LURCH's blog: "4 biblical ways of life"

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by: holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this. He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. Well, he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air. My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE and WHOSE WE ARE. You are special - Don't EVER forget it." If you do not pass this on, you may never know the lives it touches, the hurting hearts it speaks to, or the hope that it can bring. Count your blessings, not your problems.

Power of forgiveness All too often we drift back into a tit-for-tat struggle that slams the door on unforgiveness. "Why should I make the first move? I was the one wronged. So we make no move, and cracks in the relationship appear, then widen. In time a chasm yawns open that seems impossible to cross. We feel sad, but seldom do we accept the blame. Instead, We justify ourselves and point out the small gestures we made toward reconciliation. We keep a mental accounting of those attemps so as to defend ourself incase were ever blamed for the rift. We flee from the risk of Gods grace to the security of ungrace."The unforgiveness we are holding on to, the hate, the anger is destroying our lives! We continue to let these people have control over us. Were continuing to let ourselves be victimized, over and over again, because were hanging on to the hate and because we are unwilling to forgive.""I think that many times people in this situation think that justice is what is going to heal them... And I was disappointed time after time because justice was NOT forfilling. What we get confused about is the healing effect of justice. Justice IS NOT WHAT HEALS US... There's no such thing as justice here on earth for what man did.... The ONLY justice is going to be when God gives His final judgement.""So in the end *FORGIVENESS* is the only thing that sets us free." I don't know if you fully understand this but the offenders to you are the ones who hold the golden key to get you into heaven, God clearly says" forgive them so that I can forgive your tresspasses. I have learned from reading a book called THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS that alot of us after we forgive someone, we dont really believe we actually forgave them because we still have sour feelings toward that person. But that is *not true* I read that only God can remove those hurt feelings inside you and it's something you just need to ask God to do in prayer." I also learned just because you forgave the person doesn't mean you need to re-kindle that relationship, expecially if it could cause you harm. You also need to keep in mind being forgiving doesn't mean you need to be people's doormats either! Have you ever heard of EGAPE LOVE? No, well let me explain... EGAPE LOVE is how we are to forgive its NOT a brotherly love. AGAPE LOVE is (self-sacrifical love) the same love God uses to forgive us. I HOPE I COULD HELP YOU !!!!!!

stuck in a room Current mood: exhausted Category: Life Life is like being a bunch of little rooms. Who we get stuck with in those rooms, is what makes up parts of our lives. So make sure you know who's in your .. I could be detramental to your future..

Live life as if there is no tomarrow Current mood: hopeful Category: Life Live life, like there is no tomorrow! Knowing that if there is; there will be consequences! Live life knowing that not only you will be proud of your choices, but the most important one to be-> GOD!!! Live life knowing that all things are possible when you have God by yourside!!!!!! Laugh and Love more, it's all worth it!

confussion of sicknesses why ?? Current mood: confused One gets sick, they all do. you know how that goes. We are all young though. Sometimes we bounce back quick. I suppose It's nature's way of toughing us up... So why when were sick, we stay sick, we don't get tough, In fact most get weaker ... more sick. (let me see)... The simplicity of is stunning,Like a rock cracking a skull.. duh!! Your proud of your ability to both believe and question everything. Secretley you think eles does, but at some point we all give in and soon surrender to the comfort of certainty.... I'ts to much trouble, this endless jousting of belief and doubt, too tiring. Finally you suppose it will break you , yet strangely it's the only thing that keeps you going- though true at times you feel unbalanced even some what mad... It shall never be said that my sorrow has hardened me towards others.... :O) Listen to your inner voice and follow them for it is wisdom that knows what is best for you. Talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. Think only of the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best-you deserve nothing less. Care about the happiness and success of others and offer them all the help and encouragement they need. Forget your past mistakes and focus on your successes encouraging yourself to greater achievements in the future. Always do your best so you can be proud that you gave it your best shot. When you help someone ask nothing in return, you will receive your reward ten times over.

Free Will Current mood: melancholy Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes We are all responsible for the choices we make. Regardless of the difficult lives that these two guys in our examples have lived, the fact remains that they were given an opportunity by God (as well as a responsibility) to allow Him to be in control of their destinies. The fact of the matter is is that we all are given that same opportunity. God has predestined an eternal path for each man to walk on. We (according to our free will) choose to stray from the path that will grant us more benefits than unnecessary heartaches. When we do this, we are in fact choosing a road that is filled with compounded grief. Instead of accepting responsibility for our actions and conscious decisions, we seek to find the first person or circumstance to place the blame on. This, however, is not new behavior. We are able to trace this behavior back to the very beginning of human history...

defeating temptation Current mood: awake Category: Life LEARNING THE 4 BIBICAL KEYS Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts that young men and women often have, but stay close to anything that makes you want to do what's right. (2Tim 2:22) Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithfull. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you cannot stand up against it. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you will not give into it. (1COR 10:13) God has promised never to allow more on you than he puts (within you) to handle it. He will not permit any temptation that you could not ever overcome. (HOWEVER), you must do your part too by practicing ( 4 bibical keys ) to defeating temptation. 1st BIBICAL KEY: Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (ROM 12:21) JOB said, "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a young woman." Always think about Jesus Christ. (2TIM 2:8) Fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable. (PHIL 4:8) Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. (PROV 4:23) Capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ. (2COR 10:5) Fix your thoughts on Jesus. (HEB 3:1) 2nd BIBICAL KEY: Reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group. You are better off to have a friend than to be all alone... If you fall, your friend can pick you up, But if you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble. (ECC 4:9) Confess your sins to eachother and pray for eachother so that you may be healed. (JAMES 5:16) "God sets himself against the proud, but shows favor to the humble." So humble yourself before God. (JAMES 4:7) 3rd BIBICAL KEY: Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (JAMES 4:7) Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the soward of the Spirit, which is *The Word Of God .* You need these Spiritual things! Would you go out onto a battlefield with out your gun? (EPH 6:17) 4th BIBICAL KEY: Realise your vulenerability. The heart is deciteful above all things and beyond cure. (JER 17:9) Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt! You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyother. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. *Cultivate God-confidence.* (1COR 10:12)