WE NEED DISCIPLINE

Proverbs 13:18 "Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline, but he who regards reproof will be honored." Discipline is one of the most hated terms of our times...right alongside patience and self-control. But have you noticed how often it comes up in the testimonies of those who win?...Here are some key uses of discipline : No runner completes the training or a race without it. No weight-loss program is maintained without it. No human body is kept fit without it. No mind is sharpened with it. No temptation is overcome without it. If you want to put a stop to mediocrity, to replace excuses with fresh determination and procrastination with tough-minded perseverance,  you need discipline!  Hmm! Hugs Bob

THE RACE IS ON

Ecc 9:11"I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, and the battle is not to the warriors." Whenever I scope out the scene here where I live, I observe a large number of people who are pursuing the so-called successful life. They would say the way to make it in this world- the way to succeed - is to increase speed, get stronger, be competitive, think more cleverly, plan longer, and have a visionary strategy - hire people with skills that are needed and life will be successful. The race is on. Get up earlier. Go to bed later. Make work a priority. Don't get sentimental about stuff like children, marriage, home, and the family. All that will have to wait...And religion? Leave that for the over-the-hill gang and preachers....The philosophy of our day will attempt to suck us in and convince us that if we're going to make it, we've got to run faster...We've got to be stronger and more competitive and more clever, even more manipulative. Otherwise, we won't be successful ...Don't you believe it!! Hugs Bob

RANDOM ACTS OF HELLO

I don't like the word stranger. It doesn't fit for me anymore. The more centered I am in myself and the more connected I feel, it just doesn't fit. The word stranger conjures up some foreign and frightening images. When we see people as strangers, we assume that they are different from us and that we have nothing in common with them. The truth is that most of us are more similar to each other than we are different. As human beings, we have great, wonderful differences that are rich and exciting and we are also very similar. When we start noticing and really seeing people, we begin to become aware of our similarities. Did U ever notice that when U begin to smile and nod at people, many of them smile back? A simple hello goes a long way toward establishing feelings of connectedness between oneself and others. Probably the most exciting and important aspect of starting to say random hellos is that we begin to change inside. We begin to feel happier. We begin to like ourselves better. And, we just start sensing more positive energy coming our way. Loneliness is a decision and a state of mind. We have a choice. Start saying random hellos and see what happens. HugsBob

HARMONY

Harmony
But one of the attributes of love, like art, is to bring harmony and order out of chaos. The offer of love to the person sharing this time in our lives softens them, ourselves, and the events we share. Giving and receiving loving thoughts eases any momentary difficulty; loving and feeling loved reminds us that we are never alone in our struggles. In partnership we can survive any troubling circumstance. Love of self, of family, of enemies increases the harmonious conditions that affect us all. Like the ripples from a pebble dropped in a stream, the act of loving moves beyond the object receiving the love at this moment. In fact, the love we give is the love we'll receive. It is a demonstrable fact that hatred breeds hatred. Just as absolute is the knowledge that the love we offer another makes easier their gift of love to yet another. Love multiplies itself and the harmony created nurtures us all. Love makes partners of us all. No circumstances can fell me when I'm in company with another. I will look among my associates today for willing partners. HugsBob

Being Right

Do U prefer that U be right or happy? We have a tendency to get ourselves into situations where we can develop the illusion that being right is more important than anything else in the world. As the issues escalate in our minds, we get to a place where being right seems like a life-or-death position. When we get this way, we lose all sense of perspective. We forget how important certain people are to us and what they contribute to our lives. We find ourselves more dedicated to being right than to running the risk of getting what we want, which is often happiness, love, and friendship. What has happened to us? It seems as though we have plunged into moments of complete insanity. And, perhaps we have if insanity is related to forcing ourselves to lose perspective, lose contact with reality, and risk abandoning what is most important to us. Are our positions more important than our happiness? Is whatever point we are trying to make more important than people we love? Very doubtful. The next time U find yourself in this state of mind, stop. Ask yourself if U want to be right or happy. See if U really care that much. See if U can reach out- even let the other person be right. What does it really matter? Choose very carefully the hill U want to die on and try not to sacrifice yourself on too many unimportant hills. HugsBob

Relief Instead of Revenge!‏

Proverbs 19:11 "A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression. Are you aware of the joy-stealing effect an unforgiving spirit is having on Ur life? If Ur bitterness is deep enough, you've virtually stopped living ...It's not worth it. U need to come to terms with this lingering, nagging issue now. The peace and contentment and joy that could be yours are draining away, like water down the drain of an unplugged bathtub. It's time for U to call a halt to the dispute: the disharmony must be refused...Start by telling God how much it hurts and that U need Him to help U to forgive the offense...Get rid of all the poison of built-up anger and pour out all the acid of long-term resentment. Your objective is clear: Fully forgive the offender. Once that is done, U will discover that U no longer rehearse the ugly scenes in your mind. The revengeful desire to get back and get even will wane, and in its now-empty space will come such an outpouring of relief and a new spirit of joy that U won't feel like the same person. HugsBobOX

Laughter is Serious Business written by Scot P

Laughter is Serious Business

A great number of people have the perception of God as the sober inhabitant of a beautiful but austere kingdom.  Certainly someone to be in awe of,  and without any doubts to be respectful of.  Yet someone to laugh with – well... not so much.  But when we look into God’s word, we may be surprised to find that God indeed, is deeply invested in the lighter side of life.  Take into consideration  the word rejoice, in various tense forms, appears in the New International Version of the Bible an amazing 181 times. The word joy surpasses that, being recited 218 times.  The word joyful  adds 16 to the total number.  Henceforth leaving the word repent  in the dust at 39 appearances and the word judgment with 132 mentions.  The word sober  (clear minded for those of us in recovery) is mentioned but twice.

 In addition, the word rejoice is quite often used as a command:  “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4).  “Our Lord God Almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!” (Revelation 19:6-7).

 Our God is not a gloomy Gus who likes to break up our fun and subdue our laughter.  Rather He is a God who encourages joyous outbursts of all kinds.  Perhaps it’s because He knows even better than we, that we have a great deal to be happy about?

 We all admit we enjoy laughter, and as inconceivable as it may seem, so does God.  So the next time you giggle, chuckle, laugh or guffaw, imagine Him right there along side of you!  Don't take life too seriously, be willing to laugh. Laugh with others, laugh at your own self, and laugh with God.  We were created in His image.

It is the soul that is not yet sure of its God that is afraid to laugh in His presence.  George MacDonald

God bless, Scot

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.            Proverbs 17:22 NIV