Collection of
CHRISTIAN THOUGHTS - Part Three
Did you know...
1) Psalm 118 is the middle chapter of the entire Bible?
2) Before Psalm 118, Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible?
3) After Psalm 118, Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible?
4) That there are 594 chapters each before and following Psalm 118?
5) That if you add up all the chapters except Psalm 118, you get a total of 1188 chapters. 6) And incidentally, 1188 or Psalm 118 verse 8 also happens to be the middle verse of          the entire Bible.

The central verse should have a fairly important message don't you think?
"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man."
                                                   THE BANQUET
The Word of God sustains and nourishes me.
It is pure and life-giving water that quenches my thirst, and yet I thirst for more.
It is bread that satisfies and eases my hunger, and yet I hunger for more.
It is milk for my bones, the structure and foundation of my body. It keeps me stable and helps me to stand.
It is plentiful produce, adding richness and color to my diet. It improves my vision, and sharpens my senses.
It is the choicest of meat, filled with protein, giving me strength and endurance to accomplish my tasks.
It is fish in abundance, food for thought, challenging my mind, helping me to learn and to grow.
It is fine wine, enriching my blood, lifting my spirits and comforting my sorrows.
It is a rich and delicious dessert. So sweet. So rewarding.
For so many years I was a spiritual anorexic. I starved myself, and did not partake of this great banquet the Lord has prepared for me. But my Father has called me back to His table once again. And now I can never get too much.
May I ever hunger and thirst for my God. May I never refrain from the Feast of His Word.
The Bible does not begin with, "Once upon a time".
If we take the problems of life and lay them down, they become a path on which we can walk on through life. However if we stack them up, they become a wall that closes us in from life.
Oftentimes God demonstrates His faithfulness in adversity by providing for us what we need to survive. He does not change our painful circumstances. He sustains us through them.
If building God's church depended on me, would it ever get done?
Sin will take you farther than you ever planned to go.
Sin will keep you longer than you ever planned to stay.
And sin will cost you more than you ever planned to pay.
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.
HEARTPRINTS
Whatever our hands touch...
We leave fingerprints.
On walls,
On furniture,
On door knobs, dishes and books.
Smudges, showing we were there!
Oh Lord, please, wherever I go today...
Help me leave Heartprints.
Heartprints of compassion,
Understanding and love.
Heartprints of kindness
And genuine concern.
I shall go out today... to leave Heartprints...
And if someone should say,
"I felt your touch!"
May that one feeling be
Your loving touch,
Lord, through me!
May my heart touch...
My lonely neighbor, with a smile,
A worried mother, with peace,
A runaway child, with safety,
A homeless person, with warmth,
And my dear friends, with love.
                                         TEENAGE BILL OF RIGHTS:

We the teens, in order to form a righteous generation, raise our voice in one accord to set the direction for this generation...

When so many leaders of our society refuse to lead in truth,
When those who sell us goods do so solely for their own financial gain, despite the toll                their "goods" might take on us,
When those who have shaped our society often hold no moral compass through which to            guide us into the future,
When the majority with celebrity influence take no responsibility for their position as role            models and influencers,
When honesty and truth are scorned and manipulated by many of leaders in high offices             and integrity is regarded as weakness,
When character is mocked by the media and our leaders are afraid to take a moral stand             because it might be unpopular,
When rebellion is the norm and seen as a right to be demanded.
When corruption in society threatens the very foundation upon which it was built.

It is necessary for us, as teens, to redefine our society and lay claim to our right to bring truth to our generation.
We take it upon ourselves to rise up and call our generation to a higher standard.
A standard:
not built by polls, but on principle,
not based on what feels good, but on what is good,
not built on what is cool, but on what is correct,
not built on what is convenient, but on character,
not based on what is easy, but on what is excellent,
not built on what is popular, but on what is prudent,
not built on what everyone else thinks, but on what God thinks,
not built on Hollywood, but on honor.

We, as a young generation, assert our right to set the pace for our own generation. We refuse to be led by those who are morally bankrupt.
With this in mind, we commit to shape our society and world accordingly:

1. We will live with Honor, making the most honorable decision, even when we could try to justify less than honorable behavior.
2. We will be Honest and tell the truth in matters large and small, even when it is hard, and even when it hurts.
3. We will take Responsibility for our actions and not look to government, schools, or other authorities to justify our wrong decisions. We will take responsibility for our mistakes.
4. We will commit to have Families where both parents are present; our word will be our bond at the altar.
5. We will commit to love Purity. We will not be seduced by the world's idea of sex and love. We will save our body and hearts for the one we will marry.
6. We will find the Purpose for that which we were created, so we can live our lives to the fullest potential.
7. We will see through the lie of Drugs and Alcohol, and refuse to let any chemical influence our thinking and destroy our lives.
8. We will Respect the authorities God has placed in our lives, even though some may have character that we do not admire. We realize that all authority comes from God. We refuse to subvert our parents or other authority figures.
9. We will work Relentlessly to ensure that Every Person in our generation has the opportunity to hear about a relationship with God in a way that they can understand.
10. We will care about the rest of the world. We Refuse to be absorbed with ourselves and our own comforts, but determine to find our place in reaching the world.

In signing, we as young people, commit to life a life that exemplifies these standards as we lead our generation to high moral ground.
As adults, we sign to express our commitment to stand with the youth as they lead their generation to the highest standard of Honor.
                                 A Letter From Jesus:
Dear Friend,
I just had to send you a note to tell you how much I love you and care for you. I saw you yesterday as you were talking to your friend. I waited all day hoping you would want to talk with me. As evening came, I gave you a sunset to close your day and a breeze to rest you and I waited. You never came. Sure, it hurts me, but I still love you because I am your friend.

I saw you fall asleep last night and I longed to touch your face. Again I waited wanting to rush down so we could talk. I have so many gifts for you. You got up late and rushed off to work/school. My tears were in the rain.

Today you looked so sad - so all alone. It makes my heart ache because I understand. My friends let me down many times too, but I love you.

If you would only listen to me! I love you! I try to tell you in the blue sky and in the quiet green grass. I whisper it in the leaves, in the trees, and breathe it in the colors of the flowers. I shout it to you in the mountain steams and give the birds' love songs to sing. I clothe you with warm sunshine and sweeten the air with nature scents.

My LOVE for you is deeper than the ocean and bigger than the biggest want or need in your heart. If you would only knew how much I want to walk and talk with you. I know how hard it is on Earth. I really know! And I want to help you.

I want you to meet my Father. He wants to help you too. My Father is that way you know. Just call me - ask me - talk with me! Please don't forget me! I have so much to share with you! Alright, okay, I won't bother you any more. You are free to choose me. It's your decision. I have chosen you, and because of this I will wait, and wait, and wait, because I love you.

Your Friend, Jesus
                                           FAITH IS...
... reliance on the certainty that God has a pattern for my life when everything seems meaningless
... remembering I am God's priceless treasure when I feel utterly useless
... depending on the fact that God is Love - not on my ability to figure out the why's in the midst of smashed hopes, reversal, and tragedy
... keeping on when I am dog tired, discouraged, disillusioned, deserted, dusty and dry and I cast on His strength alone
... realizing that I am useful to God, not in spite of my scars, but because of them
... confidence that God is acting for my highest good when He answers "No" to my prayers
... accepting the truth that, in spite of the wreckage and grief I've caused, God who has wiped the slate clean and delights in me
... recognizing that God is the Lord of time when my idea of timing doesn't agree with his
... not a vague hope of a happy here after but an assurance of Heaven based on my trust in Christ's death as payment for my sins
... remembering that, though my way is dark as night to me, God can see and guides me unerringly
... doing the right thing regardless of the consequences knowing God will turn the ultimate effect to good
... the conviction the Promiser keeps His promises.
Every Christian should have two planks in his platform; one is for what he will stand for; and the other is for the things he will not stand for.
Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to him.
Happiness Digest, P.44, Paragraph 2
Study the Bible to be wise,
Believe it to be safe,
Practice it to be holy."
from "Our Daily Bread"
When God measures us, he puts the tape around the heart instead of the head
Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger
He who loses money, loses much;
He who loses a friend, loses much more; He who loses faith, loses all.
Never let your head hang down, never sit and grieve; find another way.
And don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines.
A small child and his father were looking heaven- ward one bright starlit night. After quietly and reverently observing the stars for a long time, the small boy, holding his father's hand, said, "If the bottom side of heaven is this pretty, then how beautiful the other side must be!"
                                        I Cannot Pray
I cannot pray "OUR", if my faith has no room for Others and their need.
I cannot pray "FATHER", if I do not demonstrate this relationship to God in my daily living.
I cannot pray "WHO ART IN HEAVEN", if all of my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.
I cannot pray "HALLOWED BE THY NAME", if I am not striving for God's help to be holy.
I cannot pray "THY KINGDOM COME", if I am unwilling to accept God's rule in my life.
I cannot pray "THY WILL BE DONE", if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.
I cannot pray "IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN", unless I am truly ready to give myself to God's service here and now.
I cannot pray "GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD", without expending honest effort for it or if I would withhold from my neighbor the bread I receive.
I cannot pray "FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US", if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.
I cannot pray "LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION", if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.
I cannot pray "DELIVER US FROM EVIL", if I am not prepared to fight with my life and my prayer.
I cannot pray "THINE IS THE KINGDOM", if I am unwilling to obey the King.
I cannot pray "THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY", if I am seeking power for myself and my own glory first.
I cannot pray "FOREVER AND EVER", if I am too anxious about each day's affairs.
I cannot pray "AMEN", unless I honestly say "Not MY will, but THY will be done", so let it be.