Infallible!

There are lots of stories in the Bible. These were written centuries ago yet they relate to us today because they have God's breath in them. I read these stories then I glean out their relevance to me day by day. 

There's no contradiction that God is God and in a class of His own. Nothing equals Him. Yet, He sent His Son, Jesus, to come as human, live among men, teach about the kingdom of God, die to save people from sin. The same Jesus resurrected to give us a lasting authority on earth over satan so we can eternally live in victory. What a perfect sacrifice!

The Bible is the "constitution" of Heaven. It is universal. It is true. 

There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us - 2 Timothy 3:15-17, The Message (MSG)

Wishing you a sweet, adventurous journey in the Word henceforth. 

Lots of love,

- Awele

Sweet Adventure; sweet!

Good Morning

 Fresh morning, fresh hopes, fresh plans, fresh efforts, fresh success, fresh feelings: Good Morning.

 

I read this up in an article: "Somebody has said there are only two kinds of people in the world. There are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord," and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, it's morning."

It made me chuckle as much as it made me think. The first is out of appreciation. It is an indication that another opportunity in life is given to them. It means it is another day to go out, make impact and earn results. It is another day for change. It’s another time for God’s word to come through. However, the second group voices agitation; caused by factors of everyday living such as: unfinished assignments being carried out against time; panic; a demand portraying one’s incapability; emotional stress; frustration; fatigue and a desperate need for rest. Every such reason may be duly accommodated as sound. Such is the life of a human being.

Note this: Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed - 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, HCSB

I bring you encouragement this moment that the demand on your strength, talents, time and energy each day is not to kill you. Rise up to them knowing that Jesus has got your back so you can only win in any situation, no matter what. Face it and give life to it! 

FIVE STONES

Yesterday, I took a deep thought on how David was able to kill Goliath. Saul's armour didn't fit him but he took five smooth stones and his sling as his weapon. I deduced that the five stones stand for:
Jesus
Focus
Faith
Power...
Grace

What's the Goliath before you? Discover your weapons and you can slay them all. Now, big question is: WILL YOU???

ON THE MOVE

Hello Ladies,

I write this piece with so much passion. I've realized that one thing that pulls people down in life is FEAR. There may be a new idea, venture, business or something that has been burning in your mind for some time now - something you know is good and will add value to the lives of people. I challenge you today to get up and reach out to it. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Let me share a bit of my life with you to buttress this: I had a boss who thought he owned my life. I knew God had put very beautiful virtues in me so I was determined to 'birth' them. But, I kept wondering what would happen if I resigned before getting another job. Then, I bought a laptop, prayed over it and nicknamed it my mobile office. I had attended a leadership course and I decided to start a facility to train church staff. This was 2 years after I planned to own a resource house. Fear would swamp it anytime I tried to work at it until that boss came. How God orchestrates events to launch you to where you should be. 

However, I started developing courses then merged them to be one course. Then I registered it using my second name - Yvonne (Yvonneplus Resources). I resigned from that office to the shock of everyone. Four years now, God has just been awesome. Yvonneplus has three working arms presently. Now I even choose the clients I want to work with as the case may be. In addition, I'm a pastor, a certified counsellor, an editor and a publisher. There are times that I feel so small before what I have to do but I do them anyhow because I know that in God my weakness finds strength. I know I am complete in Him. 

I also ask you to make God your strength. This you can do by making Jesus the lord of your life (allowing Him ownership over you) No matter what you've been through or what you are going through, there's a sure way out - Jesus Christ. With Him, there's so much more to get! See you @ the top of your dream(s). Let's roll, ladies!!!!

LAUGHTER

Laughter can:

Stimulate many organs: It enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles; and increases endorphins that are released by your brain. The endorphins make you happy thereby soothing tension.  Laughter aids muscle relaxation.

Improve your immune system: Negative thoughts impact stress on your system. Stress decreases your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses.

Relieve pain: It may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers. It can break the pain-spasm cycle common to some muscle disorders.

Increase personal satisfaction: Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.

Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time - Proverbs 17:22 (GNT)

Love is…

 There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24, NLT)

Jay and Vijay had been very close friends since their childhood. They took a walk one day and they had to cross a river, pass rocks and a sandy area too. They were chatting while walking. The two had different opinions which led to a heated argument. This was followed by abusive words. Things got so bad that in a fit of anger, Jay slapped Vijay. Shocked, Vijay stared at his friend and wrote on sand “today my best friend slapped me.” Both resumed their walk but now they were silent.

Then, they reached the river which was overflowing today. Vijay stepped into the river, slipped and with the force of water in the direction of the flood, he began to drown. Jay saw this and without thinking for a second jumped into the river. With difficulty he dragged Vijay out of the river. He helped Vijay regain his normal breath. When Vijay became normal, he wrote on a hill “today my best friend saved my life.” Jay who was observing all this could not help asking, “why did you write on sand when I slapped you and why are you writing on the hill that I saved your life?” Vijay replied that “we should soon forget the wrong done by our friends and dear ones as writing on sand gets erased in no time, but we should always remember the good they do just as writing on stones is forever.” Saying this, Vijay hugged his friend and the two walked on happily as if nothing had happened.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Are you a friend?

God: My Help

I waited and waited and waited for God.

At last He looked; finally He listened.

He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud.

He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip.

He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God.

More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God.

Psalm 40:1-3, The Message Bible

Alleluia!!!

I am ME, a green olive tree planted by rivers of water. I'm who God says I am. Whatever God has allowed come my way is to build me and make me strong. I have God's full support in life so I can and must remain ME. I am so loving who I have become. Alleluia!!!

The New Is Here

      

 Happy wedding celebration! Happy married life! You two will live well and long! Wishing you the very best, you two! On and on and on … goodwill messages rolled out from well-wishers and wedding guests. Waiters served and served. Everyone was merry. Then, whispers among the waiters ‘the wine is finished’. Alas!

Don’t worry, feel the pots with waters. Draw out from the pots and serve the people. Behold, the ‘best’ wine they had ever tasted and Jesus’ first miracle.

Likewise, DEAR, the old is gone and the new is here.  Is your wine finished? Your hopes have been dashed severally; your strength to try again is no more; your love has been trampled upon? Are you short of ideas that will propel you to your next level? Then, the scripture comes up relevant – Jesus was filled with the Holy Ghost and power, went about doing good and making well all who were troubled by evil spirits (Acts 10:38). He is in the business of "doing good" to you. He wants you "restored" back to God's love and care. Are you troubled in any way? Call upon Him and believe that your change is here. If He changed ordinary water to wine then He is mindful of you to bring you glory. Keep hope alive, PEACE!

And now [brethren], I commit you to God [I deposit you in His charge, entrusting you to His protection and care]. And I commend you to the Word of His grace [to the commands and counsels and promises of His unmerited favor]. It is able to build you up and to give you [your rightful] inheritance among all God's set-apart ones (those consecrated, purified, and transformed of soul) – (Acts 20:32, AMP)

No Noise Please!!!

Clutter means a collection of things lying about untidily. It is synonymous with disorder, confusion or mess. In this edition, we will look at Emotional Clutter. I define this to be one’s feelings running riot within oneself due to unpleasant situations mainly from the past. It is a collection of disappointments, blame, guilt, fear, resentment, pain, hurts, abuse, and inadequacies: failure, non-achievement or poor achievement of dreams, set goals and targets. Emotional clutter accumulates when we collect and hang onto these things. This is like dirt in a sink drain which eventually blocks it until we do the work to clear it out, then water drains from it. It is neither healthy nor advantageous.

New opportunities and helpful people can't get close to us if this emotional clutter is blocking the way. You may have genuine reasons to hurt deeply but is it worth the pain losing the present and foreclosing your future due to past times. Clearing all of the clutter is freeing and empowering. You must let go, step out of the traffic and get going.
How: Look up to Jesus; He is inviting you to cast your burdens on Him and receive rest for your soul (Matthew 11:28-30). Understand that man is bound to make mistakes and fail. Make that allowance in your heart and forgive. You also wrong others. De-clutter your mind: free yourself; LET GO. Embrace joy and be led forth with peace.

From now onwards, tell your emotions “No Noise please!”

FOCUS

I deduce that there's a vital aspect of achieving goals that seems very silent but is very needful. I'm talking about FOCUS. Focus means concentrated effort or attention on a particular thing. The Law of Focus is an overarching principle that, if properly grasped, unlocks a lot of life issues. Summary of Law of Focus: We become our mental focus (i.e. we become what we think).  Scripture says: Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge (Proverbs 23:12, NKJV).  

Have you any personal word from God about your life and what you ought to be or do? Do you have any specific plan that you want to achieve in life? 

You have a duty to make them real in your life. My dear, time is moving on. Where are you in life?Nevertheless, I encourage you to combine focus on set goals with faith, being led by the Spirit of God. Faith adds strength to Focus. Nehemiah set his heart to rebuild the temple despite the taunts of Tobiah and Sanballat. He achieved it. You too can get there! Consciously shut down every noise around you: doubts, panic, distraction, false opinions & hope. Agree with God concerning your life. Your chances are brighter than the sky! Welcome to a new you; nations will welcome you!!!

BE UPWARDLY MOBILE

God intends that we MOVE ON progressively! Life is full of limiting factors. You have to make a choice to be UPWARDLY MOBILE!

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He's the one who will keep you on track – Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Message)

He Is In Charge

They came in their numbers - one, two, three, four then a multitude of about four thousand men gathered to be taught at the feet of the Master. Everyone had a need: unspoken, personal, scary, desperate, incredible; all sorts. Some had walked a long distance to come. Some might have heard of the miracles of the Master. In their minds as mere mortals, there were so many questions: amidst this large crowd, will I be noticed? If I follow the Lord fully, forsaking fraudulent ways, how do I cater for my children? When the Master is gone, what happens to me when I need money to settle my bills? On and on and on, their minds rattled. The ministrations went on until they were with Him three days.

One thing they didn’t fully know was the depth of love the Master had for them. He was capable of handling distinctive problems that only He could decipher and solve. He knew exactly what to do to meet issues that would better their lives without their asking. He understood the whispers; even their thoughts they couldn't voice out. He saw that battered person, the rejected fellow, the abused soul. Yes, He felt their hurt. Then He said to his disciples, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance” (Mark 8:2-3 NIV). In a remote place where they could get only seven loaves of bread and few fish, the Master gave thanks and ‘confidently’ said they should distribute the food. All ate to their fill and seven basketfuls were gathered.

What is it you desire He does for you? God knows exactly what to do for you to dry your tears. He will never leave you empty; He is in charge. Be encouraged. Anticipate the very BEST. Peace!!!

The Family

A family is a group of people who are closely related by birth, marriage, or adoption, functioning as a single household. It consists of parents (father and mother; not same sex) and their children, biological or adopted. The family is solely God’s idea. God didn’t create man to live alone - The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. …Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. … For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh (Genesis 2:18, 22, 24)

The best company for a man is his family. The family forms one’s values, helps develop character, and gives support and love. It is one’s earliest and most important influence. Having a family gives one a sense of belonging. The family tie continues throughout life. Friends come into our lives later while family is there since day one. We might change our friends but we can never change our family, even if we have differences with our family members. You cannot change your blood. The family system works like a chain.

What an awesome thing that God has blessed you with a family. Love them, pray for them and be good to them.

CHANGE IS POSSIBLE

Show me a person who runs away and hides in the face of challenges yet comes out a victor. Nobody!

 

A woman dared to come out on the street to join the troop of “healthy” people that followed Jesus. She also dared to push through to where Jesus was. She managed to bend to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. She had been ill twelve long years. It was enough to just sit still and await her death. If the medicine of Israel couldn’t heal her, how possible is it for this Jesus to. He was even on his way to attend to ‘important’ Jairus. Yes, He has been healing others but will she be? Well, let me just try this once, I imagine her say.

 

 Some women that knew her case would have turned their nose up at her as she approached. A tag had replaced her name: the woman with the issue of blood.  Despite all, she appeared on the scene. Each step may have been painful; each heartbeat may have been full of fear but she went on. Anyhow, she pushed on. Then: who touched me? Who touched you in the midst of this crowd? So funny, Lord Jesus. It was the touch of the woman with the issue of blood. Wow, it was enough to make Jesus stop and ask. The end result? She was healed!

 

Hello, dear. Are you in a situation that looks unchangeable? You've done all you know yet no recordable evidence to prove your effort? It isn't time to give up yet. Can you see Jesus passing on the street like the woman saw? Pray that the Holy Spirit will show you a definite way out of that situation - a new idea, direction or a definite word. Be sure to do whatever He tells you. It's also possible that there are lessons you must learn from that situation. Be still and find them out. May the Lord notice you and visit you soon!  Arise and win with the word you’ve received from the Lord our God. Subdue and win! We are built to win!