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‘Having done all…stand.’ Ephesians 6:13 NKJV How long will this attack last? The size of the prize determines the severity of the fight. The enemy knows your vulnerabilities and he’ll push you to your limits. When he does, remember: ‘Blessed is the man who endures…when he has been approved, he will receive the crown’ (James 1:12 NKJV). ‘Approved’ means victory qualifies you for greater things. ‘Endures’ means your staying power is being tested. So, ‘having done all…stand.’ You say, ‘How long will this attack last?’ The prince of darkness hindered Daniel’s prayers for twenty-one days (Daniel 10:13). Goliath defied the armies of Israel forty days and nights (1 Samuel 17). Your enemy is relentless; you must be, too. When it comes to prayer, your persistence overcomes his resistance. ‘You have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise’ (Hebrews 10:36 NKJV). David didn’t get into trouble with Bathsheba until he left the battlefield. It’s the...

‘Having done all…stand.’ Ephesians 6:13 NKJV How long will this attack last? The size of the prize determines the severity of the fight. The enemy knows your vulnerabilities and he’ll push you to your limits. When he does, remember: ‘Blessed is the man who endures…when he has been approved, he will receive the crown’ (James 1:12 NKJV). ‘Approved’ means victory qualifies you for greater things. ‘Endures’ means your staying power is being tested. So, ‘having done all…stand.’ You say, ‘How long will this attack last?’ The prince of darkness hindered Daniel’s prayers for twenty-one days (Daniel 10:13). Goliath defied the armies of Israel forty days and nights (1 Samuel 17). Your enemy is relentless; you must be, too. When it comes to prayer, your persistence overcomes his resistance. ‘You have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise’ (Hebrews 10:36 NKJV). David didn’t get into trouble with Bathsheba until he left the battlefield. It’s the...

‘LET HIM HAVE ALL YOUR WORRIES AND CARES.’ 1 PETER 5:7 TLB A lot of us grew up believing there’s a Mr. Right out there who can ride in on a white horse with no troubles of his own and make everything wonderful for us. The truth is Mr. Right is probably looking for somebody to answer his own ‘help wanted’ ad. Do you really think someone is going to come looking for the kind of weight your problems would lay on them? Even if they are willing (and most are not), are they able? Men are not God. Only the Lord can restore what you’ve lost and make your life what it ought to be. So start talking to the right person – God! Things will begin to improve when you stop looking for Mr. Right to be the antibiotic to all of life’s infections and the answer to all of life’s questions. Only God can heal what you’ve been trying to cure, or demand emotionally from others. He alone can ride into your situation on the wings of hope and put things together. One touch of His hand can bring you peace, even in...

‘LET HIM HAVE ALL YOUR WORRIES AND CARES.’ 1 PETER 5:7 TLB A lot of us grew up believing there’s a Mr. Right out there who can ride in on a white horse with no troubles of his own and make everything wonderful for us. The truth is Mr. Right is probably looking for somebody to answer his own ‘help wanted’ ad. Do you really think someone is going to come looking for the kind of weight your problems would lay on them? Even if they are willing (and most are not), are they able? Men are not God. Only the Lord can restore what you’ve lost and make your life what it ought to be. So start talking to the right person – God! Things will begin to improve when you stop looking for Mr. Right to be the antibiotic to all of life’s infections and the answer to all of life’s questions. Only God can heal what you’ve been trying to cure, or demand emotionally from others. He alone can ride into your situation on the wings of hope and put things together. One touch of His hand can bring you peace, even in...

Your Future Starts Today Don't Give Up Your yesterdays have made you what you're today,but your tomorrows can make you what God always intended you to become.Joshua was talking to a nation whose yesterdays were a long list of repeated failures and rebellion against God.They had been convicted,judged, punished and reinstated frequently by the God they do flagrantly sinned against. Surely, they ought to have been cut off from Him, stripped of any future blessing. But 'Joshua said to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you .'Consecrate yourself, relign yourself with God's plans and watch Him begin to work in your life. Just when the enemy has you convinced that with your past God couldn't possibly have a future for you,He calls you to prepare yourself so He can bless you. God is fully aware of your yesterday, but He's much more focused on your tomorrows. Why do we discard our tomorrows when we so desperatly need ...

Your Future Starts Today Don't Give Up Your yesterdays have made you what you're today,but your tomorrows can make you what God always intended you to become.Joshua was talking to a nation whose yesterdays were a long list of repeated failures and rebellion against God.They had been convicted,judged, punished and reinstated frequently by the God they do flagrantly sinned against. Surely, they ought to have been cut off from Him, stripped of any future blessing. But 'Joshua said to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you .'Consecrate yourself, relign yourself with God's plans and watch Him begin to work in your life. Just when the enemy has you convinced that with your past God couldn't possibly have a future for you,He calls you to prepare yourself so He can bless you. God is fully aware of your yesterday, but He's much more focused on your tomorrows. Why do we discard our tomorrows when we so desperatly need ...

When Jesus was asked, ‘Which is the commandment?’ He answered’…”Love the Lord…and …Love your neigbour as yourself 2’ (Mathew 22:37-39 NIV). So our greatest with things that keeps us from doing this. The Bible says: No one serving as soldiers gets involved in civilian affairs; he wants to please his commanding officer’ (2 Timothy 2:4 NIV). In other words careful what commit to. There are three types of commitment: 1) Dramatic commitments. Like getting married or buying a home. Unfortunately, we don’t consider the hidden costs. When we buy a house we think only of the additional square footage, not the extra hour each day commuting to work or the time taken away from our family 2) Routine commitments. These may look mundane, but don’t underestimate their power. Any parent who’s signed up their child for a sports team knows the time-consuming potential of the routine commitments. 3) Unspoken commitments these are commitment we make to ourselves, but often fail to keep. In life, the drama...

When Jesus was asked, ‘Which is the commandment?’ He answered’…”Love the Lord…and …Love your neigbour as yourself 2’ (Mathew 22:37-39 NIV). So our greatest with things that keeps us from doing this. The Bible says: No one serving as soldiers gets involved in civilian affairs; he wants to please his commanding officer’ (2 Timothy 2:4 NIV). In other words careful what commit to. There are three types of commitment: 1) Dramatic commitments. Like getting married or buying a home. Unfortunately, we don’t consider the hidden costs. When we buy a house we think only of the additional square footage, not the extra hour each day commuting to work or the time taken away from our family 2) Routine commitments. These may look mundane, but don’t underestimate their power. Any parent who’s signed up their child for a sports team knows the time-consuming potential of the routine commitments. 3) Unspoken commitments these are commitment we make to ourselves, but often fail to keep. In life, the drama...

…FORGIVE WHATEVER GRIEVANCE YOU MAY HAVE…COLOSSIANS 3:13 NIV We talk about grudges the way we talk about babies. You can hold a grudge, carry a grudge bear a grudge, or nurse a grudge. The trouble is, when you nurse something you feed it, make it grow and pretty soon it’s full grown. Are you carrying a grudge? Why? It doesn’t make sense. Why would you pick up something each day that weight you down and carry it around with you? But they hurt m.’ Yes, but by carrying a grudge you enable them to keep hurting you. Don’t do that do that to yourself! We know we’re supposed to forgive other people, but sometimes forgiving feels like we are giving up something. One of Lincoln’s stories we about a man on his sickbed who had been told by the doctor that he didn’t have much time to live. He summoned an old friend named Brown with whom he’d quarreled bitterly. They didn’t spoken for years. The man talked of how he was going to die soon of how their petty differences looked in the face of death, a...

…FORGIVE WHATEVER GRIEVANCE YOU MAY HAVE…COLOSSIANS 3:13 NIV We talk about grudges the way we talk about babies. You can hold a grudge, carry a grudge bear a grudge, or nurse a grudge. The trouble is, when you nurse something you feed it, make it grow and pretty soon it’s full grown. Are you carrying a grudge? Why? It doesn’t make sense. Why would you pick up something each day that weight you down and carry it around with you? But they hurt m.’ Yes, but by carrying a grudge you enable them to keep hurting you. Don’t do that do that to yourself! We know we’re supposed to forgive other people, but sometimes forgiving feels like we are giving up something. One of Lincoln’s stories we about a man on his sickbed who had been told by the doctor that he didn’t have much time to live. He summoned an old friend named Brown with whom he’d quarreled bitterly. They didn’t spoken for years. The man talked of how he was going to die soon of how their petty differences looked in the face of death, a...

Love One Another: Becoming the Church Jesus Longs for Loving people is only a vague concept, unless we do these five things: 1) People are insecure; give them confidence. Beneath their façade lie memories of a painful past and anxiety over what’s coming their way next. Tell them God says,’… I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrew 13:5 NKJV). When nothing else works, God’s Word does. 2) People you need to feel special compliant them. Do it when they least expect it, and it’s clear you seek nothing in return. Mary Kay Ash, founder of a major cosmetics company in the USA, said everyone has an invisible sign hanging around their neck saying, “Make me feel important!” ‘Notice how often God’s Words tells us how much He love us, how special we are, and His plans for us 3) People are looking for a better tomorrow: give them hope. Let them know that when you put God in the center of your life, your future can be better than your past. ‘… as long as he sought the Lord, God mad him prosp...

Love One Another: Becoming the Church Jesus Longs for Loving people is only a vague concept, unless we do these five things: 1) People are insecure; give them confidence. Beneath their façade lie memories of a painful past and anxiety over what’s coming their way next. Tell them God says,’… I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrew 13:5 NKJV). When nothing else works, God’s Word does. 2) People you need to feel special compliant them. Do it when they least expect it, and it’s clear you seek nothing in return. Mary Kay Ash, founder of a major cosmetics company in the USA, said everyone has an invisible sign hanging around their neck saying, “Make me feel important!” ‘Notice how often God’s Words tells us how much He love us, how special we are, and His plans for us 3) People are looking for a better tomorrow: give them hope. Let them know that when you put God in the center of your life, your future can be better than your past. ‘… as long as he sought the Lord, God mad him prosp...

All the heroes of the Bible were flawed. And personally wise they were as different as chalk and cheese. But they’d one thing in common: they were willing to make the tough calls. Observe: 1) Tough calls demand risk. When the Soviet Union overran and annexed Latvia in 1940, the US Vice consul in Riga was concerned that the American Red Cross supplies in that city would be looted. To guard against it he requested permission from the state Department in Washington, DC to place an American flag above the Red Cross to deter anyone from talking the supplies. ‘No precedent exists for such action, the Secretary of State’s Office cabled back. When the Vice Consul receive message he climbed up and personally nailed the American flag to pole, then he cabled the State Department: ‘As of this date, I have established Precedent.’2) Tough calls require character. Chuck Swindoll Jesus: The Greatest Life of All (Great Lives Series) writes: ‘Courage is not limited to the battlefield or the Indianapoli...

All the heroes of the Bible were flawed. And personally wise they were as different as chalk and cheese. But they’d one thing in common: they were willing to make the tough calls. Observe: 1) Tough calls demand risk. When the Soviet Union overran and annexed Latvia in 1940, the US Vice consul in Riga was concerned that the American Red Cross supplies in that city would be looted. To guard against it he requested permission from the state Department in Washington, DC to place an American flag above the Red Cross to deter anyone from talking the supplies. ‘No precedent exists for such action, the Secretary of State’s Office cabled back. When the Vice Consul receive message he climbed up and personally nailed the American flag to pole, then he cabled the State Department: ‘As of this date, I have established Precedent.’2) Tough calls require character. Chuck Swindoll Jesus: The Greatest Life of All (Great Lives Series) writes: ‘Courage is not limited to the battlefield or the Indianapoli...

George Frederic Handel was a musical prodigy. At twenty one he was keyboard virtuoso. When he turned to composing he gained immediate fame and soon was appointed Kapellmeister to the Elector of Hanover (later King George 1 of England). When Handel moved to England his renown grew. By the time he was forty he was world famous. But despite his talent and fame he faces considerable adversity. Rivalry with England composer was fierce. Audiences were fickle; sometimes they didn’t turn out for his performances. He was the victim of the changing political winds. Several times he found himself on the verge of bankruptcy. His problems were compounded by failing health. He suffered as stroke which left the right arm limp and damaged the use of four fingers in his right hand. Although he recovered, it left him battling depression. Finally, at fifty – six, Handel decided it was time to retire. Discouraged, miserable and consumed with debt, he felt certain he’d and in a debtor’s prison. So on April...

George Frederic Handel was a musical prodigy. At twenty one he was keyboard virtuoso. When he turned to composing he gained immediate fame and soon was appointed Kapellmeister to the Elector of Hanover (later King George 1 of England). When Handel moved to England his renown grew. By the time he was forty he was world famous. But despite his talent and fame he faces considerable adversity. Rivalry with England composer was fierce. Audiences were fickle; sometimes they didn’t turn out for his performances. He was the victim of the changing political winds. Several times he found himself on the verge of bankruptcy. His problems were compounded by failing health. He suffered as stroke which left the right arm limp and damaged the use of four fingers in his right hand. Although he recovered, it left him battling depression. Finally, at fifty – six, Handel decided it was time to retire. Discouraged, miserable and consumed with debt, he felt certain he’d and in a debtor’s prison. So on April...

‘…TEACH US TO NUMBER DAYS…’PSALM 90:12 NKJV "Under the blue canopy of Heaven": An open air workers' handbook Our days are like identical suitcases, but some people pack more into them than others That’s because they know what to pack. Everybody gets twenty-four hours, but not everybody gets the same return on them. The truth is, you don’t manage your time, you manage your life. Time cannot be controlled; it marches on no matter what you do. Nobody, no matter how shrewd, can save minutes from one day to spend in another. No scientist is capable of creating new minutes. With all his wealth Warren Buffet can’t buy additional hours for his day. People talk about trying to ‘find time,’ but they need to quit looking: there isn’t any extra lying around. Twenty-four hours is the best any of us is going to get. Wise people understand that time is their most precious commodity. As a result, they know where their time goes. They continually analyse how they are using their time and ...

‘…TEACH US TO NUMBER DAYS…’PSALM 90:12 NKJV "Under the blue canopy of Heaven": An open air workers' handbook Our days are like identical suitcases, but some people pack more into them than others That’s because they know what to pack. Everybody gets twenty-four hours, but not everybody gets the same return on them. The truth is, you don’t manage your time, you manage your life. Time cannot be controlled; it marches on no matter what you do. Nobody, no matter how shrewd, can save minutes from one day to spend in another. No scientist is capable of creating new minutes. With all his wealth Warren Buffet can’t buy additional hours for his day. People talk about trying to ‘find time,’ but they need to quit looking: there isn’t any extra lying around. Twenty-four hours is the best any of us is going to get. Wise people understand that time is their most precious commodity. As a result, they know where their time goes. They continually analyse how they are using their time and ...

Rhapsody of Realities - July 2010 ‘…GOD WILL HELP HER AT BREAK OF DAY. PSALM 46:5 NIV When your world is suddenly turned upside down, remember, God’s plans for your life haven’t been cancelled! When you feel trapped with no way out, here are some things to remember: (1) Look for the river. ‘There is a river whose streams make glad…. (Psalm 46:4 NIV). In Old Testament symbolism, rivers represent God’s supply for your every need. When every human source of supply seems to have dried up, don’t fear look for the river. (2) Look for the city. God has planted His’….city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells (Psalm 46:4 NIV), right in the middle of your circumstances. God’s city, the symbol of His presence and power, guarantees He’s still in control and that He will restore peace and order to your troubled world. (3) Look for the signs of God’s presence. ‘God will help [you] at break of day’ (Psalm 46:5 NIV), Daybreak, a symbol of new beginnings, gives you confidence that beyond t...

Rhapsody of Realities - July 2010 ‘…GOD WILL HELP HER AT BREAK OF DAY. PSALM 46:5 NIV When your world is suddenly turned upside down, remember, God’s plans for your life haven’t been cancelled! When you feel trapped with no way out, here are some things to remember: (1) Look for the river. ‘There is a river whose streams make glad…. (Psalm 46:4 NIV). In Old Testament symbolism, rivers represent God’s supply for your every need. When every human source of supply seems to have dried up, don’t fear look for the river. (2) Look for the city. God has planted His’….city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells (Psalm 46:4 NIV), right in the middle of your circumstances. God’s city, the symbol of His presence and power, guarantees He’s still in control and that He will restore peace and order to your troubled world. (3) Look for the signs of God’s presence. ‘God will help [you] at break of day’ (Psalm 46:5 NIV), Daybreak, a symbol of new beginnings, gives you confidence that beyond t...