start over

When you've trusted Jesus and walked his way
When you've felt his hand lead you day by day
But your steps now take you another way,
START OVER

When you've made your plans and they've gone awry
When you've tried your best and there's no more try
When you've failed yourself and you don't know why,
START OVER

When you've told your friends what you plan to do
When you've trusted them and they didn't come through
And now you're all alone and it's up to you,
START OVER

When you've prayed to God so you'll know his will
When you've prayed and prayed and you don't know still
When you want to stop cause you've had your fill,
START OVER

When you think you're finished and want to quit
When you've bottomed out in life's deepest pit
When you've tried and tried to get out of it,
START OVER

Don't just sit there.......
START OVER

- ? -

for peace of mind, endure!

endure what cannot be cured. this is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control. if we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to put up with these things. we must learn to endure them cheerfully thinking, "God wills it so, so be it." God's plan is beyond our comprehension. believe in it and you will gain in terms of patience, inner strength and will power.

-?-

refiner's fire

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver"

A woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

-?-

on sustaining relationships

EVERY relationship has a cycle.

Falling in love isn't hard. In fact, it is a completely natural and spontaneous experience.

But after a few years in the relationship, the euphoria of love fades. Slowly but surely, phone calls become a bother (if they come at all), touch is not always welcome (when it happens), and your partner's idiosyncrasies, instead of being cute, drive you nuts.

But the answer to this dilemma does NOT lie outside your relationship. It lies within it. I'm not saying that you couldn't fall in love with someone else. You could. And TEMPORARILY you'd feel better. But you'd be in the same situation a few years later. Because (listen carefully to this):

THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN A RELATIONSHIP IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON; IT'S LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU FOUND.

SUSTAINING love is not a passive or spontaneous experience. It'll NEVER just happen to you. You can't 'find' LASTING love. You have to 'make' it day in and day out. It takes time, effort, and energy . And most importantly, it takes WISDOM . You have to know WHAT TO DO to make your relationship work.

Just as there are physical laws of the universe (such as gravity), there are also laws for relationships.
Just as the right diet and exercise program makes you physically stronger, certain habits in your relationship WILL make your bond stronger. It's a direct cause and effect. If you know and apply the laws, the results are predictable... you can 'make' love .

Love is indeed a 'decision'... Not just a feeling.

'God determines who walks into your life. It is up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.' 

- edited, unknown -