Nourish to Flourish

Last year, we talked about beautiful weeds*. One thing we need to realise is "what you nourish flourishes". Thinking about weeds, ignoring them is a form of nourishment - sure it is...it gives them more time to dig their roots deeper (& makes it more difficult to uproot them). This principle is also applicable to our lives. I'll expound this further...

The gift of frank-in-sense

Did you know that God requires us to give one another the gift of frank-in-sense? Well Leviticus 19:17b says:

"Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt." (NIV)

Which to me places a requirement to be frank to my neighbours - i.e. everyone around me. As Christians, we know that God does not hate sinners - indeed He doesn't - He only hates their sin. Which is why He expects us to "Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching." (2 Tim 4:2 - NLT) Sometimes we even need to correct, rebuke and even encourage Christians - to do what they should.

The bottom line is we must be frank -

honest, open and truthful - with others -

there is no excuse not to be.

Give God a gift...

Phew!!! It's been 30 days since Christmas - when God gave us all the Greatest gift - JESUS...and He didn't stop there...

What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God. ~Eleanor Powell

"Yesterday's the past and tomorrow's the future.

Today is a gift - which is why they call it the present." ~ Bill Keane

So spend each day wisely and become a praise on the earth to God's glory...

make that your gift to God.

 

The A-Z of a Purposeful Life

Got this by email (changed the title)...

it has tips you may find helpful as you develop your new way of living...

 not just for New Year resolutions...

A - Always put God first in your life.

B - Be a true friend and you will have many friends.

C - Count and thank God for your many blessings daily..

D - Discipline yourself. Decide to make your life count.

E - Edify and encourage others consistently.

F - Follow great leaders and then become one.

G - Give liberally and joyfully of your time, talents and means.

H - Have an attitude of gratitude.

I - Invert any negatives thrown your way. Turn them into positives.

J - Journey through life one step and one day at a time.

K - Keep written goals set ahead. Make specific plans to accomplish them.

L - Love and forgive everybody.

M - Maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.

N - Never, never, never give up!

O - Open the door wide when opportunity knocks.

P - Practice patience. Promote peace..

Q - Quit bad habits by replacing them with good habits.

R - Read God's Word and other profitable material every chance you get.

S - Share the Gospel whenever and wherever possible.

T - Take time to appreciate everything and everyone God has given to you.

U - Use your God given common sense.

V - Visualize your dreams and stretch to reach for them

W - Watch, listen and pray without ceasing.

X - Xamine your motives on a regular basis.

Y - Yield to the Holy Spirit when He prompts you.

Z - Zoom in on God's real purpose for your life.

Sapphire says:
Did you notice how many times we're encouraged to be thankful...

that's the secret to a purposeful life...

go ahead and fulfill your purpose in life

First port of call

15 days gone - 350 to go...

...thinking about (& preparing for) overcoming obstacles/challenges this year, I have a question for you: What or who is your first port of call when you are faced with a challenge or endued with a blessing?

Let's take them one at a time...

Think on this...

Prayer is the sovereign remedy for every malady ~ Rev George Adegboye

Overcoming obstacles (2)

My family listened to a message over the Christmas holiday that tied in to a piece I was writing at the time. This phrase resonated with me:

"When you let God lead the way, all the obstacles will give way."

He went on to share that Psalms 24: 7-10 explains how:-

Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. (NKJV) 

Irrespective of the obstacles that you will face this year - and you will face some -  gates have no choice but to give the King of glory access wherever He goes...

make sure you stick close to Him...

so you can hear and obey His voice all through this year...

...and for life.

For more nuggets from this and other messages, log on to: 

  http://www.davidoyedepoministries.org/archived-media-center 

Look for: "Unveiling the Highway to Your Blessing (A)" (preached on October 3, 2010).

Overcoming obstacles

This is a fresh year...I'm sure we're all looking forward to great times ahead but possibly not looking forward to the challenges and obstacles that they will bring with them.

I pray these quotes will nudge you forward...to face and overcome them.

Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.

~ Bernice Johnson Reagon

You are the only real obstacle in your path to a fulfilling life. ~ Les Brown

Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.

~ Joshua J. Marine

Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven't half the strength you think they have.

~ Norman Vincent Peale

The only way to find the limits of the possible is by going beyond them to the impossible.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

Obstacles will look large or small to you according to whether you are large or small.

~ Orison Swett Marden

As long as a man stands in his own way, everything seems to be in his way.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. ~Michael Jordan

One more thing: with 360 days to go in this year, remember that there will be times when you need someone to help you up so you can get over, through or out of a challenge...

don't be too proud or scared to stretch out your hand and receive that help. 

Think on this...

I found this quote and couldn't resist sharing it on Day 2...

People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year,

but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas.

 ~Author Unknown

...wishing you a great and healthy year ahead.

What do you see?

Welcome to 2011!

What do you see?  That is an age-old question...and the answer depends on who's looking, what you're looking at, where you are at the time and what your current focus is.

This is a new year...

with unimagined possibilities, untapped opportunities and God's evergreen promises

but what do you see?

Yes YOU -

not your spouse, friend, parent, child, colleague, mentor, prayer partner, pastor

- YOU!

In Genesis 13: 16 - 18 and Gen 15: 5-6, God told Abraham to look up and see...

and he would get what he sees.

God was pleased with Abraham because he looked, saw...

 and believed he would receive what he had seen.

Look at this picture - what do you see?