godsworshippers’s posterous

 

Pastor Mark's SELAH for Tuesday

  Who Said That?
Whenever you have truth it must be given with love, or the message and the messenger will be rejected. ~Gandhi
Today's Word
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]....And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:13,19
Today's Thought
Grand, sweeping statements can be hard to take.
We've all heard confident claims such as, "Got a problem? God has the answer!"
Many people can be "Turned Off" by Bold statements, if the person talking has seemed arrogant, or worse still, they know the person themselves has not "Lived" what they are so boldly proclaiming over others.
Whenever someone makes any kind of bold statement, we must consider the source. Who is making the claim? Does that person really understand my situation? If we are in the midst of a struggle, we may wonder, Is this a person who knows what pain feels like? Or we ask ourselves, Is this someone I can trust? So, when we read Philippians 4:19, "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus," we have to stop and ask, Can I trust the writer? The answer, without a doubt, is yes.
Paul was not always a bubbly, happy-go-lucky communicator. He was bold and brash, spreading truth whenever and wherever it was necessary. He also knew what it meant to be in need. In fact, he wrote the book of Philippians from a jail cell, where he was most likely chained to a prison guard. More importantly, Paul knew where to get his needs met. Even in this dark situation, not knowing when or if he would ever be freed from his chains, Paul reveals something amazing: his contentment. He trusted that God's hand was at work, no matter how the outward circumstances appeared.
As you consider your present circumstances-your place in life and current needs-would you say you're content? Do you believe the Lord truly can and will meet your needs according to His glory?
Today's Prayer
Father In Heaven; Lead me to Confident people. Bring into my life people who have lived what they preach! I Believe YOU can meet ALL my needs! I place myself in Your Hands, so I will Rest in the contentment of Your power. In Jesus name. ~Amen.           

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Pastor Mark's SELAH - 11/16/09

  Expectation
The act of looking forward to a future event with at least some reason to believe the event will happen. Expectation differs from hope. Hope originates in desire, and may exist with little or no ground of belief that the desired event will arrive. Expectation is founded on some reasons which render the event probably. ~N. Webster
Today's Word
Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. ~Hebrews 10:35
Today's Thought
People generally live up to your expectations of them. If you assume that they'll cheat you and expect them to take advantage of you, they probably will. If you expect the very best from them, that's often what you'll get.
It works the same way, to an even greater degree, with your expectations of yourself. When you expect the best from yourself, you'll get it.
High Achievement Always Takes Place In The Framework Of High Expectation.
Expectations play a key role in the way you see things. When you expect the best, you'll see opportunity in situations where others will see only problems. You'll have the confidence of knowing that you will never settle for less than the best.
And when you expect the best of yourself, you'll inspire others to do their best as well.
Expect to succeed in every situation. Never settle for less than the best from yourself. And do others a favor by expecting the best of them. What you expect will come to pass.
The seasons of your life will change every time you decide to use your Faith.
Today's Prayer
Father in heaven; Grant me the Faith to begin to Expect the Good & Not the Bad! Today I will become Positive that my Prospects will Push to become Probabilities. Today I will become Hope-Filled instead of Hope-Less. I will Anticipate Your Blessing. In Jesus Name. ~Amen.  

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Pastor Mark's SELAH for yesterday's Friday

  Confidence
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
Today's Word
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7
Today's Thought
Paul was a confident man. During his earlier years, the apostle's positive attitude came from trusting in his credentials, namely, his background, education, and position. However, his encounter with the Lord caused him to realize they were of little worth. So what was the source of his new boldness?
Paul's relationship with Jesus formed the new foundation for his existence. (Acts 9:1-6) Regarding his former ways as over, he wholeheartedly embraced his new life in Christ. Paul not only recognized the inadequacy of everything he had previously relied upon- his knowledge, achievement, and authority; he also relinquished any notion of living independently of the Lord. The apostle was a man of action, who lived his life through total reliance upon God. (Galatians 2:20)
Paul's unwavering trust in God's faithfulness also played a key role. He believed God when He promised to strengthen and equip him; to guide him in every situation; to meet all his needs; and never to leave him. In facing trials, Paul experienced the power of the Holy Spirit flowing in and through him. Because he took the Lord at His word, he could meet adversity with boldness. His confidence was not in himself but in God's presence, provision, and power; therefore, it remained strong.
Do you see why we can be confident followers of Christ? It isn't who we are, what we believe about ourselves, or what strengths and abilities we have that matter. Developing a wholehearted trust and reliance on Jesus is what brings about confidence. How much do you trust Him?
Today's Prayer
Father In Heaven; Forgive me when I waiver. Touch my life with mental and spiritual Confidence! I choose to believe You and Your Word for my Life, and that Assurance is more than Insurance. I will be confident Through Christ. ~Amen.            

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Pastor Mark's SELAH for Wednesday

HAPPY VETERAN's DAY to all our Soldiers!  Thank you!

   

"God Bless America"
The men who have guided the destiny of the United States have found the strength for their tasks by going to their knees. This private unity of public men and their God is an enduring source of reassurance for the people of America. ~Lyndon B. Johnson
Today's Word
If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. ~2 Chronicles 7:14
Today's Thought
In 1918, Irving Berlin wrote "God Bless America", a song that has touched millions of lives for nearly a century. But some Americans take the lyrics of that masterpiece for granted.
In 1938, Berlin slightly rewrote the lyrics to reflect the tone of the country as war threatened Europe. He created an instant sensation. "God Bless America" was soon heard from shore to shore in churches, town squares, and social gatherings. The song received tremendous air time on the radio. The American people feared the coming war and embraced this song as a unified prayer for peace and protection.
The lyrics pierced the heart of the culture. Millions of Americans prayerfully sang:
God bless America, land that I love.
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies

To the oceans white with foam                   

God bless America, my home sweet home.
In the midst of today's wars, it's a tragedy that we've lost touch with this song of faith. Over the past few decades, we've shifted away from a national faith in God toward a sometimes self-important, self-centered, and self-empowered lack of faith.
Few Christians would deny that our country is in moral decline. As the nation has moved away from biblical principles, we have seen an increase in divorce, drug abuse, suicide, depression, teen pregnancy, and selfishness. Ethical compromise and greed have resulted in financial instability. The right to share our faith, speak out on moral issues, and even attend church freely could one day be threatened.
Do you love this country and the independence it provides for us? Then I challenge you to kneel before the Lord and cry out to Him on behalf of the United States. Ask the Lord to awaken American spiritually and call her to repentance. If we do that, He has promised to hear from heaven and heal our land
 As you cry out to the Lord today, can we challenge you to rediscover "God Bless America." Lift it up to God in prayer. Speak the words slowly. Let each phrase touch your heart as you make this petition to the King of all nations.
Remember to also lift up all of our service men and women, pray for safety, and a soon return Home. Pray that God will be a shield and comfort to their families that wait for the return of these New American Heroes of Freedom!
God Bless America...........

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SELAH from Pastor Mark for Tuesday

  Early to Bed, Early to Rise.
The Early Bird Catches The Worm. ~ Success Comes To Those Who Prepare Well And Put In Effort.
Today's Word
O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee. ~Psalm 63:1
Today's Thought
How's your schedule these days? Do you crawl out of bed, shower, dress, gulp down your coffee, and dash out the door? Have you just enough time to fix breakfast, pack the kids' lunches and get them off to school? At the end of the day are you drained and exhausted?
Want a suggestion that's guaranteed to make things better? Become an early riser! That's right; spending time with God before your day starts, is an incredible way to energize yourself. Some of the world's most successful people have done it.
Isaiah writes, "my soul wants to be with you at night, and my spirit... at the dawn of every day" (Isaiah 26:9). David said, "... early will I seek thee... (Psalm 63:1). Look at the life of Christ: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up... and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed" (Mark 1:35).
If you want to enjoy that kind of communion, you'll have to exercise that kind of control. That means you'll have to turn off the TV, get to bed earlier, and rise earlier. But if you do, it'll be one of the most rewarding changes you'll ever make. Here are three things that will happen:
1. You'll experience a greater sense of peace, because now you're no longer relying solely on your own resources.
2. Because you've opened yourself to God at the beginning of the day, you'll sense His guidance through it.
3. As you communicate with Him, you'll be instructed, empowered, refreshed and more successful at whatever you do!
Today's Prayer
Father In Heaven; Forgive me, if I was one of the 7 dwarfs I'd be "Sleepy." I need Your help to become "Happy" This life is so fast-paced. I need to discipline myself. I will make a commitment to get to bed a little earlier so I can rise a little earlier and talk with You for a few minutes each day. I commit to trying to read and meditate on my Selah email every day for the next 20 days. Help me Father. In Jesus Name. ~Amen

Blog Post  "Reaction"  www.NewLifeCt.BlogSpot.com  

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SELAH for Monday

  The Secret of Your Success
The Problem You Solve Determines The Reward You Receive.
Today's Word
Wealth [not earned but] won in haste or unjustly or from the production of things for vain or detrimental use [such riches] will dwindle away, but he who gathers little by little will increase [his riches]. ~Proverbs 13:11
Today's Thought:    by Donald Trump
When you were a child, would you have liked to keep crawling, when everyone else was walking? I don't think so.
We all have to start with small steps, but the point is:
Get To The Biggest Steps You're Capable Of Taking.
Thinking small will limit your potential. Thinking big will take you places. Thinking big can get you to the top, and I can tell you, it's not lonely up here.
Successful people like challenges. It's our nature. Keep in sync with this basic premise, and you'll begin moving forward with the momentum necessary for wealth creation and great achievement.
Striving from an early age is one secret to success. I learned to work hard from an early age, trying to catch up with my father who was a very successful developer. But you can keep striving no matter what your age or accomplishments.
These three concepts will guide you: 
1. Ask yourself why your plans are so small. Then begin to expand your horizons.
2. Concentrate on managing your future, not your past. Learn from the past, but don't stay there.
3. Look at the solution. Don't focus on the problem.
Today's Prayer    Not by Trump
Father In Heaven; Forgive me for Thinking Small while You have been my Partner! Help me to Concentrate and to Manage my Goals. Help me to see the Answers and Solutions Today for myself & for Others. Use me to Bless somebody. In Jesus Name, ~Amen.

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Friday's SELAH

  The Power Of Vision
Today's Word
Let your eyes look straight ahead. ~Proverbs 4:25
Today's Thought
Behind most success stories you'll find:
1. Great Sacrifices Made In Order To Fulfill A Dream;
2. Principles That Govern Lives, In Public And In Private;
3. The Ability To Turn A Single Victory Into A System Of Success; And
4. A Relentless Quest For Personal Growth.
Howard Hendricks writes, "As a boy I loved to watch the older men play checkers. One day one of them invited me to play. At first it looked easy. I captured one, then another of his checkers. Then suddenly he took one checker and hopped across the board yelling, 'King me!' With that King he proceeded to wipe me off the board. That day I learned about long-range vision. Nobody minds losing a few checkers, as long as he's headed for King Territory!"
What sustained Joseph during his years in prison? His dream! What sustained Moses in the wilderness? Listen, "He persevered because he saw Him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27). Your vision will sustain you when nothing else will.
What do you see in your future?You'll never seize it until you first see it!
Take time to write down:
1. Your Vision And The Reason You Want To Fulfill It.
2. What You're Willing To Go Through To Make It Happen.
3. Every Challenge You'll Have To Overcome In Order To Pursue It.
Do that, and you'll be mentally prepared for anything that comes your way. The only difference between winners and losers is how they view failure.
Losers see failure - winners see beyond it!
Today's Prayer
Father In Heaven; Help me to SEE what I CAN BE; & Where I Could BE. Open my Spiritual eyes so I can see Your Plan for my Future. Then I will work on the How of getting there. I will be Positive in spite of my present circumstances, In Jesus Name. ~Amen.

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Thursday's SELAH

Who Gets the Blessing?
All The Blessings We Enjoy Are Divine Deposits, Committed To Our Trust On This Condition, That They Should Be Dispensed For The Benefit Of Our Neighbors. ~John Calvin
Today's Word
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. ~Psalm 24:3-5
Today's Thought
God wants us to receive every blessing that He has in store for us. That's why He tells us in His Word how we can receive every one of His promises-by having clean hands and a pure heart. What does that mean?
First of all, we are made clean and pure by the blood of Jesus when we make Him our Lord and Savior and turn away from anything that displeases Him. And I've found that most of the time, it's not the big things that keep us from God's best; it's the small things-maybe it starts with an offense that turns into unforgiveness. Or maybe you watch things on TV or the internet that you know you shouldn't, and it becomes a bad habit that steals your time and pollutes your mind.
Make the decision today that you are going to be a person of excellence and integrity. Treat the people in your life with respect and kindness. Look for ways to be a blessing to others. Be determined to live a life that pleases God so that you can receive the honor, wealth, and abundance that He has in store for you!
Today's Prayer
Father in heaven, thank You for the blood of Jesus that cleanses and renews me. I choose to turn away from anything that displeases You so that I can live righteously before You. In Jesus Name. ~Amen.

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Wednesday's SELAH

  What's Love Got To Do With It?
Today's Word
If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing. ~1 Corinthians 13:2-3
Today's Thought
Influential individuals often demonstrate a care and compassion for the people they are around. This love propels them to make a difference. Without love nothing else matters. The famous love chapter, written by the apostle Paul, reminds us of the need for love.
Love Keeps The Flame Of Influence Burning Brightly. T. Chardin said it this way: "The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire."
What is love challenging you to do in your life, at your church, in your community? What sacrifices are you willing to make to see God's dream for you become reality?
A college professor had his sociology class go into the Baltimore slums to get case histories of 200 young boys. They were asked to write an evaluation of each boy's future. In every case the students wrote, "He hasn't got a chance." Twenty-five years later another sociology professor came across the earlier study. He had his students follow up on the project to see what had happened to those boys. With the exception of 20 boys who had moved away or died, the students learned that 176 of the remaining 180 had achieved more than ordinary success as lawyers, doctors, and businessmen.
The professor was astounded and decided to pursue the matter further. Fortunately, all the men were in the area, and he was able to ask each one, "How do you account for your success?" In each case the reply came with feeling, "There was a teacher."
The teacher was still alive, so he sought her out and asked the old but still alert lady what magic formula she had used to pull these boys out of the slums into successful achievement.
The teacher's eyes sparkled and her lips broke into a gentle smile. "It's really very simple," she said. "I loved those boys."
Today's Prayer
Father In Heaven; Help me to Love More so that I will Give More and be compelled to Do More! I want to be a Positive Influence in my World. Today! In Jesus Name. ~Amen.

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Tuesday's SELAH

  Tempered Steel
As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit. ~Emmanuel Teney
Today's Word
Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. ~Isaiah 41:10
Today's Thought
It's easy to look around at what's happening in the earth today and be tempted to feel afraid or dismayed. Circumstances may seem overwhelming. Maybe your business is struggling, maybe you lost your job, maybe you're struggling in a relationship or concerned about the economy. Remember:
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved. ~Helen Keller
During times like these, it's important to remember that God has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us. In fact, not only is He with us, He has promised to strengthen us and harden us to difficulties, to Temper us. That means, when tough times come, they just bounce right off of you. You don't allow your circumstances to steal your peace and joy. You have the attitude that says, "This may be a big problem, but my God is bigger!"
Keep in mind that the enemy isn't after your checkbook; he's ultimately after your peace and joy. He knows that if he can get your joy then he can get your strength. But when you stay connected to the Father through prayer and studying the Word and declare His promises over your life, you'll be hardened to difficulties and stay safe in the palm of God's hand!
 Today's Prayer
Father in heaven, thank You for Your precious promises. I renounce fear today and choose to trust that You have a plan of victory in store for me. Thank You for filling me with Your peace and joy and staying close to me all the days of my life. In Jesus Name. ~Amen

       


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