G U I Dance

This was sent to us to encourage and bless those who are involved in the TTG cause. Let us continue to uphold each other in prayer and as we put to practice P U S H, may we also learn to "dance with God" and allow Him to lead and give us guidance.


G U I D A N C E  

Dancing With God  

When I meditated on the word Guidance,  
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.  

I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.  


When two people try to lead, nothing feels right...  
The movement doesn't flow with the music,  
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.  


When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,  
both bodies begin to flow with the music.  
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back  
or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.  
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.  


The dance takes surrender, willingness,  
and attentiveness from one person  
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.  


My eyes drew back to the word   Guidance.  
When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".  
"God, "u" and "i" dance."  
God, you, and I dance.  


As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust  
that I would get     guidance about my life.  
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.  


My prayer for you today is that God's blessings  
and mercies are upon you on this day and everyday.  
May you abide in God, as God  abides in you.  


Dance together with God, trusting God to lead  
and to guide you through each season of your life.  
This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached.  


If God has done anything for  you in your life,  
please share this message with someone else.  
There is no cost but a lot of rewards;  
so let's continue to pray for one another.  


And I Hope You Dance Through 2010

--
God bless you

"The spirit of man is a candle of the Lord"  -  Prov 20:27

Planning Your Escape by Doug Hunter

Topic on Integrity and Ethics.

The knot in my stomach grew as I listened to South Carolina’s governor, Mark Sanford, reveal to the world that he had joined the tragically long list of men and women in positions of great influence who have fallen morally, sacrificing not only that great influence, but so much more.

Ironically – although very typical of how God works in my life – I have just been studying David in my personal quiet times, and I found the knot I felt this week very similar to the one I feel when I read of David’s failure with Bathsheba … and all of damage that fall caused for David, his family and the whole nation of Israel for years to come.

Of course, the Bible tells us that our hearts are all “desperately wicked”, and we can trace this pattern of failure all the way back to Adam … so what should we expect? Right? … actually, I don’t think that is right at all. Certainly, God knows we are all moral failures – “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) – that is why we need a Savior. But He also says that we don’t have to be slaves to that failure, and that He “will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (I Corinthians 10:13 NASB) God had provided Adam, David … and Governor Sanford … with a way of escape – they just didn’t take it. Too often, I don’t either, but I’m learning to be intentional in planning to use that escape in advance. Let me explain.

Even though you and I can’t know the specifics of the temping situations we will face, we can take steps to enable us to see and take advantage of the “way of escape” God promises He will provide. For instance …

CHECK YOUR FOUNDATION – Fight to maintain a vital, growing relationship with Christ, with your spouse, your family, your church. Know what the Bible says, and let a biblical world view be the lens that brings clarity to your decisions and actions.

BUILD KEY RELATIONSHIPS – David was alone when he got into trouble, and too often that is a contributing factor … “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18) can apply to more than just the need for a “helpmate”, although the depth and transparency of your relationship with your spouse is the most important of your keys. You also need to have people who know and care enough about you to “encourage you to love and good deeds” as well as challenge you when you need to be challenged … and who will pray for you faithfully. You need to be part of a small group – this is why I had to get back into an FCCI group as soon as I stepped into this role.

PLAN – You and I know most of our weaknesses – where much of our temptation is likely to arise – so we can plan at least some of our own protection. Avoiding certain situations (like being alone or traveling with a person of the opposite sex) developing defensive habits (I put a towel over the television set in my hotel room so I have to make a conscious decision to take it off and turn the TV on) or using strategically placed reminders of your priorities (family pictures around your office, subscribe to daily emails that focus your mind on God from the time you turn on your computer, etc.)

I could go on, but let me conclude with two things Governor Sanford said that we need to hear. He began his explanation by telling us “It began very innocently as I suspect many of these things do.” From the very first encounter with man and woman in the Garden of Eden, it has been clear that our enemy is wise and subtle. He takes situations that appear innocent, and turns them into traps … and he takes the truth and distorts it just enough so that it still has the sound of truth, but it’s his version, not God’s. You and I also have to know that, because we have been placed in positions of leadership and influence, that same enemy has even more reason to want to take us down – and as publically as possible. Of course, we don’t want to pin everything on some outside force – as Pogo so famously said, and as you and I can often confirm, “We have met the enemy … and we are him!” It’s good we don’t have to fight this two-front battle alone!

Gov. Sanford also prefaced his statement with the comment that "We'll let the chips fall where they may." You and I need to remember that, as members of the Body of Christ, we can’t live with that philosophy. Falling chips can hurt, and they usually hit more people than we could ever imagine. As Ambassadors for Jesus Christ, as the “light of the world”, as a “city set on a hill”, we have more than enough reason to be intentional in where our chips fall … or IF our chips fall. At a time when the world is looking for moral authority, for stability, for hope … you and I need to plan … and to “take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” (Galatians 6:13 NASB)

Lord, please keep me from ever being the cause of a knot in someone else’s stomach! Amen.

To read more interesting Articles, click on : http://www.fcci.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=15&Itemid=76&lang=en

When, God, When? by Joyce Meyer

We all want good things to happen in our lives, but too often we want it now...not later. When it doesn't happen that way, we are tempted to ask, "When, God, when?" Most of us need to grow in the area of trusting God instead of focusing on the “when” question. If you're missing joy and peace, you're not trusting God. If your mind feels worn out all the time, you're not trusting God.

The tendency to want to know about everything that's going on can be detrimental to your Christian walk. Sometimes knowing everything can be uncomfortable and can even hurt you. I spent a large part of my life being impatient, frustrated and disappointed because there were things I didn't know. God had to teach me to leave things alone and quit feeling that I needed to know everything. I finally learned to trust the One who knows all things and accept that some questions may never be answered.

We prove that we trust God when we refuse to worry. God wants us to live by discernment—revelation knowledge, not head knowledge. It's difficult to exercise discernment if you're always trying to figure out everything. But when you're willing to say, "God, I can't figure this out, so I'm going to trust You to give me revelation that will set me free," then you can be comfortable in spite of not knowing.

Trusting God often requires not knowing how God is going to accomplish what needs to be done and not knowing when He will do it. We often say God is never late, but generally He isn't early either. Why? Because He uses times of waiting to stretch our faith in Him and to bring about change and growth in our lives.

WAIT WITH PATIENCE
We spend a lot of time in our lives waiting because change is a process. Many people want change, but they don't want to go through the waiting process. But the truth is, waiting is a given—we are going to wait. The question is, are we going to wait the wrong or right way?

If we wait the wrong way, we'll be miserable; but if we decide to wait God's way, we can become patient and enjoy the wait. It takes practice, but as we let God help us in each situation, we develop patience, which is one of the most important Christian virtues. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22). It’s developed only under trial, so we must not run from difficult situations. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing (James 1:4). As we develop patience, the Bible says we finally feel completely satisfied—lacking nothing. Even our relationship with God involves progressive changes.

My relationship with God is so much different now than it was in the early days of my Christian experience. It is not nearly as emotionally exciting...and yet it is better. Every change I've gone through has made me more mature, solid and well-grounded. We learn to trust God by going through many experiences that require trust. By seeing God's faithfulness over and over, we let go of trusting ourselves, and gradually we place our trust in Him. Looking at it like this, it is easy to see how timing plays an important part in learning to trust God. If He did everything we asked for immediately, we would never grow and develop. Timing and trust work side by side.

ACCEPT GOD’S TIMING
God gives us hopes and dreams for certain things to happen in our lives, but He doesn't always allow us to see the exact timing of His plan. Although frustrating, not knowing the exact timing is often what keeps us in the program. There are times when we might give up if we knew how long it was going to take, but when we accept God's timing, we can learn to live in hope and enjoy our lives while God is working on our problems. We know that God's plan for our lives is good, and when we entrust ourselves to Him, we can experience total peace and happiness.

The book of Genesis tells the story of Joseph, who waited many years for the fulfillment of the dream God had given him. He was falsely accused and imprisoned before the time came for him to do what God had shown him he was to do. Exodus 13:17,18 tells us that God led the Israelites the longer, harder way on their journey to the Promised Land because He knew they were not yet ready to go in. There had to be time for their training, and they had to go through some very trying situations. They wasted a lot of time wondering about God's timing, but God never failed to take care of them and show them what He wanted them to do.

The same is true in our lives. It was many years after I received my call from God in February of 1976 before I finally began to see major fulfillment of what God had called me to do. God's training period simply requires us to do what He tells us to do when He tells us to do it...without questioning or trying to figure everything out.

LEARN TO RELY ON GOD
Proverbs 16:9 says, A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure. Proverbs 20:24 says, Man's steps are ordered by the Lord. How then can a man understand his way?

When God directs our paths, He sometimes leads us in ways that don't make sense to us so we're not always going to understand everything. If we try to reason out everything, we will experience struggle, confusion and misery—but there is a better way. Proverbs 3:5,6 says, Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. This sounds so simple, yet too many people make the mistake of trying to figure everything out themselves.

Most of us have spent our lives trying to take care of ourselves, but when we accept Christ as our Savior, we must learn to trust our lives to His care. When we do, we can say with the psalmist, ...I trusted in, relied on, and was confident in You, O Lord; I said, You are my God. My times are in Your hands...(Psalm 31:14,15).

First Peter 5:5 tells us that ...God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)—[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble. Anyone who thinks they're a self-made man or woman has a rude awakening coming because Jesus said, ...apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing (John 15:5). Humility is a covering that draws the help of God into our lives to protect us. When we humble ourselves by saying, "God, I don't know what to do, but I'm trusting You," God gets in gear to help us.

God won't allow us to succeed at anything unless we're leaning and relying on Him. But when we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, in due time, He will exalt us (see 1 Peter 5:6). "Due time" is God's time, when God knows we're ready, not when we think we're ready. The sooner we understand and accept that, the sooner God can work His plan in our lives.


FROM SEEDTIME TO HARVEST
Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us: To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven. This lets us know that we all don't live in the same season at the same time. You should never be jealous of someone who is enjoying harvest while you're still in the planting season. Remember, they had to go through a season of planting just as you are. Seeing the results they are enjoying should be an encouragement to you. Understand and trust that God is doing the very best for you in your present season.

Seedtime represents learning the will of God. Each time I choose God's will instead of my own, I'm planting a good seed that will eventually bring a harvest in my life. If you want to be victorious, you cannot afford to get pulled into the world's system, doing what you feel like doing.

James 1:21 tells us what we should do: ...get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls. Your soul is your mind, your will and your emotions. When the Word gets rooted in there and begins to change your mind, it begins to heal your emotions and turn your will away from self-will and onto doing the will of God. Living out of one's own soul is equivalent to staying in the wilderness. When my flesh is finally crucified and I get out of my soul and into doing the will of God, that's when I enter the promised land.

The promised land is knowing who you are in Christ, knowing how to fellowship with Him, enjoying His presence, and having peace, contentment and joy. Between seedtime and harvest comes a time of waiting. After a seed is planted, the heat, moisture and pressure of the ground finally cause the outer hull to crack open. Then roots shoot down, digging their way through the ground. It takes time for this to happen, and it takes place underground. Above the ground, you can't tell anything is happening.

That's the way our lives are. After we plant seeds of obedience, we feel like nothing is happening, but all kinds of things are happening inside where we can't see. And like the seed that finally bursts through the ground with a beautiful green shoot, our seeds of obedience finally break forth into a beautiful manifestation of God in our lives. When harvesttime comes, the desires of your heart begin to manifest—bondages fall off of you and you see your dreams come to pass. You see your kids changing and your family getting saved. Prosperity, favor, promotion, honor, and all kinds of good things come out in the open where they can be seen. In harvest time, more than ever before, you hear from God, you enjoy His presence, and you're led by the Spirit. Blessings begin to chase you down the street, and joy and calm delight become your normal mood.

Are you tired of waiting for harvesttime in your life? Are you frustrated, crying out, "When, God, when?"

Then you need to understand that God's timing is often a mystery. He doesn't do things on our timetable. Yet His Word promises that He will not be late, not one single day. But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day! (Habakkuk 2:3 TLB). God causes things to happen at exactly the right time! Your job is not to figure out when, but to make up your mind that you won't give up until you cross the finish line and are living in the radical, outrageous blessings of God!

The more you trust Jesus and keep your eyes focused on Him, the more life you'll have. Trusting God brings life. Believing brings rest. So stop trying to figure everything out, and let God be God in your life.

This Article was obtained from:
http://www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/EverydayAnswers/Articles/art3.htm
and published here with permission.