My life

I do not consider my life to be only breathing, eating, thinking, working, getting rich, sleeping; plodding through each day. The reason : the Bible warns us, "[A] man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12:15 ). For me life is more than adding up of our assets and achievements. It is my survival here on earth. It shows passion and purpose which I found in Jesus Christ. HE gives me a picture of what life is all about, it is about light and hope. I have found life in Jesus to have no fear of death, to be full of abundance, to be eternal John 14 : 6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 1 : 4In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. John 10 : 10I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 11 : 25 - 26

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

(0348) 31 May 2007

Making decisions

Little decisions or changes peppered throughout the day may cause the results to be negative or positive. Those little changes you make in your spiritual life may also cause the same consequences. Such small changes... conscious little choices push your walk with God in one direction or another - small decision to let God in or to hold Him at a distance. Small changes of attitude; little choices of purity in thoughts or choices of entertainment cause a shift in the relationship with God Always invite God and make HIM involve in all our decisions, be in small or big and we will be able to see a different result

Psalm 51 : 10
Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within
me

(0347) 30 May 2007

Be raeady to pray

In our daily encounters, we come across many desperation situations - a colleague who is going through great hardship, a neighbour battling a difficult circumstance in health, relationship or finance. What do we do ?? We pray, don’t we ?? God knows the ups and downs of every life. HE knows when there is little or no influence of God in a life or situation. HE works on this earth through the prayers of HIS people so HE puts HIS people where prayer is needed.

Ephesians 6 : 18

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests

(0346) 29 May 2007

HE gives me HIS authority

Everyday I have the authority to deal with the enemy. Since I am identified with Christ I am no longer an ordinary person and the authority of God is made available to me because I believe in Christ. I claim this authority each time I face the enemy ! This is a fact that I am claiming and leaning on the promises of God by faith. It is not positive thinking and hoping for the best to happen.

Luke 10 : 19

And I have given you authority over all the power of the Enemy

(0345) 28 May 2007

Wait

There are times when I cannot understand why I cannot do what I want to do. When God wants me to wait, I do not do anything, but wait. This waiting teaches me the meaning of dedication. Wait on HIM and HE will do it without any heartbreak or disappointment Peter did not wait on God, he forecast in his mind where the test would come, and the test came where he did not expect it.

John 13:37
Peter asked, Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.

(0344) 27 May 2007

Spur one another

Although modern technology has shrunk our world, our busy lives keep us from connecting regularly with each other. We should intentionally set out to encourage each other with by telephone calls, emails and personal visits. A short message of hope can be a beacon of light in this dark world. We cannot live the Christian life on our own.

Hebrews 10 : 24 - 25

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching

(0343) 26 May 2007

My reaction

When God calls on me, how do I react? I do not discuss spiritual matters with others when God speaks to me. For me belief is a moral act and not an intellectual one. I devote myself absolutely on God and do what HE says. It is the surrender of the will, not a surrender to persuasive power. My relationship with God is a personal one, not intellectual. First it is my own will to believe God and then God works on me to get an intelligent appreciation and understanding of the wonder of the transaction

John 6 : 44

No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

(0342) 25 May 2007

HE helps me

How do I build my faith ? It is in the Word of God. All I need to do is to act on the Word of God no matter how I feel. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." I simply receive it as I read God's Word and not by any other means. Just look into Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, to receive this gift.

Psalm 62 : 8

O my people, trust Him all the time. Pour out your longings before Him, for He can help!

(0341) 24 May 2007

HE is always around

We are righteous
because of God's grace.
We are remembered
because of God's faithfulness.
We are heard
because of God's faithfulness.
We are blessed
because God is God.

Psalm 34:15
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry...

(0170) 23 May 2007

Be forgiving

Somebody has done you wrong. It happens to all of us. Somewhere along the way, we all get hurt or cheated or lied to or abused. It's as predictable as it is painful. Yet when it happens most of us find ourselves strangely unprepared. In our outrage, we often cry out to God against the one who wronged us. We ask for justice, or even vengeance, and end up making things tougher on everyone involved--including ourselves.

Crying out for the vengeance of God when somebody does us wrong is not acting like our Father. Remember God has great, great mercy. Not just for me and you, but for everyone! Next time someone causes you pain, put the power of love to work for you.

Luke 10:19
"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

(0169) 22 May 2007

Be careful how we live

Even though we are God's holy children, we also need to be aware of what time it is in our world. The evil one still exercises his control over the hearts of many people. God wants us to make the most of every opportunity we have to touch the lives of others with his grace and to resist the temptation and overcome the opposition of the evil one.

Ephesians 5:15-16
Be very careful, then, how you live -- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

(0168) 21 May 2007

The secret spot

The secret place - a spot to sort out the day's happenings. God has a secret place too.
It is the secret place of His presence. Psalm 91:1 says "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

God's secret place is not hard to find. His promise is for rest there right under the shadow of God Himself. It is a place to

cry your heart out,
sing your praises out;
ask the things you do not
understand to pray for needs

It is a safe place. A place to release your spirit from the tight hold of controlled emotions; a place to let His calm envelope you and His strength fortify you. It is truly a place of rest. A place where, once you have found it, you want to return over and over. It is the well of spiritual refreshment for a thirsty heart.

How do you get there? How do you find this place of rest for your soul? Psalm 91:2 "I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." You can only arrive at this place of refuge when you have put your trust in God. Oh, not only trust in His grace to save you, but trust in Him completely and absolutely. Trust in Him for the details of your life even when the pieces of the puzzle don't seem to match up.

If you doubt God's goodness toward you and believe He is somehow out to default you or simply doesn't care about you...you will never find the secret place. The secret place can only be accessed through trust in a very personal God who shelters you under His wing and is your refuge from the storm.

When you're in the midst of the storm and you are hanging on for dear life... run to God with full trust in His loving ability to be your refuge. Sit in His presence, be sheltered, and fortified and leave with a peace that the world does not understand (John 14:27).


(0167) 20 May 2007

Gaining wisdom

The true source of wisdom is God. He is the One who has the answers, solutions, and knowledge to help whatever the situation.

God wants us to ask Him for wisdom. He wants to provide us with the answers, solutions and knowledge that we need. The sad thing is that so very few people take God up on His offer. We have pride. We want to do it on our own and so we stumble along making mistake after mistake in our lives.

There is nothing to be ashamed of in having to ask God for help because you are in very good company when you do.
Abraham Lincoln is one of those who often went to his knees in prayer to seek help from God. Lincoln said this, "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day."

Are you tired of trying to do it on your own and messing things up time after time?

Remember that Bible says,
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Why not ask Him now?

James 1 : 5-6
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

(0166) 19 May 2007

Fear of God

"Fear of the LORD" means
more than "hold God in reverence" but to remember our place in the order of things.

We know we are deeply loved by God.

We recognize that we are weak and sinful in comparison and are saved by God's mercy and grace.

We acknowledge that his majesty and holiness are far beyond us and that we pale in significance before God.

We come to God acknowledging our need for him and our unworthiness to demand anything from him.

The incredible reality is that when we approach God with this sense of awe and profound respect, He in turn welcomes us with open arms and brings us close. (See Isaiah 57:15)

Psalm 34 : 9
Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.

(0165) 18 May 2007

Effective prayer

To pray "In the Holy Ghost" is the grand quality of a true prayer The seed of acceptable devotion must come from heaven's storehouse. Only the prayer which comes from God can go to God. That desire which he writes upon our heart will move his heart and bring down a blessing, but the desires of the flesh have no power with him.

Praying in the Holy Ghost is praying in eagerness. Those who do not plead with fervency do not appeal to God at all. It is praying perseveringly. The true suppliant gathers force as you proceed, and grows more fervent when God delays to answer. The longer you wait for the answer, the more resolved are you that you will never let Him go without the blessing.

Beautiful in God's sight is tearful, agonizing, unconquerable persistency. It means praying humbly, for the Holy Spirit never puffs us up with pride. Prayer should be filled with love. It must be a prayer full of faith. A man prevails only as he believes. The Holy Spirit is the author of faith, and strengthens it, so that we pray believing God's promise.

Jude 20
Praying in the Holy Ghost."

(0164) 17 May 2007

HIS exclusiveness

Think of the things we will not come to Jesus Christ about. If you want to know how real you are, test yourself by these words - "Come unto Me."
In every degree in which you are not real,

you will dispute rather than come,
you will split hairs rather than come,
you will go through sorrow rather than come,
you will do anything rather than come

It is spiritual disrespect if you are expecting God to tell you to do a big thing, and all He is telling you to do is to "come."

"Come unto Me." When you hear those words you will know that something must happen in you before you can come. The Holy Spirit will show you what you have to do, anything at all that will put the axe at the root of the thing which is preventing you from getting through. You will never get further until you are willing to do that one thing. The Holy Spirit will locate the one stubborn thing in you, but He cannot dislodge it unless you are willing to let Him.

Matthew 11:28
Come unto Me.

(0163) 16 May 2007

Faith

Some aspects of faith are beyond description: they can only be experienced and known by doing them. Taste the Lord. Sample his goodness. Lean on his grace. Take protection in his care. We are blessed to find him near and take our protection from life's greatest dangers and death's greatest fears.

Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

(0162) 15 May 2007

Where to hide ?

We are thankful for the latest technology and the attentiveness and courage of many storm spotters who provide us with an earlier warning than was possible in the past.

With advance warning and superior knowledge of the dangers of tornadoes most people do try to find shelter in

storm shelter,
basement,
safe room
an inner room
hallway.

Strangely enough, there are some even when warned, still ignore the storm believing they are somehow safe or that they will not be hit.

Personally, when I know a storm possibly containing a tornado is headed my way, I am going to the nearest shelter! God may very well protect me but why tempt God (Matthew 4:7)

There is another storm - a spiritual storm of sin and destruction. We have advance warning and we have advanced knowledge about the devastating effects of sin. We can ignore those warnings and see how close we can get to the storm of sin. If we do there may very well come a time when the storm we are admiring will destroy us. It does not have to be that way. There is a place of refuge from the storm. God, through Jesus Christ is that refuge. He is the only refuge. Please don't ignore the storm warnings!!

Isaiah 25 : 4
For You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

(0161) 14 May 2007

Joy

Joy is a spiritual force. Joy is strength You will be filled with joy when you do God’s work and this makes you strong in the Lord. Your faith is also strengthened.

Nehemiah 8:10

The joy of the Lord is your strength.

(0319) 13 May 2007

Lost

Some people want their sins and they do not want to give them up. That is the condition of many people before salvation and it sadly is the condition that some find themselves in even after they know the Lord. What should our response be to the lost who appear to be perfectly happy being lost? We are not to leave them alone. Someone who has an addiction is usually not able to think clearly. become involved in adultery or sexual sins is probably not thinking clearly. is involved in sin most likely has a flaw in their thinking processes How should we intervene? Do you recall how Nathan confronted David with the truth about his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 12). In Matthew 18 and Jude 1 we are given instructions about how to proceed. We should actively work in the lives of the lost and pray for them, We must not give up on them! Matthew 18:15-17.Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

1 Corinthians 5:4-5

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus

Jude 1:22-23
Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh

(0318) 12 May 2007

Wisdom comes from Him

Whether your goal is to be an excellent administrator or a first-rate scientist in the service of the Lord, it is the wisdom that comes from the Word of God that will get you there. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).

So devote yourself right now to do whatever it takes to totally saturate yourself with the Word of God. Use every available moment to read, study, listen to, and meditate on it.

Proverbs 4:5-6
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

(0317) 11 May 2007

The price to pay for not waiting

We like to be in charge of our own lives. To be committed to God’s calling and to wait upon God challenges us because it requires that we put aside our present lifestyles and instead submit to Him.

If we do not wait on the Lord

We will find ourselves out of His will. "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).Our self - efforts, which are accomplished without God's leading, do not please Him.

We do not get His blessings.
Being outside His purpose delays His planned blessing. Divine reward is promised to those who believe in the Savior and are obedient to Him. (Ephesians 6:8) To obey requires that we wait on the Lord for both instruction and timing before responding.

It cost Moses his home in Egypt.
Our independent lifestyle can bring us unnecessary pain, can also cause others heartache and suffering. We may suffer loss in relationships, finances, and future opportunities.

Exodus 2:11 – 15
One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, "Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?" The man said, "Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moseswas afraid and thought, "What I did must have become known." When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well.

(0316) 10 May 2007

Being singled out

When you are being discriminated, do not just sit around whining about it. You have been persecuted because you have become a threat to the devil. Under such circumstances, trust the Lord knowing that He is there to help and protect you.

Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(0315) 9 May 2007

Direct access

We do not need to have another being, no matter how strong, holy or special, to mediate for us before God. We can go to God directly, freely, knowing that God has provided us with Jesus Christ, who is our saviour.

1 Timothy 2 : 5 - 6

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men – the testimony given in its proper time.

(0314) 8 May 2007

Empowered by the spirit

Have you experience the reality, power, control and fruit of God’s Holy Spirit ?We have been given strength, through the Holy Spirit to meet our daily needs. We must not let sin hinder us from developing this potential within us. We must confess our known sin and with faith, making use of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us, we can be filled with the power of the Spirit. The Spirit will minister to our every need.

1 Corinthians 2:9,10

That is what is meant by the Scriptures which say that no mere man has ever seen, heard or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord. But we know about these things because God has sent His Spirit to tell us, and His Spirit searches out and shows us all of God's deepest secrets

(0313) 7 May 2007

Are you happy with what you are doing ?

You may be successful in your profession, having taken steps to advance in your fields, and had found your work gratifying. There may be times when you become frustrated and angry and complained of doing work that does not bring you any satisfaction.

Spend some time each day with God and ask Him to look into every aspect of the job adds new life and meaning to what you are doing. Very often we seek satisfaction in the wrong places.

Isaiah 55
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on
what does not satisfy?

(0312) 6 May 2007

My vision

When you go up higher, the temptation is greater. When the devil puts in on a higher place, the lure of the worldly things and comfort render you poised and you dare not move. When God puts you on a higher place, you sit comfortably on a stable plane without fear of falling. Growth in grace is measured not by the fact that you have not regressed, but that you have an in sight into where you are spiritually

Revelation 4:1
After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.

(0311) 5 May 2007

The test

God sends us frequent troubles to try our faith. If our faith is worth anything, it will stand the test.

It is poor faith when we trust God when

friends are true,
the body is full of health, and
the business is profitable

It is true faith when

friends are gone,
the body is sick,
spirits are depressed, and
the light of our Father's countenance is hidden.

The Lord afflicts his servants to glorify himself, for He is greatly glorified in the graces of His people, which are His own handiwork. When "tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope," the Lord is honoured by these growing virtues.

The wisdom and power of God are discovered by the trials.
Present afflictions tend also to heighten future joy.

Numbers 11:11
He asked the LORD, "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?

(0160) 4 May 2007

Who do you trust ?

This is an important question.

Pay close attention to my answer,

To trust Him whose
power will never be worn out,
love will never decrease,
kindness will never change,
faithfulness will never fail,
wisdom will never be confused,
perfect goodness can never be diminished

You will be a happy man if these are your trust.

Isaiah 36:5
You say you have strategy and military strength— but you
speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me?

(0159) 3 May 2007

Spiritual advance

If you have a desire to give, yet financial commitments keep holding you back, you may be surprised to learn that what you need is not more money. What you need is a spiritual advance.

You need to take the Word of God and destroy the images of poverty and lack within you. You need to replace them with a vision of the sufficiency of God. Then more things, including money, will come.

How?

By spending time thinking on the prosperity promises He's provided for you in His Word.
By meditating on them.
By believing you receive those promises actually being fulfilled in your life.

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

(0158) 2 May 2007