Trust In God - Day 1 (8:21am)

This morning I woke up and began listening to Dr. Charles Stanley. I heard the messages The Measure of Our Love (part II), God's Master Financial Plan (part I), and Prayer: Our Time-Saver (part II). Two things came to mind: Obey God and leave all the consequences to HIM and 1000 days (those are the days Jesus had on earth when you spread his message and to die on the cross for me. So, starting today I will begin to challenge myself to be obedient to God because at 45 years old I know my Heavenly Father has better plans for my life to serve Him, to be a better husband, a better man, a better ambassador for Him.

Great Messages Worth More Than Gold

Funny how things come back around the same time each year. Last year I was out of work and I heard 10 powerful messages from Dr. Charles Stanley (along with listening to Zig Ziglar) that changed how I approach employment and I ended up finding a job and remember, this is when finding a job was at it's lowest point.

Now here it is again and I think it's time for me to move on to another job because of so many things and these messages is an on time word for me so I wish to pass the messages along so from now until Feb 20 2011 you can head to the links below and get these treasures. These messages helped in regards to how to look at life, how to be real with myself and how get a deeper love and trust in God. To me these are truly worth more than gold and silver.

Be Blessed

~DarrenKeith

password: godsbest

http://drop.io/reachingyourfullpotentialvol1

http://drop.io/reachingyourfullpotentialvol2

http://drop.io/reachingyourfullpotentialvol3



http://drop.io/fullpotentialvol4

Helping You Cope With A Job You Need For Now

One thing about God is when you truly seek Him...His way, His word it comes to you and all you can say is, "Wow!" Yesterday on my daily walk I was hoping to find a way to a way to really not dreading to go to work because of the job I have at the moment. I try not to complain in regards to my occupation, but it is a job and I know that is not my final vocation, I know I have to pay bills, keep a roof over me and Mrs head...I know I'm only there for 8 hours a day and not 10-12 hours a day but to deal with people day in and day out that make something simple as to setting up a reservation drives me crazy at times.

I know when you complain it makes the day longer, it wreaks havoc on your spirit, physical, and mental being but still it makes me angry from time to time. So imagine my surprise when hearing these two-part message from Dr. Charles Stanley, "How to Ge the Most out of Your Work". It hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm glad to hear these messages because if I kept complaining soon it will reflect in my work, how I feel toward people in general and in the end it will only hurt one person...myself. Some things have helped me cope with what I do like and I hope they will help you and in the process it's helping me as I write these pointers.

a) Don't look at your day of work as the "Entire Day" but just the hours you are there.

I began the mind set of only being there "8 hours a day" instead of a all day event because lets be honest, we are not there all day. Now I know some people may work 10 or even 12 hours a day but begin looking at it that way it may take the weight off your shoulders just a little bit and may change your attitude toward each day.

b) Break Your Day up in 4 quarters.

This has really helped throughout my day. I map it out now as: 2 hours before break/2hours before lunch/2hours before last break/2hours before heading home for the day. When I think of work in small increments it helps my mindset because of me thinking, "I have 8 hours of dealing with this mess" it helps me realize that I will have a time to "rest" even if it is only 10 minutes (lets be honest...if you work in a call center a 15 minute break is not a 15 minute break because once you walk from your desk, go use the restroom, go find a place to rest your mind 5minutes have past already) By you thinking of smaller portions it helps me deal with what I have to deal with day and day out.

c) When You Have a Break or a 30 minute lunch find a place that is quiet to rest your mind.
It's amazing how when sitting at a desk and hearing complaints after complaints how it drains you not only mentally but physically. I like to get somewhere by myself and not hear another voice. The only voices I wish to hear is God's voice, my beautiful wife or my geek brother or a positive message but many times I will go somewhere to rest my mind, my thoughts. I've found out when I do this I get rejuvenated, it helps me get a new game plan for the second half of my work day.

d) Get enough REST!!!

I am truly realizing that when I get proper rest I get up refreshed, well rested. I'm learning that when it's time for me to go to bed I go to bed. I'm learning that when I focus on my body, taking care of my health it helps me feel much different when I am sitting at my d

e) Get A Marine Mind Set.

Everyone that know me that I love NCIS and I have learned some things from Mark Harmon's character and one thing I have learned is this: either follow orders or retire. If you get to a point where what I have suggested you cannot use to help your job day in and day out it's time to move on find something else(and keep this in mind, it's better to find a job when you have a job than when you DO NOT have a job). Now I know there are times when you have to leave because of a situation where you know you can't take it anymore but for the most part hang in there because in the end it is teaching you how to treat the person that works in customer service because they really do have a tough job. Now I know there are some businesses where customer service is lousy but what I have learned that when I have had a bad experience to start off by having the mindset and let the person know, "This is not aimed toward you ma'am/sir but here is my issue with the company" and I am learning that the best way to let a company know you are not satisfied with their business is to vote with your wallet and now with the web voice your opinion via social networking.

I hope this helps you when dealing with your job and I ask you is to pray for me to remember what I have shared with you because it's sometimes easy share wisdom but when you are going through it yourself sometimes reasoning flies out the window but I am learning I will always be a work in process but I also have to learn I have to be a example not only for my readers but for the love in my life and most important Christ Jesus

Be Blessed, Be Safe,
& Have a Wonderful Weekend

~DarrenKeith

The five Principles that Dr. Stanley Shares in his 2-part message "How to Get the Most out of Your Work"(I have links to the messages...I'm burning them to a CD and play it from here on when heading to work everyday)

"How to Get the Most out of Your Work, Part 1"
http://itm.edgeboss.net/download/itm/audio/radio/2009/itm20090907.mp3{right click here}

"How to Get the Most out of Your Work, Part 2"
http://itm.edgeboss.net/download/itm/audio/radio/2009/itm20090908.mp3{right click here}

5 Ways To Get The Most Out of Our Work
[Coming from Col 3:22-4:1]

1. When We View Ourselves As Servants

2. I am to work as For The Lord

3. To View Christ as Our Authority

4. See Other People as Worthy Persons

5. We are to View our Rewards "Present" and "Future"

Reflections from Today's Devotional

Devotional for Today: "Planting Time"
Passage Reading: Galatians 6:6-10 (New Living Translation)

"Sow today what you want to reap tomorrow."

What a powerful statement.

We never take this "sowing and reaping" theory to heart until something bad happens in our lives like a job loss, a love one walks away from us, a friendship ends then deep down when if we are really honest with ourselves we begin to self evalute our situation. We realize that we could have been a "little" nicer to that sales associate or we could have carried the weight a "little" more, we begin to run into the famous, "shoulda, woulda, coulda" senarios in our mind. It's amazing how I try and think behind the scenes of some events when it comes to bad news. When I see on the news when someone is being interviewed in reference to a job loss, the first thing pops in my mind is, "was he or she kind to the people around them?" "Did they treat the night cleaner nice?" Part of that comes from the fact that I'm a night cleaner and I see how corporate America treats the blue collar workers and it's not good and in my mind sometimes these are same people looking into the news camera, tears swelling in their eyes asking, "Why did this happen to me?"

Deep down you know why.

This is not to say every bad thing that happens in a person's life it's their fault, many times that person has sown good in another person life or have gone over and beyond to help their company prosper and the end results is a loss of job. That person may have been a wonderful person to everyone they have met and events take place where they have no control over the same question arises, "I've done my best/I've treated that person with honor and respect and they walk right out of my life, why?"

I have been on both sides of that coin, many of us have and what I have learned from both sides is that believe it or not it feels much better in your spirit and in your heart to have tried your best and to be let down than to have caused the train wreck in your life. That may sound odd but think about, even though both hurt it takes most people more time to recover when you were at fault. You begin going through many, "What If?" moments in your mind. When you have not caused the hurt in someone's life it really hurts but in time you realize that it may have been the best thing to have happen to you.

The devotional today from rbc makes me take in the fact that when you seek God's heart you cannot go wrong because He will always be there for you. People will be people, they will let you down but when reading His word every day it makes you realize we live in a fallen world but when you constantly sow good in other people's lives you are the winner in the end.

Be Blessed, Be Safe,
& Have a Wonderful Friday.

Great messages for Friday

Dr. Charles Stanley - The Rewards of Service
Pastor Paul Sheppard - Conclusion of: Lessons We Can Learn from Abraham 1

reflections for Friday 18 April 2oo8

Forgiven!>>>more
devotion from rbc ministries

This one word is so hard to do at time and so hard to believe at times and I guess it's according which side of the word you are on. Sometimes we hold people hostage with this word, sometimes we have so much guilt that we can't believe we are set free when someone says, "I forgive you." I have been on both sides of that word and to be honest neither side feels good. I have hurt, I have been hurt, I have carried the guilt of the hurt I have afflicted on someone and sometimes it's hard to let go of it.

But then I always remember what Dr. David Jeremiah says whenever I know I have went to God and asked for forgiveness but I still carry the "weight" of it. Whenever I get into one of those, "I know God is forgiven me but I just can't forgive myself" David Jeremiah's comment, "If your Heavenly Father has forgiven you and forgot it what gives you the right not to let it go...are you God?" and that shuts me down and makes me let it go. One thing my queen always says, "It's okay to be convicted but not condemned" because Christ Jesus has already paid that huge price for me. Knowing this in my heart I have no right and no reason to carry that burden with me because His blood has insured me that I can never be taken out of the loving arms of God.

Now, as I have always made it clear...does this mean I do not pay a consequence for my decision? Yes I have to because God is not a genie in a bottle, whenever I get myself in a mess I can just "wish" myself out of that situation. Adam and Eve paid for their decision, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, King David, King Solomon, Peter, Paul...I can go on and on because in the end God forgave them for their sins but God could not violate his own laws and principles. For me, the more I realize this the more I try and not make decisions that I know will hurt not only myself but my family in the end.

The wonderful love of God lets me know that when I come to him with a open heart, pride set aside, and ask for true forgiveness, He gives it to me and will forget it. I may have to still deal with the consequences but I would rather receive his chastisement than His wrath. In the end I try and be a wise man instead of a clever man because the older I become, I don't have time to keep coming up with ways to get out of situations and you realize day in and day out, time is too precious to waste.

Be Blessed, Be Safe,
& Have a Wonderful Friday/Weekend

"For every thing that lives is holy, life delights in life."
~William Blake(1757-1827), America: A Prophecy

great audio message for Friday...
The Struggle With Unforgiveness
Dr. Charles Stanley-In Touch Ministries

reflections for Wednesday o4.o9.o8

The Oyster Man>>>more
devotion from rbc ministries

Today's devotion and Bible passage speaks volume to my heart and spirit. It allows me to know that I do not need to be perfect in order to have Christ in my life or to share his Good News. Sometimes we a Followers of Christ get to a point where we begin to nit-pick others who has just giving their lives to Christ and forget sometimes where we were when we realized that we truly need God to help us in this fallen world.

It's so cool to know that of myself I may not be a scholar when it comes to words but God has given me other gifts when it comes to sharing His goodness, His love, His commandments for one's life. This does not mean I do not study His word, pray and have a close relationship with Him but this also means I do not look down upon others who's speak is not adequate or smooth flowing. Knowing God and sharing His word for me is to spread it the best I know how while continuing studying, meditating on His wonderful instructions for my life. Isn't it funny how Jesus Christ chose his disciples who not well known, well educated when it came to studying the scroll but had common sense work wise, street wise and did not go around saying that they were Christ but won people over by telling others how Christ Jesus changed their lives. I am learning every day that I am not perfect, never will be perfect. I can not speak for others when it comes to Jesus Christ but I can speak for myself when it comes to letting people where I was and where I am now because of knowing the Christ loved me when I was at my lowest.

This does not mean that all came to Christ when they were down and out. To many, I looked liked I had it "going on" so to speak, I did not smoke or drink, I gave up the night life long ago but in the inside I was and empty shell. Had mood swings because I truly did not love myself. I was lonely, I felt that I needed someone in my life to make me feel whole. I may not have ran the streets but I was still living outside the will of God by having sex outside of marriage, living with a woman. I thought I had the best of both worlds but every day more and more I was realizing it was a lie. Once I broke off that relationship, alone in my apartment, I cried out to Christ saying, "If I never find someone I am okay with that as well, I'm just tired of living this way." Those days were not easy but allowing God into my life each day made me realize that no person can make me feel whole the way his Son can.

Being a follower of Christ is not smooth living all the time because as passage says, "Satan is the God of this world[this is the cause by Adam & Eve...God gave us dominion over this earth and my forefather and mother gave it over to Satan in the garden and God can not violate His law once He has put it into place.] Being a Christians does not mean you have to be perfect in order to serve him. It takes work on our part every day and we will make mistakes and that's okay because when you are sincere about God, He knows at times we will "zig" when we are supposed to "zag". God's love us where we are but will not leave us where we are.

Be Blessed, Be Safe,
and have a Wonderful Wednesday.

Beginning today I will be linking this site and podcast whenever I post here...

MoneyLife article...
Impulsive and compulsive spending
MoneyLife podcast from today and yesterday

great message for today from In Touch Ministries
Things That Cannot Be Shaken

Reflections for Friday o4.o4.2oo8

What Should I Do?>>>more
devotion from rbc ministries

Experiencing Inner Peace>>>more
devotion from In Touch Ministries

Both titles of the each devotion I experience every day and I believe many other do as well. I have to admit, I have let my walk with God slip and now I am getting it back because I have found that when walking with God I am able to experience inner peace and I go from "What Should I Do?" to "I Know What I Must Do". When following God's plan it is sometimes necessary to not allow so much of the world to influence your decisions. Just this morning while watching MSNBC I noticed how the reporter when speaking the Rev. Al Sharpton how she kept gravitating to the negative and how he[Sharpton] and to keep pushing it back the positive. Isn't it amazing how the world is drawn to the negative like a moth to the flame but then turn around and ask, "How come it's so much bad in the world?"

This I know why it's evil in the world because of my fore-father and mother: Adam & Eve. Once they tasted the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil sin came into our world and the trick Satan tries to do day in and day out is for everyone to concentrate on the negative in the world. I am not saying to look at the world through rose colored glasses but to realize that many times the decisions we make for our lives plays a huge part of what we will experience much in life. We need to be caution but not fearful, we need to know when to speak and when to listen, we need to learn how to say no, and most important, we need to know that we cannot please everyone or live by people's standards. It's hard to do sometimes because of what we have been through in life but the more we look to our Heavenly Father the more we realized how to handle certain situations, what we can change in our lives and what we cannot change.

I am learning this day by day because I struggle with this but as I write this I am realizing that when I struggle with what God's want with my life it is me that is wasting valuable, precious time because deep down I know he wants the best for me and I have to constantly seek Him and obey Him because I know in the end He knows what I need and how I will handle success and failure. The more I force myself to seek His goodness the more breakthrough I will have when it comes to decisions and having that peace within. I say force because when you let your walk slip from God, Satan will fight you tooth and nail to stop you from seeking God's goodness for your life and that is what I am struggling with now but I see good news ahead because God has allowed me to see what he[Satan] is doing and as long as I wake up each day that is another day I have the chance to draw closer to my heavenly Father.

Be Blessed, Be Safe,
& Have a Wonderful Friday/Weekend

I do not follow Dr. James Dobson that much but sometimes he has pretty good segments from time to time that need to be shared with the world and these are to programs that everyone should take heed to in reference to finances

from Focus on the Family

• Let the Buyer Beware 1
• Let the Buyer Beware 2

Reflections for Wednesday

Peripheral Vision>>>more
devotion from rbc ministries

This devotion and biblical passage speaks to me and me personally. I think sometimes we forget than when reading God's word we have to take personal and not just "words on pages". I have to remind myself of this. These past weeks I have truly taken my eyes off the prize and have been looking backward instead of looking forward, searching for approval and not doing what God wants me to do. But God is so patient with me and I thank him for that.

It blows me away how focus Christ was. Nothing took him by surprise. I'm not saying he did not get disappointed or he did not get tired or hungry or thirsty because as we know, he was all man and all God(and I still can't wrap my mind around that but it is awesome). Jesus knew and knows today that we as humans we can get caught up in people praises and their insults; we can be our own worse enemy when it comes to dwelling on mistakes (I'm still kinda stewing that I allowed 56 free songs go to waste from eMusic because I let the promotion expire on me last night but I got to shake it off). We as followers of Christ have to know the cost when it comes to following him and Jesus tells us time and time again in detail what that cost may be when deciding to do it his way instead of the world's way.

He[Jesus] also reminds me that when following him I can not take my eye off of him, his commands, his principles...not one second. It's amazing how little by little we drift away from him and before we know it we do not get on our knees or face to pray, we do not read God's word and before long we are wondering why we react to certain situations the way we do, why even in times of prosperity we are still not content and joyful. I can not stew in my failures or bask and glow in my successes...always have to give God his time, always have to move forward because life does not stand still, time is being that you can not bribe, cheat, bargain with no matter what we try and do and slow it down.

I have to do this...God[his word, his principles, me being obedient to him] first, wife second, me third. When doing that how can I lose?

Be Blessed, Be Safe,
& Have a Wonderful Wednesday

Spiritual audio for today:
The Consequences of Uncontrolled Weakness
from In Touch Ministries
{listen now or right click to download or subscribe thru iTunes}

Devotions & Reflections for Tuesday...October 23, 2007

It's amazing how sometimes I can read God's word and I'm going to be honest, I can't see how that passage when reading my devotions applies to me for that day or my understanding of the reading I have to scratch my head and say, "huh?" But you keep reading God's word, keep obeying the teachings of Christ Jesus and early morning morning it hits me like a ton of bricks and I say, "ahh...okay, so that what that means."

This is the only book that sometimes you get the meaning of the passages and sometimes you do not but by asking God for wisdom, insight, directions He will bring understanding of His word your way.

Yesterday was really that time because all day my wife and I ran around because of issues that was going on in reference to my pharmacy license and one by one we say how God was stepping in when we could not do anything more about the situation. We both witnessed that when being persistant, standing on God's word, working as a team, not taking "no" for an answer most times(my wife is great with that...it irks me sometimes but she is who she and I love her for that), not losing your cool and staying joyful and thanking Christ Jesus in the good and bad results came our way.

So this morning, these two devotions from Our Daily Bread and In Touch were those two for me where by going through my valley I can say, "ahh...okay,I get it". This is also what makes our testimony stronger as well, and again let me stress, the results did come from us just sitting on our behinds and just praying because with God's word prayer should always be followed by the action He tells us to perform and many times we as Christians pray to Him and will not act. I learned a deeper meaning of the would "wait". It does not mean I sit around and "wait" for God to come through. I do what I need to do, still in motion while God puts everything in place so when about time I come to a certain place of action in a situation it has already been done.

We as Christians have to keep in mind we are in covenant with God, He's not our "Genie in a bottle". The work is still not over with my license but it will be soon and no matter how it's going on the surface as long as I am keeping to God's word, He will not forsake me, that is His promise and when I have truly given it over to Him 100% every time and just do what I need to do, He has never let me down.

My God is an awesome God.

Be Blessed, Be Safe &
Have a Wonderful Day.

Devotion and Reflections for Today

Kathy Griffin, guess what, I agree with you...

Ms. Kathy Griffin, guess what? You hit the nail on the head with your comment. One thing I can say about most comedians they are truth tellers. Here is the comment she said at the Emmys...

"A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus," an exultant Griffin said, holding up her statuette. "Suck it, Jesus. This award is my god now."

She told the truth about herself, to Hollywood actors and actresses, the Emmy, the Grammy statuette is their God, their Jesus.

Many Hollywood actors and actresses will do anything to achieve this award.

Many actresses that were attractive BEFORE arriving in Hollywood, have plastic surgery they do not need, take Botox to keep winkles from appearing. (Meg Ryan, Kathy Griffin, Marlo Thomas, Farrah Fawcett, Jennifer Grey all have went under the knife), the list is endless.

whats more offensive is the fact that rock stars, rap artists who demean women, use profanity to no end, live a reckless life get up on stages and say, "I want to thank God for this award." Which God? that little statue in their hand?

Should she have said what she said? In my opinion no. Does this surprise me? No.

Many of my fellow Christians fell to realize that Kathy and many other people are worldly and they worship worldly things. They want to be accepted by the masses, in their eyes when you which a certain age, when the camera begins to see wrinkles on their faces, in many entertainers' mind their life is coming to an end.

Many movies that were on the big screen that comes to television, they can damn God's name but they will bleep out other words of profanity. Even in prime time shows now they can damn God's name and nothing is said.

As with Kathy am I learning to voice my opinion when someone uses God name in vain but many of my Christian brothers and sisters do far worse with their actions. In the devotion from In Touch Paul chastises the older Christians for not watching their actions in front of "baby" Christians. I love my brothers and sisters in Christ but if we focus on our homes more and be an strong example for our children and our children friends, to love and treat one another the way God love us, to speak up when we see something wrong and not just turn the other way many times our voice would be much stronger in the world.

It's a shame that worldly entertainers that cohabit with one another can take on the cause of genocide in other parts of the world or come to the aid of the homeless here in our own country before we "Christians" pick up the cause. We're still segregated in many churches but we say we are "one". We rally against gay marriages and not really address the issue of teenage pregnancy, sex outside of marriage, living together before marriage. Over 50% of "Christian" marriages end in divorce... Is it a wonder why people in Hollywood or in the music industry do not take us (Christians) seriously?

I do not condone what Ms. Griffin said because I know what Christ Jesus has done for me, how my life far better than before, how He gives me strength to get through some hectic days and not lash out at the world but why does this come as surprise, she is not a Follower of Jesus Christ and for the most part look at where she lives, the business she is in...Hollywood. A place that will kick you to the curb at drop of a hat.

I'm learning to do what my Lord and savior tells me to do, pray for the lost because we have seen this time and time again in Hollywood where we think an entertainer, a Hollywood star has the world in their hands only to take their own life and leave this precious world.

Kathy you are right, that is your Jesus, that is your God.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, and have a Wonderful day.

Praying for Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Peace Loving

"Father God, help my children make every effort to do what leads to peace."

Romans 14:19

Devotion & Reflections for the Weekend...January 27-28

Too Busy NOT to Pray>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

I touched on this somewhat yesterday about prioritizing my life and this devotion hits the "nail on the head". It's a must that we put Him first because I'm trying to live by this passage from Proverbs 3:5-6...

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight."

For me in this time in my life, it's a MUST. Just having that quiet time with Him let's me know that life is not going to be fair, people will not like you just because, plans will sometimes fall through but to always look toward our Lord and Savior for comfort, for direction. I have learned from this devotion from Dr. Stanley that if Jesus Christ could pull away when He was busy to go and pray, what excuse do I have?

Sometimes I have to keep reminding myself whenever I go to Him on a regular basis I'm more laid back, less stressed out, I know when to speak, when to listen; things go so much better for me and in return, I'm being obedient to God and I'm a great ambassador for Him and that draws people not close to me but it draws people closer to Him because by showing how I react to different situations in my life in a calm manner it brings Him glory.

Just like exercising, eating right, prayer has to be in our schedule, so much where it becomes "second" nature...where when crises hit we do not panic we do what King David and many of the great prophets in the Bible always did...go to the Lord. We have to have private time for God and ourselves in order to get our "paths" straight.

Be Blessed, Be Safe and Have a Wonderful Weekend.

To hear Dr. Stanley's message for today and previous messages....click here

Prayer for Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Passion For The Lord

"Lord, I pray my children's souls would pant for you as the deer pants for streams of water. "

Psalm 42:1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wisdom

"Father, I pray my children would ask and that you generously give wisdom to them as you promise. "

James 1:5

Devotion & Reflections for Wednesday....I'm Getting Back To My Old Self

The Rewards of Waiting>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

At one time are another we hate waiting....I know I do. But I am realizing that sometimes when you get ahead of God's will the end results are not good. I am finding myself more and more that when I wait on God's timing everything is in line, everything runs smooth and I do not have keep "looking" over my shoulder wondering when the bottom is going to fall out. With anything, we have to train ourselves and not beat up on ourselves when we fall short from time to time.

Now this does not mean we just not carry on with our daily routines, we as Christians sometimes get lazy and think God is our bell hop or butler, as I have said and will continue to say...this is a partnership...we do what we can and God will do what we can not. We must wait on Him when it comes to relationships, when to buy and when to hold on to our money because sometimes it can burn a hole in a pocket, a business decision, which college to attend.

Another thing I am realizing is that the older I get I can not afford not to wait on Him because it's harder to bounce back from major setback, especially when I have caused them. He forgives us but sometimes we still have to pay for some decisions we have made outside of His will and I for you get tired of bumping my head of unnecessary choices.

Learn to wait on Him...it may seem like an enternity at times but the outcomes is so much more better.

Be Blessed,
Be Safe,
& have a Wonderful Wednesday

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

A Servant's Heart

"God, help my children develop servants' hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly."

Ephesians 6:7

to hear Dr. Stanley's message for today.....click here and scroll down to Jan 24th

Devotion and Reflection for Monday

Jesus' Offering of Peace>>>more
devotion from In Touch Ministries

"What gives you peace?"
That is the question asked from the devotion today from Dr. Charles Stanley. Although I am still a baby Christian I seek His true meaning of peace each and everyday. By keeping my faith in Him instead of my surrounding, by talking and listening to Him each and everyday I try and maintain my faith in His word because I have not been let down by God yet. I know they will be times when it feels that nothing is going the way I wish for them to go or that my entire world is crumbling around me, that is when I have to realize that through the blood of Christ Jesus I am protected and that what I am going through is to grow me stronger in God, pull me closer to God so that my walk with Him is so ever close.

I am learning that when you put your trust for peace in the world it will throw you a curve time and time again. I am learning how to "be in the world" but "not of the world" each and every day. Learning to ask God for clarity, direction, to have Him be my guide makes my peace with people, situations that crop up much more stable, I can deal with this in a calmer manner because I'm being taught to be proactive instead of reactive.

When reading this devotion there is always a Bible passage Dr. Stanley suggest to read. One thing I have learned over time with my short walk with God is that when one translation you do not understand, read another to reach your heart, your spirit and the New Living Translation did that for me this morning.

My prayer for you this morning is that you find true peace in His word because in doing this He may not remove your trials that you go through day in/day out but knowing that by trusting in Him, instead of having your day direct your life, God will give you the knowledge, wisdom to learn from today and the days that follow...to appreciate the good and the bad.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, & Have a Wonderful Monday.

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Perseverance

"Lord, teach my children to persevere in all they do, and help them run with perseverance the race set before them."

Hebrews 12:1

other devotions for your spirit:
The Greatest Gift
Morning Corruption

messages from OnePlace.com
The Way to Heaven – Part 1
Life Lessons From The Christmas Story - Part 2
The Man Who Tried to Stop Christmas

"Spouting off before listening to the facts
is both shameful and foolish."
~proverbs 18:13

{read Proverbs Chapter 18 for wisdom for today}

Handling Criticism Wisely>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

This past Wednesday I posted a link to Dr. Charles Stanley's devotion on "Handling Criticism Unwisely", this devotion he describes how to handle criticism. Everything Dr. Stanley describes has been a work in progress for me. I have always been very sensitive because of my upbringing, how I was treated when I was young, the things I had to encounter. When I was young I thought it was cruel what I had to encounter but in fact those hurdles I endured God has made me a instrument to help others the best way I know how today.

God has taught me and continues to teach me when a conflict comes up how to not be so defensive, listen, and ask Him for guidance while in the middle of the situation at hand. He are some things I like to share with you.

1. When someone is being critical...listen. This will give you time to collect your thoughts, ask the Lord for guidance because when they are trying to speak and you're trying to speak many times the situation gets escalated and both people end up saying things there will regret.
2. Keep your voice down, keep it low. I have learned over the years when you speak low and slow, your thoughts are clearer, your words, your speech will come out much better and believe it our not many times it catches the other person off guard because in their minds they know your coming back at them the same way as they came at you.
3. Always ask the Lord what to say. Going back to number one, I have learned that listening and allowing the other person to finish there gripe because this gives you the chance to receive guidance from our Father, it gives you and I time to chose our words very wisely because one word, the tone in our voice can make a world of difference.
4. Reflect on yourself. This is a process that takes a while to master because as Dr. Stanley says, we really have to ask ourselves is there truth to what this person is saying to me. I have come to realize that when I am truly honest with myself I am less defensive when I am being criticized.
   
5. Stick to the subject at hand. This is one of my biggest, BIGGEST pet peeves. I don't know how many times when in a debate, receiving criticism or being critical how people either try to blame someone else, give an excuse why they did it...if I am wrong I am wrong, period.
6. Give them your undivided attention no matter how big or small the problem may be. Sometimes it's hard to do because let's face it, sometimes someone critical on a constant basis is...well...petty. But it's big to them and it's important to them to voice their opinion.

Now going back to what I said Wednesday, this does not mean that the person is always right and it does not mean that we suppose to be doormats, let me make that clear. If they are talking to you in a very disrespectful way, wait until they have aired their gripe, pull them to the side and let them know you understand they're upset and you appreciate what they have said but that does NOT give them the right to speak down to you, talk to you like child, or use profanity toward you. One thing I have learned over the years about myself, by me being God's child, I am royalty and that means I will treat people with the utmost respect and I will receive respect as well.

By allowing myself to be used by God I have learned I can work with someone that I know I will never be friends with, get invited over to their home for a "get together" (I'm being real here because we work with some people we do not care for and we know they do not like us) and I have had to come out and say to someone, "I know we do not get along, we do not have talk with one another, but I can work with you because this is a business and I will only come to you when it's work related and I will respect you as a person and I expect the same courtesy". Because the bottom is we are human, we are going to make mistakes, we are never going to please everybody we come into contact with at work, on the street or even in our home. We have to learn how to receive criticism, give criticism in a constructive way because that is how we learn.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, & have great weekend.

DarrenKeith~

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Responsibility

"Lord grant my children would learn ot be responsible, for each other should carry is own load".

Galatians 6:5

other devotions: Champions: Dorcas, Adjust Your Conscience, Obeying God

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