Reading His Own Obituary

One morning while Alfred Nobel was reading the paper, he was shocked to discover his own obituary.

Someone at the newspaper had obviously made a great error and falsely reported that he had died. You might say that Nobel was given a luxury that few people will ever receive: a chance to see what's said about him after his death.

The obituary primarily remembered him as the man who had invented dynamite, which had been used as a weapon of warfare, killing thousands. It turned his blood to ice to think that above all his other accomplishments in life, he would be remembered as the man who gave the world its most destructive weapon. Then and there, he determined that he would make some changes in his life. Nobel made a personal vow: "From this day forward, I will dedicate my life to the pursuit of peace." Creator of the Nobel Peace Prize, today when we hear of Alfred Nobel, we no longer think of dynamite, but of peace.

THOUGHT: As you examine your spiritual life, how would you describe it? Would you describe yourself as strong? Weak? About to give up? Before you become discouraged and fall out of the race entirely, give it one more shot. Put everything you have into it. Give it your all, or one day you may wake up and realize that you wasted and squandered the resources and potential God placed within you.

- By Greg Laurie.

I Am Forgiveness

My Lord, forgive me I pray. Could I withhold forgiveness? I, who live ever to plead for My children, who told them that always when they pray they must forgive in their hearts? I am God but I became man. Perfect God and perfect man. So human and yet so Divine. Because I am Eternal -- that I must ever be. So see in Me all I enjoined My followers they must ever be and do. Could I withhold forgiveness?

BeELEVATED: FIVE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING PURPOSE

BeELEVATED: FIVE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING PURPOSE: "The PURPOSE of life is not to be happy; it is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate. To have it makes some difference ...

Is Your Hut Burning? 
 The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. BUT then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried. 



 Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied. 



 It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground - it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God. 



 For all of the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it: 



 You say: "It's impossible" 
God says: All things are possible because God can do all things.....



 You say: "I'm too tired" 
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30) 



 You say: "Nobody really loves me" 
God says: I love you.......



 You say: "I can't go on" 
God says: My grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9 and Psalm 91:15) 



 You say: "I can't do it" 
God says: You can do all things through Christ 



 You say: "I can't figure things out" 
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6) 



 You say: "I'm not able" 
God says: I am able (2 Corinthians 9:8) 



 You say: "It's not worth it" 
God says: It will be worth it 



 You say: "I can't forgive myself" 
God says: I FORGIVE YOU (l John 1:9 and Romans 8:1) 



 You say: "I can't manage" 
God says: I will supply all your needs 


 You say: "I'm afraid" 
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7) 



 You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated" 
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (1 Peter 5:7) 



 You say: "I don't have enough faith" 
God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3) 



 You say: "I'm not smart enough" 
God says: I give you wisdom 



 You say: "I feel all alone" 
God says: I will NEVER leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) 

GRACE

It is grace at the beginning, and grace at the end.  So that when you and I come to lie upon our death beds,  the one thing that should comfort and help and strengthen us there is the thing that helped us in the beginning.  Not what we have been, not what we have done, but the grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.  The Christian life starts with grace, it must continue with grace, it ends with grace.  Grace wondrous grace.  By the grace of God I am what I am.  Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

(D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)