Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 18 – No. 2416 June 11, 2016
Thought for the week: "A physician once said, 'The best medicine for humans is love.' Someone asked, 'what if it doesn't work?' He smiled and said, 'Increase the dose!'" – Unknown
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent." – Calvin Coolidge
"Only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find his right
road." – Dag Hammarskjold
"Successful mothers are not the ones who have never struggled. They are the ones who never give up despite the struggles." – Unknown
"Worry does not empty tomorrow of sorrow, it empties today of its strength." – Corrie ten Boom
"Wisdom is knowing what to do; virtue is doing it." – David Jordan
Smooth roads never make good drivers.
Smooth seas never make good sailors.
Clear skies never makes good pilots.
Problem and hassle free life never makes a strong person. Be strong enough to accept the challenges of Life. Don't ask Life, "Why Me? Instead say "Try Me!"
4. Everything I Needed to Know I Learned From a Man
Named Solomon
Happiness makes you smile ... Proverbs 15:13
A kind answer soothes angry feelings ...
Proverbs 15:1
A true friend will keep a secret ... Proverbs 11:13
You will say the wrong thing if you talk too much ... Proverbs 10:19
Don't tell your neighbor to come back tomorrow, if you can help today
... Proverbs 3:28
Everyone likes to brag about getting a bargain ...
Proverbs 20:14
Wise friends make you wise, too ... Proverbs 13:20
It's better to be honest and poor than to be dishonest and rich
... Proverbs 16:8
Telling lies will get you in trouble ...
Proverbs 17:20
Don't give up ... Proverbs 24:10
Make your parents proud, especially your mother ...
Proverbs 23:25
Watching what you say can save you a lot of trouble
... Proverbs 21:23
"Money will buy a bed but not sleep; books but not brains; food but not appetite; finery but not beauty; a house but not a home; medicine but not health; luxuries but not culture; amusements but not happiness; religion but not salvation; a passport to everywhere but heaven." – Author Unknown
"And He [Jesus] said to them, 'Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.'" – The Bible, Luke 12:15 (NKJV).
Let's face it, it's not easy to become a person of character. It takes a good heart, but it also requires wisdom to know right from wrong and the discipline to do right even when it's costly, inconvenient or difficult.
Becoming a person of character is a lifelong quest to be better.
A person of character values honesty and integrity and pays whatever price is needed to be worthy of trust, earning the pride of family and friends and self-respect.
A person of character plays fair even when others don't and values no achievement unless it was attained with honor.
A person of character has strong convictions, yet avoids self-righteousness.
A person of character believes in the inherent dignity of all people and treats everyone with respect, even those whose ideas and ideologies evoke strong disagreement.
A person of character deals with criticism constructively and is self-confident enough to take good advice, admit and learn from mistakes, feel and express genuine remorse and apologize graciously.
A person of character knows what's important, sacrifices the now for later, is in control of attitudes and actions, overcomes negative impulses and makes the best of every situation.
A person of character willingly faces fears and tackles unpleasant tasks.
A person of character is consistently and self-consciously kind and empathetic, giving generously without concern for reward.
A person of character feels and expresses gratitude freely and frequently.
A person of character is not defeated by failure or dissuaded by disappointment.
A person of character seeks true happiness in living a life of purpose and meaning, placing a higher value on significance than success.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."1
A Native American boy was talking with his grandfather. "What do you think about the world situation?" he asked. The grandfather replied, "I feel like two wolves are fighting in my heart. One is full of anger and hatred. The other is full of love, forgiveness and peace."
"Which one will win?" asked the boy.
To which the grandfather replied, "The one I feed."
Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, "Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds," and James Allen rightly stated, "You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you."
Another has said, "What the mind dwells on the body acts on." If you don't believe this, think how temptation works—first a thought that seems to come from nowhere ... we feed it and the thought begins to expand ... then one's feelings get involved ... and the more we think about it ... the more we hunger for it ... then we begin to rationalize and justify what we want to do ... and the battle is lost. It all starts in the mind.
As they say about computers: GIGO = garbage in garbage out. So it is with the mind. If we keep looking at and thinking about garbage, we will act out accordingly. But, if as the Bible says, we concentrate on thoughts that are noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, we too, will act accordingly. It's all in the mind, for what the mind dwells on the body acts on.
When tempting thoughts knock on the door of my mind, I try to remember to pray a very simple prayer, "Jesus, help. Jesus help," and/or keep repeating the confirmation, "Jesus Christ is Lord," "Jesus Christ is Lord of my life," until the "door knocker" goes away.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to learn how to guard my thought life, and to concentrate on noble thoughts that lead to noble living and noble deeds. Help me to appreciate the fact that Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Thank You for Your Word to me today and for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."
1. Philippians 4:8 (NIV).
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Oprah Winfrey: "Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi." – Oprah Winfrey
Books:
Books by Dick Innes, Editor of Weekend Encounter You Can't Fly With a Broken Wing How to Mend a Broken Heart I Hate Witnessing—A Handbook for Effective Christian
Communications
Healing, Wholeness & Happiness by Dick Innes
Loving & Understanding People by Dick Innes
I Hate Witnessing by Dick Innes
God's Formula for Success by Dick Innes
Damaged Emotions by David Seamands
Healing of the Memories by David Seamands
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