Love Each Other

READ : Jn 13:35 NCV

"You are my followers if you love each other."

Before Andrew Jackson became president of the United States he was a general in the Tennessee Militia. During the War of 1812, his troops were fighting and bickering among themselves so he called them together and said, “Gentlemen, let’s remember the enemy is over there.” We’d all do well to remember that. It’s easy to love God because of everything He’s done for us; it’s harder when it comes to loving those we have to live with. A respected Bible teacher says: “If there’s anything that would keep me away from Christ if I was lost…it would be the attitude of Christians toward one another…When I was a kid and an argument broke out…my dad used to say, ‘We may have a few differences inside these walls, but remember, we’re family. If your brother or sister needs you…take care of them…love them…and pull for them.’ Everything we need to know…can be found in these two verses, ‘Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself…look out…for the interests of others’ (Php 2:3-4 NAS)…In others words, think about the other person…Don’t be selfish. Sounds like something a teacher might say to a roomful of kindergartners…yet how many adult problems could be solved if that was the driving force in our relationships?...How many couples could reconcile their marital differences?’ Jesus said, ‘People will know…you are my followers if you love each other.’” In the hours before He died He was still praying for us to “become one heart and mind” (Jn 17:21 TM).

Give Him Your Problems!

"Lessons From Lazarus (2) "

READ : Jn 11:1 NKJV

"Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany."

The third lesson is about relinquishment. As long as you believe you can handle the problem on your own, you will not reach for the miracle-working power of God. You have to be in a situation so bad that you pray the prayer of relinquishment: “Lord, I’ve done all I know and things aren’t getting any better. So I’m through trying to fix it. I turn it completely over to You. I don’t know how You’re going to handle it, but I know You love me and want only what’s best for me. So here it is, Lord; it’s all Yours.” This is not a prayer of defeat, it is one of total trust. David wrote: “Though I am surrounded by troubles…The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever” (Ps 138:7-8 NLT).

The pastor of a great church tells of running out of money when they were only halfway through the construction of their new sanctuary. The congregation was growing and there was no doubt that they needed the extra space. But the bank wouldn’t give them any more funds. So the pastor prayed and said, “Lord, personally speaking I don’t need this big building. I already have a place for all my children. You need a place for Yours. I don’t know how You’re going to take care of this, but those are Your kids, Lord, so I’m turning it over to You.” God answered, the money came through, and with a few years they were worshipping in a beautiful sanctuary, debt free. So give your problem to God and don’t take it back!

What Would Be Possible For You If You Really Believed?

Life Building Nugget of the Month What Would Be Possible For You If You Really Believed? If you really believed in your dreams... that what you wanted most in life was possible, that you had everything you needed within you to achieve it already, that you were supported and loved immensely and would continue to be even if you made a mistake, that you were deserving of nothing but the goodness of life... What would change in your life? What could you achieve? Would you move through the day-to-day activities differently? Would your life look different in some way? Would you take more risks and trust and follow your intuition more? Would you put more solid action behind what you say you want? Would you stop trying to be perfect and put more focus on learning and growing? Would you stop settling for simply saying "YES" to life while your actions scream "NO!"? Would you enjoy and savor the journey more? Worry less? Take better care of yourself? Give yourself permission to honor and follow your passions and deeply held desires more? If so, then what's required for you to believe? What do you need more of or less of? What needs to change within you to help you step into the power of believing...the magic of living fully? - Pamela Y. Smith

Doing What You're Suppose To Do

Doing What You're Suppose To Do

READ: 1Co 3:13 TLB

"Everyone's work will be put through the fire."

One day an ox said to a mule, “Let’s play sick.” The mule said, “No, we need to get this work done.” The ox played sick and the farmer brought him fresh hay. When the mule came in from plowing the ox asked how things went and the mule said, “Okay.” The ox asked, “What did the farmer say about me?” The mule replied, “Nothing.” The next day the ox played sick again. When the mule came home the ox asked, “How did it go?” The mule said, “Okay.” After a week of this, the ox asked, “Did the farmer say anything about me today?” The mule replied, “Well, he said nothing to me personally, but he stopped and had a long talk with the butcher!” Understand this: you were born to fulfill a divine purpose. When you don’t, there are consequences, both here and in eternity. Paul focused on his calling. Shortly before he was executed he wrote, “I have finished the race” (2Ti 4:7 NIV). Notice, Paul didn’t retire, he “finished!” In the parable of the talents, the man who buried his talent paid a huge price. That’s because in God’s eyes the greatest failure of all is failure to invest the time, talent and treasure He’s given you into His purposes. One day you life will be audited. It’s called “the judgment seat of Christ.” Paul writes: “Everyone’s work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss” (see 1Co 3:13-15 NLT).

How To Be A Great Mentor

"Each part...helps the other parts grow."

A good mentor will: (1) Affirm in public, correct in private. Your goal should be to help, not hurt. When you rebuke someone in public you humiliate them, destroying their self-esteem. But when you affirm them in public you build their self-esteem, confidence and incentive. Of course, your praise should be genuine, not just empty words. By affirming sincerely and publicly, you plant the seeds of growth and greatness in the learner. (2) Build an allegiance to relationships, not issues. We tend to build an allegiance either to relationships, or to issues. We become primarily concerned about other people, their feelings, and the relationship, or we become focused on rules, agenda, quotas, tasks and results. A good mentor always puts relationships ahead of issues. In his book, Mentoring: The Strategy of the Master, Ron Lee Davis writes: “My father was that kind of mentor, both in his own family and in the church he pastured for twenty-five years. Many times I heard him say, “The individual is always more important than the issue.” He lived this principle daily and he built it into my life. Today, I try to pass on this principle to others.” God has called each of us to run our race and finish it successfully. He has also called us to keep the torch lit and hand it off to the next runner. Don’t merely be satisfied with doing the job, make sure the job keeps getting done by teaching and training someone else. Jesus, the Master-mentor, said: “The works that I do shall [you] do also; and greater works than these shall [you] do” (Jn 14:12).

God Is Getting You Ready

God Is Getting You Ready

READ: Lk 14:28

"No man builds without counting the cost."

Before God gives you more, He observes you with what you have. Furthermore, when He speaks a word over your life it’s like a seed; it needs time to take root and sprout. If God has planned it for you, don’t get into a hurry. “Wait for it; because it will surely come” (Hab 2:3). Patience develops in us the ability to stand up to the pressures that accompany blessing. Look back; aren’t some of the things you’ve been through, the very things that have equipped you to handle what you have now? Had God given them to you sooner you couldn’t have handled them, and He loves you too much to let that happen. Think: if you’re having difficulty handling criticism from a few people, how would you do if God made you pastor or company president? Are you ready to pay the price? And more importantly, are you able to pay for it? The more God gives you, the more He holds you responsible for. Jesus said: “No man builds without counting the cost.” Sometimes we want things because others have them. You say you want a husband and children, but are you ready to start living sacrificially? You say you need a wife, but are you ready to “give yourself for her” (see Eph 5:25)? Whatever you’re going through today, there’s great peace in knowing that nothing the enemy does can preempt God’s plan. So, “Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep traveling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honor you with every blessing” (Ps 37:34 TLB). Rejoice; God is getting you ready.

What Is Your Destiny?

"I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not."

Only when you accept failure as final, are you finally a failure. Any time you learn from failure, you’ve taken a step toward success. You can’t hit a home run unless you step up to the plate and face the pitcher. Baseball legend Babe Ruth hit a record 714 home runs, but he also struck out over 1,300 times. During a low period, an interviewer asked him how he overcame discouragement. He replied, “If I just keep swinging the bat, the law of averages says I’ll catch up. In fact, when I’m in a slump, I feel sorry for the pitcher because I know that sooner or later he’s going to pay for it.” When Benjamin Disraeli attempted to speak in Parliament for the first time they booed him into silence. But he said, “Though I sit down now, the time will come when you will all hear me.” And they did! He became one of Britain’s best orators and prime ministers. Today Disraeli’s critics are forgotten, but his contribution to history lives on. You say, “How can I recognize my destiny?” First, your destiny is a desire that won’t let you go.Paul said: “I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not.” Second, your destiny will be more than a job, it will be joy. The Psalmist said: “I delight to do thy will” (Ps 40:8). Third, your destiny will unlock your creativity. When God called Gideon a “mighty man of valour” (Jdg 6:12), he was hiding in a cave. But God wasn’t addressing his present state, He was speaking to the potential within him. So, what are you called to do?