Building the personality worthy of a christian.

Every part and step we take each day comes together to form who we are - our personality.
Therefore it is necessary that we are aware of what we do each step of the way.
"Watch your thoughts, your thoughts will form your words.
Watch your words, your words will form your actions.
Watch your actions, your actions will form your attitude.
Watch your attitude, your attitude will form your personality". -( Unknown)

I heard these words from the priest and I was thrown in to deep thoughts and forever my life has had a turn around.

You are able to change from the bad person you are today to that person God created you to be. It is one day at a time and just like everything else we do, great sense of determination.
The Apostles were able to change their personalities through their conviction and believe that Jesus is Lord. This was a conviction that they expressed through their proclamation- their words and was evident in their actions as Christ followers- Christians.
Christianity is all about reaching out in relationships. 
Speaking out for those who are oppressed, and against evil. 
Radiating love, joy and happiness around your space. 
Simply by greeting and not ignoring.
What can we say we have added into our net today. Is our net filled with fishes of fruitful faithfulness or faith only in words?
Today let us use all that is in us- our thoughts, words, actions, attitude and personality to proclaim the good news that Jesus is Lord.

Prayer:
Oh Lord,
Today all that I have and all that I do I give to you that you alone may be glorified in my life as a worthy christian.
Amen.

Tie your fate to your faith.

"Whoever believes in the son is not judged; but whoever does not believe has already been judged, because he has not believed in God's son"-- John 3:18.

"...Except you repent from your sin, you shall all like wise perish" Luke13:3-6

          

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom.10:13)

  Our fate as Christians have already been predestined through our Lord Jesus Christ. All that is left is for us to understand and believe. This is not a religious or denomination issue, this is the ultimate truth of who we are. Understanding that God's words and promises are true and is ever faithful is the key to getting to the fate that is meant for us. First, God does not cause what he is against. All that we see in our lives are the products of the choices we have made through the course of our life: the words we speak of ourselves and others, the thought that we keep, the actions that we follow. Remember, from the beginning God gave us freedom to choose our path though not without letting us know the difference between the two paths. And each path He also made sure we understood the consequences of following each path. So we do not have to blame God for what we have brought on ourselves.


Faith = Fate.
Yet, as a merciful God He is, He has also made it possible for us to come back at any point in time. This is where our faith becomes the navigator of our fate. How do we as sinful as we are be able to take advantage of this singular opportunity. Simple. Trust and believe. We must have a firm faith in the Lord Jesus for us to explore all that have been set out for us from the word go. What can we believe to earn the life deserving of a Christian. Jesus in his own words said it, "You must be born again" (John3:7).  Believing in Jesus Christ and being born again must be synchronised both in words and indeed. Once these are sorted, then you begin to reap the deserving grace available to those who are children of the living God. That is not to say that God is not merciful to all. No!  God is merciful to all that He made but there is a special promise for those who accept His Son as their personal saviour.  "To them that believe, I have given the power to become the children of God". The power to command the highest mountain to move and it moves, the power to live above the forces of the world. This is true.

If this is so why then do we still see Christians go through suffering?
That is the point.  Understanding your faith is the first step to claiming your fate. Suffering that we see is of the world and not of God. It is only a process that we go through to be fortified in the Lord. Remember the story of Job.  He was a faithful man but the devil challenged his faith in God in the worldly eye he lost everything but his faithfulness in God replenished his life at the end.  God will never let His faithful people to perish. Jesus Christ also suffered the worldly pain but God again raised him from the dead. The point is not that you will never go through any challenges, rather it is during these times of challenge that your faith in God's promises are prove and so your fate is plotted on the right graph.  It surprises me to see 'men of God' preaching only prosperity and wealth. Acquiring wealth , money and material things are by no means a prove of God's love or your faith in God. God's gift comes with lasting joy and happiness, satisfaction and self fulfilment. His grace is enough to take us through whatever the world throws at us.  He said, to follow me, you must carry your own cross. Why then is it that in the face of tribulation we begin to doubt the promises of God? The devil in so many ways is still working so hard to undermine the grace but the faithful ones will always come out victorious as our Master Jesus Christ.

What then is our Fate in this World.
Our fate is that whatever happens victory is ours because we believe in the name above every other name. And wherever and whenever this name Jesus Christ is mentioned every knee must bow and every tongue must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Our fate as believers is that we are children of the almighty and that even if the mountain falls into the deepest ocean, even if the ocean roars, even if the earth quakes and divides into pieces we must come out victorious. This is God's promise to those who believe and trust in Him.

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
You are my God, my strong hold. I call on you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe your word, and I put all my trust in you oh sacred heart. In your word, you said whoever shall call upon the name of Jesus Christ shall be saved. Today, I call on this name in words and indeed and I believe I will be saved.
In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, I unlock all that you have planned for my life.
Take me as I am and use me carry out your purpose of creating man. May your promises  be made manifest in my life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen!

There is power in prayer, pray every now and then.

There is a continuous battle over your soul. Each passing minute comes with it as much temptations as possible. The devil is always out to confuse, deceive, and to destroy. Some would say why pray when God knows everything? Yes God knows everything but he gave us the only weapon that we need to navigate our way through the day. This weapon is to call on him, praise him and to give ourselves completely to his control.
There is more to prayer than mere asking and asking for favour and blessing. Prayer keeps us close to God but in mind and in spirit. Prayer is an antidepressant, it is an energetic supplement, a directional navigator. It helps you keep sane in the midst of it all.
Now remember, when Christ came he thought his disciples to pray always because the fight is beyond what we see. It is of the spirit. It is only through prayer can we communicate spiritually to God. The word say with the comprehensive faith in the Lord Jesus, we can move mountain. How do you build your faith then? To build your faith you have to experience God in prayer, in songs of praise, by reading of his wondrous works. Faith and prayer go hand in a glove. With prayers and total dedication to God, we can do all things through him who is above every other name.

Prayer:
Oh Lord, fill my mouth with praise and thanks giving to you. Help to always remember you at all times. Put your words in my mouth that I may be an instrument of your love. Strengthen me in the path of righteousness and do not depart from me. Forgive my short comings and grant me the grace to believe even when it seems unbelievable. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

A prayer for understanding.

Psalm 119: 33 - 48.

Teach me, Lord, the meaning of your laws, and I will obey them at all times. Explain your law to me and I will obey it; I will keep it with all my heart. Keep me obedient to your commandments, because in them I find happiness.

 Give me the desire to obey your laws rather than to get rich. Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless; be good to me, as you have promised. Keep your promise to me, your servant - the promise you make to those who obey you.

 Save me from the insults I fear; how wonderful are your judgements! I want to obey your commands; give me new life, for you are righteous.

Show me how much you love me, Lord, and save me according to your promise. Then I can answer those who insult me because my hope is in your judgements.

I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. I will live in perfect freedom, because I try to obey your teachings.I will announce your commands to kings and I will not be ashamed.

I find pleasure in obeying your commands, because I love them.

I respect and love your commandments; I will meditate on your instructions.

Let your will dignify you.

Focus: Sirach33:19 - 23.
From creation, God himself gave man the power of independence. Independence which lies though within the choice of good or bad. He also put in us the power to decide for ourselves which way to follow. It is this ability to decide and the decision we make that is our will.

Your will is you and you are your will. It is your power to belong where you belong. As Christians; followers of Christ as we claim, our will then is of course guided by the will of God. In other words for us to have the power to be the children of God, our will must work together in line with the will of God. Which is the will to be of Love, truth, and fear of God. The will to do good.

We have made the choice of our own accord to become  followers of Christ, therefore just like any other choices that we make in the world , there are  responsibilities.  You are responsible for all that you choose to do with your life and will power. Never let anyone or thing deceive you or lure you to give up your will, your power.

As soon as you willed to be of Gods purpose, you become already dignified. But be on the alert. Know it today that the enemy is always eager to take away your dignity. He will present himself as a helper and he will demand that you give up your will  which is your dignity. Never ever allow any one take this away from you . Not your father, not your mother, not your husband ,not your wife. Not even your child should control your decision to belong to Christ who is the centre of your will and is your dignity.

They will ask you ,how do you know what you are doing is according to the will of God? And you will say to them; "Gods will is clearly and precisely stated in his word. He says, I have come to save those who believe and trust in me..  He has commanded us to love one another, put all our trust in Him, and to worship only the Lord our God".
 When you say this, they will know that you are led by the Spirit and you are dignified by your will to be a true represantative of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Oh! God, may I never depart from your presence. Let me always, always use my talent and life to give glory to your name. Guide me each day as I am faced with decisions to make. May all my decisions reflect who truly I claim to be before you. Help all Christians when faced with difficult situations to hold on to their faith for the glory of your name. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!.

Picture credit to: Ambro

Just the little things.

Solutions in a little box

One major mistake we often make in life is to set our eyes on the 'trees' of life and neglect the 'buds'. We are often interested in the big things: the big opportunities,big ideas,lofty dreams and aspirations,big jobs,big businesses,big contacts etc. In our quest for the big things of life, we often fail to pay attention to the very little things that can make a huge difference. In our desire to focus on big strategies, we often fail to take the little steps.

Today,God says, Don't neglect the little things in your life. Use every little opportunity that God brings your way. Work hard on that small job you have,it just might be the foundation for a big one. Don't forget to make 'little' prayers while in traffic,it avails much.

 Don't forget that little smile,it could win you a big contract. Use those little skills,they could turn out to be major sources of income for you. Keep taking the little steps that can improve your family,career,business etc.

Remember,all that God needed was a Bud from the Stump of Jesse in order to transform the entire world. The Little things in your life today maybe all that God needs to distinguish you.

Pray with me,"Lord,use my little to take me higher".


Picture credit to freedigitalphotos.

Today Good shepherd Sunday;stay within the flock.

picture courtesy (graur razvan ionut)

Again today God  calls out to YOU. Dear friends, do not forget where you are going.

 Are you still doing your part within the family? Are you walking with the rest of the flock? Are you listening to the voice of the Shepherd? Do you look up to the holy spirit to lead your steps? Are you walking on the way you should? These are questions we should always ask ourselves in the privacy of our various hearts as Christians.

 Christians, you are urged to serve the Lord with your life. Parents lead your children in prayers, in reverence to the faith that we have in him. Let the young generation have the opportunity to discover God, let them experience a relationship with Him. Tell your children there is God. Please Dear friends, pray that our children do not be deceived to believe otherwise.

 Be the ambassador for Christ in your place of work, on the road, in the bus, on your wheels. Let the goodness of God shine through your vibrancy, smiles and kindness.Be a witness to who you are, be proud of your faith in Christ. Talk about Jesus, his death and resurrection. We are members of the true faith and witnesses to the existence of God through Christ Jesus.

We have the assurance that we are followers of the light - Jesus Christ. Therefore, darkness have no power whatsoever where we are. Christ laid down his life on the cross that we may have life. So stay with Him, keep the faith as firm as possible. Yes you may be having a tough time, but do not be afraid. God loves you and is eager and ready to lend us a hand, to forgive us, and to give us all that we need. Fight the fight to the finish and eternal life will be yours in Jesus name . Amen!