About a dog called "FAITH"

This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He was born with 2  legs -
He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him.

                                 
His first owner also did not think that he could survive and he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'.
But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted  to take care of him.
She became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by himself..  
She named him 'Faith'.

                                 

In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfboard to let him feel the movement.
Later she used peanut  butter on a spoon as a lure and reward
for him for standing up and jumping around.
Even the other dog at home encouraged him to walk.
Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle,  
Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward.
After further training in the snow, he could now walk like a human being.

                                 


Faith loves to walk around now.
No matter where he goes, he attracts people to him.
He is fast becoming famous on the international scene and
has appeared on various newspapers and TV shows.
There is now a book entitled 'With a Little Faith' being published about him..
He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies.

                                 

His present owner Jude Stringfellew has  given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world
to  preach that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul'.

                                 
In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better
you just need to look at life from another direction.
I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone
and that everyone will appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day.
Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life . 

                                 

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT... CHOOSING A MATE?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT...

CHOOSING A MATE?

We know that it is the Lord's will for people to have a mate if they desire one. In the beginning when God created Adam, God Himself made this statement: 

"... It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him" (Genesis 2:18 KJV). 

"Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper  meet (suitable, adapted, completing) for him" (Genesis 2:18 Amplified).

The Lord wants to bring a mate to those who will ask Him and have the patience to wait for His choice.

There are some single people who are constantly out looking for a mate, and they are miserable because God has not sent them one yet. They have prayed and prayed, yet they still have no mate. Some settle for Satan's provision instead of asking God for the patience to wait for the one whom He would send. If they would look to Jesus and seek to please Him, rather than being concerned about a mate, soon they would find the right one crossing their path. Looking for a man or woman to just keep them from being lonely or just to fill their needs or to be a father or mother to their children should not be the only reasons for desiring a mate. They also need to be concerned about what kind of husband or wife they would be for a mate. These single people are still much in the flesh if they just want their own needs met. They should ask the Lord to fill them with His love and peace.

Being single is an important time to prepare us for marriage. It can also be a time to experience a closer communion with God. As we seek God to cleanse us of the world and help us become the kind of wife or husband that would bless someone, we will soon find that we are not lonely. First, the Lord would begin using us to bless others; then we will find we are content in Him. Eventually, in God's plan and timing, He will bless us with a wonderful mate so that both lives can be a witness for Him. We believe if a marriage cannot glorify the Lord, then it would be better to remain alone. There are worse things than being alone. One of these is to be out of God's will by compromising and marrying someone who does not feel the same way we do about the Lord.

Marriage is the second major choice we make in our lives, and we should never enter into it without much prayer. To rush into a marriage can be disastrous. The most important decision of our lives, of course, is our decision to follow the Lord. This decision is not a one-time declaration, but a daily determination to follow Jesus above all. If we allow the emotional or soulish realm to dominate our lives we become more susceptible to the enemy leading us astray through someone. This area of the flesh should be brought under the Lord's subjection so that Satan does not get the advantage and consequently destroy our lives and ministries. So many have failed the Lord because they chose a man or woman over the Lord.

We find this true throughout the Bible, too. Solomon's heathen wives led him into idolatry. Samson lost his eyes because of a woman, Delilah. David committed murder because of passion for Bathsheba.

Our emotions need to be cleansed as they are not the sign of love. The true definition of love is "God is love." If God is not in a relationship it is not true love. What this world calls love is really lust since it is built on what the other person does for me, not what I can do for him or her. If the other person fails to keep up his end of the bargain, a divorce occurs because the offended mate is no longer pleased. This is the attitude of the world's so-called "love." God's love loves without receiving back; God's love is forgiving and patient. God's love is gentle and kind. God's love waits. God's love sacrifices.

1 Corinthians 13 in the Bible gives us a beautiful definition of real love: (In this King James translation the word "charity" means "love.")

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Man's emotions are not a reliable gauge upon which to establish a marriage relationship. We must know in the Spirit that it is God's will. It is much better to marry for character than for emotion. Emotions fluctuate; character doesn't. Emotions are in the soulish realm, and unless the carnal mind has been renewed, Satan can give us emotions or feelings of love for someone of his choosing. (If he did not have this in his power, he could not split up marriages.) One of his favorite techniques is to suddenly take away the feelings one once had for his mate and give feelings for someone else. When he has successfully convinced a person that he no longer loves his or her mate, then he leads them to divorce, whispering, "You are living a lie." After he has destroyed that marriage, he then leads one to marry again by stirring their emotions for another. Often after their next marriage something happens that they do not expect. Before too long, friction begins to develop with the new mate, then arguing. Finally, they find the same thing has happened again; they feel no emotion for their new mate and the next divorce is in the making. "Falling" in love is Satan's way. The very expression of these words should tell us something. A Christian should not blindly "fall" into any trap. Love is bigger than simply falling for someone. Certainly, the Lord gives us a wonderful emotional feeling for the one we are to marry. However, this "feeling" without God's direction can be disastrous as Satan can tamper with our emotions and feelings too.

Marriage, in a Christian's life, should be based on a decision directed by the Holy Spirit. A Christian's love for another is a commitment. Of course, the Lord will supply the emotions for the mate He sends, but that should not be the criterion for making the decision to marry. The Lord should be sought, and whatever He speaks to us we should do. He knows the future and what is best for us. If we trust Him He will not fail us in this or any other important area. Women or men who allow emotions to rule them will never be victorious Christians. Emotions should always follow, never lead.

During Old and New Testament times, fathers and mothers chose the mates for their children. God's people were very careful to choose those who were "believers." We find this practice still prevalent in India and other Eastern cultures. The parents, being older and more prudent, made wiser decisions than the children in this area. The divorce rate in India is only about 7%, whereas in the USA, at the present, it is nearing 50%. Marriages that are loveless can be saved and restored simply by asking God to restore the love that was once there. Sexual relationships can also be healed by praying for a desire for one's mate. Prayer is a mighty weapon. God's love can mend and heal, providing people are willing to lay down their lives for their mates. His love will not fade, as does the love of the world.

Those who are single and have never been married are cautioned in God's Word to seek a mate who is a like believer. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)." Many precious people suffer because they are living with unsaved mates. Some did not have Christ when they made their marriage decision, but they have since found the Lord. Those will have God's grace and love to win their mates for Jesus. The Lord always strives to bring the lost mate to Himself through the partner who knows Him. Mighty miracles of deliverance and salvation have occurred when people have endured suffering in order to bring their mates to the Lord. Those people who have the light, but choose to marry into darkness by yoking themselves to unsaved mates find that their flesh has led them away from God.

The Lord wants to bless marriage unions and see His plans fulfilled in both mates' lives. What a glorious plan He had from the beginning for both male and female. We can trust Him in this important decision. If we will totally commit to do His will we will never be disappointed in the one He sends into our lives.

____________

This article is taken from the book Neither Male Nor Female by Betty Miller. Betty has written several books on other topics as well. To view titles or purchase those books click here:  http://store.bible.com/

Household Order - Biblical Family

"What should be the order of priorities in our family?"





The Bible does not lay out a step-by-step order for family relationship priorities.





 However, we can still look to the Scriptures and find general principles for prioritizing our family relationships.





God obviously comes first: Deuteronomy 6:5,





 "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." All of one's heart, soul, and strength is to be committed to loving God, making Him the first priority.





If you are married, your spouse comes next.

 A married man is to love his wife as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). Christ's first priority-after obeying and glorifying the Father-was the church.





Here is an example a husband should follow:





God first, then his wife.





 In the same way, wives are to submit to their husbands "as to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:22). The principle is that a woman's husband is second only to God in her priorities.





If husbands and wives are second only to God in our priorities, and since a husband and wife are one flesh (Ephesians 5:31), it stands to reason that the result of the marriage relationship-children-should be the next priority.

Parents are to raise godly children who will be the next generation of those who love the Lord with all their hearts (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4), showing once again that God comes first.





All other family relationships should reflect that.





Deuteronomy 5:16 tells us to honour our parents so that we may live long and so things will go well with us. No age limit is specified, which leads us to believe that as long as our parents are alive, we should honour them. Of course, once a child reaches adulthood, he is no longer obligated to obey them ("Children, obey your parents..."), but there is no age limit to honouring them.





 We can conclude from this that parents are next in the list of priorities after God, our spouses, and our children.





After parents comes the rest of one's family (1 Timothy 5:8).





Following one's extended family in the list of priorities are fellow believers.

 Romans 14 tells us not to judge or look down upon our brothers (v. 10) or do anything to cause a fellow Christian to "stumble" or fall spiritually. Much of the book of 1 Corinthians is Paul's instructions on how the church should live together in harmony, loving one another.





Other exhortations referring to our brothers and sisters in Christ are "serve one another in love" (Galatians 5:13); "be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32); "encourage one another and build each other up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11); and "consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).





 Finally comes the rest of the world (Matthew 28:19), to whom we should bring the gospel, making disciples of Christ.





In conclusion, the scriptural order of priorities is





God, spouse, children, parents, extended family, brothers and sisters in Christ, and then the rest of the world.












While sometimes decisions must be made to focus on one person over another, the goal is to not be neglecting any of our relationships.





 The biblical balance is allowing God to empower us to meet all of our relationship priorities, inside and outside our families.

God Is Getting You Ready

God Is Getting You Ready

'...first sit down and estimate the cost...' Luke 14:28 NIV




Before God gives you more, He observes you with what you already have.


Furthermore, when He speaks a word over your life it's like a seed; it needs time to take root and sprout. If God has planned it for you, don't be impatient;


 '...wait for it; because it will surely come...' (Habakkuk 2:3 KJV)


 Patience develops in us the ability to stand up to the pressures that accompany blessing.






Look back; aren't some of the things you've been through the very things that have equipped you to handle what you have now?


Had God given them to you sooner you couldn't have handled them, and He loves you too much to let that happen.


 Think:


 if you're having difficulty handling criticism from a few people, how would you cope if God made you pastor or company president? Are you ready to pay the price? And, more importantly, are you able to pay it?


 The more God gives you, the more He holds you responsible for.


 Jesus said, 'No man builds without counting the cost.'


Sometimes we want things because others have them. You say you want a husband and children, for example-but are you ready to start living sacrificially?


You say you need a wife, but are you ready to give yourself for her? (Ephesians 5:25)


 Whatever you're going through today, there's great peace in knowing that nothing the enemy does can pre-empt God's plan.


So, 'Don't be impatient for the Lord to act!


Keep travelling steadily along His pathway and in due season He will honour you with every blessing.' (Psalm 37:34 TLB)

Rejoice; God is getting you ready.

Abraham Lincoln born in poverty, Lincoln was faced with defeat throughout his life. He lost eight elections, twice failed in business and suffered a nervous breakdown. He could have quit many times - but he didn’t and because he didn’t quit, he became one of the greatest presidents in the United States history. Here is a sketch of Lincoln’s road to the White House: 1816 His family was forced out of their home. He had to work to support them. 1818 His mother died. 1831 Failed in business. 1832 Ran for state legislature - lost. 1832 Also lost his job - wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in. 1833 Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off this debt. 1834 Ran for state legislature again - won. 1835 Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was broken. 1836 Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months. 1838 Sought to become speaker of the state legislature - defeated. 1840 Sought to become elector - defeated. 1843 Ran for Congress - lost. 1846 Ran for Congress again - this time he won - went to Washington and did a good job. 1848 Ran for re-election to Congress - lost. 1849 Sought the job of land officer in his home state - rejected. 1854 Ran for Senate of the United States - lost. 1856 Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party’s national convention - get less than 100 votes. 1858 Ran for U.S. Senate again - again he lost. 1860 elected president of the United States. Difficulties in your life do not come to destroy you, but to help you and realize your hidden potential and Power, Let Difficulties know that you have a God who blesses you and gives success. Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced. 1 Chronicles 16:11-12 (NIV)

How Do You Find a Mate..?

   

What should a woman look for in a husband?  

 1.    The man should be committed to growing in his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Do not take on a fellow as a discipleship project. Don’t take on a husband who has merely mastered Bible trivia. Look for a husband who is serious about growing in grace and in his knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Imagine that he is going to be, in part, your shepherd and your guide; that he is going to be the spiritual leader of your home; that he is going to be the nurturer of your children together.  

2. A husband should be an individual of obvious integrity.  

If you find him in an employee/employer situation fudging the issue in his sales calls, telling somebody that he can get the product to them in two weeks when he comes afterwards and tells you that actually he knew that he couldn’t get it there for four weeks, but he said that because he didn’t want to lose the sale — on the day he tells you that, you need to have a long, serious conversation with him. And if he seeks to under-gird his deceptiveness with argumentation, you should probably kiss him goodbye. You need a husband who is honest to the core, to a fault.  

 2.   Look for a husband who is able to lead boldly.  

Look for the kind of man who can think for himself, who can weigh options, and who can make good decisions. A girl should never settle for leadership that is selfish, bombastic, and domineering. The leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ, as espoused by the Apostles, is a leadership that is marked by an attitude of servanthood, an attitude that submits to the leadership of others.  

  

 3.   Look for a husband who displays the ability to love sacrificially.  

For example, watch, at the end of an evening with friends, to see if this character is quick to organize and spearhead the cleanup, or whether he waits for everybody else to clean up. Observe the way he relates to children and to strangers. See if he possesses a willingness to hold doors for passersby with full arms. Watch his attitude to waitresses and to other people who are involved in serving the public.  

5. A husband should be able to laugh heartily.  

  

Humour is a vital element in preventing marital failure. The ability to laugh doesn’t mean that he’s the class clown or even a joke-teller. In fact, he may be hopeless at telling jokes. That may be the funniest part about him.  

 But it is important that he likes to laugh, and a key trait to look for is his willingness to laugh at himself. If he takes himself too seriously, look out.  

6. A husband should model genuine humility.  

Simply put, a good husband shouldn’t be stuck on himself. Genuine humility keeps its focus on others. And if you find yourself in the company of somebody who cannot be an understudy, who can’t sit in the second chair, who has always got to be the theme of the story, the joke of the party, the success of the event, I want to suggest to you, girls, that you might want to take a long, hard look at whether you’re in the company of the person with whom you want to spend the rest of your life.  

What should a man look for in a wife..?

1. A good wife must have a personal faith and trust in the Lord Jesus.

Don’t enter into an intimate relationship where one person is a Christian and the other is not. The Bible is clear – don’t get unequally yoked.

2. Look for a wife who possesses beauty that is deeper than the skin.

 It is less important to find a woman whose beauty comes from time spent in front of a beauty parlor than from time spent in the presence of the Lord Jesus.

3. Look for a wife who is an initiative-taker with an attitude of submission.

This simply parallels what we said previously about a man being a sacrificial leader. Any wise fellow is looking for a woman with ideas, abilities, hopes, plans, gifts, dreams, the whole panorama of abilities that she brings to marriage, because in entering into marriage in more areas than we are prepared to admit, we, as the husbands, will be dependent upon their knowledge, upon their insight, upon their courage, upon their faith, upon their expertise.

There will seldom be a day, as a man, when we do not have occasion to depend on multiple levels upon the wisdom, insight, initiative, grace, courage, faithfulness, integrity, skill, giftedness, of our wives.

4. A wife should build her husband’s confidence.

Trustworthiness stems from character. A woman’s intrinsic qualities are revealed by her actions.

5. Look for a wife who displays kindness that touches others.

Women don’t have the exclusive ownership of the characteristic of kindness, but often they do a much better job in expressing compassion than most men. If you think about it, women that have marked our lives have often marked our thinking on account of their tenderness.

6. A wife, like a husband, should have a sense of humor that braves adversity.

The ability to laugh will get couples through more than a few rough spots.

The following is a small portion of a three-part radio broadcast series produced by the ministry of Family Life Today which aired August 8-10, 2007. Pastor Alistair Begg was speaking to singles on the subject, “How Do You Find a Mate.”

http://www.spiritoffire.org/ebooks/marriage/prologue.htm

My heart Beats for you

Im rejected many times  by many people...rejected in school,rejected in college,rejected in love, rejected in family,blamed n insulted,rejected and im kept at last place. Got so many suicidal thoughts.Thought to die ,felt lonely,no support, only cried to LORD in all my defeats of this painful life from childhood.

Floods of tears in my room, im still alive for one reason.The reason is im not rejected by GOD, Im choosen by him.He choose to love me, when others started hating me, He started to shower his mercy n grace on me, when i started sinning broken in pieces with this life. He bore me on his shoulders,he lifted me up . Nobody believed me ,all  see me as a waste garbage,im discouraged,laughed n insulted, but GOD holded me and hugged me.He is there for me,i waited for him.

There was a time i gave up and fall into sins, searched for my own selfish desires.But MY FATHER knows what i wanted,he never gave up on me.He loved me n want me more than anyone i know.I never seen a Love like that and i can never see.He is there for me.Im thankful to JESUS,he never gave up on me. I'M REJECTED BY ALL BUT GOD CHOOSED ME. Im saved by his grace...this waste garbage he is in love,he made me feel so precious only because of him. Now i surrender myself to you my Father.Now all the love and honour im getiing ,it's because of you my JESUS,Im your's..........

DEEPTHI( THIS IS HOW MY LORD LIKES TO CALL ME)

THE MARTYRS OF CHRIST

Martyrs of Christ are never buried.. they are sown....(John 12:24)

This true story dates back to the time when North Korea and South Korea were engaged in a big conflict.

As a result Christian preachers were targeted by the Communists.

In such a tense situation a group of 40 activists kidnapped a preacher, his wife and two children. They took them to the outskirts of the city.

They forced the preacher to deny Christ and that he will no longer preach that Christ is Lord. But the preacher refused. They threatened him saying that they will bury him, his wife and children alive. But the preacher did not budge.

As if to prove that they were serious, they started digging a hole right in front of them. But they could not get a word out of him. This aroused their anger and they placed the four of them in the hole.

Now they began playing on his emotions.

" Because of your stubbornness your innocent children are going to die in right in front of your own eyes. Deny Christ and we shall leave you ".

But the preacher did not relent. Finally they started filling up the hole.

Still the preacher remained unmoved. The hole was filled up gradually and now the children were about to be covered. Slowly the preacher started getting shaky. He was torn between emotions.

The cries of his little children moved him. But realizing this the preacher's wife told him,

"Within a little while we shall all be with our Lord forever.. Be bold and do not give up."

These words encouraged him and he did not relent. As a result all of them were buried alive. The news of this tragedy shocked many.

The Christians of South Korea were shaken. " Why did God allow this to happen ?. The preacher preached about Christ . He was killed. What wrong did his wife and children do ?"

These were the questions that rent the air.

The preachers were confused and found it difficult to answer these questions. Years rolled by. This was the time of the great revival in South Korea. This was the time when the renowned preacher Paul Yongi Cho was the pastor of the biggest congregation in the world.

One day during the service a man rose up and told the surprised audience that he was one among the 40 persons who buried the preacher and his family and he proceeded to explain the details of the gory incident.

He said that he was moved by the courage and conviction of the preacher who did not deny Christ even at the point of death.

He had wanted to know who that Jesus was and in the process he had been convicted and had accepted Christ as his Savior.

Moreover all the 40 involved in that incident had at some point in their lives been saved and were members of Paul Yongi Cho's church.

It took many years to understand why God had permitted that incident. God had used the death of those 4 people save 40 more.

--- Martyrs of Christ are never buried.. they are sown....

A CHRISTIAN’S WAY TO REDUCE STRESS

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future.

If you worry about what may happen tomorrow

and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain.

Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule,

or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough,-

-two are often too many)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and

difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern,

find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety.

If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet,

an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice

can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help

improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot.

Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until

it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between

despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful

for that you've never been grateful for before.

GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.

"IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?"

Romans 8:31

some random pictures