Thought: Don’t throw your confidence away!!!
I can, I will, I must. The scripture says, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
“Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.” Unknown
The definition of confidence: full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing. There are two types of people confidence builders or confidence shakers.
Confidence is not set in cement. It is possible to lose it. Our choice of associates will have a tremendous bearing on our confidence level. If you are unsure of yourself a confidence shaker can do you in.
Confidence shakers see the negative side of everything. A confidence shaker can talk you right out of success. Maybe you wanted to become a doctor and you were told you are not smart enough; you don’t make the grades or even have the money to go to college. But you had a dream. When you buy into it the very thing that was helping you to become successful has now become your down fall.
Unfortunately the negative process can and does affect Christians. We all go thru periods of testing wondering if God can and will meet our every need. With a little discouragement from a confidence shaker we will begin to doubt his ability and our own. This can begin a downward spiral that ends in the pit of failure and frustration. Our confidence has not only been shaken, but it has been uprooted.
It is difficult for those who do not believe in themselves to have faith in anyone else. Self confidence breeds confidence in others. Why do we need confidence in ourselves? It gives us stability in every area of our life. Confidence equals contentment. Self contentment knows you have all you need for your present circumstances.
You may feel distress, you may even feel despair. You may feel press down, but you may never feel defeated. Paul says we have unlimited resources and when we say we can’t do something; we are failing to draw on the resources that Christ provided by his loving kindness.
Contentment is being confident that you can measure up to any test that you face because Christ has made that strength available within you. You cannot perform consistently in a manner that is inconsistent with the way that you see yourself. How do you see yourself today? Do you see yourself as confident and contented or do you see yourself insecure and worried?
Know that every time you start out you will have someone to remind you, you have not, you are not and you will never become. So surround yourself with confident people who believe in you and will encourage you to become your very best. I can, I will, I must. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me…….. God Loves You and so I. Love Pastor Tammy
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Stay Focused
Ps 108:1- O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
What is your focus today? Are you willing to focus your thoughts and energies on God’s blessings and upon His will for your life? Or will you turn your thoughts to other things? As I arose this morning, I found a lot of distractions bidding for my attention. There are times before we can get out of bed; our minds are racing with all the things that we need to do or get done for the day.
Too often, we allow the worries of everyday life to overwhelm our thoughts and cloud our vision. What we need is a clearer perspective, a renewed faith, and a different focus.
I woke up thinking about my mother who has some very serious health issues that she is facing. My heart was heavy, because I knew in the natural there is not much I can do to help her. I begin to pray for her and in the midst of the prayer another situation arose that wanted my attention and begin to take my thoughts in a different direction. I finally sat down in a quiet place so I could focus.
Life will try to toss us to and fro, but we must fix our hearts today on God. This is not an option! I could not imagine living my life without God. I don’t expect him to make everything easy for me. And I do know that he will be there as I go through difficult times. He said in his word, I will never leave you or forsake you and I stand on that promise. God created us in His own image, and He wants us to experience joy and abundance. But, God will not force His joy upon you; you must claim it for yourself. You have to decide if the Joy of the Lord will be your strength today. When we focus on the frustrations of today or the uncertainties of tomorrow, we rob ourselves of peace in the present moment. But, when we focus on possibilities instead of roadblocks, our worries no longer bully us.
Ps 57:7- My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
To help me stay focused, I begin listening to some uplifting music and just begin to sing and give praise. As I began to do this my thoughts begin to change. My focus begins to change. The condition of your character is determined, to a surprising extent, by the direction of your thoughts. If you focus your thoughts and energies on positive matters your spirit begins to lift. But if you focus too intently on the distractions and temptations of our 21st-century world, you’re inviting problems.
Ps 112:7- He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
It is not difficult to look around our world and see that things are changing everyday. And a lot of the change is not good. A bank in Germany has declared by the year 2011 the houses in the U.S. will be worth half of what we owe on them. With all the layoffs, unemployment, foreclosures and a host of other woes, we have to remain focused on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Lord himself told us in John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Make up in your mind today that you are going to be of good cheer and stay focused. Our attitude makes all the difference. God Loves You and so do I…. Pastor Tammy
What is your focus today? Are you willing to focus your thoughts and energies on God’s blessings and upon His will for your life? Or will you turn your thoughts to other things? As I arose this morning, I found a lot of distractions bidding for my attention. There are times before we can get out of bed; our minds are racing with all the things that we need to do or get done for the day.
Too often, we allow the worries of everyday life to overwhelm our thoughts and cloud our vision. What we need is a clearer perspective, a renewed faith, and a different focus.
I woke up thinking about my mother who has some very serious health issues that she is facing. My heart was heavy, because I knew in the natural there is not much I can do to help her. I begin to pray for her and in the midst of the prayer another situation arose that wanted my attention and begin to take my thoughts in a different direction. I finally sat down in a quiet place so I could focus.
Life will try to toss us to and fro, but we must fix our hearts today on God. This is not an option! I could not imagine living my life without God. I don’t expect him to make everything easy for me. And I do know that he will be there as I go through difficult times. He said in his word, I will never leave you or forsake you and I stand on that promise. God created us in His own image, and He wants us to experience joy and abundance. But, God will not force His joy upon you; you must claim it for yourself. You have to decide if the Joy of the Lord will be your strength today. When we focus on the frustrations of today or the uncertainties of tomorrow, we rob ourselves of peace in the present moment. But, when we focus on possibilities instead of roadblocks, our worries no longer bully us.
Ps 57:7- My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
To help me stay focused, I begin listening to some uplifting music and just begin to sing and give praise. As I began to do this my thoughts begin to change. My focus begins to change. The condition of your character is determined, to a surprising extent, by the direction of your thoughts. If you focus your thoughts and energies on positive matters your spirit begins to lift. But if you focus too intently on the distractions and temptations of our 21st-century world, you’re inviting problems.
Ps 112:7- He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
It is not difficult to look around our world and see that things are changing everyday. And a lot of the change is not good. A bank in Germany has declared by the year 2011 the houses in the U.S. will be worth half of what we owe on them. With all the layoffs, unemployment, foreclosures and a host of other woes, we have to remain focused on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Lord himself told us in John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Make up in your mind today that you are going to be of good cheer and stay focused. Our attitude makes all the difference. God Loves You and so do I…. Pastor Tammy
Saturday, August 15, 2009
When the going gets tough, the tough get going
When the going gets tough, the tough get going !!!
Are you facing a tough situation? There is a word of encouragement for you today. We will look into the lives of 3 mighty men found in 2 Samuel 23: 8-12 and let us gain some perspective into the challenges and battles faced and how each of them responded.
The first mighty man, Adino, slew 800 men at one time with a spear. This tells me that there will be challenges that we will face in life that we may be able to deal with at once and defeat them. The Hebrew translation for Adino’s name means to be sharp or strong.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Sometimes you have to make up in your mind that you are going to have what God says you can have and you will not be intimidated because of the size or the number of the opponent. We no longer wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places. One of the main attacks by the enemy is against the mind. If he can get you to think the situation is bigger than you are, he is hoping that you will back off, and not pursue your dreams and goals because the obstacles seem bigger than we are. But I have good news. We serve a God who is all powerful. He speaks and sets things in motion. He requires that we have faith and believe that With God all things are possible. So if you have a dream, a vision, a ministry, a work a goal you would like to accomplish in this life; remember With God, not without him, but with God all things are possible. We must make up in our minds that we will put on the whole armor of God and be prepared to fight if the Lord instructs us to do so. And if you are going to fight, then fight with all your might.
The second mighty man, is Eleazar. He is found fighting until he was so weary and his hand stuck to the sword. There are some fights in life that will make us become weary. But you cannot put down your sword. We must continue fighting and continue steadfast in the Word of God. Then the people came back and begin taking the spoils. You have to understand that some people are not going to stand with you as you are in the fight, but they will show up when the dust settles to collect the spoils. They show up when you no longer need any help.
The third mighty man is Shammah. Shammah came upon a piece of ground full of lentils. And the Philistines also came upon this same piece of ground. The people fled from the area, but Shammah stood in the midst of the ground defended the land. And the Lord was with him and he had a great victory. In each of these examples the Lord is the one who gives the victory.
Sometimes we have to fight for what you believe in even if you have to stand by yourself. Don’t look for everyone to stand with you or even be in agreement with your cause or your fight. Sometimes we spend too much time asking other people what they think instead of moving forward in the things of God. I am not saying that you should not listen to others; there is safety in the multitude of counselors, however sometimes we become too dependent upon what people say instead of what the Lord says. Be strong in the Lord and the Power of His Might. God Loves you and so do I……. Pastor Tammy
Are you facing a tough situation? There is a word of encouragement for you today. We will look into the lives of 3 mighty men found in 2 Samuel 23: 8-12 and let us gain some perspective into the challenges and battles faced and how each of them responded.
The first mighty man, Adino, slew 800 men at one time with a spear. This tells me that there will be challenges that we will face in life that we may be able to deal with at once and defeat them. The Hebrew translation for Adino’s name means to be sharp or strong.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Sometimes you have to make up in your mind that you are going to have what God says you can have and you will not be intimidated because of the size or the number of the opponent. We no longer wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places. One of the main attacks by the enemy is against the mind. If he can get you to think the situation is bigger than you are, he is hoping that you will back off, and not pursue your dreams and goals because the obstacles seem bigger than we are. But I have good news. We serve a God who is all powerful. He speaks and sets things in motion. He requires that we have faith and believe that With God all things are possible. So if you have a dream, a vision, a ministry, a work a goal you would like to accomplish in this life; remember With God, not without him, but with God all things are possible. We must make up in our minds that we will put on the whole armor of God and be prepared to fight if the Lord instructs us to do so. And if you are going to fight, then fight with all your might.
The second mighty man, is Eleazar. He is found fighting until he was so weary and his hand stuck to the sword. There are some fights in life that will make us become weary. But you cannot put down your sword. We must continue fighting and continue steadfast in the Word of God. Then the people came back and begin taking the spoils. You have to understand that some people are not going to stand with you as you are in the fight, but they will show up when the dust settles to collect the spoils. They show up when you no longer need any help.
The third mighty man is Shammah. Shammah came upon a piece of ground full of lentils. And the Philistines also came upon this same piece of ground. The people fled from the area, but Shammah stood in the midst of the ground defended the land. And the Lord was with him and he had a great victory. In each of these examples the Lord is the one who gives the victory.
Sometimes we have to fight for what you believe in even if you have to stand by yourself. Don’t look for everyone to stand with you or even be in agreement with your cause or your fight. Sometimes we spend too much time asking other people what they think instead of moving forward in the things of God. I am not saying that you should not listen to others; there is safety in the multitude of counselors, however sometimes we become too dependent upon what people say instead of what the Lord says. Be strong in the Lord and the Power of His Might. God Loves you and so do I……. Pastor Tammy
Friday, August 7, 2009
Finding Hope in Difficult Times
What would it take to restore your hope? In this life, we will all find ourselves at one time needing someone to help lift our spirits. Someone to remind us that our present condition is not the conclusion of the matter. Hope means "to desire something with confident expectation of it's fulfillment." The state of Hopelessness has been suitably described as a type of "Hell on Earth" filled with endless despondency and despair.
Today, more and more people are finding themselves alone and depressed. Many of us have at one time or another felt the sting of hopelessness and despair. It is possible to find Hope in Difficult Times. Help is available, not the kind the world has wherein it wishes for the best. It is one thing to wish, and quite another to have faith based on the promises of God.
And, perhaps most important, you need direction. Psalm 16 is a great source of encouragement when you are in need of hope. Psalm 16:7-9 states I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Even if you reach what you consider to be your lowest point, God's word say's He will never leave or forsake you (Matt 28:20). He will give you peace and comfort even in the worst of circumstances. He can and will lead you through, over or around the muck and mire of your situation, and again set your feet on solid ground.
Our God is the God of new beginnings, and with Him nothing is impossible. Whether you are very young, or considered to be very old, trust in Him because with Him it is always just the beginning. You may even find yourself in such a situation through divorce, death of a spouse, loss of health, finances, or whatever, that forces you to begin all over again, but is that so bad? Trusting God in difficult times forces us to seek His guidance, and to trust in Him.
Trusting God through these uncharted waters takes faith and courage but is worth every effort. The path of His choosing is the only one that leads to true happiness.
As the Psalmist stated in Psalm 16 I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel and even in the night seasons he will instruct me. When you can’t see your way, the Lord will instruct you. The Psalmist realized one key factor in finding hope; we must set the Lord before us always. When you truly believe God is intimately acquainted with you and your situation; and that he will put no more on you than you can bear; and that his grace is sufficient you will find hope even in the worst situation. If you can’t trace HIS hand, trust HIS heart.
In order to reap the benefits of the Christian life and to have protection, guidance, and comfort from the Holy Spirit one must first be born again and become a child of God.
The born again child of God has the unique privilege of talking to, and hearing from God, but this, the greatest resource available, is often neglected. We should always pray! Even in the darkest moments, when you don't feel His presence and think you will never smile again, pray anyway, because He is there; He is listening, and is an "ever present help in time of trouble" (Psa 46:1) God Loves You and so do I……. Pastor Tammy
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