Happy Valentines!

Issue 10 February 2012

Tell it on the Mountain

Inspiration for Today!

Happy Valentines Everyone!

“Valentine Guests”

♡ Kim Boehnke

Another Love Story

Christy Bower

Up the Ante Release Expectations

Barbara Brewster

Living with the Heart that Jesus Gave You Learners Permit for Life

Andrew Carpenter

Life

Paul Cheng

Who is your Valentine?

Shane Corbett

Photograph's

Marilyn LeBlanc

Thought of the Month Low Calorie Cocoa Cake (recipe)

Trevor Lund

12 Words Christians Can't Say and 13 Words We Must

Patrick C. Marks

Why I admire Tim Tebow and my dad, win or lose

Guy Myers

Love that Leads to Romance

Rina Peru

First Love

Cheryl Pitt

Warm Hearts

Jacqueline Smith

Pretend Christians

Marie Wikle

To Him. . . It All Matters Boldly Face Tomorrow Regardless of Sorrow Spreading Joy Corp.

Outflow Ministry

Happy Valentines Friends, LOVE is in the air! We have wonderful articles this month on LOVE from our writers, as they continue to share what's on their hearts!

February seems to be the only month of the year for many, when they feel they can express their LOVE! Some are just not the “lovey” type! So when Valentines Day rolls around, it's a way to sneak their affections in without really being noticed or fussed over too much!

How are you expressing your LOVE this month? Are you giving out special valentine cards?

Or are you going a little sweet, by giving candy & chocolate? (isn't it funny how we don't group chocolate with candy? Mmm) Or are you giving the fragrance of LOVE with flowers or perfume?

Which ever way you celebrate your LOVE, just remember true LOVE comes from God! “7 Dear friends, let us LOVE one another, for LOVE comes from God. Everyone who LOVES has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not LOVE does not know God, because God is LOVE. 9 This is how God showed his LOVE among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is LOVE: not that we LOVED, God, but that he LOVED us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so LOVED us, we also ought to LOVE one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we LOVE one another, God lives in us and his LOVE is made complete in us.”

-1 John 4:7-12 We LOVE because He first LOVED us. 1 John 4:19 For God so LOVED the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 So as you read through the magazine this month, may you be focused on the one true LOVE! Have a wonderful February and don't forget and jump into March early, because there are 29 days this month! Happy reading, praying that your hearts will be lifted up and your day a little brighter through what you read here!

Be blessed and inspired, Deanne :) Note: I will be taking a short break for the month of March, so the next issue will be an “Easter” issue in April. If you would like to submit something to us, the deadline for that issue will be March 26 th.

Email us at tellitonthemountain@live.ca write “submission” in the subject line. Feel free to send us your comments or questions also, we would love to hear from you.

You can find me on twitter https://twitter.com/#!/Demacb or FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tell-it-on-the-Mountain/221208284598708?sk=info or at the above mention email. Looking forward to meeting you!

Thought For The Month

by Marilyn LeBlanc

Well here it is, February! This is the month of love. I really like February; it's a short month, but not so short this year, because this year is a leap year and so we have an extra day.

Mmmm . . . What can we do with this extra day? We should be thankful for it! We can, perhaps take time to get caught up on some chores we kind of let go since Christmas. We can read a good book, spend extra time with family and friends. We can also spend special time with our Lord and Saviour (I know that I need to do that). What ever you do on that extra day have a lot of fun and enjoy it!

My mother was a leap year baby, so she only had a real birthday every four years. She did celebrate her birthday every year on the 28th, but come leap year, it was always a very special birthday for her. I will never forget the year my mother and my son celebrated their 22nd birthday together! There were a lot of laughs and loads of fun. (of course she really was 88) but no one was counting that year. If my mother were still with us, we would all be getting together as a family and enjoying her and loving her.

Another special day that we celebrate in February is Valentines Day. On this day we get to show that special someone in our lives, how much we love and care for them. Valentines Day reminds us how precious love is! Everyone needs and wants to hear the words “I Love You”! It doesn't have to be our spouse, it could be a child, a single person who is alone, an elderly person who finds it very difficult to be able to leave their home this time of year due to weather conditions. There are a lot of folks out there who's heart is in a lot of pain and broken due to another person. These people all need to hear those three little words that speak volumes "I LOVE YOU" !

Please take the time to show someone in your life, how much they mean to you and how much you love them. I'm sure this will put a big smile on their face, and happiness in their heart. Also, you can also give that “Special Someone” a card, candy or flowers and make their day bright & cheery.

Happy Valentines Day to you all!

The antidote to Romance is Love!

And there is only one way to know Real Love . . . You must know The Lord Jesus Christ Personally! Do You? Dear friends let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love.

1 JOHN 4 :7& 8

L

i

f

by Andrew Carpenter age 16

e

The world isn't always what we see, accept yourself for who you are.

You can be whoever you chose to be, Someone will love you for who you are.

Life will sometimes break your heart, But there is a cure.

Here is a personal Warm Welcome to Spreading Joy. You’ll find links to interviews about Spreading Joy, links to other places like our you tube channel and facebook.

To contact me with any questions, ideas, etc.

Please email me at marie@spreading-joy.org

God can Fix that broken heart, And make it pure.

The good things in life are always there, There is nothing that can compare.

Remember the happy times in life, And you will always make it there.

Keep up with us via facebook (our group) as well as “like” our fan page!

I am Spreading Joy Daily….and I hope that you will be JOYning me soon and make a difference where you are, with what you have!

Love That Leads to Romance

Written by Guy Myers Ks

Its Valentines season again and the air is full of pheromones, but after Valentines they won't be so fair anymore...they'll just be moans. Most people seek for romance without true love. That reminds me of a guy who told his girlfriend how much he loved her on Valentines Day and then dumped her the next day. You hear so much about love today. Singers sing about it, they make movies about it and if you really want to make a TV show last, make it so the main characters like each other, but don't let them get together because if they do, the series is over. Soooo, how come there's so much break up?

I can hear it now, “Not another lecture about how to love properly.” Love is an interesting thing to observe. You know the old saying, “If it ain't broke, don't fix it”, but what about if it is broke? What if you keep doing the same thing over and over again and it doesn't work.

That's the definition of insanity! Keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. This is the point where we ask an important question, “Do I keep on listening to the world's philosophy about love, or do I look for someone who has demonstrated true love?”

If you ask anyone who has been married for 40 or 50 years they'll tell you that true love is a lot of hard work, heart ache, selflessness, forgiveness etc. and that's probably why most people give up. We really don't like to do hard things in our society. We stick with things as long as they are easy and fun, but as soon as difficulty arises we look for something else that is easy and fun. I know, I'm generalizing, of course, but generally, if your married till death do you part, you are in the minority not the majority.

Cont. On next page . . .

Love That Leads to Romance cont. . .

In Ephesians 1:4-6 it says, “In love He predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.” Now I know most people get all wound up when you mention the “p” word, but you've got to notice the purpose for predestination. Predestination displays God's love. Maybe you've never thought about it that way before. God said, “I'm going to love that person no matter how hard it is and no matter how much it cost me and I'll never give up.”

Then God did exactly what He said He would. Who did God set His affections on? Sinners. People who hated Him and were His enemies (God's words not mine). What did God pay? God gave the very thing he loved the most, His own Son and He promised that if we put our faith in Jesus He'll never leave us nor forsake us.

How many people have this attitude behind their “I do” ?

Could this be what most people mean when they say “I love you”? This might be their intentions, but when push comes to shove, we know the statistics!

I'd say God has the best track record at maintaining loving relationships. The first relationship we should all start with is Jesus because He's the one who can really teach you how to love and proved it by dying for you. You'll have to start with admitting you're a sinner and that your sins hurt Him. They hurt Him so bad they'll keep you out of heaven (His words not mine).

Secondly, you'll have to trust God to help you love others the way He does. You won't be able to do it yourself. You'll need His strength to help. God's love is supernatural and I guess that's why a lot of people fail because they try to love others without God's help.

So, have a great Valentines Day because true love is great and the benefits of true love outweigh the hard stuff and make it all worthwhile.

If you have true love, it will lead to incredible romance...to say anymore would just be embarrassing.

Thanks and Congratulations to Marie Wikle for sharing “To Him …It All Matters” Right here in “Tell it on the Mountain” first!

It has never been published anywhere before!

Thanks and Congratulations to others who have “Never Before Published” work in this issue:

Kim Boehnke, Barbara Brewster, Andrew Carpenter, Marilyn LeBlanc, Guy Myers, Cheryl Pitt

I'm am honored and blessed by you all! ~

Do you have an INSPIRATIONAL STORY TO SHARE? Why not feature it here first! (something that was just written and never published before) Post it here and only here for 1 month! (don't put it on your personal website just yet) Promote it on your blog, tweet it, facebook it, etc. (“see what I have been up to! Go to http://issuu.com/tellitonthemountain to find out”) Leading your readers/followers to “Tell it on the Mountain” emag!

This will help boost our traffic & thus in turn, share lots of inspiration and most importantly, “Spreading Jesus” around the globe!

We would love to hear from you!

Send your submissions to: tellitonthemountain@live.ca In subject line write: Submission Your story may end up right here!

To Him…It All Matters Dear Lord Jesus As big as my problems are As big as my fears are As big as my doubts are Help me to remember that YOU are bigger As big as my dreams are As big as my needs are As big as my desires are Help me to be reminded every day that YOU are bigger

by Marie Wikle "There's no joy like Spreading Joy" http://www.spreading-joy.org https://twitter.com/spreadingJOY http://www.facebook.com/spreadingJOYcorp

Reminding you to enjoy the little things that make life big!

Help me to be reminded every day that you know what I need Help me to be reminded every day that you want us to live abundantly Help me to be reminded every day that you are in control Help me to be reminded every day that you see every tear…and they matter You see my fearful heart and it matters You know when I’m discouraged and it matters Help me to keep trusting you when I don’t understand Help me to keep following you when I can’t see where the next step is going to take me Help me to remember just how great YOU are, just how mighty YOU are and just how much you LOVE me.

Don’t let me forget these things; keep them close to my heart So when the fear pops in and the tears flow I know instantly that YOU have me.

You’ve got me and you are going to keep me…and it all matters to YOU. In Jesus name, Amen

I

must admit that I am not a Denver Bronco’s fan. It’s simply not possible since the maternal side of my genetic code comes from San Diego. I live in Phoenix these days but I can’t escape my pedigree and admitting to being a Bronco’s fan when you were born in America’s finest city would be a little like admitting you are rooting for Al Queda.

At least, that’s what San Diego Charger’s fans think.

Fortunately the other half of my genetic code comes from British Columbia, Canada so I can admit to being a Tim Tebow fan. I mean, you just gotta love this guy even though he is wearing the wrong jersey.

There’s a sentiment out there today that Christian men are somehow not “real” men. It’s as if we are expected to be wimp-level hypocrites that cry over sunshine and spilled milkshakes. We are never supposed to be aggressive, or love the sting of battle and we’re certainly never allowed to break wind – at least in public.

Why I admire Tim Tebow and my dad, win or lose!

Written by Patrick C. Marks

But growing up, I learned from my dad that a man https://twitter.com/#!/PatrickCMarks http://patrickcmarks.wordpress.com/ could be a Christian and be just as tough as any other logger in the business. My dad didn’t stand for snivelling. He taught me that being as tough as a leather boot was what God expected from a man, but God didn’t approve of meanness either. He taught me to help the guy who’s down, even if he’s an enemy. But most of all he taught me to honor God and give everything I had to what I was doing because you only get one shot at making any kind of difference in this world. “So make it count, son”.

That’s why I admire Tebow. He’s a Christian. And he’s a man. It didn’t matter when his team was down 15 points in the 4th quarter with three minutes to go and no NFL team had ever come back from that kind of a deficit. It didn’t matter because Tebow knew what it meant to throw himself headlong into the cause. Two touchdowns, a two point conversion in under three minutes later and the Broncos took Miami into overtime to win it all.

Continued on next page. . .

Why I Admire . . . cont. . .

So, win or lose the next time he plays, Tebow still knows what it means to honor God and give everything he has to what he’s doing.

Just like my dad.

My dad was never a sports fan. In fact, he discouraged all forms of organized sports when I was a kid.

He particularly didn’t like football. He just couldn’t understand why someone would voluntarily get beaten nearly half to death fighting over a stupid ball. But he did understand what it meant to stand for what you believe in by your actions, not just words. This is why he’s volunteered to speak in prisons for twenty five years. This is why he’s gone on more than twenty short term mission trips all over the world. This is why he works with the Gideon’s passing out Bibles and believe me – he’s taken his fair share of ridicule, insults and he’s been spit on for passing out those Bible’s too. Sort of like the flak Tebow has taken for praying.

And me? Well, I’ve never amounted to much in terms of adoring fans and probably never will. But when I suddenly became a single parent with three children all under the age of six, I made up my mind to take care of my kids and follow the Lord instead of bailing out on them and chasing skirts. It sure looked like 4th quarter and 15 points down for me in my darkest hour. But Jesus didn’t pale when he faced the cross. He taught me and my Dad and Tebow what it means to suck it up and dig in, 4th quarter or not. He taught us to what it means to be Christian men, not wimps.

So, my dad is never going to win a Heisman trophy and neither am I. He’s a retired teacher and a parttime tree trimmer. I’m just the pastor of a tiny church you’ve never heard of and I write stories about men of character and determination on Kindle.

But Tebow has to face a crowd that can be adoring one minute and ready to sacrifice him to the lions the next. Next season, the Broncos may win. They may lose. But either way, Tebow’s already proven he’s a man of God and that makes him worthy of respect – win or lose.

I guess, in the end, we can all learn from Tebow and my dad. All of us can make up our minds to stand up for God no matter what the critics say, no matter what the circumstances and we can be men (and women) of character too. So – since I can’t say Go Broncos, I’ll just say “G-B-1”.

ANOTHER LOVE STORY This is the story of two very lonely people!

They had no idea how talking on a bus would change their lives forever.

They had seen each other for years waiting for a bus home after work.

A nod and a smile to say hello in a polite way.

It was a few years ago now, that they shared a seat in a crowded city bus.

On the short ride home they talked about accepting losses of loved ones.

The recent loss of her husband, passing away after a very painful battle with cancer.

He losing his wife in an unwanted divorce after 30 years together.

She had a hard time understanding both !

Through tearing eyes her stop was up and the talk was ended.

They both wanted a chance to finish their conversation, but who knew when they might meet again?

The days were extemely busy for her as she had a young son, worked full time, volunteered at the school and tried to keep as occupied as possible to cope with all the horrible memories of sickness and death.

It was about a month later, that they met on a busy walkway after taking her son to a doctors appointment.

They both were very happy to run in to each other.

He asked if they might have a coffee some day and finish the conversation that began on the bus?

To his surprise she called him a few days later, not for coffee, but some renovation advice.

He was glad to come over and help her out.

They did have a coffee after and continued their conversation.

They became best friends and poured their hearts out to other.

Continued on next page . . .

Another Love Story cont. . .

She explained how terrible it was to watch someone you love cry in pain and you could not help.

He wanted to travel and spend many years with his wife, but he was not to be part of of her new life.

They both were so happy to have each other as sounding boards, good friends and neighbors.

They talked on the phone every night before bed and enjoyed every minute of their new beginning.

Her heart filled with joy, as did his, every time they spoke.

Before long they had dates to the hardware stores, and coffee at each others home.

Then long walks and sometimes dinner.

They had learned to communicate and enjoy life again!!

Perhaps they were becoming soul mates and life now was looking brighter than ever.

They wondered if any other couple could be this happy, or talk for hours on end, or just hold each other as if time froze?

Talking was a great asset and trust was also a big plus, but most of all it was the sharing, and listening, feeling that they were appreciated!

The couple married a few years later and are so thankful that they can share each day.

Most of all they have the opportunity to love and respect each other.

They still talk for hours and enjoy this chance to hold on to great memories.

They are so grateful for compassion and a new life together!

Our Love and Prayers to all,

Kim and Erwin Boehnke

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

LIVING WITH THE HEART THAT JESUS GAVE YOU WRITTEN BY BARBARA BREWSTER

W

hen God created you and gave you a heart, did that heart come with walls around it? That is how many people describe their heart. Some people describe their heart as dark, flattened, empty, broken, or closed.

What words describe your heart? The heart that God gave you was not closed away, dark, flattened, empty, broken or behind walls. Which heart would Jesus want you to live from — the one He made or the one damaged by pressures and people and circumstances of life?

Proverbs 4:23 states, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the well-spring of life.”

Mark 7:21-23 lists destructive actions and speech that come from the heart.

God’s word teaches that everything in your life flows from your heart. It flows like an artesian well. Did any one ever take time to care about your heart when you were growing up? Did anyone care about what was going on inside you?

Have you ever taken the time to care about your own heart? The way you care for your heart is the way you will care for the hearts of those around you. If you choose to ‘never go there’ because of all the pain hidden away in your heart, then you also choose not to live with the heart Jesus gave you, but the one damaged by life and people and circumstances.

Perhaps you are one of the people who have been so deeply hurt by people or a church that you have vowed, “no one will ever get close to my heart”. Jesus does not shame, blame, beat the sheep or raise the intellectual high bar. I hope and pray that you will soon find that Jesus is not like those who have damaged your heart.

Luke 4:18 says, Christ desires “to heal the brokenhearted” “to bind up their wounds” “to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind” and “to set at liberty those who are oppressed” In three gospels God repeats that the greatest commandment is to, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength…”

How do you take care of your heart so you can obey that commandment?

Valentines Day is Feb 14.

There will be flowers, gifts, cards and treats given.

There will be proposals of marriage. Many people have stood at the altar and said, “I give you my heart.” Others want to stand at an altar and say, “I give you my heart.” What kind of heart are they giving? Will it be a detached heart, a black heart, a hurting heart, a bleeding heart, a heart with walls, a flattened heart or will it be different?

Marriage can be so enjoyable for a lifetime. Many endure a marriage or escape a marriage. Much depends on the care of our heart.

I hid my heart away when I was a young child. My parents poured their pain into their children. What else could two damaged hearts do? My mother’s mother was a dominant, controlling, rejecting, bitter Christian, and she wounded my heart too.

My father’s mother had difficulty expressing herself, perhaps because no one ever took the time to listen to her or care about her heart. I was a survivor when Jesus drew me to Himself and I prayed that God would forgive my sins because I knew I couldn’t stand before a holy God. My metamorphosis began the first day of spring when I was seventeen.

Continued on next page . . .

Living with the Heart that Jesus gave you cont. . .

One of the most important parts of my life was learning how to understand and resolve emotional pain.

The church is filled with hurting people, who are struggling with anger, depression and other emotional pain that they do not know how to deal with. Many have given up hope that there is help for their problems. I like to tell the story of my friend in Ontario who looked at the long list of issues she and her husband needed to resolve. Some of the stories of her early life would make most people cry. She pondered taking the next step for several months, concerned about who she would become if all of that changed. This couple chose to resolve the damage and then they began caring for the hearts of others in their church. Churches need people like them. They say that God didn’t waste the pain He allowed in their lives. I am thankful that God did not leave us without answers to the struggles and problems we face in this life.

My life is so different from when I was a child. My husband and I love to be together, play together and work together. We have worked at growing, maturing and understanding God and each other for a long time. We didn’t know how to resolve the emotional pain until we were in our fifties. We are more skillful at caring for our own hearts. We see God more clearly. We love God more. We agree with the man who said, “On a scale of 1-10, if your marriage isn’t hovering between a nine and a ten, you need a heart cleaning.” **Be sure to read Barbara's 2 nd article in this issue, “LEARNERS PERMIT FOR LIFE” It will give you a glimpse - just a small picture of what she means, by caring for your heart so that you can live with the heart that Jesus gave you.**

Low Calorie Cocoa Cake Submitted by Marilyn LeBlanc 1 1/2 cups flour 3 tbsp. Cocoa 1/4 tsp. Salt 1 tbsp. Vinegar 1 tsp. Vanilla

1 cup sugar 1 tsp. Soda 1/3 cup melted margarine 1 cup cold water

Method:

Mix in order, left to right, top to bottom.

Pour in a greased 8 inch pan.

Bake at 350 for 30 – 35 minutes.

Each serving is 60 calories. If you want to keep it low calorie sprinkle Icing sugar over the top of cake.

If you want a few extra calories go ahead and top with chocolate icing.

Have a slice and enjoy.

For a Valentines dessert bake this cake in a heart shaped pan.

Happy Valentines Day Everyone, and God Bless You!!

WARM HEARTS Written by Cheryl Pitt When February begins, our thoughts turn to Valentine’s Day, beautiful hearts, and people we love. But of course we can experience love all year long in many different ways, which is a wonderful thing we are blessed with.

I will be forever grateful that our family received the greatest amount of love at a time when the worst of things had happened: The death of our precious, two-year-old son, Nathaniel.

He was a bright light in our family, a treasured, happy little guy who was quick to smile, and made others smile when he entered the room like a streak of sunlight.

From the time Nathaniel was admitted to the hospital and word got out to our community, the love started pouring over us. No hesitation, just immediate action from people we knew, as well as people we didn’t know.

Right after he died and while we were in shock at what had happened and just getting through from minute to minute, many people were thinking about what our needs might be in the days going forward, and making arrangements for things they thought would be of help to us.

The number of different things that were done for us is far too many to list here, but the sum of them all is love. We received a gift of becoming more aware of how much love is in the world, how much love is in the hearts of people. We are grateful for this gift, and grateful that we got to spend two years with our sweet son.

It has been four years. My husband and I deeply miss Nate, and his twin sister and big brother do as well. We will love him forever. He is present in our daily lives as we think about him, talk about him and hold him in our memories and hearts.

In Loving Memory of Nathaniel Oct. 14, 2005 – Nov. 28, 2007

Who is your Valentine?

My Valentine is God's Gift to Me

Dinner Flowers arrangements

It began with candlelight dinners just us two.

As years past, our love for each other remains true.

When we first met

We made vows to keep, as for one we never part; just keep holding on to each other in our heart.

Now and forever

Continued on next page . . .

Who is your Valentine? cont. . .

Always cherish our time together and don’t let memories fade, and keep on sharing along the way.

A lifetime journey together

I thank God for my wife, His gift to me.

What God has put together, let it be.

She is God's gift to me

Trust in the Lord in times of good and bad, keep each other in prayers in times of happy and sad.

God's love letter to us Continued on next page. . .

Who is your Valentine? cont. . .

God came down from heaven so we may know

His greatest gift of love from all blessings flow.

He came from heaven to earth to show us the way

Agape love

Even as we celebrate our love for each other on this Valentine, we live to remember how He first loved us -- His love divine.

By Paul Cheng Drop in and see Paul at http://time-of-sharing.blogspot.com

Release expectations: Overcoming Anxiety through Surrender to God

by Christy Bower http://christybower.com https://twitter.com/#!/christybower

2012 is shaping up to be a difficult year for a lot of people. More and more people are unemployed, losing their homes, and defaulting on consumer loans.

The last time I checked our county newspaper, there were six job openings listed in the classified section. Six jobs for the entire county!

I’ve been without an income since October and I knew I would run out of money by January or February.

My anxiety over the situation has been so great that I’ve had dry heaves almost every morning.

I lost faith.

Where I was once cautiously optimistic that God would provide, I no longer held on to that hope.

I recently realized that my anxiety stemmed from my expectations. I expected God to provide in a certain way and He didn’t.

God isn’t doing what I want.

That’s pride—exalting myself above God and telling God how to do things (and then freaking out when He doesn’t do them my way!).

In the next few weeks I’ll have to make a decision. I may have to give notice on my apartment and move in with my mom.

Continued on next page . . .

Release Expectations cont. . .

That’s not my will.

To me, that looks like God has failed to provide.

But those are my expectations and it has caused a great deal of anxiety.

I need to release my expectations.

I need to let go of the plans I have clenched my fists around. I need to accept what God wants to do in my situation.

I’ve been held hostage by my own expectations. That’s why I made a ransom note to remind myself to “release expectations.” If I can learn to let go of my own plans and open my hands and my heart to whatever God wants to give me, I won’t have to deal with the anxiety of feeling like life is out of control. The fact is: my life is in God’s control and I can choose to resist or accept that control.

In the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), “Thy will be done” comes before “Give us this day our daily bread.” Ever since I’ve started to think about my situation in terms of releasing my expectations to accept what God wants to do, my anxiety has improved. And I suspect that once I can say “Thy will be done,” God will give me my daily bread in the way He chooses.

I don’t want to give away all my possessions to move in with Mom, but I have to release my expectations and accept whatever outcome God chooses.

If you pray and God doesn’t change your circumstances, He wants to use your circumstances to change you. [Click to tweet this quote.]

Lord, I surrender my plans. I release my expectations. I give you control of my out-ofcontrol circumstances. My situation seems hopeless, but I can’t see the outcome that you have planned, so help me to cling to you. Restore my confidence and trust in You. Give me faith to believe you have my best interests in mind.

“Be silent, and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10, NLT [Click to tweet this quote.]

LEARNERS PERMIT FOR WRITTEN BY BARBARA BREWSTER

LIFE

LEARNERS PERMIT FOR LIFE will give you a glimpse - just a small picture of what I mean by caring for your heart so that you can live with the heart that Jesus gave you.

My husband and I both like to drive. We were excited when our youngest daughter obtained her learners permit. We enrolled her in a drivers’ training program and soon found that her training was different than anyone else in our family had received. Her course began with clear instruction about identifying the statistically most likely places an accident would occur and how to think and drive in order to avoid the most common wrecks. From the beginning of her driving experiences she had valuable training in how to succeed as a lifelong driver that would protect her and others.

When we become Christians it is like we get a Learners Permit for Life. God asks us to navigate many kinds of roads with the scenery always changing, in all kinds of weather, in all kinds of circumstances, with all kinds of distractions, with all kinds of other drivers. He knows where the problems will occur. He knows if we choose wise roads or unwise roads.

Seeing is very important to driving! My mother was legally blind and she did not drive. Not everyone is physically blind but many have spiritual blindness and emotional blindness. John Piper says that all impurity blocks our sight of God. John MacArthur says our view of God is paramount – that it is the benchmark of our spiritual maturity. Milton, in Paradise Lost wrote, “What in me is dark, Illumine!”

Seeing God is important. Removing the things that block our view of God is important.

I vividly remember one drive where visibility was often difficult. My daughter-in-laws first trip to New Brunswick from the Bangor airport had icy roads and fog. To add even more emotional drama to this drive, Holly’s grandmother had been killed in a car accident two weeks before one of her daughters’ wedding. The bride-to-be sustained life altering injuries and has been cared for by Holly’s mother ever since. There was no way for the three of us to relax and enjoy those hours on the Airline and Hwy 1. I was focused on survival. We could focus on the relationships when I was no longer in the fog and on icy roads.

The impurity that John Piper refers to is like the fog as we drive on our Learners Permit for Life.

What if we could remove the fog from our life so we could focus on loving God and loving others?

What if we have already been wrecked spiritually and emotionally—perhaps many times?

What if we only venture on a few safe roads close to home because we fear going anywhere new?

What if we ‘stay in the garage’ locking ourselves away from any possibility of new pain?

How can we clear away the impurities in our own life and drive with skill on the best roads of life?

Is there a way to identify and resolve the problems common to people?

The answer is YES! Continued on the next page . . .

Learners Permit for Life cont. . .

To illustrate this good news, I will tell you about two BIG LIFE WRECKS. First, a little background: Several years ago I was speaking about some important ideas. The response of the two people listening was initially laughter and mocking. It was a strange response under the circumstances. There were no questions. Perhaps they couldn’t see the truth. Perhaps they were in the fog. I pondered.

God causes all things to work together for my good. Then I recognized that God was calling my attention to mocking. I pursued a study of what God says about mocking. One resource that the Lord provided was from a pastor who had searched out 178 uses of the words mock, mocking, scorn, contempt, deride, and laugh. I began to listen more skillfully. This led me to study other forms of corrupt speech and godly communication. Since our tongues are tattle tales of our hearts these studies have immense value.

I applied this study pattern to other things the Lord brought into my life. For example, we have always steered away from gossip and frequently find ourselves hearing, “You mean you didn’t know…” We like staying off the gossip road. However, one stretch of our road was full of slander, mocking, anger, bitterness, gossip…There was no avoiding them and there was no stopping them. This was a difficult road. Each new examination of the scriptures included another look at my heart and my life as well as providing wisdom and understanding and increasing insight into each of these areas. It was interesting to find all these topics in one passage of scripture. I am forever grateful the Lord sent me down this difficult road. I am grateful the Lord trusts me to navigate difficult paths with Him beside me.

With that as background, let’s look at BIG LIFE WRECK NUMBER ONE. The first true story is about a couple taken to a counselor 16 hours from home by friends. The concerned friends basically shoved their fighting friends into the counselor’s office and shut the door.

The counselor listened as the fight continued, then he began to ask questions. The man and his wife worked at the same company. The wife had committed adultery with five of their co-workers. The husband had introduced his wife to moral failure and alcohol before they were married. A BIG LIFE WRECK. A week later the woman who owned the Bed and Breakfast where the couple stayed during the counseling asked the counselors’ wife, “What does your husband do?” When the counselor’s wife asked why she wanted to know she replied, “When this couple came to my Inn, they were fighting. The next day they were quiet. The next day they were talking softly. And the next day, they were on a honeymoon. What does your husband do?” Six months later the owner of the business where the couple still worked testified that “they are on a honeymoon”. Six years later the testimony of friends concerning the restored marriage was the same—they live like honeymooners.

How did this BIG LIFE WRECK become a LOVE STORY in a few days?

BIG LIFE WRECK NUMBER TWO This true story helped me understand why many people get stuck in their wrecks.

A year and a half ago a speaker told the story of an older man’s moral failure. The 70 year old man was a husband, father, grandfather, church leader and businessman. His moral failure was discovered, he was disgraced and his family humiliated. There was much shame. A BIG LIFE WRECK. He and his wife went out of state for counsel. The conclusion of this story was not offered by the speaker, but Continued on next page . . .

Learners Permit for Life cont. . .

someone asked about the couple in the Q & A. The speaker said that the counselor in this story helped the wife to cope. It was not much of an ending considering the speaker used mocking this man’s moral failure for laughs all through the day. To address the issue of sin, the speaker used a clip of a mocking television comedian to say, “Stop It! Stop It! Stop It...”

This older man’s legacy as husband, father, grandfather, church leader and businessman focused on his sin. This BIG LIFE WRECK doesn’t have a resolution that reflects the gospel of Christ. The overview of the Bible can be summarized in four words: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. This story never gets past the fall. The focus remains stuck on the sin.

The speaker/counselor also made fun of a man and woman wanting love and respect in marriage. He spent time teaching unforgiveness. And he said that he went “kicking and screaming” to anything he did not want to do. I was listening and I was anticipating yet another search of scripture.

(It grieves my heart to think that no help was offered on that rainy day to resolve the moral failure and pornography that statistically 70% of men and 25% of church women struggle with - that is about half of the people in church! To these dear people, I want to say, your story can become a real love story too.)

Please consider again BIG LIFE WRECK NUMBER ONE. The legacy of this couple is focused on the redemption and restoration. The focus reflects the power of God to redeem and restore the failures of people. Love and respect overflow from this couple to be seen by all those around them. Love doesn’t fail.

Two different counselors demonstrate two widely different outcomes: In one story you see the beauty and power of the gospel.

In one story there is an increase in love, joy, peace…

In one story we focus on God and forgiveness.

In one story we see heart change.

In one story we see a new spiritual and emotional cleanness.

In one story we have the root of the problems identified and resolved.

I would like to add that in one story there is no mocking of sin or the pain it causes, no disrespect, no pressure to comply and nothing is said or done to make you want to hide away your problems because people would laugh at you. There are people who accept people as they are, without judging them, without pressuring them. There are people who have cared about their own hearts and have developed skill at taking people to Jesus, the healer of hearts - the One who knows everything about your heart and loves you.

Everyone has pain in their lives.

Everyone struggles with sin issues.

Everyone’s heart and life issues are different.

Some people choose to identify and resolve the pressure patterns, the emotional issues, the abuse issues and the spiritual issues that keep them from living in the heart Jesus gave them.

The Lord has his perfect timing in bringing people to the point of readiness in their hearts to accept healing from Him. Continued on next page . . .

Learners Permit for Life cont. . .

There are two requirements for this voluntary road: 1. Tell the truth, because the truth sets you free.

2. You may never use anything you learn to coerce another person through words, pressure or manipulation. The only heart you can change is your own.

As Christians, we have a LEARNERS PERMIT FOR LIFE until we see Him face to face.

Do you know how to clear away the fog in your life so you can see Jesus more clearly now?

Are you focused on survival instead of loving relationships because the fog and road conditions of your life are so difficult and dangerous?

If you are going to love the LORD your God with all your heart, you will need a clean heart.

Every couple I know who has taken the time to care about their hearts has said, “It is the best thing we ever did!”

I hope and pray that by next Valentine’s Day there will be more marriages “hovering between a 9 and a 10” and spilling over into the lives of their children and others. Perhaps there will even be a new marriage where the man and the woman resolve their heart issues and pain and are emotionally connected before they give their hearts to one another for life. I pray that each of our grandchildren will choose this road as they grow up.

More on these topics next month.

Regardless of Sorrow

By Marie Wikle

I don’t know what the day will bring

The little things in life are key

can’t even face tomorrow

to what really matters the most

Right now, all I know,

for when you treasure these amazing things

is that my heart will sing

your heart will easily float.

regardless of the sorrow.

So take those little things that make The trials come and go in waves

your heart smile

The battles seem never ending

and treasure with all your might

But joy and smiles can fill the days

for there you’ll find the strength and love

so much that laughter is always pending.

to make it through the night.

Pretend Christians

by Jacqueline Smith www.truelifenotes.com https://twitter.com/#!/JacquelinSmith

I

'm feeling kind of annoyed lately with the way people call themselves Christians but they don't really live like Christians at all.

It actually kind of offends me. I'm not claiming to be perfect by any stretch but to me it is more about a person's heart for God. Some people I know throw down a "praise God" or two on Sundays at church but other than the fact that they might live a bit of "cleaner" life than their non-Christian friends, they really don't show any signs of having a heart for God. So many people get up in the morning and spend an hour and a half getting ready for work, including a couple Face book or Twitter updates, 3 cups of coffee, and a phone conversation with a friend on the way. They have time to read magazines, Yahoo news, and to gossip on the phone, yet they don't have time for God. They NEVER miss their favorite TV show but yet God continually gets put on the back burner.

If you have done your make up, had your coffee, watched your morning news show, you've had time for God. So many people I know go to church on Sundays, have Christian friends, even serve at Church in some way but they don't know God. They serve at church because their friends are doing it, or because it is just what a good Christian is supposed to do. They force themselves to sit down and spend at least some time in prayer or reading their bibles just so they

don't feel like complete hypocrites but really, they are so far from the mark it is scary.

God loves us so much that He sacrificed His son for us. If I gave my own son to die so that your life could be saved, you better believe I'd want to be more important to you than another episode of CSI. I lived most of my life without God and when He came into my life, I didn't know anything about Him. I was raw and honest with Him. Told Him I didn't know if He was real, told Him I thought it was stupid that people felt the need to hoot and holler and that it was all creepy and weird to me.

Whatever I was feeling, whatever I was curious about, I asked Him - I talked to Him about it. I didn't know how to pray so didn't have these rehearsed bland cookie cutter prayers that I've even had to guard myself against since becoming a Christian. So I didn't really even have "prayer time" or "devotionals". All I did was devote every second I could to spending time with Him. I hung out with Him, and I cried to Him, listened to Him, I laughed with Him. I really got to know Him. I felt like I was falling in love. I couldn't wait to be with Him. If I had to go do something, I couldn't wait to get home, shut the door and hang out just the two of us. I spent so much time at work in the bathroom when I first became a Christian. I would go in there and just talk to God. I even remember asking Him if it Continued on next pg . . .

Pretend Christians cont. . .

was okay that I was talking to Him in a bathroom stall. LOL! I love Him so much but mostly I was so intrigued and wanted to know more of this love I sensed He had for me.

Some people say I take the word of God too literally. I say that is just because they want to be able to interpret and use it to manipulate others or to keep from having to be held accountable for NOT following His word.

I could get lost in His love forever. So I have a hard time understanding how people who know Jesus could want to do anything else. I guess I am what they call a real Jesus freak.

Some people may get offended or annoyed that 99% of my Face book posts or Tweets are about God, I say, that's because He takes up that much of my heart, my focus, my life. If you don't like it, feel free to delete me.

The part that confuses me the most is why people lie about it and try to come across a certain way. Is there something they get out of pretending to be a follower of God? I really don't understand it. It seems like it would be exhausting because He's not really the object of your affection, but instead an obligation. The concept is so foreign to me. I feel sad because these people must live in such torment and have to pretend that they have it all together. I wonder if they even feel convicted when they read or hear sermons that talk about the lukewarm Christian? Do they realize THEY are lukewarm?

Or are they even further deceived than that and actually believe they are devoted disciples of Jesus?

I guess I just don't understand the purpose of pretending. In the end it is just between you and God anyways. If you don't feel madly in love with Him, He already knows it. So why not just get real with Him for once and tell Him. Ask Him to help you believe in Him, Love Him, to want Him. Help Him to increase your appetite to know Him. But be careful what you ask for. As I sought Him, I began to change very rapidly. As my appetite for God grew, my appetite for the things of this world began to die. Worldly things began to be less satisfying to me.

So be prepared for a heart change if you decide to finally get real with God....until then, why not just choose - are you for Him or against Him?

Some people say that I'm "over-spiritual" because I see God in everything. I say they are "under-spiritual" and need to let God out of the box they keep Him in.

Cause you can't be both.

“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.

Would that you were either cold or hot!

So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.�

Revelation 3:15-16 ~ You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons.

You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

1 Corinthians 10: 21

First Love

D

o you still remember the day you accepted the Lord Jesus

in your life as your Savior, how you had opened your heart to Him and given Him every part of it and handed Him every broken piece of your life? Do you still remember that moment when you knew you had found what you had been looking for

by Rina Peru http://rinaperu.com

all along as you knelt there at His feet – repentant, needy, surrendered?

D

o you still remember how He received you with open

arms, forgave your every transgression, and loved you unconditionally? How He gently took away all fears that resided in your trembling heart and let His peace settle there?

The day we receive the Lord Jesus - we, the sinners that we are, and He, holy and true - is like heaven kissing earth. The meeting at the cross.

The sinner meets her Savior, and she becomes His bride: redeemed, forgiven, sanctified. It is first love that is meant to last forever.

And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgement, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord. (Hos. 2: 19, 20)

But the road became narrow and long, and the journey became hard and painful. We have been thrown into the fiery furnace of refining; we were made to pass through the dark valleys of afflictions. Suffering has been pestering, unwanted companion.

Do you still gladly reminisce the glorious day we were betrothed to our Bridegroom?

Or have our hearts been embittered by painful and difficult trials, like when our flesh has been embattled with sickness and disease? Have our souls been burdened and wearied with too much doing, striving, toiling, laboring, we can no longer feel love’s flame?

Continued on next pg . . .

First Love cont. . .

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil…

And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Rev. 2: 2,3,4) We have left our first love, and we have only ourselves to blame, for: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. (Heb. 13:8)

Remember the day He opened our sin-hardened and broken hearts, and taught us how to truly love.

Rekindle love’s flame. He is our Savior whose love never fails.

He is our King who prepares for us His Kingdom, and He’s coming again to take us with Him, so that where He is, we may be there also – the marriage of the Lamb and His bride - for all eternity.

So I keep my heart open to His love. A heart that aches and longs for Him, and strains to listen to His songs of love. And I hear them again: songs that tell of His amazing love and wonder. And my whole being is drenched with a refreshing, of rekindled love and renewed hope and awe.

Listen to His love songs again. Let your aching, thirsty hearts and your weary souls be watered by the sweet melody and the words that last through eternity.

We have many urgent prayers that need His urgent attention and answer, but let the rekindling of our love for Him be of utmost importance and our fervent prayer.

Oh Lord Jesus, make our hearts ablaze in faithful love for you!

The following is one of my favorite songs that I often sing to the Lord in my private praise and worship time. (Written and sung by Shannon Wexelberg entitled “Endless Song”). It tells of how we give our hearts and lives in total abandon to the Lord, and just keep on singing His songs of praise. It speaks what’s in my heart. I pray that as you listen, it will bless you, too, and that your first love for Jesus will be re-ignited. Click link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-GHR1Nzo08c#!

Up the Ante – Love Your Enemies

By Christy Bower www.christybower.com With Valentine’s Day approaching, many people are thinking about what they can do for their loved ones to make them feel special.

But I would like to remind you, as Jesus did, that this kind of love is no big deal: “Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you?

Even sinners do that!” (Luke 6:32, NLT) Shocking, isn’t it? Here we think we are living the Golden Rule and Jesus takes us down a notch.

The Golden Rule “Do for others as you would like them to do for you” (Luke 6:31, NLT) If I love you and you love me, we’re living the Golden Rule, right? Wrong. It’s easy to think of treating others well when they are likeable, but what about when they are not?

We all know at least one person (probably more) who is abrasive, offensive, ill-mannered, or otherwise unlikeable. Perhaps someone gossiped about you, wrongly accused you, or jumped to false conclusions about you. Maybe someone acted against you and fired you or stole from you. Got someone in mind? Good.

The Platinum Rule Years ago the music industry set a benchmark to measure the success of an album. If a music artist sold 500,000 copies, the album went “Gold”. As sales increased industry-wide, pretty soon all artists were getting gold albums so the industry raised the bar and set a higher standard: 1,000,000 copies sold to achieve a “Platinum” album.

Jesus is raising the bar from the Golden Rule to the Platinum Rule. It’s easy to love those who love you. Now try something more difficult: love your enemies.

Continued on next pg . . .

Up the Ante – Love Your Enemies cont. . .

“But if you are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies.

Do good to those who hate you. Pray for the happiness of those who curse you.

Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other cheek. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back” (Luke 6:27-30, NLT).

How to Love Your Enemies It’s interesting that Jesus prefaced his words with “if you are willing to listen.”

The admonition to love our enemies is difficult to hear . . . and even more difficult to obey.

It’s easy to read the Bible and admit that such statements are true.

The words may sound good in theory (or theology), but in practice it’s not so easy to embrace the truth and do it.

So Jesus made it easy to apply by being specific about how to love your enemies: 1. Do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27). Your enemies are not just people you don’t

like, but the people who don’t like you (a shock, I know, to think that someone might not like you!). Get over it. Reach out to them. Do something nice for them.

2. Pray for their happiness (Luke 6:28). You have to forgive someone to want what’s best for

them. I find that praying for someone is the first step I have to make. It changes my heart from looking at MY feelings to looking at THEIR feelings.

3. Get close enough to let them hurt you (Luke 6:29). The example Jesus gives is if someone

slaps you, let them do it again. (But, if you are in an abusive relationship, please seek professional counsel.) The point is that we tend to avoid people we don’t like. We’re afraid of getting hurt. Jesus says that loving someone means sticking with them even when they hurt you and might do so again. (C'mon, admit it—you’ve hurt others, too. Probably more than once.)

4. Give to your enemies, even if they are taking advantage of you (Luke 6:30, 35). Jesus said

to give to anyone who asks and don’t be concerned that you might not get it back. Oh, how many books I have loaned out that I never got back! Jesus says to get over it. And be generous in sharing and giving to the undesirable people in your life.

That’s what it looks like to love your enemies. And Jesus was speaking from experience.

Continued on next pg . . .

Up the Ante – Love Your Enemies cont. . .

Benefits of Loving Your Enemies “Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don’t be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked” (Luke 6:35, NLT).

God is “kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked” so when we do the same we are acting like God would (see also Matthew 5:47-48 where Jesus calls us to be perfect like God in this respect). Think about it: how often are we unthankful? God puts up with us all the time, even when we are wicked and sin. When we put up with others who treat us that way, we are doing what God does for us.

Jesus said—if we love our enemies—our reward will be great. There will be a reward in heaven, but on earth our reward is found in freedom. You see, knowing that someone has something against us limits our ability to relate to God. Getting rid of that hindrance opens up a new freedom in our lives and in our relationship with God. Perhaps you’re thinking, “It’s not my fault.”

That doesn’t matter. Even if the other person has something against you, Jesus said it is still your responsibility to seek reconciliation: “So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God” (Matthew 5:23-24, NLT).

According to Jesus, if “someone has something against you,” God won’t accept your worship (sacrifice) until you are reconciled. So the result or reward of loving your enemies and seeking reconciliation is greater faith, freedom, and fulfillment. You want that, don’t you? Me, too.

Faith and Obedience I used the idiom “up the ante” in the title of this post. If you up the ante, you increase the value of something, especially where there’s an element of risk (yes, I know this is a gambling expression). To up the ante is to raise the stake. It means taking a risk. Are you willing to take a risk for God? Continued on next pg . . .

Up the Ante – Love Your Enemies cont . . .

Loving your enemies and seeking reconciliation is a scary thing. But I’m tired of reading the Bible and thinking “that sounds good” and then closing my Bible and doing nothing about it. I can think of at least two people with whom I need to “mend fences.” So, as part of my 100 Acts of Love this month, I’m going to demonstrate at least one act of love toward one of my “enemies.” I can do that much. Perhaps one thing will lead to another and I’ll be able to mend fences, but I have to start by reaching out.

I encourage you, during this season of love, to reach out to one “undesirable” person in your life with a sincere gesture of love. At least bring yourself to sincerely pray that God would bless that person. And I’m sure God will bless you, too.

For Christy's newest book

"Best Friends with God: Falling in Love with the God Who Loves You" visit www.BestFriendswithGod.com

You can also catch Christy On Twitter @christybower

Boldly Face Tomorrow Written by Marie Wikle http://www.spreading-joy.org/site/ https://twitter.com/#!/spreadingJOY

Trials WILL come; it’s just a matter of when.

Tears WILL fall; it’s just a matter of how long.

Your Heart will break; it’s just a matter of how many pieces.

I understand this isn’t spreading joy, but it IS truth.

We can boldly face another day with a little preparation; after all, it is just a matter of time before we face storms and trials.

I believe I can say for certain that each one of us will face the following things: Continued on next page . . .

Boldly Face Tomorrow cont. . .

Uncertainty: You don’t know what you’ll be facing. You don’t know what situations will arise that are beyond your control. You don’t know about job issues, medical bills and other things. You don’t know what you’ll be facing. Choose to focus on the facts, not the uncertainty. Look at the facts and allow that to help give you direction. Sometimes all it takes is looking at things from a different view point.

Don’t allow your emotions to drive you. Emotions are a tricky beast and can have our minds full of fear and doubt.

Even when facing uncertainty, choose to maintain a good attitude while fixing what you can and working around the rest.

Disappointment: I wish that you didn’t have to face disappointments, but the truth is that you WILL face it. Prepare for it in advance by looking for the good in the disappointment.

It’s an old saying, but still rings true today, look for the silver lining. It’s always easier to see the negative, but if we teach ourselves to see the positive, it will get easier to find through each disappointment.

I’m not telling you to ignore your hardships, I’m simply instructing you to look beyond them at what treasure may be forming because of the hardship. The positive things are there, you have to look for them!

and will help you through it. Focus on the truth! Find the resources that are available and see if those will lead to more resources. As things start to fall into place, you’ll notice the fears subsiding. Let me encourage you to step out into the unknown. When you do, you’ll feel the courage coursing through you and that will give you the ability to take the next step, and the next one and the next one.

Difficulties: When you are facing difficulties, you don’t have to face them alone. There are people who have been where you are and they are willing to walk with you. There are people who have been where you are going, they will help you out!

When we face difficulties, we clam up and withdraw and then try and face them alone.

This is the time that we need to reach out so that we don’t have to battle the depression alone. Find a friend to share your fears and difficulties with and divide the pain and in doing this, you will also double the joy you share.

When you are facing difficulties that lead to depression, may I suggest you pour yourself into “others.” Regardless of the finances, we can all make a difference for others and that act alone will help bring deep down joy that no one or nothing can steal from you.

Fear: Fear will consume us. You’ll be so afraid to Click:> Here are 50 Ways to make a do anything, to make decisions or even just difference without spending a penny.

YOU can make a difference! take the next step if you are not aware of just how consuming fear is. Set your fears aside and focus on the truth of what is Sorrow: going on. The truth is that YOU are strong Facing sorrow is not easy. When someone and you will make it through this. The truth Continued on next page . . . is that you have people that care about you

Boldly Face Tomorrow cont. . .

is struggling, spend time with them, chat with them until they laugh. It doesn’t take a special talent, lots of money or gifts galore.

It only takes a willing heart. Be sensitive to others when sorrows arise. Don’t assume someone should be over the grief they are going through. Don’t assume someone shouldn’t be hurting “over that situation.”

We all deal with grief, pain and sorrow differently. Be sensitive and kind to those facing sorrow. If you are in the midst of sorrow or grief, know that it’s ok. There is no right way to grieve. Sometimes writing out your feelings – the good, bad and ugly is a way of releasing them. Sometimes, it’s a matter of sharing them verbally or counselling. Some may even need medical help. Whatever your means of facing your sorrow, remember YOU have friends and family that will help you face them. Don’t withdraw and try to go it alone. That’s what WE are here for.

Regret: This is the ONE thing we can choose NOT to face. Regret. Regret will break us. The guilt of regret will weigh our hearts down and beat us.

We all have made bad decisions.

We can learn from our bad choices, we can decide that yes… I did “that” but I will NOT allow myself to be in that situation again.

Don’t let regret keep you from boldly making a change in your life. Don’t let guilt keep you down when you are capable of doing so much for you and your family.

Don’t let regret win. You are strong enough to use it, learn from it and then beat it.

Think about this: If we are living in the past and worried about the future, how can we be effective today?

It’s simple – - – We can’t. Choose NOT to regret. Put those past mistakes to good use by learning from them and sharing what you’ve learned with others.

Emptiness: There are times that you’ll feel empty, alone and like you don’t matter. It’s going to happen, it is just a matter of when. When you face this, once again I have to insist that you go on fact instead of feelings.

Feelings are so tricky and emotional roller coasters are not very fun.

Here are the facts: •YOU Matter – Not only do you matter, but you matter a LOT. You are the world to someone!

•YOU Make a difference – in so many ways. You feel as though you do nothing special and you are nothing special, but THAT is what MAKES you special. No one can make a difference like YOU do.

NO one!

•YOU will make if past this – and when you do, you’ll soar to new heights that you didn’t even know existed.

Use this time of empty feelings to focus on making a difference for others instead of dwelling on how you feel. It can be as little as giving your children their favorite cereal for dinner, coloring with them in their coloring books. It could be something like telling an older friend thank you for helping to shape our world into what it is today and taking some time to hear how they did it. It could be something like extending patience to the cashier that is experiencing one rude customer after another. Take your mind off of the emptiness that is flooding your heart Continued on next page . . .

Boldly Face Tomorrow cont. . .

and place your focus on those around you.

You’ll soon find the emptiness filling up with amazing JOY.

Photography

by Shane Corbett

Overwhelmed: Even the calmest person I know will face times when they are overwhelmed. It’s at this point that you simply can’t afford to feel guilty for stopping and doing something for yourself.

STOP right here, pull yourself away from everything for a little bit. Go outside, stretch and take 5 minutes to soak up the outdoors. When you can, take an some additional time to just step away from all that is pulling at you.

NB, Canada

If you have young children, it may need to be for 15-30 minutes after they’ve gone to bed, but STOP and do something for yourself. It doesn’t have to be expensive, it just needs to be done and done without guilt.

-Read -Write in your journal -Gaze out the window -Listen to the sound of the rain -Take a nap on the couch – set a timer so you don’t over sleep.

NB, Canada

If you don’t pull yourself out of the situation for a little bit, it will only get worse.

How are you boldly facing tomorrow?

What other tips would you share with others?

Having a snooze! Zzzzzz

12 Words Christians Can’t Say and 13 Words We Must

Written by Trevor Lund http://revtrev.com I'll be hosting the 2012 “Fast from Negativity” starting Feb. 28, 2012 Won't you join me? http://lifeabovethenegativity.com/fast-from-negativity/

As we give up words that are contrary to the will of God, we need to replace them with words that we must say. This is a journey that requires the power of the Holy Spirit and sometimes a change in character.

That’s OK. God wants you to mature. He wants you to grow more and more into the image of His son, who was the exact representation of the Father. Our words show us and others what’s in our heart.

The tongue also is a 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 (New International Version) 1.

Careless Words

Matthew 12:35-37

2.

“Loose” Words

Proverbs 10:19

3.

Angry words spoken in haste James 1:19

4.

Cutting Words

Proverbs 12:18

5.

Discouraging Words

Numbers 32:7

6.

Lies

Ephesians 4:25

7.

Complaining and Arguing Philippians 2:14-16

8.

Slander

9.

Obscenity, Foolish Talk, Course Joking Ephesians 5:4

Ephesians 4:31 Continued on next page . . .

12 Words Christians Can't Say...cont. . .

1.Foul

or Abusive Words Ephesians 4:29

2.Words

of Dissension

3.Gossip

Proverbs 16:28 Proverbs 20:19

~ But it’s not a matter of what we don’t say… we’re also told to make sure we do say.

We follow the One who had the words of life (John 6:68).

So it’s words of life that need to come from our lips: 1.

Healing Words

Proverbs 12:18

2.

Kind Words

Proverbs 12:25

3.

Gentle Words

Proverbs 15:1

4.

Pleasant Words

Proverbs 16:24

5.

Patient Words

Proverbs 25:15

6.

Thankful Words

Ephesians 5:4

7.

Encouraging Words

Ephesians 4:29

8.

Words of Truth

Ephesians 4:25

9.

Words in Love

Ephesians 4:15

10.Words

of Praise

Psalm 30:4

11.Words

Without Deceit Psalm 32:2

12.Words

that Sustain the Weary Isaiah 50:4

13.Words

of Invitation

Philemon 1:6

As we fast from negativity, it really is a challenge… but it’s a challenge worth doing.

Life can change for you and for those around you.

What’s your experience in controlling your words?

What you’ve learned, use to encourage others!

You can do that by sending me your comments.

Outflow exists to share Christ's love!

We are a charitable acts of kindness ministry that longs to reach the needs of the poor and oppressed. When we gather we believe it is important to share a meal, to break bread, offering our lives as a genuine friend. We don't want to be anything that we aren't. While we sit with people, we discover a peace, a compassion, and a love that can only be explained by a genuine encounter with Christ.

We love being a gathering place that shares the pulpit. The stage is always open for anyone in the room. Often a message is prepared , but many times it is superseded by God's awesome presence within the room. God moves at the table, from the kitchen, and from within the most unlikely.

As Christ lovers we are discovering that Jesus is within the poor. Some call us a church. Some call us a mission. Some call us a safe place to meet with friends. We want to be all of those things! What we do isn't complicated. . . most do it everyday.

We prepare a meal, wait for Jesus to show up, then eat with HIM! We strongly believe that the #1 thing missing in ministry today is someone willing to build a relationship.

So we sit. We eat. We listen. And we use words when necessary.

Have questions? Wanna know when were meeting next?

Like to talk about our future?

Contact us anytime: Mail Outflow Ministry 125 Rothesay Avenue PO Box 7073 Saint John, NB E2L 2B0 Contacts Jayme Hall: 1-888-529-6358 http://outflowministry.ca/ outflowministry@gmail.com

The ABC'S of Salvation The dictionary defines salvation as: 1. deliverance 2. pardon 3. snatching from the jaws God's gift to us is everlasting life through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ All we have to do is have faith and follow these 3 easy steps Admit - Believe - Confess Ephesians 2:8, 9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faithand this not from yourselves, it is the gift of Godnot by works, so that no one can boast.

1. Admit That You Are A Sinner.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.

Results Of Sin And Gods Gift to Us. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What Did Jesus Do For Us? Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2. Believe In The Lord Jesus.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life,

for God's wrath remains on him.

Romans 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

3. Confess The Lord Jesus.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Next Say This Prayer Believing With All Your Heart “Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner.

Lord the sinful life that I lived separated me from you.

Lord forgive me of my sins.

I believe that you died on the cross and rose on the third day to pay for my sins.

From this day forward I will put all my trust in you, Lord show me how to live a life for you.

In Jesus name, Amen”