#0000535

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The circumstances of life, the events of life, and the people around me in life do not make me the way I am, but reveal the way I am...-Sam Peeples Jr........John3:6-8 "Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at My saying, 'you must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

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#0000536

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The art of being lucky. There are rules of luck and the wise do not leave it all to chance. Luck can be assisted by care. Some content themselves confidently at the gate of fortune, waiting till she opens it. Others do better, and press forward and profit by their clever boldness, reaching the goddess and winning her favor on the wings of their virtue and valor. But a true philosophy has no other umpire than virtue and insight-for there is no good or bad luck except wisdom and foolishness...-Baltasar Gracian, The Art Of Worldly Wisdom Maxim21........Nehemiah5:19 "Think upon me, my God, for good."

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#0000537

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Always give it to them straight... Since I was up-front with them and didn't give 'assurances of peace when there was no peace,' the staff was willing to go the extra miles needed to get the business back on track-and we did it...-Jim Seybert........Jeremiah 8:11,-13 "They dress the wound of My people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace.-I will take away their harvest, declares the Lord. There will be no grapes on the vine.There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither. What I have given them will be taken from them."

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#0000538

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Moses knew that crossing the Red Sea wasn't an end in itself, and he quickly directed the people's attention towards the future. Incremental success is not the ultimate objective. Once you successfully cross the Red Sea, take a moment to mark the occasion, then fix your sights on your destination and keep moving forward...-Jim Seybert, Leaders..........Exodus15:22 "Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea..."

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#0000539

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It was common knowledge that the Levites would be given property within each of the other tribes' regional land grants(Joshua21:1-2 "The Lord commanded Moses to give us towns to live in and pasturelands for our livestock). Joshua, the Levites, and all the people knew this, but the Levites didn't just assume that Joshua would do what was right. They made their request. Never presume, always ask...-Jim Seybert, Leaders........."My brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.-Valiant for the truth.-Fight the Lord's battles.-Be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work:...Fear ye not.-Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.-Yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry."////Ephesians6.10.-Jeremiah9.3.-1Samuel18.17.-Hagar2.4,5.-John4.35.-Hebrews10.37\\\

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#0000540

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If everything we have comes from God, you have no right to be conceited, no warrant for being a bully, and no reason to crave for what you don't have. Do your best for God, and be satisfied that He has a plan chosen especially for you, even if you're an underdog...-Jim Seybert, Leaders..........Galatians5:26.-Jude24:25 "Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.-Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

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#0000541

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Go back to the basics. Reduce the complexities and increase the clarity...-Chip Ingram..........Psalm90:1 "Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."

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#0000542

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The cheapest gift l have to give is kindness, and it is the best...-Bob Kerry........Ephesians4:32 "Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

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#0000543

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Then after you have prayed the prayer of faith and there are no apparent hindrances, go forward with a confident heart. Do not be surprised if your answer comes in doors closing before you. But when doors are shut to the right and left, an open road is sure to lead to Troas. Luke waits for you there, and visions will point the way to where vast opportunities remain open, and faithful friends are waiting...-F.B.Meyer ........Acts16:7-9 "When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us'."

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#0000544

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Ordinary men hate solitude. But the Master makes use of it, embracing his alone-ness, realizing he is one with the whole universe...-Lao Tzu..........Acts17:22-25 "Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: 'Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of Heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands."

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#0000545

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When you have a plan, you are more comfortable. When you are prepared, you are more confident...-Fred Couples........Proverbs14:22-23 "Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.-All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."

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#0000546

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You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one...-James Froude.........Matthew6:7-9.-12.-14 "When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him! Pray like this: Our Father in Heaven, may your name be honored....-and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us....-If you forgive those who sin against you, your Heavenly Father will forgive you."

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#0000547

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Then in the eager look followed by the gleam of hope that chases the shadow of despair from the soul, you will know why you were afflicted. And you will bless God for the discipline that filled your life with such a treasure of experience and helpfulness. God comforts us not to make us comfortable but to make us comforters…- John Henry Jowett…….. Isaiah 40:1,2a “Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed…”

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#0000548

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If we obey God it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the sting comes in. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything, it is a delight, but it costs those who do not love Him a good deal. If we obey God it will mean that other people’s plans are upset, and they will gibe us with it- “You call this Christianity?” We can prevent the suffering; but if we are going to obey God, we must not prevent it, we must let the cost be paid. He will look after those who have been pressed into the consequences of our obedience. We have simply to obey and to leave all consequences with Him…-O. Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest ……. Yahweh M’kaddesh “I am the Lord your Sanctifier” [ Leviticus 20:8; 1 Corinthians 6:11] “All who entrust their lives to Him, He sanctifies or sets apart as His children, reborn and made whole, able to serve and do His Will on earth.”

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#0000549

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Standing on the promises of Christ my king,/ Through eternal ages let His praises ring;/ Glory in the highest I will shout and sing,/ Standing on the promises of God.// Standing on the promises that cannot fail,/ When the howling storms of doubt and fears assail;/ By the living Word of God I shall prevail,/ Standing on the promises of God…-R. Kelso Carter…… 2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory.”

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#0000550

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In the midst of an ever-changing world, the good news is that the life of faith is anchored by the power, provisions, and promises of God. Circumstances may change, but the future is as sure as the character of God Himself. No matter what happens, those who trust in God hope in His Word…- Scott Hafemann…….. Jeremiah 17:7.- Ephesians 5:19,20 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. – Speak to one another with Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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#0000551

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Open your mind to God’s wisdom, open your soul to God’s peace, open your heart to God’s love and all three will stay with you forever…- Mary Stavros ………. Isaiah 55:1-2 “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink-even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk- it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul!

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#0000552

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In Bible times, we see a few good men who found their bearings as they submitted themselves to the Authority of God over their lives and as a result were thrust in leadership of historical proportions and eternal consequence. Moses demonstrated to Israel the centrality of loving the Lord and walking in His Ways to their survival and to a life of blessing…- Michelle Ocampo-Joaquin, Legacy: One Man To Another ……….. Deuteronomy 30:19b,20 “…Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His Voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life.”

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#0000553

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My Son, Be aware of other people. Pay attention to them-their needs, their desires, their concerns. Learn to look beyond ‘me, myself, and mine.’ Most of all, they also need to know that God loves them and cares for them. God will smile if you let them feel God’s love through you. Show them. Tell them…- Nathan H. Montenegro, Legacy ……. Psalm 39:7 “By now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools.”

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#0000554

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It is commonly thought that a protected and easy life is the best way to live. Yet the lives of all the noblest and strongest people prove exactly the opposite and that the endurance of hardship is the making of the person. It is the factor that distinguishes between merely existing and living a vigorous life. Hardship builds character...-L.B.Cowman........Philippians1:12 "Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel."

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#0000555

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I had very low self-esteem once. This was because I was preoccupied in running after the applause and the approval of men. The more I did that, the more insecure I became. With insecurity came anger. Soon I found myself blaming other people for not giving me the credit I thought was due me. It was a never-ending cycle of emotional pain-until I found the truth and made the choice to agree with it.--I am God's masterpiece and so are you.- Do not allow people to define you, Instead, allow the truth, God's Word, to define you...-Ray An Fuentes.............Psalm139:13-14 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your Works are wonderful, I know that full well."

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#0000556

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The success of a campaign depends on the degree to which you can excite the emotions of the people you are trying to reach. It's not enough to give them the facts about your product or service; you have to touch their hearts, ignite a passion. Your goal should be to create a desire for your vision and make them want it, even if they don't believe they need it. Whenever you need people to follow you, find a way to excite their emotions. Create a desire, not just a need...-Jim Seybert, Leaders..... ...Matthew4:19 "Jesus called out to them, 'Come, follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people."

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#0000557

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This is intensely difficult work for Him and us- it is difficult for us to go, but equally difficult for Him to cause us pain. Yet it must be done. It would not be in our best interest to always remain in one happy and comfortable location. Therefore He moves us forward. The shepherd leaves the fold so the sheep will move on to the vitalizing mountain slopes. In the same way, laborers must be driven out into the harvest, or else the golden grain would spoil.--But take heart! It could never be better to stay once He determines otherwise; if the loving hand of our Lord moves us forward, it must be best. Forward, in His Name, to green pastures, quiet waters, and mountain heights...-L.B.Cowman, Streams............Psalm23:2 "He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters."

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#0000558

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We imagine we understand where the other person is, until God gives us a dose of the plague of our own hearts. There are whole tracts of stubborness and ignorance to be revealed by the Holy Spirit in each one of us, and it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone-by affliction, heartbreak, or temptation, by disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted affection, by a broken friendship-when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are dumbfounded, and cannot ask one question, then He begins to expound...-Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For Highest...........John14:26 "But when the Father sends the Counselor as My representative-and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit-He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you."

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#0000559

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Dangers are near! And fears my mind are shaking;/ Heart seems to dread what life may hold in store;/ But I am His-He knows the way I'm taking,/ More blessed even still-HE GOES BEFORE.// HE GOES BEFORE! Be this my consolation! He goes before! On this my heart would dwell! He goes before! This guarantees Salvation!/ HE GOES BEFORE! And therefore all is well...-J.Danson Smith........John10:4 "When He has brought out all His Own, He goes on ahead of them."

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#0000560

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This is the blessed life-not anxious to see far down the road nor overly concerned about the next step, not eager to choose the path nor weighted down with the heavy responsibilities of the future, but quietly following the Shepherd, one step at a time…- F.B. Meyer …………. Yahweh Nissi “I am the Lord your Banner”…… Exodus 17:15, 1 John 5:4,5 “He is our Battle Flag of Victory, as we march forth and fight to establish His kingdom on earth and in men’s hearts.”

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#0000561

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God is in every tomorrow,/ Therefore I live for today,/ Certain of finding at sunrise,/ Guidance and strength for my way;/ / Power for each moment of weakness,/ Hope for each moment of pain,/ Comfort for every sorrow,/ Sunshine and joy after rain...F.B.Meyer........1John5:4,5 "For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

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#0000562

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We’ve got to see life through- beyond Money. We must accept the Stewardship as Servant-Leadership. Serving by leading those who cannot see beyond themselves, Healing those who are without hope, Shepherding the Flock. Nurturing the Family forward. Service to Community. Helping shape the City. Productive for Country. Renewing, Uplifting, Ever growing in the love of God. All in the Mighty and precious Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…- H.P…….. 1 Corinthians 6:11b “You have been made right with God because of what the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you.”

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#0000563

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Isaiah's soul was so attuned to God by the tremendous crisis he had gone through that he recorded the call of God to his amazed soul. The majority of us have no ear for anything but ourselves, we cannot hear anything God says. To be brought into the zone of the call of God is to be profoundly altered...-Oswald Chambers........Isaiah 6:8 "I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send?'"

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#0000564

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Consider the countermoves you might face, and plan your game with the skill of a chess master, like Queen Esther...-Jim Seybert........Esther5:4 "If it please the King, let the King and Haman come today to a banquet I have prepared for the King."