Getting Ready to Move

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:  Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.  Mark 13:35-36 [KJV]

Let's make sure that we are ready to move on.  As people, we get stuck in a rut (a hole that a wheel continues to ride in and wear down).  We think that things will never change and we can just do this same thing over and over and over again.  This feeling of complacency brings on that feeling that we will never do anything different.  But we all know that when God is in our lives, He can break us out of the rut.  He can create a new path for us to follow.  

Let's get ready to move.  We can make the changes necessary by trusting in God and His Plan for our lives.  His Son came down to die for us so that we can have life more abundantly.  Let us get ready to move forward in life and trust that Christ will lead us out of our current rut into a new path with new events and give us new reasons to worship and praise him.

Be Encouraged,

Martin

Seek knowledge

Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens with his feet.
Proverbs 19:2 (NKJV)

The pursuit of knowledge is a noble task. It equips us for dealing with and navigating the sharp bends and potholes of life. It also enables us to make the best of our lives. Seeking knowledge in itself imbibes in us traits such as patience, gentleness, a listening ear and heart, and an open heart.

Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.
Proverbs 19:20 (NKJV)

When we are able to listen to counsel and receive instruction, we are easily quick and swift with listening, taking in and gaining insights in the process and surely slow in speaking, bringing forth effective words that build and not tear down.

Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get
understanding.
Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV)

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

No apology necessary

Friends,

Too many preachers and pastors have tried to over-explain and apologize for Almighty God. They do this for many reasons, of course. Some may do this in order to gain acceptance by the world. Others do this in order to attract new followers. But Christ Jesus never watered down the Gospel in order to build a following. He never "marketed" His ministry. He simply laid out the plain, simple truth:

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.

-- 1 Timothy 3:16 [NKJV]

Some men may find this difficult to believe. And some men will be greatly offended by such a simplistic explanation. But such eventualities do not change the truth of God's word.

Therefore, we have the duty and the freedom to present Christ as He truly is.
Holy
Righteous
Just

Without apology and without fear.

Be encouraged, Jose

Think on these things

Friends,

Millions upon millions of dollars have been spent by the lost and weary as they search for the secrets of joy and happiness. If they'd only turn to God's Word. If we ... the ones who claim Christ as our King ... would only heed the voice of our God.

Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.
-- Psalm 34:11-14 [NKJV]

In His grace and mercy, the LORD has made it basic and simple for His children. But we must do more than simply hear the voice. We must obey it.

Be encouraged, Jose

Getting Ready to Wait

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.  Psalm 27:14-15 [KJV]

In this time of instant gratification and immediate feedback, the economy has put all of us in an interesting position.  We have to wait on God for some results.  Whether we are waiting on Him for a new job or opportunity, a upcoming layoff from a job that we have worked on for a while, a result from some testing concerning our health or that of a loved one, we have no choice but to hold on until the results come our way.  The waiting can seemingly take forever, but in reality, it only takes as long as God needs to work things out for His Good.  

Our getting ready can be done two ways.  We can just sit on the couch in front of the TV and wait for God to respond, or we can be active in doing things that we would not normally have a chance to do.  We could have answer a ministry calling or use the quiet time to read and study more about God.  We can be proactive and wait or we can just sulk about everything taking so long.  As I am writing this, I realize that God will allow things to happen in their appointed time. I am hopeful that you will realize that too.  Once the timing is confirmed, then we can focus on God and his righteousness.  As we change our focus from our circumstances to His Work, we are able to be ready for our waiting period.  The time will pass the same, but we will accomplish more for God than we would have ever realized. 

Be Encouraged,

Martin

Creative energy

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV)

We serve a creative and energetic God. A God whose creative and dexterous abilities is matchless and incomprehensible. In His image were we created, and in His image and likeness must we operate, excel, and flourish. In each and every child of God are hidden treasures, meant to engage, inspire, encourage and empower our world for the Kingdom of God. These treasures are not usually discovered without fierce adversity and challenges. They are usually birth through such trying and challenging seasons.

Never conceal the treasures of the Kingdom in you, let them come forth, release them, touch your world, with boldness and power, demonstrate the creative power and energies embedded in you like our heavenly Father did. The energy is within, put it to use for the glory of God.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Yet will I trust Him

Friends,

The degree to which we trust the LORD cannot truly be known during the good times. It is only when we fully acknowledge His complete and total sovereignty ... even during times of hardship and tribulation ... that we can know whether really trust in God or not.

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
Job 13:15 [NKJV]

Recall that Job was declared righteous before God. He is never told why he must endure the affliction that he experienced ... and neither are we. Indeed, he cries out to the LORD for a reason, and receives none.

And yet, Job trusts in the LORD.

And so must you and I.
We must trust in His goodness, in His perfect judgment and will, and in His completely unconditional love for us. Then we can accept all that comes from His hand as good, and perfect, and overflowing with love.

Be encouraged, Jose