Timber Ridge "Old Stone" Presbyterian Church
Yoked Together with
Timber Ridge "Old Stone" Presbyterian Church Yoked Together with
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| For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NRSV) GIFTS This GIFTS PAGE has:
Unless otherwise noted, the author is unknown for the selections on this site. WILLAGod has given every person gifts and talents and the folks of TRPC have been and continue to be blessed by those gifts. For a time God blessed the folks at TRPC with the presence of a woman named Willa Chambers who so freely shared the gift of photography that God gave her and which so richly blessed our lives as did she. The first picture below by Willa, which might be said to represent the beautiful ties that bind us together, hangs in a room at the church and the other two are pictures Willa took of the area.
Back to TopGOD'S GIFTSI asked for Strength......... And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong. I asked for Wisdom......... And God gave me Problems to solve. I asked for Prosperity......... And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work. I asked for Courage......... And God gave me Danger to overcome. I asked for Love......... And God gave me Troubled people to help. I asked for Favors......... And God gave me Opportunities. I received nothing I wanted ........ I received everything I needed!
Back to TopTHE BLESSING IN NOI asked God to take away my pride. God said "No". It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up. I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said "No". Her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary. I asked God to grant me patience. God said "No". Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is earned. I asked God to give me happiness. God said "No". I give you blessings, happiness is up to you. I asked God to spare me pain. God said "No". Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me. I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said "No". You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. God said "No". I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things. I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as he loves me. God said... Ahhhh, finally you have the idea!
Back to TopPOSITIVE COUNTCount your blessings instead of your crosses,
Back to TopC.H. SPURGEON DEVOTIONALGod's people have their trials. It was never designed by God, when He chose His people, that they should be an untried people. They were chosen in the furnace of affliction; they were never chosen to worldly peace and earthly joy. Freedom from sickness and the pains of mortality was never promised them; but when their Lord drew up the charter of privileges, He included chastisements amongst the things to which they should inevitably be heirs. Trials are a part of our lot; they were predestinated for us in Christ's last legacy. So surely as the stars are fashioned by his hands, and their orbits fixed by Him, so surely are our trials allotted to us: He has ordained their season and their place, their intensity and the effect they shall have upon us. Good men must never expect to escape troubles; if they do, they will be disappointed, for none of their predecessors have been without them. Mark the patience of Job; remember Abraham, for he had his trials, and by his faith under them, he became the "Father of the faithful." Note well the biographies of all the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and you shall discover none of those whom God made vessels of mercy, who were not made to pass through the fire of affliction. It is ordained of old that the cross of trouble should be engraved on every vessel of mercy, as the royal mark whereby the King's vessels of honour are distinguished. But although tribulation is thus the path of God's children, they have the comfort of knowing that their Master has traversed it before them; they have His presence and sympathy to cheer them, His grace to support them, and His example to teach them how to endure; and when they reach "the kingdom," it will more than make amends for the "much tribulation" through which they passed to enter it.
Back to TopBE THANKFULWe can be thankful that we don't already have everything we desire. If we did, what would there be to look forward to? We can be thankful when we don't know something, for it gives us the opportunity to learn. We can be thankful for the difficult times. During those times we can grow. We can be thankful for our limitations, because they give us opportunities for improvement. We can be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build our strength and character. We can be thankful for our mistakes. They can teach us valuable lessons. We can be thankful when we're tired and weary, because it means we may have made a difference. It's easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks. Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. We can find a way to be thankful for our troubles, and they can become our blessings.
Back to TopTODAYI woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have. Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or... Today I can grumble about my health or... I can rejoice that I am alive. Today I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me when I was growing up or... I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born. Today I can cry because roses have thorns or... I can celebrate that thorns have roses. Today I can mourn my lack of friends or... I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships. Today I can whine because I have to go to work or... I can shout for joy because I have a job to do. Today I can complain because I have to go to school or... I can eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge. Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or... I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter for my mind, body, and soul. Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!
Back to TopGOD'S BOXESI have in my hands two boxes which God gave me to hold. He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black, and all your joys in = the gold." I heeded His words, and in the two boxes both my joys and sorrows = I stored but though the gold became heavier each day, the black was as = light as before. With curiosity, I opened the black I wanted to find out why, and I saw in the base of the box, a hole which my sorrows had fallen out by. I showed the hole to God and mused aloud, "I wonder where my = sorrows could be." He smiled a gentle smile at me . "My child, they're all here with me." I asked, "God, why give me the boxes, why the gold, and the black with the hole?" "My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings, the black = is for you to let go."
Back to TopON THIS DAYOn this day Mend a quarrel Search out a forgotten friend Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust Encourage someone who's lost faith Keep a promise Forget an old grudge Examine your demands on others and reduce them Fight for a promise Express your gratitude Overcome an old fear Take two minutes to appreciate nature Tell someone you love them Tell them again And again
Back to TopFAST AND FEASTFast from judging others ... feast on the Christ indwelling in them. Fast from emphasis on differences ... feast on the unity of life. Fast from apparent darkness ... feast on the reality of light. Fast from thoughts of illness ... feast on the healing power of God. Fast from words that pollute ... feast on phrases that purify. Fast from discontent ... feast on gratitude. Fast from anger ..feast on patience. Fast from pessimism ... feast on optimism. Fast from worry ... feast on divine order. Fast from complaining ... feast on appreciation. Fast from negatives ... feast on affirmatives. Fast from unrelenting pressures ... feast on unceasing prayer. Fast from hostility ... feast on nonresistance. Fast from bitterness ... feast on forgiveness. Fast from self concern ... feast on compassion for others. Fast from personal anxiety ... feast on eternal truth. Fast from discouragement ... feast on hope. Fast from facts that depress ... feast on truths that uplift. Fast from lethargy ... feast on enthusiasm. Fast from suspicion ... feast on truth. Fast from thoughts that weaken ... feast on promises that inspire. Fast from shadows of sorrow ... feast on sunlight of serenity. Fast from idle gossip ... feast on purposeful silence.
Back to TopTHANKSGIVING LITANYLeader: We gather together our hearts filled with joy! People: Blessings abound from God who loves us. L: Thanksgiving and praise form our songs and our prayers. P: To God be all glory and honor! L: The prophet calls us today to live as God’s own people. P: God marks out a clear path and promises God’s blessings. L: Holy is your name, O God! All generations shall know that you have created our world and bring new life each day. P: We confess that we often fail to be grateful and always expect more; we judge others without first looking at ourselves; and we plan for our own benefit without considering the stranger or the common good. We do not love our neighbor as ourselves L: A new heart I will give you and a new spirit I will put within you says the Lord. P: With your blessings we will obey your law, O God. L: We will give thanks and know that it is by our grace we live. P: Holy is your name, O God! All generations will know your name and give thanks! L: And you shall be my people, and I will be your God. P: Let every day be filled with thanksgiving! For God, our God, has blessed us. L: May the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, be with you. P: And also with you. All: Amen.
Back to TopTHANKSGIVING SCRIPTUREEzra 3:11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD : "He is good; his love to Israel endures forever." And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD , because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. Psalm 69:30 I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Back to TopTHANKSGIVING PRAYERPray first, aim high and stay focused on God. Live every day one day at a time and remember that only God knows our future and that he will not put you through any more than you can bear. Do not look to man for your blessings but look to the Lord. He can open doors for you that only He is able to do. Doors that you will not slip through but doors that only He has prepared in advance for you in your favor. Wait, be still and patient: keep God first and everything else will follow. We can never come to the of God’s love, grace, care, strength, and peace.
Back to TopI'M DRINKING FROM MY SAUCERI may not have done all the things I wanted to do and I guess it 's too late now But I don't worry about that much 'cause I'm happy anyhow. As I go through life's journey I'm reaping better than I sowed I'm drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed.
I don't have a lot of riches and sometimes the going is tough But I've got friends who love me and that makes me rich enough So I just thank God for His blessings and the mercy He's bestowed. I'm drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed
I remember times when everything went wrong and my faith grew kind of thin But after a while those old dark clouds broke and the sun peeped through again. So Lord, help me not to gripe about the tough rows I've hoed I'm drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed.
And if God will grant me strength and courage when the ways grow steep and rough I'll not ask for other blessings 'cause I've already been blessed enough and may I never be too busy to help another bear his load And I will keep drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed.
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