Sunday 22 March 2015

On choices. Look back, look down or look forward, look up

Looking back with regrets and wondering how we could have been so foolish or sinful and all of that will never change things. Worse still, wondering if God will ever help you or if He is still with you is foolish. How could God's unfailing love, proven over thousands of years, start failing with you?
To think that is to do what David did in Psalm 71:7-9. But right after, he turned, realizing that "these questions I am asking show what is wrong with me, not what is wrong with God".
Like Paul we must take responsibility to forget those things that are behind and focus on things that lie ahead. I said 'take responsibility' because it doesn't come easy. It will take an effort. One that's definitely worth it. However not carrying on this discipline is to stay grounded in the rot, unable to see the sun and miserable the rest of our days because we have despised ourselves.
You too can come out. Rather than think back about the wrongs, think back and remember how God helped you, and intervened for you and your loved ones. In fact, the very fact that you now feel bad about those past mistakes is proof that God's word is working in your life. Let that work become perfect by forgetting about the hurt and focusing on your beautiful future in God.
It's OK, really OK to look back but what matters is what we look back to.
So when next Satan brings those nasty pasts to you, don't feel like ure loosing. Stay in the past but just tilt ur view slightly to how God brought you out with a mighty hand.
Like the psalmist, we too need to realize that to trust in God and yet feel hopeless is a contradiction of the heights.

Tuesday 17 March 2015

On Choices. TRUST!

Trust does not always come easy. 
Always it starts with a decision and will take a conscious effort. 
Trusting God is very much the same. 
You will have to learn to stop yourself in the middle of certain thoughts, worries and figure-out-sessions and say...I choose to TRUST. 
God knew it would not come easy so in Hebrews 12:2, the bible says 'looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith'
The phrase 'looking unto' is from a Greek verb Aphorao
It connotes to look away 'from' and 'stare at' what He's trying to get your attention on. 
Refuse to worry! Rather trust in God consciously to carry you through whatever the challenge is. Stop trying to figure out every action, word, gesture...just TRUST God to help you go through whatever challenge you face. 
Remember the song? You can start by singing

"Trust and obey
for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
BUT TO TRUST AND OBEY"

Wednesday 11 March 2015

On Life. You too can make it through

Here's a sobering thought: Less than one tenth of one
percent of all animal species that ever existed are still around
today! The rest didn't adapt fast enough to a changing environment.
When it comes to business, the odds are not much
better. The average survival rate for new companies is estimated
to be only about 20 percent by the fifth year of operation.
Being flexible is critical to survival. The more quickly we
adapt to our ever-changing environment, the more we improve
our odds of success.
If your strategy is not working, ask, ''What am I doing,
or not doing, right?''
When Plan A isn't working, you have to switch to Plan
B. If Plan B comes unstuck, develop Plan C. You won't solve
a problem by continuing with the strategy that created it.
Review your goals regularly to ensure you are on track.
Strategies can be amended and so can goals. There is little
point in clinging to targets that are unrealistic. Most successful people had at least one false start
before they found the right gear.

...Mary Christensen

Thursday 5 March 2015

Benny's heart: On Life: When God takes Option 2

Benny's heart: On Life: When God takes Option 2: God really didn't deliver them from the fire. The Hebrew guys gave God two options boasting before King Neb. They said  Option 1 . He...

On Life: When God takes Option 2

God really didn't deliver them from the fire.
The Hebrew guys gave God two options boasting before King Neb.
They said 
Option 1. He will deliver us from the fire. i.e the fire will go off before we enter.
Option 2. He will not deliver us. i.e the fire will not go off so we will roast. But even at that, we will not bow to that image.
God took option 2. He didn't put out the fire. 
I can imagine those last few steps before the fire. Those guys must have had reason to doubt, to be uncertain and to be afraid. But it was too late now to change their minds. They had boasted...in their God.
There are times when God will take option 2. The fire won't just go out, and so you may doubt then fear. But remember, God's too big not to be able to put out ANY kind of fire.
So when He let's you into the fire, there's a process with two stages.
He sends in the fourth man to be with you at stage 1.
Then He brings you out as fine gold at stage 2.
Any which way, you will be better, stronger, wiser and bolder.
So when next you feel the heat, just remember God's taken option 2.
‪#‎hoteventuallyturnscold‬
‪#‎eyesonthegoal‬

Monday 2 March 2015

On Life. Peace without Season

It's been years since I started wondering why Jesus would say
"In me ye MIGHT have peace, in the world you SHALL have tribulation" John 16:33
I thought it must have been the translator's error.
Sure Jesus must have meant to say
"In me ye SHALL have peace"
Only recently it finally became clear to me.
Jesus was right as always, and this time, no translator errors.
He said we MIGHT have peace in Him because of His promise a few chapters before
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, 
Not as the world gives it give I unto you" John 14:27
Here's where the line between giving and receiving is drawn.
He has given us His peace that surpasses human reasoning, but only those that receive, enjoy it.
That's the reason He said MIGHT 'cos that He gave doesn't mean you will receive
You will have to accept the peace He has given you and walk in the light of it.
You see, because, Jesus didn't mince words when He talked about the tribulation in the world. 
He said you SHALL have tribulation and that's not for unbelievers. 
Tribulation comes to everyone but in these last days, only those who know His peace will remain unperturbed in the midst of crisis.
I say to you then, in the midst of the trouble and chaos in this world, remember Jesus has given you peace.
You are in His great Sabbath, so be of good cheer cos He overcame the world for you.
Even now, say
Lord I see in your word that You have given me Your peace.
I believe Your word and receive Your peace into my spirit
I refuse to worry, fret, fear or be anxious about anything
'Cos Your word says not to.
I'm at peace with myself, with God and all men. Amen.