Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Faith And Patience Required

Heb. 6:12 "...Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

To have patience means to have fortitude, strength, courage and staying power. Patience is the ability to stay focused over a long haul, not being discouraged just because there is a time of discomfort to our flesh and soul.

The Message Bible says: "Don't drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them."

Have absolute trust and confidence in God's power to perform His promises and practice patient endurance, waiting in faith for the fulfillment of the Word in your life. That is how all the heroes of the faith inherited the things God had promised to them.

Consider Moses, Joshua, David, Daniel, and the other prophets. They went through a lot of struggles, but they didn't waver in their trust of God. They knew He would see them through and give them the reward of their patient service.

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Saturday, April 18, 2009

Friendship Wisdom

Proverbs says, "A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses."

The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate - for good or bad. Tell me who your best friends are, and I will tell you who you are. If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl. But, if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.

Think about it; almost all of our sorrows spring out of the relationships with the wrong people. The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others it increases your mediocrity.

A true Bulgarian proverb confirms, "If you find yourself taking two steps forward and one step backwards, invariably it's because you have mixed associations in your life."

If a loafer isn't a nuisance to you, it's a sign that you are somewhat of a loafer yourself. I have discovered that an important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people.

A true friend is one who is there to care. They remain your friend even if you don't deserve to have a friend. They will see you through when others think you're through.

If you were to list your greatest benefits, resources or strengths, you would find that money is one of the least important ones while some of your greatest resources are the people you know. A true friend sees beyond you to what you can be.

Invest in good relationships. The way to make a true friend is to be one. Your wealth is where your friends are. Consider what Francesco Guicciardini said: "Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make the right ones."

As you grow, your associates will change. Some of your friends will not want you to go on. They will want you to stay where they are. Friends that don't help you climb, will want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream. Those that don't increase you, will eventually decrease you.

Consider this: never receive counsel from unproductive people. Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how. Not everyone has a right to speak into your life.

Don't follow anyone who's not going anywhere. With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it. Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life.

Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships.

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