The Rock

KEEP ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF LIFE

Well there's a dark and a troubled side of life.

There's a bright and a sunny side too.

But if you meet with the darkness and strife,

The sunny side we also may view.

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,

Keep on the sunny side of life.

It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,

If we keep on the sunny side of life.

Oh, the storm and its fury broke today,

Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear.

Clouds and storms will in time pass away.

The sun again will shine bright and clear.

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,

Keep on the sunny side of life.

It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,

If we'll keep on the sunny side of life.

Let us greet with a song of hope each day.

Though the moments be cloudy or fair.

Let us trust in our Saviour always,

To keep us, every one, in His care.

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,

Keep on the sunny side of life.

It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,

If we'll keep on the sunny side of life.

If we'll keep on the sunny side of life.

Prayer for putting on the Armor of God

"Heavenly Father, we praise and worship you because you are God.

We are honored to be your servants and we take our stand today against the devil and his schemes against us, our families and our ministries.

Father, as we take up each piece of the armor, please secure it in place on us.

1. We take up the shield of faith and extend it over ourselves. It extinguishes all the fiery darts of the evil one.

2. We put on the helmet of salvation, which protects our mind from the enemy's attacks. We have the mind of Christ."

3. We put on the breastplate of righteousness, which covers our bodies with the righteousness of God. In Christ, every foothold of evil has been washed away and we are clothed in righteousness!

4. We gird our loins with the belt of truth. Your word, O God, is truth. Father, sanctify us according to your word and remind us through the Holy Spirit of the truth that destroys the lies of sin.

5. We shod our feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. We have peace with God through the blood of Jesus. We have favor with God and with man. We walk in our inheritance as an adopted son of God and have authority over evil in Jesus' name.

6. We will use the Sword of the Spirit by speaking the Word of God as it applies to whatever situation we may face today. Father, please remind us of your Word via the Holy Spirit.

We will continue throughout the day & night praying in the Spirit, and we believe that the Holy Spirit is interceding on our behalf according to our prayers.

Thank you, Father, for the whole armor of God. Please surround us with your hedge of protection as we move forward on the spiritual battlefield today and every other days. We praise and worship you now and forever. In Jesus mighty name, Amen.

The power to forgive is one of the greatest powers given to man. It's part of the nature and essence of God, and when you exercise it you assume godlike stature. You have the power to forgive and thus rise above the pettiness of mortals.

Choosing to forgive another is one of the hardest things most people ever do, especially if it's undeserved. It's hard because it's not human nature. Human nature cries out for revenge and retribution. But why get stuck in human nature?

Jesus came to bring forgiveness and salvation from sin, but He also came to save you from human nature. When you received Him as your Savior, you received a measure of His superhuman nature. Once you've received Him, how much that superhuman nature rules in your life is up to you, and that is reflected in your choices. Since one of the most outstanding traits of His nature is a readiness to forgive, how quick you are to forgive others is a pretty good indication of whether or not you're letting His superhuman nature take charge.

Whether that person who wronged you deserves forgiveness or not is not the central issue. The central issue is you doing the right thing. No one really deserves forgiveness. If others have done wrong, they deserve a just punishment. But forgiveness is greater than justice. Justice is human; forgiveness is divine.

Forgive others who have wronged you, even as your heavenly Father forgives you.

Author: Unknown

Six Steps of Meditative Prayer.

Step 1: Choose an appropriate location. Most people find that meditation is best in quiet, uncluttered surroundings, ideally away from where they work or spend most of their waking hours. A secluded spot outside can be especially conducive. Fresh air not only renews us physically, but it also illustrates God's Spirit that is able to clear our minds and spirits.

Step 2: Take time to wind down. It's impossible to immediately go from the affairs of a busy day into a state of deep meditative prayer. There needs to be a time of transition, a time of phasing out the material world. Sometimes it helps to spend a few minutes on a transitional activity, such as listening to soothing music, taking a short walk, or breathing deeply. As you try different things, you'll find what works best for you.

Step 3: Leave your cares at the door. If problems are weighing you down, they'll keep you from the peace you could receive from meditation. Take a minute or two (or as long as it takes) to give your present cares to Jesus in prayer. Be specific. Describe to Him what is troubling you, and ask Him to lift and bear it. Focus on God's ability to bring solutions, rather than the problems themselves. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (1 Philippians 4:6-7).

Step 4: Get relaxed. Several minutes of gentle stretches and deep breathing, followed by a relaxation exercise (concentrate on relaxing your face and neck, then your entire body, part by part) can help. If you're feeling especially tense, a shower or a bath or a short walk in nature might help you relax. Or if you're very tired, a nap may be just the thing, because as long as you're exhausted, you probably won't get much out of your time of meditation.

Step 5: Select a comfortable position. In meditation, the position of your spirit matters much more than the position of your body. You don't have to sit a certain way—or even sit, for that matter—except of course you should be comfortable, so that doesn't become a distraction. Whatever position you choose, it should allow you to maintain good posture, because this facilitates deep breathing and good circulation of the blood.

Step 6: Meditate. You've found an appropriate spot and wound down physically. You've put your problems and cares into Jesus' very capable hands. You've disconnected from the affairs of the day, and are relaxed and comfortable. Now you're ready to begin a time of focused meditation.

You might choose to focus on Jesus Himself, thinking about one of His attributes, or on some special blessing He has brought into your life. A specific thought from God's Word can also be a subject for meditation. Reading a passage from the Bible, or some other short devotional material may help get you started.

Let your mind rest. Don't analyze. Just relax and concentrate on quieting your body, mind, and spirit. Think of this type of meditation as being like learning to float in water. It takes that amount of relaxation of both body and spirit for God's Spirit to take over and give you the "buoyancy" you need. If you struggle or try to poke your head up to see what's happening around you, the balance will be upset and you'll break your connection with Him. Whereas if you will just lie back, stop struggling, focus on relaxing every muscle in your body, and shut out the noise of the world and every thought except the one you're meditating on, God's Spirit will hold you up perfectly. It's a wonderful feeling!

"Peace I leave with you," Jesus promised. "My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you" (John 14:27). Let Him carry you away to the peaceful haven He has prepared for you.

Resting in Jesus brings comfort and peace that nothing can replace. It's Jesus touching you.

Author: Unknown

What is Meditation?

Text from Activate Magazine September 08

By simple definition, meditation is continued or extended contemplation, especially of a spiritual or devotional nature. In practical terms, meditation involves concentrating on a single thought or mental image to the exclusion of all others.

Meditation is practiced in various forms the world over. It's a cornerstone of New Age religions, but meditation of one style or another can also be found in most of the major religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. The following quotes focus on meditating on Jesus while praying, which can perhaps be more aptly termed "meditative prayer."

We inhabit physical bodies, but we are spiritual beings living spiritual lives. Meditative prayer helps us to get in touch with the spiritual elements.

Giving Jesus our focused, undivided attention strengthens our relationship with Him. Just as we each need some time alone with those dearest to us, He wants time alone with us.

Meditation has physical benefits, especially for the nervous system. Stress and tension negatively impact our health in various ways—raising blood pressure or accelerating the aging process, for example. It stands to reason, then, that relieving stress would pay off in better health, and it does. Resting the mind has a profound effect on brain activity, which results in a slower heart rate, lower blood pressure, and a reduction in stress hormones—and the nervous system gets temporary relief. If meditation is practiced regularly, these beneficial changes become relatively permanent.

Whatever happens to occupy our thoughts or drive our actions at any given moment is not the all in all. Meditation reminds us that there's more to life than what meets the eye.

Meditation helps us get our priorities right. Distancing ourselves from our day-to-day activities, even if only for a few minutes, gives us a fresh perspective on them.

When we draw closer to Jesus through meditation, He takes our minds off our problems and concerns for a time and empties us of our own thoughts about them. Later, when we must face those problems again, He is more easily able to give us His mind on the matter—solutions we hadn't been able to find on our own.

Silence

By Jessie Richards

Sometimes I just like to sit here silently with You.
You already know.
You already understand.
I don't have to say the right thing, or anything at all;
You accept me.
You see my thoughts as they form and dance.
Words could never aptly express them.
You could verbalize Your every thought perfectly,
Yet You sometimes choose silence too.
There's just something about being together,
Not having to say a thing,
Because we feel it‚ we sense it‚ we know it.

Staying healthy financially is a bit like staying healthy physically: There aren't any shortcuts or "magic pills," but rather it's dependent on numerous factors that have to be done with regularity.

To get healthy or stay healthy physically, you must do a number of things in proper balance—eat well, sleep well, exercise regularly, drink plenty of water, dress appropriately for the weather, avoid stress, stay clean and avoid germs, etc. You can't only eat well and expect to be healthy; you also need to do those other things. Each is a part of God's health plan, and they all work together to bring about the desired result.

It's the same with getting healthy and staying healthy financially. You have to follow God's financial health plan as best you can. That means first and foremost making time for your spiritual life and relationship with Him—"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4)—but there's more to it than that. You also need to work hard, be honest and fair in business, pray for His guidance before making financial decisions, be thankful for all He gives you, avoid waste, and give back to Him by supporting His work and workers, as well as giving to others in need, etc. You have to enact each part of God's financial health plan and keep the right balance, or you can't expect His full blessing.

At the same time, you need to remember that having a good income and financial stability isn't the be-all or end-all of the Lord's blessing, any more than it's the be-all or end-all of life—or as Jesus put it, "One's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Luke 12:15). Sometimes His blessings come in other forms that benefit us even more, such as good health, protection from accidents, a loving family, a happy and harmonious home life, true friends, peace of mind, and purpose and fulfillment in life.—David Brandt Berg

Be Thankful

The Lord is a wise investor. He gives the most to those who are thankful for the blessings He's already given them. We can show Him our appreciation by thanking and praising Him regularly—by not taking His generosity for granted. No benefactor would continue giving to someone who isn't grateful for what he or she has already been given.

The more you learn to recognize God's goodness and the more you make it a habit to thank and praise Him at every turn, the more He will bless. So tell Him how much you love Him and how thankful you are for all He does for you. As you praise and love Him, He loves you in return and pours His blessings on you. Praise down the blessings of God.—Maria Fontaine

Nearly everyone in the world experiences problems, financial troubles & trying situations at one time or another, but some people deal with it better than others. What makes the difference is often not so much these people’s circumstances, but to whom they turn for help. The secret to overcoming any problem or obstacle in life is: Do what you can do, and then rely on the “God factor.”

What is the God factor?

Isaiah 55:9 says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

In making our plans we must remember that God is in control of the situation, that it's His work, and that He is able to change hearts and situations and make things happen that are far beyond our abilities. That's the "God factor."

What seems logical to the human mind often takes on a different perspective when the God factor comes into play. The God factor is that extra factor in the equation which defies even the laws of nature and makes the impossible possible.

The God factor means standing on God’s promises. It means trusting in Him, believing that nothing is impossible with Him. It means that He’s able to supply all your needs. It means that faith in Him overrides all impossibilities.

God is in the heavenly realm, but He works in the real world. He deals not just in spiritual blessings and rewards, but in tangible, black-and-white, dollars-and-cents material blessings and rewards as well. He's the God of Heaven, and also the God of this present world. He transcends both, rules in both, lives in both, dominates both‚ creates in both, and has the power to pay us in both currencies.

We need to learn to trust Him for the material things that we need—not just our spiritual needs like happiness, purpose, and peace of mind. He's just as powerful‚ just as capable, and just as willing to give us the tangible, practical blessings we need. He has no problem or qualm about pulling cold‚ hard cash out of His pocket for us, if we'll only have the faith to receive it. We need to not limit God in our minds, but realize that His influence is all encompassing and that He is capable of performing miracles in both the spiritual and physical realms. He can and will give us both spiritual and material blessings, and we all need a whole lot of both.

God has given us some amazing promises in His Word. These promises are for real. They have been given to us by our truthful God who never lies. He doesn't exaggerate. He doesn't pump up His promises to lift Himself up or to make us feel good. He gives us His promises because He wants us to believe and claim them as our own, so He can give us all of the great things He has in store for us.

They're not fake promises, but each one is conditional. "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). "Give and it will be given to you" (Luke 6:38). "No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). They're each dependent on us fulfilling our part of the bargain, which nearly always comes down to keeping His two great commandments: Love God, and love our neighbors as we do ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). But if we do our part, they are guaranteed to come to pass—not necessarily in the way we want or think they will, but in God's time and way. Like a wise and loving parent, He always knows what's best for us and is happy to give it to us. That's the God factor.

--Adapted from an article by Peter Amsterdam

God’s promises to sustain you in time of need.

• The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. --Proverbs 10:3

• Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

--Psalm 37:3

• A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. --Psalm 37:16-17

• The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

--Psalm 37:18-19.

• I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. --Psalm 37:25

• My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. --Philippians 4:19

• Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. --Matthew 6:33

• Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. --Psalm 37:4-5

• The Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.

--Psalm 84:11

• Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? --Matthew 6: 25-26

• Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. --Psalm 33: 18-19

• The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want [lack]. --Psalm 23:1

Author: Unknown

Bearing babies and raising children is the greatest experience in this natural life. Children are eternal gifts—not just for a time, but for eternity.

Babies are so close to God—straight from Heaven. Although it's very mysterious how the Lord plans and orders His creation, we know that He does not make any mistakes. God is the Creator of souls. He's the one who creates that spark of life, the union of spirit and body to form a human soul.

Of course children are not only a gift of God, but also the work of God. If God has given you children, then your first duty to God is to raise those children right. Your children are God's work for you. They're His children too, of course, but He wants you to take care of and train them.

That's a full-time job, but with that big job come big rewards and lots of benefits. You should be very proud to be a parent, because yours is the greatest work in the world—molding the future. The world of tomorrow is what the parents of today make it, according to the way they raise their children.

Never minimize the training of your children. Did you ever realize that the most important things children are going to learn in their lifetimes, they learn before they're five years old? So just think how important it is that you teach and train them right during those first formative years. That's why the Bible says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).

You can't wait till your child is five years old before you begin teaching him or her. Every single day counts, and what that child learns each day is important. You as a parent are responsible to see to it that your child is not only fed, clothed, protected, and kept healthy, but also that your child is taught God's Word, trained in His truth, and inspired with His love.

Some parents have the wrong attitude that if their kids learn, they learn, and if they don't, they don't. While children shouldn't be forced to learn something they don't want to learn, the truth of the matter is that all children want to learn. They're happier and feel more fulfilled when they are learning, and they can learn a lot more with a parent's guidance and encouragement than if they are just left to learn on their own. In fact, it is entirely unscriptural to leave children to make up their own minds without first trying to inform them and guide them in their decisions. "A child left to himself brings his mother to shame" (Proverbs 29:15).

Children's minds are just like sponges, or tape recorders, or computers; they absorb, record, and process everything that goes on around them.

It's simple to teach your young children about Jesus. Just do it from your heart! Point them to the Lord by your example and your love, and by talking to them about Jesus.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:14). He's just waiting to become their Best Friend and Savior!

May God help us to be good stewards of the most precious gifts He's given us—our children!

Text by David Brandt Berg

… for all the blessings you gave me this year.

… for the sunny days and for the sad, cloudy days.

… for the peaceful afternoons and the long, dark nights.

Thank you for health and sickness, for the sorrows and joys I had this year.

Thank you for all the things you lent me and then took back again.

Thank you, Lord, for the friendly smiles and helping hands, for the love I received and all wonderful things.

For the flowers and stars, for children and loving souls.

Thank you for the loneliness, for work, for difficulties and problems, for uncertainties and tears because all these brought me closer to You.

Thank you for preserving my life, for supplying shelter, food and all my needs.

Whatever you wish, My Lord

… I ask only that you grant me faith to see you in everything that comes my way,

Hope & Courage to not give up,

And Love… more love for you each day and for those around me.

Give me, Lord, what you know is good for me and that which I know not how to ask.

Grant me an obedient heart and a listening ear, an alert mind and active hands so that I may yield to your desire and submit to your perfect will for my life.

Pour out Your blessings over all my loved ones and bring peace to the hearts of men.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.