12.05.09
FRIENDSHIP is the key to creating a successful relationship…
BFF stands for Best Friends Forever. Popular with the younger crowd, these three letters hold the key to a successful and long-term relationship. Think about this. Obviously you have friends. And depending on your age, you probably have had some of your friends for 20 or 30 years, possibly longer.
You don’t spend day in and day out with them, but you’ve invested a lot of time talking with them, enjoying activities together, and cultivating a relationship. Our basic friendships have challenges, too. And, we work on them. Now imagine a long-term relationship – or marriage. If you want it to last until “death do you part,” you better make sure it’s built upon the most solid foundation of all – friendship.
Friendship is the key to creating a successful relationship. Without it you have nothing. Chemistry is important, without a doubt, but you need a lot more than that to sustain you through the myriad of life’s ups and downs from which no one will escape.
As a single person, you need to hone your personal skills when it comes to relationships. Rather than focusing on finding a mate, concentrate on getting to know the people you’re dating. Dating is really about relating. It’s about sharing who you are – your vision for your life, your values, your interests – and all of those wonderful things that make you unique. It’s also about learning these same things about the person you are dating.
There’s a whole lifetime ahead for romance and commitment. And, the longer you postpone that and the more you focus on developing a friendship, the more solid a foundation you’ll be able to establish with your potential life partner. Through this process, you’ll learn if you’re right for each other. If you aren’t the right match, you’ll be able to part ways with your dignity intact.
Build a strong foundation. Once you’ve done that, it’s easy to construct a successful future and relationship upon it. Take your time, get to know each other, and build a friendship you can treasure for many years ahead.
Source: EzineArticles.Com
11.25.09
How Great Is Our God….
The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb
Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
11.19.09
How To Live An Effective Prayer Lifestyle…
To be an effective person of prayer, you must have relationship with the One to whom you pray.
Above all else, prayer is an opportunity to enjoy intimacy with God. Prayer is all about relationship with Father God. God longs to have relationship with you.
To know God is to realize that we are in relationship, covenant relationship with Him. You are His child. He is your Father. You are His bride. He is your Groom.
Jesus warns us that we can do His works and not be known of God.
Matt 7:21-23 (NIV) “Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
How Can I Develop an Intimate Relationship with God?
* A. Spend Time with the Lord, daily.
* B. Study the Word of God
* C. Worship
* D. Repentance
* E. Practice the Presence of the Lord
A. Spend Time with the Lord, daily.
In any earthly relationship, the way to develop relationship with someone is to spend time with them. Intimate relationships are born by learning to trust. Being open and vulnerable and being willing to show all of your heart invites intimacy. To be intimate is to be willing to show all that is in your heart to the person. To be an intimate friend of God, you need to be able to pour out your heart to Him, sharing the most intimate details of your life, your hopes, your dreams and your very heart with Him.
Prov. 17:17 (NIV)
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
This scripture not only applies to God’s heart toward us, but it should be our stance toward the Lord. Our hearts should long to be with Him no matter what the circumstance. As His people, We are to love Him and be His friend first. From that base of intimacy, we can pray effectively.
If our prayer life consists only of petition and
intercession
, it can lead to anger and frustration. If prayer is not answered in the speed that we wish it to be answered, we can become bitter and resentful toward God. However, If we grow to know God, a delayed prayer will only be an opportunity to pray again. Spending much time with the Lord is one of the only methods to truly know His ways, and not just His acts. Knowing God leads to resting in the assurance of His ultimate goodness, despite the circumstances we see around us.
Hab. 3:17-18
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
To be in intimate relationship with God is to make Him number one in our lives, above all others, and above all else.
Matt 10:37
“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
Ask the Lord to show you any idols in your lives that would be number one instead of Him. These idols can take the form of family, friends, ministry, work or even personal dreams .
B. We get to know Him through the study of the word of God, in prayer.
As you daily study His word, you will soon get to know His will, His ways and His heart, which will give you keys to know how to pray. When you understand the way He moves in the lives of people, you can pray prayers that line up to His will. Psalm 119 is a wonderful passage to meditate upon, as it tells us the rewards of studying His word.
C. As we worship the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, He births intimacy in our hearts.
In worship, we are lavishing all our attention and affections toward Him.
Worship cleanses you from the “dirt” you pick up as you walk your everyday life by just living in an unsaved world.
A good anointed worship time refreshes and revives you. It speaks to your spirit the truth about God and His power. To be an effective intercessor, you must be awake in your spirit. Worship will awaken and sharpen your spirit to be in tune with the will of the Lord.
D. Repentance
Ask the Lord to search your heart, and to show you if there be any wicked way in it. The Lord is faithful to show us our motivations and secret desires. Keep a short account with the Lord.
1 John 1:8-9 (NIV)
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If you know there are wounds from hurts you have received, allow the Lord to heal those areas as you forgive and receive forgiveness and
healing
. If you find it hard to hear from God, ask Him to show blockages or walls in your own life that are hindering you from receiving and giving to the Lord. Some blockages are unforgiveness, unconfessed sin, disobedience, wounds and hurts.
To pray effectively, pray out of a pure heart, so you don’t pray in bitterness, anger and judgment.
Prayers prayed out of impure motives are sometimes known as soulful prayers. They are usually not very effective. When the Lord begins to show us things to pray for and our hearts are free from unconfessed sin and judgments toward others, we can pray without prejudice.
Praying For Others is front line
spiritual
warfare. It is essential that you pray for protection
for yourself and your family as you enter into
intercession
. Sin can provide an open door for the enemy to attack us. If, when you pray for others, you find things falling apart in your own life, ask the Lord to search your heart and show you any doors left open because of your own sin, or sin against you.
E. Practice the Presence of God.
Practice just “being with God.” Just enjoy each others company. Sometimes, just sitting with the Lord in silence can bring deep communion and refreshment to your spirit, soul and body. An earthly example of this sort of “being”, would be a loving couple who have been married for years. They do not have to say a word to each other yet a glance or a smile can pass on deep intimacy and “knowing.”
You don’t always have to be talking to Him. You don’t always have to be expecting heavy revelation from heaven, in prayer, you can just enjoy being with Him.
Part of practicing the presence of God is to understand he is with you always. It is a biblical fact and is not based on your emotions.
Deut 31:6 (NIV)
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
The presence of God is there all the time. Learning to know He is there, however, will take time and patience. Just drink in His love for in the presence of God, fear cannot reside, anxiety cannot reside, heaviness cannot abide. You need to learn to tune into His presence, it is always there, but we need to practice becoming aware of it.
- Have on hand your bible, a pen and a notebook
- Find a quiet place to pray if possible. This is not always possible, however, and God still blesses your prayer time in the midst of distractions.
- Be accustomed to periods of silence and don’t be afraid of pauses.
- If you find your mind wandering in prayer:
- Pray out loud.
- Read scriptures out loud. If you don’t know what to pray, then pray the prayers of the bible, there are dozens of prayers that you can take as your own. Pray the Psalms for example. They are songs, after all, perhaps they are better to be heard by the ear to reach the heart, like all songs.Paul prayed as an apostle over his charges all through his letters so grab a pen and paper and make note of where these prayers are and pray these in faith for yourself and for those you have made prayer priorities. There are many prayers in the Old Testament as well that you can make your heart’s prayer. As you read the Word out loud, you will find certain passages leap out at you that you never noticed before, as it takes longer to read out loud than to scan the page silently. Your heart and mind will have a longer opportunity to “chew” on the Word.
Walk or pace as you read the Word out loud, you’ll be amazed how it will inspire you and keep your mind from wandering. The combination of reading out loud and walking trains your brain to concentrate on the task at hand. If you can’t walk, then be creative in finding another way to keep your body a part of your prayer experience.
- Put on a worship tape.
- Ask the Lord to protect you as you pray.
- Declare you are determined to pray.
- If there is a pressing need of your own on your mind, submit it to the Lord in prayer. Write down those things that are causing your mind to wander and submit them to the Lord.
- Walk! Stand, change your posture. If you find you are dozing off regularly in your devotions and prayer times, then stand and walk around the room you are in.
- Ask the Lord if this is the best time for you to be praying. Some people are morning people, others can press in to the Lord in the wee small hours of the night. Find out what works best for you.
Source: I Lift My Eyes Ministry
11.15.09
Using Time Well
As today’s passage indicates, the Lord gives us resources and abilities, and He desires that we use them well. One such gift is time.
In order to manage our days effectively, we should continually review them: What activities did we choose? How long did each one take? What were the results? This discipline will reveal what is most important to us.
In looking closely at our assessments, we can determine what drives our decisions about how to use time. Some people merely respond to circumstances for a majority of their day. They jump from one thing to the next, answering phone calls, reorganizing shelves, or doing anything that appears in their world at the moment. But this style of living misses the mark.
Other people spend their time according to desires. They want to relax, so they get home and watch television for the evening. Or they love to hunt, so they use their time to research equipment and locate wildlife in the forest. Desires are not bad, but they should not drive the bulk of our actions.
Thankfully, there are also people who live according to what they deem important. Loving God and serving others, for instance, are two biblical values that should, ideally, determine what we do with our time.
If you itemize your activities and their time consumption over the course of a week, you might be surprised at the dominating events. Each moment is a gift, so set aside a few minutes each evening to plan. Then revisit the way you spent the last 24 hours. This will help you to live purposefully.
Source: In Touch Ministries
11.14.09
Three Key Steps If You Want To Be Happy…
1. Let go
I remember feeling physically lighter the first time I succeeded in really letting go of the things that were making me unhappy. Letting go is not easy but for me this is the key secret of being happy most of the time. There are five areas in which I am learning to let go:
- Expectations: The single most important step on my journey to happiness was learning to let go of expectations. Expectations – of ourselves and other people – set us up for disappointment, frustration and misery. Freeing yourself and the people you love from the burden of expectations is one of the best things you’ll ever do for yourself.
- Outcomes: Besides releasing expectations of people, learning to go with the flow by detaching from desired outcomes is also useful in achieving a happy medium. As a task-oriented person who pays attention to detail, this was challenging but worthwhile because I’m more able to take life as it comes these days.
- Possessions: The third thing I learnt to let go of was our need to possess. Thinking that we own things makes us susceptible to the fear of loss, and a life lived in fear is not a happy one. My aim now is to be able to store all my essential worldly possessions in just one suitcase.
- Approval: I’m now working on letting go of the need for the approval of others. Many of us care too much what others think. Although I’ve pared down the list of those whose opinions matter to me, I find this list of about ten people still too long. I’m guessing the ideal number for this list is one – me. Or maybe even that is too much because…
- Self: Another thing I’m learning to let go of is myself: my self-importance, needs, wants, hurts, even thoughts. While I am nowhere near the level of detachment and stillness that would make me a saint or buddha, I am slowly learning to get over it instead of dwelling on things.
2. Take control
This sounds like a contradiction of the first step, which is letting go. The difference is that we can let go of the things we cannot control, while taking charge of the things we can. Here are four main areas I worked on that added up to an overall feeling of joy, or at least long-term contentment.
- Finances: Stabilising my finances removed one of the major sources of worry and unhappiness in most people’s lives. I learnt to manage my money, increase cashflow and wealth using a simple spreadsheet, operate on a weekly cash budget, and studied ways to create multiple sources of income.
- Time: Reclaiming my time contributed a great deal to being happy, since work – life balance is key to loving both work and life. Finding time to do the things that are most important to me made a huge difference.
- Health: I used to have bad eating habits and had to learn to control bingeing and cut down sugar intake. Over time I managed an acceptable balance between enjoying sinful foods while limiting their impact. I also learnt simple ways to walk a lot more and get natural exercise in my daily routine.
- Relationships: The younger me was rather difficult to get along with, which obviously made nobody happy including myself. I had to work on being kind, speaking gently, and even resorted to writing things down before blurting them out. Thanks to good mentors, I even learnt to praise instead of criticise. Today I am grateful for strong and easy relationships with friends and family.
3. Practise gratitude
It is impossible to be grateful and unhappy at the same time. So one of the easiest ways to be happy is to be grateful. While letting go and taking control involve work and time, being grateful can happen in the space of a single thought. Here are three ways to practise gratitude:
- Journal: Probably the second best thing I did on my path to happiness was to start a gratitude journal. Write down five things you are grateful for each day, either at the end of the day or first thing the next morning. You can repeat points, since you’ll be grateful for your biggest blessings on many days.
- Carpe diem: An attitude that helped me to be grateful everyday was living like you’ll die tomorrow. Thinking like this helps you to make the most of each day realising this could be your last chance, and then the happy days start piling up in a virtuous circle – you’re happy to be living, and your way of living makes you happy.
- Judge not: As I gained some perspective in life (largely through growing older!) I came to see that ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are illusions. Things will happen in life – accidents, deaths, poor health, separations. You’ll be much happier when you stop judging these things as good or bad, but accept that things just are. Be grateful for the experience and smile because it happened.
Source: JoyfulDays.Com
Guidance for the Young…
Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.
19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes—
Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22 So they will be life to your soul
And grace to your neck.
23 Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the LORD will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“ Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the oppressor,
And choose none of his ways;
32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD,
But His secret counsel is with the upright.
33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the home of the just.
34 Surely He scorns the scornful,
But gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.
**********************************************************************
“It is better to live naked in truth than clothed in fantasy.” ~Brennan Manning
“If you have comprehended God, you have not. God is always greater because… He is God.” ~Thomas Aquinas
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
- Unknown author
“Don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer.”~ Denis Waitley
The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire not things we fear.” ~ Brian Tracy
“Remember, happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have, it depends solely upon what you think.”~ Dale Carnegie
11.13.09
The Significance of the number 40 in the Bible…
The number 40 holds particular significance in the Bible and refers to a precise number, not just a long period of time. There are at least ten instances in the Old Testament and New Testament where 40 occurs, either in years or days, e.g. it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, Moses was on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights, the Israelites wandered 40 years, Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days and was seen on the earth for 40 days after His crucifixion.
A 40-something time period, whether days, months, or years is ALWAYS a period of testing, trial, probation, or chastisement (but not judgment) and ends with a period of restoration, revival or renewal.
Thankfully, God is consistent, so the meaning of a number in Genesis remains the same all the way to the book of Revelation. Sometimes the spiritual significance is not revealed directly, but in the case of “40″ and its many examples throughout the Bible, we can be certain of its importance and significance.
(Source: WikiAnswer)
The number forty has long been universally recognized as an important number, both on account of the frequency of its occurrence, and the uniformity of its association with a period of probation, trial, and chastisement—(not judgment, like the number 9, which stands in connection with the punishment of enemies, but the chastisement of sons, and of a covenant people). It is the product of 5 and 8, and points to the action of grace (5), leading to and ending in revival and renewal (8). This is certainly the case where Forty relates to a period of evident probation. But where it relates to enlarged dominion, or to renewed or extended rule, then it does so in virtue of its factors 4 and 10, and in harmony with their signification.
There are 15 such periods which appear on the surface of the Scriptures, and which may be thus classified:—
Forty Years of Probation by Trial
- Israel in the wilderness, Deuteronomy 8:2-5; Psalm 95:10; Acts 13:18
(the third 40 of Moses’ life, 120 years). - Israel from the crucifixion to the destruction of Jerusalem.
Forty Years of Probation by Prosperity in Deliverance and Rest
- under Othniel, Judges 3:11,
- under Barak, Judges 5:31,
- under Gideon, Judges 8:28.
Forty Years of Probation by Prosperity in Enlarged Dominion
- under David, 2Samuel 5:4,
- under Solomon, 1 Kings 11:42,
- under Jeroboam II. See 2 Kings 12:17,18, 13:3,5,7,22,25, 14:12-14,23,28,
- under Jehoash, 2 Kings 12:1,
- under Joash, 2Chronicles 24:1.
Forty Years of Probation by Humiliation and Servitude
- Israel under the Philistines, Judges 13:1.
- Israel in the time of Eli, 1Samuel 4:18.
- Israel under Saul, Acts 13:21.
Forty Years of Probation by Waiting
- Moses in Egypt, Acts 7:23.
- Moses in Midian, Acts 7:30
Forty Days
There are eight of such great periods on the surface of the Bible:
- Forty days Moses was in the mount, Exodus 24:18; and to receive the Law, Exodus 24:18.
- Forty days Moses was in the mount after the sin of the Golden Calf, Deuteronomy 9:18,25.
- Forty days of the spies, issuing in the penal sentence of the 40 years, Numbers 13:26, 14:34.
- Forty days of Elijah in Horeb, 1 Kings 19:8.
- Forty days of Jonah and Nineveh, Jonah 3:4.
- Forty days Ezekiel lay on his right side to symbolize the 40 years of Judah’s transgression.*
- Forty days Jesus was tempted of the Devil, Matthew 4:2.
- Forty days Jesus was seen of His disciples, speaking of things pertaining to God’s kingdom, Acts 1:2.
* Thus 40 becomes a number closely connected with Judah, as 390 (Ezekiel 4:5) is the number of separated Israel. The significance of this will be seen (on note on number 8), for 40 is a multiple of 8, and 390 is a multiple of 13. It may also be noted that 65 (5×13) is the number of Ephraim, while 70 is specially connected with Jerusalem.
(Source: BibleStudy.Org)
11.12.09
thoughts….
Work as if it was your first day.
Forgive as soon as possible.
Love without boundaries.
Laugh without control
and never stop smiling.
God’s FAITHFULNESS & PROVISION for FORTY YEARS…..
“The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.”
~Deutronomy 2:7~
10.23.09
Letter from HELL…
“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment..” ~Hebrews 9:27~
“It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is ” ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” ~ Acts 4:10-12~
“ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” ~Isaiah 53:5~
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” ~John 3:16-18~
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” ~John 3:36~
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~John 14:6~
