​                                                    Can A Believer Loose His Salvation?
BY TONI SMOTHERS
 
Once a person trusts Christ as their Savior can they lose this relationship? Is the salvation that Jesus offers conditional? If it is unconditional, then there is nothing we can do to lose it. If it is conditional, then there is something or some things that we can do to lose it. The real question for Christians is - What Does the Bible Say? As the Scripture is carefully studied, we find that a true believer in Jesus is safe and secure eternally. The following relevant passages make this issue pretty clear.
 
1. Never Perish
Jesus said those who believe in Him will never perish.
 
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27,28)
 
These verses could not be stronger. Those who trust Jesus will never perish. Jesus said nobody will take believers out of His hand. This is because believers are securely held in the arms of God the Father.
 
2. Eternal Life
The Bible promises eternal life to all who believe in Christ. The often quoted verse in the Bible says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16)
 
The promise of eternal life is not true if it can be lost. There is, however, only one condition stated in this promise: if a person believes in Jesus, they shall have everlasting life. Everlasting means forever.
 
3. Possession of the Believer
Those who believe in Jesus already possess eternal life.
 
“I tell you the truth; whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life”. (John 5:24)
 
Salvation, therefore, is not something that is far off in the future—it is a present possession of the believer. Salvation is not looked upon as a day-to-day thing. We do not keep ourselves saved day after day. Scripture treats our salvation as something that is secure forever.
 
4. Eternal Life Defined
So, eternal life has already begun for the believer. The Bible defines eternal life as knowing Christ.
 
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)
 
4. Nothing Shall Separate
The Bible says nothing shall separate us from Christ.
 
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword . . . For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35, 38,39)
 
This passage makes it clear that nothing will be able to separate Christ from those who have trusted Him. Nothing! This includes the believer separating themselves from Christ. If you turn your back on Christ, He always awaits your return. Isn't that incredible? 
 
5. Christ Remains Faithful
 
“That is why I am suffering. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)
 
The Apostle Paul stresses the fact that once you have committed yourself to Christ, He is able to keep that which we have committed.
 
6. He Keeps Us from Falling
 
“To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy”… (Jude 24)
 
The idea here is that He is the one who keeps us from falling, we are not keeping ourselves. We have no power.
 
7. Kept By God's Power
The Bible says that we are kept by God's power, not our own.
 
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)
 
8.We Have Been Glorified
The Bible already speaks of us as being glorified:
 
"And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." (Romans 8:30)
 
9. It Is A Gift
Salvation is a gift. A gift is often confused with something earned. No one can earn their salvation; it is God's gift to us.
 
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8,9)
 
Salvation has been given to us by Christ. The fact that we had nothing to do with earning it can not be stressed too much!
 
10. We Are Joined To Christ
Once a person has been born again by the word and the Spirit of God, he receives new life in Christ. God puts Christ's righteousness in the place of the sinner’s account, which totally cleanses him before God.
 
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
 
“But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30)
 
11. Christ's Sacrifice Is Adequate
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ was more than adequate for our salvation.
 
“For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14)
 
There is nothing that can be added or taken away from His sacrifice.
 
12. He Will Complete What He Started
The Bible says it is God's power that saves us:
 
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)
 
He started the salvation process, He will finish it.
 
13 .Kept By God's Power
Furthermore, that which keeps us saved is God's power, not our own.
 
“…who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:5)
 
We did not save ourselves; we do not keep ourselves saved.
 
14. We Are A New Creation
We are identified with Christ as a new creation, clean and equipped for service. We can then begin to live out God’s plan for our lives.
 
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
 
“And raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6)
 
15. Christ Paid The Penalty Once
Jesus Christ has paid the penalty once and for all for sins. God will not demand payment for a second time. The Bible says: Since Christ has died for our sins we will never have to die for them!
 
Questions To Be Answered -
If someone believes salvation can be lost, then there are a number of questions that must be asked. What sin or sins would cause you to lose it? How do you know when you've lost it? If you lose it, can you get it back? Do you have to get baptized again? What does the Bible mean when it promises eternal life for those who believe? How long is eternal life? Finally, if a person can lose their salvation, then how can you explain what John wrote:
 
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)

If a person could lose their salvation then no one could know, from moment to moment, whether they are saved or not. Yet the Bible says that we can know. This is because once a person truly trusts Christ as Savior, they cannot lose that salvation.
 
Summary:
Once a person trusts Christ as Savior they become His child forever. Because He saves and keeps us, nothing shall separate us from His presence.
 
I do agree that John 10:27-28 says it all. We are forever His, friends. Happily for us, His precious love is totally unconditional. I deliberately found so many verses to quote on this subject so that you can hereafter know that you’re saved by the love and grace of our Lord Jesus. This is not merely my opinion. This is what Jesus promised us. Controversial or misguided thinking will always exist. That’s okay, it will keep you from taking the things you believe for granted. But remember, whenever you have a question, go to the Word for your answer. You will find what you need to know in the Bible.
 
We worship a risen, living Savior who has promised to give immortality to all who believe in His name. No longer do we need to stumble in the fog and darkness of hopelessness. He is risen - A light shines brighter than the noonday sun, offering hope to everyone who has been born again. Jesus promised, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25–26)
 
 
 
 

The Universal Bond
By, Toni Smothers
 
Don’t see the shape bent over, ever changing,
Shuffling now, with silvered hair.
Glimpse through the illusion,
See into the mirror of the mind.
The hope held fast, Eternal.
The dreams within believing yet,
The need so strong to reach another’s heart,
To share the wisdom love imparts.
 
The spirit does not tarnish with the years –
It will always seek out love.
The hand of time has slowly fallen,
Resting firmly now upon the shoulder.
Smooth skin, a quick step – Fade in memories.
But the need within is urgent.
There is more – There is an immortal God,
 He Is - The common bond between us all.
 
 

​Corporate Massage Therapy  by Toni Smothers (SOLD  6/10/10)
 
Massage therapy at the workplace is catching on across the country. There are varied ways to incorporate this workforce and management bonus. Employers who want to go the extra mile for their workers find massage at work to benefit all levels of employees. Your company can schedule certified massage therapists to perform worksite massage for weekly, bi-weekly or monthly appointments.
 
Some companies split office massage therapy fees with their employees; others cover the cost as a performance incentive. Another option available is to simply allow a twenty minute break time for your employees, so that they can take advantage of a self-paid chair massage session during the work day. Fees for a massage therapist run an average of $1.00 per minute for chair massage. The massage therapist will likely expect a tip, if services rendered were performed to the recipient’s satisfaction, unless an up-front gratuity has been previously agreed upon.
 
 
Hectic schedules, customer demands, as well as personal stress factors, can all adversely influence a person’s work day. Maladies of all kinds have been attributed to stress. Spending much time in a chair hunched over a computer can tighten muscles in the shoulders and cause discomfort. Headache often accompanies tight muscles in the neck. Working out these stiff neck and shoulder muscles can refresh creativity and attentiveness. Massage therapy relieves tension and stress levels, while heightening employee morale and affording an overall feeling of employment satisfaction.
 
Massage therapy invites relaxation and renewal, as well as relief from pain. While heart rate and breathing slow, blood pressure is lowered and the production of stress hormones decreases. Additionally, serotonin, a chemical that has a positive affect on emotions, is increased. Once relaxation is achieved, fatigue, anxiety and even digestive disorders are alleviated. The physical manipulation of muscles increases blood circulation, which works along side the relaxation response to culminate in enhanced distribution of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles. When muscle tissue relaxes, painful soreness and spasms cease.
 
Sometimes, nerves can be compressed when the muscles surrounding them contract. While nerves are supposed to transmit massages back and forth from the brain to the body, tightened muscles can impede the function of the nerves. When muscles are made to relax through massage, the nerves are able to perform optimally. Neurological pain signals to muscles, bones and nerves can be lessened, or even eliminated. Massage can benefit deeper tissues by releasing tension in superficial layers of muscles as the whole body comes back into balance.
 
Suburban Chicago law firm, Kovitz, Shifrin, and Nesbit and the Colorado Health Institute, in Denver, are just two vastly different type companies that offer their employees massage therapy for very similar reasons: Increased productivity and job satisfaction. Just take Google, for example: they even have a “Google Massage Program Manager.” Corporate massage is taken very seriously by the people at Google. Their employees can’t rave enough about how much they appreciate a little time off from a grueling day for an invigorating massage. (You can view a YouTube video, accessible from Google’s site, praising the benefits of massage therapy.)
 
Absenteeism is very costly to any business. Colds, viruses, tension headaches, sciatica, all kinds of disease and malfunction of the body, can be attributed to stress. Massage therapy may be helpful for many of the common causes that keep workers home when they are needed at their job on a regular work day. With decreases in pain and increased functioning of the employee’s health, fewer sick days can be achieved through the regular use of massage therapy. Enhancement of the immune system and recovery from illness would go a long way toward justifying the implementation of chair massage therapy at the workplace.
 
It is not really clear how much relief can be expected with the occasional use of chair massage. But, there will be definite rewards that will be visible: the indulgence will offer your employee something new and unusual to break up the day and it is almost certain that you will earn the gratitude of your employee.
 
Employees who demonstrate maximum reliability, productivity and loyalty are those who appreciate the fact that the company they work for has employee well-being as a strong priority. Adding corporate massage therapy to your employee benefits package might just be to your company’s benefit.

Dressed to Kill

Have you ever had to stand transfixed, morbidly contemplating the contents of my closet - I’m just a tad bigger than in days of yore, so it often takes longer than I’d like to find something remotely close to going on my “current version”.  It’s almost as if I think the clothes in there will magically transform if I wait long enough. Since I can’t be skinny enough to wear them anymore, seems like the clothes could at least stretch with age like me, but they sure don’t oblige, so I just stand there and moon over them.

I know, I know, its pretty weird. But, I’m the worst pack rat in existence – Some of those clothes are authentic antiques from when I was in my late teens and early twenties. Funny thing is, a lot of them are back in style again. Yeah, well, lots of good it does me – I can’t get my big toe into most of them. You’d think I’d just sack them all up and clothe the entire female population down at the local homeless shelter. I just have to get motivated, I guess.
There’s no rational explanation I can offer…  except prideful delusions of stupid “Barbie” doll memories.  Not to worry, though. Pride has a way of simmering down when thrown into the refiner’s fire! And, I can still rely on His fit every time. You see, when it’s from God, it’s free, given to all His children who would come in need and it does come in an expandable fit. Yea, come to think of it, His garment of salvation grows right along with me. Christ’s unmatchable act of sacrifice wraps around me no matter what, so that even in my swollen state, (head included), he’s got me covered. It’s a most luxurious fit. But the absolutely incredible part is that my Savior calls me His own “beautiful bride!” You gotta love it!
 
In Isaiah 61:10, the bible tells us what the well-dressed child of God is sporting these days: "He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness." I know one thing, I’ve never had to squirm and fight my way into God’s garments. You know, I’ve always thought that spandex just is not of God! Anyway, my garments of salvation and my robe of righteousness did come straight from God through the righteousness of his Son, Jesus Christ. It's Jesus' robe I wear. And I must say, I look and feel like a real winner in it!

Colossians 3:12-14 has even more to say about some pretty cool attire. "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
​ 
Did you notice that phrase, over all (not to be confused with "overalls" - that's an entirely different look), we're instructed to put on love? Love is the ultimate accessory – Just kind of pulls it all together, if you know what I mean. With or without the thunder thighs, we’re talking one really great look!
 
, we're instructed to put on love? Love is the ultimate accessory – Just kind of pulls it all together, if you know what I mean. With or without the thunder thighs, we’re talking one really great look!

                   Can A Believer Loose His Salvation?


Once a person trusts Christ as their Savior can they lose this relationship? Is the salvation that Jesus offers conditional? If it is unconditional, then there is nothing we can do to lose it. If it is conditional, then there is something or some things that we can do to lose it. The real question for Christians is - What Does the Bible Say? As the Scripture is carefully studied, we find that a true believer in Jesus is safe and secure eternally. The following relevant passages make this issue pretty clear.


1. Never Perish
Jesus said those who believe in Him will never perish.


“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27,28)


These verses could not be stronger. Those who trust Jesus will never perish. Jesus said nobody will take believers out of His hand. This is because believers are securely held in the arms of God the Father.


2. Eternal Life
The Bible promises eternal life to all who believe in Christ. The often quoted verse in the Bible says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16)


The promise of eternal life is not true if it can be lost. There is, however, only one condition stated in this promise: if a person believes in Jesus, they shall have everlasting life. Everlasting means forever.


3. Possession of the Believer
Those who believe in Jesus already possess eternal life.


“I tell you the truth; whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life”. (John 5:24)


Salvation, therefore, is not something that is far off in the future—it is a present possession of the believer. Salvation is not looked upon as a day-to-day thing. We do not keep ourselves saved day after day. Scripture treats our salvation as something that is secure forever.


4. Eternal Life Defined
So, eternal life has already begun for the believer. The Bible defines eternal life as knowing Christ.


“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)


4. Nothing Shall Separate
The Bible says nothing shall separate us from Christ.


“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword . . . For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35, 38,39)


This passage makes it clear that nothing will be able to separate Christ from those who have trusted Him. Nothing! This includes the believer separating themselves from Christ. If you turn your back on Christ, He always awaits your return. Isn't that incredible? 


5. Christ Remains Faithful


“That is why I am suffering. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)


The Apostle Paul stresses the fact that once you have committed yourself to Christ, He is able to keep that which we have committed.


6. He Keeps Us from Falling


“To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy”… (Jude 24)


The idea here is that He is the one who keeps us from falling, we are not keeping ourselves. We have no power.


7. Kept By God's Power
The Bible says that we are kept by God's power, not our own.


"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)


8.We Have Been Glorified
The Bible already speaks of us as being glorified:


"And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." (Romans 8:30)
 
9. It Is A Gift
Salvation is a gift. A gift is often confused with something earned. No one can earn their salvation; it is God's gift to us.


“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8,9)


Salvation has been given to us by Christ. The fact that we had nothing to do with earning it can not be stressed too much!


10. We Are Joined To Christ
Once a person has been born again by the word and the Spirit of God, he receives new life in Christ. God puts Christ's righteousness in the place of the sinner’s account, which totally cleanses him before God.


“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)


“But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30)


11. Christ's Sacrifice Is Adequate
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ was more than adequate for our salvation.


“For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14)


There is nothing that can be added or taken away from His sacrifice.


12. He Will Complete What He Started
The Bible says it is God's power that saves us:


“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)


He started the salvation process, He will finish it.


13 .Kept By God's Power
Furthermore, that which keeps us saved is God's power, not our own.


“…who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:5)


We did not save ourselves; we do not keep ourselves saved.


14. We Are A New Creation
We are identified with Christ as a new creation, clean and equipped for service. We can then begin to live out God’s plan for our lives.


“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)


“And raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6)


15. Christ Paid The Penalty Once
Jesus Christ has paid the penalty once and for all for sins. God will not demand payment for a second time. The Bible says: Since Christ has died for our sins we will never have to die for them!


Questions To Be Answered -
If someone believes salvation can be lost, then there are a number of questions that must be asked. What sin or sins would cause you to lose it? How do you know when you've lost it? If you lose it, can you get it back? Do you have to get baptized again? What does the Bible mean when it promises eternal life for those who believe? How long is eternal life? Finally, if a person can lose their salvation, then how can you explain what John wrote:


“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)

If a person could lose their salvation then no one could know, from moment to moment, whether they are saved or not. Yet the Bible says that we can know. This is because once a person truly trusts Christ as Savior, they cannot lose that salvation.


Summary:
Once a person trusts Christ as Savior they become His child forever. Because He saves and keeps us, nothing shall separate us from His presence.


I do agree that John 10:27-28 says it all. We are forever His, friends. Happily for us, His precious love is totally unconditional. I deliberately found so many verses to quote on this subject so that you can hereafter know that you’re saved by the love and grace of our Lord Jesus. This is not merely my opinion. This is what Jesus promised us. Controversial or misguided thinking will always exist. That’s okay, it will keep you from taking the things you believe for granted. But remember, whenever you have a question, go to the Word for your answer. You will find what you need to know in the Bible.


We worship a risen, living Savior who has promised to give immortality to all who believe in His name. No longer do we need to stumble in the fog and darkness of hopelessness. He is risen - A light shines brighter than the noonday sun, offering hope to everyone who has been born again. Jesus promised, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25–26) 

Hey Good Looking – Nobody’s Looking

​Colossians 3:12-14 tells us about some pretty gorgeous attire. "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." 
Did you notice that phrase, “over all?” (Not to be confused with “overalls” – that’s an entirely different look!) Well, Christian comedy aside, God instructs us all to put on love. It’s not something we fall into, like a free-fall off a cliff into the ocean. And love doesn’t fall on us, like a bucket of cold water over the head. Putting on love is a deliberate decision. It’s like choosing what to wear and then dressing for the day.
There are personal things to remember when getting ready. Things that you’d rather others not see. You know, unmentionables, like underwear or deodorant. (Gosh, I can’t believe I just mentioned those!)  But, and this is the super-neat part, the child of God gets to put on “God’s love” and wear it so that His love is the very first thing that others see when they look at you. Understand, your figure or fashion sense is so insignificant compared to your obvious happiness. Your sparkle, laughter and smiles are the features that attract others.   
Knowing all this intellectually, and ignoring the God sparkles for now; I have been known to stand almost comatose like a kid in a cocoon, carefully contemplating the contents of my closet. Besides being an outrageously contrived tongue-twister, this contemplation is not always a happy task for me. I bet you’ve already guessed that my clothes are a bit snug lately, so it often takes longer than I’d like to find an outfit that comes even remotely close to fitting my “current version.” No matter how long I moon over them, those too small clothes do not magically transform into larger ones. Just knowing that makes me respond with a little discontent. On some level of thought, (albeit irrational), my peevishness makes perfect sense to me.
I know, it sounds pretty weird, but since I’m the worst pack-rat in existence, it seems like there should be some value in those irritating garments that mock me. After all, some of those tiny clothes are authentic antiques. Funny thing is, many of them are back in style again. Yeah, well, a lot of good it does me. I can’t get my big toe into most of them. (Twisting and contorting is quite the unsightly sight, if you know what I mean.)
All right, I admit it, there’s no rational explanation I can offer for hanging on to those old clothes. It’s probably got to do with fond memories, (or delusions), of a perfect “Barbie-doll” body. Not to worry, though: Pride has a way of simmering down when thrown into the refiner’s fire. God’s not especially into our clothes, but He does want to supernaturally transform us through faith in Jesus. We can evolve, incrementally, into more loving people who shine with the joyful assurance that God grants whoever would earnestly seek him.
Whoever you are, whatever shape you are currently in, you can still rely on His perfect love every time. You see, when it’s from God, there are no physical qualifications or strings attached. He gives freely to all His children. And, (drum roll), His love even comes in an expandable fit!
Yeah, come to think of it, His garment of salvation grows right along with me. Christ’s unmatchable act of sacrifice wraps around me no matter what, so that even in my swollen state, (head included), He’s got me covered. It’s a most luxurious fit. But the absolutely incredible part is that my Savior calls me His own “beautiful bride!” You gotta love it!  
In Isaiah 61:10, the bible tells us what the well-dressed child of God is sporting these days: "He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness." I know one thing, I’ve never had to squirm and fight my way into God’s garments. (You know, I’ve always suspected that spandex is not of God!)
Anyway, my garments of salvation and my robe of righteousness came straight from God, through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ. It’s Jesus’ robe I get to wear. I must say, I feel like a real winner in it.
Love is the ultimate accessory. It just kind of pulls it all together. Christ’s robe to cover me, God’s great love within me and His Holy Spirit to fill me, these garments surpass anything I could ever come up with. (And it certainly beats the skinny, “Twiggy” look.)
With or without the thunder thighs, try Jesus on for size. We’re talking one really great fit!

 How can I be a better Christian?

​I get along pretty well most of the time, but then I'll get upset at something and lose my temper, or fall down in some other way, and then I realize I'm not a very good Christian after all. — D.N.
 

The first step to being a better Christian - is to be sure you truly are a Christian! Have you confessed your sins to Christ and turned your life over to Him? If you are unsure of your relationship to Christ, commit your life without reserve to Him, and ask Him to help you walk with Him every day.

Then realize that you can't become a better Christian on your own, or in your own strength. You need God's help, and you need the resources He has provided to help you grow stronger. In ourselves, we are weak - but when we seek God's help we discover that the Bible's promise is true: "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him" (2 Peter 1:3).

Just as we need food to keep us strong physically, so we need the spiritual "food" God has already provided for us through His Spirit if we are to be strong. What is that spiritual "food"? First, God has given us His Word, the Bible. Make the Bible part of your spiritual "diet" every day, both by studying it on your own and by hearing others teach it. Job said, "I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread" (Job 23:12).

Then God also has given you the privilege of prayer, and the privilege of fellowship with other believers. Prayer connects you with God; fellowship connects you with other believers. Through these means, God will encourage you and use you to help others

    English and Spanish   


                                                                                   Believe God’s Word
 Toni Smothers
 
Scripture Reading: James 1:1-8 (NIV)
 Click here to read the scripture
Scripture Quote:  "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:23-24 (NIV)
 
In order for us to obtain wisdom that contains a practical knowledge of God, of our salvation and even a more intimate understanding of ourselves, we must study God's Word - We can only find this deep kind of truth when we spend time studying and seeking God as our teacher. We need to ask for Divine teaching. God is actually willing to give generously to those who understand their lack and desire His teaching above all else.
 
It's the asking and not doubting part that messes us up. Unwavering faith is a rare commodity, yet that is exactly the currency God demands. We have to first understand our need, then realize that God is good and desires good for His children. If He tells us in His Word, which He does, (James1:5),that we can ask for wisdom, then that should be good enough for us. We must trust God's infallible Word. But He does qualify our requests - We must absolutely believe that He is ready to impart to His children whatever they need.
 
Today’s meditation: Ask in faith, believing God's Word.
 
Memory Verse: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)




​Creer en la Palabra de Dios
 Toni Smothers
 
Lectura bíblica: Santiago 1: 1-8 (NVI)
 Haga clic aquí para leer la escritura
Cita de las Escrituras: "De cierto os digo que si alguien dice a esta montaña: 'Vete, échate al mar', y no dudes en su corazón, sino cree que lo que dicen sucederá, se hará por ellos. Yo les digo, todo lo que pidan en la oración, crean que lo han recibido, y será suyo. "Marcos 11: 23-24 (NVI)
 
Para que obtengamos la sabiduría que contiene un conocimiento práctico de Dios, de nuestra salvación e incluso una comprensión más íntima de nosotros mismos, debemos estudiar la Palabra de Dios. Sólo podemos encontrar este tipo profundo de verdad cuando pasamos tiempo estudiando y buscando a Dios como nuestro maestro. Necesitamos pedir la enseñanza Divina. Dios está realmente dispuesto a dar generosamente a aquellos que entienden su falta y desean Su enseñanza sobre todo lo demás.
 
Es la parte que pide y no duda que nos ensucia. La fe inquebrantable es una mercancía rara, pero eso es exactamente la moneda que Dios exige. Primero tenemos que entender nuestra necesidad, luego darnos cuenta de que Dios es bueno y desea bien a Sus hijos. Si Él nos dice en Su Palabra, lo que Él hace, (Santiago 1: 5), que podemos pedir sabiduría, entonces eso debería ser lo suficientemente bueno para nosotros. Debemos confiar en la Palabra infalible de Dios. Pero Él califica nuestras peticiones - Debemos absolutamente creer que Él está listo para impartir a Sus hijos lo que necesiten.
 
La meditación de hoy: Pida con fe, creyendo en la Palabra de Dios.
 
Versículo para memorizar: Y sin fe es imposible agradar a Dios, porque cualquiera que viene a él debe creer que existe y que recompensa a los que lo buscan. Hebreos 11: 6 (NVI)

​Coping With Stress
 
Stress can be a good thing, if it is mild and simply serves to motivate and jump start your body. It can become a problem, though, when you begin to feel like your family and work obligations are less like normal activities and more like a frantic juggling act. We’ve all been there, its when these pressures become the norm, rather than the exception, that you feel that tightening in the pit of your stomach. When your daily activities are consistently hectic and all your time is scheduled down to the hour and minute, with unreasonably urgent deadlines, something has to change.
 
The body’s reaction to stress can be broken down into three different processes: Initially, the reaction is fight or flight, where a threat is supposed or expected. This quickly startled stage causes an automatic assumption of jeopardy. Next, if the perceived danger is not resolved, the following response predicted is called the resistance level, where your body discharges hormones that are meant to prepare you for a more prolonged readiness to take action. Soon the final stage of exhaustion completes the body’s coping cycle. During this final period, the body regroups and refreshes itself. If there is never a break in this series of reactions and your body never gets the opportunity to replenish itself and take the necessary rest, this series of stressful reactions can often develop into overwhelming feelings of anxiety.
 
Some level of stress is a natural part of life for everyone. Overdue bills, workdays that spill over into nights and weekends, or strained relationships, all contribute to a crazy lifestyle and too high a level of sustained stress. This can easily become a problem. For example, adrenaline is initially secreted by your body to help you quickly cope with a real or imagined threat. If that hormone is excreted too frequently, or in excess, without enough rest, adrenaline can also cause harm to your exhausted body in the form of physical illness. Too much adrenaline can weaken your heart.
 
There are a myriad of common maladies, as well as dire diseases, that have been directly attributed to a stressful lifestyle. Vasopressin and cortisol, other hormones released by your body during the resistance stage, are known to raise both blood sugar and blood pressure. Additionally, the body’s continued state of fight or flight will eventually disrupt your sleep cycle, which only serves to further contribute to your state of exhaustion. Certain debilitating headaches, bowel irregularities and a decreased immune system are also associated with exhaustion.
 
It is important to identify an unduly stressful lifestyle so that anxiety is not permitted to take a firm control over your health and emotions. If you remain aware of the pace of your life and deliberately take time for planned relaxation and recreation, that will go a long way toward keeping your equilibrium.  Deliberate optimism and a positive approach to challenges can also contribute to a well rounded outlook. A sense of humor and the ability to laugh, even at yourself, can always help keep troubling anxiety at bay. You can’t really laugh and worry at the same time.
 
Maintain a balanced, healthy lifestyle. If you have financial difficulties, approach your problem incrementally, come up with a well thought out plan of action and begin to resolve the situation. If you need outside help, by all means seek it out. Worry is counterproductive and leads to feelings of helplessness. Affirmative action can give you the sense of calm that your overall wellbeing demands. You want your body producing endorphins to help you relax and cope with one thing at a time.
 
If your children, marriage or significant relationship needs attention, resolve to spend more time with those you love, making the time spent with them a main priority. Everyone seems busy as a natural consequence of our culture. Keep track of what gains your efforts, determining to devote time only to those things you consciously choose.
 
If you have thought through what the source of your anxiety is and made an actionable plan toward defusing it, you may need to exert patience. Untangling a knotted head of hair takes slow, deliberate effort. If you have to smooth things out with your kids, wife, employer, or even your debtor, there is usually a way to succeed. Patient and persistent effort toward a foreseeable goal will calm your body, mind and spirit. Stressful drowning in a sea of unresolved worry will become a thing of the past for you.
 
(Reference – Allaboutlifechanges.org)

Hi, I thought you may get a kick out of this skit I wrote for our women's group at Paisley UMC.



Heart to Heart
Skit
(Toni enters walking heel to toe, arms wide, as if walking on a tightrope, carrying an umbrella in one hand for balance. Loses balance briefly, reverses direction on tip toes, notices audience)
 
Toni: Oh, Hi. (Looses balance briefly) I suppose you’re wondering what I’m doing up here. Well, this is kind of what a United Methodist woman looks like to the rest of the congregation. Oh, not that we look like circus performers to them, but they’re wondering what could possibly motivate us to be involved in so many different things. You know, its kind of like they’re wondering if we’re for real and waiting to see if we lose our balance (loses balance briefly) and fall.
 
And then, since appearances can sometimes be deceiving, there’s some people who think we’re just a social group. They think we just get together to eat donuts and spread gossip. It’s a lot easier to ignore us if we look silly and insignificant -. So, we have to be very careful… and stay on our toes, if you know what I mean. (teeters again briefly). You see, in reality, we are very involved in all kinds of mission work. We share our funds and ourselves with needy women and children all over the world. We also help those in need right here in our own community too. Sometimes it’s a lot to deal with. We try to balance, (turn heel to toe again, pretending to walk the tight-rope) love of God, love of family, love of neighbor and love of self, all at once and still try to be attractive to women out there that have yet to join us. We need all the help we can get! When you get right down to it….It’s all about love!
 
  
(Joann, Phylis and Lois come up front and join Toni., Lois gives Toni her sign and stands next to Toni’s right, then Phylis, then Joann)
 
Joann:  Hi Toni. I was listening to you talking to everyone. (Turn toward Phylis) So, what do you think Phylis? What exactly is love?
 
Phylis:  Excuse me?
 
Joann:  I said, what is love?
 
Phylis: How about this? Is this love? (Points to Toni and Lois who turn to speak)
 
Lois:  (To Toni) I love your new necklace.
 
Toni: Thank you and I love your shoes.
 
Lois: (Looks down at her shoes as she smiles…then back at Toni)
Don’t you just love this beautiful weather?
 
All:  Yeah, I just love this weather. (All turn around and wait a minute, then)
 
(Joann and Phylis Turn back)
 
 Joann: No, that can’t be love. Its just talk.
 
Phylis: Well, then, maybe this is love. (Points to Toni & Lois as they turn back around)
 
Toni: I just love David! (Place hand over heart and flutter it)
 
Lois: Oh and he just loves you too! I’ll bet he proposes soon!
 
Toni & Lois: (Sigh aloud and turn around.)
 
Phylis: Well, all that talking about it could be love. But, it could be just talk too.                                 
 
Joann: How do we know the real difference?
 
(Lois and Toni turn back around)
 
Toni: David asked me if I knew how he knew that he loved me.
 
Lois: And what did you say?
 
Toni: (Smiling dreamily, speaking coyly) I said, no I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?
And then (Smile big and roll your eyes) He said,… because I feel it in my heart.” And he patted his chest just like this…(Put hand to heart again and flutter it)
 
(Toni and Lois sigh aloud again and turn away.)
 
Phylis:  Well maybe he was just in a good mood. Maybe Toni made him something extra special for dinner that tasted so good that… I don’t know…  Maybe he just lost his head! He may not feel the same tomorrow, you know.
 
Joann:  I know! Now here’s how we can be really sure its love. (Points to Lois and Toni as they turn back again.)
 
Toni: Well, now I know David really does love me.
 
Lois:  You do! How?
 
Toni; He showed me. He bought me this engagement ring, knelled down and asked me to marry him.
 
Lois: Oh, that’s just wonderful! (Then they sigh together but stay facing front.)
 
Phylis: So…. (Snaps fingers.) (Excited) I’ve got it! Love is not something you say. It’s not even something you feel. It’s something you do!
 
Joann: That’s it. We’ve finally got it!
 
(Ruth comes up front with tray and four cups of water.)
 
Ruth: Hey girls, I knew you were in here working on your United Methodist Skit. I thought you’d probably be thirsty by now, so I just brought you a little drink to quench your thirst..
 
Joann: Wow, that’s so nice of you. (To audience with hand cupping mouth as if revealing a secret.)  Now, that’s love!
 
(Everyone one sips, smiles,  pats each other on the back and then they all walk off.)