One word....overcame!
Do the same in one word,would love to hear from you.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
They that are destined for greatness will be great anyway !
The power of the LORD came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.NIV
And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.KJV
God will make a joke out of someonelse's head start! God will overturn concluded situations,God will make winners of losers.God will let people go ahead of you and then quicken you with His Glory just to show who He is! don't be discouraged,wait on Him and see the new dimension unveiled!
And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.KJV
God will make a joke out of someonelse's head start! God will overturn concluded situations,God will make winners of losers.God will let people go ahead of you and then quicken you with His Glory just to show who He is! don't be discouraged,wait on Him and see the new dimension unveiled!
Love
LOVE : so misused and abused. Some say it's easy I say not entirely.The core parts of love are sacrifice,death to self,forgiveness,commitment,understanding ,trust,tolerance....none of which are easy but once the work is put in the fruits of the work are easy,things start to run smoothly,hurt fades into the background and growth,nurturing ,partnership and joy fill the frontal space.The problem is that we want the fruits without the work.I know it gets tiring especially if the work being put in is one sided but rewards always come if the choice of who to love was right in the first place.If you love the wrong kind of person,no matter how much work you put in,you will be bruised.Choose wisely and love correctly,the combination of the two will save uneccessary heartache and relationship turmoil.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Biblical take on finances and work(External source)
All verses NIV
Bible Verses On Money, Work, Finances and Business
Genesis 2:15
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Exodus 20:8-10
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
Exodus 22:25
"If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest.
"If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest.
Exodus 23:12
Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed.
Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed.
Exodus 35:35
He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers.
He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers.
Deuteronomy 15:10
Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
Deuteronomy 24:19
When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Deuteronomy 30:8-10
You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands I am giving you today. 9 Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, 10 if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul
You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands I am giving you today. 9 Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, 10 if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul
Leviticus 19:35 (The Message)
"Don't cheat when measuring length, weight, or quantity. Use honest scales and weights and measures. I am God, your God. I brought you out of Egypt.
"Don't cheat when measuring length, weight, or quantity. Use honest scales and weights and measures. I am God, your God. I brought you out of Egypt.
Leviticus 25:14(The Message)
"If you sell or buy property from one of your countrymen, don't cheat him. Calculate the purchase price on the basis of the number of years since the Jubilee. He is obliged to set the sale price on the basis of the number of harvests remaining until the next Jubilee. The more years left, the more money; you can raise the price. But the fewer years left, the less money; decrease the price. What you are buying and selling in fact is the number of crops you're going to harvest. Don't cheat each other. Fear your God. I am God, your God.
"If you sell or buy property from one of your countrymen, don't cheat him. Calculate the purchase price on the basis of the number of years since the Jubilee. He is obliged to set the sale price on the basis of the number of harvests remaining until the next Jubilee. The more years left, the more money; you can raise the price. But the fewer years left, the less money; decrease the price. What you are buying and selling in fact is the number of crops you're going to harvest. Don't cheat each other. Fear your God. I am God, your God.
1 Chronicles 28:20
David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.
David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.
Nehemiah 6:9
They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands."
They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands."
Proverbs 12:11
He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.
He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.
Proverbs 12:14
From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.
From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.
Proverbs 13:11
Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
Proverbs 14:23
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Proverbs 21:25
The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
Proverbs 22:9
A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
Proverbs 22:26-27, 29
Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.... Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.
Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.... Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.
Proverbs 28:19
He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty
He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty
Proverbs 31: 9b-31
The Wife of Noble Character A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
6 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
The Wife of Noble Character A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
6 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Ecclesiastes 5:6
Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?
Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?
Ecclesiastes 5:10
Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
Haggai 2:4
But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty.
But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty.
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 9:37
Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Matthew 20:1-16
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. "About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. "He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'" 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. "He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.' 8"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' "The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.' "But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. "About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. "He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'" 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. "He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.' 8"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' "The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.' "But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
Mark 12:14-17
They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn't we?" But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him.
They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn't we?" But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him.
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Luke 10:2
He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
Luke 10:7
Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
Luke 12:33
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
John 6:27
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
John 9:4
As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
Acts 4:33-35
With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
Acts 18:3
and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.
and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.
Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Romans 13:7
Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
I Corinthians 9:7-11
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?
2 Corinthians 6:1
As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.
As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 4:11-13
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 6: 5-9
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. ;Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free. Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. ;Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free. Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
Colossians 1:9-11
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully
1 Thessalonians 2:9
Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
1 Thessalonians 4:11
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,
2 Thessalonians 3:8
nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
1 Timothy 5:18
For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."
For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."
1 Timothy 6: 7-10
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Hebrews 6:10
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
James 5:4
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
Source:
@Encouraging Bible VersesHealth Vs Wealth
What is wealth without health(Health in mind,spirit and body)? Simple, DANGEROUS! Yes that's exactly what it is,dangerous.An unhealthy mind and spirit will do the most dangerous things given a huge stock of wealth in hand. It can range from addictive behaviour like gambling,compulsive shopping,splurging on alcohol and drugs,paying for strippers and prostitutes,crazy parties etc. Money therefore becomes the means to unleash the frustration inside.To be able to manage wealth and use it appropriately good health must preceed it and this health should be wholesome (covering all aspects of health).Get well before you get wealth. :-)
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Changes
The internal changes are forcefully changing the external.Yes that's literally,am smiling more and glowing.Something about tapping into that innner peace and joy that willl uplift everything about you.Your spirit is the motar that runs that body...the healthier the spirit the healthier the body.But finding that inner joy and peace is a process,the path is one way...trace your spirit back to the maker,once you find Him you abound in His peace.Psalm23.2 gives the perfect imagery of what He does:
He makes you(me) lie down in green pastures->rest
He leads you(me) beside quiet waters->peace
I recently entered a new dimension of change.Used to be my mind recieving,my Spirit accepting and then me affecting .With this new level,my spirit sometimes recieves what my mind can't fathom yet and what that births is childlike faith...to move on the knowledge of the Spirit even when the mind can't fathom.
I love this new dimension because it's direct nuggets from above so if I keep in line,am sure of no mistakes ...amazing!
Shout out to Victor for an avenue for my busy mind :-)
He makes you(me) lie down in green pastures->rest
He leads you(me) beside quiet waters->peace
I recently entered a new dimension of change.Used to be my mind recieving,my Spirit accepting and then me affecting .With this new level,my spirit sometimes recieves what my mind can't fathom yet and what that births is childlike faith...to move on the knowledge of the Spirit even when the mind can't fathom.
I love this new dimension because it's direct nuggets from above so if I keep in line,am sure of no mistakes ...amazing!
Shout out to Victor for an avenue for my busy mind :-)
I am yours
I struggled, I argued, I questioned
Searching for the mystery that was above and beyond
I dreamed, I hoped and my faith even failed
Waiting for divinity to be unveiled
I rejected, wrongly interpreted, and abused
Your loving Spirit that my life needed
You never relented, never slumbered, never tired
Calling my name as the years wasted
You protected, You preserved, You loved,
Repeating to me ‘You are mine my Child’
You delivered, You healed You reformed
Unfailing in your promises made
Unwilling and slightly skeptical I finally submitted and now firmly established
I boldly proclaim I am yours Lord
Melissa the starter :-)
Searching for the mystery that was above and beyond
I dreamed, I hoped and my faith even failed
Waiting for divinity to be unveiled
I rejected, wrongly interpreted, and abused
Your loving Spirit that my life needed
You never relented, never slumbered, never tired
Calling my name as the years wasted
You protected, You preserved, You loved,
Repeating to me ‘You are mine my Child’
You delivered, You healed You reformed
Unfailing in your promises made
Unwilling and slightly skeptical I finally submitted and now firmly established
I boldly proclaim I am yours Lord
Melissa the starter :-)
Reputation
Reputation
REPUTATION-the report and opinion a society has of someone.
If we profess so often that human beings make mistakes and are not perfect then why do we give reputation so much power over us? Shouldn’t it be that because we are aware that human beings are flawed in their judgements, the reputation we have (formed by this less than perfect judgement) shouldn’t be the driving force of our actions. Shouldn’t it also follow that our maker who has the perfect judgement and furthermore knows even our inner self should be the one to drive our actions?
Paula white said it best
“You are never as good as they say you are nor as bad as they say you are”
If someone has ever called you something you are not, that is already enough proof that this person should actually not affect anything you ever do because they know nothing about you. Why let the wrong judgements be the ones to drive us? Sometimes we even give these people more power over us than the people who actually know us and want to help us be better. We get more affected by the lie that some person told about us than the truth that someone who loves us will tell us.
Isn’t it funny how we’ll engage in hours of arguments going ‘You don’t understand me’, ‘it didn’t happen like that’, ‘that’s not the truth’? If the person doesn’t really know or understand then why is it hurting you? Clearly they are proving to you their judgement is flawed and therefore you it should follow that their opinion does not really matter. Now if the person is telling the truth or at least trying to understand then they deserve the consideration, otherwise it shouldn’t dampen your spirit.
There is only person who knows us better than even ourselves, that is our heavenly father, He already has the description of who you are, and it’s in His word. A relationship with Him will reveal this person to you. Aspire to that, forget the rest after all everything He wants you to be and has written for you to be is good, because that is just who He is GOOD in every sense of the word. You simply CANT go wrong with God.
I am not writing this from a know all perspective, am writing this from a learning perspective, Lord knows I have been one of the ‘reputation’ minders. It wore me out! But then I had this change, the more I find God, the more I realise how I have duped myself all my life trying to keep a ‘reputation’. It is God’s view that matters, I am who He says I am and I’ll continue to work toward His image of me and let go of what people think I should be. Am moving further away from the people who really shouldn’t bother me to those who actually matter.The people who really matter to me see that image that God has of me and they are the ones who inspire me NOT the snide remarks, not the judgements based on my past mistakes, not the rumours, not the comments from a jealous heart, none of it, just God’s true image.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Hot church Mess
Going to get alot of flack for this but it is what it is...
Am just amazed at the hot mess Christians appear to be from the observers' view point. It's becoming a faker and faker fiasco by the day. More and more Christians are leaning towards following what the other 'sister' or 'brother' does instead of standing authentic ground and pursuing a genuine relationship with God. It's a real comedy
lives that live contrary to the words of their mouth...a religion of love with some of the snobbiest people alive who snub not just outsiders but also the 'sinners' in their church instead of helping
Then we got the oh do revered priests preachers pastors prophets etc having their own share of madness. Where to even start... Yes that lovely entertainment they call preaching aaand-ah! Jeeesus-ah ah saaaaid-ah!! Hello someBADY...can I get a whitness? A whitness to what???? You have not said anything of substance yet! Then we have the oh too deep and spiritual for y'all preachers ... Big colourful confusing words that live the congregation a huge deposit of tough vocabulary but empty confused and secretly disatisfied spirit. Who are you helping with complicated language but the completely brainy and equally boastful and fake?! You think your God us pleased with the intellect and lack of harvest...retire soon please and let the true ones do the real thing.
Then we have the rule book ones who pass rule after rule with their congregation moving away from true relationship with God and guidance of the Holy spirit. Pastor said don't do this , pastor said do the other...pastor doesn't like .... And Jesus?what would He do? What does conviction of the spirit tell you?
Then we have the false prophets misleading their people with their fantasies and false visions and dreams...couples never meant to be united by the 'prophet' who said this is your wife... No compatibility, no chemistry, no destiny, no word from God nothing but the all knowing prophet's word and a sure life of misery... Possibly even divorce
Then we have the ones who will fool their people into believing trials are all evil and Christians should sail through life and only seek God for material stuff. Does the bible say Ye shall NEVER have trouble? Does growth come out of good times? Do you learn to believe God for deliverance without the trial to be delivered from?
Then the congregation... Gets real funny here.
Let's talk about the 'must have' language that whether or not it applies it seems you must speak. Rule one never speak truth when you are down...if they ask how you are proceed with 'I am blessed,highly favoured,conquering ' etc whatever you reply make it as colourful as possible. How dare a Christian be depressed, hurting, ill, struggling??? Never we are called to act .... Just stop!!! People are committing suicide, having secret addictions,divorcing etc etc and you want people not to reach out but to push the faith slogan in vain 'call things that be not as though they were'. All the people that went to Jesus went to him declaring the problem and asking for help! Not lying to Him that they were highly favoured well and etc. Who will join you in prayer if you don't state the case? You can state it without being negative... That's all am saying
Then the ones who replace God with the preacher...never graduating to a friend of God but remaining biscuit of the preacher. Congrats you are golden child of the pastor and enstranged child of God
then the big act in church...you must speak fluent 'tongue' jerk a certain way, shout loudest amend etc. You are wasting valuable feeding time, distracting other members and making people who genuinely experience these things seem as fake as you... STOP!
Then we have the divisions ooowwiieee!!! Several sects... And then sects within sects... What happened to plain Christian?? Follower of Christ? Why all the titles and divisions in a church that should be one?
And my fave, the lack of distinction between natural and spiritual... Lack of balance. Your kids miss you because all you do is church and nothingelse. Translation to the crazy ones... The children are now demon posseses because they are getting in your way so pray in tongues and cast out the demons LOL and then you wonder why your son is a junkie and your teenage daughter us pregnant with a thug's child! Play your human roles stop spiritualising everything!
Your husband gives you a peck in public or kisses you...time to preach to him about self control...woman the man us merely loving you and maybe publically he wants to show he is proud of you ...if he doesn't show you attention then what?? You complain? He us instructed biblically to lavish you with life don't turn it into spiritual 101 class it's natural and it's not like some mortal sin!
Also it is a mortal sin not to quote scripture 24 hours a day it seems.We must talk bible from the moment we wake up to when we lay to sleep.Then you wonder why people are sceretly indulging in all sorts of dangerous activity for some fun! We must promote the scriptures and preach but we must also be human and interact humanly without being lewd,disrespectful etc.The bible was written as a guideline to living not a 24 hour language.I mean some people crack me up,they will inbox me laughing at an update i put up on facebook if it doesnt have a bible verse attached to it because they are afraid the 'christian' freinds will see their comment on my page. this is not to say the update is evil or rude or agaisnt doctrine..it just doesnt have a biblical quotation so automatically it is 'unspiritual' lol happy enslavement.Jesus came that we might have life and have it to the full not be in bondage of your human rules. No wonder the church sometimes fails to reach out to 'lay people'. You can quote scripture but you can't apply it to life and real life issues to help others.
Really sometimes I don't blame people for shunning the church. Having been on the non believing side I can relate to what 'outsiders' see. I just thank God I eventually made it to Christ despite the mockery of the whole belief.
In defence and conclusion of my heartfelt belief... It is not Christianity with the issue, it is those carrying the title and misrepresenting what so believe is the best brand out there! I pray we get back to the real biblical basics and heart of our belief.Cleaning up the house of God does not mean only gettimg rid of sin, it also means getting hold of authenticity for God.blessed Sunday and sorry for typos... No time to edit a heartfelt issue that's been burning my insides :-)
Start with yours
Everyone knows the typical African culture is to raise the woman to hold down her home,to serve,to care to love,to work etc It's sort of naturally in us to be this way and eventually even the stubborn ones,if you persist they do turn out that way. We love to do these things(the regular sane,non problematic ones do). And all parents wnant their sons to meet this lovely type of woman...clearing throat here comes the dagger,what about YOUR son? are you training him to be good enough for this gem of a woman or are you teaching him to walk around expecting her regardless of the mess he is? I mean let's be sensible here,what is the point of training such amazing woman and letting the men off the hook?
Would you want your daughter to be happy and treated right?I should hope the answer is YES.Well then it should follow that you hope someone out there is being trained and prepared for her or did you think good men fall from the sky ready made?So why is it that the guys get the easier end of the training if any?Do you expect them to wake up one morning miraculously cured of silly manners?it takes training,discipline and guidance too.
Locking your girls up and letting the boys run around wild and free all day and night long makes no sense to me...so basically you are protecting her and letting your crazy son go around messing other daughters up?How very responsible of you!
And could you please stop refering to 'women back then' 'back in the day we' yes back in the day you used to.....now we need advise for the crazy times we living in.Thing is no matter what you can't give advise to a woman juggling a career/school and domestication the same way you gave advise to the woman who stayed at home all day long,we have way more roles today and that is being complicated more by the untrained sons who keep treating us like we are the stay at home do nothing but be domestic kind of woman.Train for NOW,appropriate advise,how to juggle all this and still be sane.
If I leave home at the same time as you,get home at the same time...explain to me why you can't atleast help the kids with the homework,put the clothes in the machine while I make the dinner?Explain to me why you become the most immobile (thing)for lack of a better word the moment you step into the house,suddenly you qualify for an invalid because now the woman has to do EVERYTHING. And then with all conviction you complain about the lack of warmth from the woman,ofcourse there is no warmth,you have just turned her into a certified servant (that you probably saw your own mom turn into) and she is worn out!
And then you wonder why women all of sudden are acting out,it doesnt justify their actions at all,am not defending that but there is a root to some things and you must face it.Princesses are being trained only to hook up with some juvenile deliquent!Marriages would probably be much more harmonious if people learned to put the work into both sexes.
It all starts back home,with your own kids. Do not point your finger at somonelse's daughter sizing her up for your son or disqualifying her when your own son needs some serious serious work before he can ever be considered eligible to step up to any girl!
Not a mom yet but trust when my boys step into this world they better gear up for training coz sergent Melissa is sssoooooo in town and I don't discriminate....boys and girls will do what they have to do in my house!And please let no man try to quote bible on this one because never once did God commend a lazy,irresponsible,non-commital man! As far as the bible is concerned the heroic,principled,hardworking real men were commended.
Great Minds Vs. Simple Minds(choose who you roll with)
Great minds will offer their area of expertise to a process without having to be baited by the end result,Simple minds want an explanation as to why their input isn't needed in the whole process and need to baited with results.
Great minds understand the importance of order and hierarchy in any unit,Simple minds interprete order as a threat to their freedom and any order of hierarchy above them as a threat to their 'superiority'.
Great minds cut to heal as they correct and mould people, Simple minds cut to kill as they use harshness and cruelty to supposedly attain the same goal.
Great minds will teach and preach as they learn and never siezing to think,they revisit what they taught to see if anything is missing to make it better the next time, simple minds teach and preach with the assumption that there is nothing more there,they burry what they taught and move on to another topic.
Great minds can appreciate the strengths of others because they know they have their own,Simple minds are intimidated by other people's strengths.
Great minds can deal with other opinions,simple minds are insulted by other opinions because its just their opinion that matters and makes sense.
Great minds can function outside of popularity because they understand that what's popular isn't always right or neccessary for a given time,Simple minds feed off popularity,it's their motivation for everything.
Great minds seek the truth behind the raw facts,Simple minds are satisfied with raw facts and interprete them as the truth.
Great minds are nurtured my a higher spiritual calling,they grow as they unveil the mysteries of God, simple minds are nurtured by their own desire and by mere mortals with no direction....
this is the distinction I've so far made...much more to be found.
The creation story ....the love perspective
I often read the creation story missing the details of God's love,I saw the genious,the excellence,the power,and I saw the instructions....a glimpse of love when Eve was formed but the love is shown much before that.I only started to realise the depth of that love today,its amazing finding this!
You see fact is God is such a father than in everything He created,He was hinting to man...The separation of day and night was a hint for man.Because He knew He would equip man with a mind so vast and superior to all creatures on earth,He knew this mind would always be working,never wanting to slow down,So He made Day and Night to hint,that there is time to get down and busy,and there is rest and recollection time. God also separated day and night because He knew the mind of a man could not bear the monotony of just day or just night.
God also placed amazing jewels in the night sky(the stars) and beautiful beams of light (the sun and the moon).The stars sun especially and moon are easy to appreciate because they give light to night and day and the sun provides energy...heat etc.The stars however,that's the detail that can only be inspired by love....for all romatics out there ,the feeling that you get when you behold the stars on a clear night sky is simply amazing.God knew it would give such pleasure,He knew poetry would be inspired beholding the stars,love between man and woman elevated as they behold the stars together.
God then created different creatures in the different elements to hint to man and to inspire man to exceed the ways of these creatures. Man would have to look at the fish in sea moving so swiftly under the water and be inspired to swim,different decorative strokes(butterfly stroke,breast, stroke back stroke...).Man would look at the birds in the air and know he doesn't have wings himself but he sill touch that sky one day one way or another!in came the planes,helicopters,even rockets!The jungle system would be an example of the ways of life..hierarchy has to be for order to function...even in the jungle the Lion rules :-)
Look for the details and you'll find the love that God has,it's amazing!God's love for us inspired His excellence in creation,that is my finding today :-)
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