I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. – Isaiah 42:16
I gave my life to God many years ago but it wasn’t till I was going through some very trying times in the year of 2003 that I started to find my way back to the Lord. Even though I was saved many years before, I wasn’t free. I would pray when things got tough and very quickly went back to my old ways as soon as I got some relief. I was still bound by all sorts of things from my past – some my fault and others I had no control over. I lived my life totally strung out and in denial. To make matters worse, I surrounded myself with people who weren’t much better off than I was. It was a case of the blind leading the blind; an accident was bound to happen! I muddled through life looking for love and answers in all the wrong places. It wasn’t till I was literally brought to my knees that I decided to work out my salvation so that I could be free. The church taught me the reason to be saved but no-one hung around to ensure that I was truly free. I was saved but as bound as can be.
Only the presence and daily commitment to walk with God changed my life. He brought light into an otherwise dark vessel and he put hope in my heart. Where people had written me off and not expected that I would live, God reached out and brought me out of darkness into his bright light. There are many situations and circumstances that God delivered me from and brought me through – many of which I should not have survived. But God is faithful – He is not fair but He is a just God. I do not deserve the grace that God has shown me but he shows me anyhow.
If today your relationship with God is lukewarm. You have put him in a box and bring him out only on Sundays for your religious activities; it’s time to change all of that. The only way that God can really change and turn your life around is if you walk with him on a daily basis. Make God a daily priority in your life – every single day.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Only One Word
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his.” – 2 Timothy 2:19
Once we have accepted what Jesus Christ did on the Cross for us, we become part of God’s family. He knows that we are a part of his family and he will protect us. I strongly believe that one does not need the entire book of the bible to fight the enemy. If all you have is one word of God in grafted into your heart coupled with faith, the enemy cannot stop you. One word alone can change your situation – if you believe it and believe the God of the word.
I remember when I was fighting some tough situations and all I knew was one word – Isaiah 54:17 which say “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you”. I would repeat this scripture verse over and over again (and I still do) anytime I sense opposition and attack from the enemy of my soul. With this one word, I cleared a lot of dark clouds and found my way out of a lot of dark and dingy tunnels. Using this one word from God, I was able to fortify my altar and strengthen my spirit. This one verse of scripture, I strongly believe, saved me from a mental and emotional breakdown.
I encourage you to learn more than one verse of scripture for sure. My point here is that you can fight with the little that you know. Don’t just give in thinking you don’t know enough yet. Fight with what you’ve got! You can survive with the little that God has revealed for you through his word. Don’t wait until you read through all the books of the Bible before you protect yourself. Start right now where you are.
Once we have accepted what Jesus Christ did on the Cross for us, we become part of God’s family. He knows that we are a part of his family and he will protect us. I strongly believe that one does not need the entire book of the bible to fight the enemy. If all you have is one word of God in grafted into your heart coupled with faith, the enemy cannot stop you. One word alone can change your situation – if you believe it and believe the God of the word.
I remember when I was fighting some tough situations and all I knew was one word – Isaiah 54:17 which say “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you”. I would repeat this scripture verse over and over again (and I still do) anytime I sense opposition and attack from the enemy of my soul. With this one word, I cleared a lot of dark clouds and found my way out of a lot of dark and dingy tunnels. Using this one word from God, I was able to fortify my altar and strengthen my spirit. This one verse of scripture, I strongly believe, saved me from a mental and emotional breakdown.
I encourage you to learn more than one verse of scripture for sure. My point here is that you can fight with the little that you know. Don’t just give in thinking you don’t know enough yet. Fight with what you’ve got! You can survive with the little that God has revealed for you through his word. Don’t wait until you read through all the books of the Bible before you protect yourself. Start right now where you are.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
So You Think You know God?
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord. The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. – 1 Samuel 3:7
Samuel was no ordinary child. He was the result of a praying mother. His mother, Hannah was much loved by her husband but she was barren. To make matters worse, her husband’s second wife had many sons and daughters and she was often subject to great mockery and scorn. She would often weep and stop eating due to the treatment she received because of her childlessness. She prayed in tears bitterly to God and promised to give her child to God for life if only he would bless her with one and God did just that. Samuel grew up in the house of God and ministered to God under Eli, the priest.
After spending all this time in the House of God, the Bible says that he did not know the Lord and that the word of the Lord was yet to be revealed to him. How can we then say confidently that we know the Lord? How can we say that without a shadow of a doubt God has indeed revealed himself to us? I personally cannot say that I know everything about God because with God there is so much of him to know. We as human beings have a tendency to want to treat God the same way we treat one another. We are quick to look down on those that are having a hard time and judging their relationship with and knowledge of God with the presumption that our lives are in order because we know God better.
Salvation does not come to us because we know the Lord; it comes to us because the Lord knows us, He knows every single thought we ever thought because every single thing is completely open before him. The fact that we can quote all the scriptures of the bible may simply mean that intellectually we know the word of God but it is possible to know the entire bible cover to cover and not know the God of the word. The truth is it takes more than a few bible lessons and speaking in tongues to know God. It takes a personal intimate relationship to have an experience with God. It takes time, life, circumstances, tough times, pestilence, isolation, desolation and persecution to know God.
Challenge yourself today with these simple and direct questions – “Do I really know the Lord? Or am I just being religious all the while denying his awesome power? Do I want to grow in my knowledge of God understanding that it’s takes a while to know him or am I satisfied with the level of relationship that I have now?”
Samuel was no ordinary child. He was the result of a praying mother. His mother, Hannah was much loved by her husband but she was barren. To make matters worse, her husband’s second wife had many sons and daughters and she was often subject to great mockery and scorn. She would often weep and stop eating due to the treatment she received because of her childlessness. She prayed in tears bitterly to God and promised to give her child to God for life if only he would bless her with one and God did just that. Samuel grew up in the house of God and ministered to God under Eli, the priest.
After spending all this time in the House of God, the Bible says that he did not know the Lord and that the word of the Lord was yet to be revealed to him. How can we then say confidently that we know the Lord? How can we say that without a shadow of a doubt God has indeed revealed himself to us? I personally cannot say that I know everything about God because with God there is so much of him to know. We as human beings have a tendency to want to treat God the same way we treat one another. We are quick to look down on those that are having a hard time and judging their relationship with and knowledge of God with the presumption that our lives are in order because we know God better.
Salvation does not come to us because we know the Lord; it comes to us because the Lord knows us, He knows every single thought we ever thought because every single thing is completely open before him. The fact that we can quote all the scriptures of the bible may simply mean that intellectually we know the word of God but it is possible to know the entire bible cover to cover and not know the God of the word. The truth is it takes more than a few bible lessons and speaking in tongues to know God. It takes a personal intimate relationship to have an experience with God. It takes time, life, circumstances, tough times, pestilence, isolation, desolation and persecution to know God.
Challenge yourself today with these simple and direct questions – “Do I really know the Lord? Or am I just being religious all the while denying his awesome power? Do I want to grow in my knowledge of God understanding that it’s takes a while to know him or am I satisfied with the level of relationship that I have now?”
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Don’t Let Anyone or Anything Steal Your Joy
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. – Psalm 16:9-10
You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. – Psalm 4:7
The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing. - Zephaniah 3:17
I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing. - John 15:11
There are many situations that may occur in our lives that bring us down and attempt to steal our joy. It could be money troubles or relationship issue; a child who is going out of control. Your job may be taken away such that our source of livelihood disappears into thin air. One day you are the top of the ladder and the next you are in total abasement. All the people you believed were truly your friends varnish into thin air. You look around and for the first time, you suddenly find yourself all alone.
In the past when you didn’t lack anything, had the fancy cars and lived in the great mansion, you had people going in and out; eating and drinking with you. But now that things have dried up, everyone around you have varnished. You are now the topic of talk at everyone’s dinner table. You are the main character of discussion at every social gathering. Friends are now scared to be around you as you situation appears precarious. And when you do get invited to any function, you are simply there to be the clown they couldn’t afford to hire. But what they do not know is that dead and buried look the same. You are not dead yet, God has simply buried you so that you hibernate and gain strength and come back better than ever before. Believe this with faith and it will be so.
Whatever your situation, don’t let anyone or anything steal your joy. The joy does not lie in your circumstances but in your God. If you are in despair today, it is time to stop focusing on the size of your problems but concentrate on the size of your God.
You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. – Psalm 4:7
The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing. - Zephaniah 3:17
I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing. - John 15:11
There are many situations that may occur in our lives that bring us down and attempt to steal our joy. It could be money troubles or relationship issue; a child who is going out of control. Your job may be taken away such that our source of livelihood disappears into thin air. One day you are the top of the ladder and the next you are in total abasement. All the people you believed were truly your friends varnish into thin air. You look around and for the first time, you suddenly find yourself all alone.
In the past when you didn’t lack anything, had the fancy cars and lived in the great mansion, you had people going in and out; eating and drinking with you. But now that things have dried up, everyone around you have varnished. You are now the topic of talk at everyone’s dinner table. You are the main character of discussion at every social gathering. Friends are now scared to be around you as you situation appears precarious. And when you do get invited to any function, you are simply there to be the clown they couldn’t afford to hire. But what they do not know is that dead and buried look the same. You are not dead yet, God has simply buried you so that you hibernate and gain strength and come back better than ever before. Believe this with faith and it will be so.
Whatever your situation, don’t let anyone or anything steal your joy. The joy does not lie in your circumstances but in your God. If you are in despair today, it is time to stop focusing on the size of your problems but concentrate on the size of your God.
Monday, February 25, 2008
True Humility
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. – Psalm 20:7
My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. – Psalm 34:2
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:9
Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. – Psalm 138:6
Humility and fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life. – Proverbs 22:4
There are countless bible verses centered on the subject of humility. I remember someone telling me a couple of years ago that I lacked humility. At the time, my understanding of humility was pretty much being a doormat, allowing others to take advantage of me – stand in a corner with no voice of my own. I tried desperately to fit in a spot that was never designed for me to be in. I was not one with a quiet personality and neither was I ever afraid to speak the truth. My delivery may have needed some work and only God can teach anyone true humility. I was never perfect and I never will be. Imagine how shocked I was to learn that the true definition of humility had nothing to do with all of that.
True humility came to me from God as the understanding and unequivocal belief that I am unworthy and undeserving of the grace of God. I became a humble person when I accepted that without God I can achieve nothing and I can be nothing. Humility came to my spirit when I finally knew that I owe my life to God and I couldn’t live it the right way without him. Humility has taught me not to waste my time trying to hide my faults and shortcomings, but to confront all my fears, failures and insecurities, confess them to God and daily claim victory over them with the Lord by my side. Humility gave me the understanding that all I needed was God’s approval and nobody else’s.
To be truly humble, it means that we must acknowledge our total dependence on God. It does not mean that we have to be quiet and let everybody walk all over us. It does not mean that we compromise the truth of God’s word in a desperate attempt to blend in and belong. You don’t need to loose yourself while trying to be part of a clique. God sees your heart – he decides who is humble in his sight not your friend, your in-laws and not your next door neighbor. Humility is making your number one priority boldly confessing and boasting in the truth of the word of God.
My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. – Psalm 34:2
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:9
Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. – Psalm 138:6
Humility and fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life. – Proverbs 22:4
There are countless bible verses centered on the subject of humility. I remember someone telling me a couple of years ago that I lacked humility. At the time, my understanding of humility was pretty much being a doormat, allowing others to take advantage of me – stand in a corner with no voice of my own. I tried desperately to fit in a spot that was never designed for me to be in. I was not one with a quiet personality and neither was I ever afraid to speak the truth. My delivery may have needed some work and only God can teach anyone true humility. I was never perfect and I never will be. Imagine how shocked I was to learn that the true definition of humility had nothing to do with all of that.
True humility came to me from God as the understanding and unequivocal belief that I am unworthy and undeserving of the grace of God. I became a humble person when I accepted that without God I can achieve nothing and I can be nothing. Humility came to my spirit when I finally knew that I owe my life to God and I couldn’t live it the right way without him. Humility has taught me not to waste my time trying to hide my faults and shortcomings, but to confront all my fears, failures and insecurities, confess them to God and daily claim victory over them with the Lord by my side. Humility gave me the understanding that all I needed was God’s approval and nobody else’s.
To be truly humble, it means that we must acknowledge our total dependence on God. It does not mean that we have to be quiet and let everybody walk all over us. It does not mean that we compromise the truth of God’s word in a desperate attempt to blend in and belong. You don’t need to loose yourself while trying to be part of a clique. God sees your heart – he decides who is humble in his sight not your friend, your in-laws and not your next door neighbor. Humility is making your number one priority boldly confessing and boasting in the truth of the word of God.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Psalm 3 - God is my Shield
I believe in the sun even when if it isn’t shining. I believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in God even when He is silent. – World War II refugee
All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. – Ralph Hodgson
All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. – Ralph Hodgson
O Lord, it seems the entire world is against me.
They talk behind my back; they stand in judgment against me.
How can so many people come against one single person?
How can this be fair? How can this be just?
They secretly laugh and smirk; they question my faith.
They ask - where is her God now? Why won’t he rescue her?
Even though I can’t hear your voice, you are a shield around me.
You’ve shown me your glory; you are the lifter of my head.
When I cry out your name, you answer my prayers from the heavens.
They took their best shot – yet here I still stand.
Stronger than ever before; better than I’ve ever been.
Despite the opposition that surrounds me, I still sleep in peace.
I rise with hope because your love and strength sustains me.
Because of you I have no fear of the people against me.
Show yourself O Lord and deliver me from my enemies.
Save me from their wrath. Shield me from their fiery darts.
They shall howl but their voices will never be heard.
Only your love brings true deliverance.
May your blessings be upon me all the days of my life.
Amen.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Whenever You Feel Oppressed, Remember Your God
Then a new king who did not know about Joseph came into power in Egypt. ”Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”
So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly. They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly. – Exodus 1:8-14
Any man can work when every stroke of his hands brings down the fruit rattling from the tree…but to labor in season and out of season, under discouragement…that requires a heroism which is transcendent. – Henry Ward Beecher
God’s people get better under pressure. When we face attacks from the enemy, the strength of God kicks in and we respond in ways contrary to what is expected to us. We tend to thrive when under opposition. You will hear your enemies say you bounced back quicker than they had wanted. When they took their best shot at you, God showed up promptly on your behalf.
The Israelites were been treated in a very in-humane fashion yet God prospered them right there before the eyes of their enemies. The more unbearable the Egyptians made their lives, the more God prospered them. When we stand proud in the midst of great want and say that Jehovah is our Provider, we show great faith and God always responds to faith in action. They said you would never make it and wondered where your God was and God decided to show them that He is indeed the Almighty.
Even the midwives that were instructed to kill every Israelite boy that is birthed, the midwives refused to comply because they feared God more than Pharaoh. Not only did the Israelites continue to multiply but God also blessed the midwives because they lived their lives in obedience to God.
Anytime we face opposition or oppression, we must continue to trust God. Stand firm in prayer and keep the faith. God will always show up and anything that we might have lost will be replenished multiple times over. Be determined to stand strong and to persevere. Help is on its way. Your reward is coming.
So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly. They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly. – Exodus 1:8-14
Any man can work when every stroke of his hands brings down the fruit rattling from the tree…but to labor in season and out of season, under discouragement…that requires a heroism which is transcendent. – Henry Ward Beecher
God’s people get better under pressure. When we face attacks from the enemy, the strength of God kicks in and we respond in ways contrary to what is expected to us. We tend to thrive when under opposition. You will hear your enemies say you bounced back quicker than they had wanted. When they took their best shot at you, God showed up promptly on your behalf.
The Israelites were been treated in a very in-humane fashion yet God prospered them right there before the eyes of their enemies. The more unbearable the Egyptians made their lives, the more God prospered them. When we stand proud in the midst of great want and say that Jehovah is our Provider, we show great faith and God always responds to faith in action. They said you would never make it and wondered where your God was and God decided to show them that He is indeed the Almighty.
Even the midwives that were instructed to kill every Israelite boy that is birthed, the midwives refused to comply because they feared God more than Pharaoh. Not only did the Israelites continue to multiply but God also blessed the midwives because they lived their lives in obedience to God.
Anytime we face opposition or oppression, we must continue to trust God. Stand firm in prayer and keep the faith. God will always show up and anything that we might have lost will be replenished multiple times over. Be determined to stand strong and to persevere. Help is on its way. Your reward is coming.
Friday, February 22, 2008
No-One Can Harm You
“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.” – Isaiah 54:17
I have to admit that there was a time in my life when I was afraid – very afraid. The one who was supposed to protect me decided that I was not worth protecting. Not that I was innocent – far from it. I had my own part in my demise and I fully accept responsibility for it. But it was the grace of God that saved me. If not for his love and protection over my life, I would not have survived. The weapon was surely formed against me but it did not prosper.
God assures us that as his children, no weapon fashioned against us shall ever be successful. He has given us his full armor so that we can stand against any scheme that the enemy can come up with. We have the shield of faith with which we can deter all the missiles that the enemy might shoot our way. We are also encouraged to be strong in him and in the power of his might. No one can harm you. What they do to you might annoy or hurt you but they can never kill you. It’s your reaction to what they are doing that you need to watch.
In truth, people will only do to you what you allow. You have to set yourself in a position where what they say or do ceases to hurt your feelings. Giving folks access to that core place that shakes your spirit gives them un-necessary power over your life; power that they are not entitled to. If people know your buttons and know how to press them, change your buttons. Make your buttons ones that only God has access to. Refuse to put yourself in the company of people who disrespect you and have no regard for your emotional health. Love yourself enough to make new friends.
I thank God for his word and promises. I am no longer afraid of anyone or any situation. I focus my attention on God and the things that he has brought me through and delivered me from. Keeping my attention in the right place gives me no time or patience to deal with distractions in the form of people or situations.
If you afraid of anyone or any thing, be rest assured that no-one can hurt you. You have God in your corner. Turn your full attention to him. He will not only give you peace, he will fight all your battles for you. All you need to do is be still and know that He is God.
I have to admit that there was a time in my life when I was afraid – very afraid. The one who was supposed to protect me decided that I was not worth protecting. Not that I was innocent – far from it. I had my own part in my demise and I fully accept responsibility for it. But it was the grace of God that saved me. If not for his love and protection over my life, I would not have survived. The weapon was surely formed against me but it did not prosper.
God assures us that as his children, no weapon fashioned against us shall ever be successful. He has given us his full armor so that we can stand against any scheme that the enemy can come up with. We have the shield of faith with which we can deter all the missiles that the enemy might shoot our way. We are also encouraged to be strong in him and in the power of his might. No one can harm you. What they do to you might annoy or hurt you but they can never kill you. It’s your reaction to what they are doing that you need to watch.
In truth, people will only do to you what you allow. You have to set yourself in a position where what they say or do ceases to hurt your feelings. Giving folks access to that core place that shakes your spirit gives them un-necessary power over your life; power that they are not entitled to. If people know your buttons and know how to press them, change your buttons. Make your buttons ones that only God has access to. Refuse to put yourself in the company of people who disrespect you and have no regard for your emotional health. Love yourself enough to make new friends.
I thank God for his word and promises. I am no longer afraid of anyone or any situation. I focus my attention on God and the things that he has brought me through and delivered me from. Keeping my attention in the right place gives me no time or patience to deal with distractions in the form of people or situations.
If you afraid of anyone or any thing, be rest assured that no-one can hurt you. You have God in your corner. Turn your full attention to him. He will not only give you peace, he will fight all your battles for you. All you need to do is be still and know that He is God.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
When Will You Learn to Trust God?
“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8
When catastrophe strikes in our lives, we run around trying to fix things in our own strength. We embark on all sorts of DIY jobs without consulting God and we often find ourselves worse off than we were before. As we muddle through all sorts of self-made solutions to our lives, God watches us and wonders when we will begin to trust him enough to come to him first before anyone or trying anything when we get in trouble.
We often fall prey to the wrong-doing of treating God the way we treat each other. But God is not a man that he should lie to us. If God says something, he means exactly what he has said. The Bible says in Isaiah 40:31 that “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint”.
If we say that we trust God, why do we worry endlessly about situations we can do nothing about? Why do we bend ourselves into a pretzel trying to change another’s mind about us? Why do we think that we can achieve more on our own than God can do for us? When we truly come to trust the Lord, we accept that what God has for us will always be better in the long run that what we’d like for ourselves. Trusting God means understanding that immediate gratification is mostly often never the answer.
It’s time to start believing in the One you call your God today. Begin to trust him, his word and all the promises he has for you.
When catastrophe strikes in our lives, we run around trying to fix things in our own strength. We embark on all sorts of DIY jobs without consulting God and we often find ourselves worse off than we were before. As we muddle through all sorts of self-made solutions to our lives, God watches us and wonders when we will begin to trust him enough to come to him first before anyone or trying anything when we get in trouble.
We often fall prey to the wrong-doing of treating God the way we treat each other. But God is not a man that he should lie to us. If God says something, he means exactly what he has said. The Bible says in Isaiah 40:31 that “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint”.
If we say that we trust God, why do we worry endlessly about situations we can do nothing about? Why do we bend ourselves into a pretzel trying to change another’s mind about us? Why do we think that we can achieve more on our own than God can do for us? When we truly come to trust the Lord, we accept that what God has for us will always be better in the long run that what we’d like for ourselves. Trusting God means understanding that immediate gratification is mostly often never the answer.
It’s time to start believing in the One you call your God today. Begin to trust him, his word and all the promises he has for you.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Hope in God
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. – Psalm 42:11
The faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel. – Colossians 1:5
The faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel. – Colossians 1:5
Refusal to hope is nothing more than a decision to die. - Bernie Siegel, M.D.
Even when things appear bleak in our lives, we must never fail in believing that God will make a way. I know it’s hard to see God in tough situations sometimes. Things can get so cloudy in our lives on occasions – if it’s not this, then it’s that. As soon as we solve one issue, another comes up. We pray and pray and there is no relief. It appears that God has forgotten us. All in all, we must never forget that God has his eye on those that are his all of the time – not some of the time but all of the time.
In times that life may be cruel, we must place our hope in something or someone. And the best place to place our hope is in God. He always comes through. He is never late but always right on time. In times of discouragement, we will be saying something to someone. We must remember to be saying the promises of God for our lives. We must talk to God rather than people. Let’s face it – people have very little to offer when trouble come. There are very few folks who are really there because they wish to help. I have learnt that a problem shared is not always half-solved!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Amazing Grace
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." – Titus 2:11-14
The amazing grace of God is available to all of us if we desire to have it. The minute we give our lives over to God this grace becomes available to us. Is it a license to be irresponsible? Absolutely not! Having God’s grace upon our lives does not mean that we can continue to consciously live in sin. Romans 6:1-2 sets us straight on God’ word on the subject of sin and grace – “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
This amazing grace means we are no longer under the law. All our past and future sins have been dealt with at the Cross. When Jesus said it is finished, this means that it is indeed finished. You cannot work for your salvation - it is a free gift from God who gave his Only Son for us so that we might have life abundantly. But when we imagine what Christ must have gone through in order to give us this precious life we have, it ought to change us from the inside out.
God’s amazing grace does not mean that we must always obey or that we must always be right in order to be saved. But a blatant disregard for the word of God and a desire to continue to live a sinful life may be a sure sign that we have not been converted at all. If we are truly converted, our lives change. Where we would be confrontational in the past, now we avoid friction and circumstances that may put us in a sinful position. If we are truly repented (which simply means to change your mind), God’s amazing grace in conjunction with the Holy Spirit allows us to make the right choices.
If you are living contrary to what God wants for your life all you need to do is change your mind. Tap into this amazing grace that you have accessed to and watch your whole life change.
The amazing grace of God is available to all of us if we desire to have it. The minute we give our lives over to God this grace becomes available to us. Is it a license to be irresponsible? Absolutely not! Having God’s grace upon our lives does not mean that we can continue to consciously live in sin. Romans 6:1-2 sets us straight on God’ word on the subject of sin and grace – “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
This amazing grace means we are no longer under the law. All our past and future sins have been dealt with at the Cross. When Jesus said it is finished, this means that it is indeed finished. You cannot work for your salvation - it is a free gift from God who gave his Only Son for us so that we might have life abundantly. But when we imagine what Christ must have gone through in order to give us this precious life we have, it ought to change us from the inside out.
God’s amazing grace does not mean that we must always obey or that we must always be right in order to be saved. But a blatant disregard for the word of God and a desire to continue to live a sinful life may be a sure sign that we have not been converted at all. If we are truly converted, our lives change. Where we would be confrontational in the past, now we avoid friction and circumstances that may put us in a sinful position. If we are truly repented (which simply means to change your mind), God’s amazing grace in conjunction with the Holy Spirit allows us to make the right choices.
If you are living contrary to what God wants for your life all you need to do is change your mind. Tap into this amazing grace that you have accessed to and watch your whole life change.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Get Back Up Again
When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.
Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.
David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” He was not willing to the take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.
Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. – 2 Samuel 6:6-12
While on the road to doing what God has purposed us to do in our lives, we may hit some obstacles. The natural reaction when things go wrong is to give up, make other plans or sit in a corner full of self-pity. But it is important to know that God is actively involved with the mountains and valleys of our lives. When we become a child of God, nothing happens to us without his consent. And hard as it may seem, the tough times are allowed to strengthen us. The tough will surely last long as tough times are always temporary; the never last forever.
In the scripture above, David has a plan – to take the ark of God with him to the City of David. He had a deep desire and hunger for the presence of God. God was not in the box but the ark was a symbol of God’s presence. But when Uzzah got in the way of what God was trying to do, God slew him. David was frustrated and angry because of this and left the ark of God with someone else. Whilst on the road to his destiny, David hit an obstacle and did not want to continue with the plan. But after a while he realized that someone else was walking away with his destiny. The other person was enjoying the benefits of having the presence of God so David went back to the plan and got the ark of the Lord back. After abandoning the plan for a while, he went back and completed what God had purposed for him to do.
Whatever it was that you were planning to do before trouble came, finish it. Don’t let obstacles stop you in your tracks and preventing you from fulfilling God’s plan for your life. Get back up again and continue where you left off with gladness.
Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.
David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” He was not willing to the take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.
Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. – 2 Samuel 6:6-12
While on the road to doing what God has purposed us to do in our lives, we may hit some obstacles. The natural reaction when things go wrong is to give up, make other plans or sit in a corner full of self-pity. But it is important to know that God is actively involved with the mountains and valleys of our lives. When we become a child of God, nothing happens to us without his consent. And hard as it may seem, the tough times are allowed to strengthen us. The tough will surely last long as tough times are always temporary; the never last forever.
In the scripture above, David has a plan – to take the ark of God with him to the City of David. He had a deep desire and hunger for the presence of God. God was not in the box but the ark was a symbol of God’s presence. But when Uzzah got in the way of what God was trying to do, God slew him. David was frustrated and angry because of this and left the ark of God with someone else. Whilst on the road to his destiny, David hit an obstacle and did not want to continue with the plan. But after a while he realized that someone else was walking away with his destiny. The other person was enjoying the benefits of having the presence of God so David went back to the plan and got the ark of the Lord back. After abandoning the plan for a while, he went back and completed what God had purposed for him to do.
Whatever it was that you were planning to do before trouble came, finish it. Don’t let obstacles stop you in your tracks and preventing you from fulfilling God’s plan for your life. Get back up again and continue where you left off with gladness.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Do You Have a Plan?
It's surprising to see how many adults stumble through life without a plan. Majority have no real destination or are there clear directions documenting how to get there. There's a new philosophy of "taking each day as it comes" but a little bit of intelligence will also tell you that dreaming without a plan is simply wishful thinking and that preparation plus opportunity equals success.
We all want to win and we are more likely to win if we have a plan. God is methodical, he is a cerebral thinking God; he does not co-exist with confusion. If you doubt my take on that, go back to genesis and look at the systematic way in which the world was created. Sometimes spirituality gets in the way of practicality and we think because we are believers and we walk by faith that means that we don't need to plan. But faith being the substance of things hoped for indicates that we must have a goal in mind and we must be determined to get there. So thinking along the same lines, what is the sense in having a goal if you have to plans on how to meet it?
To build a car or a house, there is a plan. But we get married without a plan, have children without a plan on how they are going to get an education and show up at our jobs everyday without a plan. No wonder we are failing in every aspect of our lives. We stumble around day after day - our vision limited to the events of that one day.
I once heard a wise man say he has what he will be doing for the next 20 years documented and that he cannot die because when you have sound plans you are working with, death must surely respect you.
So I ask you today - what are your plans? Do you have plans for your future? What do you plan to achieve in the next 5 years, 10 years? Where do you see yourself 15, 20 years from now? What do you want to be doing and where do you expect your children to be (if you have any)? What plans are you making for the generation behind you? What are your plans for the legacy you plan to leave behind?
We all want to win and we are more likely to win if we have a plan. God is methodical, he is a cerebral thinking God; he does not co-exist with confusion. If you doubt my take on that, go back to genesis and look at the systematic way in which the world was created. Sometimes spirituality gets in the way of practicality and we think because we are believers and we walk by faith that means that we don't need to plan. But faith being the substance of things hoped for indicates that we must have a goal in mind and we must be determined to get there. So thinking along the same lines, what is the sense in having a goal if you have to plans on how to meet it?
To build a car or a house, there is a plan. But we get married without a plan, have children without a plan on how they are going to get an education and show up at our jobs everyday without a plan. No wonder we are failing in every aspect of our lives. We stumble around day after day - our vision limited to the events of that one day.
I once heard a wise man say he has what he will be doing for the next 20 years documented and that he cannot die because when you have sound plans you are working with, death must surely respect you.
So I ask you today - what are your plans? Do you have plans for your future? What do you plan to achieve in the next 5 years, 10 years? Where do you see yourself 15, 20 years from now? What do you want to be doing and where do you expect your children to be (if you have any)? What plans are you making for the generation behind you? What are your plans for the legacy you plan to leave behind?
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Embrace Your Deliverance
“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still.” – Exodus 14:13-14
Once we begin to embrace that whoever Jesus Christ has set free is free indeed we can begin to enjoy the life that we have now. Liberty from God allows us to be content and at peace with where God has us right at this moment. Accepting Christ allows us salvation and promises liberty but we must be committed to the process of being free. When we are saved we are rescued from the “world” but it’s harder to get the “world” out of us. The truth of the matter is all the problems and issues we had the night that we accepted Christ will be there in the morning – in our heads. Working through the issues in order to move towards a Christ-like mind is a process that takes time and development.
The time required for growth and development involves a lot of commitment. It requires that we trust God and believe that He will set us free. I know it’s difficult to be still sometimes. We run around trying to fix things in our own strength only to end up worse off than we were before. We try to run away from our problems by moving houses even across continents but our problems follow us for one reason – the issues we struggle with are mostly in our heads and our minds. The wilderness in the New Testament concept is really our minds. When we need to be still and see the work of the Lord with our minds we decide to do things our own way, preferring new with the illusion that new is better.
In order for true deliverance to become a promise realized by each and everyone of us, we must embrace it and be committed to the process it requires. True and lasting change is never an overnight success.
Once we begin to embrace that whoever Jesus Christ has set free is free indeed we can begin to enjoy the life that we have now. Liberty from God allows us to be content and at peace with where God has us right at this moment. Accepting Christ allows us salvation and promises liberty but we must be committed to the process of being free. When we are saved we are rescued from the “world” but it’s harder to get the “world” out of us. The truth of the matter is all the problems and issues we had the night that we accepted Christ will be there in the morning – in our heads. Working through the issues in order to move towards a Christ-like mind is a process that takes time and development.
The time required for growth and development involves a lot of commitment. It requires that we trust God and believe that He will set us free. I know it’s difficult to be still sometimes. We run around trying to fix things in our own strength only to end up worse off than we were before. We try to run away from our problems by moving houses even across continents but our problems follow us for one reason – the issues we struggle with are mostly in our heads and our minds. The wilderness in the New Testament concept is really our minds. When we need to be still and see the work of the Lord with our minds we decide to do things our own way, preferring new with the illusion that new is better.
In order for true deliverance to become a promise realized by each and everyone of us, we must embrace it and be committed to the process it requires. True and lasting change is never an overnight success.
Friday, February 15, 2008
My Unshakeable Faith
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:18
I believe in the sun even if it isn’t shinning. I believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in God even when He is silent – World War II refugee
Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible. – Anon.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things yet to be seen. My faith is built on the Word of God – the continuous and persistent hearing of the Word of God and all my past experiences that God has brought me through. And I have been through some hellish things that I never could have come out of on my own. Things that if God didn’t bring me through, I’d be dead by now. I have learnt not to focus on my circumstances but on God’s word and his promises for my life. Even as I cannot see everything that he has promised, I trust his word that they shall come to pass – just like he said.
As most of you know, I am alone with my two kids. My days is made up dropping off at school, working 8 hours at my day job and rushing back to pick them up. I proceed to check homework and ensure that studying for quizzes and tests are done (always check study notes!), supervise baths and ensure prayer and bed times are adhered to. I still don’t know how I manage my life as a single parent but stuff just gets done! No doubt God stands by the weak and the weary. I don’t have a recipe on how to raise children in isolation because it really isn’t God’s plan. There is a reason why a man or woman cannot make a baby in isolation.
But all in all, my daughters and I are getting by. God holds our head up despite the tough times that we experience. I used to think that children were helpless and weak but mine aren’t. They keep me strong with their amazing words of wisdom and encouragement. I see quite an amount of strength in their little bodies. They pat me on the back and let me it’s going to be ok.
My faith is strong because of how I choose to spend my time and subconsciously, I am also developing little women with faith in the process.
I believe in the sun even if it isn’t shinning. I believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in God even when He is silent – World War II refugee
Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible. – Anon.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things yet to be seen. My faith is built on the Word of God – the continuous and persistent hearing of the Word of God and all my past experiences that God has brought me through. And I have been through some hellish things that I never could have come out of on my own. Things that if God didn’t bring me through, I’d be dead by now. I have learnt not to focus on my circumstances but on God’s word and his promises for my life. Even as I cannot see everything that he has promised, I trust his word that they shall come to pass – just like he said.
As most of you know, I am alone with my two kids. My days is made up dropping off at school, working 8 hours at my day job and rushing back to pick them up. I proceed to check homework and ensure that studying for quizzes and tests are done (always check study notes!), supervise baths and ensure prayer and bed times are adhered to. I still don’t know how I manage my life as a single parent but stuff just gets done! No doubt God stands by the weak and the weary. I don’t have a recipe on how to raise children in isolation because it really isn’t God’s plan. There is a reason why a man or woman cannot make a baby in isolation.
But all in all, my daughters and I are getting by. God holds our head up despite the tough times that we experience. I used to think that children were helpless and weak but mine aren’t. They keep me strong with their amazing words of wisdom and encouragement. I see quite an amount of strength in their little bodies. They pat me on the back and let me it’s going to be ok.
My faith is strong because of how I choose to spend my time and subconsciously, I am also developing little women with faith in the process.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
I Must Start Living – Now!
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. – Psalm 27:13
Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways. – Stephen Saint Vincent Benet
God speaks to all individuals through what happens to them moment by moment. – J.P. DeCaussade
I have heard some bumps in the road in recent years. To be honest some days I feel like I’m finding my way and on others – well. It’s tough to rebuild especially if you laid your foundation on sand. When the foundation is solid, rebuilding is so much easier but with a foundation that is based on “nothing”, a new and solid foundation must be built so that if the storm comes, one is in a better position. You definitely do live and learn.
As I rebuild, I realized that I cannot wait to live. Two things we cannot control are the day we are born and the day that we die. God decides these things so it is imperative that we completely surrender our lives over to him. Why try to control what you have no authority over? God has absolute control over the whole world. I am part of that world.
So I have decided to accept the things that I cannot change and move forward with God to change the things that I can. The most important thing to me is my relationship with God and my relationship with my daughters. After those two things, anything else is gravy. I have decided to start living today; take more risks and be adventurous. I want to see God’s goodness in the land of the living. I have no doubts as to my inheritance in heaven but I also have a duty to bring the kingdom of God down here to my piece of earth - my body.
We all have a duty as believers to start living for God right now. If there are sacrifices that we must make, let’s make them with no regrets. If we must first reduce before we can increase, so be it. God will restore anything that we think that we may have lost when we start doing his will. He has the power to take us to greater heights than we can ever imagine.
So I pray this prayer again as I have been doing since this year began, “I am ready Lord – to live my life for you and to do your will. Take my life and use me for your purpose”.
Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways. – Stephen Saint Vincent Benet
God speaks to all individuals through what happens to them moment by moment. – J.P. DeCaussade
I have heard some bumps in the road in recent years. To be honest some days I feel like I’m finding my way and on others – well. It’s tough to rebuild especially if you laid your foundation on sand. When the foundation is solid, rebuilding is so much easier but with a foundation that is based on “nothing”, a new and solid foundation must be built so that if the storm comes, one is in a better position. You definitely do live and learn.
As I rebuild, I realized that I cannot wait to live. Two things we cannot control are the day we are born and the day that we die. God decides these things so it is imperative that we completely surrender our lives over to him. Why try to control what you have no authority over? God has absolute control over the whole world. I am part of that world.
So I have decided to accept the things that I cannot change and move forward with God to change the things that I can. The most important thing to me is my relationship with God and my relationship with my daughters. After those two things, anything else is gravy. I have decided to start living today; take more risks and be adventurous. I want to see God’s goodness in the land of the living. I have no doubts as to my inheritance in heaven but I also have a duty to bring the kingdom of God down here to my piece of earth - my body.
We all have a duty as believers to start living for God right now. If there are sacrifices that we must make, let’s make them with no regrets. If we must first reduce before we can increase, so be it. God will restore anything that we think that we may have lost when we start doing his will. He has the power to take us to greater heights than we can ever imagine.
So I pray this prayer again as I have been doing since this year began, “I am ready Lord – to live my life for you and to do your will. Take my life and use me for your purpose”.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
What Will You Leave Behind?
So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. - 2 Peter 1:12-15
Now that I am close to clearing the 4th decade of my life. It’s been a long hard road but I am grateful to God that I am still here. I am beginning to understand the concept of time a lot better now. I think that comes with the territory of getting older. No-one will live forever and the actions of today will definitely determine our lives in the years to come. I have been thinking lately about the things I want to be remembered for.
Have you been thinking lately about the future? If you have children, what legacy do you hope to leave behind? Financial things are good but what about the more important spiritual legacy? What you leave in your children is way more crucial than what you leave for them. What do you do currently to give to others? How are you changing lives right where you are? Is your life a picture of hope to another or are you living purely for self at this time?
Thinking about the future is scary but it’s something that we absolutely must do so that we leave something behind for our children and grandchildren. What will people remember when you depart?
Now that I am close to clearing the 4th decade of my life. It’s been a long hard road but I am grateful to God that I am still here. I am beginning to understand the concept of time a lot better now. I think that comes with the territory of getting older. No-one will live forever and the actions of today will definitely determine our lives in the years to come. I have been thinking lately about the things I want to be remembered for.
Have you been thinking lately about the future? If you have children, what legacy do you hope to leave behind? Financial things are good but what about the more important spiritual legacy? What you leave in your children is way more crucial than what you leave for them. What do you do currently to give to others? How are you changing lives right where you are? Is your life a picture of hope to another or are you living purely for self at this time?
Thinking about the future is scary but it’s something that we absolutely must do so that we leave something behind for our children and grandchildren. What will people remember when you depart?
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Demonstrate Love Via Action
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love - 1 Corinthians 13:13.
There is a lot of emphasis on living a holy life. I have learnt that one cannot be holy without God. Holiness is not something that you work on. Only God can demonstrate holiness through you. So if you’ve been trying to live and walk the Christian life in the flesh – give up now else you kill yourself!
The Bible tells us that if we speak in tongues and have not loved; we are only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. The gift of prophecy and the ability to fathom all mysteries and all knowledge is great but meaningless without love. Faith that can move mountains is awesome but without love is worth nothing.
Faith, love and hope are all important but the greatest commandment of all is Love. To truly love, we cannot conform to the ways of this world. We have to prepare our minds for action through renewal; change in order to begin to live a holy life. Being holy simply means ‘set apart’; not perfect. We are to be set apart for good works, for the things that glorifies God.
I hear a lot of people talk about love the way we humans understand it. Falling in love is great – been there and done that. But the kind of love the Bible is talking about is not the “butterflies in your stomach” kind of love. It is the love that only God allows us to feel; the type of love that one could never experience without God. This love allows you to do the right thing even when the recipient deserves nothing. This special kind of love is one that we give others with no expectation of getting anything in return. It cannot be described or explained as it is not logical. It is love that is given purely based on the grace of God.
Talk is cheap and a lot of people say they love but their actions do not back their words up. When we truly love we must sacrifice. Love without a sacrifice is no love at all. We must begin to demonstrate our love through our actions. If we really love then let us not be afraid to show it. If you have problems demonstrating love, ask God for help. He will surely lead you and demonstrate his love through you using your desire.
There is a lot of emphasis on living a holy life. I have learnt that one cannot be holy without God. Holiness is not something that you work on. Only God can demonstrate holiness through you. So if you’ve been trying to live and walk the Christian life in the flesh – give up now else you kill yourself!
The Bible tells us that if we speak in tongues and have not loved; we are only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. The gift of prophecy and the ability to fathom all mysteries and all knowledge is great but meaningless without love. Faith that can move mountains is awesome but without love is worth nothing.
Faith, love and hope are all important but the greatest commandment of all is Love. To truly love, we cannot conform to the ways of this world. We have to prepare our minds for action through renewal; change in order to begin to live a holy life. Being holy simply means ‘set apart’; not perfect. We are to be set apart for good works, for the things that glorifies God.
I hear a lot of people talk about love the way we humans understand it. Falling in love is great – been there and done that. But the kind of love the Bible is talking about is not the “butterflies in your stomach” kind of love. It is the love that only God allows us to feel; the type of love that one could never experience without God. This love allows you to do the right thing even when the recipient deserves nothing. This special kind of love is one that we give others with no expectation of getting anything in return. It cannot be described or explained as it is not logical. It is love that is given purely based on the grace of God.
Talk is cheap and a lot of people say they love but their actions do not back their words up. When we truly love we must sacrifice. Love without a sacrifice is no love at all. We must begin to demonstrate our love through our actions. If we really love then let us not be afraid to show it. If you have problems demonstrating love, ask God for help. He will surely lead you and demonstrate his love through you using your desire.
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Narrow Gate
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. – John 10: 9-10
I was fortunate to hear a message about the Broad and Narrow Roads and I wanted to share it with you. It was an eye opener for me because I never quite looked at things in that perspective but in reality there are two camps with no middle ground. You are either on the Narrow Road or on the Broad Road.
The Broad Road leads to the wide gate and a lot of people are on it. This is the road that leads to destruction; the road where there are no boundaries and where all things are permissible. The bible does clearly tell us that just because something is permissible does not make it profitable. Just because there are no laws against certain actions does not mean its ok to engage in them. The law is mainly created for the lawless and for those who have no spiritual compass or guidance – if truth be told, majority of the law is plain common sense. The Broad Road is lax with no barriers, no restrictions and no guilt. On this road, there will always be hoards of people worse off than you are so you get the luxury of not feeling so bad about where you are at.
There is on the other hand the Narrow Road – the unpopular, weird, different and sometimes called intolerant road. The Narrow Road leads to the small gate – the gate of life. Very few people are on this road simply because it’s not an easy road to be on. It’s a road that requires the ultimate commitment. A couple of big advantages to being on the Narrow Road is that you are never alone, God walks this road with you and most importantly, it will all be worth it in the end.
The Narrow Road is walking with Jesus Christ and the Broad Road is going it alone or with some other god. No one can get to the Father except through the Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only way. The Narrow Road is an impossible road without God. Only He can make us whole and guide us in paths of righteousness.
Which road are you on?
I was fortunate to hear a message about the Broad and Narrow Roads and I wanted to share it with you. It was an eye opener for me because I never quite looked at things in that perspective but in reality there are two camps with no middle ground. You are either on the Narrow Road or on the Broad Road.
The Broad Road leads to the wide gate and a lot of people are on it. This is the road that leads to destruction; the road where there are no boundaries and where all things are permissible. The bible does clearly tell us that just because something is permissible does not make it profitable. Just because there are no laws against certain actions does not mean its ok to engage in them. The law is mainly created for the lawless and for those who have no spiritual compass or guidance – if truth be told, majority of the law is plain common sense. The Broad Road is lax with no barriers, no restrictions and no guilt. On this road, there will always be hoards of people worse off than you are so you get the luxury of not feeling so bad about where you are at.
There is on the other hand the Narrow Road – the unpopular, weird, different and sometimes called intolerant road. The Narrow Road leads to the small gate – the gate of life. Very few people are on this road simply because it’s not an easy road to be on. It’s a road that requires the ultimate commitment. A couple of big advantages to being on the Narrow Road is that you are never alone, God walks this road with you and most importantly, it will all be worth it in the end.
The Narrow Road is walking with Jesus Christ and the Broad Road is going it alone or with some other god. No one can get to the Father except through the Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only way. The Narrow Road is an impossible road without God. Only He can make us whole and guide us in paths of righteousness.
Which road are you on?
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Saved Yet Not Free
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. – 1 Peter 3: 18-22
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3
I have been fortunate enough to witness many altar calls, one of which I was a participant. I watch as hoards of people dedicate their lives to Christ and receive the free gift of salvation that is provided to us all by grace. It is an exciting event – at least it was for me. But as I walk with God, I have realized that it is very possible to receive this wonderful gift and still not be free. Talking the church talk; walking the church walk but bound as can be!
A lot of things can imprison us – failed relationships, un-forgiveness, anger and strife, bitterness, feelings of victimization, jealousy and envy, sexual immorality and destructive addictions. People see us talking, praying, singing and praising, even preaching but they have no idea the demons we fight on a daily basis. They have no clue that even though we have the lingo down pact and look the part, we are yet to be free. We walk around telling everyone about the blessings a life with Christ can be and we are not experiencing any of those blessings for ourselves.
Contrary to some teachings, Baptism does not save nor can it set one free. All it does is publicly proclaim the inner decision we have taken to walk with God. The church has done a good job of bringing folks to the Lord but are a bit behind teaching on how to live when you’re done speaking in tongues. Being free does not magically happen when we give our lives, it only comes with a continuous decision to daily renew and transform our minds using the Word of God. In order to be truly set free, our minds cannot be the same anymore. We have to start looking at things differently and making new choices and decisions.
This word today is for me as much as any other. I love the Lord and have a desire to quit the circular world and dedicate the rest of my life spreading the gospel. I am convinced that my time will come but in the meantime there is a lot for me to work on with God – on the inside. I know that the Lord is gracious and He is kind. So if like me, you still have some “stuff” to get off your chest, take heart. It will all work out in time if you are committed to allowing the Lord transform your mind.
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3
I have been fortunate enough to witness many altar calls, one of which I was a participant. I watch as hoards of people dedicate their lives to Christ and receive the free gift of salvation that is provided to us all by grace. It is an exciting event – at least it was for me. But as I walk with God, I have realized that it is very possible to receive this wonderful gift and still not be free. Talking the church talk; walking the church walk but bound as can be!
A lot of things can imprison us – failed relationships, un-forgiveness, anger and strife, bitterness, feelings of victimization, jealousy and envy, sexual immorality and destructive addictions. People see us talking, praying, singing and praising, even preaching but they have no idea the demons we fight on a daily basis. They have no clue that even though we have the lingo down pact and look the part, we are yet to be free. We walk around telling everyone about the blessings a life with Christ can be and we are not experiencing any of those blessings for ourselves.
Contrary to some teachings, Baptism does not save nor can it set one free. All it does is publicly proclaim the inner decision we have taken to walk with God. The church has done a good job of bringing folks to the Lord but are a bit behind teaching on how to live when you’re done speaking in tongues. Being free does not magically happen when we give our lives, it only comes with a continuous decision to daily renew and transform our minds using the Word of God. In order to be truly set free, our minds cannot be the same anymore. We have to start looking at things differently and making new choices and decisions.
This word today is for me as much as any other. I love the Lord and have a desire to quit the circular world and dedicate the rest of my life spreading the gospel. I am convinced that my time will come but in the meantime there is a lot for me to work on with God – on the inside. I know that the Lord is gracious and He is kind. So if like me, you still have some “stuff” to get off your chest, take heart. It will all work out in time if you are committed to allowing the Lord transform your mind.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Everything’s Going To Be Alright
Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. – Psalm 30:5b
Life can be awfully difficult sometimes. Just when we think we have everything under control and we are cruising along happily, something happens that attempts to put our entire future at risk. At times like this, you feel as if you are running out of breath and that life is over. But regardless of how tough and crazy things maybe in your life at this very moment, it is important to have hope.
Hope is not something you generate from the world’s idea of positive thinking. You might be able to conjure a similar feeling from within but the self-produced version never lasts for longs. It will only be a matter of time before you find yourself right back where you started. The hope I am talking about comes from God. The type that allows you spiritual self to sit up in the bed just when your physical self says that life is over. The type of hope that comes from the Holy Spirit – the one that gently whispers in your ear that it isn’t over till God says it’s over. The kind of hope that allows you to have faith for all the things that God has promised you but you are yet to see; the kind of hope that gives you the spirit of Israel instead of Jacob's.
I am grateful for my life. I am most importantly grateful for the gifts that God has given me. I am having the best of times in the worst of times all at the same time! Wow! My life is going to take a whole new direction – in the direction and path that God had purposed for me all along. I may be weeping now but I am certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that my joy is coming.
Life can be awfully difficult sometimes. Just when we think we have everything under control and we are cruising along happily, something happens that attempts to put our entire future at risk. At times like this, you feel as if you are running out of breath and that life is over. But regardless of how tough and crazy things maybe in your life at this very moment, it is important to have hope.
Hope is not something you generate from the world’s idea of positive thinking. You might be able to conjure a similar feeling from within but the self-produced version never lasts for longs. It will only be a matter of time before you find yourself right back where you started. The hope I am talking about comes from God. The type that allows you spiritual self to sit up in the bed just when your physical self says that life is over. The type of hope that comes from the Holy Spirit – the one that gently whispers in your ear that it isn’t over till God says it’s over. The kind of hope that allows you to have faith for all the things that God has promised you but you are yet to see; the kind of hope that gives you the spirit of Israel instead of Jacob's.
I am grateful for my life. I am most importantly grateful for the gifts that God has given me. I am having the best of times in the worst of times all at the same time! Wow! My life is going to take a whole new direction – in the direction and path that God had purposed for me all along. I may be weeping now but I am certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that my joy is coming.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Talk to God First – Always!!
“Come to me, all you are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”- Matthew 11:28-30
The person who has a firm trust in the Supreme Being is powerful in his power, wise by his wisdom, happy by his happiness. – Joseph Addison
We’ve all had relationships where other people have sworn that they will always be there through thick and thin. But as soon as tough times come, they are no where to be seen. We look around and suddenly no-one is around. The ones that talked the most have all disappeared – one by one.
As believers we often learn the hard way that talking to others when we have a problem does not get us anywhere. Not only are we sharing information with people who more than likely have no way of helping, we are also publicizing our lives to facilitate gossip. The first place we ought to go when troubles rise is our prayer closet. We need to take our problems and thoughts first to God and from experience when we practice this way of life, the need to talk to Tom, Dick and Harry about our issues varnishes.
Developing a lifestyle of talking to God constantly makes burdens easier to bear. Problems do not disappear but life is easier to deal with. The psalmist says in Psalm 91 verse 9 and 10 – “If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the Lord, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near my tent.
The person who has a firm trust in the Supreme Being is powerful in his power, wise by his wisdom, happy by his happiness. – Joseph Addison
We’ve all had relationships where other people have sworn that they will always be there through thick and thin. But as soon as tough times come, they are no where to be seen. We look around and suddenly no-one is around. The ones that talked the most have all disappeared – one by one.
As believers we often learn the hard way that talking to others when we have a problem does not get us anywhere. Not only are we sharing information with people who more than likely have no way of helping, we are also publicizing our lives to facilitate gossip. The first place we ought to go when troubles rise is our prayer closet. We need to take our problems and thoughts first to God and from experience when we practice this way of life, the need to talk to Tom, Dick and Harry about our issues varnishes.
Developing a lifestyle of talking to God constantly makes burdens easier to bear. Problems do not disappear but life is easier to deal with. The psalmist says in Psalm 91 verse 9 and 10 – “If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the Lord, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near my tent.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
You Are No Accident
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5
God has a clear purpose and an agenda for everything that he ever created – that includes you! Your life is no accident and whatever you are going through is not hidden from God. If it is something the enemy brought upon you, understand that God allowed this trial to better equip you for your destiny. The enemy cannot do anything to us that God does not allow. If on the other hand, you are suffering because of problems you have brought upon yourself, seek God and turn your life over to him. Only He has the power to turn all your hardship around for good.
Every inventor has a purpose in mind for everything that he has created. Nothing is ever made without a function. God is not man so he has a specific purpose for you life. It is crucial that you find out what your mission is so that you don’t spend valuable years wandering through different options that will bring no peace or satisfaction.
Understand that your life is not a coincidence; some fluke of nature. God has something great for you to do for the kingdom. Do you know the destiny that God has for you?
God has a clear purpose and an agenda for everything that he ever created – that includes you! Your life is no accident and whatever you are going through is not hidden from God. If it is something the enemy brought upon you, understand that God allowed this trial to better equip you for your destiny. The enemy cannot do anything to us that God does not allow. If on the other hand, you are suffering because of problems you have brought upon yourself, seek God and turn your life over to him. Only He has the power to turn all your hardship around for good.
Every inventor has a purpose in mind for everything that he has created. Nothing is ever made without a function. God is not man so he has a specific purpose for you life. It is crucial that you find out what your mission is so that you don’t spend valuable years wandering through different options that will bring no peace or satisfaction.
Understand that your life is not a coincidence; some fluke of nature. God has something great for you to do for the kingdom. Do you know the destiny that God has for you?
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
A Thirst and Hunger for the Presence of God
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? – Psalm 42:1-2
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33
I have read the story about Saul and David over and over again. I have heard many messages preached by different great men and women on these two characters in the Bible. One thing made David different from Saul – David has a great hunger for the presence of God. David in no way looked like a king. When God confirmed him a king, he was in the fields tending sheep. He had brothers who looked like kings and God overlooked all of them and choose David.
Saul on the other hand looked like a king; he walked like a king and he had the presence of a king. He did not have the problems that David had. Truth be told, morally David was worse than Saul. But David had a great insatiable desire to be in the presence of God. And God said since he wants the presence so much, he will give David the position so that he can bring the presence of God to the position. Even with David's issues, he was still better than Saul!
We all need to pray for the presence of God in our homes, our places of work, in our businesses and even in our church. The presence of God is what makes all the difference. One thing is certain; we can never fail with Jesus on our side. We must learn that God is the only one that promotes. He is the one who lifts one up and sets another down. When we hunger for the presence of God in our lives and seek him first, all other things will be added onto us.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33
I have read the story about Saul and David over and over again. I have heard many messages preached by different great men and women on these two characters in the Bible. One thing made David different from Saul – David has a great hunger for the presence of God. David in no way looked like a king. When God confirmed him a king, he was in the fields tending sheep. He had brothers who looked like kings and God overlooked all of them and choose David.
Saul on the other hand looked like a king; he walked like a king and he had the presence of a king. He did not have the problems that David had. Truth be told, morally David was worse than Saul. But David had a great insatiable desire to be in the presence of God. And God said since he wants the presence so much, he will give David the position so that he can bring the presence of God to the position. Even with David's issues, he was still better than Saul!
We all need to pray for the presence of God in our homes, our places of work, in our businesses and even in our church. The presence of God is what makes all the difference. One thing is certain; we can never fail with Jesus on our side. We must learn that God is the only one that promotes. He is the one who lifts one up and sets another down. When we hunger for the presence of God in our lives and seek him first, all other things will be added onto us.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Where Do You Place Your Trust?
Stop trusting in man; who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he? – Isaiah 22:3
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal. – Isaiah 26:3-4
I had a fairly difficult childhood. I have fought all my life and in fact I am still fighting. I have a feelng I will be fighting till I go to my grave. The good news is I am not in the fight alone. God has always been with me. I made multiple mistakes of placing large amounts of trust in people and they never failed in letting me down. Time and time again, my hope has been crushed because I was looking for acceptance in all the wrong places. I am more convinced than ever that God has something special for me to do in this realm. So I have learnt to put all my trust in him.
Trusting in man is a pointless venture. We as humans cannot live up to the ridiculous expectations we sometimes set for ourselves and others, after we are only human. Life will teach you to have realistic expectations about other people and life in general. Bruce Barton put it this way – “If you expect perfection from other people, your whole life is a series of disappointments, grumbling and complaints. If, on the contrary, you pitch your expectations low, taking folks as the inefficient creatures which they are, you are frequently surprised by having them perform better than you had hoped.” The one place we can safely put out trust is in Our Heavenly Father.
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal. – Isaiah 26:3-4
I had a fairly difficult childhood. I have fought all my life and in fact I am still fighting. I have a feelng I will be fighting till I go to my grave. The good news is I am not in the fight alone. God has always been with me. I made multiple mistakes of placing large amounts of trust in people and they never failed in letting me down. Time and time again, my hope has been crushed because I was looking for acceptance in all the wrong places. I am more convinced than ever that God has something special for me to do in this realm. So I have learnt to put all my trust in him.
Trusting in man is a pointless venture. We as humans cannot live up to the ridiculous expectations we sometimes set for ourselves and others, after we are only human. Life will teach you to have realistic expectations about other people and life in general. Bruce Barton put it this way – “If you expect perfection from other people, your whole life is a series of disappointments, grumbling and complaints. If, on the contrary, you pitch your expectations low, taking folks as the inefficient creatures which they are, you are frequently surprised by having them perform better than you had hoped.” The one place we can safely put out trust is in Our Heavenly Father.
Monday, February 4, 2008
The Only Wisdom That Counts
We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However as it is written:
“No eye has seen, No ear has heard, No mind has conceived What God has prepared for those who love him” but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. – 1 Corinthians 2:6-10
I lived a long time without the wisdom of God. I thought I could do it all on my own; my own way. I survived for a while but it all came to nothing. All the relationships that I embarked upon without involving God ended in misery. I am still paying the price today.
We all need the wisdom of God to succeed at life. Quite frankly, without it we are doomed to fail. If we think that we are having success doing things our own way, it is probably fair to say that our definition of success is clouded. Success in the kingdom of God is the only true success that matters. We have peace in our home and in our lives. We have joy in spite of circumstances that confront us. We may not have the largest house on the block. We may not own the fanciest car. One thing we do have is the wisdom of God through his word. The wisdom that allows us to manage the resources God has provided for us in the right manner.
This wisdom is foreign to unbelievers. It is a special kind of wisdom, revealed through God’s word and understood by the help of the Holy Spirit. God gives us this wisdom because he loves us. I am grateful for this love because for a long time I was very lost. Now I am grateful that I finally opened my heart to let God in. God always knew me – he created me but I did not know him. Even now I cannot say that I know everything about God because there is so much to God to know but my life is improving as I walk with him.
“No eye has seen, No ear has heard, No mind has conceived What God has prepared for those who love him” but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. – 1 Corinthians 2:6-10
I lived a long time without the wisdom of God. I thought I could do it all on my own; my own way. I survived for a while but it all came to nothing. All the relationships that I embarked upon without involving God ended in misery. I am still paying the price today.
We all need the wisdom of God to succeed at life. Quite frankly, without it we are doomed to fail. If we think that we are having success doing things our own way, it is probably fair to say that our definition of success is clouded. Success in the kingdom of God is the only true success that matters. We have peace in our home and in our lives. We have joy in spite of circumstances that confront us. We may not have the largest house on the block. We may not own the fanciest car. One thing we do have is the wisdom of God through his word. The wisdom that allows us to manage the resources God has provided for us in the right manner.
This wisdom is foreign to unbelievers. It is a special kind of wisdom, revealed through God’s word and understood by the help of the Holy Spirit. God gives us this wisdom because he loves us. I am grateful for this love because for a long time I was very lost. Now I am grateful that I finally opened my heart to let God in. God always knew me – he created me but I did not know him. Even now I cannot say that I know everything about God because there is so much to God to know but my life is improving as I walk with him.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Let Tomorrow Take Care of Itself
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you. O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them." – Matthew 6:25-32
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own.” – Matthew 6:34
I think these difficult times have helped me to understand better than before how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes around worrying about are of no importance whatsoever. – Isak Dinesen
As I rise today, one thing is sure – my life is in the hands of God. As I study more and grow in my knowledge of God, my desire to serve him increases tremendously. I am learning not to worry about circumstances I cannot change. I simply take my worries to God and leave it at his altar.
My main priority every day is to be the best mother I can be to my children and do one thing exclusively for God everyday. It pointless and fruitless to worry about anything especially when there is nothing that you can do to change the situation. In my case, I can pay to get my roof fixed but some other situations; I can do absolutely nothing about. So I do what works best - take all my worries to the Only One who truly can help.
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you. O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them." – Matthew 6:25-32
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own.” – Matthew 6:34
I think these difficult times have helped me to understand better than before how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes around worrying about are of no importance whatsoever. – Isak Dinesen
As I rise today, one thing is sure – my life is in the hands of God. As I study more and grow in my knowledge of God, my desire to serve him increases tremendously. I am learning not to worry about circumstances I cannot change. I simply take my worries to God and leave it at his altar.
My main priority every day is to be the best mother I can be to my children and do one thing exclusively for God everyday. It pointless and fruitless to worry about anything especially when there is nothing that you can do to change the situation. In my case, I can pay to get my roof fixed but some other situations; I can do absolutely nothing about. So I do what works best - take all my worries to the Only One who truly can help.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Choose Never To Worry
The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besieges me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. – Psalm 27:1-3
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. – Psalm 27:5-6
I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. – Psalm 27:13-14
I suddenly notice a patch on my ceiling. I came to find out that one of the action items found during the Home Inspection was patched and not fixed and as a result the leak has come back. After calling a Roofing Contractor and getting and estimate, I was tempted to lose my joy and take on worrying. I had other bills to pay. This roof work was not part of the budget at all. I called the realtor that handled the sale and not surprisingly got the good old run around. To top it all off, I also found out that I may need to get a water softener installed which costs a fair bit of money.
We all get challenged sometimes and the natural response is to worry. But as we pray and study the scriptures, worrying never lasts longer than it ought to. Worrying goes out of the window and faith kicks into full gear as we are once again reminded that we are safe in the palm of Our Father in heaven.
Regardless of the circumstances that confront us, we must choose not to worry. We have God in our corner and as soon as He shows up, things will wrap up real good. The reality is that God never promised us trouble-free lives but he did promise never to leave us or forsake us.
A lot of us waste our time worrying about what other people are saying and doing to us. This exercise is a pointless one. What people do to us might harm us but it can’t kill us. There must be an altar at the centre of our core just for God that the antics of man can’t reach. It doesn’t matter what people do or what they say to us in an effort to hurt our feelings. God has given us a weapon for every stronghold. Scripture says no weapon fashioned against us shall prosper and every tongue that rises against us will eventually be condemned. So why would you ever worry about what others are saying or doing?
It’s time to be confident in the God that we serve. The Only One we rise in the morning with and go to bed thinking about. He will never put you to shame. He has given us an abundance of grace for any shame or disgrace that may come our way.
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. – Psalm 27:5-6
I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. – Psalm 27:13-14
I suddenly notice a patch on my ceiling. I came to find out that one of the action items found during the Home Inspection was patched and not fixed and as a result the leak has come back. After calling a Roofing Contractor and getting and estimate, I was tempted to lose my joy and take on worrying. I had other bills to pay. This roof work was not part of the budget at all. I called the realtor that handled the sale and not surprisingly got the good old run around. To top it all off, I also found out that I may need to get a water softener installed which costs a fair bit of money.
We all get challenged sometimes and the natural response is to worry. But as we pray and study the scriptures, worrying never lasts longer than it ought to. Worrying goes out of the window and faith kicks into full gear as we are once again reminded that we are safe in the palm of Our Father in heaven.
Regardless of the circumstances that confront us, we must choose not to worry. We have God in our corner and as soon as He shows up, things will wrap up real good. The reality is that God never promised us trouble-free lives but he did promise never to leave us or forsake us.
A lot of us waste our time worrying about what other people are saying and doing to us. This exercise is a pointless one. What people do to us might harm us but it can’t kill us. There must be an altar at the centre of our core just for God that the antics of man can’t reach. It doesn’t matter what people do or what they say to us in an effort to hurt our feelings. God has given us a weapon for every stronghold. Scripture says no weapon fashioned against us shall prosper and every tongue that rises against us will eventually be condemned. So why would you ever worry about what others are saying or doing?
It’s time to be confident in the God that we serve. The Only One we rise in the morning with and go to bed thinking about. He will never put you to shame. He has given us an abundance of grace for any shame or disgrace that may come our way.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Open the Eyes of My Heart
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. – Ephesians 1:18
Then the eyes of those who see will never be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. – Isaiah 32:3
Your eye is the lamp of the whole body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. – Matthew 11:34
We all know how important our physical eyes are. If we cannot see, life may get a little challenging to say the least. But I have to believe that these passages are talking about more than physical sight. If it was all about the physical pair of eyes, what would happen to blind people? Would it mean that they would forever be doomed to live in utter darkness? I really believe 100% that these passages are talking totally about the eyes of the heart; the core place from which you view the vision for your life.
My vision for my life is only crystal clear through the eyes of my heart. I cannot see it in the physical as a lot is yet to be manifested but I can clearly see it in my heart. I see a lot of people make very bad choices regarding their lives and I have to believe it’s because the eyes of their heart is not functioning. When you have discovered that vision and you can see it plainly, you can’t help but choose wisely. That vision that is very clear is what lights up your entire body and lights up your life. It wakes you in the morning and gets you to bed at night. When God reveals his plan and purpose for your life, the eyes of your heart are opened up by the Holy Spirit. Now that you know what you are here to do, God provides you a way to see it clearly through your heart otherwise you might forget vital details.
If today you are living day to day and the eyes of your heart are clamped shut, you have no plans for your future that glorifies the work of Christ in you; spend time with God to get revelation. You never really live until you have found something to die for.
Then the eyes of those who see will never be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. – Isaiah 32:3
Your eye is the lamp of the whole body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. – Matthew 11:34
We all know how important our physical eyes are. If we cannot see, life may get a little challenging to say the least. But I have to believe that these passages are talking about more than physical sight. If it was all about the physical pair of eyes, what would happen to blind people? Would it mean that they would forever be doomed to live in utter darkness? I really believe 100% that these passages are talking totally about the eyes of the heart; the core place from which you view the vision for your life.
My vision for my life is only crystal clear through the eyes of my heart. I cannot see it in the physical as a lot is yet to be manifested but I can clearly see it in my heart. I see a lot of people make very bad choices regarding their lives and I have to believe it’s because the eyes of their heart is not functioning. When you have discovered that vision and you can see it plainly, you can’t help but choose wisely. That vision that is very clear is what lights up your entire body and lights up your life. It wakes you in the morning and gets you to bed at night. When God reveals his plan and purpose for your life, the eyes of your heart are opened up by the Holy Spirit. Now that you know what you are here to do, God provides you a way to see it clearly through your heart otherwise you might forget vital details.
If today you are living day to day and the eyes of your heart are clamped shut, you have no plans for your future that glorifies the work of Christ in you; spend time with God to get revelation. You never really live until you have found something to die for.
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