Happy Thanksgiving.........

It is important today as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving,
that we remember how truly blessed we are in this Country, and
that all blessings flow from our Heavenly Father. So as you
prepare to celebrate this Holiday, be sure to give thanks to God
for all of your blessings?

I am closing this message today with a poem that I hope
you will enjoy.

AUTUMN IS NATURE'S MASTERPIECE

Autumn is Nature's masterpiece
When every tree's aglow;
Before the leaves have fallen
And the hills are white with snow.

The bounty of the harvest
Is a treasure to behold,
For the fruits of our labor
Are more valuable than gold.

There's a change in the weather
That fills the heart with cheer;
With the holidays approaching
In the twilight of the year.

There's a feeling of Thanksgiving
That comes to one and all;
When we count our many blessings
As the leaves begin to fall.
Poet: Clay Harrison

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and may God Bless You!

FOUR WIVES...........

FOUR WIVES

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most
and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took
great care of her and gave her nothing but the best. He also loved the 3rd
wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show her off to
his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might
run away with some other men. He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very
considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante.
Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife
and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.
Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great
contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care
of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and
although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to
die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4
wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be! Thus, he
asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing
and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me
and keep me company?" "No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away
without another word. The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the
merchant's heart.

The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all
my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"
"No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to
remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've
always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you
follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this
time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your
grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was
devastated.

Then a voice called out : "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter
where you go." The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She
was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved,
the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I
could have!"

Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives. The 4th wife is our body. No
matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll
leave us when we die. Our 3rd wife? Our possessions, status and wealth.
When we die, they all go to others. The 2nd wife is our family and friends.
No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the
furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave. The 1st wife is in fact
our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material wealth and sensual
pleasure. Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us
wherever we go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now
rather than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament.

-- Author Unknown

Frogs..........

FROGS

A group of frogs was traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into
a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit.

When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the unfortunate frogs they
would never get out.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit. The
other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead.

Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and
simply gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could.

Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and suffering
and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out.

When he got out, the other frogs asked him, "Why did you continue jumping
Didn't you hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He
thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

------------ --------- --------

This story teaches two lessons:

1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to
someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.

2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill
them. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path.

The power of words....it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging
word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob
another of the spirit to continue in difficult times.

Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another. May
your words be a blessing to someone today.

-- Author Unknown

The Blessing of Graditude.by Charles Stanley

The Blessing of Gratitude
Colossians 2:6-7

Believers have the amazing privilege of praying to their heavenly Father. But it may come as a surprise to some that bringing requests to God is just one aspect of our communication with Him. Another important part of prayer--which, sadly, is often overlooked--is thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6).

In fact, the Father wants His children's lives to be characterized by gratefulness. His Word tells us that an appreciative attitude should be evident in our worship (Ps. 95:2-7; Col. 3:16), giving (2 Cor. 9:12), relationships (Phil. 1:1-3), and even the way we approach spiritual battles (1 Cor. 15:55-57). In other words, thankfulness to the Lord should permeate everything we do (Rom. 14:6).

In the Scriptures, the Lord mandates our gratitude (1 Thess. 5:18), which some people find perplexing. But He knows how a grateful attitude affects our hearts. Thanking Him ...

• Keeps us aware of His presence.
• Focuses us on Jesus Christ; pride diminishes when we remember life is about Him.
• Drives us to look for His purpose in our challenging situations.
• Reminds us of His goodness, which leads to hope and submission to His will, even when we don't understand the reason for our pain.
• Encourages continued dependence on Him.
• Replaces anxiety with peace and joy.

When we maintain an attitude of thanksgiving in both happy and difficult seasons, our lives will feel purposeful and fulfilling. But more importantly, God will be glorified. Ask Him to bring blessings to mind so you can say "Thank You."

A Hymn of Thanksgiving

Now Thank We All Our God

Now thank we all our God,
With heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
In Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms
Has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace,
And guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills,
In this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns
With Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God,
Whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.
--Martin Rinkart c. 1636
(translation by Catherine Winkworth)

A Heart of Graditude...by Charles Stanley

A Heart of Gratitude
Psalm 100:1-5

The Bible instructs us, "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:18) That directive might seem easy when life is going well. But if painful circumstances arise, expressing gratitude can become difficult.

It's interesting to note that this instruction to thank the Lord in all things was written by Paul--the apostle whose loyalty to Christ earned him severe persecution. You might wonder how he was able to be grateful to God.

While many situations weren't to his liking, Paul knew that His riches in Christ Jesus far outweighed any earthly discomfort. Consider the blessings he so valued, which are available to all believers. First of all, we are invited to have a personal relationship with the one true God--the sovereign, omniscient, and omnipresent Lord of all creation. Second, our Creator loves us with an everlasting and unconditional love. Third, He sent His Son to die as payment for our sin-debt so that we could spend eternity with Him. As a result, when we place trust in Jesus, we are freed from the fear of death.

And the list of blessings keeps going: God adopts believers as His children and seals them with His Spirit (Eph. 4:30). He has a plan for every life--and bestows special gifts and empowerment to make it happen. He also promises to meet every need through His limitless resources (Phil. 4:19) and provides His Word and indwelling Spirit to guide us.

No wonder Paul was grateful! Count his blessings as your own, and let God know how appreciative you are.

Be Thankful.........

BE THANKFUL...

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings.

What Things GOD won't ask You.............

Things God Won't Ask

~ God won't ask what kind of car you drove, He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

~ God won't ask the square footage of your house, He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

~ God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

~ God won't ask what your highest salary was, He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

~ God won't ask what your job title was, He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of our ability.

~ God won't ask how many friends you had, He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

~ God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

~ God won't ask about the color of your skin, He'll ask about the content of your character.

today'sTHOT============================

Trouble is inevitable, misery is optional.

=======================================

TURKEY RIDDLES

TURKEY RIDDLES
So bad, they're good...

What did the mother turkey say to her disobedient children?
If your father could see you now, he'd turn over in his gravy!

Why do Pilgrims have trouble keeping their pants up?
'Cause they wear their belts on their hats!

What is the difference between a chicken and a turkey?
Chickens celebrate Thanksgiving!!

What is the Turkey's favorite black tie celebration?
The Butter Ball

What do you get when you cross a turkey, the beach, and Broomhilda?
A turkey sand-witch

What kind of music did Pilgrims listen to?
Plymouth Rock

Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?
The outside

Why do turkeys eat so little?
Because they are always stuffed

Why did the turkey cross the road?
It was the chicken's day off.

What key has legs and can't open doors?
Tur-key.

What sound does a space turkey make?
Hubble, hubble, hubble.

How do you keep a turkey in suspense?
I'll tell you at Christmas.

today'sTHOT============================

Asked to write a composition entitled, "What I'm thankful for on Thanksgiving," little Johnny wrote, "I'm thankful that I'm not a turkey."

=======================================

Thanksgiving Forecast

THANKSGIVING FORECAST

Turkeys will thaw in the morning, then warm in the oven to an afternoon high near 190F. The kitchen will turn hot and humid, and if you bother the cook, be ready for a severe squall or cold shoulder.

During the late afternoon and evening, the cold front of a knife will slice through the turkey, causing an accumulation of one to two inches on plates. Mashed potatoes will drift across one side while cranberry sauce creates slippery spots on the other.

A weight watch and indigestion warning have been issued for the entire area, with increased stuffiness around the beltway. During the evening, the turkey will diminish and taper off to leftovers, dropping to a low of 34F in the refrigerator.

Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, high pressure to eat sandwiches will be established. Flurries of leftovers can be expected both days with a 50 percent chance of scattered soup late in the day. We expect a warming trend where soup develops. By early next week, eating pressure will be low as the only wish left will be the bone.

today'sTHOT============================

Woman to stock boy: "Do these turkeys get any bigger?"
"No ma'am, they're dead"

=======================================

Livening up Thanksgiving dinner

LIVENING UP THANKSGIVING DINNER

1. Load your plate up high; take it to the kitchen, toss it all in the blender and take your "shake" back to the table. Announce that it's the new Thanksgiving Weight Loss Shake.

2. When everyone says, in turn, what they are thankful for, say, "I'm thankful I didn't get caught," and refuse to say anything more.

3. Bring along old-recorded football games and pop them in the VCR (or DVD) when Dad's not looking. Make sure it is set to the last two minutes of the game. When he comes into the room, turn off the VCR and turn on the regular TV.

4. Bring a date that only talks about the tragic and abusive conditions known to exist at turkey farms.

5. During mid-meal, turn to Mom and say, "See mom, I told you they wouldn't notice that the turkey was past the expiration date. You were worried for nothing."

today'sTHOT============================

These days about half the stuff in my shopping cart says, "For fast relief."

=======================================

Top ten signs youv'e eaten too much at Thanksgiving dinner

TOP TEN SIGNS YOU'VE EATEN TOO MUCH AT THANKSGIVING DINNER

10. Hundreds of volunteers have started to stack sandbags around you.

9. Doctor tells you your weight would be perfect for a man 17 feet tall.

8. You are responsible for a slight but measurable shift in the earth's axis.

7. Right this minute you're laughing up pie on the carpet.

6. You decide to take a little nap and wake up in mid-July.

5. World's fattest man sends you a telegram, warning you to "back off!"

4. CBS tells you to lose weight or else.

3. Getting off your couch requires help from the fire department.

2. Every escalator you step on immediately grinds to a halt.

1. You're sweatin' gravy.

today'sTHOT============================

He ate so much over the holidays that he decided to quit cold turkey.

=======================================

Exercise for older adults in preparation for Thanksgiving

EXERCISE FOR OLDER ADULTS IN PREPARATION FOR THANKSGIVING

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.

With a 5-lb potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day, you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.

After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato sacks.

Then try 50-lb potato sacks and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute.

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the sacks.

today'sTHOT============================

Forbidden fruit creates many jams.

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A Little Girls Prayer

A LITTLE GIRLS PRAYER

Helen Roseveare, a missionary doctor from England to Zaire Africa, told this
as it happened to her in Africa.

"One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in
spite of all we could do she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and
a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby
alive, as we had no incubator. (We had no electricity to run an incubator.)
We also had no special feeding facilities.

Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous
drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the
cotton wool the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire
and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me
that in filling the bottle, it had burst. Rubber perishes easily in tropical
climates. "And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed.

As in the West it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa
it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not
grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

"All right," I said, "Put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and
sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. "Your job
is to keep the baby warm."

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of
the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters
various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny
baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning
the hot water bottle. The baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also
told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During the prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual
blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God," she prayed, "send
us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead,
so please send it this afternoon."

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added by way of a
corollary, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for
the little girl so she'll know You really love her?"

As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly
say, "Amen?" I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know
that He can do everything. The Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't
there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by
sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four
years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home.
Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle?
I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training
school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the
time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the verandah, was a
large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not
open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we
pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper,
taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or
forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I
lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them
out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and
the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and
sultanas--that would make a nice batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I
put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and
pulled it out--yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle!

I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He
could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward,
crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!"

Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small,
beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted. Looking up
at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you, Mummy, and give this dolly to
that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my
former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's
prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the
girls had put in a dolly for an African child--five months before--in answer
to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon."

"Before they call, I will answer!" Isa 65:24

-- Author Unknown

How You Can Choose a Better Life.............

How You Can Choose a Better Life

Whitney Hopler

The following is a report on the practical applications of Dr. James MacDonald's new book, 10 Choices: A Proven Plan to Change Your Life Forever, (Thomas Nelson, 2008).

Do you feel trapped -- longing for a better life, yet not finding it? Are you waiting for certain doors to open so your life will improve?

All that you hope for is right in front of you. The key to enjoying a better life is to make choices that will lead you there.

Here are some choices that have the power to transform your life when you make them:

Choose God's love: Choose to believe that there is a God who knows you perfectly and yet loves you unconditionally. God has promised that all those who truly look for Him will find Him. Decide to seek God with all your heart. Believe in the reality of God's love for you, no matter what you've done in the past. Embrace God's love for you, thank Him for it, and base your identity on it. Let God's great love for you imbue you with confidence.

Choose God's forgiveness: Only the choice to receive God's forgiveness can set you free once and for all from the dark clouds of guilt and regret that linger over bad choices from your past. Let go of your pride and approach God in honest humility. Confess your sins and repent of them to usher God's forgiveness into your life and restore your relationship with Him.

Choose Jesus Christ as Lord: Everyone serves someone, and many people choose to serve themselves. But Jesus Christ is the only one who loves you unconditionally and forgives you completely, so choose to serve Him. One day every human being who has ever lived will stand before Jesus as Lord, since He stands supreme in the universe. Following Him now will lead to the best life for you. Don't settle for following a caricature of Jesus (Jesus as your buddy, safety net or good luck charm, religious artifact, meal ticket, or social conscience). Instead, discover who Jesus truly is by studying what the Bible reveals about Him, and give your allegiance to Him. Bow to Jesus' authority by obeying His commands. Be willing to submit your will to His when He and you might disagree on what to choose. Invite Jesus to take charge of all areas of your life -- your relationships with family and friends, your work, your play, your dreams, etc. Realize that all you are and have ultimately belongs to Him. Do your best to follow where Jesus leads you, and ask another Christian whom you trust to hold you accountable to follow Jesus faithfully.

Choose the Bible as God's Word: When the Bible is your authority, it can change the direction of your life. The Bible is God's blueprint for human happiness; it can satisfy the deepest longings of your soul. God's Word empowers you to dismiss evil and resist temptation. Without the Bible, you're lost and wandering in darkness, but with it, you can find everything for which you've been longing. Don't minimize the Bible's importance by using it as an hors d'oeuvres try (where you pick and choose what to take), rental car insurance (that you're glad to have, but only in an emergency), a seat belt (a nuisance that cramps your style), high school algebra (technically accurate, but of no practical use), or a hobby (like a fun phase you go through). Recognize that the Bible is the authoritative book from the Creator of the universe about how life really works. Make reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on the Bible a high priority in your life. Apply its messages, using it as your guidebook for life. Let the Bible challenge your thinking and change your direction. Pray Scripture, and share it with other people. If you're not reading the Bible regularly, discipline yourself to do so for 30 days. After that, continue reading for another 30 days to develop a desire to read the Bible (rather than doing so out of a sense of obligation). Then, for the next 30 days, focus on delighting in the Bible so much that reading it becomes your favorite part of each day and Scripture runs in the background of your thoughts constantly.

Choose to forgive: You have a limited capacity to go forward in life without the freedom that comes from forgiveness. God didn't design you to carry forward the weight of the past; if you try to do so, bitterness will poison your soul. So choose to forgive those who have hurt you. Let your gratitude for how much God has forgiven you motivate you to obey His command to forgive other people. Don't wait until you feel like forgiving; you likely never will. But once you make the choice to forgive, your feelings will follow in time as God helps you through the process and moves you from pain to joy. Make the decision to release people from the obligations that resulted when they injured you. Remind yourself of your decision every time the issue continues to come up in your mind. Over time, you'll be able to let go of the offense and the memory of it won't cause you pain. Remember that nothing can happen in your life that forgiveness can't conquer, and that there's nothing that you can't be free from in your past through forgiveness. Ask God to bring to mind the names and faces of the people you need to forgive -- past or present. Then choose to forgive them, with God's help.

Choose to trust: You can trust God with your future. Accept God's invitation to trust Him; there is no other option that truly works. Realize that worrying is a waste of time and energy, and that it distracts you from focusing on making good choices today that will affect your future. Transfer your burdens to God through prayer. Imagine yourself taking each of your worries to the foot of the Cross and leaving them there for God to handle. Ask God to develop a character of trust in you.

Choose to love your family first: Establish your family as your highest priority after God and choose to love them first and best among all other people in your life. When figuring out whether or not to pursue specific activities, ask yourself whether or not they immediately concern you and your family. Calculate the cost involved before adding any activity to your schedule. Remember that your time and energy is limited; don't wear yourself out serving others -- even for a good cause -- to the point that you can't serve your own family well. Show each of your family members that you treasure them by being there for them when they need you, listening to them, and encouraging them. Express your love for them by saying: "I love you," "I need you," "There is no one like you," and "I thank God for you" often. Ask God to help you remain committed to your family throughout times of hardship and conflict. Create a loving culture within your family in which you all share a unique bond. Find creative ways to communicate love in ways your family members best appreciate. Instead of asking what your family can do for you, ask what you can do for your family. Choose to give your best to them, even when they choose to be selfish. Forgive and reconcile with family members after conflicts, and stay committed to family relationships.

Choose to be authentic: Close all the gaps between the person you profess to be and who you actually are. Make sure that what you say and what you do match. Ask God to help you avoid hypocrisy. Go to church for one reason only -- because you're passionate about Jesus -- instead of going because you'd feel guilty if you didn't or because other people expect you to go. Don't worry about projecting a certain image to others; simply be yourself. Forget about trying to impress others with your piety; instead, choose to live faithfully as a way of expressing your love to God. Don't try to please other people. Live to please God alone. Remember that God sees beyond your outward behavior; He looks into your soul to see what's really motivating you. You may be able to fool other people, but you can't fool God, so don't try. Be honest with God about your sin and weaknesses and expect Him to meet you where you are. Refuse to judge other people's motives and appearance, and if you do have to make a judgment call, don't be harsh. Pursue authentic relationships instead of spending time with phony people. Surround yourself with genuine people and hold each other accountable to living authentic lives.

Choose to serve: A life of serving God is the way to lasting greatness in God's eyes. Greatness is not found in a position. Nor is it found in power. Greatness only comes from serving. God will bestow greatness on you when you choose to serve. When you're serving difficult people, keep in mind that you're ultimately serving Jesus by being faithful in the situation. If the people you serve don't express appreciation, remember that God notices the good work you're doing and will eventually reward you for it. Be confident that any service God calls you to -- no matter how mundane -- is highly significant because it helps fulfill eternal purposes. Serving God will help you stay faithful to Him, as well. So humble yourself before God and choose to serve however He leads you.

Choose to stand: Stand for Jesus instead of walking away when life gets hard. The people who know you should clearly see that your relationship with Jesus is your highest priority. Devote your deepest passion and commitment to Jesus. God can do awesome things with your life when you're completely yielded to Him. Pay attention to how God has positioned you to impact the world for the better. Choose to be the salt and light He calls you to be in the world, impacting people in positive and powerful ways. Don't despair when you encounter tough times. Instead, respond to suffering by holding onto the hope you have in Christ and reaching out to God. Channel your energy into something productive for God's glory so others can see the difference that faith makes in your life. Don't let distractions derail you from standing for God; keep your eyes focused on Him. Surrender your will to God's will, trusting Him to do what's best for you and inviting Him to transform your life. Choose to stand for Jesus, no matter what comes your way, and God will strengthen your faith as you live out that choice.

a BIG God..........

A BIG GOD

This is a story about a little girl who, on the way home from church, turned
to her mother and said, "Mommy, the Preacher's sermon this morning confused
me."

The mother said, "Oh! Why is that?

The girl replied, "Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that
true?"

"Yes, that's true," the mother replied.

"He also said that God lives within us. Is that true too?"

Again the mother replied, "Yes."

"Well," said the girl. "If God is bigger than us and He lives in us,
wouldn't He show through?"

Read this again....... ..Think.. ...

-- Author Unknown