James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
this is something that we all need to remember!
Sunday, May 04, 2008
How to triumph over temptations?
"Open the floodgates of Heaven, Let it rain"
How do u trust God totally? What is that we must do right before can open the floodgates of Heaven?
--------
Only when you are not alive, then you will not be tempted. Everyone of us go through temptation.
Who is the source of all temptations?
The moment someone tells you not to touch, you will be tempted to touch. Examine our lives.
The person tempting us is ourselves. How do you tempt yourself?
James 1:13
"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
Trials and temptations are two different things.
Temptation is the one tat will continuously sabotage you to to accomplish what God wants to do in your lives.
Temptation comes from within. Trials comes from external pressure.
How you respond to your "trials" situation determine how u are going to grow in the Lord.
When we face temptation we usually want to find a way of temptations. But sometimes we do not want to find a way out, because it might look good, feel good.
The devil wants to come and steal, kill and destroy.
Falling prey to temptation involves a series of steps:
When you look, you assess and see is fine.. But only when you start desiring.
Temptation is internal pressure.
We must stop doing the blaming game.
If you do not identify with it, you cannot deal with it.
1. Do not go near temptation
2. Flee from it
Who is the source of triumph; God
How do u trust God totally? What is that we must do right before can open the floodgates of Heaven?
--------
Only when you are not alive, then you will not be tempted. Everyone of us go through temptation.
Who is the source of all temptations?
The moment someone tells you not to touch, you will be tempted to touch. Examine our lives.
The person tempting us is ourselves. How do you tempt yourself?
James 1:13
"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
Trials and temptations are two different things.
Temptation is the one tat will continuously sabotage you to to accomplish what God wants to do in your lives.
Temptation comes from within. Trials comes from external pressure.
How you respond to your "trials" situation determine how u are going to grow in the Lord.
When we face temptation we usually want to find a way of temptations. But sometimes we do not want to find a way out, because it might look good, feel good.
The devil wants to come and steal, kill and destroy.
Falling prey to temptation involves a series of steps:
When you look, you assess and see is fine.. But only when you start desiring.
Temptation is internal pressure.
We must stop doing the blaming game.
If you do not identify with it, you cannot deal with it.
1. Do not go near temptation
2. Flee from it
Who is the source of triumph; God
Friday, April 25, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
The Parable of Talents - Pastor Sally
14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Talents - Two months wages.
Today, its not talents = money. Talents = investing their lives.
We all need to look into the word of God and not opinion of people.
Why did the master assign the talents that way? The master assigned to them each according to their abilities.
We are given opportunities according to our abilities. All of us will be given oppo in our lives, we will not ahve the same equal opportunities. Its not because God loves us less, but its because of our abilities, and because if that he entrusted talents to each servant.
1) We will not have equal opportunities
2) We will not have equal abilities
3) We do not handle responsibilities equally
Jesus gave OPPORTUNITIES, RESOURCES & SKILL.
The servant who got one; would think why the rest got more talents and he only has one?
Many of us are not contented with ourselves; we look at ourselves and we desire to be like our "idols".
God knows each and every one of us, he knows our abilities, he believes in each and every one of us. However, our problem is we are not contented with what we are given. Why so and so is so successful , why can't I? and a lot more of such questions.
Its about time, we embrace what God has given us, with contentment and gratitude, and decide what we want to do with our talents.
The servant with the one talent is afraid of losing the talent. The rest took the responsibility, they were faithful adn they went to work their talents. We always want the easy way out - we need to work hard.
Whatever God puts in your hands, put it to work.
It is God's desire to bless you, his desire to transform you.
Jesus is holding your hands, as long as you do not let go. No matter how hard times may be, because if you are holding on to God's hand you will come out victorious.
Five talents were a few things, "few things" and then he got promoted to the "many things".
If you run away from your responsibilities, you will be delaying your promotion.
If you are the person holding on to the one talent, we are given a few thousand dollars, we become afraid that we will lose the money, we hide it as we think its their hard earned money. But when we are called "wicked and lazy servants", how would we feel?
The moral of the story is this; everyone of us has abilities but we choose to bury it.
Mostly we are lazy people... said the bible... if we hide our talents.
Sometimes we cannot see beyond ourselves that we can multiply the talent.
SIdetrack: If I am the master, and i am giving the money why am i labeled a hard man?
In verse 24: 5So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.
If you do not even know what God has placed in you, you will always be afraid and always hiding. The man with one talent, did not feel that the talent belonged to him.
The master took the talent from him and then gave it to the one with five talents.
Is this fair? There are certain principles in life, the more you apply the word of God, the more you receive, the more you use it, the more you will not lose it.
Whatever God has given you, use it. SO that you will not lose it.
The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. This makes the most difference, we procrastinate..
We need to work on our strength, and not on our weaknesses. When we work on our strength, we double up really fast, but if we work on our weaknesses, then its always so much slower, that is not our strength.
The bible says: "You must forgive him 490 times in one day! Not in a whole lifetime." - Luke 17:4
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a]
23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
Footnotes:
1. Matthew 18:22 Or seventy times seven
4If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
"Oh how many times have I broken your heart, but still you forgive if only i ask."
Thank you Lord, and please forgive me for burying the talents that you gave me. and Please forgive me for wasting your talents and that i was not a good steward for the talents you entrusted me.
Please do trust me again.
Amen.
When we want to reach our to people, we need to take care of this body of ours. If God is our everything, honour him, by loving ourselves, respecting ourselves and others.
If we all are trying to change, the work becomes harder when there are some who refuse to.
So we will all work harder!!!
Just a little snap shot of us @ church!
The Parable of the Talents
19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Talents - Two months wages.
Today, its not talents = money. Talents = investing their lives.
We all need to look into the word of God and not opinion of people.
Why did the master assign the talents that way? The master assigned to them each according to their abilities.
We are given opportunities according to our abilities. All of us will be given oppo in our lives, we will not ahve the same equal opportunities. Its not because God loves us less, but its because of our abilities, and because if that he entrusted talents to each servant.
1) We will not have equal opportunities
2) We will not have equal abilities
3) We do not handle responsibilities equally
Jesus gave OPPORTUNITIES, RESOURCES & SKILL.
The servant who got one; would think why the rest got more talents and he only has one?
Many of us are not contented with ourselves; we look at ourselves and we desire to be like our "idols".
God knows each and every one of us, he knows our abilities, he believes in each and every one of us. However, our problem is we are not contented with what we are given. Why so and so is so successful , why can't I? and a lot more of such questions.
Its about time, we embrace what God has given us, with contentment and gratitude, and decide what we want to do with our talents.
The servant with the one talent is afraid of losing the talent. The rest took the responsibility, they were faithful adn they went to work their talents. We always want the easy way out - we need to work hard.
Whatever God puts in your hands, put it to work.
It is God's desire to bless you, his desire to transform you.
Jesus is holding your hands, as long as you do not let go. No matter how hard times may be, because if you are holding on to God's hand you will come out victorious.
Five talents were a few things, "few things" and then he got promoted to the "many things".
If you run away from your responsibilities, you will be delaying your promotion.
If you are the person holding on to the one talent, we are given a few thousand dollars, we become afraid that we will lose the money, we hide it as we think its their hard earned money. But when we are called "wicked and lazy servants", how would we feel?
The moral of the story is this; everyone of us has abilities but we choose to bury it.
Mostly we are lazy people... said the bible... if we hide our talents.
Sometimes we cannot see beyond ourselves that we can multiply the talent.
SIdetrack: If I am the master, and i am giving the money why am i labeled a hard man?
In verse 24: 5So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.
If you do not even know what God has placed in you, you will always be afraid and always hiding. The man with one talent, did not feel that the talent belonged to him.
The master took the talent from him and then gave it to the one with five talents.
Is this fair? There are certain principles in life, the more you apply the word of God, the more you receive, the more you use it, the more you will not lose it.
Whatever God has given you, use it. SO that you will not lose it.
The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. This makes the most difference, we procrastinate..
We need to work on our strength, and not on our weaknesses. When we work on our strength, we double up really fast, but if we work on our weaknesses, then its always so much slower, that is not our strength.
The bible says: "You must forgive him 490 times in one day! Not in a whole lifetime." - Luke 17:4
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a]
23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
Footnotes:
1. Matthew 18:22 Or seventy times seven
4If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
"Oh how many times have I broken your heart, but still you forgive if only i ask."
Thank you Lord, and please forgive me for burying the talents that you gave me. and Please forgive me for wasting your talents and that i was not a good steward for the talents you entrusted me.
Please do trust me again.
Amen.
When we want to reach our to people, we need to take care of this body of ours. If God is our everything, honour him, by loving ourselves, respecting ourselves and others.
If we all are trying to change, the work becomes harder when there are some who refuse to.
So we will all work harder!!!
Just a little snap shot of us @ church!
The Parable of the Talents
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Spending time with God
After a long day's work, I wanted to switch the television on and just chill. But Isaac's sharing in cell sparked a thought in me, I could spend some time with God. I struggled honestly, to want to just not do anything..
So I guess here I am, just want to pray and ask God for some peace that I have done what I can for the business, and now I will leave the rest to God. And while tomorrow, I concentrate on doing God's work and praising Him, I will get peace.
Lord, may i pray for ong now that she may get a touch from you and that she will be able to walk in the direction that you want her to go. I pray for your hand in all that she does, and all that I do, that everything we do may bring glory to you, and excellence to your name.
Lord, also bless Jerome with wisdom and discernment to know when to work and when to play, may he attain his dream just so that Lord, you may fulfill your purpose in him.
Lord, please bless esther's project that she will get creativity in her, Lord you are the one who created all that is in the earth, may she be able to see what you saw in creation.
I pray for Agnes Lord, that she will find her direction in life too, that she will find that one thing she is passionate about, that I can grow to love and care for her as much as you do.
Realization in my brother, for him also Lord to be happy, for him to know that despite everything, he is still very much loved by us.
Lord, for all that is in my mind, for all my burdens I lift it to you, thank you so much for being my shelter and providing for me. Lord, grant me the contentment to live the life that you want me to live.
In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.
So I guess here I am, just want to pray and ask God for some peace that I have done what I can for the business, and now I will leave the rest to God. And while tomorrow, I concentrate on doing God's work and praising Him, I will get peace.
Lord, may i pray for ong now that she may get a touch from you and that she will be able to walk in the direction that you want her to go. I pray for your hand in all that she does, and all that I do, that everything we do may bring glory to you, and excellence to your name.
Lord, also bless Jerome with wisdom and discernment to know when to work and when to play, may he attain his dream just so that Lord, you may fulfill your purpose in him.
Lord, please bless esther's project that she will get creativity in her, Lord you are the one who created all that is in the earth, may she be able to see what you saw in creation.
I pray for Agnes Lord, that she will find her direction in life too, that she will find that one thing she is passionate about, that I can grow to love and care for her as much as you do.
Realization in my brother, for him also Lord to be happy, for him to know that despite everything, he is still very much loved by us.
Lord, for all that is in my mind, for all my burdens I lift it to you, thank you so much for being my shelter and providing for me. Lord, grant me the contentment to live the life that you want me to live.
In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
The Difficulties of business
Really understand the frustrations of business, and understand why only 10% of the people population make it in life. I am tempted to give up, but the spirit in me is pushing for me to go the extra mile! I need to be able to stay focus and be creative in all that I do. To learn the ropes of business and be a success.
Lord, may you assist me in all that I do, may you guide me on all the decisions that I have to make. Let me be encouraged by you Lord and not by the circumstances around.
Amen.
Love,
Jewel
Lord, may you assist me in all that I do, may you guide me on all the decisions that I have to make. Let me be encouraged by you Lord and not by the circumstances around.
Amen.
Love,
Jewel
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Enthusiasm in the Lord Part Two
1 Timothy 6:12 "Fight the good fight of the faith."
The fuel that was placed inside of us is the blood of the lamb. It was paid at a high price. The devil came to rob us of the joy.
Once he steals your joy, you will lose enthusiasm, lose your joy, lose your confidence and you will lose the power of faith.
The Lord wants to restore you one notch more; higher.
We are our own enemy; our mind is our obstacle to what God is calling us to. "Put on the mind of Christ"
Dun get tired of running the race, and of fighting the good fight. We are fighting the fight that cannot be lost. Its a fixed match. There's no way we can lose.
Unless, you willingly lose, unless you got bribed to lose.
CHANGE. We need to change our mindset.
In Habakkuk 3:17-18, He is experiencing failure, lack, no fruits, no blessing, he thought of quitting. YET i will rejoice, no matter how far away, no matter what I am experiencing. When you purpose yourself to be enthusiastic, to God's purposes.
Habakkuk chapter 3
17 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,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Nehemiah 8:10 "The joy of the Lord is my strength"
We all have problems, who does not have problems.
All the problems in the world is more or less similar; money, relationship, family.
It takes conscious effort to rejoice in the Lord. Many times we don't feel like worshiping the Lord.
Many of us are overwhelmed by many things.
PURPOSE in LIFE: God wants to deal with disappointments today.
We get disappointed even with God, we do not understand how God moves. God wants to release that emotional part of our lives.
Disappointment in life. The key this morning: YET!
When we are in love, love makes you do crazy things. Fall in love with God.
A lot of us do not want to be noticed, how can we make disciples then?
Habakkuk 3
19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.
The result of your enthusiasm is that God becomes your strength.
We are always giving excuses for ourselves. Find out what is the root of your excuse? Then remember that these are excuses.
BE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT YOUR LIFE.
God does not want us to remain where we are.
Nehemiah 8: 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
They read the word for half a day and they do it for seven days. In life, modern day, we all have our own preconceptions, principles in life. If you want to prosper in God. Let us go back to the basics; the word of God. The principles of God will never fail in your life.
We need to understand the word of the Lord. Being Enthusiastic is good, but we need to have the knowledge too. Enthusiasm without knowledge resulted in a mishap e.g. When David brought in the ark of the tabernacle.
We need to have focused enthusiasm.
In our lives we need to apply the word of God but how can we apply it if we do not know the word?
Nehemiah 8:8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear [a] and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.
10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
Change can be revolutionary (completely new) or evolutionary (slowly changing). A lot of our lives needs to be slowly changed.
1) To get enthusiasm, we must first understand the value of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is something we all need. A lot of us are waiting; for someone to come and excite you, to push is, for life to change. But all we do is wait.
"Farmer was resting, he was a lazy farmer, suddenly a rabbit ran across hit a stone and had a heart attack and died. He thought to himself, wow if everyday a rabbit comes and has an accident, he will have food everyday!" It never happens.
If you are sitting down and waiting for love, you will not be able to find it. You need to look for love.
Do not sit down and wait for God to do something, we must give, we must sow and then we will reap.
2) Take responsibility for your own enthusiasm. - Be excited about your own life.
Disneyland mentality: "When we go to Disneyland, and we become happy but on the way to Disneyland, we fight? Quarrel? and only when we reach there do we be happy?" Its not about the destination, its about the journey. It is our journey there that matters.
3) Excited people make other people excited. They add value to your life. If you are with boring people, you want to go home. It is contagious.
People tends to connect visual. When they do not see the enthusiasm in your face, they do not feel it.
"If you have it flaunt it, if you don't have it fake it? - Faith it!"
I must put my faith in the Lord, "act" courageous and then slowly gain the faith!
"make a joyful noise unto the Lord"
It is the Grace of God that matters.
SMILE!!!!
1) Fake it till you make it? - Eat a banana : )
Fake joy is better than genuine depression.
2)Forsake it(negative feelings) till you make it. - Dun let your emotions control you.
3) Break it (bad habits)till you make it. Procrastination - Tomorrow never comes. Forgetfulness. (give away the book of excuses)
4) Stake it till you make it. Claim it, declare it. Be enthusiastic about it, study about it to know how to make it work. iTs never easy.
5) Take it till you make it. Endurance.
Lets run the race. Fight the good fight.
"youth olympics" - you got to keep training. do the due diligence. Do not be only the claiming christians. Be the declaring and then the working christians.
ENTHUSIASM with WISDOM
The fuel that was placed inside of us is the blood of the lamb. It was paid at a high price. The devil came to rob us of the joy.
Once he steals your joy, you will lose enthusiasm, lose your joy, lose your confidence and you will lose the power of faith.
The Lord wants to restore you one notch more; higher.
We are our own enemy; our mind is our obstacle to what God is calling us to. "Put on the mind of Christ"
Dun get tired of running the race, and of fighting the good fight. We are fighting the fight that cannot be lost. Its a fixed match. There's no way we can lose.
Unless, you willingly lose, unless you got bribed to lose.
CHANGE. We need to change our mindset.
In Habakkuk 3:17-18, He is experiencing failure, lack, no fruits, no blessing, he thought of quitting. YET i will rejoice, no matter how far away, no matter what I am experiencing. When you purpose yourself to be enthusiastic, to God's purposes.
Habakkuk chapter 3
17 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,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Nehemiah 8:10 "The joy of the Lord is my strength"
We all have problems, who does not have problems.
All the problems in the world is more or less similar; money, relationship, family.
It takes conscious effort to rejoice in the Lord. Many times we don't feel like worshiping the Lord.
Many of us are overwhelmed by many things.
PURPOSE in LIFE: God wants to deal with disappointments today.
We get disappointed even with God, we do not understand how God moves. God wants to release that emotional part of our lives.
Disappointment in life. The key this morning: YET!
When we are in love, love makes you do crazy things. Fall in love with God.
A lot of us do not want to be noticed, how can we make disciples then?
Habakkuk 3
19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.
The result of your enthusiasm is that God becomes your strength.
We are always giving excuses for ourselves. Find out what is the root of your excuse? Then remember that these are excuses.
BE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT YOUR LIFE.
God does not want us to remain where we are.
Nehemiah 8: 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
They read the word for half a day and they do it for seven days. In life, modern day, we all have our own preconceptions, principles in life. If you want to prosper in God. Let us go back to the basics; the word of God. The principles of God will never fail in your life.
We need to understand the word of the Lord. Being Enthusiastic is good, but we need to have the knowledge too. Enthusiasm without knowledge resulted in a mishap e.g. When David brought in the ark of the tabernacle.
We need to have focused enthusiasm.
In our lives we need to apply the word of God but how can we apply it if we do not know the word?
Nehemiah 8:8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear [a] and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.
10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
Change can be revolutionary (completely new) or evolutionary (slowly changing). A lot of our lives needs to be slowly changed.
1) To get enthusiasm, we must first understand the value of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is something we all need. A lot of us are waiting; for someone to come and excite you, to push is, for life to change. But all we do is wait.
"Farmer was resting, he was a lazy farmer, suddenly a rabbit ran across hit a stone and had a heart attack and died. He thought to himself, wow if everyday a rabbit comes and has an accident, he will have food everyday!" It never happens.
If you are sitting down and waiting for love, you will not be able to find it. You need to look for love.
Do not sit down and wait for God to do something, we must give, we must sow and then we will reap.
2) Take responsibility for your own enthusiasm. - Be excited about your own life.
Disneyland mentality: "When we go to Disneyland, and we become happy but on the way to Disneyland, we fight? Quarrel? and only when we reach there do we be happy?" Its not about the destination, its about the journey. It is our journey there that matters.
3) Excited people make other people excited. They add value to your life. If you are with boring people, you want to go home. It is contagious.
People tends to connect visual. When they do not see the enthusiasm in your face, they do not feel it.
"If you have it flaunt it, if you don't have it fake it? - Faith it!"
I must put my faith in the Lord, "act" courageous and then slowly gain the faith!
"make a joyful noise unto the Lord"
It is the Grace of God that matters.
SMILE!!!!
1) Fake it till you make it? - Eat a banana : )
Fake joy is better than genuine depression.
2)Forsake it(negative feelings) till you make it. - Dun let your emotions control you.
3) Break it (bad habits)till you make it. Procrastination - Tomorrow never comes. Forgetfulness. (give away the book of excuses)
4) Stake it till you make it. Claim it, declare it. Be enthusiastic about it, study about it to know how to make it work. iTs never easy.
5) Take it till you make it. Endurance.
Lets run the race. Fight the good fight.
"youth olympics" - you got to keep training. do the due diligence. Do not be only the claiming christians. Be the declaring and then the working christians.
ENTHUSIASM with WISDOM
Saturday, April 05, 2008
The urgency in life
The urgency in life as compared to trusting that God will take care of my needs.
I am wondering. I came home and saw my dad sleeping, with muscle pain relievers sticked all over his arms. I felt ashamed, that i am unable to provide for my dad to stop working. Makes me feel inspired to work harder towards my goal. As well as to trust God that He loves my dad more than I know or will ever understand. Thus, God will take care of him too.
Now my one wish is for my family to be saved. And Jerome's family to be saved. For then, we will be relieved to at least know that it is done.
I need to focus. I need to be able to hold the fort!
Amen.
I am wondering. I came home and saw my dad sleeping, with muscle pain relievers sticked all over his arms. I felt ashamed, that i am unable to provide for my dad to stop working. Makes me feel inspired to work harder towards my goal. As well as to trust God that He loves my dad more than I know or will ever understand. Thus, God will take care of him too.
Now my one wish is for my family to be saved. And Jerome's family to be saved. For then, we will be relieved to at least know that it is done.
I need to focus. I need to be able to hold the fort!
Amen.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Taking Baby Steps @ a time
I woke up this morning and looked around me, wondering why I seem to always be stuck in some similar situations. And I realised what Sean said yesterday. He said, that its the same as the story of the stone in the middle of the road. There was a man who traveled the same path to the market every month. And every month, he would go through the same road and trip over the same stone. And every single time, he would exclaim in pain of how he should have seen it coming.
Same goes for me, if i always have the same stumbling block in my life, it must be because I have not sat up and paid enough attention to avoid that stumbling block.
So i have decided to take baby steps at a time to walk towards the life that God wants for me.
Amen!
Same goes for me, if i always have the same stumbling block in my life, it must be because I have not sat up and paid enough attention to avoid that stumbling block.
So i have decided to take baby steps at a time to walk towards the life that God wants for me.
Amen!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Enthusiasm in the Lord
God can take care of you even if you have no money in your wallet.
1) How many of you feel excited about your life?
Not really...
2) How many of you are excited about your life?
Hmm...
Enthusiasm and excitement is a matter of choice that you make.
Are you excited about God?
It is a choice to be excited about God.
Its easy to be excited about something, but its never easy to stay excited.
Its very easy to buy a car, but to maintain a car its difficult.
Sometimes in our lives, we put emotional brakes up; thats why the enthusiasm cannot come out.
Emotional brakes stop you from being excited:
1) Childhood suppression - Children are rivers of joy, excited and bubbly. But as parents, they might always suppress the children; to be quiet. After a while, children think that being quiet is a normal thing to do, they lose their creativity or the ability to be themselves.
2) Adult Peer Pressure - Remain poised and sophisticated till we become cold. People who are not confident in themselves, people who have no confidence, insecure will never let your true
God can take care of you even if you have no money in your wallet.
1) How many of you feel excited about your life?
Not really...
2) How many of you are excited about your life?
Hmm...
Enthusiasm and excitement is a matter of choice that you make.
Are you excited about God?
It is a choice to be excited about God.
Its easy to be excited about something, but its never easy to stay excited.
Its very easy to buy a car, but to maintain a car its difficult.
Sometimes in our lives, we put emotional brakes up; thats why the enthusiasm cannot come out.
Emotional brakes stop you from being excited:
1) Childhood suppression - Children are rivers of joy, excited and bubbly. But as parents, they might always suppress the children; to be quiet. After a while, children think that being quiet is a normal thing to do, they lose their creativity or the ability to be themselves.
2) Adult Peer Pressure - Remain poised and sophisticated till we become cold. People who are not confident in themselves, people who have no confidence, insecure will never let your true self come out. We need to let that person that God wants you to be not to be locked inside.
Let's take the word of God and make it practical.
We need to make a conscious effort to remove the emotional brakes.
Whatever is good, keep on working at it.
Tune in next week to know the 11 ways to build the enthusiasm back into our life.
Amen.
-Pastor Frankie-
.;- self come out. We need to let that person that God wants you to be not to be locked inside.
Let's take the word of God and make it practical.
We need to make a conscious effort to remove the emotional brakes.
Whatever is good, keep on working at it.
Tune in next week to know the 11 ways to build the enthusiasm back into our life.
Amen.
-Pastor Frankie-
1) How many of you feel excited about your life?
Not really...
2) How many of you are excited about your life?
Hmm...
Enthusiasm and excitement is a matter of choice that you make.
Are you excited about God?
It is a choice to be excited about God.
Its easy to be excited about something, but its never easy to stay excited.
Its very easy to buy a car, but to maintain a car its difficult.
Sometimes in our lives, we put emotional brakes up; thats why the enthusiasm cannot come out.
Emotional brakes stop you from being excited:
1) Childhood suppression - Children are rivers of joy, excited and bubbly. But as parents, they might always suppress the children; to be quiet. After a while, children think that being quiet is a normal thing to do, they lose their creativity or the ability to be themselves.
2) Adult Peer Pressure - Remain poised and sophisticated till we become cold. People who are not confident in themselves, people who have no confidence, insecure will never let your true
God can take care of you even if you have no money in your wallet.
1) How many of you feel excited about your life?
Not really...
2) How many of you are excited about your life?
Hmm...
Enthusiasm and excitement is a matter of choice that you make.
Are you excited about God?
It is a choice to be excited about God.
Its easy to be excited about something, but its never easy to stay excited.
Its very easy to buy a car, but to maintain a car its difficult.
Sometimes in our lives, we put emotional brakes up; thats why the enthusiasm cannot come out.
Emotional brakes stop you from being excited:
1) Childhood suppression - Children are rivers of joy, excited and bubbly. But as parents, they might always suppress the children; to be quiet. After a while, children think that being quiet is a normal thing to do, they lose their creativity or the ability to be themselves.
2) Adult Peer Pressure - Remain poised and sophisticated till we become cold. People who are not confident in themselves, people who have no confidence, insecure will never let your true self come out. We need to let that person that God wants you to be not to be locked inside.
Let's take the word of God and make it practical.
We need to make a conscious effort to remove the emotional brakes.
Whatever is good, keep on working at it.
Tune in next week to know the 11 ways to build the enthusiasm back into our life.
Amen.
-Pastor Frankie-
.;- self come out. We need to let that person that God wants you to be not to be locked inside.
Let's take the word of God and make it practical.
We need to make a conscious effort to remove the emotional brakes.
Whatever is good, keep on working at it.
Tune in next week to know the 11 ways to build the enthusiasm back into our life.
Amen.
-Pastor Frankie-
Vision of the Angel with the Golden Wings
Eric shared with me on the vision, that previously i was not serious in my prayers, i do not sincerely believe that God will provide for me, will protect me.
God will protect me, He is showing me that He will care and protect for me.
And finally I will step out in faith and go out and face the world.
He said, that in the Bible, God said that He will cover me in the shadows of His wings.
Amen
God will protect me, He is showing me that He will care and protect for me.
And finally I will step out in faith and go out and face the world.
He said, that in the Bible, God said that He will cover me in the shadows of His wings.
Amen
Friday, March 28, 2008
The Christian Battlefield
For the first time in my life, I felt that I could hear the war cries around me. First time I noticed the war zones in my life. And I realised that I have not been preparing for the war, I have not believed in the spiritual warfare that I hear Christians talk about.
I felt lost, depressed, and filled with strife. I really didn't feel like sharing today and i asked God what He wants to do for the cell, what He wants to share in the cell?
I hear a prompting in me to talk about the Armor of God, to put it on and prepare for battle. The belt of truth, the helmet of Salvation, the sandals of peace, the sword, the shield of faith.
I really placed my faith in God to lead the sharing, to share the experiences that I had these few days with our cell.. And God just led me to the article on the internet about the armor of God. Lord, I pray that I will remember these two weeks, and be at a constant spiritual readiness for the war that is already ongoing.
I was truly blessed when Cass shared with me a vision she saw. She saw me kneeling down on a cushion, and praying and there is a majestic angel with gold wings encompassing me in an embrace. Shielding me, its gold wings reflecting the light into the darkness that was surrounding me. I peep occasionally but i wanted to escape and could not face up to reality. And slowly the darkness around me became fire, and i could feel the heat, but i still did not want to face up to it, and I slowly opened up and walked to face what I have to face.
This is truly like how i felt, that I want to remain in my comfort zone, my protection, and although i see the needs of the world, i just want to turn a blind eye and continue leading my normal life.
I need to be a light to shine into the world.
Amen.
I felt lost, depressed, and filled with strife. I really didn't feel like sharing today and i asked God what He wants to do for the cell, what He wants to share in the cell?
I hear a prompting in me to talk about the Armor of God, to put it on and prepare for battle. The belt of truth, the helmet of Salvation, the sandals of peace, the sword, the shield of faith.
I really placed my faith in God to lead the sharing, to share the experiences that I had these few days with our cell.. And God just led me to the article on the internet about the armor of God. Lord, I pray that I will remember these two weeks, and be at a constant spiritual readiness for the war that is already ongoing.
I was truly blessed when Cass shared with me a vision she saw. She saw me kneeling down on a cushion, and praying and there is a majestic angel with gold wings encompassing me in an embrace. Shielding me, its gold wings reflecting the light into the darkness that was surrounding me. I peep occasionally but i wanted to escape and could not face up to reality. And slowly the darkness around me became fire, and i could feel the heat, but i still did not want to face up to it, and I slowly opened up and walked to face what I have to face.
This is truly like how i felt, that I want to remain in my comfort zone, my protection, and although i see the needs of the world, i just want to turn a blind eye and continue leading my normal life.
I need to be a light to shine into the world.
Amen.
Monday, March 24, 2008
All about Jewel Tan
I realised how a "3 minutes Fever" person I am after looking at all the blogs that I have started.. Hmm.. now i think i need to re-org a little! Okie lets see...
Jewelserene.blogspot.com - is my deep thoughts, reflections, my walk with God.
onecloudyday.wordpress.com - is my pastry dreams, and my personal collection of everything under the sun
alady'slife.wordpress.com - is about my thoughts on being a lady, about the lovely marriage experiences but somehow, beautiful things also go on onecloudyday.wordpress.com.
Hmm.. anyhow, so from now.. these is all of course then there is
aworldwithin.wordpress.com
whiteaffections.blogspot.com
Oh man.. Now i really beat myself to the game..
That is it.
Jewel
Jewelserene.blogspot.com - is my deep thoughts, reflections, my walk with God.
onecloudyday.wordpress.com - is my pastry dreams, and my personal collection of everything under the sun
alady'slife.wordpress.com - is about my thoughts on being a lady, about the lovely marriage experiences but somehow, beautiful things also go on onecloudyday.wordpress.com.
Hmm.. anyhow, so from now.. these is all of course then there is
aworldwithin.wordpress.com
whiteaffections.blogspot.com
Oh man.. Now i really beat myself to the game..
That is it.
Jewel
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Worship Conference
You should be called where Worship leading is concerned, you are not leading people in songs only, demonstrating the lifestyle of worship, its a major responsibility. You need to serve a number of years.
He always says: Watch your leaders and mirror them, if you are not practicing as a leader then how can you encourage under you to develop. Practice yourself. Do not become a great musician to be a great musician.
You need to maximise the time when the worship team are together, you never have the chance to let them hang around. When we are on stage worshipping, this is not hard work, our focus is not on the music, is what is happening with the people and in Heaven.
Have a plan, do not just have the desire. The temple musicians, the amount of training that they have just to lead worship.
Be the best that you can be.
Exodus 3 Be skilled, develop your giftings. What are the steps we take to develop ourselves?
The whole musical and spiritual aspect. Never become stagnant. Keep the team focused. Musical expertise, when we say singer or musician needs to be skilled. All needs to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Listening is crucial. We need to listen to each other and the spirit of God, not be busy singing. We must train ourselves to be skilled enough to follow any type of service.
Sensitivity.
Meet the needs of the people, whats happening with the people?
We could missed the moment, if we are not listening to your spiritual ears, do not stick to the rehearsed. Music is a spiritual thing.
Music is a language.
Words is not enough in a language, music is a language. Every song has a different vocabulary. God is ready to move, are we?
Church music; there are awesome moments, how do you play along with Angels? Listen and duplicate, especially if you are talented.
Chronicles, we can worship for hours.
Are you ready for what you believe what God wants to do?
God starts with our natural ability, Prayer!
The prayer aspect, we are all not at the same place spiritually. Sensitize our ears, first 10 mins. How are you? - They do not say fine.
Focusing on the team members, everyone is special and everyone knows their place. When you say lets practice, its a different practice.
Music is healing. Rehearsals can be healing too. The team is a part of God is doing in the general church.
BIBLE STUDY. strengthen our faith, foundation. Empowerment. Important. Biblical foundation.
Leader finds out their lives of the people. We are all out looking out for one another. Spiritual immaturity. Sharpening the spiritual aspect of members.
How skillful should we be to lead the team?
Structure of leadership team. Delegate. It depends on what aspects on the skills. Develop those who has the talent and strengths. Watch the hearts of the people. Alert, preceptive and discerning and encourage.
Do not do everything yourself.
Its more than music.
Ask some questions about the past and you will know the problems.
You can only take someone as far as you have gone yourself?
How does one motivate and encourage the team to excellence?
The Bible; James 4. You do not have what you ask, because you are asking for the wrong motives.
Are you practicing? If you wish to be better singer?
Listen to God. What is saying to me?
In His Presence, lock yourself away in His Presence. Open you Bible, your guitar, and let GOd be your audience. Fill me with the wisdom and knowledge of Heaven, show me how I can serve my leader better.
Amen.
Its a great worship conference and felt really inspired by this. May God help me to make right my motives and for me to move in the direction that He wants me to.
Jewel
-on the road to discovery-
He always says: Watch your leaders and mirror them, if you are not practicing as a leader then how can you encourage under you to develop. Practice yourself. Do not become a great musician to be a great musician.
You need to maximise the time when the worship team are together, you never have the chance to let them hang around. When we are on stage worshipping, this is not hard work, our focus is not on the music, is what is happening with the people and in Heaven.
Have a plan, do not just have the desire. The temple musicians, the amount of training that they have just to lead worship.
Be the best that you can be.
Exodus 3 Be skilled, develop your giftings. What are the steps we take to develop ourselves?
The whole musical and spiritual aspect. Never become stagnant. Keep the team focused. Musical expertise, when we say singer or musician needs to be skilled. All needs to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Listening is crucial. We need to listen to each other and the spirit of God, not be busy singing. We must train ourselves to be skilled enough to follow any type of service.
Sensitivity.
Meet the needs of the people, whats happening with the people?
We could missed the moment, if we are not listening to your spiritual ears, do not stick to the rehearsed. Music is a spiritual thing.
Music is a language.
Words is not enough in a language, music is a language. Every song has a different vocabulary. God is ready to move, are we?
Church music; there are awesome moments, how do you play along with Angels? Listen and duplicate, especially if you are talented.
Chronicles, we can worship for hours.
Are you ready for what you believe what God wants to do?
God starts with our natural ability, Prayer!
The prayer aspect, we are all not at the same place spiritually. Sensitize our ears, first 10 mins. How are you? - They do not say fine.
Focusing on the team members, everyone is special and everyone knows their place. When you say lets practice, its a different practice.
Music is healing. Rehearsals can be healing too. The team is a part of God is doing in the general church.
BIBLE STUDY. strengthen our faith, foundation. Empowerment. Important. Biblical foundation.
Leader finds out their lives of the people. We are all out looking out for one another. Spiritual immaturity. Sharpening the spiritual aspect of members.
How skillful should we be to lead the team?
Structure of leadership team. Delegate. It depends on what aspects on the skills. Develop those who has the talent and strengths. Watch the hearts of the people. Alert, preceptive and discerning and encourage.
Do not do everything yourself.
Its more than music.
Ask some questions about the past and you will know the problems.
You can only take someone as far as you have gone yourself?
How does one motivate and encourage the team to excellence?
The Bible; James 4. You do not have what you ask, because you are asking for the wrong motives.
Are you practicing? If you wish to be better singer?
Listen to God. What is saying to me?
In His Presence, lock yourself away in His Presence. Open you Bible, your guitar, and let GOd be your audience. Fill me with the wisdom and knowledge of Heaven, show me how I can serve my leader better.
Amen.
Its a great worship conference and felt really inspired by this. May God help me to make right my motives and for me to move in the direction that He wants me to.
Jewel
-on the road to discovery-
Your Confidence in God
Influence
God is telling us; we can be an influence and change people's life. But before that we ourselves must change. We must change our mindset when we get born again. We need to put on the mind of Christ.
God is teaching us to be positive influence. Change must come from the heart. When you speak people will hear the change.
Passion
When we have passion, we have excellence.
Compassion
Compassion will compel you. We need to have commitment. God will never fail you, even if you fail God, God will still be committed to you!
He picks you up from the miry depths, no matter how many times you fall.
When we walk with God, there is always someone looking after me.
God wants all of us to become leaders, to be the head and not the tail. Assume your leadership qualities.
Where there is influence, you will see Change. The world will be a better place, one star fish at a time..
Because of that one Man who stood up that we can stand here today, saved.
Team work and Working the team. - Team but no work; nothing gets done. But if you get work and no team, it will never work.
CONFIDENCE
Confidence in God, not confidence in what I can do and my skill or in man. When I put my confidence in God, things start to happen. At times, we go through a roller coaster ride with confidence. How can we get confidence?
Hebrews 10:35 "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded."
Why do we not share the salvation? We lack confidence.
(I felt that; when I wanted to pray for my aunty during her time of need)
God wants us to be confident in Him.
1. We can lose our Confidence
2. Our confidence carries a great reward - we need to build on that confidence.
Confidence in not boldness. Its inside of you.
Why do we need Confidence?
1) Confidence will produce stability in every area of your life and your situations.
Hotdog seller; an illiterate man. Business was good, and he ordered a truckload more of hotdogs and buns. However, his son; who is a college graduate told him that there is a recession coming along and people will stop eating out. So he reduced his orders and decided not to invest so much is his business.
As the days passed, the business needed more of the resources but he refused to order as his son continued sharing with him about what's in the news, of the bad news of recession.
Slowly, his business failed.
There are people who boost your confidence, and there are people who steals and robs you of your confidence. Discern who you mix with.
Confidence = contented with self
Philippians 4:11/13
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
2) Confidence stretches you.
A rubberband is useless if it does not stretch. A rubberband that is kept for a long time, ts difficult to stretch or it might break. When you have been stretched often, its easier. We can be used of the Lord.
People who are insecure do not want to be stretched. People with insecurity will not want to build people up, because they themselves are not sure themselves.
Paul in his writings uses "confidence" 6 times referring to Christ, 6 times "self" and 6 times in "other people". We need a balance, we need confidence in God, self and people. We are made to be conquerors.
How to become Confident?
1) Establish your worth in God; know that you are valuable in God's eye.
Know that God made you unique and there is no other like you.
Know that God believes in you.
2) Focus on God and not on your problems
Psalms 27: 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh, [a]
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confide
We no longer fear because we have confidence.
Confidence comes not because of the lack of problems. Problems will exist all the way. There will always be problems. But when confidence comes when we see all this problems but yet we see God, we see the unlimited resource, the ability that God has given us, God's people.
3) Develop friendships with people that are confident.
Proverbs 14:26 "He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress (Confidence), and for his children it will be a refuge."
4) Make a victory list of what happened in the past.
Samson and David. Both have similarities, both anointed and both called to be leaders, both fighting common enemies.
Difference:
Samson wanted to please himself. David wanted to please God.
Samson depended on his own strength. David depended on the strength of the Lord.
Samson fought without God. David inquires of the Lord; "should i pursue"
Samson ended his leadership role and his life. David began his leadership role in his life.
It might make you proud too, if you write a victory list, so be careful.
David made a victory list: He killed a bear, a lion and now I can defeat Goliath.
God has done many things for us that we can be confident in Him.
Be confident that God has used you.
To increase your confidence:
VIP: Stop comparing with others!
Stop comparing your worth with others, we are all worth the same thing with God.
One day a Lady was walking, feeling insecure and rejected because she is poor. And while she was walking, God said "Look" and she saw a 50cents coin on the floor. The coin is dirty, looks like its been the sewers and been through many things in life, the coin may look dirty, the coin is still worth 50cents, it will not be degraded.
If you want to be special, specialize in something that you are good at until you are special.
When a person goes through a lot of failures, the confidence level falls.
When you have confidence in God, in other people, in self plus skill, it will give you momentum, its a powerful force.
There is a train in New York City when stationary, with just a small one inch block, the train cannot move. However, when its a full speed ahead, it can crash into a 5 foot steel concrete wall.
The devil wants to rob us of the confidence in God.
Let us regain the confidence in God.
23rd of March 2008; Easter Sunday.
-Pastor Frankie
God is telling us; we can be an influence and change people's life. But before that we ourselves must change. We must change our mindset when we get born again. We need to put on the mind of Christ.
God is teaching us to be positive influence. Change must come from the heart. When you speak people will hear the change.
Passion
When we have passion, we have excellence.
Compassion
Compassion will compel you. We need to have commitment. God will never fail you, even if you fail God, God will still be committed to you!
He picks you up from the miry depths, no matter how many times you fall.
When we walk with God, there is always someone looking after me.
God wants all of us to become leaders, to be the head and not the tail. Assume your leadership qualities.
Where there is influence, you will see Change. The world will be a better place, one star fish at a time..
Because of that one Man who stood up that we can stand here today, saved.
Team work and Working the team. - Team but no work; nothing gets done. But if you get work and no team, it will never work.
CONFIDENCE
Confidence in God, not confidence in what I can do and my skill or in man. When I put my confidence in God, things start to happen. At times, we go through a roller coaster ride with confidence. How can we get confidence?
Hebrews 10:35 "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded."
Why do we not share the salvation? We lack confidence.
(I felt that; when I wanted to pray for my aunty during her time of need)
God wants us to be confident in Him.
1. We can lose our Confidence
2. Our confidence carries a great reward - we need to build on that confidence.
Confidence in not boldness. Its inside of you.
Why do we need Confidence?
1) Confidence will produce stability in every area of your life and your situations.
Hotdog seller; an illiterate man. Business was good, and he ordered a truckload more of hotdogs and buns. However, his son; who is a college graduate told him that there is a recession coming along and people will stop eating out. So he reduced his orders and decided not to invest so much is his business.
As the days passed, the business needed more of the resources but he refused to order as his son continued sharing with him about what's in the news, of the bad news of recession.
Slowly, his business failed.
There are people who boost your confidence, and there are people who steals and robs you of your confidence. Discern who you mix with.
Confidence = contented with self
Philippians 4:11/13
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
2) Confidence stretches you.
A rubberband is useless if it does not stretch. A rubberband that is kept for a long time, ts difficult to stretch or it might break. When you have been stretched often, its easier. We can be used of the Lord.
People who are insecure do not want to be stretched. People with insecurity will not want to build people up, because they themselves are not sure themselves.
Paul in his writings uses "confidence" 6 times referring to Christ, 6 times "self" and 6 times in "other people". We need a balance, we need confidence in God, self and people. We are made to be conquerors.
How to become Confident?
1) Establish your worth in God; know that you are valuable in God's eye.
Know that God made you unique and there is no other like you.
Know that God believes in you.
2) Focus on God and not on your problems
Psalms 27: 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh, [a]
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confide
We no longer fear because we have confidence.
Confidence comes not because of the lack of problems. Problems will exist all the way. There will always be problems. But when confidence comes when we see all this problems but yet we see God, we see the unlimited resource, the ability that God has given us, God's people.
3) Develop friendships with people that are confident.
Proverbs 14:26 "He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress (Confidence), and for his children it will be a refuge."
4) Make a victory list of what happened in the past.
Samson and David. Both have similarities, both anointed and both called to be leaders, both fighting common enemies.
Difference:
Samson wanted to please himself. David wanted to please God.
Samson depended on his own strength. David depended on the strength of the Lord.
Samson fought without God. David inquires of the Lord; "should i pursue"
Samson ended his leadership role and his life. David began his leadership role in his life.
It might make you proud too, if you write a victory list, so be careful.
David made a victory list: He killed a bear, a lion and now I can defeat Goliath.
God has done many things for us that we can be confident in Him.
Be confident that God has used you.
To increase your confidence:
VIP: Stop comparing with others!
Stop comparing your worth with others, we are all worth the same thing with God.
One day a Lady was walking, feeling insecure and rejected because she is poor. And while she was walking, God said "Look" and she saw a 50cents coin on the floor. The coin is dirty, looks like its been the sewers and been through many things in life, the coin may look dirty, the coin is still worth 50cents, it will not be degraded.
If you want to be special, specialize in something that you are good at until you are special.
When a person goes through a lot of failures, the confidence level falls.
When you have confidence in God, in other people, in self plus skill, it will give you momentum, its a powerful force.
There is a train in New York City when stationary, with just a small one inch block, the train cannot move. However, when its a full speed ahead, it can crash into a 5 foot steel concrete wall.
The devil wants to rob us of the confidence in God.
Let us regain the confidence in God.
23rd of March 2008; Easter Sunday.
-Pastor Frankie
The Valley of the Shadow of Death
Even though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, your perfect love is casting out fear!
In all my days that I have been on this earth, never have I felt such unimportance in money and situations. Not that I felt without money I can accomplish lots of things, but on the contrary I felt that the lack of money, and the perception of money is the root of all problems and evil.
For the lack of money, my uncle succumbed to the threats of guilt. Now I understand the importance of church, the importance of spiritual parents, for when you need to talk to someone, God will lead that person to advise wisely.
My uncle said he prayed, prayed to his gods for an answer, and they told him that all will be fine. So he went bravely, and unafraid of what it is to come on the surface, but deep inside the fear surmounts. How does one face the consequences of a misdeed that he did not do? How does the fear of punishment leads one to accept a lightened punishment in the light of his innocence?
For I faced situations like these before, lesser in severity but similar in nature. And I could seek counsel, from Godly people who prayed for me for peace but yet gave me earthly and wise advise. Contradictory that the other religions’ wise people they call are lesser educated. But that is my assumption. Now I do see where God is leading us. Now I do see why there is an importance in all the teachings of Christianity, that we not only walk by faith but by the leadership of the world as well. For in the Bible it says, that we have to obey and follow the laws of the righteous.
I sat there in the other side of the world, in the other part of the world that I have never been before nor dreamt of threading within. I understood the fear, I felt the pain, and I wanted to give everything that I had to change the situation. It suddenly dawned on me that everything didn’t matter, what matters most is my uncle’s decision. I looked at him, head bowed in the court, hair shaved, in the orange overall labeled a criminal, labeled guilty as charged. Eyes are on him, people around whispering all sorts of possibilities and crimes that he might have committed. My aunt sat there, struggling with all her might to keep her tears from falling, struggling very hard to be silent, as if the whole court might awake from its slumber should a pin fall, as they await the honorable Judge. I looked at the judge, I prayed and hoped that God may show them visions of justice. True visions of justice.
I stepped into the room of her honor.. I looked around, and saw photos of her and her little girl, she looked just like any one of us, a possibility that one day some one close to her might face the exact same charges, the exact same innocence to be proven. I wished so much to have a private talk with her. To tell her how much I know that my uncle is innocent. But who am I? What am I to do, that I can do that?
A burning sensation came over me to be someone great. Someone with influence and authority, that I may help these people, helpless and innocent. I prayed and asked God for favor and guidance that I may be someone different, that I may be able to help.
Compassion requires commitment. Its true. I experienced it for myself. It needs commitment, it requires intercessory desires. To feel for this people.
I waited outside the Queenstown Remand Prison and waited with my aunt for my uncle to be released. The wait seemed never ending, and yet the fear of what he would feel when he comes out, what do we say, do we pretend, or do we re-assure him?
Minutes seemed like hours ticked by. And still no sight of him. I muttered a prayer underneath my breath and hoped that my aunty will be strong.
When everything in your life seems to be perfect, we never once thought about moments like these. We never expect that someone so young, so vulnerable will do something so evil and so cruel to someone close to you.
People say jealousy and anger leads one to do crazy things. Finally I see it for myself.
Till now, I can only hope and pray for a miracle. For God’s mercy and grace to come over my uncle now. I pray that his life will be changed. That he will accept Christ and Christ alone can help.
Its an urgent call to help and save the world. But for every single time, we take off to help just one person, it makes a world of a difference to that one person.
May God empower me to do His will. May I not use my man’s wisdom but the wisdom bestowed upon by Him.
In all my days that I have been on this earth, never have I felt such unimportance in money and situations. Not that I felt without money I can accomplish lots of things, but on the contrary I felt that the lack of money, and the perception of money is the root of all problems and evil.
For the lack of money, my uncle succumbed to the threats of guilt. Now I understand the importance of church, the importance of spiritual parents, for when you need to talk to someone, God will lead that person to advise wisely.
My uncle said he prayed, prayed to his gods for an answer, and they told him that all will be fine. So he went bravely, and unafraid of what it is to come on the surface, but deep inside the fear surmounts. How does one face the consequences of a misdeed that he did not do? How does the fear of punishment leads one to accept a lightened punishment in the light of his innocence?
For I faced situations like these before, lesser in severity but similar in nature. And I could seek counsel, from Godly people who prayed for me for peace but yet gave me earthly and wise advise. Contradictory that the other religions’ wise people they call are lesser educated. But that is my assumption. Now I do see where God is leading us. Now I do see why there is an importance in all the teachings of Christianity, that we not only walk by faith but by the leadership of the world as well. For in the Bible it says, that we have to obey and follow the laws of the righteous.
I sat there in the other side of the world, in the other part of the world that I have never been before nor dreamt of threading within. I understood the fear, I felt the pain, and I wanted to give everything that I had to change the situation. It suddenly dawned on me that everything didn’t matter, what matters most is my uncle’s decision. I looked at him, head bowed in the court, hair shaved, in the orange overall labeled a criminal, labeled guilty as charged. Eyes are on him, people around whispering all sorts of possibilities and crimes that he might have committed. My aunt sat there, struggling with all her might to keep her tears from falling, struggling very hard to be silent, as if the whole court might awake from its slumber should a pin fall, as they await the honorable Judge. I looked at the judge, I prayed and hoped that God may show them visions of justice. True visions of justice.
I stepped into the room of her honor.. I looked around, and saw photos of her and her little girl, she looked just like any one of us, a possibility that one day some one close to her might face the exact same charges, the exact same innocence to be proven. I wished so much to have a private talk with her. To tell her how much I know that my uncle is innocent. But who am I? What am I to do, that I can do that?
A burning sensation came over me to be someone great. Someone with influence and authority, that I may help these people, helpless and innocent. I prayed and asked God for favor and guidance that I may be someone different, that I may be able to help.
Compassion requires commitment. Its true. I experienced it for myself. It needs commitment, it requires intercessory desires. To feel for this people.
I waited outside the Queenstown Remand Prison and waited with my aunt for my uncle to be released. The wait seemed never ending, and yet the fear of what he would feel when he comes out, what do we say, do we pretend, or do we re-assure him?
Minutes seemed like hours ticked by. And still no sight of him. I muttered a prayer underneath my breath and hoped that my aunty will be strong.
When everything in your life seems to be perfect, we never once thought about moments like these. We never expect that someone so young, so vulnerable will do something so evil and so cruel to someone close to you.
People say jealousy and anger leads one to do crazy things. Finally I see it for myself.
Till now, I can only hope and pray for a miracle. For God’s mercy and grace to come over my uncle now. I pray that his life will be changed. That he will accept Christ and Christ alone can help.
Its an urgent call to help and save the world. But for every single time, we take off to help just one person, it makes a world of a difference to that one person.
May God empower me to do His will. May I not use my man’s wisdom but the wisdom bestowed upon by Him.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Discipline in life
The book i was reading said this: Discipline is not given overnight. It needs or requires small steps at first, baby steps to take to be able to overcome our habits. I need to break my habits, i need to move on in my life. May every step be a learning process for me.
Jewel
-on the road to discovery-
Jewel
-on the road to discovery-
My Road to Discovery
I woke up this chilly morning undecided and unhappy, thought to myself what is life about? Perhaps its due to the monthly moodswing that I have, or its truly bcos I am lost? I felt cold, and just wanted to continue sleeping. I woke up, ate something, and went back to sleep again. In the midst of all the dreaming, I decided that well i could spare some time. But in Joyce Meyer's "I Dare You to embrace life with PASSION", she said, time is our most valuable commodity. So while i am not going to give up, what I feel God has placed in my heart to do, I will start on a Road to Discovery. I will first start with being more observant, being more "deep in God's presence" to see what He wants to tell me about my life. Being more aware of the feelings and the honest emotions that I truly have in my life.
This road to discovery will lead me to God's calling in my life. what may it be? I am excited to find out. My life has only just begun.
Amen.
Love,
Jewel
-on the road to discovery-
This road to discovery will lead me to God's calling in my life. what may it be? I am excited to find out. My life has only just begun.
Amen.
Love,
Jewel
-on the road to discovery-
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
P.S I love you
When a great story hits you, the inspiration of the movie brings you much hope and zest for life. I had a date with Jerome today! Went to watch a movie, its been a long time since we last watched a movie together, just the 2 of us. We watched a romantic comedy: "P.S I Love You." It was a really beautiful movie, made me laugh and cry at the same time. Inspired me and Jerome too, to not keep waiting for life to start, but instead to know that life has already started, we just have to enjoy it. That faith in life, and in carrying on with life when things crop up, when people go away..
A really beautiful movie that really perked me up! Made me sit up and think and want to do the best in my life. Even when I came back home, to read my book; it wrote do everything with excellence and you will be one of the few with that passion.
Its been a long time, since I last written and when I last sat down by the cafe to drink a cup of tea and to read a book; reflecting on life and just spending time with myself. I miss those times. And now I think I am prepared to do that.
This movie also led me to think, that yes, the internet has taken us to another level of emails and blogs. But writing in letters are still the best and romantic ways of communication isn't it?
So now, in a world within, I would like to do that, to bring back the romantic feel of lovely and pretty things. To try to inculcate my passion in life, where snowglobes have the magical feel to it.
May God inspire me further.
Amen.
P.S Watching movies once in a while is really a great boost to morales.. Next up, i want to watch "Made of Honor"
love,
jewel
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
The pain in love
Perhaps till the time I get my own child, this is the closest I will get to feeling the pain of love. We adopted a dog recently into my otherwise peaceful family, but my dad, sis and jerome are dog lovers and though i could be selfish enough to demand not having the dog, I cannot seem to put my feet down to doing it.
So yes, we adopted the dog 2 months ago, exactly. Now its 7-8 months old, and I have grown to love the dog! Unbelievable as it is. However, its gotten the habit of biting our shoes, tearing up newspapers, and plastic bags and etc.
So tonight was one of those nights that I had to stay up extremely late to do some work, and I caught him messing up the entire house, with shoes being wet with his saliva too.. I really had to stand there and think, we tried all methods, from hitting him, to scolding him, to being nice about it, and etc but nothing seems to be working, i stood there staring at Mocha, and he sat there with his droopy eyes, keeping all quiet and you really cannot stand being angry with him for long. However, I knew that something had to be done.
So I had a thought, to open the front door and point at it, to tell him to leave. Mocha sat there staring at me, refusing to budge.
After some time, I dragged him by the collar and pulled him to the door, he tried his best to stop and i pushed him out of the house, and closed the gate.
He sat there with his tearful eyes staring at me, I had to harden my heart to point and ask the dog to leave, in my heart I was really afraid he might run away and not come back but i knew i had to keep up the act. Until minutes later, when i opened the door, he placed one paw fearfully in and threaded in softly. That really broke my heart, thats where i had the realisation that there is pain in love. When you want to teach someone you love, you need to be cruel to be kind.
I feel for my parents now, how they must have felt when they reprimanded us in the past. How they must have went back and cried, feeling the pain more than I did.
This really taught me to be more patient and tolerant towards anything.
God may you allow me to bring my family to salvation and for me to provide.
Amen
Jewel
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