I feel privileged to share two great testimonies this week and both of them are about waiting on God. Not giving up. Our God is a faithful God and everything he says concerning us will be fulfilled in his own time. Sometimes we go through challenges which as Christians should make us stronger. Its easy to pray, read your bible, go to church and do all holy things when everything is going great in our lives but it can be challenging when things are not so smooth and you have been waiting for long for certain things.
God allowed Satan to take away everything from Job to see how much integrity he had. The truth is the Plans God has for us are for good Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
A very close friend of mine has been looking to God for a job opportunity for almost 18mths, to a lot of people the situation looked bleak as she was also trying to move into another area of expertise. I am sure if I were in her shoes, I might have given up and found something else to do, a new business idea, back to my old job, maybe even thought about moving somewhere where the prospects looked better, but she endured and I genuinely from the bottom of my heart applaud her. This week after blessing her with a child too in her period of waiting for a job, God opened the door. Isn’t it weird, she did not get a job early last year when the market was still ok but right in the middle of a recession when people are still losing their jobs, God decided that her time has come.
For me lessons learned are my faith must never waver not matter how bleak the situation appears. God will answer me when the time is right for me, in the meantime I will enjoy the joys that he gives me in the midst of it all, Focus!! it is important to be focused, know what I want and stick to it regardless except God reveals to me that it is not right for me. Finally I should always be in a place of prayer always reaching to God. He’s the only one that can sustain me, he’s the only one that can gear me up, he’s the ultimate encourager, the ultimate provider and lover of my soul and surely he will always make a way.
Also in my family God blessed us with an extremely handsome (honestly I really mean handsome, cutey) boy this weekend. The whole family has been praying and my brother and sister had been waiting on God for a while. Their first child is 11 years old. A lot of people will have given up, will have looked in other places, for some it would have drawn the marriage apart but in my sisters home, waiting drew her immediate family closer together in God’s service and love for one another, she constantly gives so much love to all children around her and my younger daughter will chose to be with her than with me. God is who he says he is, there are things that are a mystery to us and he does things in his own time.
Let us all learn to continue to depend on God and be patient in waiting for what we desire, if it is for our good, he will surely come through for us at the right season.
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Forgiveness
Our God is a loving God that is willing to forgive our sins, and since he asks that we love too, we need to learn how to forgive and show love. I don’t know what your circumstances are but I know that when I am holding a grudge, I am the one that feels pain, deep inside there is tightness that needs yearns to be released.
Some of us think of the things people have done and its just hard to comprehend let alone forgive. In fact when you tell other people, some will inflame the fire. What? She said that? He did that? The truth is when we don’t open our hearts to forgiveness we are killing ourselves slowly and taking bits of goodness from our selves. Am not saying we have to best friends with everyone but we can learn to forgive and live a life full of love as commanded by God.
Even non Christian research points to links between unforgiveness and health issues. Obviously not all health related issues are caused by unforgiveness but we open ourselves to sickness if we abhor unforgiveness.
Cancer surgeon Dr Ryke-Geerd Hamer from Germany has examined 20,000 cancer patients with all types of cancer. Dr Hamer noticed that all his patients seemed to have something in common: there had been some kind of psycho-emotional conflict prior to the onset of their cancer - usually a few years before - a conflict that had never fully resolved. Dr Hamer started including psychotherapy as an important part of the healing process and found that when the specific conflict was resolved, the cancer immediately stopped growing at a cellular level. Dr Hamer believes that cancer people are unable to share their thoughts, emotions, fears and joys with other people. He calls this "psycho-emotional isolation". These people tend to hide away sadness and grief behind a brave face, appear ‘nice’ and avoid open conflict. Some are not even aware of their emotions, and are therefore not only isolated from other people, but also from themselves.
Another study says
"People who have repressive styles tend to be more prone to illness, particularly [immune-system related] diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, and cancers. The concept is of unexpressed anger. If one doesn't let it out, that could have adverse consequences." [University of California Los Angeles]
Even in the bible we are asked to forgive so we can be forgiven too Mark 11 24-25
24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. 25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.
There lots of people in the bible that did detestable things before the sight of God but when they called on God, he was willing to forgive them and we should note also that even whilst most of these people were sinning the eyes on God was always upon them, he never gave up on them. 2 Chronicles 33 1-17. Also with the children of Israel, through their 40 years journey and with all their sin God was still with them and was always willing to forgive them. Through out the bible there are countless story of forgiveness and restoration.
Who has upset you, who is holding the key to your fullness because you abhor unforgiveness towards him/her? Who is tormenting you by just thinking about what the person has said or done to you? Forgive them and let go. Restore your self to the perfect being that God made you. Let go of the hurt. Call on God and he will create a new heart and right spirit within you. Go to your pastors, leaders or mentors if you are finding it hard to let go. God wants the best for you and unforgiveness can hold you back from reaching your true potential.
Some of us think of the things people have done and its just hard to comprehend let alone forgive. In fact when you tell other people, some will inflame the fire. What? She said that? He did that? The truth is when we don’t open our hearts to forgiveness we are killing ourselves slowly and taking bits of goodness from our selves. Am not saying we have to best friends with everyone but we can learn to forgive and live a life full of love as commanded by God.
Even non Christian research points to links between unforgiveness and health issues. Obviously not all health related issues are caused by unforgiveness but we open ourselves to sickness if we abhor unforgiveness.
Cancer surgeon Dr Ryke-Geerd Hamer from Germany has examined 20,000 cancer patients with all types of cancer. Dr Hamer noticed that all his patients seemed to have something in common: there had been some kind of psycho-emotional conflict prior to the onset of their cancer - usually a few years before - a conflict that had never fully resolved. Dr Hamer started including psychotherapy as an important part of the healing process and found that when the specific conflict was resolved, the cancer immediately stopped growing at a cellular level. Dr Hamer believes that cancer people are unable to share their thoughts, emotions, fears and joys with other people. He calls this "psycho-emotional isolation". These people tend to hide away sadness and grief behind a brave face, appear ‘nice’ and avoid open conflict. Some are not even aware of their emotions, and are therefore not only isolated from other people, but also from themselves.
Another study says
"People who have repressive styles tend to be more prone to illness, particularly [immune-system related] diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, and cancers. The concept is of unexpressed anger. If one doesn't let it out, that could have adverse consequences." [University of California Los Angeles]
Even in the bible we are asked to forgive so we can be forgiven too Mark 11 24-25
24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. 25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.
There lots of people in the bible that did detestable things before the sight of God but when they called on God, he was willing to forgive them and we should note also that even whilst most of these people were sinning the eyes on God was always upon them, he never gave up on them. 2 Chronicles 33 1-17. Also with the children of Israel, through their 40 years journey and with all their sin God was still with them and was always willing to forgive them. Through out the bible there are countless story of forgiveness and restoration.
Who has upset you, who is holding the key to your fullness because you abhor unforgiveness towards him/her? Who is tormenting you by just thinking about what the person has said or done to you? Forgive them and let go. Restore your self to the perfect being that God made you. Let go of the hurt. Call on God and he will create a new heart and right spirit within you. Go to your pastors, leaders or mentors if you are finding it hard to let go. God wants the best for you and unforgiveness can hold you back from reaching your true potential.
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Power of Prayer
I want to first thank God for his loving kindness and faithful. He is surely a man that stands by his words.
John 14:14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
This is the confidence we have as Christians that if we ask anything of God within his will for our lives he will do it.
1 John 5:14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Early this year my prayer group had a list of women (4) we were praying for concerning the fruit of the womb. These women did not even know they were being prayed for, but we stood together and lifted them up before God. Thank God, every single one of them is now expecting a baby. Most of these women had been waiting on God for at least 7 or more years.
Our God is a God that answers prayers, we pray for others and God answers our prayers. How is our personal prayer life? We have a God that listens and is ready to do great things for us but for some reason a lot of us don’t invest the time needed to have a conversation with him. Prayer is the essence of being a Christian. It is the way we make contact with heaven.
James 5 The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Continually we have lifted people up in our prayer group regarding jobs and other things and God constantly hears us and has opened several doors. We should all reassess our prayer life and check to see if our prayers are effective. God listens and he answers. On my part this year alone, I can’t count the number of things I have brought to God and he has listened and answered at the appropriate time. For all these, I am truly grateful and I am learning to thank him more than I ask of him.
In the Bible we are advised to pray in every circumstance
James 5: 13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
God has also entrusted people into our lives that we have to pray for. An important group are our children. How many of us lay hands on our children every day and pray for them. Even if it is only for 5mins, whatever you call your children is what they will be. The prayer of a mother over a child is very effective and important for their moral and spiritual growth. My mother did this through out when I was growing up and I know God listened and still listens. Even now that I am older whenever she is around she lays her hand on my head every morning and prays for me.
Not forming the habit of praying particularly for our children who are vulnerable in this world is like leaving them alone in a battle field. Most of us will die and give up anything to make our children happy and well. Prayer is the best treasure and greatest gift you can give your children.
We need to pray for our partners, for our extended families and friends. We need to pray for our communities, as we live in, and our children grow up in these communities. We need to pray for our country as every decision right or wrong will make a difference in our lives.
Ephesians 6: 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
When we believe what our God is capable of doing in our lives, we will not have a problem with praying. He tells us that if we ask him he will surely do it.
Matthew 21: 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
Make sure you are communicating with God daily, he is eager to hear from you.
John 14:14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
This is the confidence we have as Christians that if we ask anything of God within his will for our lives he will do it.
1 John 5:14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Early this year my prayer group had a list of women (4) we were praying for concerning the fruit of the womb. These women did not even know they were being prayed for, but we stood together and lifted them up before God. Thank God, every single one of them is now expecting a baby. Most of these women had been waiting on God for at least 7 or more years.
Our God is a God that answers prayers, we pray for others and God answers our prayers. How is our personal prayer life? We have a God that listens and is ready to do great things for us but for some reason a lot of us don’t invest the time needed to have a conversation with him. Prayer is the essence of being a Christian. It is the way we make contact with heaven.
James 5 The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Continually we have lifted people up in our prayer group regarding jobs and other things and God constantly hears us and has opened several doors. We should all reassess our prayer life and check to see if our prayers are effective. God listens and he answers. On my part this year alone, I can’t count the number of things I have brought to God and he has listened and answered at the appropriate time. For all these, I am truly grateful and I am learning to thank him more than I ask of him.
In the Bible we are advised to pray in every circumstance
James 5: 13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
God has also entrusted people into our lives that we have to pray for. An important group are our children. How many of us lay hands on our children every day and pray for them. Even if it is only for 5mins, whatever you call your children is what they will be. The prayer of a mother over a child is very effective and important for their moral and spiritual growth. My mother did this through out when I was growing up and I know God listened and still listens. Even now that I am older whenever she is around she lays her hand on my head every morning and prays for me.
Not forming the habit of praying particularly for our children who are vulnerable in this world is like leaving them alone in a battle field. Most of us will die and give up anything to make our children happy and well. Prayer is the best treasure and greatest gift you can give your children.
We need to pray for our partners, for our extended families and friends. We need to pray for our communities, as we live in, and our children grow up in these communities. We need to pray for our country as every decision right or wrong will make a difference in our lives.
Ephesians 6: 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
When we believe what our God is capable of doing in our lives, we will not have a problem with praying. He tells us that if we ask him he will surely do it.
Matthew 21: 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
Make sure you are communicating with God daily, he is eager to hear from you.
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Self Control
The English dictionary defines Self control as the ability to control one's emotions and desires, the capacity of efficient management to the future.
I will continue with the story of Joseph. He was a man that shows us an example of exercising self control and the rewards of doing so.
As mentioned last week, he could have had an affair with Potifar’s wife but he refused her advances and as a result went to prison for it. In the world we live in, very few people will go to the prison in place of so called enjoyment. In reality not having self control is an almost prison in itself as it send us to a land that will be very hard to return from. Lack of self control in one area of life leads to the inability to control other things.
Constantly being impulsive and living above our means leads to debts. Debts means having no control over our finances, it means working for loan and credit card Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender
Not giving our children discipline in love leads to children that we have no control over. Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it
Lack of self control in sexual desires leads to sexual sin that ends marriages and creates broken homes. Proverbs 6:32 But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself (Same thing goes for women).
Lack of control in the words that we speak leads to regret and sometimes creating hurt that is very hard to repair, our words can either bring progress or destruction. Proverbs 18:21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Having self control is one of the main challenges for the human race. We want things and we want it now, people get angry and feel that revenge will make them feel better.
Anything that is in control of our lives apart from God can and will possibly bring ruin. We need to exercise self control by handing it all to God. We all desire good things and God wants the best for us but the best things are worth waiting for.
Proverbs 25:28. Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls
Lack of self control is one of the main causes of sin, most people generally know what is morally right and wrong but cannot control themselves when there is a fight to satisfy self. Let us continually fill ourselves with the word of God and pray for God to take control of every area of our lives.
I will continue with the story of Joseph. He was a man that shows us an example of exercising self control and the rewards of doing so.
As mentioned last week, he could have had an affair with Potifar’s wife but he refused her advances and as a result went to prison for it. In the world we live in, very few people will go to the prison in place of so called enjoyment. In reality not having self control is an almost prison in itself as it send us to a land that will be very hard to return from. Lack of self control in one area of life leads to the inability to control other things.
Constantly being impulsive and living above our means leads to debts. Debts means having no control over our finances, it means working for loan and credit card Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender
Not giving our children discipline in love leads to children that we have no control over. Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it
Lack of self control in sexual desires leads to sexual sin that ends marriages and creates broken homes. Proverbs 6:32 But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself (Same thing goes for women).
Lack of control in the words that we speak leads to regret and sometimes creating hurt that is very hard to repair, our words can either bring progress or destruction. Proverbs 18:21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Having self control is one of the main challenges for the human race. We want things and we want it now, people get angry and feel that revenge will make them feel better.
Anything that is in control of our lives apart from God can and will possibly bring ruin. We need to exercise self control by handing it all to God. We all desire good things and God wants the best for us but the best things are worth waiting for.
Proverbs 25:28. Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls
Lack of self control is one of the main causes of sin, most people generally know what is morally right and wrong but cannot control themselves when there is a fight to satisfy self. Let us continually fill ourselves with the word of God and pray for God to take control of every area of our lives.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Faithfulness and Goodness
Our God is a faithful God and continues to manifest his faithfulness in our lives.
Most of us say the above statement but for some reason but tend to waver in our faith when challenges come. I know it's hard as we battle with flesh but we need to equip ourselves with the word of God and stand on it when those times arise.
If we look at the story of Joseph, God showed him his future through dreams but he had little understanding of what those dreams meant. He was also a loved boy by his father and rather spoilt. He may not have arrived at where God was taking him if he did not go through those challenges.
One thing I noted though was through all he went through, Joseph never compromised himself. He could have compromised himself with Potiphar’s wife but he did not. He waited for his time and he got there in the end.
When he arrived, note also how he was able to forgive his brothers and bless them after all they did to him.
Be rest assured through it all God is working on your behalf.
His word says in Romans 8:28 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Also we need to have faith in God and trust that he will surely come through for us. Regardless of our circumstances, we must not compromise. In the same way God is faithful to us, we must be faithful to him and not compromise.
Also we must show kindness even to the people that hurt us. God is love and shows love to all regardless of who and what we are.
I went to a powerful women’s conference a couple of weeks ago and the woman of God used the story of David claiming back all the things his enemy has stolen from him. 1 Samuel 30 1-end
For David to get back all the things taken from him, he had to feed one of the men from the enemies camp. The man had been left there by his comrades when he was ill and almost dying, David fed him and nursed him to health and it was the same man that took him to where all his things were. 1 Samuel 30: 11-16 We have to show goodness to people regardless of how they have treated us. They may be the key to our Success.
Most of us say the above statement but for some reason but tend to waver in our faith when challenges come. I know it's hard as we battle with flesh but we need to equip ourselves with the word of God and stand on it when those times arise.
If we look at the story of Joseph, God showed him his future through dreams but he had little understanding of what those dreams meant. He was also a loved boy by his father and rather spoilt. He may not have arrived at where God was taking him if he did not go through those challenges.
One thing I noted though was through all he went through, Joseph never compromised himself. He could have compromised himself with Potiphar’s wife but he did not. He waited for his time and he got there in the end.
When he arrived, note also how he was able to forgive his brothers and bless them after all they did to him.
Be rest assured through it all God is working on your behalf.
His word says in Romans 8:28 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Also we need to have faith in God and trust that he will surely come through for us. Regardless of our circumstances, we must not compromise. In the same way God is faithful to us, we must be faithful to him and not compromise.
Also we must show kindness even to the people that hurt us. God is love and shows love to all regardless of who and what we are.
I went to a powerful women’s conference a couple of weeks ago and the woman of God used the story of David claiming back all the things his enemy has stolen from him. 1 Samuel 30 1-end
For David to get back all the things taken from him, he had to feed one of the men from the enemies camp. The man had been left there by his comrades when he was ill and almost dying, David fed him and nursed him to health and it was the same man that took him to where all his things were. 1 Samuel 30: 11-16 We have to show goodness to people regardless of how they have treated us. They may be the key to our Success.
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Kindness
Kindness is a big word but it is something we all have inside of us and are capable of. For me the foundation of kindness borders on treating others as you expect to be treated. We all show Kindness to people we really love and care about, but as a fruit of the Spirit, Christ expects us to go further than the people we love and care for. We are told to love those who hate us
Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
If God were to consider our attitudes and behaviours he will not bless us at all with all we have, but he says he shows kindness to the ungrateful and even the wicked. The truth of it is their ultimate reward is in heaven. That’s why it is hard for us to comprehend how some really horrible people get blessed. God is a kind, merciful God and full of love.
If you read the story of Lazarus in the bible. Most people believe that the rich man went to hell because he was rich but really if you look properly into the story, Lazarus was by the gates of this man’s house, the man did not do anything horrible to Lazarus but at the same time he did not show kindness. He had so much that he could have blessed and been kind to the poor man. Sometimes its not about what we do its really about what we do not do, it’s very easy for us to be immune to things going on around us and believe as Christians we are touching our friends and families lives.
Do you know your next door neighbour, do you know people in your children’s school, how many charities in your neighbourhood do you volunteer for or even help. Some of our neighbours are going through challenges in their marriages and with their kids but we tend to just say to our own children, “I don’t want you near their kids” (I have been guilty of it myself), Some of our children’s class mates are struggling with divorcing parents, some have siblings that are disabled or terminally ill. what God requires is for us to reach out in love and kindness to the outside wall, out of the inner circle, show kindness, there are old people in our neighbourhood we can help, it teaches our children the act of love and kindness. There is a neighbour out there that could do with a kind word, some food for their children (Particularly in this economic climate), some need some money to pay bills.
We really should access ourselves as Christians and check what difference our lives are making to the outside world. Let us show kindness to people
Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
If God were to consider our attitudes and behaviours he will not bless us at all with all we have, but he says he shows kindness to the ungrateful and even the wicked. The truth of it is their ultimate reward is in heaven. That’s why it is hard for us to comprehend how some really horrible people get blessed. God is a kind, merciful God and full of love.
If you read the story of Lazarus in the bible. Most people believe that the rich man went to hell because he was rich but really if you look properly into the story, Lazarus was by the gates of this man’s house, the man did not do anything horrible to Lazarus but at the same time he did not show kindness. He had so much that he could have blessed and been kind to the poor man. Sometimes its not about what we do its really about what we do not do, it’s very easy for us to be immune to things going on around us and believe as Christians we are touching our friends and families lives.
Do you know your next door neighbour, do you know people in your children’s school, how many charities in your neighbourhood do you volunteer for or even help. Some of our neighbours are going through challenges in their marriages and with their kids but we tend to just say to our own children, “I don’t want you near their kids” (I have been guilty of it myself), Some of our children’s class mates are struggling with divorcing parents, some have siblings that are disabled or terminally ill. what God requires is for us to reach out in love and kindness to the outside wall, out of the inner circle, show kindness, there are old people in our neighbourhood we can help, it teaches our children the act of love and kindness. There is a neighbour out there that could do with a kind word, some food for their children (Particularly in this economic climate), some need some money to pay bills.
We really should access ourselves as Christians and check what difference our lives are making to the outside world. Let us show kindness to people
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Patience
Patience is a learned behaviour and one that we do not have a choice but to embrace.
Unfortunately in the world that we live in now, everyone wants instant gratification, instant answers, instant solutions. Even our foods are instantly made, instant coffee, processed ham for sandwiches, instant noodles to mention a few. The truth we all know is all these things do not taste like the real thing. They may feel the initial void but they are not long lasting. In the case of our food, the so called people that made all these instant foods are now telling us they are detrimental to our health.
This is the same with our faith and our lives. Generally instant gratification fills us temporarily but leaves a void very quickly. A friend recently told me how much one of her friend spent on her child’s party and I said I don’t see myself ever spending that much but she said the woman had waited almost 9 years to have this one child and she had the child through IVF after several attempts so maybe my attitude will be different if I were in her shoes and I had the means.
When we have had to wait for something we appreciate it more, take good care of it and are very grateful for it.
God perfects everything in our lives at the right time and he is always faithful to his word. Patience brings a lot of good results. We need to be patient and wait on God. As Christians our lives are in God’s hands and we need to let go and wait on him.
Isaiah 40: 31But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
I also found this poem which I found interesting.
As Children bring their broken toys, with tears for us to mend
I brought my broken dreams to God because he is my father
But then instead of leaving him in peace to work alone
I hung around and tried to help with ways that were my own
At last I snatched them back again and cried
“How can you be so slow”
“My child” he said
“What could I do?”
“You never did let go”.
We need to be patient and watch what God is doing in our lives, we need patience to find the right direction, we need patience so we may be totally fulfilled and not temporarily filled, we need patience to enjoy the journey on the way, we need patience to fulfil God’s purpose for our lives. Isaac was patient and waited on God in Genesis 26 when there was famine and God told him to stay in the land and not move, in the same year, the bible says he reaped a hundred fold (when there was famine).
Finally in
James 1 v 2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Unfortunately in the world that we live in now, everyone wants instant gratification, instant answers, instant solutions. Even our foods are instantly made, instant coffee, processed ham for sandwiches, instant noodles to mention a few. The truth we all know is all these things do not taste like the real thing. They may feel the initial void but they are not long lasting. In the case of our food, the so called people that made all these instant foods are now telling us they are detrimental to our health.
This is the same with our faith and our lives. Generally instant gratification fills us temporarily but leaves a void very quickly. A friend recently told me how much one of her friend spent on her child’s party and I said I don’t see myself ever spending that much but she said the woman had waited almost 9 years to have this one child and she had the child through IVF after several attempts so maybe my attitude will be different if I were in her shoes and I had the means.
When we have had to wait for something we appreciate it more, take good care of it and are very grateful for it.
God perfects everything in our lives at the right time and he is always faithful to his word. Patience brings a lot of good results. We need to be patient and wait on God. As Christians our lives are in God’s hands and we need to let go and wait on him.
Isaiah 40: 31But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
I also found this poem which I found interesting.
As Children bring their broken toys, with tears for us to mend
I brought my broken dreams to God because he is my father
But then instead of leaving him in peace to work alone
I hung around and tried to help with ways that were my own
At last I snatched them back again and cried
“How can you be so slow”
“My child” he said
“What could I do?”
“You never did let go”.
We need to be patient and watch what God is doing in our lives, we need patience to find the right direction, we need patience so we may be totally fulfilled and not temporarily filled, we need patience to enjoy the journey on the way, we need patience to fulfil God’s purpose for our lives. Isaac was patient and waited on God in Genesis 26 when there was famine and God told him to stay in the land and not move, in the same year, the bible says he reaped a hundred fold (when there was famine).
Finally in
James 1 v 2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
PEACE
(Some of the extracts are from My daily devotional)
Peace is something I know we all yearn for and want at all costs. Thanks to God we have peace in certain areas of our lives but in others we have a lot of anxiety and worry. It is acknowledged in the bible that we will have our challenges but through it all God is always there. It is interesting how many of us read the bible and usually just pick verses that we like and expect certain things to happen immediately or the way we will like it too. what I have realised since I took the decision to go through my bible is that sometimes we ignore the verses before or after that qualifies the verse we hold on to.
God is constantly working on our behalf but he did not say we will not have challenges, Jesus Christ went through worse than we did and in the end to a death that was gruesome but all the same still working on our behalf.
Am sure we have all read Jeremiah 29:11.
"For I know the plans that I have towards you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."
However, what is interesting about this particular passage of scripture is not the words that are found within it, but rather in the words that come BEFORE it.
VERSE 10: "For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform my good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place..."
The entire 29th chapter of Jeremiah consists of a letter that was delivered to the King of Judah by the prophet Jeremiah; a letter that prophesied that the land of Jerusalem (all 10,000 of its citizens) would be taking captive by the infamous tyrant and ruler of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar. Within this letter, God shares with Jerusalem that while He indeed has thoughts and plans to prosper them, their future successes will only come AFTER a period of great trial and pain.
A period that lasted seventy years.
(So why is that important to remember on today, you ask?)
Simply because I want you to know that SUCCESS, while something we all desire and often dream of, does not happen overnight. True success (in God) comes through process. Now more than ever before, we as believers must exercise patience not only with the reading of God's word, but also when it comes to our personal lives and goals. Our desire to get to the end of our struggle must not be at the expense of truly appreciating our struggle.
Through it all God promises us his peace. Every time he visited people in the new testament through his angels, the first words are always do not be afraid. Luke 1:30 When God is on our side we have nothing to be afraid of, everything we are going through is temporary and if you look back, we have all had periods when it’s been tough and we got through it, we look back at those times and it seems like it was not as bad as when we were going through those challenges.
The peace of God is a gift and can only be received by waiting constantly on God. When you have a guarantee on a product you have peace about it. Trust me your lives are guaranteed in Christ, so you need to have peace knowing he is in control.
Peace is something I know we all yearn for and want at all costs. Thanks to God we have peace in certain areas of our lives but in others we have a lot of anxiety and worry. It is acknowledged in the bible that we will have our challenges but through it all God is always there. It is interesting how many of us read the bible and usually just pick verses that we like and expect certain things to happen immediately or the way we will like it too. what I have realised since I took the decision to go through my bible is that sometimes we ignore the verses before or after that qualifies the verse we hold on to.
God is constantly working on our behalf but he did not say we will not have challenges, Jesus Christ went through worse than we did and in the end to a death that was gruesome but all the same still working on our behalf.
Am sure we have all read Jeremiah 29:11.
"For I know the plans that I have towards you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."
However, what is interesting about this particular passage of scripture is not the words that are found within it, but rather in the words that come BEFORE it.
VERSE 10: "For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform my good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place..."
The entire 29th chapter of Jeremiah consists of a letter that was delivered to the King of Judah by the prophet Jeremiah; a letter that prophesied that the land of Jerusalem (all 10,000 of its citizens) would be taking captive by the infamous tyrant and ruler of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar. Within this letter, God shares with Jerusalem that while He indeed has thoughts and plans to prosper them, their future successes will only come AFTER a period of great trial and pain.
A period that lasted seventy years.
(So why is that important to remember on today, you ask?)
Simply because I want you to know that SUCCESS, while something we all desire and often dream of, does not happen overnight. True success (in God) comes through process. Now more than ever before, we as believers must exercise patience not only with the reading of God's word, but also when it comes to our personal lives and goals. Our desire to get to the end of our struggle must not be at the expense of truly appreciating our struggle.
Through it all God promises us his peace. Every time he visited people in the new testament through his angels, the first words are always do not be afraid. Luke 1:30 When God is on our side we have nothing to be afraid of, everything we are going through is temporary and if you look back, we have all had periods when it’s been tough and we got through it, we look back at those times and it seems like it was not as bad as when we were going through those challenges.
The peace of God is a gift and can only be received by waiting constantly on God. When you have a guarantee on a product you have peace about it. Trust me your lives are guaranteed in Christ, so you need to have peace knowing he is in control.
Be a Blessing
Proverbs 14:21
He who despises his neighbour sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.
Hope you all had a good week. Thank you for the responses to my email last week. God will continue to teach us all to walk in his ways and according to his will for our lives and marriages.
This week I have been challenged on the issue of reaching out in love and letting love conquer all. At this present time a lot of people, friends, neighbours, acquaintances and people I know are going through a challenging time. It seems tough out there but in the midst of it all, God is there. I thank God for what he has done and is currently doing for me and I know that I am in the position that I am not because I am good or perfect but because God has been gracious to me and he wants me to make a difference.
I ask myself what difference I make to people’s lives around me and what difference I can make. The first thing that comes to mind is prayer and I try to pray for everyone that I believes needs it but that’s all spiritual, what can I do to make a difference in the physical.
2 Corinthians 8:7
But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us —see that you also excel in this grace of giving
My older daughter mentioned last week that she and her sister should set up a charity called (NIMO) and give all the clothes they hardly wear and toys to people that need them. I laughed because it seemed funny but actually in the quest for wanting more and more sometimes we adults sometimes forget how much God has blessed us and how much we can bless people.
Many people are struggling to even buy food in the house, pay bills, mortgage and other things. In our quest for more and more, we have become selfish and do not even think about how we can help our friends, neighbours and family.
Let’s make an effort to reach out in love to people that need it right now, am sure you all know one or two people. Can you offer to buy some food, help to pay part of their bills or ask in love what help you can offer. God is love. Jesus fed 5000 with 5 loaves of bread and two fishes. Share the little you have and God will bless you with more.
Deuteronomy 15:7
If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tight fisted toward your poor brother.
Lets reach out today and see if God will not continue to bless us. He has blessed us with material things not just to serve our own purpose but to reach out and bless those around us.
He who despises his neighbour sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.
Hope you all had a good week. Thank you for the responses to my email last week. God will continue to teach us all to walk in his ways and according to his will for our lives and marriages.
This week I have been challenged on the issue of reaching out in love and letting love conquer all. At this present time a lot of people, friends, neighbours, acquaintances and people I know are going through a challenging time. It seems tough out there but in the midst of it all, God is there. I thank God for what he has done and is currently doing for me and I know that I am in the position that I am not because I am good or perfect but because God has been gracious to me and he wants me to make a difference.
I ask myself what difference I make to people’s lives around me and what difference I can make. The first thing that comes to mind is prayer and I try to pray for everyone that I believes needs it but that’s all spiritual, what can I do to make a difference in the physical.
2 Corinthians 8:7
But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us —see that you also excel in this grace of giving
My older daughter mentioned last week that she and her sister should set up a charity called (NIMO) and give all the clothes they hardly wear and toys to people that need them. I laughed because it seemed funny but actually in the quest for wanting more and more sometimes we adults sometimes forget how much God has blessed us and how much we can bless people.
Many people are struggling to even buy food in the house, pay bills, mortgage and other things. In our quest for more and more, we have become selfish and do not even think about how we can help our friends, neighbours and family.
Let’s make an effort to reach out in love to people that need it right now, am sure you all know one or two people. Can you offer to buy some food, help to pay part of their bills or ask in love what help you can offer. God is love. Jesus fed 5000 with 5 loaves of bread and two fishes. Share the little you have and God will bless you with more.
Deuteronomy 15:7
If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tight fisted toward your poor brother.
Lets reach out today and see if God will not continue to bless us. He has blessed us with material things not just to serve our own purpose but to reach out and bless those around us.
Monday, 14 September 2009
Thankful heart
I thank God for his love and faithfulness and for continuing to be true in all our lives.
(Jer 30:19 From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honour, and they will not be disdained). May God use the new year to fulfil all his promises concerning your lives. Your hearts desires within the will of God will be fulfilled. All the things that bring you joy will never bring you sorrow. All the areas of your lives that you need intervention from God will be attended too and you will have everlasting happiness and peace in your lives. (1cor 1:4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.)
God is love and he wants us to show love to one another. Tope Cole used an expression on her face book which I found very interesting: “Lots of people want to ride with you in the Limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the Limo breaks down”
We all want friends we can rely on and also trust. Guess what the only one that is guaranteed is Jesus but he will like the same kind of friendship with us. The one where he can trust that we will always make the right decisions, the one where we will always choose his way or sin, the one where we seek him and dedicate ourselves to him when things are going very well and when they are not. Lets us search ourselves is this the relationship we have with him? Most of us tend to almost forget him when things are going well and run to him when the hiccups come. Imagine having a friend like that. You will feel used. We should not take God for granted and we should make every effort to live sinless lives, we all sin but there are obvious things we do that in our hearts we know are wrong, we should pray for the ability to say no to the wrong things (Psalm119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me). God is a merciful God but also a jealous one and does not like to be taken for granted.
Message Today is to show love to all your friends and not take them for granted, pull them up when they are down, smile with them when things are going well, be thankful for their lives and the fact that God has chosen these people to be part of your life. There is a lot of blessing in supporting your friends (Job 42:10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before) More importantly have this sort of attitude towards God too, be thankful and prayerful always and make a conscious effort to avoid doing things that you know will hurt him. Can you do that?
(Jer 30:19 From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honour, and they will not be disdained). May God use the new year to fulfil all his promises concerning your lives. Your hearts desires within the will of God will be fulfilled. All the things that bring you joy will never bring you sorrow. All the areas of your lives that you need intervention from God will be attended too and you will have everlasting happiness and peace in your lives. (1cor 1:4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.)
God is love and he wants us to show love to one another. Tope Cole used an expression on her face book which I found very interesting: “Lots of people want to ride with you in the Limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the Limo breaks down”
We all want friends we can rely on and also trust. Guess what the only one that is guaranteed is Jesus but he will like the same kind of friendship with us. The one where he can trust that we will always make the right decisions, the one where we will always choose his way or sin, the one where we seek him and dedicate ourselves to him when things are going very well and when they are not. Lets us search ourselves is this the relationship we have with him? Most of us tend to almost forget him when things are going well and run to him when the hiccups come. Imagine having a friend like that. You will feel used. We should not take God for granted and we should make every effort to live sinless lives, we all sin but there are obvious things we do that in our hearts we know are wrong, we should pray for the ability to say no to the wrong things (Psalm119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me). God is a merciful God but also a jealous one and does not like to be taken for granted.
Message Today is to show love to all your friends and not take them for granted, pull them up when they are down, smile with them when things are going well, be thankful for their lives and the fact that God has chosen these people to be part of your life. There is a lot of blessing in supporting your friends (Job 42:10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before) More importantly have this sort of attitude towards God too, be thankful and prayerful always and make a conscious effort to avoid doing things that you know will hurt him. Can you do that?
Fruit of Love
Love is the foundation of everything about being a Christian. We will only choose to die for people we love deeply, i.e. our children, husbands and parents. So we can imagine the deep love Christ had for us to give up his life for us. He then tells us that we should love each other. You may have all the spiritual gifts of tongues, prophesy but all these will pass away and the only thing that endures forever is love. 1st Corinthians 13:8. Please read this article below. I pray it blesses you. God will give us a heart that continues to seek him in love and a heart that reaches out in love regardless of whatever we may be facing personally. Have a blessed week.
The Best Gift
By Alan Riley
If you travel in the mountains of North Georgia, you might pass by a church with the unusual name of Dewberry Baptist Church #2. If you drive on a little while longer, you will come upon another church called Dewberry Baptist Church. When I first encountered these two churches years ago, I asked a friend of mine who was the resident Baptist historian for North Georgia about it. His face lit up. "Oh, that's a great story. That church split over a chicken leg."
Well, now I was hooked. I had to hear the rest of the story. It is, as they say, a doozy! It seems that in the mid-1800s a controversy arose in the congregation of Dewberry Baptist Church about the doctrine of predestination. About half of the congregation had strong feelings about pro-predestination and the other half had very strong anti-predestination beliefs. At the height of the controversy, the two chief proponents - or antagonists might be a better description - of the two points of view were sitting across from each other at a covered dish dinner. At some point in the meal the non-predestination ringleader turned to the predestination ringleader and said, "You mean to tell me that before the beginning of time I it was predetermined that I was to eat this drumstick?" "Yes, brother, you were" replied the other.
The non-predestination leader then said, "HA!", threw the chicken leg across the room and walked out. About half of the church walked out with him. They started a new church, but did not want to give up the church name to "those people," so they named their new church Dewberry Baptist Church #2.
Today, many years later, the controversy is long forgotten, and the two churches get along wonderfully.
Have you ever noticed how easy it is for us to allow ourselves to get sidetracked by things that aren't even a blip on the radar in the grand scheme of eternal consequences? We all can tell horror stories that we have either experienced personally or have heard from someone who was there about churches splitting apart over the colour of carpet, the shape of the chandeliers, the style of music, the pastor's salary, building programs, or any number of things that in the context of eternity are utterly meaningless.
This is exactly what motivated the Apostle Paul to write one of the most, if not the most beautiful passages in the entire Bible: I Corinthians 13. We know these four paragraphs of Paul's letter as "the love chapter," but many people don't realize the context in which it is placed. The gist of I Corinthians 13 is that if we as followers of Jesus Christ do not have love as our overarching goal, aim and passion, then we are worthless to the world and to the Kingdom.
The Corinthian Church had many problems, and one of them was that people were using the gifts of the Spirit, and tongues in particular as some sort of spiritual merit badge. Those who exercised the gift of tongues felt they were more spiritual than others, which apparently caused other people to seek earnestly after that gift so they, too would be considered spiritual. In chapter 12, Paul states clearly that God gives a variety of spiritual gifts to people so the church can function well. Just as the eye can't say to the hand, "I don't need you" we cannot say that one gift is more important, or spiritual than another.
At the end of chapter 12, Paul says, "I will show you a more excellent way." His next paragraph (what we know as Chapter 13) begins with, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal..."
Here is what Paul is saying to you and me in those four brief paragraphs: All of the things that we would use to boast of our spirituality or advance the Kingdom are meaningless and worthless unless love rules our lives and our actions!
Want to be a spiritual giant? Let God's love consume you and guide everything that you do. See the world - and the church - through the eyes of Jesus and with the heart of God the Father. Love others as you are loved.
That is the most excellent way.
The Best Gift
By Alan Riley
If you travel in the mountains of North Georgia, you might pass by a church with the unusual name of Dewberry Baptist Church #2. If you drive on a little while longer, you will come upon another church called Dewberry Baptist Church. When I first encountered these two churches years ago, I asked a friend of mine who was the resident Baptist historian for North Georgia about it. His face lit up. "Oh, that's a great story. That church split over a chicken leg."
Well, now I was hooked. I had to hear the rest of the story. It is, as they say, a doozy! It seems that in the mid-1800s a controversy arose in the congregation of Dewberry Baptist Church about the doctrine of predestination. About half of the congregation had strong feelings about pro-predestination and the other half had very strong anti-predestination beliefs. At the height of the controversy, the two chief proponents - or antagonists might be a better description - of the two points of view were sitting across from each other at a covered dish dinner. At some point in the meal the non-predestination ringleader turned to the predestination ringleader and said, "You mean to tell me that before the beginning of time I it was predetermined that I was to eat this drumstick?" "Yes, brother, you were" replied the other.
The non-predestination leader then said, "HA!", threw the chicken leg across the room and walked out. About half of the church walked out with him. They started a new church, but did not want to give up the church name to "those people," so they named their new church Dewberry Baptist Church #2.
Today, many years later, the controversy is long forgotten, and the two churches get along wonderfully.
Have you ever noticed how easy it is for us to allow ourselves to get sidetracked by things that aren't even a blip on the radar in the grand scheme of eternal consequences? We all can tell horror stories that we have either experienced personally or have heard from someone who was there about churches splitting apart over the colour of carpet, the shape of the chandeliers, the style of music, the pastor's salary, building programs, or any number of things that in the context of eternity are utterly meaningless.
This is exactly what motivated the Apostle Paul to write one of the most, if not the most beautiful passages in the entire Bible: I Corinthians 13. We know these four paragraphs of Paul's letter as "the love chapter," but many people don't realize the context in which it is placed. The gist of I Corinthians 13 is that if we as followers of Jesus Christ do not have love as our overarching goal, aim and passion, then we are worthless to the world and to the Kingdom.
The Corinthian Church had many problems, and one of them was that people were using the gifts of the Spirit, and tongues in particular as some sort of spiritual merit badge. Those who exercised the gift of tongues felt they were more spiritual than others, which apparently caused other people to seek earnestly after that gift so they, too would be considered spiritual. In chapter 12, Paul states clearly that God gives a variety of spiritual gifts to people so the church can function well. Just as the eye can't say to the hand, "I don't need you" we cannot say that one gift is more important, or spiritual than another.
At the end of chapter 12, Paul says, "I will show you a more excellent way." His next paragraph (what we know as Chapter 13) begins with, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal..."
Here is what Paul is saying to you and me in those four brief paragraphs: All of the things that we would use to boast of our spirituality or advance the Kingdom are meaningless and worthless unless love rules our lives and our actions!
Want to be a spiritual giant? Let God's love consume you and guide everything that you do. See the world - and the church - through the eyes of Jesus and with the heart of God the Father. Love others as you are loved.
That is the most excellent way.
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