Take a RISK

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing our true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams, before the crowd is to risk loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try at all is to risk failure.
But risk we must, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The man, the woman, who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.

The Perfect Morning Prayer

“Well, Lord, it's gonna be me and You again today; more You than me, for You know how I am. So, if You don't mind, I'm going to trail along behind You, for I have not been this way before. And I hope that by day's end, when I lay my head on my pillow, that I have not gotten myself into something that will take me the rest of my life to get out of. The only way that could happen is for me to not watch where You're walking. And Lord, may I not look up and see that I am here and You are over there! Should such happen, please wait and let me catch up. Amen!"

Joyful Expectation

Psalms 25:3 "Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed..."

Years ago, one of the characters in a popular comic strip was looking forward to an upcoming event. Throughout the strip the character’s excitement continued to grow. At the end of the strip the character stood with his head down and a look of disappointment upon his face. When asked by a friend what was wrong, the character replied, “I found that my expectations far exceeded the actual event.”

What happened to this comic strip character will not happen to the child of God who is trusting in God’s promises. What God has planned and prepared for those who love Him will blow them away! We must remember that the difficulties, hardships and trials that we are presently going through are only pages in the story of our lives. We must be patient and read on, waiting with excitement and expectation for what the final chapters will bring.

God will never betray our trust in what He has said, and as we wait upon Him to fulfill His promises, we do not need to fear disappointment. In the end, we will not be let down by the expectations of our faith. Everything He brings to us will be more than we could ever ask or think. Since what God has for us will exceed our expectations, it means we can never expect too much.

Psalms 30:5 "... weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

S.D. Gordon tells us, “Trust trusts God when it doesn’t understand what He is doing." As you wait for the fulfillment of His promises, you don’t have to wait in gloom or misery. Even if you don’t understand the things that are happening around you, you can trust Him in joyful expectation for the fulfillment of what God has promised to do.

Romans 8:18 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

That's God...

Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel like doing something nice for someone? That's God talking to you through His Holy Spirit.
1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another."

Have you ever been down and out with nobody around to talk to? That's God wanting you to talk to Him.
Psalms 34:18 "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."

Have you ever been thinking about somebody that you haven't seen in a long time and then you see them or receive a phone call from them? That's God.
Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loveth at all times..."

Have you received something wonderful that you wanted but didn't ask for; like money in the mail, a dept that has mysteriously been cleared, or a coupon to a department store whre you had just seen something that you needed but couldn't afford? That's God knowing the desires of your heart.
Phil. 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it was going to get better, wondering when the hurting and pain would end? When you look back on it, you can see that you were never alone... that's God passing you through tribulation to see a brighter day.
Hebrews 13:5 "...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

False friends..

"False friends are like our shadow, keeping close to us while we walk in the sunshine, but leaving us the instant we cross into the shade."

God has blessed my life with many "true" friends. I love you all very much.

Valentine's from GOD

Valentine's Day is over, but I just couldn't go to bed without sharing some of these pictures that I have been collecting this week.

I have the greatest Valentine of all and I am determined to have the relationship with Him that He has been longing for. I never have to feel alone for He is with me. He will never leave me or forsake me. He is the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother and He cares for me more that I can even imagine.

God... the perfect Valentine

He is a gentleman,

He is confident

He is a Provider and Protector

He is rich and powerful

He owns everything; there is nothing He wouldn't do for me!

He perfects all things concerning me

He anticipates my wants and needs

Every day He tells me and shows me how much He loves me

I don't have to perform in order to earn His love!

He keeps all of his promises

No one can influence His opinion of me

He is the ultimate intimate partner

He can't "disown" me because I am a part of Him

He prepares a table before me (Selah)

He covers me and doesn’t expose me.

He wrote His loving words down so that I'll never forget how He feels

about me.

NOW THAT'S LOVE!!!