P.R.O.S.P.E.R to prosper...(2)

A few days ago, I started sharing tips to prosperity that I was taught recently...this is the continuation of that piece...

The solution to (in) the Storm...

 

There is only one secure foundation: a genuine, deep relationship with Jesus Christ, which will carry you through any and all turmoil. No matter what storms are raging all around, you'll stand firm if you stand on His love. ~ Charles Stanley

Don't smile for me...

...smile for yourself.

Ok let me explain where I'm coming from so I don't sound rude as that's not my intention.

Who knows?

How many times have you discussed a topic with some uncertainty attached and ended the sentence with the question "Who knows?"


As we get ready to step into a new year - a Leap Year for that matter, "Who knows what the year will bring?" may be a question in your head and heart and rightly so.


I say so from my interesting experience this year. Which made these verses very real -
Proverbs 16:9 - We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it. (MSG)

Proverbs 20: 24 - The very steps we take come from God; 

otherwise how would we know where we’re going? (MSG)

Let me back up a bit.

More tools?

3 years ago, I was thinking about what I wanted to buy myself for Christmas. Yes I buy gifts for myself. So I had just about settled on buying myself an advanced Study Bible/ Dictionary/ Concordance with Hebrew and Greek - the reason was simple: I wanted to read and study the Bible with more meaning and depth in more than one language. To put this in context, we already have several Bible versions, Bible Dictionaries and Concordances in our home.

The Bible is such a mine of precious stones and life-long gems that I wanted to get more "tools" to dig them up. Just around the same time, one of my dear cousins asked me:

"Please which type of Study Bible do you recommend I buy?"

The Holy Spirit, in His usual kind way, reminded me that getting more Bible Study tools (&/or gadgets) was not necessarily going to make me read or understand the Bible more. He was very direct in saying: "The best way to get gems from the Bible is by reading it consistently."

So I left off on buying any new "tools" and just focused on making better (& more use) of what I already have. For instance, if I read something once, I'd listen to it twice or just do something different with it and indeed God has taught me so much more. These 3 quotes are so true and note that the first 2 were by former US Presidents:

Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face. ~ Ronald Reagan

A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education. ~ Theodore Roosevelt

“The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation.”

~ Dwight Lyman Moody

When you pick up your Bible, always ask:

"Lord, open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."*

OR

"Lord, as I go into Your Word, teach me, help me understand

and help me obey. In Jesus Name I pray.**"

P.S. I'm not saying that Bible Study tools are bad - just saying that they should not be a distraction or a reason not to spend the time and dig out gems from the Bible yourself.

References:
* Ps 119:18 - a prayer my Mother taught us while growing up
** My coinage for my children

Look beyond yourself

 

One reason to do this?

Ephesians 3:20-21 - ²⁰ Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us; ²¹ glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always. Amen. (CEB)

Keep sending them...

Isaiah 65:24 - I will answer them before they even call to me. 

While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! (NLT)

 

Matthew 7:7 - Ask, and you will receive.

Search, and you will find.

Knock, and the door will be opened to you. (CEB)

#MOMories - You can...

...but you may not.

I remember very vividly my various "Can I?" conversations with my Mum - over 25 years ago. Just like I learnt the difference between "lend" and "give" - that's a story-lesson for another day.

My Mum had a superb command of English. If I may say, she understood and spoke English in English - can't stress what I mean any further. I didn't quite get the difference so when I'd go to her and ask: "Mummy, can I _______ - this or that?", her response was predictably the same: "Yes you can, but you may not."

 

Read the last 2 sentences again and let it all sink in.

 

Now, I use the same phrase on my children for 2 reasons - it is:

1) important that they understand how to ask for permission properly; and

2) even more important that I don't downplay their capacity and capabilities.

 

Let me break it down:

Impossible?

Nelson Mandela said: It seems impossible until it's done.

What a very factual and fundamental statement. In fact, Christians should not be overwhelmed with how things seem. God never ever promised that things will be easy - He promised that we will overcome because He has overcome* and with Him all things are possible:

But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible, but all things are possible with God.**

Jesus glanced around at them and said, 

With men [it is] impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.***

For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.****

But He said, What is impossible with men is possible with God.*****

Our lives are fraught with challenges and more than once, I've wanted to give up. Remember, nothing is impossible because God can do any and everything. Jesus also told us that we cannot do anything without Him.******

Add your faith to these facts. As you stay joined to our God Who specializes in impossibilities, you'll see and agree with Robert H. Schuller that: 

"Today's accomplishments were yesterday's impossibilities." 

As we get ready to start the 2nd ½ of the year, welcome you to the Life of Possibilities.

My advice - just keep your faith in God fervent because: 
Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible. (Mary McLeod Bethune)

References:

* John 16:33 - 

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] (Amplified)

** Matthew 19:26 - Amplified

*** Mark 10:27 - Amplified

**** Luke 1:37 - Amplified

***** Luke 18:27 - Amplified

******John 15:5 - I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. (CEV)

Loaded and labelled...

Phil 4:13 says: I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

(Amplified)

In other words,

Irrespective of what the devil may want you to believe, that verse means: 

We're not lacking or lagging, rather,
we're loaded and labeled for success in all and anything that faces us this year.

Believe and declare that the remaining 360 days of the year...

 Have a great and victorious year ahead - challenge after challenge.

What's your WAY?

Happy New Year! Last year, I shared one of my prized gifts from God with us (http://sapphire-and-beryl.blogspot.ca/2013/01/sharing-my-gift.html). As the year wrapped up, I was asking myself if I needed to close the loop and share how God brought His Word to pass and my WAY* for 2014. I didn't feel a release to do that - after all, it's not about me; it's about the King and His Word! Well, this morning, after my QT, I checked my emails and found this...sharing an excerpt.

Do you remember yesterday's post**? Again, I'm amazed at how God strings things together...

May I guess...

...why you're not 'fruitful'?

One morning,  during my QT, I was pondering on fruitfulness or the lack thereof and the Holy Spirit dropped 2 reasons in my heart:

Avoid that trap...

A lot of people have one or more favorite Bible verses. Well so do I. In fact it's almost if I have seasonal favorites. One of those verses came to mind after listening to Les Brown (who I'd never heard of) and John Maxwell (whose books I've read) recently.

11, 12, 13...

I couldn't resist sharing this today - see how well the title lines up with the date which for some is

11-12-13.

Let's start with a question to all of us parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, guardians...:

"How many times do you threaten to count to "10" for a child to behave appropriately and find yourself going beyond number 10?"

Well, I can't count how many times I've done that wondered if it's just me.

Seeing better than Monk...

A few years ago, I got "introduced" to an outstanding detective: Adrian Monk.
Watching him at work is both exciting and enlightening. The saying "there is more than beholds the eye" is so true for this man. A few months ago, I watched an episode (Monk and the Candidate) where Captain Stottlemeyer said:

"I see all he sees but I don't see what he sees."

Hold your ground...

Last week, we talked about living a CPR life* and then this week I saw this quote:
 

“The giant oak is an acorn that held its ground.”

~Anonymous

 

My take away from it is that no matter how big and great the things you want to accomplish are, you need to (or maybe even, must) start small. Think about it, no successful/great man or woman started life as an adult – not even Jesus - or did you?

 

The roots of this fact of life are even in the Bible:

 

So:

“Do not despise these small beginnings,

for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.”**

 

When you believe and obey that verse, be rest assured that:

 

Where you began will seem unimportant [Though your start was small],

because your future will be so successful [your end will be exalted].***

 

AMEN!

 

As you purpose, pursue and progress in life, hold your ground - rooted in God.

 

References:

*http://sapphire-and-beryl.blogspot.com/2013/09/live-cpr-life.html

** Zech 4:10a - NLT

***(Job 8:7 -Expanded Bible)

Word confirmed...

Psalm 118: 5-6 Out of my distress I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free and in a large place.The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Amplified)

Faith facts

A few days ago, I shared a piece on Faith*. I'm sure you know that Hebrews 11:6 is unequivocal about the relationship between Faith, God and us; it says:

"Without faith no one can please God. Whoever comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who sincerely try to find him." (Easy-to-Read Version)

I just heard and then found a couple other definitions that resonate with me:

Faith is not putting God to work, it is putting God's word to work. ~ Bishop David Oyedepo

Faith is not a dormant force...it's a dominant force.

~ Bishop David Oyedepo

 

The only way you can successfully walk on water is to have faith in Him Who has asked you to

"Come..."

...It's my prayer that we all grow and go in faith. AMEN

 

* http://sapphire-and-beryl.blogspot.ca/2013/08/act-according-to-your-faith.html

Act according to your faith...

It's interesting how we sometimes take the scriptures out of context. A number of people believe that (and behave as if) having faith means we should be passive i.e. have faith and do nothing.
Pastor EA Adeboye said: "Anyone faith that leaves everything to God is and irresponsible faith."
I also like how Joel Osteen points out the importance (& impact) of our faith in this piece:

Writing right...

It's been exactly 1,300 days since I started blogging. I must confess sometimes it's felt like flogging. There are days when I'm on a roll & others when I'm just stalled. Days when many events feel right for sharing & others feel just tight for bearing. It's about writing right...

Now I'm not sure which category today falls into - however every day I'm thankful to God that I have fingers and that I can type...whether or not I want to.

I remember a few months ago when I was trying to put my thoughts together to write a piece or two and I said to my husband: "Blogging is hard." His response was crisp: "If you're struggling then you're not writing from the Spirit." Needless to say that I agreed with him. In fact, I now appreciate and agree with Lawrence Kasdan who said that "Being a writer is like having homework every night for the rest of your life."