Seek Peace Not Strife

Worldly Peace Vs. God’s Peace

Many people fall into the evil trap of strife. Someone may say or do something that rubs you the wrong way, and before you know it, there is tension, quarrelling and division. The Bible tells us that strife opens the door to every evil work. It’s the enemy’s greatest trap to keep people from living in victory. 

The good news is, you don’t have to fall into the trap of strife, you can rise above it. Like today’s verse says, you can simply drop the matter before it turns into something bigger than it needs to. You don’t have to sink down to somebody’s level and argue with them and try to prove that you’re right. Remember, you weren’t put on this earth to correct everybody around you. 

Today, if you are going to be all that God’s called you to be, you have to learn to stay above strife and quarrels. Instead of letting disagreements pull your relationships apart, look for common ground to draw you closer together. Look for peaceful biblical ways to be a blessing. Stay above strife, and if you can’t say something positive don’t say anything, so you can enjoy your relationships and experience the blessings God has for you! 

“Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.” (Proverbs 17:14, NIV) 

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, help me to stay above strife no matter what’s going on around me. Father, I will honour You by seeking peace and staying positive in my relationships. Almighty God, empower me to walk in love and be a blessing everywhere I go, in Christ’s Name! Amen

Why Worry?

With infection rates going up, our children about to head back to school, and the economy the lowest it’s ever been, it’s easy to worry. What are you worrying about today? To worry means to allow something to revolve in your mind over and over again until it stresses you out. God doesn’t want you to live worried or anxious about anything. He knows that worry steals your peace and joy. It affects every area of your life negatively. Have you heard the saying, “Don’t worry yourself sick?” That’s because worrying affects your physical and mental body. It even affects your sleep.  

The Bible says you won’t ever gain anything by worrying; in fact, you’ll lose precious moments that you can never get back again. The good news is that God has promised that you can have victory over worry. It starts by making the choice to trust in Him. When you cast your cares on Him, He will give you His peace, which will eradicate your worry. Hallelujah! 

Today, why not put an end to worry in your life. Choose to feed your faith and fill your mind with God’s promises of peace. As you focus on God’s Word, and spend time in conversation with Him, He will drive out worry and fill your heart with faith and expectancy, and you will overcome in every area of your life! 

“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27, NIV 

Let’s Pray Yahweh, today I give You permission to put an end to worry in my life. Father, I have decided to feed my faith by studying Your promises, and declaring Your Word over my life. God, help me to totally trust in You today and every day, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

You Have Ambassadorial Authority

50 Quotes to Inspire Successful Leadership

Did you know God wants to do His work on earth through you? You are His ambassador or representative. You have been given His authority and power to act on His behalf. It’s easy to get focused on this natural realm and all the things that we need, but do you realise that you are equipped to be somebody else’s miracle? 

The Scripture tells us we are Christ’s ambassador. Daily, we have opportunities to show God’s love and compassion to others. We can meet needs, bring them healing, and offer hope and encouragement. Every day, we can sow good seed into the lives of others that will reap an everlasting harvest. Hallelujah! 

Today, don’t overlook the ways to be a blessing to someone else. When you step out and pour God’s love, joy and peace into others, He will make sure that others pour into you. Let’s continue to work together to bring Him glory and build His eternal kingdom! 

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us…” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NIV) 

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for choosing me and using me as Your ambassador. Father, I fully surrender every area of my life to You. God, show me ways to be a miracle to others, through the love and compassion You have given me, so that my life will bring You glory, in Christ’s Name! Amen. 

Get Hope, Get Strength

As we protest against racism worldwide, many of us are tired and weary in a struggle that has taken generations. Are you feeling tired or weary? Do you need strength for today and the road ahead? The Scripture tells us that when we hope in the Lord, that’s exactly what we will get–strength! Therefore get hope, get strength! No hope leads to weariness and fatigue!

If you’ve grown weary and tired, overwhelmed by the cares of this world, it’s a clear sign that you need to change what you’re putting your hope in. Are you putting your hope in your job? The government? The economy? Another person? Or worldly organisations? All of these things will keep you focused on earthly things, making you mentally and physically tired. But when you hope in the Lord, you are investing in the Rock of Ages. He never gets weary! He is the only solid foundation for your soul, with a clear plan for your success.

Today, find strength by simply putting your hope in God. Declare out loud, God, I place my hope in You. I trust You are working in my life, even though at times I can’t feel or see You, I will rest in You. Now, feed your hope and faith by meditating daily on the Scriptures. As you renew your mind with the Word of God, you’ll find strength, you’ll find hope, and you’ll find His victory for all the days of your life!

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

(Isaiah 40:31, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for renewing my strength as I put my hope in You. Father, help me to have a spiritual revival, because I’m tired of following earthly human ideologies that focus on secular issues. I declare today that I love You and trust You. I know that You are working in my life and in the life of others. God, please don’t allow me to get so distracted that I lose hope in You. Fill me with Your peace and joy as I wait on You, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

Different From The World’s Peace

As the doctors came in yesterday to share the bad news with the family, all the faces were solemn. After he delivered the bad news gasps, shouts of “no”, swearing and anger filled the room. The spirit prompted me to pray for peace, quoting Matthew 4, I stated “peace be still” in my prayer. No matter what may be going on around you today, you can still live in peace. Scripture encourages us not to let our hearts be troubled. In other words, don’t meditate on all the negative things in this world to the point that it steals your peace. 

Today, if you have fear, worry or anxiety about anything, recognise that those feelings aren’t from God, because He has promised to give you a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. There is tremendous power in peace. When you are at peace internally, you can think more clearly. You can hear the voice of God more easily. You’ll make better decisions. Even your physical body responds to peace.

Remember, the enemy knows this, and his goal is to steal your peace. He tries to set you up to get you upset. But when you choose to receive God’s peace, then no weapon formed against you shall prosper! Hallelujah!

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

 (John 14:27, NIV)

Pray With Me

Yahweh, thank You for Your gift of peace in my life. Father, I choose to receive Your peace in my heart and hold it close to me always. Despite what happens in life, I receive Your Word as truth and life to my heart and soul. God, I ask for Your healing hands upon the Prime Minister, his family and the thousands of others who have been unwell by this virus. God, I claim and receive Your promise of peace in our lives today, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

5 tweets that help you help others on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

5 tweets that help you help others on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

“Sexual violence against women and girls is rooted in centuries of male domination. Let us not forget that the gender inequalities that fuel rape culture are essentially a question of power imbalances.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres

The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Resolution 54/134). The premise of the day is to raise awareness of the fact that women around the world are subject to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence; furthermore, one of the aims of the day is to highlight that the scale and true nature of the issue is often hidden. For 2014, the official Theme framed by the UN Secretary-General’s campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women, is Orange your Neighbourhood. For 2018, the official theme is “Orange the World:#HearMeToo” .

This year’s theme is “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands Against Rape.” For the next two years, a campaign from the U.N. Secretary General will focus specifically on rape in its efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls. 

According to U.N. figures, one in three women and girls experience some form of physical or sexual violence in their lives. The U.N. estimates that approximately 15 million adolescent girls have experienced forced sex during their lifetimes. Based on its data from 30 countries, only 1 percent of these girls ever looked for professional help. 

“Too many of us fail to name or challenge the rape culture that surrounds us,” U.N. Women said in an statement about this year’s theme.  

U.N. Women encourages people to get directly involved in preventing sexual violence by learning about rape culture, listening to survivors, and talking about consent. 

For this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, here are some tweets that show you how to do exactly that. 

1. Stand up

https://twitter.com/WFP/status/1198952338939101184

2. Know the definition of consent as there is no excuse for sexual violence

https://twitter.com/UN_Women/status/1198928076966641664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1198928076966641664&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmashable.com%2Farticle%2Fviolence-against-women-2019-united-nations%2F

3. Support survivors

https://twitter.com/europeaid/status/1198856273565044736

4. To feel safe, women and girls have to look at everyday objects differently. Understand the burden women carry to avoid violence

 

https://twitter.com/UN_Women/status/1198897874626646017

5. Stop victim-blaming and body-shaming. What women choose to wear or not wear is not consent for sexual harassment, violence, bullying, body-shaming or victim-blaming.

https://twitter.com/UNDP/status/1198904157954031616

God’s Favour Can Do Remarkable, Astounding, Overwhelming Things

Yesterday I visited a friend in hospital who was asking “when will these challenge end, and why is it happening to her?” We all go through seasons when the challenges of life feel overwhelming. During these times, it’s easy to be tempted to talk about how bad things are. Maybe you are facing a situation right now that looks impossible. Don’t get discouraged and give up, because God wants to do something awesome in your life. Instead of talking to God about how big your challenges are, talk to your challenges about how big your God is. 

The key is to be bold and start speaking positively into your situation. Every day say, “Father, thank You that Your favour is turning this around. Thank You that Your favour is making a way even though I don’t see a way. Lord, thank You that Your favour is doing remarkable, astounding, overwhelming things.” When you release your faith like that, you’ll see God show up and do amazing things that you’ve never seen happen before!

Today, quit doubting and remember, even if you don’t see how things could ever work out, God does. Just do your part and keep speaking to those mountains in your life. Declare favour over those difficult challenges, and get ready to move forward in the victory and blessing God has prepared for you!

“And Jesus answered them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith (a firm relying trust) and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will be done.”” (Matthew 21:21, AMPC)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for Your Word which is life and power to me. Father, my challenges seem fierce, please give me Your strength today so I can speak favour to the mountains. God, thank You for preparing a path of victory, as I keep my heart and mind stayed on You, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

You Won’t Be Alone Anymore

You Won't Be Alone Anymore

Jesus had many names that identified His character. One of those was also Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Before Jesus came to earth, the Spirit of God resided in the temple. The people had to go through all kinds of rituals to become clean enough to go near to Him.

As believers today, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, He is the one who cleanses us and makes His home in our hearts. He becomes one with us, closer than the air we breathe. Isn’t it good to know that God is always with us?

Today, I want you to know, God’s peace is always with us. His joy is always with us. His power is always with us, and His victory is always with us. The next time you feel alone, think about this Scripture. Know that He is near because you serve Emmanuel–the God who is always with you!

“Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel-which, when translated, means, God with us.”

Matthew 1:23, AMPC

“Immanuel (Hebrew: meaning, “God with us”; also romanized Emmanuel, Imanu’el) is a Hebrew name which appears in the Book of Isaiah as a sign that God will protect the House of David.”

Wikipedia

Pray With Me
Emmanuel, thank You for choosing to make Your home in me. Father, thank You for filling me with Your peace and joy. God, I bless You today, knowing that You will never leave me nor forsake me, in Jesus’ Name! Amen

You Don’t Control The Outcomes Of Your Life, Principles Do.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

There always have been and always will be two classes on the earth to the end of time–the believers in Jesus, and those who reject Him.

Sinners, however wicked, sinful, evil, abominable, and corrupt, by faith in Jesus Christ will be purified and made clean, through the doing of His word. and the blood of Jesus Christ which was shed on calvary.

Those who reject Christ and refuse to believe the truth will be filled with bitterness against those who accept Jesus as a personal Saviour. But those who receive Christ are melted and subdued by the manifestation of His love and His humiliation, suffering, and death in their behalf.

The peace that Jesus Christ gave to His disciples, and for which we pray, is the peace that is born of truth, a peace that is not to be quenched because of division. Without may be wars and fightings, jealousies, envies, hatred, strife; but the peace of Christ is not that which the world giveth or taketh away. It could endure amid the hunting of spies and the fiercest opposition of His enemies…. Christ did not for an instant seek to purchase peace by a betrayal of sacred trusts. Peace could not be made by a compromise of principles.

It is a grave mistake on the part of those who are children of God to seek to bridge the gulf that separates the children of light from the children of darkness by yielding principle, by compromising the truth. It would be surrendering the peace of Christ in order to make peace or fraternize with the world. The sacrifice is too costly to be made by the children of God to make peace with the world by giving up the principles of truth…. Then let the followers of Christ settle it in their minds that they will never compromise truth, never yield one iota of principle for the favor of the world. Let them hold to the peace of Christ.

Faith Matters

‘Have Faith in God’ Mark 11:22 Have ‘the God type of faith’ Says Jesus in Verse 22 of Mark chapter 11, not some man made, mind over matter rubbish but the type of faith that believes for the impossible. Not wishful thinking, not some dream but faith that is based on the never changing word of God.

You can never base faith on things or on people for things and people die away, but God is eternal as is his word, so you can take his word as gospel truth.

’For truly I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be you removed, and be you cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says. Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever you desire when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them’ Mark 11:23, 24

Now that’s what I call faith’ it is not a man-made pie in the sky, wishing for something to happen kind of faith, it is the God type of faith which truly believes for the impossible, it’s the same faith that created the world we live in by the Word. That’s the kind of faith that creates something out of nothing.

These are days when we need to have our faith strengthened, when we need to know God. God has designed that ‘the just shall live by faith (Hebrews 10:38) Any man or woman can be changed by faith, no matter how much bondage they may find themselves in, God’s word is sufficient.

One word from God can change an individual and it can change a nation, His word is from everlasting to everlasting it’s unchanging and as such you can trust it completely.  It is through the entrance of this everlasting Word, this incorruptible seed, that we are born again, and come into His wonderful and complete and free salvation.

Its Gods word that creates this new life in us and this new life needs feeding ‘Man cannot live by bread alone, but must live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’ Matthew 4:4 ‘Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God’ Romans 10:17

If we want to see miracles we need to walk in the Spirit and that way we will not fulfil the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16 ‘whatsoever is not of faith is sin’ Romans 14:23 It’s not your flesh that believes it is your born again spirit, it’s your spirit that will enable faith to take a leap and believe for the miraculous.

It’s not something that your mind dreams up, it is the word of the living God seeking release in order to bring glory to His name, you cannot pray it in, you can’t pray it down but you can read and hear it and hear it until you believe it enough to take your dream and make it a reality.

We need to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, Ephesians 4:23 in other words when we were in the world we were brainwashed by the lies of Satan now as Christians we need to be renewed from all the rubbish that was sown there. Walking in faith is easy; it comes by choosing Christ instead of the world, it comes by choosing to read and digest Gods word instead of TV soaps, it costs but the rewards are clean hands and a pure heart, Psalm 24:4

Everywhere people even so called ordained ministers are trying to discredit the Bible and take from it all the miraculous.

They have ‘forms of godliness but deny the power thereof, 2nd Timothy 3:5 they ‘feast themselves in the church, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withers without fruit twice dead plucked up by the roots. Raging waves of the sea, foaming out of their shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever’ Jude 1:12

These so called ministers are among the church spreading dissention, deceiving the weak and destroying the weary. They look the part yet ‘inwardly they are ravening wolves, false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing’ Matthew 7:15 they are easy to recognize for as Jesus said ‘you shall know them by their fruit’

Look for the fruit of righteousness in men, do not judge them by their clothes or their speech, for ‘a good tree brings forth good fruit and a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit’ ‘not everyone who say unto Christ, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven’ Matthew 7:17- 21

It’s not fine words that mark out the man of God, it’s his love of Christ and his utter dependence on God’s word out of which flows the fruits of the Spirit.

It’s not even the works that mark the man of God for there are many who will say to the Lord ‘have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works? For even so Christ will say ‘I never knew you, depart from me you that work iniquity’ Matthew 7:22-23

Today  foolish men may deny the virgin birth, the atoning sacrifice of Christ and his resurrection, some may even say that healing is not for today, they may say that God glories in sickness but God has the final say, they will die but the word of the Lord abides forever 1st Peter 1:23

We have a wonderful God, a God whose ways are past finding out, and whose grace and power are limitless.

’What things so ever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them’

See for yourself these truths, ‘God has placed no limit to his giving’ the truths here are eternal they are life changing to anyone who would dare to take God at his word.

I remember well one evening sitting reading in my office when a knock came to the door, it was an elderly gentleman who said he needed help.  He was in serious pain with arthritis and so I began to speak to him about Christ the great saviour. Son he said; I have been saved 40 years I asked him how his faith was.  He replied ‘I have great faith’

After prayer he was able jump up and down with no pain but he was not satisfied and complained, “I feel a little bit of trouble just there,” pointing to a certain place. ‘Do you know what your problem is’ I said?” He answered, “No.

I said, ‘Imperfect faith’ We went to Marks Gospel and read, ‘What things so ever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive there, and you shall have them’ the dear man saw it and said ‘If God said it that settles it, I am healed for that’s what I came for’ Immediately every pain, even the trouble spot disappeared back to hell where it was birthed.

Did you believe before you were saved? You see feelings do not come into the realm of the spirit; there was never a man who ‘felt’ saved before he believed. God’s plan was always, if you can believe, all things are possible’ Mark 9:23

In these last closing days before Christ comes I believe God wants to bring us all to a definite place of unswerving faith and confidence in Himself, if ever the body of Christ needed to walk in Holy Ghost power it is now because ‘the night is soon coming when no man can work’ John 9:4

There is a dirty rainy day coming, a day when we will need all the power of heaven on our side, you may have already experienced the dirty rain from hell’s kitchen if so you will know what I mean. Sickness which seems incurable, debt that is beyond your ability, wounds that seem impossible to heal, broken hearts all need the power of God’s anointing to destroy them.

It may be too late to seek an answer from heaven when you are dying unless your faith is built up and you know the will of God for your life. It never ceases to amaze me how many of God’s children leave him out in the early stages of their problems, like Adam and eve they hide from God and almost run away from Him until there is no more place to run.

They come to our home after spending weeks or even months in agony weak in strength and in spirit and we have to start to build their faith up to receive, what a foolish thing, leaving the great physician out of the picture until they face death.

Why does Jesus use a mountain when he is teaching his followers about faith? Simply because if you have faith to remove a mountain, you can remove anything you see the plan of God is so awesome, that ‘if you will only believe, all things are possible’ Mark 9:23

In Mark 11:23 we read, ‘And shall not doubt in his heart’ you see it’s the heart were faith grows, it’s not that your head gets full of God’s word it’s from your heart (spirit) that all the issues of life flow. It’s from your heart that faith springs forth and reveals the saving, Healing Christ; it’s from your heart that life changing power flows so ‘guard your heart with all diligence’ Proverbs 4:23

As we continue to have heart fellowship with our LORD our faith cannot be dented, we cannot doubt in our hearts and as such we receive, because He has given us an impartation of His very life and nature within.

As we read His Word and believe the promises that He by His grace has given to us, we are made partakers of His very essence and life and nature 2nd Peter 1:4 The Lord is made to us a Bridegroom, and we are His bride Revelation 21:2

His words to us are spirit and life (John 6:63) transforming us and changing us, expelling that which is natural and bringing into that which is divine.

‘Gods love heals’

It is impossible to comprehend the love of God as we think on natural lines we need to have the revelation of the depth of His great love from the Spirit of God.

If we do not have a revelation of Gods all-embracing love we can never find true liberty we will always be tempted to work for our salvation we will never truly believe that He is willing to forgive all and to heal all. We need to see that God gives liberally, it was Jesus who said ‘he that asks, receives, he that seeks finds and he that knocks the door will be opened unto him’ Luke 11:10

God is willing to bestow on us all things that pertain to life and godliness 2nd Peter 1:3 It was the love of God that sent Jesus, it was His love that caused Christ to be made sin who knew no sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him 2nd Corinthians 5:21 This same love helps you and I to believe in a saviour we have never seen except in pictures for in every weakness God is our strength.

You who need His touch but in order to receive it you need to remember that He loves you even if your wretched, helpless, sinful and sick, its time to turn to the God of all grace, whose very essence is love, who delights to give liberally all the inheritance of life and strength, health and power that you are in need of.

God brings us into a place of perfect love and perfect faith anyone who is born of God is brought into an inward love, a deep desire to serve the Lord only, ‘he that is forgiven much loves much’ Luke 7:47

Me? I am a product of love just like a child is a product of the love between his parents only His love takes no count of wrongs, it is pure and undefiled, a ‘perfect love which casts out fear for fear is made perfect in love’ 1st John 4:18

We serve a saviour that heals the broken-hearted, who sets the captives free, and who saves the very worst from the darkest of destinies. How foolish it is to turn your back on this glorious Gospel of God for spirit, soul and body?

This full Gospel has in great measure been hidden, this Gospel that brings liberty, this Gospel that brings souls out of bondage, this Gospel that brings perfect health to the body, this Gospel of entire salvation, watered down by foolish men with carnal minds.

Listen again to this word of Him who left the glory of heaven to bring us this great salvation, “Verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, he shall have whatsoever he says’

‘Hindrances to living faith’

God can never bless us if we are hard-hearted, critical or unforgiving for these abominable acts will hinder faith quicker than anything.

I believe there are a great many people who would be healed, but they are harbouring things in their hearts that are like a cancer eating away at every ounce of ground breaking faith they receive, I urge you let these things go no matter what the reason for your bitterness and resentment they are not worth dying over are they? Forgive, and the Lord will forgive you

I have met many good people, people that mean well, but they have no power to do anything for God, in most cases it’s over some little thing that came in their hearts years ago, an angry exchange, a word of rebuke that offended and their faith has been paralyzed ever since.

If you wish to receive from God bring everything to the light and allow God to wash it all away, let the precious blood of Christ cleanse you from all sin. If you will but believe, God will meet you and bring into your lives the very power of His love to forgive and to restore your broken relationships.

In 1 John 1verse 7 we read this promise; ‘If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleans us from all sin’ what is being reported here needs to be understood for when a brother has anything against us we can have no fellowship with God.

Sin breaks fellowship with God, it destroys the very essence of our new life, we walk in darkness and not light, is it then any wonder we stumble around in doubt and fear? is it any wonder then that our bodies get sick?

Clear the decks, set things to right between you and those who have offended you and then you will grow into a man or woman of faith, well able to do mighty exploits in His name; Daniel 11:22

WITH CHRIST you truly can do all things!

David Robinson

What Does It Mean to Overcome Evil with Good?

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Agile Methodologies

What does Romans 12:21 mean by saying, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”? Let’s start off by drawing out some word meanings with the help of Strong’s Dictionary:

  • the word overcome (Gk. Nikao) refers to: victory, conquer, prevail, subdue, and come off victorious (implying a battle)
  • the word evil (Gk. Kakos) refers to: bad, inwardly foul, rotten (poisoned), flowing out of a morally rotten character.
  • the word good ( Agathos) refers to: “intrinsically good, pointing to what originates from God and is empowered by Him in their life”

We know from experience that what 1 John 5:19 says is true, that the whole world lies in wickedness. Crime is rampant, just check out the news. Offenses are everywhere both offline and online. People hurting people, damaging and victimizing others with words and deeds. And people are rarely apologetic nowadays. Corrupted by sin and without Christ in this world, we can’t expect any better from most of the people out there.

In the midst of this culture and environment, what is a Christian to do? How is he to act and respond? Romans 12:21 instructs the believer to observe 2 things:

  1. Do not be overcome by evil.
  2. Overcome evil with good

Do not be overcome by evil

We can apply this in so many ways:

  1. Do not be discouraged. If you’re in an environment where all the wrong things are happening to others or even to you, whether repeated offenses or unfairness is the norm; don’t be discouraged. In His time, justice will be restored and what is needed to come out will be brought to light. Ecc. 3:17 Job 12:22
  2. Do not be influenced. In an environment where wrong is the normal practice, the Christian may sometimes be tempted to do as others do, thinking that it won’t make a difference, or thinking that doing wrong pays off, or thinking that since everybody’s doing it, it must be okay. Choose to remain honest even if your peers are into plagiarized work and cheating. Stay honest even if your peers are cheating on work hours, sleeping on the job, goofing off, inflating work hours done. Stay honest even if other businesses cheat on their customers. Leviticus 19:36
  3. Do not be intimidated. Edmund Burke is attributed to have said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” John Stuart Mil said, “Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.” Many times, it is the wrongdoers who are brave and aggressive in their ways, making no apologies about what they do and say. Christians, in the desire for peace may feel forced to stay quiet. Now, not every issue should be a battle we fight others over for. But at times, we need to make our stand known if it helps bring enlightenment even to just one person. Speak your mind when God gives an opening. Answer a curious question when somebody asks your view. God promises to teach you what to say. Luke 12:12

Overcome evil with good

We can apply this in so many ways:

  1. Do good to your enemies. The enemies Matthew 5:44 points to are those who do wrong against you and who just feels hatred towards you for no valid reason. It may be tempting to give them a dose of their own medicine or to take revenge but the verse says to love them instead. That does not necessarily mean to go out of your way to be best buddies with them, consent to their wrongdoing and to suffer repeated abuse. In the context of agape love, it means to desire their highest good. You can and should pray for God to bless them. Pray for God to bring enlightenment and salvation in their lives. You never know when your goodness will cause repentance to dawn on them, “heaping coals of fire on their head.”
  2. Do good and do it without expecting anything in return. Good works are rewarding to you personally and to others. The good you do will bring some fruit in their lives; gratefulness, hope, cheerfulness, and more. Often, good works are contagious. The good you do tend to get paid forward by others.

The Awkwardness of Witnessing at Work

The Awkwardness of Witnessing at Work

Telling someone about God is not the easiest thing in the world. I don’t understand every single thing about Him, I mean, he’s God. I can’t answer you when you ask me how in the heck He was there before there ever was a beginning; my human mind can’t comprehend how that’s even possible. I can’t tell you why bad things happen to good people, I can’t tell you why we are always at conflict with other countries when an all-powerful God could just say “Stop being stupid” and we would all just get along. I don’t have the answers to the world’s toughest questions about God, all I’ve got is faith based on the knowledge that I do have. I do know that God answers prayer, I do know that He gives me peace and strength, and I do know that before God, all I ever did was sit around, get fat off of junk food and feel sorry for myself.

I tell people about God because I want them to know Him like I know Him. I want them to know what it feels like knowing that God comforts us in the storm and protects us from harm. But how do I convey that in spoken form? How do I describe a feeling that’s unlike any other? Most of the time I fail, and then things get awkward.

“God loves you. I know you may not believe in him, but he believes in you!” Cringe. Why did I say that? I used to work at a Fast Food joint, not Hallmark. She turned right around to face me and said, “Alisha, I don’t NOT believe in God, I just don’t go to church. Who told you that I was an atheist?” Ummm awkward! What’s even is worse is the fact that I ratted on my friend and said that she did it. I really didn’t think that through, I should have had more coffee before I decided to open up my big mouth cause for the rest of that week everybody was making fun of how ignorant I was.    

I had another situation where I was trying to witness to someone and I just went right along with their answers so that I could seem relatable. Big mistake. “Yeah,” he said. “I just don’t know if God is real or not. He could be, but he might not be. I just don’t know, so I don’t believe.” I told him that I was right in the same boat as him, which was a lie. I told him the cliche line of “too many things have happened to me for me to not believe,” and the cringe continued. No, my grade A witnessing skills did not make this person desperately want to give his life to The Lord. I wasn’t being truthful, I believe in God and in no way do I have any doubts. There was a time I didn’t, but not now. I don’t know how I thought lying just to seem relatable would do anyone any good.  

I haven’t mastered the arts of genius witnessing tactics, but now I’m realizing that the best way is to live by example. People are going to notice I’m different, people are going to be curious on their own, and then I can tell them what I know and be honest about what I don’t know. Witnessing isn’t about obnoxiously asking them if they want to learn about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it isn’t about making people feel weird or uncomfortable, it’s about leading people to God on their own terms. Let your light shine for itself, people will notice, and when they do, they will find a love like they’ve never known before.

 

How Long Will I Be Allowed to Remain a Christian?

How Long Will I Be Allowed to Remain a Christian?

Following Douglas MacKinnon’s article, published April 21st, 2018, on the Fox News website, the former White House and Pentagon official, plus author, raised this very delicate question:

How long will I be allowed to remain a Christian?

This question sent me into a very complex journey.   M. MacKinnon, asks why do so many, not practice the very simple rule of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.   It is regarding the fact the many Christian citizens of the United States are under the impression their faith is not respected. It has been ridiculed, diminished and attacked on a daily basis.

Will this persecution, Christian families face, eventually cause them to renounce their faith in order for them to keep their job so they can provide for their families?

What God says about keeping faith

Jesus told us if we were to believe in Him, we too would be persecuted. It is obvious that many suffer physically for being Christians, in different parts of the world. Many of us are free from physical persecution but still are suffering for our faith. But it is very important to recognize there is a big difference in the way we experience our faith depending on the area we actually live in this world.

1 Peter 2.23

When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; when He was abused and suffered, He made not threats of vengeance; but He trusted Himself and everything, to Him Who judges fairly.

God knew we would struggle with unbelief because persecution often brings us to questioning our faith! But God shares many scriptures in the Bible to help us during those times.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

And we also thank God continually because when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a HUMAN WORD, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

I took the time to ask a very good friend of mine, my pastor, what were his thoughts on that matter. Here’s what he said:

Persecution toward Christians is very edifying! You basically are a Christian or not. Persecution separates those who wish to follow the Lord and those who will eventually stop. It defines the Christian. It pushes him/her to make sincere and difficult choices.  

We become desperate during persecution time, but you also live incredible things with God through that! You bow down, kneel down and look to God.

Sometimes in our faith, we become very comfortable, indifferent or even complacent. We lose our thirst for God. But during times of persecution, it can bring us back to where we should be.   Our relationship becomes more intimate as we grow in our faith, as we are willing to accept suffering as a privilege.    

On a personal note, I was sick with C Difficile for many months and it brought me close to death, but it also made me realise how special of a relationship I have with our Father.   I felt at one point, lying on that hospital bed, there was just Him and me, staring at each other. He asked me one question: Do you still believe?

We know all the hardship will either make us stronger or we will lose our faith. We just can’t “believe” only when life is easy. But if we expect it -persecution, just like Jesus told us too, we can prepare for it.

We need not to forget that God intervenes during persecution. History shows us there are revivals and awakenings in different parts of the world, which has brought millions and millions of people to God when there was no hope left. (Beardsley, 1912)

Our God is not shaken by what might happen in the world or by what gets to be written in the newspaper even if it is a bit scary and sometimes, discouraging. Our God is strong. That’s why we need to rely on Him, look to Him only and read very carefully His words. Take courage in them. They will surely bring you peace when nothing else can.

-Smile.

What was Jesus one commandment?

What was Jesus one commandment?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Think of how these two commandments, given to believers in the New Covenant, exactly encapsulate and fulfill the Ten Commandments given to those who were operating under the Old Covenant.

The first commandment is very great and the second is reciprocal to the first. In loving God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind a person will naturally love his neighbor; therefore, such love will also be imparted to his family, his country, and the world.

The New Covenant commandments (there are only two) of love are superior to the Old Covenant commandments. They are positive, whereas the law was negative. In the New Covenant, the commandments of love are superior because they are complete by the finished work of Jesus Christ. They are superior because they begin at the heart and lead us directly to our need for the Holy Spirit to guide us in our Christian walk.

We must not love God only with the heart, but with the whole heart. The whole heart is opposed either to a divided and detached heart or to an inconsistent and an inactive heart. The whole heart is focused on the loving and pleasing God. It is our indispensable duty to love God. To love God is our great natural duty. Man would more naturally love God than himself, were it not for sin.

Loving God with our whole heart is impeded by self-love, love of the world, spiritual apathy and carelessness of spirit, the love of sinful behaviors whatsoever or a disproportionate love of things which are lawful.

The great guiding influence of the Christian life is to be our love for God and others. Unfortunately, Christians often spend so much time in following the traditions of men, man-made standards and religious rituals that they have little, or no, time to attend to anything else. There are only two requirements: love God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind and love thy neighbor as thyself. If you take care of that, everything else will take care of itself.

5 Truths about God’s Design for Sex in Marriage

5 Truths about God’s Design for Sex in Marriage

Living in an over-sexualized culture, we hear messages about sex, wrong messages.   These messages become more a part of us than God’s truth because we hear them repetitively and churches are scared to address sexuality.

For too long, I believed the world’s message about sex.   That it’s a superficial, feel-good avenue to self-satisfaction.   Wrong, partly.   God did design sex to feel good!

But, there is more than that.   He designed it for profound spiritual, physical, and emotional connection.   It is just a shadow of things to come.

God’s design of sex is too amazing to keep silent about.

Here are five truths about God’s design of sex in marriage.

God designed sex to be bonding.

Not only spiritually bonding, but emotionally and physically.   When the two become one flesh, biochemicals are released in our bodies like oxytocin and dopamine.   Oxytocin, especially, is a bonding chemical.   When I embraced this truth and started engaging in the marriage bed more, the tone of our marriage completely changed.

“This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh,” Genesis 2:24 (NIV).

God designed sex for both husband and wife to experience pleasure.

It’s an equal opportunity activity.   Why else would there be a clitoris?   It’s only function is for pleasure.   The Song of Solomon is full of beautiful poetic language about the pleasures of physical love for both spouses.

If one spouse struggles with the ultimate moment, there are Christian resources available to help the couple understand how to achieve mutual enjoyment.

“The mandrakes send out their fragrance, and at our door is every delicacy, both new and old, that I have stored up for you, my beloved,” Song of Solomon 7:13 (NIV).

God designed sex so that we would know yearning.

Before you were married, you yearned for your fianc.   Not only did you crave your fiance’s touch, you craved his/her presence and knowing him/her better.  Even after years of marriage, it is good to remember this yearning.  It mirrors how God desires us to yearn for him.   I believe this is one reason he frequently uses the marriage as a symbol of his relationship with us throughout the Bible.

“Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?” James 4:5 (NIV).

God designed the marriage bed to be a place to show the fruit of the Spirit.

Peace, patience, love, joy, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, goodness, and self-control are the foundation of all Christian life, especially the marriage bed.   All conflict surrounding the marriage bed can be managed through employing these key traits.

My own marriage endured a long season of mismatched sex drives.   It was through these qualities and some wise communication tools that we overcame our conflict.

God designed sex as a powerful mystery.

Biblical stories of sex often confused me when I was young.   There was some nasty stuff in the old testament, the rape of Dinah, Lot and his daughters, the men of Gibeah  clammering for the male visitor, Leviticus 20.   And yet, there is the beautiful Song of Solomon.   The New Testament seemed to prefer celibacy, to be honest.   As a teenager, I couldn’t understand why I liked thinking about sex if it was disgraceful and violent.

But, as an adult, I realized the stories were teaching me that sexual intimacy is powerful and mysterious.   It’s OK not to have it all figured out, as long as you respect the power it holds to do good when it is aligned with God’s perfect design.

“For my thoughts  are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the  Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways  and my thoughts than your thoughts,” Isaiah 55:8-9.

Final Thoughts

Don’t let the world’s message of cheap sex destroy the meaningful sex in your marriage.   Sex may only be a small portion of the whole of your marriage.   However, sex matters.   It especially matters if one spouse is more interested than the other.   When we ignore its power and importance in marriage, the relationship suffers.

Now, granted chronic health issues can affect sexual function and that’s a more complicated story.

 

 

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