We need someone like Fred Thompson for President of the United States. You can read and listen to his commentary at abc radio. It is called the Fred Thompson Report.
I have little doubt he will be the next President of the United States.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Fred Thompson
We need someone like Fred Thompson for President of the United States. You can read and listen to his commentary at abc radio. It is called the Fred Thompson Report.
I have little doubt he will be the next President of the United States.
Strength for Daily Living by Rev Jim Massey
Strength for Daily Living
Have you ever had things go wrong in your life? You know what I mean, the washing machine breaks down, the dog runs away, the children are rebellious, and everything that you touch seems to fall apart.
Well, we all have days like that. They can become moments in our lives when we feel so out of control and helpless that it is heart-breaking.
I once found a beautiful prayer that seemed to answer a lot of what I feel at times in my own life and maybe in yours as well. It goes like this:
"Lord, things are as they are. My richly embroidered daydreams do not alter them any. Some things just are.
So...now what? Do I spend the next thirty years, or the next thirty days, or even the next thirty minutes blubbering about it?
I could, Lord. You'd listen. But it wouldn't change things.
Except me.
It would diminish me.
It would leave me spent.
And frustrated. And less than I was meant to be.
Better I should use my next thirty years -- yes, and my next thirty minutes -- working with the situation, as it is.
Better I should look it square in the face and accept it and then pick life up and start from here. God, give me the serenity to accept those things which cannot be changed. Amen."
That prayer came from a book by Jo Karr. She must have experienced many of the same things in her life that you and I have as well. Or perhaps, maybe her life is normal, just like yours and mine.
Loving Father, let us claim this day in the name of Jesus Christ. Let nothing happen to us this day that Your loving presence is not clearly a part of it. Let us not become discouraged, but encouraged as we offer ourselves to your loving grace and power. We pray this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Remember to share your love with a very special mother this Sunday and join me next week and we will share ten ways to conquer worry.
Have you ever had things go wrong in your life? You know what I mean, the washing machine breaks down, the dog runs away, the children are rebellious, and everything that you touch seems to fall apart.
Well, we all have days like that. They can become moments in our lives when we feel so out of control and helpless that it is heart-breaking.
I once found a beautiful prayer that seemed to answer a lot of what I feel at times in my own life and maybe in yours as well. It goes like this:
"Lord, things are as they are. My richly embroidered daydreams do not alter them any. Some things just are.
So...now what? Do I spend the next thirty years, or the next thirty days, or even the next thirty minutes blubbering about it?
I could, Lord. You'd listen. But it wouldn't change things.
Except me.
It would diminish me.
It would leave me spent.
And frustrated. And less than I was meant to be.
Better I should use my next thirty years -- yes, and my next thirty minutes -- working with the situation, as it is.
Better I should look it square in the face and accept it and then pick life up and start from here. God, give me the serenity to accept those things which cannot be changed. Amen."
That prayer came from a book by Jo Karr. She must have experienced many of the same things in her life that you and I have as well. Or perhaps, maybe her life is normal, just like yours and mine.
Loving Father, let us claim this day in the name of Jesus Christ. Let nothing happen to us this day that Your loving presence is not clearly a part of it. Let us not become discouraged, but encouraged as we offer ourselves to your loving grace and power. We pray this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Remember to share your love with a very special mother this Sunday and join me next week and we will share ten ways to conquer worry.
How To Deal With Worry by Jim Massey
How to Deal with Worry
Have you ever tossed and turned at night, worrying about something that you are sure is going to happen tomorrow and it never does? Then you are probably one of those people who this will really help a lot. I found a wonderful article once about the way to conquer worry. Let me list some of them for you.
l. Recognize that there is a big difference between nervous worry and healthy concern.
2. Get plenty of rest. Your problems look so much bigger when you are tired than when you are relaxed and refreshed.
3. Do not forget that problems have a way of diminishing in size as you get closer to them. Tomorrow's troubles look so much bigger today than they will look tomorrow.
4. Remember there is just as much chance it will not happen, as that it will.
5. Count on your hidden reserves. You have deep within you sleeping power which come forth in hours of crisis.
6. Learn to distinguish between those parts of life which you can control and those parts which you cannot.
7. Be wary of jealousy. Other people only look like they do not have a worry. Do not get the idea that worry has singled you out for its victim.
8. Check your goals. You may be worrying over false ambitions which really are not worth the effort.
9. When you are anxious, stop and something for someone, for a shut-in or a troubled friend. In extending yourself you will lose your frustrations.
10. Count on God. He has handled problems like yours long before you came along. There is just as much Divine power for you as for anyone else. Use His daily help and strength.
Now that may seem like a long list of things to do, but as you hear these things, the worry seems to begin to fall away. And please do remember that God is with you, so you have a strength that is greater than any trouble this world may bring to you.
Let us pray: Heavenly and eternal Father. Today we ask that you grant us the patience to wait on Your grace in our times of trouble. If we will do so, then Your power will fill our lives and we will not be caught in our worries.
Calm our Spirits and guide our lives. We pray these things in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week and we will talk about living a life of Risk.
Have you ever tossed and turned at night, worrying about something that you are sure is going to happen tomorrow and it never does? Then you are probably one of those people who this will really help a lot. I found a wonderful article once about the way to conquer worry. Let me list some of them for you.
l. Recognize that there is a big difference between nervous worry and healthy concern.
2. Get plenty of rest. Your problems look so much bigger when you are tired than when you are relaxed and refreshed.
3. Do not forget that problems have a way of diminishing in size as you get closer to them. Tomorrow's troubles look so much bigger today than they will look tomorrow.
4. Remember there is just as much chance it will not happen, as that it will.
5. Count on your hidden reserves. You have deep within you sleeping power which come forth in hours of crisis.
6. Learn to distinguish between those parts of life which you can control and those parts which you cannot.
7. Be wary of jealousy. Other people only look like they do not have a worry. Do not get the idea that worry has singled you out for its victim.
8. Check your goals. You may be worrying over false ambitions which really are not worth the effort.
9. When you are anxious, stop and something for someone, for a shut-in or a troubled friend. In extending yourself you will lose your frustrations.
10. Count on God. He has handled problems like yours long before you came along. There is just as much Divine power for you as for anyone else. Use His daily help and strength.
Now that may seem like a long list of things to do, but as you hear these things, the worry seems to begin to fall away. And please do remember that God is with you, so you have a strength that is greater than any trouble this world may bring to you.
Let us pray: Heavenly and eternal Father. Today we ask that you grant us the patience to wait on Your grace in our times of trouble. If we will do so, then Your power will fill our lives and we will not be caught in our worries.
Calm our Spirits and guide our lives. We pray these things in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week and we will talk about living a life of Risk.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Just Wait! Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey
Just Wait!
Have you ever felt like your life was in a state of suspension? You don't know what to do because you feel as though your world has ceased to exist? That must have been the feelings of many in Jerusalem the day after the crucifixion of Jesus. The day before three men hung on crosses together, was the height of amazement and curiosity for everyone gathered on Golgotha.
Two of these were thieves and some people said their punishment was justified. One of them mocked and hurled insults at Jesus saying "Are you not the Messiah? Then save yourself and us!"
The other thief said, "Have you no reverence for God. You have been sentenced to the same punishment as He has been, and we with justice, for we are getting what we deserve for our misdeeds, but He has committed no crime. Jesus," he said, "remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
And then Jesus replied: "Very certainly you will be in Paradise with me today." Can you imagine speaking of Paradise while hanging from a cross? That must truly have been hell on earth!
There were so many questions during the hours that followed. Questions that were of the earthly realm: "Where do we bury the body? Who will be responsible? What now of the disciples who were called the faithful followers? Where did many of them disappear to? Now, what do we do?"
Those are questions we would all be asking if we were there, but God's answer to all of them is the same that was given then: "Wait, Something glorious is about to happen!"
Father, at times in our lives we feel as though no one has control of this world. It is running away with all the things that we would call sacred and we cannot stop the maddening pace with which it is happening. Help us to realize even in the times when we feel lost; You are in control of Your Kingdom. Evil will never win because you have proven that even the most horrible of man's evil schemes will be defeated by the power and love of God. Let us remain in prayer and meditation until the glory of Your Resurrection Day surrounds us with the light of Thy salvation. Then we shall rise and rejoice in the glorious power of Your Risen Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
I pray that you will go to God's House this coming Easter Day to celebrate the Glorious Resurrection of His Son! May His love shine in your heart this day.
Grace and Peace
Jim Massey
Have you ever felt like your life was in a state of suspension? You don't know what to do because you feel as though your world has ceased to exist? That must have been the feelings of many in Jerusalem the day after the crucifixion of Jesus. The day before three men hung on crosses together, was the height of amazement and curiosity for everyone gathered on Golgotha.
Two of these were thieves and some people said their punishment was justified. One of them mocked and hurled insults at Jesus saying "Are you not the Messiah? Then save yourself and us!"
The other thief said, "Have you no reverence for God. You have been sentenced to the same punishment as He has been, and we with justice, for we are getting what we deserve for our misdeeds, but He has committed no crime. Jesus," he said, "remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
And then Jesus replied: "Very certainly you will be in Paradise with me today." Can you imagine speaking of Paradise while hanging from a cross? That must truly have been hell on earth!
There were so many questions during the hours that followed. Questions that were of the earthly realm: "Where do we bury the body? Who will be responsible? What now of the disciples who were called the faithful followers? Where did many of them disappear to? Now, what do we do?"
Those are questions we would all be asking if we were there, but God's answer to all of them is the same that was given then: "Wait, Something glorious is about to happen!"
Father, at times in our lives we feel as though no one has control of this world. It is running away with all the things that we would call sacred and we cannot stop the maddening pace with which it is happening. Help us to realize even in the times when we feel lost; You are in control of Your Kingdom. Evil will never win because you have proven that even the most horrible of man's evil schemes will be defeated by the power and love of God. Let us remain in prayer and meditation until the glory of Your Resurrection Day surrounds us with the light of Thy salvation. Then we shall rise and rejoice in the glorious power of Your Risen Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
I pray that you will go to God's House this coming Easter Day to celebrate the Glorious Resurrection of His Son! May His love shine in your heart this day.
Grace and Peace
Jim Massey
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