Closer To Heaven
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The university held Founder’s Day celebrations, inaugurated biblical languages center.
Read more at the source: Oakwood University, Adventist-owned historically black school, celebrates 120 years
Article posted on en.intercer.net from Adventist.org News Feed.
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It’s kind of strange how Jesus didn’t have much to say about tomorrow. What He did say is that we shouldn’t worry about it.
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (Matthew 6:34, The Message).
Someone eloquently said, “Today is the tomorrow you used to worry about!”
When dwelt upon, tomorrow’s unknown fears can impact the way you live in the present. Like a scorching fire, fear burns up your energy and vitality. It devastates your hopes and eager expectations, cripples faith and can ultimately destroy your health.
God’s Word is a good antidote for fear. That’s not to say that when it’s read it holds some kind of hocus pocus magic that instantly dispells all our fears. Such an expectation would be naive and unrealistic. Rather, God’s promises are like the anti-venom that neutralizes the poison of a deadly bite. Suddenly healing is within reach. Try reading these passages and note how you are affected: Psalm 23; Psalm 91; John 14:1-3
“I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us” (Romans 8:38, 39, The Message).
Questions About Your Future
One of the best ways to plan for tomorrow is to proactively seize today’s opportunities for learning and personal growth. Here are some questions to consider. Your answers will help provide a glimpse into what your future may or may not hold:
1. What are you doing today to limit tomorrow’s potential medical expenses?
2. Are you putting any money in savings for future needs?
3. What skills are you honing today to make yourself more marketable in tomorrow’s workplace?
4. What do you want to be doing five years from now?
5. What are you planning to do five years from now?
6. What is today’s most pressing personal challenge?
7. What do you think tomorrow’s most pressing challenge will be?
8. What are you doing to master this anticipated challenge?
9. How much time do you invest in other people (family, friends and others)?
10. There are many things we cannot change. What can you do today to influence your sphere of influence in a positive way?
Read more at the source: What About Tomorrow?
Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Spiritual applications.
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Dear God: When I was raising my kids, it was very different. They didn’t sit and watch television all day. They didn’t have iPods filled with trashy music and computers in their rooms. My children were respectful and dressed appropriately. What’s happening to kids today? I see them at church and I’m embarrassed about what they’re wearing and can’t stand to hear them talk. It can’t be pleasing to you God or to their parents. I’m actually a little afraid of some of them with their weird haircuts and skin-tight clothes.
Only You can help me love and respect them. Help me to pray for them and that my critical spirit will be exchanged with love for each and every one of them no matter what they wear. Give me love for their over-worked parents and if I have an opportunity to reach out and help, show me the window of opportunity.
In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Written by Dixie Dee Whited. Used with permission. Dear God © 2016 AnswersForMe.org. Click here for content usage information.
Read more at the source: The Good Ole Days
Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Online prayers.
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I remember the first time I saw her. It was 49 years ago, and we were in the college cafeteria just after semester break. She was a new face on campus and being not “socially attached” to anyone at the time, I immediately began to plot how best to impress her and get a date.
I determined this venture was worth spending some of my hard-earned cash on; so, throwing caution to the wind, I purchased two tickets to a Victor Borge concert at Constitution Hall. Since the concert was sold out, I was offered provisional seats on the stage itself just inches from the maestro. The cost was exorbitant, but this only served to convince me that this would surely make the hoped-for-impression.
It must have done the trick. That young lady and I are still dating each other. We’ve also been married for 47 years.
Dating is exhilarating. Everyday is new and exciting; feet walk on clouds, hearts skip beats, life looks beautiful through those rose-tinted glasses. Is that normal? Absolutely! Is it wrong? I hope not. Dating is, in fact, part of our Great Physician’s plan. He fully intended that His children grow up, mature, and seek companionship. “It is not good that the man should be alone,” He told Adam in Genesis 2:18, KJV.
We’re attracted to other people by many things. It could be as whimsical as a smile, or as basic as a feeling of security. But the final selection process—the process that ends with a nervous “I do” uttered before witnesses—must be carried out using issues far deeper than looks and feelings.
Dating is a time for discovering which is the right person for you. It’s a time to get to know what makes us tick; what we like and don’t like; how we spend money; what we believe in; what our habits are.
Dating is a grand experiment, and that may be as far as some couples want to go. But the man and woman who desire to deepen their relationship must make a commitment. They become more and more exclusive until, finally, they pledge to love, honor, and cherish “until death do us part.”
There is Someone who loves you very much. This person has had His eye on you ever since you were born, and He wants to be first in your life. I wonder if we are as fair with Him as we are with one another. In short, are you committed to God, or are you just “dating” Him?
Are you window shopping—looking here and there for someone who will bring you the most benefits? If God promised to make you rich, beautiful, or famous, would you attend church more often?
Is God your blind date—the stranger you hardly know yet who you expect to meet all your specifications? Is He on your heart’s short list only when you can’t find anyone else?
Are you trying to double-date with God? Instead of making Him first in your life, do you expect Him to share time with your career or many social engagements?
Maybe you think you can “go Dutch” with your Creator—He takes care of His obligations, you take care of yours. That way, you won’t be “beholding” to Him for anything.
Perhaps you consider yourself “going steady” with God, but not willing to move up to the next level—being totally committed to Him “until death do us part.”
The ultimate cad in the dating scene is the two-timer—one who pretends to be committed to you while maintaining developing friendships on the side. Have you ever said Yes to God, then returned to your old way of life?
The Bible says that our Great Physician is a “jealous” God (Exodus 34:14). That means He has chosen you, and He doesn’t want anything or anybody to take you away. Like any serious suitor, He longs to spend time with you because He has invested everything He owns in your relationship. He has paid every bill, including your ticket to heaven. No, He’s not trying to impress you or make Himself look good. He’s simply saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love;I have drawn you with loving-kindness (Jeremiah 31:3).
How could anyone resist a love like that?
Read more at the source: Window Shopping
Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Spiritual applications.
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Getting our kids to eat healthy can be quite a task but being persistent has its benefits. One benefit is supporting the growth of healthy bones and teeth.
As children grow, the body demands calcium to support bone development. Infants need calcium so that bones can increase to support their ever growing weight and size. Calcium from breast milk and/or formula meet the infants’ need. However when they become toddlers and children, they need a steady supply.
Between the ages of 10 – 15 years old, the weight of bones double1 but this is the time growing children and teenagers abandon calcium sources. This compromises bone density and bones are more vulnerable to breakage. For example, children and teenage boys who don’t get enough calcium have more forearm breakages than those who do get enough calcium.2
When teenagers and children have low calcium intakes, they increase their risk for osteoporosis or brittle bones as they get older. Here’s why. During teen years and up to age 25, bones increase in density. After this, the body maintains density. When we reach 40 years old, we start to lose calcium. If we do not have significant stores, our bones can become brittle in the later years of life. What we do now for growing bones can affect our children’s bones in later years.
Where do we get calcium? One of the most abundant sources of calcium is from milk and dairy products. What are the best sources? Keeping a steady supply of milk, cheese and yogurt in the daily diet will help keep bones strong. If milk sources cannot be digested due to allergies for example, there are other sources of calcium. Soy, almond and rice beverages can be a source of calcium. Don’t forget to read the label to make sure calcium has been added. Broccoli, beans, bok choy, spinach, almonds, tortillas and tofu with calcium sulfate are other sources that contain calcium. Getting these foods in the diet will help provide calcium for bones.
Don’t forget that growing bones need more than calcium. Other nutrients to support bones include vitamin D, magnesium, potassium, boron, fluoride, iron and many others. Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, will help meet the demands for these nutrients.
How much calcium do growing bones need?
Calcium Requirements*
Birth to 6 months – 210 mg
6-12 months – 270 mg
1-3 years old – 500 mg
4-8 years old – 800 mg
9-18 years old – 1,300 mg
*Source: Eunice Kenndy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development website.
1. How much Calcium in our bones? www.idph.state.ia. Accessed, December 29, 2010.
2. Ryan LM. Forearm fractures in children and bone health. Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Obesity: December 2010 – Volume 17 – Issue 6 – p 530–534.
Read more at the source: Those Growing Bones
Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Healthy Living.
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