Comments from Dr Billy Graham on Hurricane Katrina

The disaster of Hurricane Katrina may be the worst tragedy America has known since the Civil War. The aftermath has almost been frightening," says Dr. Billy Graham, speaking from his home outside Charlotte, North Carolina.

"Mayhem, looting, shooting, and raping on one hand -- compassion on the other. Millions of Americans, and millions of people in many countries abroad, want to help. The tragedy is so overwhelming that it is beyond comprehension. Yet it presents a challenge. With the aid of modern technology it is possible to turn the tragedy into blessing," Dr. Graham said in a statement released to media outlets.

Dr. Graham continued: "I pray especially for the hundreds of thousands who have become refugees because of what has happened. The flood of refugees may be one of the greatest challenges our society has ever faced. It is clear that it will take years for thousands of lives to return to normal. Once again, Americans are showing that they are the most compassionate people in the world. Scores of organizations and thousands of churches and individuals are involved in opening their arms of love and compassion to these refugees. It may be the greatest opportunity to demonstrate God's love in this generation.

"Whenever any disaster like this strikes, we often ask ourselves why. Why did God let this happen? I have been asked that question hundreds of times, and I have to confess that I do not know the full answer. I can recall walking through the aftermath of hurricanes in Florida and South Carolina, and a typhoon in India that killed tens of thousands, and earthquakes in California and Guatemala, and every time I have asked 'Why?' Job in the Bible asked the same question thousands of years ago, and his only answer was that God's ways are often beyond our understanding, and yet He is sovereign and He can still be trusted. The Bible says evil is a mystery. Someday we will understand, but not now."

Dr. Graham adds: "I do know this, however: God knows what we are going through, and He still loves us and cares about us. In the midst of suffering and tragedy we can turn to Him for the comfort and help we need. Times like this will make us react in one of two ways: Either we will become bitter and angry -- or we will realize our need of God and turn to Him in faith and trust, even if we don't understand. The Bible says, 'He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds' (Psalm 147:3). The Bible also promises, 'When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. ...Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you' (Isaiah 43:2,4). May this tragedy make each of us realize our need of God, and may we turn to Christ in repentance and faith and find our hope in Him."

He concludes: "Across America this weekend, not a minute will go by without millions praying for those impacted by the hurricane – the loss of loved ones, homes, jobs. Our hearts go out to you, and the message we would like to get through to you is that we care, and that we are helping in every way we can."

Hurricane Katrina

Special Bulletin #8 - 2005:The Lessons of Hurricane Katrina, Part I by Rick Joyner September 6, 2005
As more than a million people are trying to cope with being homeless, separated from loved ones, and in many, many cases, the loss of loved ones, the nation must begin to cope with issues that can either tear us apart or enable us to emerge more unified, stronger, and better than ever. To do this we must understand what happened and what did not happen. Every Christian needs to also understand why this happened.

To read more of this article visit www.morningstar.com

PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE AUTHOR RICK WARREN OUTLINES SADDLEBACK CHURCH'S RESPONSE TO HURRICANE KATRINA

In a note to the Saddleback Church Family, Pastor Rick Warren says: "Hundreds of you have called the Ministry Center to ask, 'What are we doing to help the relief efforts from Hurricane Katrina?' Warren says: "This Monday (Labor Day) Kay and I will be flying to the disaster area with our relief assessment team and meeting with our network of churches to plan the best way to serve them. This will be a long, long recovery. "Once we know what types of volunteer help are most needed, we'll tell you. Right now there is almost zero communications within the area (no electricity) so everything is in chaos. 80 percent of New Orleans is flooded. An entire city must be rebuilt."We will have a special offering this weekend for the disaster relief. There's a line on the offering envelope for special offerings and a space where you can write the word 'RELIEF.'
Warren took the opportunity to brag on his church members"Your generosity through this church is legendary. For instance, last December, on a single weekend our church gave $1,393,933 for tsunami relief in South East Asia. Amazing!"Working directly church-to-church with our purpose driven PEACE network we were able to help 241 partner churches serve countless villages with needed relief. Plus, we started 5 new churches in devastated areas!P.E.A.C.E. is an acrostic for Plant churches, Equip leaders, Assist the poor, Care for the sick and Educate the next generation. It's part of a vision Warren has for a New Reformation in churches and a New Spiritual Awakening through churches around the world.
"Here's what your gifts (your gift through local churches ) to the December's tsunami relief accomplished:
provided acute medical care to 20,040 suffering people in South East Asia
built 2,621 new homes for the poor
started 6 new businesses that created 275 new jobs
provided 70 new boats and nets needed for fishing
dug 40 new water wells
impacted a total of 1,118,257 different individuals in some way
planted 5 new churches
led 43,554 people to open their hearts to the love of Jesus and become followers!

"This is the PEACE plan in action! Partnering with local churches in villages and planting churches where there were none, we were able to do so much more than imagined. Now we have the opportunity with the hurricane to do PEACE relief here in our own nation."Warren says that in just two weeks Saddleback Church is beginning the exciting small group campaign '40 Days of PEACE.' "One reason is to prepare us as a church to be ready to respond to the needs in our world. But assisting the poor and caring for the sick from this disaster cannot wait. So we're starting some projects now," Warren said.He promises to speak this weekend on "Hope for Hurting Parents."

Warren says: "If you're asking yourself, 'What can I do now, today?' Here's what you can do. PRAY. You can pray by yourself, with your family or co-workers or members of your small group. Ask God for three things:
1.) That he would make himself known to the hundreds of thousands of people impacted.
2.) That he would mobilize his church to meet the needs of the people affected.
3.) That he would prepare your heart to respond in a way that would bring him glory.

Warren is due to be interviewed on the 'Your World with Neil Cavuto Show' (Fox News Channel) about how to comfort the victims of the hurricane. It will air in Southern California at 3pm, 12 pm, and 4 am Eastern Time.

God Is Always There

I have spent much time following the events of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on the TV. To experience such loss and devastation to lives and possessions is hard to imagine. Yet over and over again I hear that people have got through because of their faith. It is their faith that has sustained them through physical, mental and emotional trauma. Although there are many things we don't understand, it is in such times of dire need that God draws close and gives us comfort and strength that is unexplicable , except for Him.
Yesterday I was listening to a song by Relient K which reminded me not only of the many Katrina victims, but also my own impossibilities that I am trusting God for. As you read these lyrics, join me in making them a prayer for all the Katrina victims and for all those who feel like their world is crumbling.

For The Moments I Feel Faint Lyrics Artist(Band):Relient K

Am I at the point of no improvement?
What of the death I still dwell in?
I try to excel, but I feel no movement.
Can I be free of this unreleasable sin?

[Chorus:]
Never underestimate my Jesus.
You're telling me that there's no hope.
I'm telling you your wrong.
Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong, He will be strong

I throw up my hands"Oh, the impossibilities"
Frustrated and tired
Where do I go from here?
Now I'm searching for the confidence I've lost so willingly
Overcoming these obstacles is overcoming my fear

[Chorus]
I think I can't, I think I can't
But I think you can, I think you can
I think I can't, I think I can't
But I think you can, I think you can
Gather my insufficiencies and place them in your hands, place them in your hands, place them in your hands

[Chorus](x2)

He will be strong (x3)

Father God
We pray right now for all those who are thinking -they can't. For all those whose world has crumbled and are feeling like they are losing their hope. We know we can't, but You, God, can!
Prove Yourself to us as we put our trust in You.
Help us not to underestimate the power of Jesus.
Amen

It Could Have Been Me- But For The Grace Of God

This week the world has reeled in shock at the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in the southern Gulf States of America. Although other major events have also happened this week, people who live in North America, in particular, are still trying to come to terms with the reality and extent of this disaster in their own back yard. Thoughts and images of the affected area come to mind many times a day. With the highly developed technology available today, the media enables us to follow the tragic events as they unfold, and it feels as if it has happened closer to home, than the reality of thousands of miles away.
The Hurricane Katrina disaster, for me, and I’m sure many others, has evoked many questions and emotions. Although days have past since Hurricane Katrina took its toll, I still have strong feelings of shock and disbelief that this has actually happened! Feelings of empathy and sorrow for the millions of people who have lost so much overwhelm my heart, and then come flashes of anger at the looters and criminal element that are taking advantage the misfortunes of others. I understand how desperate people might resort to stealing to meet their urgent need for survival............
Read more........But For the Grace of God

Worried?

"HIS PEACE WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS." ( PHILIPPIANS 4:7 NLT )

FOR WORRYWARTS!

Jesus said, "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of
course not" ( Mt 6:27 NLT ). Worry changes nothing. When's the last
time you solved a problem by worrying about it? Imagine somebody saying,
"I got behind on my bills so I decided to worry my way out of debt. And
you know, it worked! A few sleepless nights and a day of hand-wringing,
I yelled at the kids and took some pills, and-glory to worry-money
appeared in my account." You don't add one day to your life or one bit of
life to your day of worrying, but you can age prematurely and die
quickly.
Listen to these two Scriptures: "Those who trust in the Lord are like
Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever" ( Ps 125:1 NIV
). "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because
he trusts in You" ( (s 26:3 NIV ). We don't intentionaly doubt God, yet
when we worry we do. Can you imagine a child asking Michelangelo, "Are
you sure you know what to do with that chuck of rock?" Paul writes,
"His peace will guard your hearts and minds." Paul employs a military
metaphor here. The Philippians lived under Roman occupation and were
accustomed to the centurions guarding their town. What security! Before an
enemy could get to them they first had to get past the guards. And you
know what? God gives you the same guarantee! Nothing can get to you
without first coming through Him. When you know that, His peace fills your
heart.

By "SIS.VERONICA WASHINGTON"

The Cost of Raising Children

I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of
raising a child, but this is the first time I have
seen the rewards listed this way...
The government periodically releases the cost of
raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with
$160,140 for a middle income family.
Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch
college tuition but $160,140 isn't so bad if you
break it down.
It translates into:
*$8,896.66 a year,
*$741.38 a month, or
*$171.08 a week.
*That's a mere $24.24 a day!
*Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice
is don't have children if you want to be "rich."
Actually, it is just the opposite.
What do you get for your $160,140?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!

* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.

* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants,
clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered
with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying
kites, building sand castles and
skipping down the sidewalk in the
pouring rain.

* Someone to laugh yourself silly with,
no matter what the boss said or how
your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140, you never have to grow up.
You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,

* catch lightning bugs, and never stop
believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watching Saturday morning cartoons,
* going to Disney movies, and
* wishing on stars.
You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under
refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle
wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for
Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for
Father's Day.
For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck.
You get to be a hero just for:

* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,

* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,

* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a
baseball team that never wins but always gets
treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat to history to witness the:

* first step,
* first word,
* first bra,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to
your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of
limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great
grandchildren.
You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal
justice, communications, and human sexuality that
no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God.
You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away
the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart,
police a slumber party, ground them forever, and
love them without limits, So one day they will like you,
love without counting the cost.
All of this and more for just about one dollar per hour,
what a bargain!

God Created You And Threw Away The Mold

Consider this - the greatest gift that you can give to the world is You.

You are totally unique. God is so creative! Just as He doesn't ever create two snowflake crystals alike, neither does he create people alike. God delights in you and the unique characteristics, gifts, personality,appearance, heart that He created in you. You are a gift created by Him for the world to know and appreciate. You reflect a minute part of God and His Creativity.

How many times a day do we hide who we really are? How often do you suppress 'you' and try to be like someone else to gain acceptance and approval from others? What is it that makes us want to fit in and not stand out? Why are we so uncomfortable with our uniqueness?

Everytime we try to be like someone else who we admire, or who seems successful we set ourselves up for failure. We can only be 100% successful in being ourselves, and no-one else can be you. When we celebrate and flaunt our uniqueness we give something totally unique to other -we are a gift to them that enriches their lives.

Sometimes we lose ourselves. We lose a sense of who we are and settle into a second rate existance shaped by the expectations of who others think we should be, or who we think we should be. We cannot find peace and inner freedom unless we accept and live as God created us to be. This happened to me and it took me years to realize what was happening. Then I started a journey of discovering who I really was. It is a journey, it is a process- yet the places that I have travelled in it have enriched my life and brought such peace and contentment. I am beginning to live as the person God created me to be. Would I go back? NEVER!!!

Discovering and Celebrating Your Uniqueness

"Boundary Lines"

"Boundary Lines"(On The Other Side of the Tracks)


Surely in every town there is an invisible line that divides the poor from the not-so-poor. More often than not, the other side of the tracks includes the racial ethnic minorities. And there are associated gang problems, drug and alcohol abuse problems, and poor academic performance in the schools in those areas.

The world does not seem to be a happy and peaceful place.Yet, David says in Psalm 16:5-6,"Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance."

In my growing up years, the other side of the tracks was where I lived! There was poverty and the problems that go along with it. Yet, somehow God's presence among those who knew Him, made those chosen ones see the boundary lines in a different light. God's grace in the lives of those who believed showed the assurance of a delightful inheritance! And against all odds, those whose trust in the Lord was like David's, had their portion and their cup filled to overflowing!

We, too, may be living on the other side of the tracks. But guess what! The Lord promises to make our lots secure. He loves us and promises us not just an inheritance but a delightful one! How cool is that! The world may divide us along its own boundary lines, but the Lord crosses them and creates His own boundary lines that include us today and forever!

Until next time, make it a blessed day,Pastor Ellen

"Can You Hear Me?"

Picture a vast canyon where we can yell and scream and shout at the top of our lungs. The echo of our voices comes back again and again. There is no different response to our echo, no answer to our voices. It's just the echo, again and again. Why do we expect an answer? When no response comes back, why are we disappointed?Sometimes our prayers seem to be just echoes. We cast them out to the Lord, and He seems silent and distant. In our pleas for an answer, all we get are the echoes of our voices: "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?" (Psalm 13:1) David wrote this psalm about his plight, and it is comforting to know that even he struggled with the echoes of his voice and his waiting for a response."But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation." (Psalm 13:5).

Yet David, in the midst of his depression, sees a glimpse of hope from God, even though He hasn't answered his plea. David's trust in God lifts him out of the depths of that canyon to remember how God saves, not destroys. And that very thought can sustain him and sustain us in the depths of our waiting for God's response. Our trust in God will sustain us, no matter how low we feel or how low we stoop. God never fails to love us and come to our rescue. It may not be our own timing or our expected plan of rescue, but God is good to us now and forever!

"Gnawing Doubt"

"Gnawing Doubt" by Pastor Ellen

Did you ever leave the house and forget if you really turned off the stove? Or have you ever run out of the house and can't remember if you locked it? You get this gnawing doubt at the pit of your stomach that you really didn't…And so it either bothers you until you go back to check it, or your house actually burns down! (just kidding).

Sometimes our faith can play tricks on us, and we get these gnawing doubts that can erode our confidence in our relationship with Jesus. We can doubt whether He really loves us. We can doubt whether or not we are actually chosen by Him. We get cold feet and feel like we don't really have the faith it takes to get through our next crisis!The disciples were just like us even on that first Easter! It says in Matthew 28:16-17, "Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted." They were obedient -- they went where Jesus had told them to go. They worshiped Him, which was a good thing! But then it says, "Some doubted."

So even when we are obedient. Even when we worship Jesus. We can still doubt! Not always. Not all of us. But doubts appear.The solution? The Great Commission, which follow in the text tell us that even through the doubts, Jesus will be with us, "until the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20)!
So, when we hit the doubt button (and no doubt we do!), just like a panic button, we can recall that re-set button is right next to it: Jesus being with us, to the end of the age!

Until next time, make it a blessed day, Pastor Ellen

I was probably The One Jesus

Here is a poem written by Harry Fassett, a fellow blogger

I was probably The One Jesus


I was probably the one who shook you as violently as the storm was to wake you, and pleaded for you to calm it.

I was probably the one who sank into the ocean when you called me to come to you.

I was probably the one who scolded the women for washing your feet with precious oil, and wasting it.

I was probably the one who had forsaken you for 30 pieces of silver.

I was probably the one who denied you three times.

I was probably the one who took you away to be tortured.

I was probably the one who spit on you.

I was probably the one who nailed you to the cross.

I was probably the one who stuck the spear in your side.

I was probably the one who wagered for your garments.

I was probably the one who doubted you rose from the dead.

Then again, I was probably the one who judged you.



© June 2005 Harry Fassett
http://poemsbyharry.blogspot.com/
http://www.harryfassett.com

What Kind of Lion Are You?

An Article by Connie Giordano

Can you wait patiently on the Lord for the right opportunity to present itself? Or are you very impulsive, headstrong, or hasty - always taking matters into your own hands?

Psalm 34:9-10 says - "O fear the Lord, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger;but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing."
From what I read, young lions are very anxious and careless. Because of this, they oftentimes scare their prey and end up with nothing after the hunt. The older lions, on the other hand, are wiser and know how to wait patiently for the right opportunity to attack.
I wonder how God considers us today. Are we like the young lions - who are so restless and can't seem to wait for His timing - so we end up trying to help Him out in our situation -always losing out in the end? Or are we like the older lions - who can wait patiently on Him and get the Victory in His perfect time.
There is no want or lack to those who "fear the LORD." There is no want or lack to those who "seek the LORD." Perhaps the reason why we lack in many areas of our lives is because we fail to wait on the Lord for His Perfect Plan. It pays to seek Him. Wouldn't you agree?

May God Bless His Word. Connie
http://www.walkingintruth.org/
http://www.walkingintruth.org/donate.html
WALKING IN TRUTH MINISTRY P. O. Box 383016Duncanville, TX. 75138-3016
Copyright 2005 by Connie Giordano

What is the Best Way to Change the World?

When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was
difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I
found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I
couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change
my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can
change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I
had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my
family. My family and I could have made an impact on our
town. Their impact could have changed the nation and
I could indeed have changed the world.
Unknown

God is Real No Matter How You Feel

Feelings -- we all have our share of them. They can be compared
to "drifting clouds" that momentarily appear and then fade away.
Sometimes they arrive unannounced, and other times they are welcomed
like an old familiar, stuffed chair.

In case you haven't noticed, our feelings can be very unpredictable.
On certain days, they can be very gentle and warm. On other days,
however, they can be like a howling wind, fierce and unceasing,
tossing us to and fro like a rag doll. They have often been
described as fickle, fleeting, superficial, shallow, deep, intense,
void, and empty. They are denied, stifled, and stuffed, and on some
occasions, encouraged to be expressed. Like clockwork, they will
show up… and other times they are nowhere to be found.

If we make the mistake of allowing them to go unchecked for any
length of time, we soon discover that we are no longer in the
driver's seat -- they are! God, acting as our heavenly highway
patrolman, will pull us over and write us a "love summons" that
jolts us back into reality. He reminds us that He has already given
us divine authority over our emotions and that we have every right
to call the shots. We can "make an arrest," if you will, by no
longer allowing our feelings to dictate the way our day should go.

The wonderful truth of the matter is, though our feelings fluctuate
from day to day, nothing can change the unmovable character of God.
Isn't that a reassuring promise? In Him, there is no shadow of
turning (James 1:17). He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

God can handle our misbehaving emotions. He can even handle our
hissy fits. He is a patient, loving Father who graciously looks past
the exterior noise of our reeling emotions, and seeks to develop
within us a solid foundation of faith and trust.

No matter what feelings may sweep over us, it is faith, not feeling,
that God is after.

As I dusted off my old family hymnal, I discovered the lyrics from a
rather famous song called "The Solid Rock" that seem to say it so
well:

When darkness seems to hide his face,
I rest on his unchanging grace,
W hen all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
A ll other ground is sinking sand.

By Missey Butler

Peace

If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace.

Thich Nhat Hahn

A peace deep within can survive the fiercest of the storms of life. That peace can be sensed by all we meet, without a word being spoken. Be relentless in your search for inner peace, and when you find it, guard it with all of your being.

God gives us peace, a peace we cannot understand that does not depend on our circumstances. It is a deep spiritual peace. A peace that comes through accepting and trusting our Creator. Sometimes we just have to let go of trying to make things happen, and let God. Be still and known that I am God, that I love you and will be there for you. Let go and let God flood you with his peace.

The Center of the Bible

Here are some interesting facts about the Bible

What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? Answer - Psalms 117
What is the longest chapter in the Bible? Answer - Psalms 119
Which chapter is in the center of the Bible? Answer - Psalms 118
Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118
Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118
Add these numbers up and you get 1188
What is the center verse in the Bible? Answer - Psalms 118:8
Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect will for our lives? The next time someone says they would like to find God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to be in the center of His will, just send them to the center of His Word!
Psalms 118:8 (NKJV) "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."
Now isn't that odd how this worked out (or was God in the center of it)?
Faith doesn't get you around trouble, it gets you through it

All Things Are Possible

MARK 9:23 NKJ
23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."


From our early years we are educated in what is impossible. But progress continues to be made by people who attempt the impossible and achieve it. Some have said that mankind's only real obstacle is between our two ears.

We ARE limited by what we believe, according to Jesus. So, how can we change what we believe? Only by getting new evidence, which is available from the Word of God.

MATTHEW 17:20 NKJ
20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

A conventional approach will not achieve the "impossible." It will require acting different than the crowd, who probably won't understand you or support you. Speaking to things and telling them to move, as Jesus taught, is certainly not conventional.

Acting different than everyone else can be scary. It's like getting out of the boat to walk on water. But do you want conventional results? As you read the Bible and see the instructions God gave us, you will usually find them unconventional. But the person who acts on God's Word will be blessed.

All things are possible!

"What's Life All About?"

Sometimes life can seem so boring. For kids, it can be school and homework, piano practice or cleaning their rooms. For adults, it can be a meaningless job or worse yet, meaningless relationships, no joy at home or with the family. Things can get to be pretty hum-drum. And the possibilities of excitement seem so real with something else, someone else or some place else -- the grass does look greener on that other side!

God wants us to stop in our tracks -- immediately! Stop! Do not pass go! Do not collect $200! Jesus tells us the real purpose and significance of our lives. And it's not about us: our happiness, our jobs, our families, or even our potential! It's all about God! Jesus spells it out very clearly (John 6:27,29): "Do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man with give you. On Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval. The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent."

In order to be joyful and not bored, we've got to shift perspectives. If it's not all about us, we've got to check out who this Jesus guy really is! We've got to make that our priority, not making a living or raising a family or even keeping ourselves from being bored! Jesus is the key to life, happiness, and the greener grass on that other side. Let's get to know Him on a first name basis, and let's see how wonderful life can really be!

Until next time, make it a blessed day,

Guest Blogger Pastor Ellen

What Does God Want From Me?

What Does God Want From Me?

HEBREWS 11:6 NKJ
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who
comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder
of those who diligently seek Him.

You may be working yourself to a frazzle trying to be perfect
so you can please God.

You may have tried so hard and become so frustrated that you
are about ready to give up. Well, maybe you should quit trying
to be perfect on your own -- because none of us will ever be
perfect through our own efforts, anyway.

God knows you are human. He does not expect perfection out of
you. If you were perfect you would not even need a Saviour.

God loves you and accepts you because He made you. And He is
able to make you into what He desires for you to be -- if you
will trust Him and allow Him to work in you.

God wants you to trust Him. He wants your love and respect. He
has certainly earned it and deserves it. Don't let the devil
keep you from giving to God what He really desires: your love
and faith.

What does God desire from you? Not perfect performance -- but
total trust. God wants you to believe that He is good -- a rewarder!