Go To Where You Are Celebrated!

Basic scriptures: Genesis 13:7-9; Mathew 4:12-17

Mathew 4:12 says; "Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee." Jesus departed and until you depart sometimes, you cannot enter into your rest! Yes, there is no entry without an exit! Christ will not stay long where He is not welcomed. Remember also the particular city He chose for His residence was not Nazareth, where He had been raised - (Mt 4:13; Lu 4:29). Nazareth was the first place that refused Christ, and was therefore refused by Him. If Christ will not stay long where He is not welcomed, neither should you. Oh, unhappy Nazareth! If thou hadst known in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace, how well would it had been for thee! Likewise, shake off the dust of your feet like Jesus did to Nazareth and move out of environments where you are not valued! Abraham and Lot had to separate before Abraham could see his Isaac! Do you know that many people who do not know your valued will reject you now only to regret it later? UNTIL YOU LEAVE THOSE WHO DO NOT VALUED YOU, YOU CANNOT BE VALUABLE TO YOUR GENERATION! Avoid people and places where your safety, respect, ministry growth, financial promotion, purity or peace of mind/unity, are not guaranteed. It is not wisdom to be wiser than wisdom itself! If Jesus Himself had to change location and social circle from time to time, do the same! You cannot be a friend to the whole world! Every vision has its location/environment where it can grow! Sometimes, the wrong association/location can become the cemetery of your goals. As 2010 ends and 2011 (your year of harvests, recovering) begins, avoid places and people that remind you of your failures, your errors or of your past. Avoid people/places that belittle you! Go to where you are celebrated and activated by acceptance/recognition! Only then will your star be seen by all! Ciao

How to have a good day

…WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. ‘JOHN 15:5 NKJV

You can change the course of a day satan has negative plans for, by spending time with the Lord, especially when you sense any attitude or behaviour in yourself that’s not Christ-like. Jesus said,’… without Me you can do nothing.’ (John 15:5 NKJV). On the other hand, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). Negative feelings are like unwelcome house guests: the worst thing you can do is to invite them in. You may not be able to override them in your own strength, but if you seek God’s help He will enable you to walk according to His ways, not by your negative emotions and perspective.  ‘But what if someone offends me?’ The Bible says we’re not to be oversensitive or easily offended. Actually we are commanded to forgive those who hurt us, not letting things fester. Sometimes we want to forgive and do what’s right, but we find doing it difficult. More often than not, the right thing is the hard thing to do, not the easy thing. That’s when you need to pray and allow God to talk you through His Word. Only then will you will find the strength to do the right thing. Remember, you’re in a war, and battle begins the moment your eyes open each morning To win,’…be strong in the Lord…Put on the whole armour of God…having grided your waist with truth…put on the breastplate of righteousness…having shod your feet with…the gospel peace…taking the shield of faith…And take the hamlet of salvation…..The sword of the spirit…praying always…in the Spirit…speak boldly…’ (Ephesians 6:10-20 NKJV).

‘EACH PART…HELPS THE OTHER PARTS GROW.’ EPHESIANS 4:16 NLT

Next time you’re walking in the woods, imagine what’s taking place under your feet. As the roots of trees come into contact with one another they form an underground support system. One has access to water, another to nutrients, another to sunlight, etc. A networking is taking place that strengthens them all. This is what Paul had in mind: ‘[Under His direction], the whole body is fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.’ Some of us independent types have difficulty when it comes to networking. We fly solo, until we crash and burn! Eventually our pain, not our brain, shows us our need for things like: (1) Mercy. ‘Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others’ (Colossians 3:13 NLT). What motivates us to show mercy to others? God’s mercy to us. You’ll never be asked to forgive someone else more than God has already forgiven you. (2) Understanding. ‘Be sympathetic …kind…gentle, and patient’ (Colossians 3:12 GWT). Sympathy meets two fundamental human needs we all have: the need to be understood and the need to have our feelings validated. The problem is we’re in such a hurry to fix people that we don’t have time to sympathize with them. We’re too preoccupied with our own hurts. Self-pity dries up sympathy for others. (3) Encouragement. ‘I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you’ (Romans 1:12 NCV). All of us are strengthened in our faith when others walk with us and encourage us. So today, practice networking!

‘Taking the shield of faith.’ Ephesians 6:16 NKJV

Build up your faith! A Roman soldier’s shield protected him from head to toe. It was made of iron, upholstered in thick layers of fabric, and saturated in water when going to battle. Consequently the flaming arrows of the enemy fizzled on contact. Getting the idea? Paul writes, ‘Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one’ (NIV). Satan can’t penetrate a heart that’s pure, saturated in Scripture and fortified by faith. That’s why Jesus told Peter, ‘I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail’ (Luke 22:32 NKJV). It’s your faith that’s under attack; it’s your faith that needs to be fed and nurtured; it’s your faith that sustains you in life’s battles! Jesus said, ‘Have faith in God’ (Mark 11:22). Note, He didn’t just say, ‘Have faith in something bigger than yourself.’ No, He said, ‘Have faith in God.’ If you’re under attack today claim this promise: ‘He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint’ (Isaiah 40:29-31 NKJV). God gives each of us a ‘measure of faith’ (Romans 12:3 NKJV). But Jude says you must develop it by ‘building yourselves up on your most holy faith’ (Jude 20 NIV). Faith under attack is faith under construction. It’s in the battles of life that you discover whether you have nurtured faith or neglected faith!

‘SHARE EACH OTHER’S TROUBLES AND PROBLEMS, AND OBEY THE LAW OF CHRIST.’ GALATIANS 6:2 NLT

Everyone is hiding something, and it’s not because they’re deceptive. It’s just that some wounds are too private. When your husband is being insensitive and uncaring the pain can be too deep to discuss. When your wife wounds you with acid words you’re crushed inside but you can’t show it. So you both go off, lick your wounds and try to avoid the comments and questions of others. Is that where you are today, struggling with something too painful to talk about? If so, realise that others are too! Their anger is a symptom. Their aloofness just hides their fear of being known and maybe rejected because they’ve been hurt before. Jesus saw the best in the worst of people and went out of His way to be gracious to them. Do you remember how He treated the woman ‘caught in the act’ of adultery? (See John 8). Public exposure! Can you imagine the depth of her shame? Yet Jesus saw someone worth saving, loved her, lifted her and gave her the strength to do better. You are called to do that too! So remind yourself today that others are going through things you don’t know about. They’re crying tears you don’t see and feeling isolated in ways you can’t imagine. Don’t be a burden – be a burden-bearer! Indeed you may be the only one who crosses their path today. And when you help lift their burden – God will lift yours! ‘Share each other’s troubles and problems, and obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself’ (Galatians 6:2-3 NLT).

Thinking about cutting corners? (2)

‘…Set an example…in life...’ 1 Timothy 4:12 NIV
 

 In 1994 golfer Davis Love III called a one-stroke penalty on himself during the second round of the Western Open. He moved his marker to get it out of another player’s putting line and later he couldn’t remember if he’d moved his ball back to its original spot. Since he wasn’t certain he gave himself an extra stroke, and that one stroke caused him to miss the cut. He was eliminated from the tournament, (ironically, if he’d made the cut, even if he finished last he’d have earned $2,000 that week). At year’s end Love was $590 short in winnings to automatically qualify for the Masters and needed to win a tournament in order to get into one of golf’s most coveted events. Fortunately, the story ends well. The week before the big event he qualified by winning a tournament in New Orleans, and went on to earn $237,600 by finishing second in the 1995 Masters. Later when Love was asked how he’d have felt if he’d missed the Masters because of calling a penalty on himself, he replied, ‘The real question is how I’d have felt if I’d won and spent the rest of my life wondering if I’d cheated.’ It’s easier to maintain your integrity than to try and recover it. Paul instructed Timothy: ‘In everything set…an example by doing what is good…show integrity…and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say’ (Titus 2:7-8 NIV). It may cost you to do the right thing, but it’ll cost you more when you abandon your principles and do the wrong thing.

Thinking about cutting corners? (1)

‘…Set an example…in life...’ 1 Timothy 4:12 NIV

Writer Kathryn Lay learned about honesty when she was on holiday in Texas. She and her husband were having lunch at a little restaurant when a lady walked in, handed her a dollar bill and said, ‘I’m sorry, but I short-changed you earlier.’ Recognising her as a sales assistant from a store she’d been in earlier Lay asked, ‘How’d you know I was here?’ Amazed, she learned that the woman had gone from store to store looking for her. Lay also tells about another man who returned a TV to the store and got his money back. Later, after realising the amount had also been credited to his Visa he did nothing. Lay writes: ‘Does God want us to be just a little honest…or only in certain situations…or only when someone’s looking? How much dishonesty is too much? Sometimes I’m the only person who knows whether I’m being honest or not. Do I keep the extra change, cheat on my expenses, ignore the double credit on my statement? Do I tell my daughter a white lie is still a lie, but later tell the police officer my accelerator stuck? When did honesty become an endangered species? Somewhere out there is a man who’s proud of the £700 he cheated a department store of. He probably laughs about it with everyone, including his daughter. And somewhere in Texas there’s a truly honest woman, whose story I rejoice in sharing with my daughter.’ Dostoyevsky said, ‘When we lie we lose respect for ourselves and for others. And when we’ve no respect for anyone we end up yielding to our impulses and indulging in the lowest forms of pleasure.’ So, ‘…Be an example…in the way you live…’ (1Timothy 4:12 NL.

‘YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.’ JOHN 3:7 NIV

                     BE BORN AGAIN.’ JOHN 3:7 NIV

The Bible says 130 years after Adam first sinned, he was still fathering children ‘in his own likeness’ (Genesis 5:3 NIV). And as Adam’s descendants we have all been born with the nature of fallen man. Sometimes people say, ‘He’s just like his old man.’ Or we say, ‘My dad was an angry man, now I’ve got his temper!’ ‘My dad couldn’t stay with my mom, now I’m going through a divorce.’ ‘My dad was an alcoholic, now look at my drinking and drugging!’ ‘My dad was a workaholic, now I put in14 hours a day.’ ‘My dad wasn’t affectionate with us, now I don’t know how to be loving toward my children.’ History repeats itself over and over through our fallen nature. Here’s a fascinating example: ‘Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her’ (Genesis 20:2 NIV). Abraham was willing to sacrifice Sarah to save his own neck. What would you have done? Before you answer, notice that Isaac wasn’t even born when his father did this. Yet years later he did exactly the same thing in the same place (See Genesis 26:7). It’s genetic! It’s in our DNA. But there’s good news. When you receive Christ as your Savior He breaks that cycle. When you’re “born of the Spirit” you get a new Father and a new nature (See John 3:3-6). You don’t have to walk in the likeness of your earthly father any more; you can walk in the likeness of your Heavenly Father and become more like Him every day. Fed up with your old nature and ways? Ready for a new birth? Turn to Christ!

   Three reasons why you need Jesus...
1. Because you have a past.
You can't go back, but He can. The Bible says,” Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today and for ever"(Hebrew 13:8). He can walk into those places of sin and failure, wipe the slate clean and give you a new beginning.

2. Because you need a friend.
Jesus knows the worst about you, yet He believes the best. Why? Because He sees you not as you are, but as you will be when He gets through with you. What a friend!

3. Because He holds the future.
Who else are you going to trust? In His hands you are safe and secure today, tomorrow, and for eternity. His word says,” For I know the plans I have for  you...plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray I will listen"(Jeremiah 29 11-013TLB) If you'd like to begin a personal relationship with Jesus today, please pray this prayer:

"Lord Jesus, I invite you into my life. I believe you died for me and that your blood pays for my sins and provides me with the gift of eternal life. By faith I receive that gift and I acknowledge You as my Lord and Saviour. Amen".

Dear Lord Jesus, I give my life to you as my Lord and saviour so that my joy will be full. Lord Jesus, I dedicate my soul, spirit and body to you. I know you have delivered and saved me. Amen."

Did you pray this prayer? YES NO

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!
By praying to receive Christ as Savior, you have become a member of God’s family. He calls you His child! The Bible tells us the angels in heaven rejoice every single time someone accepts Christ and our names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20).

The Bible in Ephesians 2:5 says "We are saved by grace through faith and not by works," and it is the promise of a relationship that lasts forever. This relationship grows as we learn more about God’s character and nature. God shows Himself to us through the Bible and we can talk to Him through prayer.

We want to help you get started. Please click the link below to begin learning more about our heavenly Father, the Holy Spirit, prayer and how to read the Bible.

www.LooktoJesus.com

Step: Be Sure
If you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, you can be sure you are a Christian. You are not a Christian because you go to church, or because you do good things. The Bible says "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). Christ came to die for our sins, so that "To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12 ).

If you have made this commitment and would like to make contact with us or if you do not feel ready to make this decision and would like further help from a local christian,please call

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If you need serious prayers
deliveranceministriesllc@gmail.com

{ 7 } 'THE SPIDER TAKETH HOLD WITH HER HANDS,AND IS IN KINGS'PALACES.'PROVERBS 30:28

We learn from the spider that: a) your size doesn't determine your potential, your spirit does b) no matter where you start, you can end up in the king's palace. What's the message of the spider? As long as you live, keep producing! You might not produce as much as somebody else but you've got to keep producing. You might not be able to produce what you used to but keep producing. Jesus taught that some of us produce thirty fold, others sixty fold and some a hundredfold (Matthew 13:8). We don't all produce at the same level, but we must all produce at some level. Don't get intimidated because the other guy is producing a hundredfold and you're only producing sixty fold. You're only accountable for what God gives you! The Bible says, 'They shall bring forth fruit in old age' (Psalm 92:14). Look out; retirement can be dangerous to your health! Keep your mind alert, your dreams alive, and your body moving. You might be old and less agile but you have to have a reason to get out of bed every morning otherwise, after a while, you won't be able to get out. Get up and get dressed, even if you're not going anywhere. If you can't fly, get in the car. If you can't get in the car, run. If you can't run, walk. If you can't walk, stand up. If you're lying down, sit up. If you can't sit up, wiggle your toes but let the devil know you're still in the game. By the grace of God, keep producing!

{ 6 } 'THE SPIDER TAKETH HOLD WITH HER HANDS,AND IS IN KINGS'PALACES.'PROVERBS 30:28

Some spiders have so much venom in them that they can kill anything they come in contact with, simply by releasing what's in their mouth. What's the message of the spider? Check what's coming out of your mouth! Paul writes, 'Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God' (Romans 10:17). What are you taking in? What are you giving out? Faith or fear, hope or discouragement, joy or sadness, truth or error, love or bitterness? The Bible says, 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof' (Proverbs 18:21). Notice two things in this Scripture: 1) this is a life and death issue 2) your words are like seeds; they always produce fruit. You can't believe God for His best then go around expecting and expressing the worst. When what you say consistently contradicts what God's Word says, you're sabotaging yourself. The words you speak have power and consequences. So begin to correct yourself. Instead of saying, 'I can't change,' or, 'I'll never get out of this mess,' start saying what God's Word says. Do what Jesus did in the wilderness: open your mouth and declare, 'It is written.' Jesus knew the Scriptures so well that He was able to tell satan, 'It's written that I don't have to bow to you. It's written that I don't have to come to you for what I need.' And what was the result? 'The devil left him, and angels came and attended him' (Matthew 4:11 NIV). When you're under attack open your mouth, declare God's Word and the forces of heaven will come to your aid!

{ 5 } 'THE SPIDER TAKETH HOLD WITH HER HANDS,AND IS IN KINGS'PALACES.'PROVERBS 30:28

How come a spider can walk across the sticky threads of its web and not get stuck, yet those same threads will trap every predator that enters? The secret is oil! Its tiny suction-cup shaped feet exude fresh oil with every step so it glides through stuff others can't survive or get bogged down in. What's the message of the spider? You need to be continually anointed with the oil of God's Spirit! Looking back, you realise that's what kept you sane when you thought you were going to lose your mind. It's why you made it when others didn't and it's why you need to stay filled with God's Spirit every day. The Psalmist said, 'I shall be anointed with fresh oil!' (Psalm 92:10). There are four truths in Exodus, chapter 30, concerning the anointing oil, that we need to keep in mind if we're going to live an anointed life. 1) Without it, our ministry is ineffective. 'Thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons…that they may minister unto me' (Exodus 30:30) 2) Our children need to experience it. 'This shall be a holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations' (Exodus 30:31) 3) God won't anoint our fleshly efforts and agendas. 'Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it' (Exodus 30:32) 4) We are in danger when we try to substitute it with other things. 'Whoever makes any like it…must be cut off' (Exodus 30:38 NIV). Before you leave home every morning get down on your knees and pray, 'Lord, anoint me with fresh oil!'

{ 4 } 'THE SPIDER TAKETH HOLD WITH HER HANDS,AND IS IN KINGS'PALACES.'PROVERBS 30:28

The spider may have eight eyes, yet many spiders can barely see. What makes it an avid hunter is that the hair follicles on its legs are full of sensitivity and it can discern everything that's going on around it. What's the message of the spider? Use your God-given sense of discernment! You can discern more with your spirit than you can see with your eyes. 'Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things' (1 John 2:20). God will let you know things you can neither prove nor explain. Jesus said that he would show us 'things to come' (John 16:13). But He won't do it so that we can ego trip or run around acting flakey. No, 'He shall glorify me: he shall receive of mine, and shall [show] it unto you' (John 16:14). God gives 'inside information' to those who seek to glorify Him. So stop living beneath your spiritual privilege. The old country church folks used to sing, 'The Holy Ghost done told me, everything's gonna be all right.' That may not be good grammar but it's sound Bible truth. Can't you remember a time when your eyes told you, 'You're not gonna make it,' but your spirit kept telling you, 'Everything's gonna be all right?' A time when you met somebody who looked good, too good, and your spirit warned you that something was wrong with them. 'His anointing teaches you about all things…that anointing is real, not counterfeit – just as it has taught you, remain in him' (1 John 2:27 NIV). The way to walk in discernment is to stay close to God.

{ 3 } 'THE SPIDER TAKETH HOLD WITH HER HANDS,AND IS IN KINGS'PALACES.'PROVERBS 30:28

The spider may have eight eyes, yet many spiders can barely see. What makes it an avid hunter is that the hair follicles on its legs are full of sensitivity and it can discern everything that's going on around it. What's the message of the spider? Use your God-given sense of discernment! You can discern more with your spirit than you can see with your eyes. 'Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things' (1 John 2:20). God will let you know things you can neither prove nor explain. Jesus said that he would show us 'things to come' (John 16:13). But He won't do it so that we can ego trip or run around acting flakey. No, 'He shall glorify me: he shall receive of mine, and shall [show] it unto you' (John 16:14). God gives 'inside information' to those who seek to glorify Him. So stop living beneath your spiritual privilege. The old country church folks used to sing, 'The Holy Ghost done told me, everything's gonna be all right.' That may not be good grammar but it's sound Bible truth. Can't you remember a time when your eyes told you, 'You're not gonna make it,' but your spirit kept telling you, 'Everything's gonna be all right?' A time when you met somebody who looked good, too good, and your spirit warned you that something was wrong with them. 'His anointing teaches you about all things…that anointing is real, not counterfeit – just as it has taught you, remain in him' (1 John 2:27 NIV). The way to walk in discernment is to stay close to God.

{2} 'THE SPIDER TAKETH HOLD WITH HER HANDS, AND IS IN KINGS' PALACES.' PROVERBS 30:28

When it's time to lay eggs the spider produces a particular type of silk thread and spins it into a protective sac, then deposits them. When an enemy comes to steal the spider's offspring, it gets trapped on the sticky fluids that line the silk. Then the spider wraps the enemy in another kind of thread and turns it into food. What's the message of the spider? The battle is over your future! Don't let the enemy have your children. Don't let him rob you of your potential. Don't let him steal your destiny. When those with weak wills, weak knees and weak faith saw the giants in the Promised Land they wanted to go back to Egypt. Not Caleb. He said, 'Neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us' (Numbers 14:9). When you understand what the battle in your life is about, you actually begin to feed off the stuff the enemy throws at you and say, 'Bring it on, what does not destroy me will only make me stronger.' Be like Shammah. 'When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel's troops fled…But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory' (2 Samuel 23:11-12 NIV). Shammah knew what he was fighting for. That lentil patch put food on his table. It represented his family's future. It was his legacy. And when Shammah stood up to the enemy, 'The Lord brought about a great victory.' And He'll do the same for you!

‘THE SPIDER TAKETH HOLD WITH HER HANDS, AND IS IN KINGS’ PALACES.’ PROVERBS 30:28

Everything a spider needs to survive and succeed in life, God put within it. Swipe it with a broom and before it hits the ground, its fall is broken. It just reaches inside, releases another protein-filled silk-like thread, slides down, finds a safe place, then comes back stronger than ever and builds a new web. What's the message of the spider? Everything you need, God has placed within you! The Bible says, 'His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness…he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature' (2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV). What has God given us? 'Everything we need.' What has God made us participants in? 'His divine nature.' Wow! Your future is not determined by who you know and who you don't, who likes you and who doesn't. The power to fulfil your destiny is within you! The warfare over your life and the struggle you're in is about what you were born, called and gifted to do. So, 'Stir up…the…gift of God…that is in you' (2 Timothy 1:6 AMP). In other words, start producing! Life may have knocked you down but it hasn't knocked you out. What's at work within you will triumph over what's at work around you. Stand on God's Word, draw on your faith, hold on, and when the smoke clears, rise up and announce, 'By the grace of God, I'm back!' You say, 'But I've lost so much.' As long as you still have what God put within you, you can make it!

Identity crisis...‘ “…I KNOW WHERE I CAME FROM AND WHERE I AM GOING…“ ’ JOHN 8:14 AMP

A national news network recently reported on a man who was released from prison after serving time for a crime he didn’t commit. A case of mistaken identity had stolen many of his best years. And unless you understand who you are before God, satan will sentence you to a life of worthlessness, fear and manipulation. Identifying somebody means having the ability to recognise and say exactly who they are; so when you identify with what people say you are versus what God says, you’re setting yourself up for problems. Jesus identified only with God’s opinion. ‘ “…I know where I came from and where I am going…“ ’ People said terrible things about Jesus, yet the Bible says, ‘The stone…the builders rejected has become the…Cornerstone’ (Psalm 118:22 NKJ). Sometimes we’re so busy telling people what to do, that we neglect to tell them who they are. Knowing who you are in Christ gives you the confidence to hold your head high! Paul says, ‘In [Christ] you have been made complete…’ (Colossians 2:10 NAS). ‘Complete!’ That means you lack nothing! Once you accept that, you stop feeling like you constantly fall short. When you’ve money in the bank and you need to withdraw it, you don’t feel pressured to. That’s because you know it’s there with your name on it. You don’t have to struggle to be right with people when you know you’re right with God. He loves you and has a plan for you; never lose sight of that! Instead of focusing on people, begin looking to ‘…Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…’ (Hebrews 12:2 KJV), because you already have His approval! I love you baby,i miss you so much Ejiroghene...proverbs 31v29

Choose to live!...‘Do you want to be made well?’ John 5:6 NKJV

He can’t walk, the pool isn’t easily accessible, and there are no motorised lifts. Then Jesus comes along and asks this man who’d been incapacitated for 38 years, ‘Do you want to be made well?’ What a question! Now, Jesus didn’t ask it because He didn’t know the answer; He did it to direct the man’s (and our) thinking along the right lines. He could just as easily have asked: ‘Are you ready to assume responsibility for your life? Do you really want that promotion, or is it easier to just gripe about money? Are you ready for marriage, for somebody who’ll share your life and make you reconsider your self-centred ways?’ Answers to our prayers often come with a price. For example, the family of an addict sometimes spends years praying for change, then when it happens they experience their own crises. Because their lives have centred around drama and dysfunction, they’ve never learned how to live any other way. At that point they have a choice to make: to keep blaming their problems on somebody else, or to accept that they have their own issues to work on. ‘Do you want to be made well?’ Like it or not, asking God for solutions often means new challenges. A child might solve his need for pocket money by delivering newspapers, but when he grows up, hopefully he’ll be solving bigger ones, like how to provide for his family. But the good news is, solving bigger problems brings bigger rewards. So ask God to stretch you today by helping you ‘take up your bed and walk’ (John 5:8 NKJV), burn your bridges of dependency and ‘learned helplessness,’ and move on to greater things. In other words, ‘choose to live!’

‘Say unto this mountain, Be thou removed...’ Mark 11:23

How to move the mountain How can you move the mountain in your life? By: 1) Using God’s Word: In the wilderness satan tempted Jesus in three ways: a) put your temporal needs ahead of your spiritual ones: ‘Turn these stones into bread’ b) use your power for the wrong reasons: ‘Throw yourself down from the pinnacle of the temple’ c) take the easy way, not the cross: ‘The world is yours, just submit to me.’ Each time Jesus overcame satan by saying, ‘It is written’ (Matthew 4:1-11). Your most powerful weapon is God’s Word – learn to use it! 2) Being persistent: Jeremiah said that God’s Word is ‘…like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces’ (Jeremiah 23:29 NKJV). Ever wonder how a hammer can hit a rock ninety-nine times, but on the one-hundredth blow it shatters? That’s because all the previous blows kept weakening it. Live in God’s Word; keep speaking it over your situation and it will work. 3) Forgiving: The story is told of a pastor who asked his congregation, ‘How many of you are willing to forgive your enemies?’ Everybody was except one old guy. ‘Why not?’ the pastor asked. He replied, ‘Because I have none; I’ve outlived them all!’ After speaking about mountain-moving faith and prayer that bring results, Jesus said, ‘Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses’ (Mark 11:25 NKJV). Your mountain can’t be moved or your prayers answered if you’re harbouring un-forgiveness. So ask yourself, ‘Is it worth it?’ Whether you think the offender deserves forgiveness or not, for your own sake, forgive it and let it go.

God’s indwelling Spirit interprets for us...Romans 8:26 NKJV

‘We do not know what we should pray for…but the spirit …makes intercession for us.’ Romans 8:26 NKJV
When you go to a foreign country you can feel uncomfortable and a bit lost, because you don’t speak the language. Everything is different from what you’re accustomed to. The language of the spiritual world is prayer and since the spiritual world is the source of our power, victory, peace, joy, and everything else we need, it’s essential that we learn to speak it. The good news is, we have the perfect teacher and interpreter; the Holy Spirit Himself. One of His jobs is to teach us the language of prayer and guide us when it comes to addressing God and He’s good at this job! The Bible says the Holy Spirit can interpret our prayers to God even when we don’t know what to say. ‘If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans’ (Romans 8:26 TM). Isn’t that wonderful? Prayer is the link between the physical and the spiritual world; and since the spiritual world controls the physical, getting connected to the world above affects our functioning in the world below. Because prayer is relational, the Holy Spirit will communicate God’s heart back to us by connecting with our human spirit so that we’ll hear God talk to us in the deepest part of our being. That’s why prayer cannot be rushed. It’s also why taking time to meditate and be still before God is so important. It allows the Holy Spirit to share God’s thoughts with us, so that we begin thinking His way. How valuable is that?

Don’t just pray, listen!...‘As I hear, I judge.’ John 5:30 NKJV

Ever wonder why Jesus never made a single misstep? He tells us: ‘The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does…I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me’ (John 5:19-20, 30 NKJV). Jesus often prayed all night, yet few of His prayers are recorded. Why? Because He didn’t just talk to His Father, He took time to listen and get instructions. Jesus prayed on mountaintops and in gardens. He even prayed on the street outside the house where He had slept the previous night. No doubt if He’d had a car, He’d have prayed driving to work. Prayer and listening to God were as natural to Him as breathing; it was the spiritual oxygen He thrived on. When the Bible says, ‘Pray without ceasing’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17), it means we are to stay in touch with God at all times, to be spiritually sensitive and attuned to the still small voice of His Spirit within us. That calls for having an uncluttered mind and heart. Thank God for the understanding of who we are in Christ, and our authority as believers. But there’s more to prayer than coming ‘boldly unto the throne’ (Hebrews 4:16). That kind of prayer is usually about what we want. This kind of prayer is about what God wants! Now, since God designed the plan for your life, don’t you think it’s wise to get quiet before Him, so that He can tell you about it?

‘Teach the older men [and women] to be…self-controlled.’ Titus 2:2 NIV

Dale Evans (wife of Roy Rogers) loved Jesus with all her heart and made sure folks in Hollywood knew it. Here’s one of her prayers: ‘Lord, thou knowest better than I know myself, that I’m growing older, and will someday be old. Keep me from getting too talkative; particularly from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Deliver me from the need to try and straighten out everybody’s affairs. Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. I ask for grace to listen to the tales of others’ pains; but seal my lips when it comes to my own aches and pains, for they are increasing and my love of rehearsing them gets sweeter as the years go by. I ask not for improved memory, but for a growing humility and less cocksureness, especially when my memory seems to clash with the memory of others. Teach me that occasionally I may be mistaken. Keep me reasonably sweet. I don’t necessarily want to be a saint – some of them are so hard to live with. But a sour old woman (or man) is one of the crowning works of the devil. Make me thoughtful but not moody, helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it; but Thou knowest Lord, I want a few friends at the end. So give me, I pray, the ability to see blessings in unexpected trials and goodness in less-than-perfect people. And give me the grace to tell them so, in Christ’s name, amen.’

LOOK TO THE LORD AND HIS STRENGTH; SEEK HIS FACE ALWAYS. 1 CHRONICLES 16:11 NIV P-R-A-Y!

To help you remember the four parts of prayer, think of the acrostic P-R-A-Y: P – Praise the Lord! Not sure how? Think you’ll run out of words? Not if you use the Scriptures. David gives us a beautiful example in 1 Chronicles 29:11-13. It’s one you can use: ‘Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor…Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom…In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.’ R – Repent of your sins! Just as heat forces impurities to the surface so the metal refiner can remove them, your prayer time will reveal attitudes that must be changed, habits that must be broken, and barriers to blessing that must be removed. It’s not enough to tell God about your sins. He already knows them. You must ask Him to help you turn away from them. This is true repentance. A – Ask for yourself and others! Your prayers invite God into the situation, and your faith activates His power to change it. There’s no distance in prayer, no culture or language barrier it can’t overcome. It’s like throwing on a power switch – things begin to move when we pray. Jesus said, ‘I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven…whatever doors you open on earth shall be open in heaven’ (Matthew 16:19 TLB). Y – Yield yourself to God’s will! Declaring the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life is like signing your name to the bottom of a blank check, and inviting Him to fill in the amount.

Rivers and reservoirs...‘ “YOUR PRAYERS AND GIFTS TO THE POOR HAVE COME UP AS A [CONSTANT REMINDER] BEFORE GOD.“ ’ ACTS 10:4 NIV

 The things you do for others don’t go unnoticed. God is keeping track of every single one. He ‘doesn’t miss anything. He knows…the love you’ve shown…by helping…’ (Hebrews 6:10 TM). God heard the kind words you spoke to that person who was hurting. He saw your sacrificial giving when you could least afford it. By doing what you did you paved the way for God to help you. He’s storing it all up so that in your time of need you’ll have a rich account to draw on. The Bible speaks about a Roman soldier named Cornelius, a ‘…good man…always helping people in need…’ (Acts 10:2 TM). And what happened to Cornelius? His family became the first Gentile household to hear and receive the gospel. What a payoff! Why did God pick Cornelius? Because of his generous spirit, ‘…an angel…came to him and said…“Your…gifts…have come up as a [constant reminder] before God.’’ ‘ A lady was praying about starting a pet grooming business but couldn’t afford to advertise. So she went to her local animal shelter and volunteered to groom the pets in order to help increase their chances for adoption. Interestingly, the harder she worked the more her own business grew by word of mouth. Finally she ended up with more clients than she could handle! Does that mean if you don’t help others God won’t help you? No, thankfully His love is unconditional. But a missed opportunity to give is a missed opportunity to receive, because when you are generous with others God promises to be generous with you.

Mind prayers...‘…THROUGH FAITH IN HIM WE MAY APPROACH GOD WITH… CONFIDENCE.’ EPHESIANS 3:12 NIV

Did you know that you can pray in your mind without having to speak a word out loud? All of us know the power of unspoken communication. Many of us grew up with parents who didn’t have to say a thing to make their will known. It may have been the way they cocked their heads, a certain look in their eyes or some other signal; but whatever it was, we knew exactly what was being communicated and how we were expected to respond. Our goal in prayer should be to maintain such a close relationship with God that we can communicate back and forth no matter what the situation, the time of day, or anything else. And we don’t have to shout, or use the right words in the right order, because our hearts are in tune with God’s heart. It’s like the story of the little boy who wanted a bicycle for Christmas. He was praying one night at the top of his voice, telling God the kind and colour of bike he wanted. His mother said, ‘Son, you don’t need to shout for God to hear you.’ He replied, ‘I know, mummy, but I need to shout if grandpa’s going to hear me and buy me that bike!’ The truth is, we don’t need to shout for God to hear us – and we don’t need to try and make our own answers to prayer happen either. Jesus said our Heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask. He gives to us because of our relationship with Him, not just because we say it at a decibel level loud enough to be heard!

‘REMEMBER YE NOT THE FORMER THINGS, NEITHER CONSIDER THE THINGS OF OLD. BEHOLD, I DO A NEW THING.’ ISAIAH 43:18-19

Realise that it’s not God who’s bringing up your past! His Word says, ‘I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions…and remembers your sins no more’ (Isaiah 43:25 NIV). If satan is dragging up your past – it’s because he has nothing new to attack you with. All he can do is resurrect old memories and rearrange old pictures in an attempt to discourage you. Don’t let him! Focusing on tomorrow will help you move away from today. God’s Word says: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way’ (NIV). God is going to make a way for you! As surely as Pharaoh and Herod tried to wipe out every baby boy in order to get at Moses and Jesus, so satan will do whatever it takes to keep you from reaching your destiny. The battle is always over your future! No matter what your past is like your future is worth fighting for – so rise up and fight! ‘Where do I begin?’ you ask. Talk to God: ask Him to show you a ministry that can come from the misery you’re going through right now. He can bring healing to others through the pain you’re experiencing. So examine the things you’re going through, then ask Him what you’re being qualified for. It’s the broken, who become masters at mending! Start looking at ‘the joy set before you’ (Hebrews 12:2 NIV) and you’ll be able to endure the present circumstances!

PRAYER: OUR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH THE FATHER

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (Luke 18:1)

Communication is probably one of the most important activities in life. There are different kinds of communication. We shall however, discuss the communication between man and God, which is established through prayer. In Luke 18, the Lord Jesus taught on the importance of prayer. Man is a spirit and his needs are essentially spiritual. This is why he always craves for that contact with God, who is described in Hebrews 12:9 as “the Father of spirits.”

What a blessing to know that you can communicate directly with your heavenly Father; that you can have His hundred percent attention through prayer: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1Peter 3:21) This is one reason you ought to always be excited to pray. Some people only pray when they need something. That’s wrong! The time The time of prayer ian’t just a time to ask God for things; it’s a time to commune or fellowship with Him. That’s the time to hear what He has to say and receive direction for each day’s activities and challenges.
The Bible says concerning Jesus that, “…in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35). Jesus took prayer seriously while He was on earth, because He understood the importance of communing with the Father. On another occasion, it was recorded that He prayed all night (Luke 6:12). Though He was (and is) the Son of God, He didn’t take prayer for granted. He understood prayer for granted. He understood prayer as an effective communication with the father.

The moment you understand and embrace this truth, your life will become richer and you’ll be more productive in all your endeavors. You need that continual fellowship with God to function effectively, otherwise, everything you do will be meaningless, and will have no spiritual impact. Do you see why you should take your prayer life more seriously? Learn to rise up early to commune with the Lord and do this often as you should.

Prayer
Dear father, I thank you for the privilege of prayer. I’m blessed and humbled to know that your watchful and loving eyes are over me, and your ears are open to hear and answer my prayers. Therefore, I thank you, for my day is blessed, and I receive from you the wisdom and grace to deal excellently in all my affairs today, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Rhapsody of Realities August Edition

There was…honey…And he took thereof.’ Judges 14:8-9

Look for the honey! In their book, The Laws of Lifetime Growth, authors Dan Sullivan and Catherine Nomura explain, ‘Continual learning is essential for lifetime growth. You can have a great deal of experience and be no smarter for all the things you’ve done, seen, and heard. Experience alone is no guarantee of lifetime growth. But if you regularly transform your experiences into new lessons, you’ll make each day of your life a source of growth. The smartest people are those who can transform even the smallest events or situations into breakthroughs in thinking and action. Look at all of life as a school and every experience as a lesson, and your learning will always be greater than your experience.’ In an old Peanuts cartoon, Charles Schulz shows Charlie Brown at the beach building a magnificent sandcastle. It’s a work of art. As he stands back to admire it, it is suddenly destroyed by a big wave. In the last frame he says, ‘There must be a lesson here, but for the life of me I don’t know what it is.’ That’s how many of us feel after a potentially valuable experience. We go through it but don’t grow. We attend meetings designed to help us learn, then do nothing with what we’ve heard after closing our notebooks. Don’t get excited about a learning event, get excited about learning! And you haven’t really learned it until you’ve applied it. A few days after slaying a lion, Samson returned to the scene of victory and discovered two things in the carcass: a) bees, that sting and b) honey that tastes sweet. ‘And he took thereof.’ In life, move beyond the pain and look for the hone

Be willing to start small...'FOR WHO HATH DESPISED THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS?...'ZECHARIAH 4:10KJV

DL Moody became a spokesman for God and a changer of nations. But if you'd met him early in life you wouldn't have thought it was possible. Although he was raised in church, he was spiritually ignorant. When he moved to Boston he began attending a Bible-preaching church. In April of 1855, a Sunday school teacher came to the shoe shop where he worked and led him to Christ. A month later, when he applied to become a member of that church, it was clear that he knew nothing about the Bible. One of his Sunday school teacher later wrote, 'I've never met anyone who seemed less likely to become a Christian of clear and decided views, much less fill any place of public usefulness,' So they asked him to take a year of Bible study. During his interview with the membership committee a year later, his answers were only slightly improved. He was barely literate and used atrocious grammer. Nobody on that church committee thought God would ever use him. But they were wrong. And the people who say you will never amount to anything for God,are wrong too! Every oak tree starts as an acorn. Jesus began in a stable but He didn't stay there. David was a speherd boy with a slingshot but he became Israel's greatest king. Joseph was a prisoner but he became prime minister. Understand this: you are a seed capable of producing a harvest for God. So take all that you have and all that you are,place it into God's hands and be willing to start small.

How to handle temptation...'...SUBMIT TO GO. RESIST THE DEVIL...'JAMES 4:7 NKJV

When it comes to emptation, remember these seven things: 1) Never say 'never.' You never become so spiritual that you're immune. 'No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be abble to bear it' ( 1 corinthians 10:13 NKJV). 2) Realise you can stumble on the last lap. Because you haven't blown it yet, doesn't mean you can't. satan is a master of timing, and he's in no particular hurry. 3) Acknowledge your basic drives. St Augustine said, 'There is nothing more powerful in bringing down the spirit of a man the caresses of a woman. ' Your flesh is powerful; once indulged it will always want more. 4) Understand that you are responsible. Sin is a choice. When you chose to abuse God's grace you pay the price, either now or later. 'Do not be deceived...whatever a man sows,that he will also reap' (Galatians 6:7 NKJV). 5) You're not a helpless pawn. You may not be to change what happened yesterday, but your choice,
How to Handle Temptation 6 Audio Tapes (How to Handle Temptation)

‘Don’t get worked up.’ Matthew 6:34 TM

Everything that can go wrong has! Your teenager pierced his nose, the dog threw up on the carpet, the toilet’s overflowing, and the car’s leaking fluid. No wonder you’re stressed! When life gets overwhelming remember: (1) God’s still looking out for you. When things look bad, remind yourself that God’s bigger than your problem: ‘Don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.’ (2) Don’t think about quitting! Every time you reach the breaking point it’s a test. You have before you a series of choices that will add up to either quitting or persevering through to victory. Paul was flogged, thrown in jail, shipwrecked and run out of town, but he refused to give in to circumstances and in the end he was able to say, ‘I have fought the good fight…finished the race, and… remained faithful’ (2 Timothy 4:7 NLT). (3) If it doesn’t have your name on it, don’t pick it up! Stress comes from micro-managing others and assuming responsibilities that aren’t yours. Establish healthy boundaries. If you’re not sure what’s appropriate, ask God to show you how much to get involved in the lives of friends and family. (4) Your breaking point can be the start of a breakthrough. Ever heard the expression ‘hitting the wall’? Runners use it when they’re exhausted and feel like giving up. But seasoned athletes know if they push through the pain they’ll get their second wind and experience a ‘runner’s high’ that’ll carry them over the finish line. So keep going; by God’s grace you’ll make it!

Cultivate a thankful heart!‘I will bless the Lord at all times.’ Psalm 34:1

David said, ‘I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.’ A thankful heart should be a way of life for us. But did you know that it can save your life? When Jonah disobeyed God and ended up inside the whale, he told the Lord, ‘I will sacrifice to You with…thanksgiving’ (Jonah 2:9 NKJV). When he did, God made the fish spit him up on dry land. When you’re in the pits and all hell is breaking loose around you, that’s when you need to raise your voice in praise. Nothing demonstrates trust, like thanking God when you’re in the throes of crisis. A thankful heart does two things: 1) It builds your faith. The reason ‘we [can] walk by faith [and] not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7 NAS), is because we know that regardless of the circumstances, God’s working on our behalf (Romans 8:28). David said, ‘Magnify the Lord with me’(Psalms 34:3). To magnify something is to enlarge it. When you focus on God instead of the problem, God becomes bigger and the problem becomes smaller. Plus, ‘Faith cometh by hearing…the word of God’ (Romans 10:17). Hearing God’s promises coming from your own lips, causes faith to rise in your heart. So start talking! 2) It restores life. Before raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father…thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me’ (John 11:41-42 NKJV). Something wonderful happens when you start thanking God for saving, protecting and providing for you. Your faith soars. You gain the confidence to command those things in your life that you thought were dead, to live again. So, cultivate a thankful heart!

Forgiveness ( 3 )...‘…could never have made it apart from…mercy.’ 1 Timothy 1:15-17 TM

If you’re finding it hard to forgive yourself for something you’ve done in the past, it may be that you’re reaping what you have sown. And it’s particularly hard (but not impossible) to keep from feeling bad when you’ve condemned somebody else for doing the same thing. Here’s a scriptural truth you need to understand, accept and live by: as long as you’re alive you will have to keep forgiving yourself and others! When guilt and condemnation tell you your sins are too big for God’s forgiveness, remember what Paul said: ‘Jesus…came…to save sinners. I’m proof – Public Sinner Number One …someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy…evidence of his endless patience.’ Before his conversion Paul persecuted the church, killing and torturing believers. It’s how he made his living! And if he could learn to forgive himself, you can too! In fact, when you don’t you’re implying that your transgressions are beyond the scope of God’s grace to forgive and Jesus’ blood to cleanse. And that’s a bigger sin – pride! Plus, when somebody always has ‘issues’ with other people, they may be looking for somebody to offend them; that way they can point out how bad the other person is and feel better about themselves. Pride and a judgmental attitude feed off each other the way humility feeds off forgiveness. God said, ‘I am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake. And I will not remember your sins’ (Isaiah 43:25 NASB). When you adopt a humble attitude and work on forgiving yourself the way God has, it’s a lot easier to overlook other people’s mistakes. Give it a try; you’ll be amazed!

Forgiveness ( 2 )...‘People insulted Christ, but…He let God…take care of him.’ 1 Peter 2:23 NCV

A little boy who'd been rude to his Mum started sneaking off upstairs. 'Where you going, young man?' she asked. 'To my room to talk to God,' he replied. 'Isn't there something you want to tell me first?' she said. 'Nope,' he said, 'You'll just get mad. God will forgive me and forget about it.' Long after you think you've forgiven somebody you can still be harbouring hard feelings. Here are some clues that you've still got work to do: you get angry thinking about what happened; you give the offender the cold shoulder; you rehearse the incident mentally and in conversation; you seize every opportunity to remind the offender of what they did. Refusing to forgive and forget is just another way of justifying an unforgiving attitude. The Bible says there are two things God won't share: (1) His glory (See Isaiah 42:8); (2) His right to settle old scores. He said, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay' (Romans 12:19). Don't usurp His authority by trying to get even; take your hands off the situation and let Him work it out. When 'People insulted Christ…he did not insult them in return…He let God…who judges rightly, take care of him.' A grudge shackles you to the offender and you become the hostage! Dwelling on something your parents did, or on how an associate took credit for your work, or on what someone said about you, makes you, not them, miserable. You walk around in turmoil and they don't even know you're upset! Why give somebody that kind of control over your life? What's important is what happens in you, not to you. So forgive, forget, and move on!

Forgiveness ( 1 )..‘Forgive –only then ll ur heavenly Father wipe ur slate clean.’Mark 11:25 TM

How heavy is a glass of water? That depends on how long you have to carry it. A minute is no problem and after an hour your arm might ache. But after 24 hours you'll probably be in bad shape! In each instance the glass weighs exactly the same, but the longer you carry it the heavier it feels. And it's the same with a grudge; it can get so heavy it stops you from living. People will hurt you; that's the reality of sharing this planet with others. Sometimes it's intentional, other times they've no idea they upset you, far less broken your heart. Does that mean you should go around pretending nothing's wrong? No, the first step is to confront your feelings. And when the hurt is deep, it's even harder to forgive. That's when you need to pray, 'Lord, change my heart and heal me.' Jesus said, 'Pray for those who mistreat you' (Luke 6:28 NIV). When you do that something unexpected happens; your heart softens and you start seeing them through God's eyes instead of your raw emotions. Jesus said, 'If you have anything against someone, forgive – only then will your heavenly Father…wipe your slate clean.' When you sow unforgiveness you reap unforgiveness, even from God! Isaac is a prime example of practicing forgiveness. During a drought he dug wells that his enemies moved in and claimed. But instead of retaliating, he moved on and dug new ones. As a result God filled Isaac's empty wells and promised to bless him and his children too! (See Genesis 26:22-23). And He will fill the emptiness in your life, when you forgive those who have hurt you.

Stay Focused ( 4 )...‘Forgetting the past.’ Philippians 3:13 NLT 'Forgetting the past.' Philippians 3:13 NLT

Notice: (1) Focused people don't live in the past. Too many of us yearn for the past and get stuck in it. Instead we should learn from the past and let go of it. Elbert Hubbard wrote, 'A retentive memory may be a good thing, but the ability to forget is a token of greatness. Successful people forget. They're running a race. They can't afford to look behind. Their eye is on the finish line. They're too big to let little things disturb them. If anyone does them wrong, they consider the source and keep cool. It's only the small people who cherish revenge. Be a good forgetter… success demands it.' (2) Focused people don't think about the difficulties, but the rewards. If you dwell on the difficulties too long you'll start to develop self-pity instead of self-discipline. As a result you'll accomplish less and less. By focusing on results you'll stay encouraged. Make Christ your example. 'He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards' (Hebrews 12:2 TLB). (3) Focused people choose their friends carefully. Here are five types of people you'll encounter: (a) Refreshers; who strengthen your faith and energise you. (b) Refiners; who sharpen you and clarify your vision. (c) Reflectors; who mirror your energy, neither adding to nor subtracting from it. (d) Reducers; who try to diminish your goals and efforts to their comfort level. (e) Rejecters; who don't understand you or what God's called you to do. So, remain focused and you'll stay grounded; the praise of others is less likely to go to your head, and the negative impact of your critics will be minimised.

Stay Focused ( 2 )...Proverbs 4:27 NIV 'Do not swerve to the right or the left.' Proverbs 4:27 NIV

Focus does three things for you: (1) It keeps you on target. We find ourselves pulled in a dozen different directions, spending much of our time and energy on things we don't really care about. Author Don Marquis put it this way: 'Ours is a world where people don't know what they want, and are willing to go through hell to get it.' The Bible says: 'Let your eyes look straight ahead…Do not swerve to the right or the left' (Proverbs 4:25-27 NIV). (2) It increases your energy. Attempting everything, like attempting nothing, will suck the life out of you. Focus gives you energy. Admiral Richard Byrd, the Polar explorer, said, 'Few men come anywhere near exhausting the resources dwelling within them. There are deep wells of strength that are never used.' One of the reasons those wells go untapped is lack of focus. The mind doesn't reach toward achievement until it has clear objectives. (3) It lifts you. It's been said that 'the world stands aside to let anyone pass, who knows where he or she is going.' In a sea of mediocrity, just knowing what you want to do and making an effort to pursue it, distinguishes you from almost everybody else. Henry David Thoreau asked, 'Do you ever hear of a man who had striven all his life faithfully and singly toward an object, and in no measure obtained it? If a man constantly aspires, is he not elevated?' Just by striving to become better than you are, you become elevated even if you don't accomplish what you desire, and even if others don't step aside for you. By trusting God and aiming higher, you move to a higher level.

Stay Focused ( 3 )...Proverbs 3:6 'Acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.' Proverbs 3:6

When it comes to staying focused, keep in mind: (1) Focused people always look for a better way. What got you where you are won't necessarily get you where you need to be. A family who moved into a new neighbourhood got a late start one morning. As a result their six year old missed her school bus. Though it would make him late for work her father agreed to take her to school if she gave him directions. After 20 minutes of going in circles they finally arrived at the school, which turned out to be only a few blocks away from where they lived. Steaming, her dad asked why she drove him all over the place when the school was so close to home. 'We went the way the school bus does,' she said. 'That's the only way I know.' (2) Focused people concentrate a little harder and a little longer. Hall of Fame baseball player Hank Aaron says, 'What separates a superstar from the average ballplayer is that he concentrates just a little bit longer.' Focused thinking is the ability to remove distractions and mental clutter so that you can concentrate with clarity. (3) Focused people make commitments, not excuses. A sign on the desk of an officer at the Pentagon read: 'The secrecy of my job does not permit me to know what I'm doing.' It's a cute joke, but not so cute when it's true. When you don't know what you're doing, you become frustrated and end up failing. That's why praying and getting direction from God is critical for your life. 'In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.'

Stay Focused ( 1 )...Philippians 3:15 TM 'Let's keep focused…those of us who want everything God has for us.' Philippians 3:15 TM

You become effective by being selective. It's human nature to get distracted. We're like gyroscopes, spinning around at a frantic pace but not getting anywhere. Without a clear purpose you keep changing directions, jobs, relationships, churches, etc., hoping each change will settle the confusion or fill the emptiness in your heart. You think, 'This time it will be different,' but it doesn't solve your real problem; lack of focus. The power of focusing can be seen in light. With a magnifying glass the rays of the sun can set paper on fire. But when light is focused even more as a laser beam, it can cut through steel. Nothing is as potent as a focused life. The men and women who make the greatest difference in life are the most focused. For instance, the Apostle Paul said, 'I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing' (Philippians 3:13 TLB). Paul's obsession was to make Christ known. So if you want your life to have impact, focus it! Stop dabbling. Stop trying to do it all. Do less. Turn away from even good activities and do only that which matters most. Never confuse activity with productivity. Poet William Matthews wrote, 'One well-cultivated talent, deepened and enlarged, is worth a hundred shallow faculties. The first law of success in this day when so many things are clamouring for attention is concentration – to bend our energies to one point, and to go directly to that point, looking neither to the right nor to the left.' Does focus come easily or naturally? No, it's a discipline that must be practiced every day

WORK HARD SO YOU CAN…RECEIVE HIS APPROVAL.’ 2 TIMOTHY 2:15 NLT

Moses spent 80 years preparing for a job that would last 40. That’s a two-to-one ratio of preparation to execution. The greater the goal, the greater the preparation! Much of your life can be spent getting ready for what seems like a brief season and assignment. But to be able to say at the end, ‘I have finished my course’ is to have lived successfully, and that’s the same whether you are called to run a marathon or a 100-yard sprint. Before passing the torch to Timothy, Paul says, ‘Work hard so you can…receive his approval.’ Who does God use? People who prepare well. Whether you’re called to business, education, politics, art, medicine or ministry, this principle remains; God uses prepared people. The price tag required for long-term success cannot be lowered. We all want what successful people have; we’re just not all willing to pay the price they paid to achieve it. You must be prepared when your opportunities come. Abraham Lincoln said, ‘I will prepare and some day my chance will come.’ Benjamin Disraeli said, ‘The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes.’ When the fate of the Jews hung in the balance, Mordecai told Esther that her experience in the king’s palace had prepared her, ‘For such a time as this’ (Esther 4:14). She responded and the Jews were saved. All these people had talent, prepared themselves and made the most of their opportunities when they arose. So your greatest challenge is not lack of opportunity, but being ready when it comes.

‘IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.’ PROVERBS 3:6

One of the most important questions you must ask yourself is, ‘What am I supposed to prepare for?’ You don’t want to be like the Miss America contestant who recently told a late-night TV talk show host, ‘My goal is to bring world peace – and get my own apartment.’ Ask God what you’re supposed to do and keep asking until you get clear instructions as to your next step (or for that matter, your first step!). There are timeless principles in the Bible that work, whether you’re walking with God or going your own way. So be careful that you are not using God, rather than allowing God to use you. ‘In all thy ways acknowledge [consult, listen and submit to] him, and he shall direct thy paths.’ What ultimately matters most will not be what others say about your life but what God says. The humbling truth is, all achievements will eventually be surpassed, records will be broken, reputations will fade and tributes will be forgotten. In college Dr James Dobson’s goal was to become the school’s tennis champion. He felt very proud when his trophy was prominently placed in a display cabinet. Years later someone mailed him that trophy; they had found it in a trash can when the school was remodelled. Dobson says, ‘Given enough time, all your trophies will be trashed by someone else.’ Living to create an earthly legacy is a short-sighted goal. You weren’t put here to be remembered, you were put here to do God’s will and to prepare for eternity. If you’re wise you’ll keep that in mind!

'HOLD ON TO INSTRUCTION…GUARD IT WELL, FOR IT IS YOUR LIFE.' PROVERBS 4:13 NIV

'HOLD ON TO INSTRUCTION…GUARD IT WELL, FOR IT IS YOUR LIFE.' PROVERBS 4:13 NIV
It's not enough to get prepared, you must stay prepared. We're being told that knowledge is doubling every five years. So if you don't keep growing, you'll end up with coping skills that no longer match the challenge you face in the world you live in. It's estimated that many doctors are so busy taking care of patients, they are years behind the latest developments in their field. If you or a loved one gets ill, that could become a real concern for you. Preparation doesn't begin with what you do; it begins with what you believe. If you believe that success tomorrow depends on what you do today, you'll treat today differently. A wise sailor studies the weather before he goes to sea because he knows that avoiding a storm is easier than getting out of one. Howard Coonley of the American National Standards Institute stated, 'The leader of the future will be rated by his ability to anticipate problems, rather than to meet them as they come.' Preparation is not merely an event, it's a perspective. Abraham Lincoln said, 'If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six sharpening my axe.' As a young man Lincoln had split rails with an axe, so he knew the value of staying sharp. Wisdom always prompted him to prepare; whether he was getting ready to cut wood, study law on his own to pass the bar or lead the nation. This is why your Bible says, 'Hold on to instruction, do not let it go. Guard it well, for it is your life.'

The way up when life get you down...( 2 )..JAMES 5:17 NIV

'ELIJAH WAS…JUST LIKE US.' JAMES 5:17 NIV
What was God's prescription for getting Elijah back on his feet? A lecture on the prophet's faltering faith? No, just rest and nourishment! God recognises our limitations, even when we don't. 'A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out' (Isaiah 42:3 NIV). When we neglect our own legitimate needs, it shows up in our attitude. God understands that being down is a 'perspective' problem, and getting back up requires adjustment in four crucial areas. So: 1) He adjusted Elijah's God-perspective. 'Get in the presence of God and he'll meet with you' (1 Kings 19:11 NIV). The One who gave Elijah victory on Mount Carmel, could also sustain him in the desert of Jezreel. But first Elijah had to spend time with Him; otherwise he was running on an empty tank. Hello! 2) He adjusted Elijah's world-perspective. Elijah said, 'God's covenant is broken, His altar destroyed, His prophets murdered, and I'm the only one left' (v14). But God showed Elijah that He still had the necessary resources and strategies to accomplish His purposes, even in a hostile environment 3) He adjusted Elijah's self-perspective. The prophet saw himself as helpless and inadequate: 'Lord, let me die, for I am no better than those who preceded me' (v4). But God showed him there were still kings to anoint, battles to win, and that Elijah had an important role to play (v16). 4) He provided a helper. He sent Elisha to minister to him (v21). You're not supposed to carry it all alone! Allow yourself to need help, and watch whom God puts in your life to support you.

The way up when life get you down...( 1 )..JAMES 5:17 NIV

There are times in life when we all feel down. But God's Word shows us the way to get back up. Look at Elijah, who 'was just like us.' How come he got so far down? 1) It happened on the heels of a great victory. He didn't start out in the doldrums, and he didn't fall into sin. No, he'd just called down fire from heaven and slain 450 false prophets (1 Kings 18:22-39). But that's hard work! So he went from exhilaration to exhaustion. Weary, defences down and vulnerability up, he fell into a natural depression because fatigue strips us of our courage. 2) Fear caused him to lose perspective. The man of God who'd just faced down an evil multitude, ended up running from one woman, Jezebel (1 Kings 19). Fear made him forget God's power; it skewed his perspective and left him feeling suicidal. Exhaustion coupled with fear is a dangerous combination. It invites hopeless, wrong thinking, and creates the illusion that your options are gone. 3) He became isolated. Elijah left his servant at Beersheba and journeyed into the wilderness alone (1 Kings 19:3-4). When you most need support, anxiety, a sense of inadequacy and fear of failure, will push you into isolation. At that point you're in the worst possible company; your own. Elijah thought, 'I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me' (vs10, 14 NIV). Translated: 'It's bad and I can't see it getting better!' When you're down, it isn't the time to isolate. That's when you need to reach for God and the people who love you, who can help you back up.

When you are on Overload...( 3 )...‘Don’t get worked up.’ Matthew 6:34 TM

Everything that can go wrong has! Your teenager pierced his nose, the dog threw up on the carpet, the toilet's overflowing, and the car's leaking fluid. No wonder you're stressed! When life gets overwhelming remember: (1) God's still looking out for you. When things look bad, remind yourself that God's bigger than your problem: 'Don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.' (2) Don't think about quitting! Every time you reach the breaking point it's a test. You have before you a series of choices that will add up to either quitting or persevering through to victory. Paul was flogged, thrown in jail, shipwrecked and run out of town, but he refused to give in to circumstances and in the end he was able to say, 'I have fought the good fight…finished the race, and… remained faithful' (2 Timothy 4:7 NLT). (3) If it doesn't have your name on it, don't pick it up! Stress comes from micro-managing others and assuming responsibilities that aren't yours. Establish healthy boundaries. If you're not sure what's appropriate, ask God to show you how much to get involved in the lives of friends and family. (4) Your breaking point can be the start of a breakthrough. Ever heard the expression 'hitting the wall'? Runners use it when they're exhausted and feel like giving up. But seasoned athletes know if they push through the pain they'll get their second wind and experience a 'runner's high' that'll carry them over the finish line. So keep going; by God's grace you'll make it!

When you are on Overload...( 2 )..‘‘I’m awake all night.’ Psalm 77:4 TM

You can't escape stress, but you can learn to cope with it by taking control of your life in small but important ways. Here are two: (1) Think about someone other than yourself. David was so frazzled that he was awake all night. Ever been there? That's when you need to 'Let…praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down' (Philippians 4:6 TM). Elijah was depressed and suicidal when God showed him how to help himself. How? By leaving the cave he was hiding in, and going out and ministering to others. Focusing on something other than yourself gives you perspective. Paul says, the 'God of all healing counsel…comes alongside…when we go through hard times…and…brings us alongside someone else…going through hard times so…we can be there for that person…as God was there for us' (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 TM). Do you need help? Reach out to others. It's in 'connecting' that we are made whole! (2) Don't get bitter. Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it. Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, 'Nothing creates more deep-seated anxiety, than the false assumption that life should be free from anxieties.' When somebody you trust betrays or disappoints you or you're struggling financially after tithing faithfully for years, it's easy to feel hard-done-by. But 'Don't…become bitter' (Hebrews 12:15 CEV); it destroys relationships and cuts you off from God's presence. The answer is learning to 'thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you…to live' (1 Thessalonians 5:18 TM).

Learn to walk away! ’MARK 6:31 NIV... 'GET SOME REST.'MARK 6:31 NIV

One of the hardest things to do is 'take a break'without feeling guilty and selfish;or worse,feeling like a failure because everything on your 'to do'list didn't get done. Here's a news flash;there will always be more to do!One of your biggest challenges will be learning the difference between setting high standards for yourself and setting unrealistic,impossible onces.
We claw our way to success then discover we don't like the presures that go with it.So what should we do? Learn to walk away!Jesus did.'The Jesus did. 'The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done...Then,becuase so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat,he said to them,'come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'So thgey went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place'(Mark 6:30-32 NIV). Jesus understand that if you don't take a break,you'll break! So: (a) make a lisst of the things that only you can do,then delegate the rest or let them go;(b)learn to take small steps and celebrate small accomplishments for that's what life is made of;(c)don't allow the stuff that's undone,to undo you.(d) strive for balance;don't become addicted to what you enjoy;(e)don't allow overachievers to put you into overdrive.You're in for the long haul.You win when you pace yourself;(f)take time for the people who matter,otherwise you'll lose them.Busyness is a destroyer of relationships.All the sucess in the world won't compensate for the joy and treasure of your family and your loved ones!

When you are on Overload...( 1 )...‘When I was…beside myself, you calmed me down.’ Psalm 94:19 'When I was…beside myself, you calmed me down.' Psalm 94:19 TM

Before a violin can produce music, stress must be put on the strings. But pull them too tightly and they'll snap. The same is true of you. Enough stress gets the juices flowing and helps you do what needs to be done, but beyond that you snap. Someone quipped, 'You know you're on overload when you've no time to cook a TV dinner, the cat's on tranquilisers, and family reunions have to be mediated by law enforcement!' Seriously, before it gets to that point, do two things: (1) Ask for help: During Hurricane Katrina eight dolphins were swept out of their aquarium into the sea, but because they stuck together they were rescued. If one had tried to go it alone he'd have perished. When you're alone too much you lose perspective. If the enemy can isolate you, he can influence you. God designed His family to stay connected. Or as Paul says, 'So that all the members care for each other' (1 Corinthians 12:25 NLT). (2) Get real with God: Under stress the surge of negative emotions can be overwhelming, and unless you unburden your soul before God you'll explode at the wrong people. The Psalmist addresses this: 'Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you' (Psalm 55:22 NIV). 'Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us' (Psalm 62:8 NKJV). It's no mere coincidence that many of the Psalms start out with the Psalmist crying out to God for help, and end up with him rejoicing because he vented his pent-up frustrations.

Making a lasting different...'I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.' 2 Peter 1:15 NIV

Some of us think we deserve respect simply because of our position. No, respect must be earned; daily. General J. Lawton Collins asserted, 'No matter how brilliant a man may be he will never engender confidence in his subordinates and associates if he lacks honesty and moral courage.' Ultimately, all the skills in the world won't save you if your character is flawed. Author Stephen Covey writes, 'If I try to use human influence strategies and tactics to get other people to do what I want…and my character is fundamentally flawed…in the long run I cannot be successful. My duplicity will breed distrust, and everything I do will be perceived as manipulative.' It makes no difference how good the rhetoric is or even how good the intentions are; if there is little or no trust, there is no foundation for permanent success. Character can be built, but only slowly. If you want to know how long it will take you to get to the top, consult a calendar. If you want to know how long it will take you to fall to the bottom, try a stopwatch. Dreams become shattered, possibilities are lost, organisations crumble and people are hurt when a person doesn't have character protecting his talent. Character provides the opportunity for longevity in any career, any relationship, and any worthwhile goal. Author and Pastor J.R. Miller wrote, 'The only thing that walks back from the grave with the mourners and refuses to be buried, is the character of a man.' What a man is, survives him, and that makes a lasting difference!

Are you a workaholic?...PROVERBS 3:6 TLB..‘PUT GOD FIRST, AND HE WILL…CROWN YOUR EFFORTS ...

'DON'T GET WORKED UP ABOUT…TOMORROW.' MATTHEW 6:34 TM
Max Lucado says, 'Worry is to joy, what a vacuum cleaner is to dirt; you
might as well attach your heart to a happiness-sucker and flip the switch.'
Jesus said, 'Don't get worked up about…tomorrow. God will help you deal
with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.' When it looks like
things are falling apart, Paul reminds us, 'Every detail in our lives… is
worked into something good' (Romans 8:28 TM). When it seems like the world'gone mad, don't forget God 'existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together' (Colossians 1:17 NLT). When worry whispers, 'God doesn't know what you need,' remember God promised to 'take care of everything you need' (Philippians 4:19 TM). Jesus taught us to pray, 'Give us this day our daily bread.' You won't get the wisdom or resources to handle tomorrow's problems until you need them. When we 'go confidently to the throne…[we'll] find kindness, which will help us at the right time' (Hebrews 4:16 GWT). Over a century ago Charles Spurgeon said: 'Enough for today is all we can enjoy. We cannot eat, drink, or wear more than today's supply of food and clothing. The surplus gives us the care of storing it and the anxiety that someone might steal it. One staff aids a traveller; a bunch of staves is a heavy burden. Enough is as good as a feast, and more than gluttony can enjoy. Enough is all we should expect; a craving for more is ungratefulness. When our Father doesn't give you more, be content with your daily allowance.'

Get more sleep...‘He gives His beloved sleep.’ Psalm 127:2 NKJV

Illness, stress, family problems, job demands, etc., rob us of sleep. And when we constantly run on low battery power it shows up in our attitudes, our relationships and our performance. The Bible says: 1) ‘It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.’ 2) ‘I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety’ (Psalm 4:8 NKJV). 3) ‘When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet’ (Proverbs 3:24 NKJV). Sleep is an act of trust: when you go to sleep the world is in God’s hands, not yours. And it will get along very well, even if you’re not awake to control things. When you awaken tomorrow morning, just like God giving Israel fresh manna, He will give you the grace needed. Jeremiah said, ‘After this I awoke and looked around, and my sleep was sweet to me’ (Jeremiah 31:26 NKJV). Ever tried to pray when you were suffering from sleep deficit? It’s hard to do. Before Elijah was able to spend prolonged time in prayer the angel of the Lord made him take not one, but two long naps. Contrast that with the disciples in Gethsemane who couldn’t pray because they kept falling asleep. Know what? It’s hard to think, feel and act like Jesus when you lack sleep. That’s why ‘He gives His beloved sleep.’ Maybe the most spiritual thing you could do is get to bed earlier and wake up refreshed so you’re ready to fulfil God’s purposes for your day.