Week 1: This is the LIFE!

The "L" in our LIFE acronym stands for "Lively." In "living" an abundant life, God expects us to be lively.

Lively means: to be energetic and active, agile, physically or mentally nimble, full of life.

 

 

Have you noticed the different ways people respond when you ask: “How are you?” The way that question is answered says a lot to others. If one person responds: “I’m superbly blessed – couldn’t be better” and another says “I just dey” or “Surviving” - who would you want to connect with? I'd like to connect with the person who's "superbly blessed."

Another part of liveliness is in 3 John 2: “Dear friend, I’m praying that all is well with you and that you enjoy good health in the same way that you prosper spiritually.” (CEB)

Indeed, it is more important to be spiritually healthy but God desires that we prosper in our health too. When you don’t prosper in health by your own doing e.g. poor diet or eating everything in sight, you are not living the fullest possible life Jesus came to give you.

The third part of liveliness is in 1 Peter 2:5 which tells us:

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house,

an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (KJV)

We must be worshippers in the way we live - our lives must glorify God in every way.

I found and like these quotes related to "lively-living"

Life lively process of becoming.~ Douglas MacArthur 

God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well. ~ Voltaire

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the gift of abundant life. Please help me demonstrate my appreciation for this gift in the way I live each day. Help me have a healthy lifestyle and be a true worshipper so I may become all You have in store for me. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen. 

This is the LIFE!

Last month, our theme in church was "I have abundance of life" (Source: John 10:10).

As the month progressed, God kept revealing different aspects of this "LIFE" to me. In fact one day, on the way to work, a verse in the Metro (paper) confirmed that I need to do this... for this month.

By the grace of God, this month we'll have short pieces (now that's not a promise - I'll try)... Ok, let's say, we'll have pieces that start with a verse or 2, some comments, possibly a quote or picture & of course a prayer - so each of us can "enter" into the "LIFE" God has given us.

Let's start the month with the text - John 10:10 (emphasis and italics mine):
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). (Amplified)

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.

My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (NLT)

A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need. (God's Word Translation)
There 2 things to note from the 2 sentences in our text:

1. The only reason why the thief (the devil) bothers you is because you are valuable and have valuable things within you for your benefit and the benefit of those around you. Have you ever heard of a thief robbing an empty unoccupied house/bank? I haven't.
2. Jesus came to give us an abundant life that overflows and He expects us to receive it, enjoy it and spread it...

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving me a very valuable, radiantly rich & solid satisfying life. I accept it with thanksgiving. Help me live in a way that pleases You each & every day of my life. In Jesus Name I pray.

AMEN.

Every Sunday this month, I'll share each letter in "LIFE" and we'll see where God takes us...

Delight begets delight

A few months ago, our theme for the month in church was Psalm 35:27 which says:
May my friends [those who want my vindication] sing and shout for joy. May they always say, “Praise the greatness of the LORD, who loves [delights; takes pleasure] to see his servants do well [the peace/prosperity of his servant].” (Expanded Bible)

Listen or lose...

...and this applies to little things too.

Last year, more than once I'm so sure I heard the Lord warn me about something minor and I ignored Him...and paid for it.

Little things...

...can make a big difference.

I've always (sort of) known this but it struck me in a different (& big) way a few months ago when a colleague of mine said to me, "I like the last line in your 'out-of-office' notification." Wow - it was interesting that something I just added casually made such a difference to her (and maybe others). The first lesson for me was you never know who is impacted by the things you do. Put differently, "Don't be too big to do something small." (Max Lucado)

I'm sure I've perked your curiousity about what my last line is - some of you may have started guessing and that's good too. Let's read what others have said about little things first...since at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word is established. (2 Cor 13:1)

It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen. ~ John Wooden

Everyone is trying to accomplish something big, not realizing that life is made up of little things.

~ Frank A. Clark

We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee. ~ Marian Wright Edleman

The flip side of this is that: "A small leak can sink a great ship."  ~Benjamin Franklin

 

The fact is that little things matter - positively or negatively - they have a ripple effect.

 

The last line in my out of office notification was not "Have a nice day" - it was:

 "Make it a great day for yourself."

If I remember correctly, my thinking behind that line was that "nice," "good," or "great" days don't just happen. 

Indeed, your day can only be a nice/good/great as you choose to make/receive it.

It is up to you: having the right attitude sets you on the path to a high altitude of a great day.

On a daily basis, give yourself the gift of  "little things" to make each day a great one for yourself and before you know it, you'll have a great week, month, year and even life. 

God bless.

Start with one step...

I listened to a message titled "Stay on Track"* in which Bishop TD Jakes said:
"You can't get to the stage without the steps."

Ps 37:23 says - The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].**

God is clear on how He leads us - Ps 119:105 explains: Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path [it shows how life should be lived].***

(Emphasis mine)

Knowing the word of God does little to no good if you don't do anything about/with it.****

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with with a single step."***** Just one - not two...

In heading for the stage, be conscientious & consistent in taking one step at a time in faith. Martin Luther King Jr. put it so well: "Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."

Indeed, faith is the substance of things not seen.****** So get ready (read the word), set (stick with it) and go!




References:
* http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/the-potters-house/?gclid=CIjWkOTGqrQCFUZgMgodVF4AHw
** Amplified Bible
*** Expanded Bible
**** James 1: 22 - Do what God’s teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves [Be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deceiving yourselves]. (Expanded Bible) 
***** Lao Tzu
****** Heb 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  (NKJV)

Tales of 2 donkeys

Donkeys were very common and useful animals in the Bible - they were also rather special. In more than one instance, God used donkeys for unique assignments. There are several lessons we can learn from each donkey-tale; for now, we'll focus on 2 of the tales: