Loving people...LOVE ONE ANOTHER…’JOHN 15:12 NKJV

Love One Another: Becoming the Church Jesus Longs for
Loving people is only a vague concept, unless we do these five things: 1) People are insecure; give them confidence. Beneath their façade lie memories of a painful past and anxiety over what’s coming their way next. Tell them God says,’… I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrew 13:5 NKJV). When nothing else works, God’s Word does. 2) People you need to feel special compliant them. Do it when they least expect it, and it’s clear you seek nothing in return. Mary Kay Ash, founder of a major cosmetics company in the USA, said everyone has an invisible sign hanging around their neck saying, “Make me feel important!” ‘Notice how often God’s Words tells us how much He love us, how special we are, and His plans for us 3) People are looking for a better tomorrow: give them hope. Let them know that when you put God in the center of your life, your future can be better than your past. ‘… as long as he sought the Lord, God mad him prosper’ (2 Chronicles 26:5NKJV). 4) People need to be understood; listen to them. The trouble is this takes more time than we’re willing to give. We’re in too much of a hurry to hand out hand out advice and move on, and doesn’t work. Before people can be fixed,’ they must feel understood. 5) People need role (Corinthian 11:1 NIV). Too often we’re unaware of the example, as I and the impression we’re making. Like it or not, what you do and don’t do, influences others. When you leave this world, what you leave behind is your influence.

Making the tough calls...THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE; I WILL NOT FEAR…PSALM 118:6 NKJV

All the heroes of the Bible were flawed. And personally wise they were as different as chalk and cheese. But they’d one thing in common: they were willing to make the tough calls. Observe: 1) Tough calls demand risk. When the Soviet Union overran and annexed Latvia in 1940, the US Vice consul in Riga was concerned that the American Red Cross supplies in that city would be looted. To guard against it he requested permission from the state Department in Washington, DC to place an American flag above the Red Cross to deter anyone from talking the supplies. ‘No precedent exists for such action, the Secretary of State’s Office cabled back. When the Vice Consul receive message he climbed up and personally nailed the American flag to pole, then he cabled the State Department: ‘As of this date, I have established Precedent.’2) Tough calls require character. Chuck SwindollJesus: The Greatest Life of All (Great Lives Series) writes: ‘Courage is not limited to the battlefield or the Indianapolis 500 or bravely catching a thief in your house. The real tests of courage are much quieter. They are the inner tests, like remaining faithful when nobody’s looking, like enduring pain when the room is empty. Like standing alone when you’re misunderstood. ‘Whether you lead a family, a business or a church, the temptation to complain comes easy. Thank God for the tough times they’re the reason you’re there – to be the leader. If everything was going well you wouldn’t be needed when the tough calls must be made, your confidence can be found in these words: the Lord is on my side; I will not fear….’ (Psalm 118:6NKJV)

Time – make the most of it! PSALM 90:12 NKJV

 ‘…TEACH US TO NUMBER DAYS…’PSALM 90:12 NKJV

Our days are like identical suitcases, but some people pack more into them than others That’s because they know what to pack. Everybody gets twenty-four hours, but not everybody gets the same return on them. The truth is, you don’t manage your time, you manage your life. Time cannot be controlled; it marches on no matter what you do. Nobody, no matter how shrewd, can save minutes from one day to spend in another. No scientist is capable of creating new minutes. With all his wealth Warren Buffet can’t buy additional hours for his day. People talk about trying to ‘find time,’ but they need to quit looking: there isn’t any extra lying around. Twenty-four hours is the best any of us is going to get. Wise people understand that time is their most precious commodity. As a result, they know where their time goes. They continually analyse how they are using their time and ask themselves, ‘Am I getting the best use out of my time?’ In his book What To Do Between Birth and Death: The Art of Growing up, Charles Spezzano writes: ‘You don’t really pay for things with money; you pay for them with time. We say, “In five years, I’ll have enough money put away for that vocation house we want. Then I’ll slow down. “That means the house will cost you five years; one-twelfth of your adult life Translate the pound value of the house, car or anything else into time, and then see if it’s still worth it.

‘…GOD WILL HELP HER AT BREAK OF DAY. PSALM 46:5 NIV

When your world is suddenly turned upside down,remember,
God’s plans for your life haven’t been

cancelled! When you feel trapped with no way out, here are some things to remember: (1) Look for the river. ‘There is a river whose streams make glad…. (Psalm 46:4 NIV). In Old Testament symbolism, rivers represent God’s supply for your every need. When every human source of supply seems to have dried up, don’t fear look for the river. (2) Look for the city. God has planted His’….city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells (Psalm 46:4 NIV), right in the middle of your circumstances. God’s city, the symbol of His presence and power, guarantees He’s still in control and that He will restore peace and order to your troubled world. (3) Look for the signs of God’s presence. ‘God will help [you] at break of day’ (Psalm 46:5 NIV), Daybreak, a symbol of new beginnings, gives you confidence that beyond this time of trouble and testing, a new day is at hand. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning (Lamentations 3:23 NLT). (4) Come...see the works of the Lord…‘ (Psalm 46:8 NIV). Reviewing the record of His mighty acts builds your faith and reminds you that He is the‘…same yesterday and today and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8 NIV). If He took care of you then, He will take care of you now. (5) Look to God and be at peace. Based on the tested and proven foundation of His power and faithfulness you can live by Scripture, ‘Be still, and know that I am God… (Psalm 46:10NIV).

Thinking of quitting? Don’t BE STEADFAST…1 CORTHIANS 15:58 NKJV

George Frederic Handel was a musical prodigy. At twenty one he was keyboard virtuoso. When he turned to composing he gained immediate fame and soon was appointed Kapellmeister to the Elector of Hanover (later King George 1 of England). When Handel moved to England his renown grew. By the time he was forty he was world famous. But despite his talent and fame he faces considerable adversity. Rivalry with England composer was fierce. Audiences were fickle; sometimes they didn’t turn out for his performances. He was the victim of the changing political winds. Several times he found himself on the verge of bankruptcy. His problems were compounded by failing health. He suffered as stroke which left the right arm limp and damaged the use of four fingers in his right hand. Although he recovered, it left him battling depression. Finally, at fifty – six, Handel decided it was time to retire. Discouraged, miserable and consumed with debt, he felt certain he’d and in a debtor’s prison. So on April 18, 1741, he gave what the considered his farewell concert. Disappointed and filled with self pity, he gave up. But that year something incredible happened. Wealthy friends named Charles Jennings encourage Handel by visiting him and giving him a libretto based on the life of Christ. The work intrigued Handel, so he began writing. Immediately the floodgates of inspiration opened. For three weeks he wrote almost nonstop. Then he spent another two days creating the orchestrations. In twenty-four days he had completed the 260-page manuscript of the messiah. Thinking of quitting? Don’t! Be steadfast.’

Be careful what you commit to! …WHICH IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT?...MATHEW 22:36 NIV

When Jesus was asked, ‘Which is the commandment?’ He answered’…”Love the Lord…and …Love your neigbour as yourself 2’ (Mathew 22:37-39 NIV). So our greatest with things that keeps us from doing this. The Bible says: No one serving as soldiers gets involved in civilian affairs; he wants to please his commanding officer’ (2 Timothy 2:4 NIV). In other words careful what commit to. There are three types of commitment: 1) Dramatic commitments. Like getting married or buying a home. Unfortunately, we don’t consider the hidden costs. When we buy a house we think only of the additional square footage, not the extra hour each day commuting to work or the time taken away from our family 2) Routine commitments. These may look mundane, but don’t underestimate their power. Any parent who’s signed up their child for a sports team knows the time-consuming potential of the routine commitments. 3) Unspoken commitments these are commitment we make to ourselves, but often fail to keep. In life, the dramatic commitments receive most of our attention, but the routine ones end up controlling us. Because there are so many of them and because they come on a daily basis and individually look so small, we don’t sense the gap growing between what we say matters most to us and what we’re actually doing with our lives. So Jesus simplified it.’ “Lord…and…Love your neighbour….(Mathew 22:37-39 NIV). When you measure your life by that yardstick, you’ve a better chance of living by the right commitments.

Your Future Starts Today Don't Give Up!!! 'TOMORROW THE LORD WILL DO WONDERS AMONG YOU.'JOSHUA 3:5 NAS

 Don't discard your tomorrows! See, 'JOSHUA 3:5

Your yesterdays have made you what you're today,but your tomorrows can make you what God always intended you to become.Joshua was talking to a nation whose yesterdays were a long list of repeated failures and rebellion against God.They had been convicted,judged, punished and reinstated frequently by the God they do flagrantly sinned against. Surely, they ought to have been cut off from Him, stripped of any future blessing. But 'Joshua said to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you .'Consecrate yourself, relign yourself with God's plans and watch Him begin to work in your life. Just when the enemy has you convinced that with your past God couldn't possibly have a future for you,He calls you to prepare yourself so He can bless you. God is fully aware of your yesterday, but He's much more focused on your tomorrows. Why do we discard our tomorrows when we so desperatly need them? When Jesus cried, 'It is finished!' (John 19:30), His disciples misundersood and concluded it was all over. So they slipped away to contemplate the tomorrow they thought would never be. But with God, every ending is a new beginning, and three mornings later the angel announced the resurrection and the new tomorrow that would guarantee the future for all believers.'It (your yesterday) is finished! Don't give up tommorrows by building monuments to your past failures. Acknowledge, confess and release your yesterdays to the crucified Christ. 'Consecrate younrselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.'

‘Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?...’ Romans 14:4 NIV

Stick to what you know! Our brain doesn’t like blank spaces, so when it encounters questions without answers it searches for something to put in the blank spaces. And because we’re driven by our own perceptions, needs and prejudices, we’re not always objective. We’re blind to our blind spots and think we ‘know,’ and the results can be disastrous for our relationships. ‘I know what your real intentions are. You think I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours? I can tell by the look on your face exactly what you’re thinking.’ Such words indicate we’ve got the other person ‘pegged,’ and feel no need to consider the situation further because we couldn’t possibly be wrong. Case closed. What about such Scriptures as, ‘He who answers a matter before he hears the facts – it is a folly and shame to him’ (Proverbs 18:13 AMP). Or, ‘…Be quick to hear, slow to speak’ (James 1:19 NAS). Or, ‘Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive’ (Proverbs 17:28 NKJV). Before you ‘sound off,’ consider three things: 1) ‘For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him?’ (1Corinthians 2:11 NIV). You may suspect, guess, even feel strongly, but you don’t know their thoughts or intentions 2) ‘Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant?...’ (Romans 14:4). Much of our ‘knowing,’ is merely our own judgemental spin on things. 3) If you think you know and need to deal with the issue, try saying, ‘I have some impressions (concerns, observations, etc.) I’d like to talk about.’ Then discuss your observations, feelings and impressions as your perceptions, not ‘gospel truth,’ leaving judgement to God.

Cut Stress Off And Live Longer For God (Proverbs. 3:6 and Isaiah 3:10)

As 2013 comes to an end with certain unfulfilled expectation, God wants you to know that there are four thinking patterns that can make life too stressful. Please avoid them. No matter how big a balloon is, a single pin is all it takes to deflate it. Little stress of today plus the one of tomorrow can have devastating consequence on your health and indeed your availability for God to use. Can God use the dead? No! Also, remember that success always begins and it is sustained by your state of mind. Life battles don't always bow to the stronger or faster man. They bow to the man/woman who thinks positive always. If you die from stress, life continues. so chill out and note the following: (1) SELF-BALM: e.g. I locked my car keys in my car. How could i be so stupid? (2) BLAMING OTHERS: How could those car manufacturers be so stupid? How can the government be that wicked? Blaming others increases and multiplies your stress. Avoid it! (3) URGENCY: I can't for a panel beater or a locksmith. Should i just break the windows? why the hurry? Stress is killed in the garden of patience. (4) EXAGGERATING CONSEQUENCES OF PROBLEM(S): "Now i will be late to work and my boss is going to be furious and i will lose my job." What you fear may never happen. So put the problem and your future in the hands of your God (Proverbs. 3:6). Do your best and go to sleep. God is in control and the best will work out for you. Isaiah 49:16 (paraphrased) says: you are in the palm of Jehovah. You can't be forgotten. See Isaiah 3:10: 'say ye to the righteous, it shall be well..."Grab it and keep saying it to yourself daily. never forget this: Stress is killed in the garden of patience AND what you fear may never happen! Cut the stress off! resist worry!! Live longer for God and your family. Peace

Go To Where You Are Celebrated! 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 - (Mathew 4:13 and Luke 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 2013 ends and 2014 (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! God bless you!