Grow Where You are Planted

Created to Flourish

Everyone is born great (created in God’s image and likeness) irrespective of the world’s standards and measures of greatness. Look inwards to see and believe in what God has invested in you.

Victor not Victim

Joseph like all God’s children was born great, beloved son of his father. Unlike most, he was not afraid to see the vision of who he is created to be. As the saying goes, …… and life happens, he was deserted, despised, hated and alone at the bottom of the pit his brother threw him in (Genesis chapter 37-50).

While in prison for a crime he did not commit, his star finally shone, because he choose to use the talent God gave him, he eventually triumphed, and he rose to the highest seat of the land where nobody knew his parents (no cronies or godfather). Do not be tired of doing good or working hard, your reward is surely on its way (Galatians 6:9).

Food for thought

No matter your stage in life, do not be anxious or tired, continue growing where you are planted, distinguish yourself by  excellent service and patience.  You will move on to the next stage of your life and eventually become the head of your genre. In joseph’s case the prime minister of Egypt.

Prayer

Dear Lord help me to invest MY TIME in living out who I AM.

“It was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine” (Ezekiel 17:8).

Love and Peace

Love one another

I learnt recently that a life style that eliminates hurt /harm to ones self or others banish fear and create love, peace and contentment within us and in those around us.

The positive energy resulting from this loving acceptance and peaceful coexistence, enables success in all areas of our lives..

Hurt and hate create a negative energy of fear which destroys love, produce torment and can eventually kill.

The Middle Wall of Partition

Free and Direct access to God

It is no news to state that organised religion of which the Christian church is one has become an obstruction to oneness with God. The church has become a wall of partition preventing believers from hearing directly from God and being one with themselves.

Much like materialism and consumerism, ruling gods of today’s empty world, the church has created its own gods of prosperity, fame and power. Church leaders/founders have made themselves deities and church members aspire to become as power as their leaders because, they have been taught that prosperity and easy life are signs of holiness.
No excuse people, we know from the bible that these practices are not peculiar to our generation, to be fore warned is to forearmed. Everyone’s relationship with God is personal and direct, our peace comes from knowing this. No other human or spirit is needed to maintain our access to God in any circumstance because Jesus Christ has secured our access once and for all on the cross at Calvary. Ephesian 2;13-14, 18-20.

If any man lack wisdom or is confused, he can go directly to God in prayer for guidance and strength for the way.James 1:5-8

Then why church? we are commanded also to fellowship with one another, to encourage, strengthen and help ourselves, bearing in mind that we are fellow citizens with the saints, no one is greater than the other irrespective of the work God has assigned them to do in the church, the leader is not necessarily more spiritual than the members of the congregation.
Believers are the cause of problems in organised religion, through faithlessness, laziness with studying God’s word and praying by themselves, Christians have given their power to greedy individuals who are doing business in the name of church. these individuals preach false religion, brain wash followers, use members to achieve their personal goals which ultimately is the devils mission – deception and destruction of mankind.
Like the Berean Christians we must receive the word with all readiness of mind, and search the scriptures daily, whether these things were so ( Acts 17:11). No body loves you more than you love yourself.

 

Too Many Worshipers But, Few Followers of God

Has salvation/justification earned through faith in the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross made Christianity a cheesy, entertaining religion of automatic entitlement to personal desires?.

Christianity is not mainly entertainment, praise and worship services in the name of feeling good or reaching out to other (these are necessary too) but we need to be transformed by the renewing of our mind after our initial encounter with God, by fervently studying the word, praying and representing our saviour in words, thoughts and deeds. The word of God is powerful, tearing asunder the hearts of men, transforming souls.  He puts in us both to will and do his good pleasure. We only need to submit to the Holy Spirit within us.

The letter below may be a simple act of love but, anything done in the name of our Lord is lifting him up in worship.

(517) – Take It From Someone Who Knows

The Better Man Project

Thera are so many things to be scared of in this life.

Yep. That about sums it up right?

At the same time, we know in our minds that we know that there are so many things to enjoy about the time we spend here. We see others who have achieved dreams, we look to the starts and wonder what is it like to fly among them, we see those in love and wonder how they did it. We wonder a lot. We what if a lot. We dream – and how could you not when you see what you want right in front of your eyes.

We have those moments when we close our eyes and  get goosebumps every time we think about opening them to the life we have dreamed of. That’s when you know you are really alive. When you are creating every moment of the day…

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Jealousy

Jealousy is the greatest of all evils, and the one which arouses the least pity in the person who causes it.
– François de la Rochefoucauld quotes (French classical author, leading exponent of the Maxime, 1613-1680)

Sad but true, in everyone’s life and especially within the family are killers of dreams and destiny. Those deeply jealous of us that they would do anything to destroy us.

This list includes; spouse,parent,colleague,neighbour,schoolmate,sibling,people personally know or unknown to you, the common factor with these people is their readiness to be used by the devil to prevent your independence, success in whatever you choose to do and ultimately what you were born to do.

One very good example is in Genesis; Joseph let his brothers into his dream(destiny) which was yet unclear to him, hoping to get some clarity and help, instead, his brothers became Jealous of his destiny  and chose to kill him, since no man can end the life of a child of God, they did the most they could, made his journey to greatness very difficult, in fact almost impossible.

Jealousy
http://liveunscripteduncut.blogspot.ie/2012_05_01_archive.html

As much as possible, we must keep our dreams/plans within, talk less, make God our primary companion through Prayers and Bible Studies. He is closer than we think

• pray and plan with God
• work like never before
• Follow productive leads

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Personal Responsibility; it is entirely up to us to protect ourselves from Jealous people and relate with like-minded people. Do not accommodate ungodly people, resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire.
– Solomon Ibn Gabirol ben Judah quotes (Spanish Jewish Leader, Poet and Philosopher, 1021-1058)

My Moment with Michelle: Why “No Answer” Is The Right Answer

Undecided

I had a serendipitous moment with Michelle Obama last week — just a few days before her transcendent speech at the DNC.  The occasion was an interview with the First Couple by Lynn Sherr and Maggie Murphy in Parade, the supplement that shows up in many local Sunday papers.

I almost tossed the magazine aside, but I was drawn in by the radiant cover photo of a smiling Michelle and Barack snuggling on a couch in the White House Map Room, and what I found in this exchange midway through the Q-and-A was an almost spooky resonance with what we’ve been writing about these past four years.  More about that below, but first, check this:

This year, there is once again a conversation about the “superwoman.” Can women have it all? Is that even the right question?
MO: I think that question limits us as women. I work with…

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Why are you afraid?

Unshakable Hope

“And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” (Matt 8:24-:26) 

I suppose that even the most faith-filled Christian would experience some level of fear if they found themselves in a situation like the above. But I know that a doctor delivering news of a life-threatening diagnosis, a loss of a job and insensitive debt-collectors calling day-after-day, can instill that same kind of “Save us, Lord; we are perishing” fear.

Unfortunately, we don’t really know if we have genuine faith until that faith is tested. I believe this is the reason that Jesus allowed His disciples, and us, to go through so many of these nail-biting…

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Yes We Can?

Feminist in High Heels

Food for thought: Feminism and Fashion

Undecided

I confess: I love shoes.  Especially when they’re high.  Until they wore out, my go-to faves were a pair of black leather ankle boots with dangerously high heels. They were actually pretty comfortable, but I would have worn them anyway because they looked damn good.

I’m also a feminist.

I bring this up because I often ponder the tension between feminism and fashion – the way fashion is often framed as a silly vanity, often driven by our need to please men, rather than ourselves. The trope popped into my noggin again this weekend, after I read a piece in Sunday’s New York Times that seemed to imply that women could be accomplished or fashionable, but rarely both.

The story cast a bemused eye on the new stylistas of Silicon Valley who were “bucking convention not only by being women in a male-dominated industry, but also by unabashedly embracing fashion.” …

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Let’s Call It What It Is: Stalling for Time

We are all in the business of stalling for time, it could be minutes, days, weeks or years. To take control, we need to realistically know when we had enough and courageously move on to the next task.

The DMT Idea Board

There’s nothing like a little family perceptiveness to make you face up and fess up, and my family’s caught me with my hand in the cookie jar – so to speak – stalling for time.

When I first launched the “re-branding of DMT Artistry learn-along blog” concept, I had an office build in the works, branding ideas galore and a schedule that allowed for directing reserve creative energies toward my own projects. Since that time, I have an office that seems to enjoy being permanently under construction and the brainstorms are fairly pouring out of my ears. But it’s that last part that’s really thrown a trip-wire across the trail.

Business is booming. It’s been all kinds of phenomenal. And it’s tempting to just ride the wave and enjoy the rush. It certainly demands a great deal of my time. But waves have a habit of either drowning you or…

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How Do I Learn To Love Myself? An OSHO Quote

Real Rest is the Best

“The more you love, the more you have it.

The more you give, the more the universe goes on pouring into you from all sides. There are hidden springs, just as in a well.

Love has an underground way of filling you, invisible.

The only way to know is just give it and see — you are always full.”

– Osho

As usual, Osho has great insights in sharing about the three stages of love. Love does have the power of changing or transforming people, and I agree that the more we love, the more we have it because the universe goes on pouring into us from all sides. Proverbs mentions this truth as well – “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself”. Yes, the universe never shortchanges us whenever we love ourselves and others. I would see this as…

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10 Easy Things You Can Do To Improve Your Life Today

BA Expat

Changing or improving your life doesn’t have to be a long, frustrating, drawn-out process. I’m always in search of the smallest changes that yield the biggest returns, and below is my collection of quick tips that can make your life easier, more fulfilling, or just less of a pain in the ass.

Try one or two of these and tell me how great they worked.

Zack’s Not-So-Secret List of Simple Ways to Increase Happiness, Productivity, or General Awesomeness

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Charred or glowing church

Image via Wikipedia

Is our church charred or glowing? What a question!!!  God does not like lukewarm, it is either hot or cold, we are either burnt or shining the light of God’s glory.

We often forgot our christian mission and most of brotherly love because we are biting more than we can chew. We forget to support the brethren because our time and money are fully engaged in programmes emanating from grandiose ideas of Church founders and leaders.

A church only shines when it is in the will of God, revealed and executed by the holy spirit. (He puts in us both to will and do his good purpose, we are his workmanship).  In today’s society,  success is marked by size of the church, number of regular members, community impact and the number of worship services and programmes. Who is in control? the Holy Spirit or the society? When we can truly say, it’s not what we think, what we want, but, the will of God driving all we do, then can we shine for all to see.

Comparing and trying to be like church “A”, the so-called successful church is not only ungodly, it leaves us spiritually, mentally and physically burnt out.  A burnt out church is no use to anyone, it is filled with insecurity, greed, faithlessness, lack of miracles and members will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

We need to be in touch with our original vision, as spiritual men, we are to walk by the spirit not by fresh, it is not how far we get but how well we do God’s will.

If we grow where we are planted, we will shine, our light will glow for all to see and people will want us to direct them to the source of our light.

You and I can encourage other christians to walk in the spirit by prayerfully, quietly and patiently living out our spiritual conviction.

Galatians 5:16, 25

Philippians 2:13

Parental Devotion and Family

Economic difficulties of this age is compelling parents to choose between working long hard hours to make enough money and? guarantee the future of their children or work less, have very little to juggle around family needs and have some time to be with their families. Teach godliness, love, hard work and societal responsibility by example, amongst other benefits of staying together as a family. And with a greater degree of assurance, produce useful and stable adults.

In case, you are one of those with this dilemma, Raymond Barbier’s post may provide you with some insights. click link below.

The family unit is the foundation to ones entire life

Are You Covered?

We need to be covered spiritually, physically and economically in the new year.

In good organisations, staff have insurance, financial packages to cover for losses arising from unavoidable exposure to hazards. Legal representatives are also in place to defend the organisation and staff in the event of litigation arising from work related activities.

I remember being involved in a disastrous incident at work years ago, I found it difficult to understand why it happen at all and also why me. The organisation, colleagues and particularly my boss were very understanding, luckily for me, I followed the standard operating procedures(SOP) and work Instructions provided(WI). I subsequently explained in writing, providing full details of the events that lead to the accident, the precautions I took to prevent it and how I got my immediate supervisor informed about these. The legal team/administration saw to the conclusion of the case without it ruining my life. I learnt my lesson and grow to become more efficient and productive in the organisation.

Our day-to-day living is a job our loving father has given to us, God intends us to see it as an enjoyable gift , not a miserable chore. it is a well-known fact that if you do what you are passionate about, it is no longer a job/work but a pleasurable activity you look forward to. Our life is very personal, God has prepared us spiritually,mentally, biologically and environmentally to be able to do what he want us to do here on earth.

We have also been provided with an extensive cover in Jesus Christ. He is our mediator, advocate and above all bears all our punishment, if we must be punished for any wrong doing.  All we have to do is sign up to this package, first by becoming a member of the organisation of the children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit then bears witness with our spirit that we are a child of God.

From my experience, to be successfully represented by the legal team,  I had to know and practice the Standard Operating Procedures(SOP) and Work Instructions (WI) provided for the work I do. Christians get acquainted with SOP and WI of  life by reading the bible and praying everyday. we must not forsake the assembly of other believers ( fellowship, church), for they are our colleagues and come very useful in times of trial. We need to finally practice what we know and in the event of any mishap,call on God and he will surely cover us.

Knowing we are covered, banishes fear and lack of resources and makes us more confident, progressive and successful in life.

http://www.freejesuschristwallpapers.com/search/label/verses

Defining Your Purpose

Consciously or subconsciously choices in life is defined by our objectives, targets or ambitions. The point is, how do we arrive at the philosophy that so define our purpose in life? The society has a way of dictating to us it’s definition of success, which happens to be a life filled with material acquisition and fame irrespective of how it is achieved.

There is no one size fits all kind of approach to life goals and objective, it is not like pass is success and fail is failure in life, it’s all about growing where you are planted, making the best of your circumstances in full, conscious and deliberate knowledge of who you are and why God created you.

Fear of tomorrow and anxiety determine the direction a lot of people choose. However, some choose nothing, in which case they are driven by the wind to where ever it takes them (they are unstable in all their ways).Note of caution; those who stand for nothing, fall for nothing.

Discovering your purpose

We must search and find our creator, just like the owner of a new gadget looks into and fully understands a manufacturer’s manual before operating the gadget.

Image by jddunn via Flickr

Many books and psychologist offer coaching lessons on finding your personal purpose in life as a means of getting rich in the eye of the world, these are empty approaches, your purpose can only be found in God by searching the Scriptures, in it you find life. “Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life “(John 14:6). By the way, you are your best teacher, no one understands you like you do.

Ephesians 1:4-6  – Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love, He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intension of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the beloved.

Ephesians 1:9  – He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him.

Ephesians 4:14-15 – As a result, we are no longer to be children, toss here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but by the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspect unto Him, who is the head even Christ.

Living life to the fullest

when we discover our personal purpose we need to follow its lead or direction by living the life of our divine calling then and any then can we find peace in the midst of life’s challenges/chaos. Our sanity is a proof of Christ in us the hope of glory(Colossians 1:27-29)

2 Timothy 2:15 – Be diligent  (King James Version uses the word study here) to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.

6 Things To Stop Caring About Today

We need to choose our battles.Our resources are often very limited, hence, they must be allocated to issues and tasks we can positively change.  Identify these and do all you possibly can, never waste your energy on the things discussed by Tom in his blog; 6 things to stop caring about, feel free to add more things that may personally relate to you.

Click on the link below to read the blog.

6 Things To Stop Caring About Today.

Faith in Action 2

Faith in Action post of May 2011 exposed how we ought to completely believe God and wait for the manifestation of his will/our expectation.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of  things not seen as I was thought by my primary school Religious knowledge teacher. I was also thought “heaven help those who help themselves” which is a very controversial saying, because, it is not directly from the bible. But we authoritative know that faith without works is dead.

All our gains is of God and free once we have faith in God and believe in the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. We must nurture our faith, walk consciously in the spirit to align it with our present circumstances. This involves a lot of work, faith is dynamic and alive with a measurable momentum.

We demonstrate faith through works. This reflects in the chooses we make, our labour of love, bible studies and prayers. In the absence of active continuous nurturing we may loss sight of our calling and possible backslide.

We should not just be hearers but doers of what we believe. The difference between  a dreamer and a visionary is in the doing.

Suggested readings

James 2:26, 2:18

Timothy 4:1

Ephesians 2:8

Philippians 2:12 & 13

The Usefulness of Trash

Recently, I was overwhelmed  at Grace Girls’ Dream conference 2011. The trash from construction work on the new  church building was converted to beautiful decorations, creating a unique, warm and cosy venue.

Simple But Stylish

Before today’s financial problems, wise people knew most things were useful beyond their best before or display until dates.Creative artists make a living out of these materials. Exemplary creativity was displayed by the people who decorated Grace Fellowship church, Dundalk, for the Dream Girls‘ weekend conference.

Use what you have to get what you want

Life experiences are like trash, we can convert them to strong foundation for growth and development. No experience, no matter how hurtful, is a waste of time. We need practical exposures to progress in life. These experiences are basis for better things to come.

Before throwing anything away, always think of other possible uses.

If you can dream it, you can do it.

Generally, the more rags we’ve had, the better the quality of our wardrobe. One man’s trash can be another’s treasure, depending on the skills of the craftsman.

Related post:

http://notsoperfectpw.wordpress.com/2011/10/07/trash-or-treasure/

http://www.monicaricci.net/2011/09/the-200-trash-solution.html