GRACE

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.


I'm sorry Lord. Forgive me ...

Has Christianity Failed You?

DD: You write, “God does not disappoint us. We often disappoint him and ourselves.” This seems to suggest that our relationship with God is based on our performance rather than his grace. And if God is all-knowing, aren’t his expectations of us viewed through his promise that he who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it? In other words, can we disappoint God?

RZ: It’s interesting how we attribute emotions to God, whether it’s an effect or whether it’s an affection that he feels. We can only take God at his word. His analogical use of language is for us to understand God, such as, “How often I have longed to gather you together, but you were not willing. What more could I have done for you that I have not already done?” “If you crucify the Son of God all over again and subject him to public disgrace, no sacrifice for sins is left.” Jesus looks on the city of Jerusalem with compassion, and the entire appeal he makes is in the fact he has done so much for them and yet they have responded with so little appreciation and love. When you look at Old Testament books such as Hosea, Malachi, and Jonah, you see the disproportionate response of his people to the abundance of grace God bestows.
I think that’s why even the story of the prodigal son does not have a happy ending. He has come back, all is well, let’s have a celebration. But now you’ve got the older brother, who messes it up. It’s sort of one of those good news/bad news situations. The good news is that my son who was lost has come back. The bad news is that the fellow who stayed with me is still messed up.
So I think we must understand God’s feelings by analogy. In terms of disappointing God, I do not mean that we therefore catch him by surprise. Rather, he would have to say to us, “What was it that kept you away from me?” The emotions of adoration and appreciation are legitimate emotions for a returning child of God. That’s what I think we need to be thinking of. The analogical use is to evoke within us a sense of, “’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.” I think that’s a marvelous use of language— using the one expression to show that God induces in us both fear and release from guilt.

1 Corinthians 13

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.

If you were to replace [LOVE] with my name, that make me a liar. If you were to replace [LOVE] with Christ, it makes senses.

We are fall short of the standard. Only thru His grace we are able to fill loved and to find the strength to love others.

DEEP DOWN

How come man can have so much tears?

Isaiah 28:16

(New International Version)

So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.

believeth all things

[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

FOCUS

Remember the heart.


1 JOHN 4:18 - 19

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because HE first loved us.

BROKENNESS

Tears know no respect for place and time

TEARS

Love seeks the benefit and well-being (edification) of another, so much so that it is willing to make a personal sacrifice to facilitate it.

I guess this speak right into my soul.
"Lord, im giving my thanks to you, before i speak, you know what is weighing in my heart and on my mind. May you grant me the strength, the courage and thee love to withstand through all these. In your Name, i praise. Amen."

LOVE

The greatest of loves will never come cheaply.

It takes everything you have to honor that love
and everything you have to honor that trust.

And the greatest love that any of us could have is our relationship with God.




http://www.rzim.org/justthinkingfv/tabid/602/articleid/10567/cbmoduleid/881/default.aspx

STARS FOR A CAUSE 2

After watching it, it once remind me again how small i am.
The thing that im going thru is so small compared to what others are going thru.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.


Jia You bah! Need to be stronger to give more!

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

May Lord strengthen me and may i find comfort and rest in His arm. Amen.

though the cup is bitter, in our Father’s hand it is salutary

The Fruit Of The Spirit - Longsuffering

DEVELOPING LONGSUFFERING
A. THROUGH LOVE...
1. It is love that "suffers long" - cf. 1Co 13:4-8a
a. Unless we love those who have wronged us, there will not be sufficient motivation to bear with them
b. Therefore love (active good will) is fundamental to being slow to avenge wrong
2. By growing in love (to remember how, cf. 1Th 4:9; 1Jn 3:16), we will grow in patience!

B. THROUGH PRAYER...
1. Paul evidently believed prayer would help the Colossians to have "all patience and longsuffering with joy" - Col 1:9-11
2. Certainly the God who is longsuffering (cf. Ps 145:8) will strengthen those who desire to be like Him!

God's Love

Does He withhold His love if you didnt love Him?
No. His love is everylasting, forever and more.
He wait patience for your return. Loving you and watching you from behind afraid that you'll fall. Afraid that you will hurt yourself.

God is always there. He is stable. He is secure.
Let's anchor our security upon him and cast our eyes on Him.

This is my prayer Lord, that I'll love you with all my hearts, my minds, my soul and my strength.

Amen.

I thanks thee for the moment.
Whatever is the outcome, I'll trust in Him.

Let Your will, not mine, be done.


Amen.

Jesus Calms the Storm

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?"
Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

Peace and Joy

Romans 5 (NIV)

3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

NIV

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Courage

QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"Some men have many reasons why they cannot do what they should do, when all they need is one good reason why they should." – Greg French


LIFE THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
Courageous Courage - Insights into courage.

Persistence
Perhaps the most important aspect is the courage to endure, to persist, and to hang in there in the face of doubt, uncertainty and criticism from others.

Patience in Adversity
"Courageous patience" – is the willingness and the ability to stay on track in the face of uncertainty, doubt and criticism. Men need to stand firm, and refuse to bow to the possibility of failure. The turning point of many key moments in human history have been the resolution, or lack of one person standing firm. Courageous patience is the acid test of strong men.

Be An Example
Encourage others and instil confidence in them. To help others perform at their best requires first of all that you lead by example. Demonstrate courage.

Allow Mistakes
Risk is where courage excels yet also should a courageous act become successful, you need to give yourself permission to fail.

Become Unstoppable
Courage comes from acting courageously on a day-to-day basis. Your personal goal should be to practice the behaviour of a totally fearless person until you become, in your own mind, unstoppable. Courage is the mark of a REALMAN in action. So lead the way and be courageous in all that you do.



MEN AND HEALTH

Exercise isn't just for stronger muscles it can also sharpen your brain.

A new study published in the journal “Neurology” examined the effects of exercise on brain deterioration of Alzheimer's patients. The researchers found physically fit patients with mild cognitive impairment had less brain shrinkage than those who weren't as fit.

Previous studies also showed exercise improves thinking and memory, in people with normal brain activity, by boosting blood flow and elevating growth hormones.

So talk a 30 minute walk 3 times a week and it may help you remember where those car keys are and how to get home.



MEN AND RELATIONSHIPS
Managing Anger

We live in an over-crowded, over-stressed world with traffic jams, financial pressures and rude people. That’s life and the reality for most of us.

To address anger effectively you need to stop thinking the world revolves around you and. Ask yourself: Is the urgency you feel as strong as you think? A false sense of urgency stems from self-importance. Why should things have to be the way you want them? When you think the whole world revolves around you, then everything takes on an exaggerated importance and sets you up for an explosive moment - an outburst of anger.

Learn the art of self control and manage anger more effectively

Look for the warning signs. We don't blow up out of the blue. Our bodies’ first exhibit signs, such as a tight chest, butterflies in your stomach, a racing mind, sweaty palms. Recognize the signs so you can intervene before you lose it.

Understand that you are slowly killing yourself every time you get angry. When you become enraged, the chemistry of your body changes, making you more susceptible to ulcers, multiple sclerosis, lupus, arthritis and other illnesses to name a few. That’s a good motivation to calm down.

Why do angry people lash out? Because they don't have the words, concepts or abilities to express their frustration in an appropriate way. Consider alternative ways of venting your anger, such as taking a deep breath or doing exercise in the heat of the moment to control the potential outburst.

Finally to better manage your anger, recognize that you have a problem. Anger is an outward expression of fear, hurt or frustration. Start to understand that the real problem usually has its origins in the past and you need to stop blaming your immediate circumstances as the problem. In most cases of repetitive anger outbursts there is a root cause from your past that triggers the inappropriate behaviour.

Remember this men, anger is a position of weakness not strength. REALMEN harness that energy and direct it more effectively to product positive outcomes in life.

In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends

Character is still King
The fundamental glue that holds our society together is the quality of character. Your character is the crystallization of your true values and beliefs, your innermost convictions.

Choices and Decisions
Everything you do in life involves a choice, a decision on your part. Because you have so many options, you are constantly choosing between what you value more and what you value less. Your choices and actions tell you and others what you truly value the most and reveals your character.

The Core Quality of Character
The core quality of character is integrity. This can be measured by how honest one is with himself and others. The depth of your integrity largely determines the strength of your commitment to each of your other values. A man of great character is one who would never compromise those values under any circumstance.

The Need to Lead
The greatest need we have today, in every area, is for men to practice the values of integrity, discipline, responsibility, courage, and long-term perspective, in the workplace and in their families. These are the key qualities of leadership. Our society needs leaders at all levels that have high moral character, and know the difference between right and wrong.

ACTION EXERCISE
The true mark of character in a man’s life is that he sets standards for himself and refuses to compromise those standards for any reason. He sees himself as a role model for others. He behaves at all times as if everyone were watching, even when no one is watching. What standards do you want to uphold in your life and business as a REALMAN?


MEN AND HEALTH
After dinner heartburn may not be just a temporary pain in the chest. Before you dismiss that post burning in your chest (heartburn), know this, that it could be an indicator of constricted blood flow in the heart. How many of us as men tolerate the discomfort of heartburn and do nothing about it.A study in the International Journal of Cardiology reveals that untreated heartburn can lead to a heart attack. Scientists analysed the ECG readings and acid levels of 50 people suffered from regular heart burn and noted a 20 percent greater incidence of blocked blood flow in the heart when acid levels rose. “Reflux triggers the nerves that constrict blood vessels,” says John Elefteriades, Cardiologist. It is in your best interest not to suffer in silence with heart burn but consult your doctor. It could prevent a possible heart attack.


MEN AND RELATIONSHIPS
Friends are critical for a man’s wellbeing and emotional health. We have all heard about “quality and quantity” in relationships. I was reading a book recently which said that we are a society that is time poor and in relationships we must continue to prioritise quality as the champion in building strong healthy relationships. I agree yet I do not know a great friendship that has not been firstly built on quantity, spending time in building that friendship. We can say we are all time poor and excuse ourselves from spending time with our friends but unfortunately we will never build a strong friendship on this basis. Time is needed (quantity) to build those great friendships.If you value friendship you will have to invest time into it to get the best out of it. Quantity is an absolute in building relationships.

C3 website: www.myc3church.net

CNY SHOES

LIFE THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

Take a good look at where you are positioned in life and make some well informed decisions about your future. If you need to make some radical decisions, do it in 2010. It’s time to become all that you know you were meant to be.


Leading and Leadership
The ability to lead as a man, husband, father and friend is characterized by honesty, truthfulness, and straight dealing with every person, under all circumstances. This requires that you be impeccably honest with yourself and others. As Emerson said, “Guard your integrity as a sacred thing.” Integrity lies at the core of being able to lead, at the heart of every man. Everything you do revolves around the person you really are on the inside. And the person you are inside is always demonstrated by the things you do and say on the outside.

A leader is to be a good role model who leads by example and is someone who walks the talk and lives the life. He always carries himself as though everyone is watching, even when no one is watching. Good leaders are completely reliable. People can take them at their word and trust that they will do what they say. They make promises carefully, and then always keep their word.

And finally, the leader understands that the mark of integrity in human relations is consistency, both internal and external. The best leaders are consistent from one day to the next, from one situation to the next. Because of this internal consistency, these leaders are trusted and people know what to expect. There are no surprises.

So lead on in 2010 as REALMEN should.



MEN AND HEALTH

Gym Talk
I have noticed that so many guys who attend a gym can become so preoccupied with building their arms and chest that they can so easily neglect their lower torso. I find it remarkable that guys can’t see how out of proportion they look when they neglect to train their legs. Men need to understand that our legs (gluteus, quadriceps, hamstrings and calves) are all important in maintaining body stability and balance. So don’t neglect those muscles when training. Complete your physique and give a more balanced strength to your body by training those legs.



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