with empirical evidence, even if their attribution of the practice is not from a Christian world view.

Recall positive outcomes from the past

“Surely I will remember Your wonders of old” instructs us to try to see the past that shapes us with wonder of God’s hand. This creates resiliency for our current circumstances.

See the negatives as temporary

“You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble” puts into perspective that even the worse situations we may be facing are temporary. When we allow that mindset, we become more resilient in the world and trusting in God. In fact, it strengthens the faith we need today to see his faithfulness of yesterday.

Freedom from helplessness

“I cannot stop thinking about your might works” gives us the ability to act and confidence that we are not alone and helpless. Helplessness (often learned helplessness) leads to disempowering states like depression. But when we follow these words and meditate in what God has done, we begin to see everything else in a different optic.

These three aspects come from living a life that recalls all that God has done. They’ve shown that people who take the types of actions which can be derived from this mindset are more successful and live longer.

How often do people meditate on God’s “wonderful deeds of long ago“?

Parker Jaymes
Author: “Hundredfold Now!”
Free 7-Day Course at: http://www.HundredfoldNow.com/7Days

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Parker_Jaymes
http://EzineArticles.com/?Meditating-on-Gods-Works-Creates-Optimism-For-Success-and-Health&id=2813188

Technorati Tags: abundant life, Bible, Christianity, God, Jesus, Life, meditation, Personal Relationship, prayer, Scriptures