Live each day as a Philippians 4:13 woman." I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."

There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist
who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists
tried. The king looked at all the pictures. But there
were only two he really liked, and he had to choose
between them.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a
perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around
it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds.
All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect
picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged
and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest – in perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?

“Because,” explained the king, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace.”
~Author Unknown

I refuse to be discouraged,

To be sad, or to cry;

I refuse to be downhearted,

and here’s the reason why:

I have a God who’s mighty,

Who’s sovereign and supreme;

I have a God who loves me,

and I am on His team.

He is all-wise and powerful.

Jesus is His name;

Though everything is changeable,

My God remains the same.

My God knows all that’s happening;

Beginning to the end;

His presence is my comfort;

He is my dearest Friend.

When sickness comes to weaken me,

To bring my head down low,

I call upon my mighty God;

Into His arms I go.

When circumstances threaten

to rob me of my peace;

He draws me close unto His breast,

Where all my strivings cease.

When my heart melts within me,

and weakness takes control;

He gathers me into His arms,

He soothes my heart and soul.

The great “I AM” is with me.

My life is in His hand;

The “Son of the Lord” is my hope,

It’s in His strength I stand.

I refuse to be defeated,

My eyes are on my God;

He has promised to be with me,

as through this life I trod.

I’m looking past all my circumstances,

To Heaven’s throne above;

My prayers have reached the heart of God

I’m resting in His love.

I give God thanks in everything.

My eyes are on His face;

The battle’s His, the victory mine;

He’ll help me win the race.

_{~ Author BJ George ~}

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.
I’ve been thinking, he said, I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone.
~ Author Unknown

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