Is Happiness a passing emotion or a permanent state? The Bible says it can be both. There is happiness that reacts to happenings (which is temporary and volatile), and there is happiness that overrules happenings (which is strong and lasting). Happiness based on happenings is part of life, but if that is all we can count on we have to keep feeding ourselves with events to keep us upbeat.
Those who know the joy that comes from God don't need happenings to keep them happy. They learn how to develop inner joy because they know that no matter what happens, God offers hope and promise.
James 1:2
Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.
30 September 2009
29 September 2009
Freedom Can Be Yours!
The daily opportunity to renew, restore, and redirect our lives is one of the most awesome facets of our relationship with God, His Holy Spirit, and our redeemer, Christ Jesus.
God gives us the power – through His Word, through His Son, and through His Spirit – to rise each day and continue the process of transformation and restoration, as He perfects us into the image of Christ.
God gives us the power – through His Word, through His Son, and through His Spirit – to rise each day and continue the process of transformation and restoration, as He perfects us into the image of Christ.
Yet, many of us, when confronted by difficulties, struggle to maintain the victory -- of spirit over flesh…faith over fear…and the truth of God -- over the lies of the enemy of our soul.
Here are three strategies for finding daily spiritual renewal and transformation through the power of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit:
#1: Stop Dwelling on Past Failures and Injuries. Failure is a part of life. When you fail, the most important thing is to pick yourself up and choose to move forward. At the same time, recognize that those around you have shortcomings and will fail, and possibly cause you pain, from time to time as well. Don’t get stuck in moments of failure – yours or theirs. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 7:3: “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye”?Ask God to forgive – and help you forgive -- what needs to be forgiven, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight on how to move forward.
#2: Remain Open to Change. Everything in life changes. Only through learning how to navigate transition will you be able to bend – and not break – when upheaval, loss, and change occurs in your life. Accept change as good. Ask God to help you “change your mind” about change…read God’s Word to learn how Jesus counseled His followers on the changes it would be necessary to make to achieve their destiny and enter God’s kingdom…and listen for the counsel of the Holy Spirit as you prepare for the new opportunities change will reveal!
#3: Keep an Eye Out for New Opportunities Each Day. God will send you opportunities. Expect them! Be open to new ideas – and don’t get stuck in a preconceived notion of how God is going to answer your prayers, or bring about the accomplishment of the goals and destiny He calls you to pursue. Pay attention to the leading and counsel of the Holy Spirit as you maintain an open and willing mind and seek new opportunities in your life. Remember: God’s objective is for you to be transformed, restored, and perfected into the likeness of Jesus Christ a little bit more each day.
#1: Stop Dwelling on Past Failures and Injuries. Failure is a part of life. When you fail, the most important thing is to pick yourself up and choose to move forward. At the same time, recognize that those around you have shortcomings and will fail, and possibly cause you pain, from time to time as well. Don’t get stuck in moments of failure – yours or theirs. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 7:3: “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye”?Ask God to forgive – and help you forgive -- what needs to be forgiven, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight on how to move forward.
#2: Remain Open to Change. Everything in life changes. Only through learning how to navigate transition will you be able to bend – and not break – when upheaval, loss, and change occurs in your life. Accept change as good. Ask God to help you “change your mind” about change…read God’s Word to learn how Jesus counseled His followers on the changes it would be necessary to make to achieve their destiny and enter God’s kingdom…and listen for the counsel of the Holy Spirit as you prepare for the new opportunities change will reveal!
#3: Keep an Eye Out for New Opportunities Each Day. God will send you opportunities. Expect them! Be open to new ideas – and don’t get stuck in a preconceived notion of how God is going to answer your prayers, or bring about the accomplishment of the goals and destiny He calls you to pursue. Pay attention to the leading and counsel of the Holy Spirit as you maintain an open and willing mind and seek new opportunities in your life. Remember: God’s objective is for you to be transformed, restored, and perfected into the likeness of Jesus Christ a little bit more each day.
23 September 2009
Technology Simplifies Life
Technology is often blamed for complicating our lives instead of simplifying them. But there are ways to harness the power of technology to achieve your dream of an ordered, less chaotic life.
Go grocery shopping online
Instead of wandering the supermarket aisles, have food, wine and other household goods delivered to your doorstep.
Many retailers including Woolworths and Pick ‘n Pay, have online shopping facilities which can save you money, petrol and travel time. Transfer money, pay bills and bank online
If you haven’t already, set yourself up with Internet banking.
You can move money from one account to another, do direct deposits and pay your accounts online so you don’t have to go into a store to settle your accounts.
Use the Internet for school projects and homework Instead of a shelf full of outdated encyclopaedias, get your kids to use the Internet for school project research and even exam revision.
It will save you money and trips to the library. Upgrade your Internet connection
If you are still using a dial-up connection, save yourself time and frustration by upgrading to a broadband connection like ADSL. Faster connection speeds and a fixed monthly fee means you won’t have to wait ages for e-mails to download and you’ll be able to budget more effectively.
You’ll also avoid tying up your phone line for hours at a time.
Instead of wandering the supermarket aisles, have food, wine and other household goods delivered to your doorstep.
Many retailers including Woolworths and Pick ‘n Pay, have online shopping facilities which can save you money, petrol and travel time.
If you haven’t already, set yourself up with Internet banking.
You can move money from one account to another, do direct deposits and pay your accounts online so you don’t have to go into a store to settle your accounts.
It will save you money and trips to the library.
If you are still using a dial-up connection, save yourself time and frustration by upgrading to a broadband connection like ADSL. Faster connection speeds and a fixed monthly fee means you won’t have to wait ages for e-mails to download and you’ll be able to budget more effectively.
You’ll also avoid tying up your phone line for hours at a time.
Thayer said, “The Internet is not only a source of information but also a great way to get your daily tasks done, saving you time and petrol money.
The careful use of technology can help simplify life – you just need to choose the technology you really need to achieve your goals”.
17 September 2009
The Ten Commandments of Cell Phones
Failure to obey these commandments can result in your being ridiculed by strangers and disassociated by your family and even your closest friends.
1. Thou shalt not subject defenseless bystanders to cell phone conversations. When people cannot escape the banality of your conversation—on a plane, train, bus, cab, or at a restaurant—spare them. We are just not interested, you boorish twit.
2. Thou shalt not set thy ringer to play "La Cucaracha" every time thy phone rings. Or Beethoven's Fifth, or the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive," or any other annoying melody. Is it not enough that your phone goes off every other second? In addition, any phone that announces "INCOMING CALL" should be tossed in a toilet.
3. Thou shalt turn thy cell phone off during public performances, in theaters, during speeches and meetings, family dinners, at weddings and funerals and on first dates.
4. Thou shalt not wear more than two wireless devices on thy belt. Techno-jockeys attempting to look like they are carrying Batman utility belts are not cool.
5. Thou shalt not dial while driving. This madness must stop. Put the phone down and just drive. There are enough people in the world who have problems mastering driving a vehicle by itself.
6. Thou shalt not wear thy earpiece in the presence of thy friends and coworkers. This is similar to wearing headphones connected to a CD player—it's just rude.
7. Thou shalt not speak louder on thy cell phone than thou would on any other phone. Phones have sensitive microphones, and it's gotten to the point where you can tell if someone is calling from a mobile phone simply by their volume of speaking, not how it sounds. If your signal cuts out, speaking louder won't help.
8. Thou shalt not grow too attached to thy cell phone. For obvious reasons, an addictive dependency on being constantly "in touch" is not healthy. At work, go nuts. Away from work, give it (and the rest of us) a rest.
9. Thou shalt not display thy cell phone on a restaurant table just in case it may ring. This is not the Old West, and you are not a gunslinger sitting down to a game of five-card stud in a Dodge City saloon. Be a little less conspicuous. If it rings, you'll hear it just as easily if it's in your pocket, purse or "holster."
10. Thou shalt not attempt to impress with thy mobile phone. Not only is using a cell phone no longer impressive (unless, of course, it's one of those really cool new phones with the space-age "Matrix" design, interchangeable multi-colored face with a laser-linked heads-up viewer and solar battery charger), but when it is used to impress, said user shall be immediately identified as a neophyte impost or a poseur and an outright a......
1. Thou shalt not subject defenseless bystanders to cell phone conversations. When people cannot escape the banality of your conversation—on a plane, train, bus, cab, or at a restaurant—spare them. We are just not interested, you boorish twit.
2. Thou shalt not set thy ringer to play "La Cucaracha" every time thy phone rings. Or Beethoven's Fifth, or the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive," or any other annoying melody. Is it not enough that your phone goes off every other second? In addition, any phone that announces "INCOMING CALL" should be tossed in a toilet.
3. Thou shalt turn thy cell phone off during public performances, in theaters, during speeches and meetings, family dinners, at weddings and funerals and on first dates.
4. Thou shalt not wear more than two wireless devices on thy belt. Techno-jockeys attempting to look like they are carrying Batman utility belts are not cool.
5. Thou shalt not dial while driving. This madness must stop. Put the phone down and just drive. There are enough people in the world who have problems mastering driving a vehicle by itself.
6. Thou shalt not wear thy earpiece in the presence of thy friends and coworkers. This is similar to wearing headphones connected to a CD player—it's just rude.
7. Thou shalt not speak louder on thy cell phone than thou would on any other phone. Phones have sensitive microphones, and it's gotten to the point where you can tell if someone is calling from a mobile phone simply by their volume of speaking, not how it sounds. If your signal cuts out, speaking louder won't help.
8. Thou shalt not grow too attached to thy cell phone. For obvious reasons, an addictive dependency on being constantly "in touch" is not healthy. At work, go nuts. Away from work, give it (and the rest of us) a rest.
9. Thou shalt not display thy cell phone on a restaurant table just in case it may ring. This is not the Old West, and you are not a gunslinger sitting down to a game of five-card stud in a Dodge City saloon. Be a little less conspicuous. If it rings, you'll hear it just as easily if it's in your pocket, purse or "holster."
10. Thou shalt not attempt to impress with thy mobile phone. Not only is using a cell phone no longer impressive (unless, of course, it's one of those really cool new phones with the space-age "Matrix" design, interchangeable multi-colored face with a laser-linked heads-up viewer and solar battery charger), but when it is used to impress, said user shall be immediately identified as a neophyte impost or a poseur and an outright a......
08 September 2009
Google word power
Number-crunchers can rejoice as Google Inc offers deeper access to the underlying figures for users' web searches, giving some insight into trends based on the relative popularity of various words.
The Internet search leader is expanding its existing Google Trends service to allow users to see underlying numerical data on the popularity of any particular search in Google's vast database of search terms, relative to others.
Google Trends was begun two years ago as an entertaining but limited way to indicate what the world is thinking about over time, at least in terms of web searches.
Now Google is giving users the ability to search across terms in its database, instantly chart how they compare to other search terms, then export the underlying numerical data into a common spreadsheet format to compare with other data.
Google Trends (trends.google.com/) lets users compare demand for various search terms and see how popularity differs across geographic regions, cities or languages.
A year ago, the company introduced Hot Trends, which gave users insight into fast-rising web search trends with data refreshed several times daily. The tool's power only grows as people conduct more and more of their everyday activities online, with web search often their primary starting point.
The data in Google Trends stretches back to 2004. While the service is based on the many billions of individual searches performed each year, Google Trends only reveals data on the aggregate numbers of searches, not the searches themselves.
National differences in the endless human search for sex or love can vary widely, according to a Google Trends chart.
Google Trends users can also chart the explosion of interest in the term "backdating" since 2006, reflecting the scandal over how hundreds of companies backdated options for executives.
Searches for the word "Microsoft" had a more than two-to-one-lead in searches over "Apple" three years ago, but Apple had virtually closed the gap by the end of 2007.
Then news reports of its takeover bid for Yahoo appears to have stoked a recovery in Microsoft this year. Searches for Microsoft have outnumbered those for Apple by about 7 to 5 in recent weeks, according to Google Trends data.
Users must be registered and signed into a Google account to use the service. One can then see the evolution of new terms or concepts through Google searches, including the rise of "Google Trends" itself.
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