The Blessing of Opportunity - A Charge!

He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son (Proverbs 10:5 - NIV)

Opportunity is a blessing ... a precious blessing from God. Wise men exploit them for great gain and honor. Foolish men squander them to poverty and shame. Wise men see a door of opportunity and rush through it with passionate zeal - they are gripped by the potential of extraordinary gain. Foolish men miss the door, or presume it will always be there, and head for home with lazy steps - they are dulled by the desire to play or sleep.

Opportunity is not guaranteed. Life is a changing scene of prosperity and difficulty. The agricultural cycle had a great opportunity during summer harvest. Wise men gathered all they could with extra effort and time. Foolish men dreaded the extra demands and could not see the reward, so they sought to avoid the hot fields. "There is a time to get, and a time to lose"; the wise know when to get, and fools always lose! If you snooze, you lose!


When times are good, gather all you can for leaner times to come. Both come from the Lord, but the wisdom of this proverb teaches you how to handle both events! Business cycles, prosperity, depression, and promotion are the work of God (Eccl 7:14). Diligently accumulate much when it is easy, and you will have extra to fall back on when it is hard. You cannot boast of tomorrow, so you must provide for tomorrow (22:3; 27:1,23-24).

Solomon gave his son rules for success (Proverbs10:1), and he began with financial rules. He taught righteousness in business (10:2), providence in business (10:3), and diligence in business (10:4). The rule here is prudence in business - to diligently use opportunities to accumulate assets, for a slothful neglect of opportunities will bring poverty. Even ants know to work hard and save in the summer (6:6-11; 30:25).






Every man, has many opportunities in education, business, and investments for great gains. He must see the opportunity, be prepared for it, and capitalize on it. "Time and chance happeneth to them to all," but have you exploited the times and chances God has given you (Eccl 9:11)? Most opportunities occur in the earlier stages of life; young men have greater drive and flexibility than others; and the consequences of their sloth are greater; so the proverb is primarily for young men.

Dear friend, are you opening educational doors to gather knowledge, learn valuable skills, or acquire a trade? Are you using your present income with minimal expenses to accumulate the seed capital for lucrative future investments? Are you building relationships with your father's and other contacts for future references? Young man, are you working feverishly in a
company known for promoting from within? Do you know that playing or sleeping now will cost you much more than playing or sleeping later?

If you waste opportunity, you tempt God (Luke 4:12). He gave you the means to success, but you neglected them. If you have a talent - of any kind, do not bury it! When troubles come, He will not hear, because you wasted His gift (1:20-32; 20:4; Matt 25:14-30). If He opens a door - of any kind - rush through it with holy zeal. David said, "By my God have I leaped over a wall" (Ps 18:29). Glory! Many in the world have few opportunities, so exploit the ones He gives you! To whom much is given shall much be required!

Elisha gave Joash, the king of Israel, an opportunity to fix the number of victories Israel would have over the Syrians; but the indolent king only struck the ground three times (II Kgs 13:14-19). Elisha grieved that he had not taken greater advantage of this divinely granted opportunity to exterminate the Syrians! Dear reader, how many opportunities in your life have you squandered by only smiting the ground three times? Confess it!


When the money tree is blooming, pick it clean and save most of it! When any personnel change occurs in your office, locate the vacuum and fill it! When a rising star could be your mentor or sponsor, grab his coattail with both hands! When a successful man offers you a piece of his action, do your due diligence and dive in! When rare overtime is available, volunteer for it in advance! When you are reading God's word and feel knowledge and pleasure in your soul, read longer to fully capitalize on that special grace!

There are more than financial opportunities, which you also ought to exploit with diligent zeal! How about the opportunity of wisdom in this proverb and its commentary! Are you reading it with fired zeal and holy excitement? Are you intent on accumulating that most precious of all commodities - wisdom? Are you meditating on every sentence? Asking the blessed God to prosper your efforts to grow wise? Or will He take from you the little knowledge you have and give it to the man who does make such efforts (Luke 8:18)?

How about the opportunity of conviction to please the Lord more perfectly? When these seasons of harvest come to your life by the grace of the Holy Spirit, do you rush through the open door to draw closer than ever before to the living God? Or are you so infatuated with the world that these open doors appear only as empty closets in your rush down the hall of life to the vanity and excess of this profane, perverse, and damned generation?



How about the opportunity of preparing to stand before the King of kings and Lord of lords? If you understand the reality of this approaching event, you have been given a blessed opportunity. You will soon pass out of this bustling world through the darkness of death into the light of His glorious Presence. You should, like the unjust steward, be laying up a good foundation against that time to come (Luke 16:1-15; I Tim 6:17-19).

Reference: http://www.letgodbetrue.com

Dissatisfied Contentment :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library

Dissatisfied Contentment :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library

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The Rejected Gift.

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car.

Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat Disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible? and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse,

Matt 7:11, "And if ye, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much mor e shall your Heavenly father which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?"

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words...PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?

Pray this will speak to your heart.

Celebrity Divorces

(News from http://www.forbes.com)

Celebrity divorces are big business. Tabloids voraciously cover them. Fans hungrily follow them. Lawyers and business managers protectively orchestrate them. And they certainly are common. Last year alone saw the breakups of Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, and Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe.

Many Hollywood marriages last barely long enough for the ink to dry on the marriage licenses. Singer Kid Rock and Baywatch babe Pam Anderson were wed for just four months. Actress Drew Barrymore's nuptials to comic Tom Green hit the skids after five months. Pop diva Jennifer Lopez and backup dancer Chris Judd managed to make it to only the eight-month mark before calling it quits.

Who did what to whom is far less important in a celebrity divorce than who gives what to whom. Generally, the bigger the star, the greater the payout. For the showbiz legends who landed on our list of the 10 Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces, the spectacular settlements with their exes made Hollywood history.

The 10 Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces

Divorce has its price — and no celebrity, it appears, knows that better than Michael Jordan.

The basketball superstar's split December 2007 from his wife of 17 years, Juanita, is No. 1 on Forbes.com's list of "The 10 Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces."

Juanita Jordan could possibly "get more than $150 million in a settlement, making the Jordan divorce the most expensive in entertainment history," Forbes said.

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Neil Diamond, whose 1995 divorce from Marcia Murphey cost him an estimated $150 million, holds second place.

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Steven Spielberg comes in third for paying his ex-wifeSEARCH
Amy Irving an estimated $100 million, which was then half his fortune, when they divorced in 1989. The Oscar-winning director is now worth $3 billion.

Also making the list are estimated settlements between SEARCH
Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison ($85 million);

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Kevin Costner and Cindy Silva ($80 million);

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Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, whose divorce could cost him more than $60 million;

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James Cameron andSEARCH
Linda Hamilton ($50 million);

Michael and Diandra Douglas ($45 million and two homes);

Lionel and Diane Richie ($20 million); and

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Mick Jagger and SEARCH
Jerry Hall ($15 to $25 million).

Forbes said they researched divorces of the last 25 years in compiling the list, which was posted Thursday on its Web site.

Big Weddings, Big Divorces...

Jennifer Aniston & Brad Pitt

Television’s favorite friend wedded film’s hottest bachelor in July of 2000 on the Malibu estate of TV producer Marcy Carsey (Roseanne, The Cosby Show). Before the event, the comely couple enjoyed side-by-side massages in a private poolside cabana. Among the 200 guests: Cameron Diaz, Courtney Cox and Matthew Perry. The wedding, which necessitated closing part of the Pacific Coast Highway to accommodate guests and crew, reportedly required $100,000 worth of security. The couple called it quits five years later.

Tori Spelling & Charlie Shanian

The couple wed in July 2004 at the Spelling family’s 56,000-square-foot Los Angeles compound. The event, catered by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, had a Roaring Twenties theme and featured a champagne fountain and rose-covered gazebo. Among the 350 guests were Spelling’s Beverly Hills 90201 co-stars Jason Priestley and Jennie Garth, as well as father Aaron’s pals Bob Newhart and Joan Collins. Spelling and Shanian split last year.

Liza Minnelli & David Gest

The couple wed in 2002 at Manhattan’s Marble Collegiate Church in a wacky ceremony that featured Michael Jackson as best man and Elizabeth Taylor as the matron of honor. Bridesmaids included Mia Farrow and Chaka Khan. Gloria Gaynor, Dionne Warwick and the Pointer Sisters entertained some 500 guests at the reception. The pair separated a year later and divorced this year.

Eddie Murphy & Nicole Mitchell

The comic all-star married the longtime model in 1993 at Manhattan’s Plaza Hotel. The 500-person or so guest list included Quincy Jones, Bruce Willis and Stevie Wonder. The Plaza’s Grand Ballroom was reportedly recarpeted in white for the affair, while another room was retrofitted as a disco. The pair divorced last year.

Marc Anthony & Dayanara Torres

The couple, originally married in May of 2000, renewed their vows in 2002 at a lavish affair in Puerto Rico. The steps of the San Juan Cathedral, where the ceremony was held, were swathed in pink and white roses. The bride, a former Miss Universe, wore a beaded stunner from Reem Acra. N'Sync's Lance Bass performed at the Moroccan-themed reception, which featured a seven-course feast. Two years later the couple split and Anthony married pop superstar Jennifer Lopez just days later.

The Young Hollywood Divorcee Club

They call it the starter marriage. And in Hollywood, stars start--and often end-- their marriages early. Perhaps they were lulled by the romantic films in which many of them have starred, or maybe it's the mature, fast-paced showbiz lifestyle that lures these youngsters to the altar. Regardless, in most cases, the bride can't even legally indulge in her own champagne toast. "There's a lack of maturity, and they're fantasizing that marriage is a fairy tale," says Lois Liberman, a New York celebrity divorce lawyer.

The members of The Young Hollywood Divorcée Club have one thing in common: The bride was in her teens or--at most--early 20s at the time of the wedding. The groom, though, is almost always older, and in several cases, by more than a decade. Not surprisingly, these junior brides ended up young divorcées.

Consider 19-year-old Drew Barrymore's blink-and-you'll-miss-it marriage to Welsh bar owner Jeremy Thomas, which lasted 19 days. He was 12 years older than the future Charlie's Angels star. That failed marriage didn't stop Barrymore from racing down the aisle again in 2001 with comic Tom Green. That marriage lasted a bit longer--roughly a year.

Sopranos star Jamie-Lynn Sigler wed her agent, A.J. DiScala; he was then 32, and she was just 22. Their marriage sputtered along for two years.

The 13-year age gap between rocker Chris Robinson, 34, and his young actress wife (and daughter of Goldie Hawn) Kate Hudson, 21, managed to produce one of the longer marriages in the club: They lasted six years and have one son together, Ryder. The couple called it quits last year.

Another similarity among club members: In many cases, the marriages ended after the bride's career eclipsed that of the groom.

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe were only 23 and 24, respectively, when they tied the knot in June 1999. Still, the marriage looked solid. They had two children and publicly extolled the virtues of couples therapy. But as Reese's career skyrocketed--she won a Best Actress Oscar in 2006 and earns $15 million paychecks for her film roles--the marriage hit the skids. "The husband can start to resent feeling emasculated," says Liberman.

That may have partly contributed to the demise of Britney Spears' ill-fated union with backup dancer Kevin Federline. (She was 22 and he was 26 when they wed.) Spears tried to bolster Federline's nascent music career when she helped finance and even appeared on her husband's doomed debut album, Playing With Fire, released last year to dismal reviews. Federline became a joke in the industry. Entertainment Weekly accused Federline of "squandering" his wife's fortune. The couple famously split before the new year.

A young Angelina Jolie, primarily known as Oscar winner Jon Voight's pillow-lipped daughter, married actor Johnny Lee Miller in 1996 when she was 20 and he was 23. But her fame quickly began to outpace his when she scored an Emmy for her role in Gia.

That same scenario plagued Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, both B-listers when they wed in 2002. But when their MTV show Newlyweds became a hit, Jessica--not Nick--got the ensuing movie roles and licensing deals. Divorce followed soon after.

Macaulay Culkin was married to actress Rachel Miner from June 1998 to August 2000. Both were 17 at the time of their marriage.

Information & Photos Courtesy of http://www.forbes.com

Inspite of all the celebrated misunderstandings, what does the Bible have to say about Marriage/ Divorce?

"Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our fathers by breaking faith with one another? Judah has broken faith. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the LORD loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god. As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the LORD cut him off from the tents of Jacob—even though he brings offerings to the LORD Almighty. Another thing you do: You flood the LORD's altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, "Why?" It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. "I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment," says the LORD Almighty. "So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith." (Malachi 2:10-16 NIV)

THOUGHTS for those CONSIDERING SEPARATION/DIVORCE

Clicking this link will take you to a webpage containing different thoughts gathered from various resources on the subject of divorce that we hope you will prayerfully consider during this critical time in your life.

Links to Christian sites with helpful information on Marriage/ Divorce issues:

http://themarriagebed.com

http://www.desiringgod.org

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary

http://marriagemissions.com/index.php

On Temptations....

No temptation has taken you but what is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation also will make a way to escape, so that you may be able to bear it (1Corinthians 10:13 MKJV)

Click to read the Reference Text: 1Corinthians 10:6-14

Carnal desires gain strength by indulgence, therefore should be checked in their first rise. If we want to avoid the plagues of Israel then we should fear the sins that led to their plagues. Remember that nothing in Scripture is written in vain; and it is our wisdom and duty to learn from it. Others have fallen, and so may we. The Christian's security against sin is distrust of himself and absolute trust in God. This is a word of caution as well as a word of comfort. Others have the similar burdens, and face similar temptations: what they bear up under, and break through, we may also. God is wise as well as faithful, and will make our burdens according to our strength. He knows what we can bear. He will make a way to escape; he will deliver either from the trial itself, or at least the mischief of it. We have full encouragement to flee from sin, and to be faithful to God. We cannot fall by temptation, if we cleave fast to him. Whether the world smiles or frowns, it is an enemy; but believers (in Christ) shall be strengthened to overcome it, with all its terrors and enticements. The fear of the Lord, put into their hearts, will be the great means of safety. Amen!

Temptation Harder to Resist Than You Think, Study Suggests

Jeanna Bryner
Senior Writer
LiveScience.com – Tue Aug 4, 8:52 am ET

If you think you're generally good at resisting temptation, you're probably wrong, scientists now say.

"People are not good at anticipating the power of their urges, and those who are the most confident about their self-control are the most likely to give into temptation," said Loran Nordgren, senior lecturer of management and organizations at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, in Illinois.

The result: Many of us unwittingly expose ourselves to tempting chocolate or cigarettes, leading to a greater likelihood of indulging in addictive behaviors.

Nordgren reached the conclusion through a series of small, offbeat experiments done primarily with college students. The results may hold for the broader population, but that has not been studied.

In one experiment, more than twice as many smokers who thought they could resist temptation lit up a cigarette in a no-smoking test as those who realized they didn't have so much control.

Those who puff out their chests in the face of temptation have a deflated view of others. "They also demonize others," Nordgren told LiveScience. "They take a very dim view of other people who act impulsively, because they have this belief that they themselves wouldn't act this way."

The bottom line, Nordgren says: Avoid situations where such weaknesses thrive, and remember you're not that invincible.

Hunger, cigarettes and sleep

The new study, which will be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Psychological Science, builds on past research showing that when not in the "heat of the moment," individuals have a hard time understanding the depths of their cravings.

"If you aren't feeling a cigarette craving or hunger or sexual arousal at this moment, I believe you have a real difficult time appreciating the transformative force of those experiences," Nordgren said.

And most of the time, we aren't gripped by impulse, he added.

To figure out how this so-called cold state (opposite of the "gripped by impulse" state) influences behavior, Nordgren ran experiments on:

Hunger pangs: Seventy-nine university students and employees rated a list of snacks from least to most favorite and then selected one. Participants were told, "You can eat the snack anytime you like. However, if you return the snack to this location in one week, we will give you four Euros (and you will get to keep the snack you chose)."

Questions also measured participants' level of hunger. Satiated participants exposed themselves to more temptation, generally choosing their first or second favorite snack, while the hungry individuals selected their second or third favorite item. Those with full bellies were also less likely to bring back an uneaten snack, Nordgren said.

Cigarette cravings: Fifty-three university students who smoked were placed into a high- or low-control group, in which a bogus test suggested each had either a high or low capacity for impulse control. Then, the participants had to watch a film called "Coffee and Cigarettes" without smoking. Participants chose their level of temptation with corresponding levels of payoff. They could either keep the unlit cigarette in another room (lowest), on their desk, in their hand, or in their mouth (highest).

On average, low-control students chose to watch the film with the cigarette on the table, and those who thought they could easily resist temptation chose to keep the cigarette in their hand. About 33 percent of the high-control students caved and smoked during the film, while just over 11 percent of the low-control participants lit up.

Mental fatigue: An experiment of 74 college students revealed those who were drained mentally reported having less control of mental fatigue than their bright-eyed counterparts. The "sleepy" students also said they intended to leave about 53 percent of their studying to the last minute, compared with about 60 percent for the non-fatigued group.

The thinking is that the alert students couldn't appreciate the enormous drawbacks of having a drained brain and so chose to leave more studying to the last minute.

Wider implications

The study has implications for all corners of our personal lives, Nordgren figures. For instance, can a recovering alcoholic attend booze-saturated parties and stay sober? Can a dieter frequent his favorite dessert buffets and refrain from binging? Can a committed husband have drinks with a past fling without fear of infidelity?

"The answer is probably 'no,'" Nordgren said. "People have less self-restraint than they think, a false belief that often leads people to expose themselves to more temptation than they can handle."

In addition, he added, the study results suggest people often can't predict how they will react in a given situation.

"It's not just about eating and addiction, but the 'cold self' has a really hard time understanding what you're capable of in a moment of despair, in a moment of rage," Nordgren said.

· 5 Bad Habits You Should Still Quit

· Video - Addiction: It's in Your Genes

· Bad Habits: Why We Can't Stop

Culled from Yahoo News

Vacancy Announcement: To Whom It May Concern....

I heard you were considering a new manager in your life. I would like to apply for the job. I believe I am the most qualified candidate. I am the only one that has ever done this job successfully. I was the first manager of human beings. In fact I made them, so naturally I know how humanity works, and what is best to get people back into proper working condition. It will be like having the manufacturer as your personal mechanic.

If this is your first time considering me, I would just like to point out that my salary has already been paid by the blood of my son, Jesus on the cross of Calvary. What I need from you is the acknowledgment that the price is sufficient to pay for all of your sin and your previous independence from Me. I need you to believe this in your heart and to tell somebody else about your decision with your mouth.

The next thing I ask is the right to change and fix your life so you can learn how to stay close to Me. I will make some major changes and revisions. They are not for you to worry about. I need your permission to execute these changes, My way and in My time. I will change your desires and give you the strength to make the changes. Please keep your hands out of the way.

Don't try to help me and don't resist me. I really do need your full commitment and cooperation. If you give me those, the process can go smoothly, without delays.

Yours Sincerely,

God

P.S. I created the heavens and the earth. I AM.

Below is my Resume'

God

Everywhere All over,

Every Place 00000

Phone: (123) 456-PRAY

Experience

From the beginning of time.

Before the beginning of time.

From everlasting to everlasting. I made time.

Ability

All Powerful

Prior Employment

Created the universe, put the galaxies in place, formed man. Established heaven and earth by My spoken Word and am currently holding up the world by My power.

Education and Training

I AM and I have all knowledge.

Character Reference

Love, light, and life (1 John 4:16, 1 John 1:5, John 14:6). A representative, but by no means conclusive list of other character traits follows:

Wisdom: ...James 1:5

Comfort: ...2 Corinthians 1:3

Truth: ...John 8:32

Healer: ...1 Peter 2:24

Strength: ...Phil. 4:13

Forgiveness: ...1 John 1:9

Provider: ...Phil. 4:19

Mercy: ...Ephesians 2:4

Good: ...Matt. 19:17

Peace: ...Romans 14:17

Availability

Willing and ready to take over your life. Able to put your life together again. Will bring all of who I AM into your life. Can start now. Will transform your life if you let Me.

Salary Requirement

Work in your life has already been paid for through the blood of My Son, Jesus. Your only responsibility is to commit initially and on a daily basis. To trust and obey what Jesus has done and wants to do in your life.

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

Living with hope

If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.

Is this the life for you?

If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.