My Shepherd

Beneath me green pastures, beside me still waters,
   And with me my Shepherd to lead every day.
Before me a table, and enemies round me;
   Behind goodness, mercy--o'ershadow my way.
Beyond me the house of the Lord ever loometh;
   And soon I'll be home with my Shepherd for aye.
--Uncle Ben

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Brief Rules For Bible Study

1. Read it through (get something definite.).

2. Pray it in (apply it).

3. Write it down (mark your Bible).

4. Work it out (in daily life).

5. Pass it on (tell others).

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Thy Word

But fixed from everlasting years,

Unmoved amidst the wrecks of spheres,

Thy Word shall sine in cloudless day,

When heaven and earth have passed away.

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Advice

I shall pass this way but once;
   and good that I can do,
and kindness that I can show,
   let me do it now,
for I shall not
   pass this way again.
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How to Worship

Be silent.
Be thoughtful.
Be reverent,
   For this is the house
   of the Lord.
BEFORE the service,
   speak to God.
DURING the service, let
   God speak to you.
AFTER the service,
  speak to one another.

--Uncle Ben

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Our Bible...

contains 810,697 words. This is about four times as many as are found in a book of average length. Although so long a book and dealing with the greatest theme that can engage the mind of man, its vocabulary is singularly limited.

Only 6,000 different words are used; which is very small compared to the 20,000 employed by Shakespeare in writing his plays. Not only is the vocabulary limited, but the average word in the Bible contains but five letters.

Many of these short words in the Bible are, however, full of the deepest meaning and are worthy of earnest study. Such as these short five-letter words: grace, peace, faith, saved, serve, glory, and Jesus.

--from Oxford University Press

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Your own version...

You are writing a Gospel,
   A chapter each day,
By deeds that you do,
   By words that you say.
Men read what you write,
   Whether faithless or true;
Say, what is the Gospel
   According to YOU?

--Gilbert

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The OLD and the NEW (Bible)

The NEW is in the OLD contained;
The OLD is in the NEW explained;
The NEW is in the OLD concealed;
The OLD is in the NEW revealed.

--Uncle Ben

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Bible Be's

Be ye therefore perfect. Matt. 5:48
Be patient. James 5:7
Be at peace. Job 22:21
Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. Matt. 14:27
Be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless. 2 Peter 3:14
Be subject one to another. 1 Peter 5:5
Be clothed with humility. 1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant. 1 Peter 5:8
Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. Eph. 4:32
Be strong and of good courage. Josh. 1:6
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God...The greatest Lover

God.................................The greatest Lover

So loved........................The greatest Degree

The world..................The greatest Company

That He gave......................The greatest Act

HIS only begotten SON.....The greatest Gift

That whosoever.....The greatest Opportunity

Believeth...................The greatest Simplicity

In HIM.....................The greatest Attraction

Should not perish.........The greatest Promise

But...........................The greatest Difference

Have..........................The greatest Certainty

Eternal Life..............The greatest Possession

 

--John 3:16

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The Bible (Heb.4:12,13; 2 Tim. 3:15,16)

THIS BOOK contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

READ IT TO BE WISE, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christians's charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST IS ITS GRAND SUBJECT, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.

READ IT SLOWLY, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered for ever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with its sacred contents.

--Priscilla Howe

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The 10 Commandments in Rhyme

1. Thou no gods shalt have but Me.

2. Before no idol bow the knee.

3. Take not the name of God in vain.

4. Dare not the Sabbath Day profane.

5. Give to thy parents honor due.

6. Take heed that thou no murder do.

7. Abstain from words and deeds unclean.

8. Steal not, for thou by God art seen.

9. Tell no willful lie and love it.

10. What is thy neighbor's do not covet.

--Uncle Ben

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The people of Nineveh...

believed God. Jonah 3:5

This is one of the most remarkable statements in the story. But it never seems to make the impression the whale does. The swallowing of a little man by a big fish is merely a matter of size. The man has only to be small enough and the fish big enough and the job is done. But for that little prophet to walk into New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, London, or any other city and bring that city to repentance and belief in God is some achievement!

Why doesn't the professor get funny about that -- which is really the point of the story.
--Uncle Ben
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There is none like it...

Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written...that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Rom. 15:4

David said, There is none like that; give it me. 1 Sam. 21:9

The Bible is always light-giving in every circumstance of life. "There is none like it." Dr. J Wilbur Chapman has said, "There's none like it when your head is aching? There's none like it when the day is without the sun and the night without its star. There is nothing like it when your children are motherless! There is none like it when you bury your baby! There's none like it when the springs of life are snapping! There is none like it when you reach the end of life's journey and pillow your head on its promises and God stoops and kisses you to sleep."

This Book of God I'd rather own than all the gold and gems that are in monarch's coffers shone, than all their diadems.
--Choice Gleanings
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The Bible

In every step, in every stride,
I'll let the Savior be my guide!
His Word, His love, I will embrace,
And let His wisdom set the pace.
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When You Read the Bible Through

I supposed I knew my Bible,
   Reading piecemeal, hit or miss,
Now a bit of John or Matthew,
   Now a snatch of Genesis,
Certain chapter of Isaiah,
   Certain Psalms (the twenty-third),
Twelfth of Romans, First of Proverbs--
   Yes, I thought I knew the Word!
But I found that thorough reading
   Was a different thing to do,
And the way was unfamiliar
   When I read the Bible through.
You who like to play at Bible,
   Dip and dabble, here and there,
Just before you kneel, aweary,
   And yawn through a hurried prayer;
You who treat the Crown of Writings
   As you treat no other book--
Just a paragraph disjointed,
   Just a crude impatient look--
Try a worthier procedure,
   Try a broad and steady view;
You will kneel in very rapture
   When you read the Bible through.
--Amos R. Wells
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Bible

COMMUNION
LET the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight (Ps. 19:14)
SPEECH
LET no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth (Eph. 4:29)
AFFECTION
LET brotherly love continue (Heb. 13:1)
MEDITATION
LET the word of Christ dwell in you richly (Col. 3:16)
HUMILITY
LET this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Phil. 2:5)
QUIETNESS
LET the peace of God rule in your hearts (Col. 3:15)
TESTIMONY
LET your light so shine before men (Matt. 5:16)

Then let us, brethren, while on earth, with foes and strangers mixed,
Be mindful of our heavenly birth, our thoughts on glory fixed;
That we should glorify Him here, our Father's purpose is:
Whene'er the Savior shall appear, He'll fully own us His.
--Choice Gleanings
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Some Sure Things

1. Thou shalt surely die--Gen 2:17
2. Be sure your sin will find you out--Num. 32:23
3. The foundation of God standeth sure--2 Tim. 2:19
4. The sure word of prophecy--2 Peter 1:19
5. A hope both sure and steadfast--Heb. 6:19
6. Surely I come quickly--Rev. 22:20
--JCP
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Harmony in the Bible

Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. Psa. 119:129

There is a unique harmony in the Bible. In Genesis the earth is created; in Revelation is passes away. In Genesis the sun and moon appear; in Revelation there is no need for the sun or moon. In Genesis there is a garden; the home of man; in Revelation there is a city, the home of the nations. In Genesis we are introduced to Satan; in Revelation we see his doom. In Genesis we hear the first sob and see the first tear; in Revelation we read: "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying." In Genesis the curse is pronounced; in Revelation we read, "There shall be no more curse." In Genesis we see our first parents driven from the tree of life; in Revelation welcomed back.

Father of mercies in Thy word what endless glory shines!
Forever by Thy name adored fro these celestial lines.
Oh, may these heavenly pages be our ever fresh delight;
And still new beauties may we see, and still increasing light.
--AS
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There Is None Like It...

Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written...that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Rom. 15:4

David said, There is none like that; give it me. 1 Sam 21:9.

The Bible is always light-giving in every circumstance of life. "There is none like it," Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman has said, "There's none like it when your head is aching! There's none like it when the day is without the sun and the night without its star. There is nothing like it when your children are motherless! There is none like it when you bury your baby! There's none like it when the springs of life are snapping! There is none like it when you reach the end of life's journey and pillow your head on its promises and God stoops and kisses you to sleep."

This Book of God I'd rather own than all the gold and gems that are in monarch's coffers shone, than all their diadems.

--Choice Gleanings

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Forget and Remember

Forget each kindness that you do as soon as you have done it.
Forget the praise that falls to you the moment you have won it.
Forget the slander that you hear before you can repeat it.
Forget each slight, each spite, each sneer, whenever you may meet it.
Remember every promise made and keep it to the letter.
Remember those who lend you aid and be a grateful debtor.
Remember all the happiness that comes your way in living.
Forget each worry and distress, be hopeful and forgiving.
Remember good, remember truth, remember heaven is above you.
And you will find, through age and youth, that many will love you.
--Uncle Ben
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What God Has Done With Our Sins

Forgiven and covered them....Psalm 32:1
Not imputed them unto us......Psalm 32:2
Removed them..................Psalm 103:12
Made them white...................Isaiah 1:18
Blotted them out..................Isaiah 43:25
Pardoned them......................Isaiah 55:7
Cast them into the sea...........Micah 7:19
Remitted them................Matthew 26:28
Took them away.....................John 1:29
Purged them.......................Hebrews 1:3
Cleansed us from them...........1 John 1:9
Cast them  behind His back.Isaiah 38:17
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Are You Willing?

To close the book of complaints and to open the book of praise?
To believe other men are quite as sincere as you are and to treat them with respect?
To ignore what life owes you and to think about what you owe life?
To stop looking for friendship and to start being friendly?
To be content with such things as you have and to stop whining for the things you have not?
To enjoy the simpler blessing and to cease striving for the artificial pleasures of the day?
To forget what you have accomplished and to meditate on what other have done for you?
To cease looking for someone to help you and to devote yourself to helping others?
To accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and to let your life be an outlet for His love, joy and peace?
--The Guide to Light
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Consider the Hammer

It keeps its head.
It doesn't fly off the handle.
It keeps pounding away.
In finds the point and then drives it home.
It looks at the other side, and thus often clinches the matter.
It is the only knocker in the world that does any good.
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Anxiety--John Newton

Why, O my soul, those anxious cares?
Why thus cast down with doubts & fears:
How canst thou want if God provide,
Or lose thy way with such a Guide?
He who has helped me hitherto
Will help me all the journey through,
And give me cause to raise
New Ebenezers to His praise.
--J Newton
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Ladder of Achievement

100%--I did
  90%--I will
    80%--I can
      70%--I think I can
        60%--I might
          50%--I think I might
            40%--What is it?
              30%--I wish I could
                20%--I don't know how
                  10%--I can't
                    0%--I won't
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When we see the lilies...

Spinning in distress,

Taking thought to manufacture

Their own loveliness,

When we see the birds

All building barns for store,

'Twill then be time to worry--

Not before!

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Spin Carefully

Spin CAREFULLY,
Not TEARFULLY,
Though WEARILY you plod.
Spin CAREFULLY,
Spin PRAYERFULLY,
But leave the thread with God.
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No Anxious Care--Phil. 4:6

"Be anxious for nothing..."
How could my heart be anxious?
How could my mid be aught but calm & bold?
When He who keep the universe in motion
Within His hand my little life doth hold?
If He can hang the earth in space,
And guide its orbit,
If He can make the winds,
And halt their play,
Full well I know He'll keep my sould from faltering,
And guide it surely in His chosen way.
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A True Minister

God's man in
God's place, doing
God's work, in
God's way, for
God's glory.
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Early Risers

ABRAHAM rose early to stand before the Lord--Gen 19:27
JACOB rose up early to worship the Lord--Gen 28:18
MOSES rose early to give God's message to Pharaoh--Ex 8:20
MOSES rose early to build an altar to God--Ex 24:4
MOSES rose early to meet God at Sinai--Ex 34:4
JOSHUA rose early to lead Israel over Jordan--Josh 3:1
JOSHUA rose early to capture Jericho--Josh 6:12
JOSHUA rose early to take Ai--Josh 8:10
GIDEON rose early to examine the fleece--Judg 6:38
HANNAH  and ELKANAH rose early to worship God 1 Sam 1:19
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Wanted...Men!

There is a story to the effect that a certain society in South Africa once wrote to David Livingston:
"Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to know how to send other men to join you."
Livingston replied: "If you have men who will come ONLY if they know there is a good road, I DON'T WANT THEM. I want men who will come if there is NO road at all."
What a crying need there is for such men in the work of Christ today!
--Truth for Youth
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We all can do more...

We all can do more than we have done,
And not be one whit the worse;
It never was loving the emptied the heart
Nor giving that emptied the purse.
--Uncle Ben
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How to Live a 100 Years Happily

1. Do not be on the outlook for ill health.
2. Keep usefully at work.
3. Have a hobby.
4. Learn to be satisfied.
5. Keep on liking people.
6. Meet adversity valiantly.
7. Meet the little problems of life with decision.
8. Above all, maintain a good sense of humor, best done by saying something pleasant every time you get a chance.
9. Live and make the present hour pleasant and cheerful. Keep your mind out of the past , and keep it out of the future.
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When things seem difficult...

When things seem difficult, and life uphill,
  Don't look too far ahead, keep plodding on,
And inch by inch, the road will shorten, till
  The roughest patches will be past and gone,
And you'll look back surprised and cheered to find
  That you have left so many miles behind,
And very soon the tedious climb will stop,
  And you will stand triumphant at the top.
--Uncle Ben
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Do what you can...

Do what you can, being what you are,
Shine like a glow worm, if you can't be a star.
Work like a pulley, if you can't be a crane,
Be a wheel-greaser, if you can't drive the train.
--Uncle Ben
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See What Happens

Give God the first choice
of your time,
your effort
your thinking,
and your money.
Then, see what happens.
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Five things keep meekly hid:

MYSELF
and I
and MINE
and MY,
and what I SAID AND DID.
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How to Live

Worry less and work more
Ride less and walk more
Frown less and laugh more
Drink less and breathe more
Eat less and chew more
Preach less and practice more.
--Excell
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A CREED FOR EVERYONE

SILENCE when your words would hurt.
PATIENCE when your neighbor's curt.
DEAFNESS when the scandal flows.
THOUGHTFULNESS for other's woes.
PROMPTNESS when stern duty calls.
COURAGE when misfortune falls.

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Four things a man must learn to do

If he would make the record true:
To THINK without confusion clearly;
To LOVE his fellowmen sincerely;
To ACT from honest motives purely;
To TRUST in God and heaven securely.
--Henry Van Dyke
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GIFTS

To your enemy, FORGIVENESS.
To an opponent, TOLERANCE.
To a friend, YOUR HEART.
To a customer, SERVICE.
To all men, CHARITY.
To every child, A GOOD EXAMPLE.
To yourself, RESPECT.
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WORLD'S GREATEST NEED

A little more  kindness and a little less creed;
A little more giving and a little less need;
A little more smile and a little less frown,
A little less kicking a man when he's down'
A little more "we" and a little less "I",
A little more laughs and a little less cry;
A little more flowers on the pathway of life;
And fewer on graves at the end of the strife.
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When to WORRY

When we see the lilies
  spinning in distress.
taking thought to manufacture
 their own loveliness.
When we see the birds all building
  barns for store,
'Twill then be time to worry
  --not before!

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Our Need

Our Need

We mutter and sputter,
We fume and we spurt;
We mumble and grumble,
Our feeling get hurt;
We can't understand,
Our vision grows dim;
When all we need is,
A moment with HIM!

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Don't Let Yourself...

WORRY when you're doing your best.
HURRY when success depends on accuracy.
THINK evil of any until you have the facts.
BELIEVE a thing is impossible without trying it.
WASTE time on trivial matters.
IMAGINE that good intentions are a satisfying excuse.
HARBOR bitterness toward God or man.
--Uncle Ben
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Your Place

Is your place a small place?
  Tend it with care--
  He set you there.
Is your place a large place?
  Guard it with care--
  He set you there.
Whate'er your place it is
  Not yours alone, but His
  Who set you there.
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THE EASY ROAD CROWDED

 THE EASY ROAD CROWDED
The easy roads are crowded,
  And the level roads are jammed;
The pleasant little rivers
  With the drifting folks are crammed,
But off yonder where it's rocky,
  Where you get a better view,
You will find the ranks are thinning
  And the travelers are few.
Where the going's smooth and pleasant
  You will always find the throng,
For the many, more's the pity,
  Seem to like to drift along.
But the steps that call for courage
  And the task that's hard to do,
In the end results in glory
  For the never-wavering few.
--Messick
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6 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy Life

Here's something we all need to think about in today's busy world.

Written by Nicole Spencer  Categories: Simply Happy

Do you feel as though you have so little time to relax that you wouldn’t know what to do even if someone plopped you in a beach chair and stuck a coconut-umbrella drink in your hand?
You CAN slow down and enjoy more of the life you’ve been missing.
Here are six ways.

Slow Down and Enjoy Life

1. Eat your meals at a table, preferably on a plate. Make it a rule that you won’t eat in front of you computer or in your car. Instead, carve out times during the day when you can pause and concentrate on nourishing your body. Not only are you likely to make healthier choices and eat more reasonable portions if you pay attention to what you are eating, you’ll be making sure you have times during the day to unwind and take a much needed breather.
Note: this will not work if you just decide not to eat at all instead of eating at a table. The point is to understand that taking care of your body’s needs is one of your highest priorities, and that you deserve to spend time taking care of yourself, not shoehorning it in wherever you can while taking care of other things.

2. Walk rather than drive. Whenever it’s feasible, leave the car at home and walk. You’ll not only get fresh air and exercise but you will save yourself a lot of driving related stress. When you’re walking, you get to concentrate on what is going on in the world around you, instead of having fractions of seconds to see what’s going on outside your car windows.
Although you can’t walk as fast as a car can drive, you might be surprised how little extra time walking takes than driving over short distances and how effectively you can use those extra minutes to think, daydream, or simply relax.

3. Leave the phones and laptops at home. I’m as addicted to my iPhone and laptop as the next person, but I find that I enjoy myself a lot more when I accidentally leave them at home and have no choice but to interact with the world around me. There is something about constantly pulling out a phone to check messages that puts us in a sort of high alert, stressed state. Even if we’re not waiting for anything urgent, the act of constantly checking tricks our minds into thinking we’re in a stressful situation and we tense up accordingly.
Although it’s not possible to always leave the phone or laptops at home, train yourself not to keep checking. Keep it put away until you have a real need to use it. Let yourself get bored. You’ll find that once you give in, your mind will wander and you’ll either find something interesting to do or have a nice, productive daydreaming session.

4. Be nice to kids and animals. If you have a child or animal in your life that you can spend time with, make the effort to do so. Children and animals are absolute geniuses at throwing themselves in the moment and enjoying life as it comes. Even a half hour throwing a Frisbee around with a dog or twenty minutes of coloring and making up stories as you go along with a preschooler can take you back to a simpler time in your own life. We can all use a reminder of what it’s like to be completely absorbed in nothing but having fun.

5. Learn something new, preferably by taking a class. There is nothing like learning a new skill or applying ourselves to a new field of study to get our minds engaged. It might not seem like slowing down to make the commitment to learn something new, but giving your brain a workout is one of the best ways to enjoy life. Too often we’re on autopilot, doing the same things over and over again, until all we’re tasting is the memory.
When we approach something unfamiliar, we not only need to slow down in order to take it all in and fully incorporate it into our repertoire, but we are also doing the most effective thing to keep our minds young and suppleand maximize the enjoyment we can get from life.

6. Realize you don’t have to do everything. Take a look at your to-do list and ask yourself what will happen if each item doesn’t get done. Even if you reach for the worst possible scenario, it’s probably not really that big. Thinking about the what if might make you realize how unimportant a lot of the items really are.
Of course, there are some things that will need to be done by you and in a timely manner, for everything else, decide if you can:
·    Eliminate entirely
·    Outsource
·    Delay
If you can’t let go of the feeling that everything needs to be done in a certain way by you, it will be worthwhile to examine why you feel this way and explore ways you can become comfortable being less than perfect and relinquishing some control. It’s okay to be ambitious and to have high standards, but if you want to slow down and can’t find a way to make that happen, something’s gotta give!

Nicole Spencer likes to walk rather than drive and realizes that she can’t, in fact, do everything.

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A Solitary Way

THERE is a mystery in human hearts,
And though we be encircled by a host
Of those who love us well, and are beloved,
To every one of us, from time to time,
There comes a sense of utter loneliness.
Our dearest friend is stranger to our joy
And cannot realize our bitterness;
"There is not one sho really understands,
No one to enter into all I feel;"
Such is the cry of each of us in turn,
We wander in a "solitary way,"
No matter what or where our lot may be,
Each heart, mysterious even to itself,
Must live its inner life in solitude.

AND would you know the reason why this is?
It is because the Lord desires our love.
In every heart He wishes to be first.
He therefore keeps the secret key Himself,
To open all its chambers, and to bless
With perfect sympathy and holy peace,
So when we feel this loneliness it is
The voice of Jesus saying, "Come to Me,"
And every time we are "not understood,"
It is a call to us to come again;
For CHRIST alone can satisfy the soul,
And those who walk with Him from day to day
Can never have a "solitary way."

AND when beneath some heavy cross you faint,
And say, "I cannot bear this load alone,"
You say the truth, Christ made it purposely
So heavy that you must return to Him.
The bitter grief, which "no one understands,"
Conveys a secret message from the King,
Entreating you to come to Him again.
The Man or Sorrows understands it well,
You cannot come too often, or too near,
The Son of God is infinite in grace.
His presence satisfies the longing soul,
And those who walk with Him from day to day
Can never have a "solitary way."
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It's Monday Again & A Rainey One At That

Do you ever think about who your boss as a Christian business person really is? Here is an article I found that addresses the subject.

Your Christian Business Boss

Many of us get into our own business to prove to ourselves we can; to make an difference, and to even share in a slice of the trillion dollar pie. Even though the online business landscape has been soaring “all ahead full” for over a decade now, there is still so much to room for growth; for any business industry, and every business size. So, how can you take full advantage and capture “your” piece of the ever-expanding pie?

Let me ask you this…

Who do you think is really responsible for the success on an online business endeavor?
Who do you think really creates all the new cutting edge technologies?
Who do you really think is responsible for some of today’s leading e-marketing strategies?
Who do you think truly dictates your financial bottom line?

In a single word… Customers!

That’s right! It is the input and responses of millions upon million of customers that teach us what works and what does not. Our customers tell us what they really want and what they really need.

My next question… How carefully do you listen?

Need Satisfaction Selling

How well you listen and respond to both your current and prospective customers will certainly play a most significant role every time you analyze your Profit and Loss Statement.

Many e-business owners absolutely cringe when they receive a heated response from their customers. I on the other hand enjoy reading their questions, comments and concerns very much. By being a good listener you can surely identify your customers needs. By specifically making this identification, you can plan and execute your next moves.

You see, by ultimately satisfying your customers wants and needs you can effectively reduce buying objections and make your entire sales process that much easier. After all, it would be extremely uncomfortable for a prospect to say, “No” if you bring to them exactly what they asked for. It really is just that simple.

Are You Placing Your Cart Before Your Horse?

All too often, e-business owners want to jump out and create an elaborate web site without even first finding out as much as they can about the exact needs of their target market.

This is what I call, “Putting the cart before the horse”!

My Consultant’s Hat

During those times in my daily routine that I slip on my “Consultant’s Hat”, I adamantly urge e-business owners to perform the following procedures in this precise order:

1. Build relationships. (Create and manage a contact list.)
2. Ask open ended questions (who, what, why, where, when and how).
3. Methodically analyze their answers.
4. Build solutions based on your findings that will clearly and unmistakably satisfy their all- important needs.
5. Advise your customers of the completion of your project.
6. Ask for the sale!
7. Close the sale!
8. Count your profits and begin all over again ultimately presenting up sell products or services depending upon your e-business landscape.

Always remember to…

Look
Listen
Learn
Respond
React

…whenever it comes down to satisfying your customers needs. Which should be always!

You and your banker will be glad you did!

Remember, call me if you need me! I am always here to help.

Have an outstanding week and remember to “laugh”!

God’s blessings and great success always,

Tony

Tony Marino
Founder/Executive Publisher
Christian Times Online
http://www.ChristianTimesNewsletter.com

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A Church Garden

Three  Rows of Squash
1. Squash indifference
2. Squash criticism
3. Squash gossip

Four Rows of Turnips
1. Turn up for meetings
2. Turn up with a smile
3. Turn up with a visitor
4. Turn up with a Bible

Five Rows of Lettuce
1. Let us love one another
2. Let us welcome strangers
3. Let us be faithful to duty
4. Let us truly worship God
5. Let us give liberally

--Uncle Ben
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Employment: Blood, Sweat, and Tears!

How To Be a Christian In the Workplace; and How To Deal With Co-workers.

Mel Brooks, the movie producer, said it best, “Life stinks!”

If you have spent any time in the workplace, you will have observed many different kinds of attitudes, personalities, and ways of approaching the job there. We all have different personalities, habits, desires, experiences, and expectations, all converging and conflicting, and the water cooler area becomes a gathering place for hearing the latest gossip, a hotbed of conflict and chaos. Somehow, in the midst of all this, we, as Christians, are called to distinction. This rubs us against the grain of our coworkers and employers, who have conflicting ideas. The Christian enters into a struggle with identity, values, attitudes, and feelings, all producing stress and fatigue.

We are Christians, yet we are also human, and we work with Christians as well as non-Christians. We are material beings who need a livelihood to provide for the daily substance of life. From food and shelter to leisure and entertainment, work becomes a necessary means for us to live and function in society. Work can also be a potential for so much more. A call, a vocation, or a job, whatever you call what you do in between your day of worship and church, whether it be a priest or a fry cook, we all have a purpose. We all have a job. Sometimes, it is the same, sometimes not, as we may be in the wrong place and job. Nevertheless, we have a call to be employed, to function in society, and to behave in that call.

We are also social beings, not just tools or devices, slaves or machines. We are spiritual beings who have been saved by our God and Creator and given the call to be virtuous and righteous. All our experiences, expectations, aptitudes, and attitudes come together in the workplace. And, all of these distinctions converge into our mindset and attitudes at work. So, what is the right attitude and approach with which to do our work? How do we get along with coworkers, bosses, and our God?

Work, Job or vocation is a word we use to start to describe what we do in life, vocation has its root from the Latin verb “to call;” thus, our vocation and job is actually a call, similar to a minister. So we need to understand its role and significance in our life and how we are to be in our vocation as well as what it means in our walk with our Lord. Let us venture into God’s Word and see what He has to say about what we do during the week. What and why we have work and what we are to do in that vocation and how we respond to others around us. The following passages are arranged so you can spend some time in the Word, which will help you to develop a Biblical attitude of work. Also, several thoughts based on Scriptural insights are provided for you to pray about to nudge yourself into being a better person at work. You may discover what we do is not as important as how we do it!

God’s Call For the Employee: Ephesians 6:5-8

You may feel like a slave at work. Or, perhaps you treat others in that way thinking, I am in command. They work for me, and they have to do what I say! But, the key to this passage is the attitude we are to have, that of looking to Christ as our employer so we do our work for Him. Therefore, we are to be our best for His glory, regardless of our circumstances (Rom. 8:17; Phil. 2:1-11).

We may have a paycheck from McDonald’s and a boss who may need some acne treatments, but our ultimate authority and manager is Christ Himself! We show our value--that Christ paid a price for us--so, we in turn can respond with a good work ethic (1 Cor. 7:23). We must adjust our mindset to see work as an opportunity to please Him, and in so doing, be a blessing to those around us.

As an employee we are called to Diligence! This allows us to operate with our best for Christ’s highest with excitement and passion in order to complete our work and call from the Lord. It is practical obedience, which is the loving of our call and the pursuing of our work so we are doing our best for His glory. (Prov. 10:4; Rom. 12:11; Colossians 3:23)

Here are some more Scriptures about being an employee: Exodus 23:12; 35:2; Proverbs 10:26; 25:13; Ecclesiastes 2:4; 5:12; Colossians 3:17,22-25; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 6:2; Titus 2:9,10; 1 Peter 2: 18-20

God’s Call For the Employer

God honors diligence and fairness. As an employer you are called to Diligence and to Fairness! These are the two characteristics we are to have in the workplace, and are especially essential for the manager. God hates the exploitation of people and will judge with severity those who do exploit others. So, why bother with the rotten characters of dishonesty and exploitation when we can have a much more efficient and happy workplace, where the workers are cared for and encouraged to produce instead of being forced and made to condescend.

Here are some more Scriptures about being an employer: Leviticus 19: 13; Deuteronomy 24:4,14; Proverbs 27: 18; Malachi 3:5; Luke 10:7; 1 Corinthians 9: 6-12; Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:17; 4:1; 1 Timothy 5:17,18

After reading the above selected Scriptures, ask yourself these questions:

Q: What attitudes, desires, and habits do you have that need to be changed?

Q: How can you be encouraged by God’s truths and encourage those who are in the workplace?

Q: What warning is God giving you?

Q: How can you lead a distinctive lifestyle in the workplace?

Q: Have you considered the eternal results of a healthy work attitude, even in the face of strife and chaos?

God’s Call For the Workplace

As a worker, or an employer, God has a lot to say to us regarding our virtue at work.

We are called to work with respect and honor to God and others: Genesis 2: 15; 3: 15; Proverbs 6:6-8; 10:4,5,26; 12:9; 13:4; 14:23; 18:9; 22:29; 31:11-31; Ecclesiastes 3:22; 5:12; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 5: 8!

We are called to work with integrity: Proverbs 10:2; 15:27; Jeremiah 22: 13; Ephesians 4:28!

We are warned about laziness: Exodus 20:9-11; 23:12; 34:21; Proverbs 16:27; 18:9; 19: 15; 22:13; 24:30-34; 1 Thessalonians 4: 11,12; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-15!

We are called to honor just remuneration: Proverbs 3:27,28; 27:18; Luke 10:7; 1 Timothy 5: 18; James 5:1-5!

Here are some thoughts for your consideration.

Remember what God calls us to do:

· Our work is not to define us! Even though this may be the first question we ask someone new to us, or is asked of us, our work is what we do, not who we are! Work is not our identity or our worth!

· Our worth as a Christian is who we are in Christ!

· Work, in society, is center stage for our social classification and the search for identity, and can even be an addiction to fulfill our deeper needs!

· Ecclesiastes 2:4; 4:7-8 asks, What benefit do we gain? This passage gives us the impression that our toil and work are merely temporary. We may find work necessary in order to live, but it is not permanent or eternal.

· It is not what we do that matters, but how we are!

· Colossians 3:22-25. Our work may not define us, but it will either mature or devalue us. How we respond and model character will be the eternal value—our true selves. Work can even be a means through which to worship our Lord!

· People will see Christ through us in the workplace--either as a God to come to, or, one from whom to be repelled. How do people at work see Christ through you?

The Dangers and Concerns In the Workplace.

How do you handle Anger? Anger is one of the biggest enemies for the employee as well as the employer! We are to be known by our love; yet, it is anger that most often communicates who we are. Thus, we must beware of its vicious and destructive ways!

· Our inner feelings of inadequacy can be the fuel to the negative reaction to anger from a boss or coworker. Thus, we have to see ourselves as God sees us, redeemed, and as His child. Then we can have a healthier self-image that gives us confidence but does not allow pride.

· Do not try to just ignore your anger. Walking away from, or stopping the anger, will not solve the problem, and often, even prolongs it. Put an end to the anger by seeking to solve the root of the conflict. Let the anger give you the fuel to react quickly and confidently, but do not let it control you!

· Gossiping, name-calling, and/or trying to get even will only escalate the problem and give others a very wrong impression of our Lord! Remember, our essential self worth is not our job; it is who we are in Him!

· Do not take anger personally! View your work as a service to Christ, not a personal, esteem-building venture!

· Do not be defensive. Rather, let integrity be your guide. Virtue will build actions, even if you are under attack by an angry employer or fellow-employee. Show Christ-like character, and, in the long run, you will win out. If not, shake the dust off your feet and move on, because in God's eyes, you are the winner!

· If the employer or fellow-employee is angry, do not let it influence you! Do not acknowledge the anger, and refuse to accept the tone, because that gives it more fuel and you will lose control.

· Separate the emotion of the anger from the words and content of what a person is saying. Do not respond to their anger with your own! Let them vent, then get to the root of the problem. Listen, and ask, How do you want me to resolve this? Find a solution, especially if it is your fault. And, if that be the case, take responsibility; do not blame others; deal and act!

· Restate the content of their complaint in your own words without the emotion. Use phrases such as, I didn't know you disagreed with that policy. Or, I'm glad to know how you feel. Let us find a solution about that.

· Let the person know you are glad they came to you (even if they acted inappropriately, because, we all do so at some point). When you are positive and looking to help them, you will be able to defuse the anger faster than anything else you could do. Also, be in prayer, asking God to give you the strength and the appropriate words. Remember, He is there too!

· Remember Christ-like attitude, and the “Fruits of the Spirit,” as well as sensibleness, self-control, and cooperation. (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Peter 1:4) Seek to emulate His character and you will excel.

Q: Do a word study on excellence by looking it up in a concordance, and see what you find. Notice how these principles affected not only the people in the Bible, but also how they could affect you. Then take those precepts and attitudes and ask yourself, How can I apply them in my workplace?

Keys To Building Better Relationships With Co-workers:

Colossians 3:23; Galatians 6:9; Proverbs 12:24; 13:4; 19:15; 24:30-32; Titus 2: 9-20; 1Timothy 6:1-2; James 1: 8.

· To be interesting and liked, you need to be interested in and like others!

· Be open to others around you who can teach you more about your job!

· Care about what you do, and show you care.

· Be a pleasing and warm person, not a gossiper or conniver and schemer!

· Find an expert from whom you could learn insights about your job, so you can seek how to be better in it. No matter how long you have been there, you can always learn more, and ultimately become the best you can be for our Lord!

· Avoid laziness and procrastination like the plague (Proverbs 10:4,5,2:11, 15:19; 18:9)!

· Remember, your work is an act of worship, since it is God you are serving!

· Reevaluate your attitude toward your employer and fellow employees as much as you can.
· Notice others in your workplace, how you can learn from them, and how you can come along side and help them!

· Focus on objectives, not obstacles, and make sure your objectives are clear!

· Be totally honest with your time, expenses, and relationships!

· Remember your workplace is also your most effective outreach. You may not be able to verbally share the gospel, nor should you on work time, but you can be a Christ-like example so others will seek you out and ask you what makes you different!

Fighting Depression In the Workplace

Jeremiah 29:11

Make sure you have someone in your church you can talk to and vent to at times also, such as a small group or a trusted friend. Be growing in your faith and study of the Word. That will make you stronger, and will enable you to better weather the storms of life. Be aware that depression is usually a sign of a deeper problem. Thus, do not afraid to seek help. Even Moses, Elijah, and Jonah suffered from depression! The real
problem is not so much on how you feel, but what are the root cause(s) of those feelings.

Here are three of the most common causes of depression--fatigue, fear, and frustration:

Fatigue! (Moses' problem) If you are a control freak, attempting to control everything and everyone around you, you will be riddled with anxiety. When you try to continue in a stressed out and hectic pace without delegating or having support, you will burn out. This will set you up for depression as well as many other problems! You cannot do it all! So, you need to be a team player, seeking out relationships and team building, not competition and antagonism. Moses' father-in-law had to teach him to delegate. (Numbers 11: 10-17).

Fear! (Elijah's problem) Whenever you try to manage all of your worries and fears, your body will break down. Instead of focusing on your depression, ask yourself, What is the worse case scenario? How can I get through it with help from God and others? Are my fears realistic? How can I let go of them? Elijah had to recognize that God was indeed in control and then learn too trust Him to handle the situations he was in (1 Kings 19: 1-18).

Frustration! (Jonah's problem) When you do not see a plan or purpose behind the trials and activities of your life, you will get confused, and even disillusioned! Eventually, hopelessness will come in and overpower you.
We, as humans, need to feel significant and needed. Thus, when we feel our life has no meaning, we will become depressed. When we finally understand God's purpose for our life, or just trust Him for it, our depression will fade fast! Jonah had to also trust that God was in control and had a bigger plan that what he could envision (Jonah 1-4)!

Sometimes, life in the workplace can seem to be an endless rat race! Stop and rethink your actions, your attitudes, and your options. Search out these Scriptures on how you can improve your situation, understanding that the best way we can do that is improve ourselves! Ask God to open your eyes and help you see His purpose and plan for your life. If you still feel disoriented and confused, focus on the character of Christ and the fruits of the Spirit (Romans 12; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Peter 1:3-4) that we are to emulate, as this is the primary Will of God and what we are to heed! Remember, God made you. He loves you, and has something to say to you, so focus on Him and not your situation!

How To Get Excited For Work (when we usually dread it!)

When we stay in a rut or a bad situation with continual weariness and fatigue, we will lose our primary focus, be ineffective, become a stumbling block to others, burn out, or go into a depression. We will miss out on other options and opportunities, start to disintegrate into a person with a bad attitude, and even become ill!
I am mainly speaking about physical and emotional fatigue, which can turn into spiritual fatigue. There is no normal order. Each one could be the one to start it off, and the other two will soon follow! Thus, frustration, stress, worry, anger, guilt, indecision, unrealistic expectations, resentment, and many other negative emotions will accumulate and then compile upon ourselves to bring us down in our personal relationships, family, and our relationship to God. We, therefore, will not be able to function as He called us, nor will we be able to worship, as is our primary reason for being and existing in life! Work, which is supposed to be a tool for living and an opportunity for outreach, becomes our focus and sole life, when it is not to be so.

You can visualize your personal and work life as a three legged stool. The first leg is a good diet of fresh vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, and lots of clean filtered water, with vitamin supplements and exercise along with a lot of regular rest to help out the physical fatigue. The second leg is a concentration on attitude and outlook, which will help you with the emotional fatigue. The third leg is a good church, Bible study, daily prayer, and devotions that will help your spiritual life. Each one leans against the other. If you let one leg go, you will not be able to stand, or work effectively!

Just a little more rest will be some help to you, but it will not keep the stool from falling from under you. Neither would even a weekend of rest and fun. You must develop a plan including all three legs, and be consistent! God desires you to take good care of His temple, your body (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16)!

More Ways To Balance Your Stool and Work

· Be a person who forgives, who lets things roll off his/her back. If you let resentment build, it will break your back. If you let it go, you will be stronger and more effective (1 John 1: 9)!

· Keep your focus on Christ. Look at your work as worship, and as serving Him, not just a labor or chore.

Be open for opportunities, and take them as gaining insights and experience so as to be better for Him and others around you! If you get stuck, consider a new perspective. Try to look at your work from a different viewpoint. You cannot always control your situation, but you can control your attitude and respond as our Lord has called us to do!

· Anxiety and stress is often a matter of outlook (Col. 3:23).

· Get yourself involved in a good church (Isaiah 40:31).

· Surround yourself with people who will listen to you and give you godly advice (Heb. 10:25).

· See your work as a means to use the talents, creativity, and gifts that God has given you (Gen.1: 26-28).

· Let your work give you self-respect and self-confidence (Prov. 22:29).

· Allow your work to develop your aptitude and confidence, patience, forgiveness, values, loyalty, integrity, and be a place to build and develop character (Eccl. 10: 10; Luke 16:10-12).

· Set goals and keep focused (Phil.3: 13-16).

Allow your work to build you up, not tear you down. If it does, and you have tried all of these suggestions, take a career assessment test. Perhaps you are not in the career for which you were designed. Remember, we are not to be devoted to our work, but rather devoted to our Savior. At the same time, we are to be diligent and be the best we can be in our job. The Christian should be the finest person at their job by means of integrity, godly character, and modeling Christ, regardless of the situation!

What would we have to gain if we put all of our selves and our time in our career, giving up all the other aspects of life? Nothing! When I visit rest homes with youth groups, I ask the youth to get life stories and perspectives from the elderly residents to catch sight of what they have learned in life, and what youth can learn from them. These were very rewarding. With dozens upon dozens of visits over twenty years, we never had anyone say they regretted that they did not spend more time in their career. The regrets expressed, if any, were about losing time with family by being workaholics, forfeiting relationships, and such. All could have been avoided just by adhering to Jesus’ simple words in Mark 8:36. Look it up and see for yourself!

Our work ethic will be the measure of how people see our true character, as well as that of our Lord!

This is from a supporter of our ministry:

How do I pray for my coworkers or workplace?

B-L-E-S-S them!

Praying for unsaved and hurting coworkers:

B. Body - health, protection, strength

L. Labor - work, income, security

E. Emotional - joy, peace, hope

S. Social - getting along at home, at work, and in the neighborhood

S. Spiritual - salvation, faith, grace

Praying for others at work:

B. Board of Directors

L. Lordship of the business

E. Employees

S. Senior management, Supervision

S. Stockholders

Praying for my company:

B. Bottom line, profitability, paying expenses

L. Lawful, longevity, lasting

E. Excellence, equality

S. Synergy - good relationships between management and employees

S. Satisfied customer/clients and employees

Richard Joseph Krejcir is the Director of ‘Into Thy Word Ministries, ’a discipling ministry. He is the author of the book, Into Thy Word and is also a pastor, teacher, speaker and a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena California. He has amounted over 20 years of pastoral ministry experience, mostly in youth ministry, including serving as a church growth consultant. richard@intothyword.com

© 2003 Into Thy Word Richard J. Krejcir www.intothyword.org © 2003 Into Thy Word Richard J. Krejcir www.intothyword.org 
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Ten Spiritual Tonics

1. Stop worrying. Worry kills life.
2. Begin each day with prayer. It will arm your soul.
3. Control appetite. Overindulgence clogs body & mind.
4. Accept your limitations. All of us can't be great.
5. Don't envy. It wastes time & energy.
6. Have faith in people. Cynicism sours the disposition.
7. Find a hobby. It will relax your nerves.
8. Read a book a week. It will stimulate & broaden your views.
9. Spend some time alone. It gives peace, solitude, & silence.
10. Try to want what you have, instead of spending your strength trying to get what you want.
--Feinberg

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Sick Sheep

A Scottish shepherd was once asked if his sheep would follow the voice of a stranger.

He replied: "Yes, then they are sick, but never when they are well. A sick sheep will follow anybody."

No wonder false shepherds get quite a following in these Laodicean days!
--Uncle Ben

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Mirror--A Story From Uncle Ben

One day a rich mas of a miserly disposition visited a rabbi, who took him by the hand and led him to a window. "Look out there," he said. The rich man looked out into the street. "What do you see?" "I see men and women and children." Again the rabbi took him to a mirror. "What do you see now?" "I see myself." Then the rabbi said, "Behold the window there is glass and the mirror is glass also. But the glass of the mirror is covered with  silver. No sooner is silver added than you cease to see others and see only yourself."

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Uncle Ben gives us Thomas Jeffersons's Decalogue

1. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
2. Never trouble another with what you can do yourself.
3. Never spend your money before you have it.
4. Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.
5. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.
6. We never repent for having eaten too little.
7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
8. How mych pain have cost us the evils which have never happened.
9. Take things always by their smooth handle.
10. When angry, count ten before you speak. If very angry, count one hundred.

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The Clock of Life

The clock of life is wound but once
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop--
At late or early hour.
NOW is the only time you own;
Live, love, toil with a will--
Place no faith in TOMORROW for
The clock may then be still.
--from Uncle Ben's Quotebook

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Building Our Own Mansion--What do you think?

Uncle Ben has an interesting story for us today--

There is a legend of a wealthy woman who, when she reached heaven, was shown a very plain mansion. She objected. "Well," she was told, "that is the house prepared for you." "Whose is that fine mansion across the way?" she asked. "It belongs to your gardener." "How is it that he has one so much better than mine?" "The houses here are prepared from the materials that are sent up. We do not choose them, you do that by your earthly faithfulness."

(This may be a legend, but it bears a profound truth.)

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THE WAY OUT

Philosophy says:
  THINK your way out;
Indulgence says:
  DRINK your way out;
Science says:
  INVENT your way out;
Industry says:
  WORK your way out;
Communism says:
  STRIKE your way out;
Fascism says:
  BLUFF your way out;
Militarism says:
  FIGHT your way out;
The world says:
  ENTERTAIN your way out;
But CHRIST says:
  I AM the WAY out!
--Thanks Uncle Ben for this thought

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The Whole List--You Will Never Be Sorry

You Will Never Be Sorry--

For thinking before acting,
For hearing before judging,
For forgiving your enemies,
For being candid and frank,
For helping a fallen brother,
For being honest in business,
For thinking before speaking,
For being loyal to your church,
For standing by your principles,
For stopping your ears to gossip,
For bridling a slanderous tongue,
For harboring only pure thoughts,
For sympathizing with the afflicted,
For being courteous and kind to all.

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You Will Never Be Sorry--The End of This Series

You Will Never Be Sorry--

For being courteous and kind to all.

This is the end of the "You Will Never Be Sorry" series. I think Uncle Ben saved one of the most important thoughts until last. Courtesy and kindness are really needed in today's fast paced world. All around us we see and hear examples of a "me first" mentality. "What's in it for me?" is the first thought that comes to most people's minds when considering options.

How unlike the words of the Great Book which say, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

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You Will Never Be Sorry--

You will never be sorry--

For sympathizing with the afflicted,

There are so many hurting people around us that need our compassion and help. If we cannot do something personally to help, we can support agencies such as the The Salvation Army, Samaritian's Purse, etc. who specialize in these services. The important thought here is to do SOMETHING, and not just sit back and wait for someone else to act. The Word says,

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:35-40)

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You Will Never Be Sorry--Thoughtful

You Will Never Be Sorry--

For harboring only pure thoughts,

How often lately have you given any thought about your thoughts? If you are like me the answer is probably not often enough. The following is an article I just ran across which might have in the thought control area.

Keeping Our Thoughts Under Control
by naomi Cassata

The Bible has a lot to say about what goes on upstairs in our minds. It is not only the main center that dictates how our physical bodies work, but also the board room that greatly affects our spiritual lives. It is our responsibility to manage what flows through our minds examining the good from the bad.

Reading through scriptures we can find many interchangeable references referring to our minds. Here are a few: imaginations, meditations, thoughts and even our souls. Our minds are like secret rooms that no one has access to unless we choose to reveal them. Of course God has access at all times. He knows exactly what each mind is meditating on. David exclaimed: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) David knew that his meditations were important to God. He learned that sin stems from the inside, and if he could cause his meditations to line up with God's word, his actions would follow suit.

HARMLESS-IN-BETWEEN THOUGHTS

Throughout any given day, we are attacked by hundreds if not thousands of thoughts-most harmless. We need those harmless thoughts to get us through any normal day. They help us remember appointments or decide what to eat for lunch.

Then there is what I call the "in-between thoughts." These are thoughts we have in-between our everyday normal thoughts. Many times they are lingering and even captivating. They have the potential to lead us into sin if they are not tamed by the word of God.

CAPTURING OUR THOUGHTS

When a thought passes through our mind that is less than godly, so to speak, it must immediately be captured and cast out. We should never allow sinful thoughts to float around in our imagination realm. Too often we fall prey to these kind of thoughts. Whether it is a thought of revenge over a wrong done to us, lust over what someone else has or rage over what another has said to us, if we dwell on them, they will begin to consume our everyday lives. We will eventually act out our revenge, lust or rage. If we don't take our thoughts captive, they will take us captive. An evil thought is like an unwelcomed rodent that just won't leave unless we make it leave. Satan is always behind these thoughts. If he can control our thought life, he will hold us in bondage.

RENEWED MIND

Next, our minds must be continually renewed. When we renew our minds, we are feeding it truth from God's word. We can only do this by reading the Bible and finding out how we are to respond when we are faced with a bad thought. It is like setting a new course for our thoughts to follow; a course that lines up with the word of God for a particular situation. For example, say someone does something to offend us. Our minds begin to be bombarded with various thoughts. Some may be to get revenge; others thoughts may be to never forgive. These are not one time thoughts, but instead they are "thought patterns." The next time someone offends us, we will have these same thoughts. Nothing changes from situation to situation. Until we change courses and follow the pattern God has orchestrated in His word, we will never find freedom from this way of thinking.

STAYING FOCUSED

Lastly, it is equally important to keep our minds focused. We find in Philippians 4:8 exactly what course we are to follow. Our minds must be focused on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. These types of thoughts are pleasing to God.

It is important that we strive to keep our thought lives pure before God. Once we've lined our thought patterns up with the word of God, our actions will be close behind.

Copyright 2010
Naomi Cassata
iluvjc079@yahoo.com

Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com

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Another You Will Never Be Sorry--

You will never be sorry--

For bridling a slanderous tongue,

Here's a good article I found on this subject--I hope you find it beneficial.

Taming the tongue
by Ann Elaine Broughton 

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless"
(James 1:26 NIV).

James wrote about what damage the tongue can do. "The tongue also is fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell" (James 3:6 NIV). James does not mince words. When was the last time you were a victim of words spoken in haste that hurt you in some way? As Christians we must think before we speak because those who are outside of the Lord will condemn us if we say hurtful things about others. Filtering our thoughts through the Holy Spirit will help us speak words that will build others up instead of bringing them down. "we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5 NIV).

If you are ever tempted to say anything about anyone behind his/her back that would hurt his/her feelings, stop and say to yourself, "If this person was sitting next to me, would I be saying this?" This includes what you write to others on email and texting. Words are powerful. They can end careers, bring tears to eyes, and destroy lives. They can also change lives for the better, give hope, encouragement, and praise.

What kind of words have you been speaking lately? It is time to reflect on this. People judge you by your words. Are you careful in your speech? Have you said words about others that would make them sad if they heard them? It is time for you to pray and ask God to help you to control your speech so that the words you speak are ones of encouragement, peace, and love. Be an encourager this week in your speech and think before you say something that might hurt others.

Dear Lord,
I ask you to help me to pray before I speak so that I won't hurt other people's feelings in any way. I know that my words should be like those of Christ; full of grace, truth, peace, and love. Help me to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Let my words bring joy to those around me, instead of sadness.
In Jesus' name,
Amen

My husband and I have been in the ministry in one form or another for 37 years. I have had several poems published in the local newspaper. I write devotionals for my co-workers and friends. I own this article and have full rights.

Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com

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You Will Never Be Sorry--

You Will Never Be Sorry--

For stopping your ears to gossip,

There' not really a lot to say about this idea. We all know it's true, but it's just so easy to sit and listen to those juicy morsels of gossip. The thing is, those who talk about others to us will also talk with others about us. If we are selective about the people we choose as friends, we will have less of a problem with gossip. We also want to be careful that we are not a gossip source!

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More From Uncle Ben--You Will Never Be Sorry--

You Will Never Be Sorry--

For standing by your principles,

Hopefully as a Christian business person these principles are biblically based. The person who does not stand by principles is constantly influenced by all that is going on around them. They are like the ocean, constantly moving and tossing to and fro. We must be dependable and consistant in our thoughts and actions. People must know that they can count on us no matter what.

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You Will Never Be Sorry--

You Will Never Be Sorry--

For being loyal to your church,

The church correctly defined as the body of all Christian believers. Being loyal to the church is the same as being loyal to Christ Himself, since the church is His body.

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More From Uncle Ben--You Will Never Be Sorry--

You will never be sorry--

For thinking before speaking,

It's so easy to give a quick response that we hardly think before we do so. There are TV interview shows where one person is speaking and the other person just jumps in and starts talking before the other person finishes. This may be justified at times, when the first person goes on and on with a seemingly endless speech. But for someone to constantly interrupt another, in my opinion, is not acceptable behavior.

Thinking before speaking involves the lost art of listening to others & responding appropriately. Let's get the focus off ourselves and what think and seek to see things from our fellow man's eyes.

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You Will Never Be Sorry #6

More from Uncle Ben...

You'll Never Be Sorry

For being honest in business

The quote comes to mind, "Honesty is the best policy." Of course we must seek to be honest at all times, not just  in business matters.

This goes along with the idea of telling people the truth, the whole truth, & nothing but the truth

I'm reminded of the shady butcher on a TV show weighing meat on a scale along with his thumb.

How often have you seen an ad with a great product price, followed by a lot of small print spelling out all of the conditions which negate the special price?

I wonder how much prices on various good & services would drop if employees would stop stealing from their employers?

The Great Book states in Proverbs 28:6, "Better to be poor & honest, than rich & a cheater." (LB)

Have a grand week & remember the honesty factor we looked at today.

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You Will Never Be Sorry #5

I hope you are enjoying Uncle Ben's challenging  thoughts. The next is:

You Will Never Be Sorry

For helping a fallen brother,

The first thought that comes to mind is the "Golden Rule." We should all seek to "do unto others as we would have them do unto us." The person who looks only to his or her own interests is a lonely people indeed. The more we help others, the more we are rewarded. A quote from the Great Book says,

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall , the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when hefalleth ; for he hath not another to help him up . 11 Again, if two lie together , then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken .  (Eccles. 4)


Our week is coming to a swift close & the summer heat is all around us. Be cool & take time to watch & listen to the birds.


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You Will Never Be Sorry #4

More Uncle Ben wisdom...

You'll never be sorry

For being candid and frank,

This is an easy one for me to follow. I've never been one to well people what I think they want to hear. I like to shoot straight from the hip and prefer others to do the same.

Being candid and frank requires a little courage sometimes, but in the end, it is the best way. People might not appreciate this approach at first, but later on they will.

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You Will Never Be Sorry #3

Continuing our Uncle Ben thoughts...


You will never be sorry
For forgiving your enemies,


With the focus today so much on our "rights," etc., thinking of others has taken a back seat. When we do think about our enemies, it is usually not to forgive them --more likely we condemn them. How unlike the words of our Master in Luke 6:28 where we read:


"Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you."


We are now at the mid-point of the week--I hope you have had more successes than failures in your Christian business endeavors! Take care & may God bless you REAL GOOD.


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You'll Never Be Sorry #2...

Uncle Ben says, "You will never be sorry

For hearing before judging,"

It is so very easy to listen to someone for a few seconds & then make up our mind about what they are saying. I am reminded some of the news TV shows my wife watches daily. One person starts talking & then the other person interrupts with their thoughts, without giving the other person a chance to finish speaking. I wonder if I am the only one watching that thinks this is bad manners to say the least?

I read this great thought in a famous book years ago & I think it is still very true: "Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, & slow to wrath."

I hope every one is having a wonderful & fulfilling week. Be sure to keep the faith & love as you wish to be loved.

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You Will Never Be Sorry--

For thinking before acting,
(From Uncle Ben's Quotebook--more to come in future)

A well thought-out plan is essential in business as well as in other areas of our lives. We've all heard the phrase, "If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time." Thinking & planning seem to me to be closely related.

Here is an article I just found on thinking before acting--I hope it proves of interest to you.

Think Before You Act

If you are not sure about an action, ask advice, talk it over with someone who will give you objective advice. If you are in a position where you need to act without thinking it through, stall for time or just don't do it.

The story of a teenage beauty queen who acted on impulse and then regretted it has been in the news. She and some friends left a restaurant without paying a small bill of about $50. She forgot her handbag and went back for it, only to find that the restaurant manager had called the police. They discovered some marijuana in her bag and she and her friends were arrested. She lost her beauty crown as a result.

These were teenagers acting stupidly without thinking through to the consequences. They got caught up in the impulse and didn't think at all. We all have crazy impulses but mostly we think before we put them into action and realize that they are crazy. If in doubt give yourself more time to think, think again and only act once you are sure, or don't act at all.

Coaching

Actions always have consequences. If you want to avoid doing things that you will regret, make sure that you think through your actions beforehand. The consequences of unthinking action may not have you arrested, but could cause hurt feelings or embarrassment, which could have been avoided if you'd taken the time to think. Think before you act and avoid a lot of grief and heartache in your life.

Coaching Question

Do you take the time to think before you act?

Daily Action

Get into the habit of Stop, Think, Think again, then Act. This rule will keep you from a lot of regrets.

Quotes

"A man's errors are his portals of discovery." James Joyce

"Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes." Oscar Wilde

"All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes." Winston Churchill

David Salmon David is a property investment and a life coach with over 20 years experience in the world of property, finance and Mentoring. He has also written with Brian Tracy "Wake up... moments of inspiration" book. For more information on how to receive your FREE newsletter from David J. Salmon's Wealth Creation and Personal Development TODAY log on tohttp://www.davidjsalmon.co.uk/blog/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Salmon

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