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19. Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together. Every story has an end, but in life every end is just a new beginning.

20. You were born to win. Although to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.

21. Every day is a new beginning, take a deep breath and start again.

22. Know that you are loved. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are beautiful. You have purpose. You are a masterpiece.

23. Don’t compare your progress with that of others. We all need our own time to travel our own distance.

24. Surround yourself only with people who are going to lift you higher.

25. Bad things happen every day to everyone. The difference is in how people deal with it.

26. When you make a commitment, you build hope. When you keep it, you build trust.

27. Two things define you: your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything.

28. Being honest may not get you a lot of friends, but it will always get you the right ones.

29. Working on yourself is the hardest part of life. Keep growing up, no matter where you are.

ALSO READ Where To Look For Business & Career Success

30. Be selective in your battles. Sometimes peace is better than being right.

31. Keep people in your life who truly love you, motivate you and make you happy. If you know people who do none of these things, let them go.

32. Be happy not because everything is good, but because you can see the good side of everything.

33. Optimism

34. No shortcuts

No quick fixes

No blaming others

No i’ll do tomorrows

No excuses!

35. Surround yourself with positive people who will support you when it rains, not just when it shines.

36. Being defeated is often a temporary condition; giving up is what makes it permanent.

— Author Unknown

Meditation: And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” 1 Samuel 30:8

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:

Booster of Potential
Leading without Tears
Psychology of Positive Thinking (1)

1. Don't complicate life. We won't be here forever. Once this day is over, it's gone forever. Your time is too valuable to waste on nonsense.

2. No matter what knocks you down in life, get up and keep going. Never give up. Great blessings come as a result of great perseverance.

3. Talking about our problems is our greatest addiction. Break the habit. Talk about your joys.

4. Good things come to those who believe, better things come to those who are patient, and the best things come to those who don't give up.

5. Do not pray for an easy life; pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.

6. Disappointments were not meant to destroy you. They were meant to strengthen you and give you fortitude to accomplish your God-given destiny.

7. We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but by appreciating what we do have.

8. Your child will follow your example, not your advice.

9. One day, you'll be just a memory for some people. Do your best to be a good one.

10. Associate yourself with people of good quality. For it is better to be alone than in bad company.

11. Don't fear change. You may lose something good, but you may also gain something great.

12. When you love what you have, you have everything you need.

13. The greatest act of faith some days is to simply get up and face another day.

14. Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have - Gratitude.

15. Commitment means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do, long after the mood you said it has left you.

16. When you choose to forgive those who have hurt you, you take away their power.

17. Patience is not the ability to wait, but how you act while you are waiting.

18. Isn't it ironic:

- We ignore those who adore us, but adore the ones that ignore us

- We love those who hurt us, but hurt the ones that love us.

-- Author Unknown

Meditation: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. – Luke 6:48

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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A Joyful Life
Word Has Power
How to be Free, Manifest and Succeed! (2)

There was a bird that lived in the desert; very sick, no feathers, nothing to eat and drink, no shelter to live and kept it on cursing its life day and night.

One day, an Angel was crossing that desert, the bird stopped the Angel and inquired “Where are you going?” Angel replied “I am going to meet God.”

So bird asked angel, “Please ask God when my suffering will come to an end.” Angel said “Sure, I will” and bid goodbye to bird.

Angel reached God’s place and shared the message of bird to Him. Angel told Him how pathetic the condition of bird was and asked to know when the suffering of the bird would end. God replied, “For the next seven lifetimes, the bird has to suffer like this, no happiness till then.”

Angel said when bird hears this, it will get disheartened. “Could you suggest any solution for this?”

God replied: Tell bird to recite this, “Thank you God for everything.” Angel met the bird again and delivered the message of God to it.

After seven days, the Angel passed the same path again and saw that bird was so happy; feathers had grown on its body, a small plant grew up in the desert area, a small pond of water was also there, the bird was singing and dancing cheerfully. Angel was astonished as to how this happened, “God said for seven lifetimes, there is no happiness for the bird…” With this question in mind, he went to visit God.

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Angel asked his question, then God replied: “Yes, it was written there will be no happiness for the bird for seven lifetimes, but because the bird was reciting the mantra, “Thank you God for everything” in every situation. When bird fell down on the hot sand, it said, “Thank you God for everything”, when it could not fly it said, “Thank you God for everything”, so whatever the situation, the bird kept on repeating, “Thank you God for everything” and, therefore, the seven lifetimes’ got dissolved in seven days!”

When I heard this story, it landed me in a different energy zone. I felt a tremendous shift in my way of feeling, thinking, accepting and viewing life. I adopted this watchword in my life. Whatever the situation, I faced, I started saying, “THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYTHING’. It helped me to shift my view from what I did not have to what I have in my life.

Similarly, I started using this in my relationship, finance, love life, social life, business, with friends, maids, colleagues and everything with which I can relate. I shared this story with my spouse and children too, and it brought a great shift in their behaviour.

This really had a deep impact in my life, I started feeling how blessed I am, how happy I am, how good life is. The purpose of sharing this message is to make all of us aware how powerful is the power of gratitude is. It can reshape our lives.

ALSO READ Thank You Lord

A simple word, a simple thought, which teaches us to be grateful for everything we have in our lives has the power to dissolve the baggage we are carrying. Be grateful, and see the change in your attitude. Be humble, and you will never stumble.

— Author Unknown

Meditation: In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:

Stay Grateful
Expressing Gratitude
Gratitude for the Little Things

A church in Atlanta was honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years.

He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.

After a warm welcome, an introduction of this speaker and the applause quieted down, he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to the podium.

Without a note or written paper of any kind, he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak….

“When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching.

I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials.

The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me… the only thing that would comfort was this verse:

‘Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
we are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me…
The Bible tells me so.’”

When he finished, the church was quiet. You actually could hear his footsteps as he shuffled back to his chair.

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A pastor once stated: “I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children’s hymn ‘Jesus Loves Me’ (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best.”

Here is a new version just for us who have white hair or no hair at all. For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you others, check out this newest version of Jesus Loves Me.

Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.

(CHORUS)

Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me,
For the bible tells me so.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I’ll go
On through life, let come what may,
He’ll be there to lead the way.

(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song..
Telling me in words so clear,
“Have no fear, for I am near.”

(CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,
And life’s victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I’ll understand His love.

(CHORUS)

ALSO READ Experience Grace

I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.

(CHORUS)

— The Messenger

Meditation: We love Him because He first loved us. – 1 John 4:19

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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The “U” In Jesus
What Jesus Did
Where Do You Seek Help?

A pastor was struggling to prepare his sermon and didn't want to be disturbed by his five- year-old daughter, so he removed a map of the world from his study, tore it into pieces and gave it to the girl to assemble with the promise that he would answer all her questions and play with her when she was done.

He knew she would never be able to fix it.

To his amazement, in less than five minutes she returned to him in his study with the map in perfect shape, every continent and every country in its place!

The surprised father asked, ''Honey, you don't know anything about geography, so how did you fix the world so easily and quickly?”

The five-year-old girl smiled sweetly and replied, ''The picture of Jesus was at the back of the map. And I knew that if I have Jesus in the right place, the whole world would be in perfect shape.''

That was just the right inspiration the pastor needed for his sermon.

He thanked his daughter and prepared a powerful sermon on the subject - 'Fix your world by placing Jesus at the right place'.

Just place Jesus in his rightful place and your life will be in order. Do you really understand this?

Spread it to the world, let them know that their world cannot be fixed without Jesus. We all need Jesus!

You've been given this as a gift...pay it forward!

-- Author Unknown

Meditation: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” – John 12:32

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:

Giving to Jesus
What Jesus Did
The Profile of Jesus

I am sorry, a short but mighty sentence!

If you wish to live long, don't joke with this short sentence, ‘I am sorry’. Do you know how many people who had gone to an early grave because they neglected the therapeutic power of ‘I am sorry’?

Most of the troubles in most homes are heightened because wives are too big to say ‘I am sorry’ to their husbands and you can trust the ego of husbands in saying same to their wives.

Quarrel lingers between friends because no party wants to say ‘I am sorry’. Each says or asks, “Why should I be the first to apologise?” He or she would beat his or her chest and utter the ego phrase, “a whole me!”

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the part of the world where saying ‘I am sorry’ is a hard nut to crack while curses are easily unleashed.

Welcome to the part of the world where people refer to a person who says ‘I am sorry’ in a midst of a rift as weak: one who is not man enough; one who is foolish.

All of us are victims of this discussion. We have lost valuable assets, money and even lives because of this cheap and affordable sentence. It simply cost only a breath of speech.

Have you ever wondered why domestic violence is less pronounced in the western world? It is simply because they understand the efficacy of ‘I am sorry’.

Husbands say it to their wives and even children whenever they err, wives and children do the same and life goes on fine.

Learn how to say ‘I AM SORRY’ even if you are right.

-- Author Unknown

Meditation: He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. – Proverbs 28:13

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Her parents and doctors were ready to give up, but her brother wanted to sing a song…

Like any good mother, when Kate found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her three-year-old son, Victor, prepare for a new sibling.

They found out that the new baby was going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Victor sang to his little sister in Mommy’s tummy. He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her. The pregnancy progressed normally for Kate.

In time, the labour pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three, every minute. But serious complications arose during delivery and Kate found herself in hours of labour.

Would a C-section be required? Finally, after a long struggle, Victor’s little sister was born. But she was in a very serious condition.

She might not make it alive!

With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary’s Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee.

The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The paediatric specialist regretfully had to tell the parents, “There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst.”

Kate and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their home for the new baby, but now they found themselves having to plan for a funeral.

Victor, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister. “I want to sing to her,” he kept saying.

Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over. Victor kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in the Intensive Care Unit.

Kate made up her mind, though. She would take Victor whether they liked it or not! If he didn’t see his sister right then, he may never see her alive.

She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket, but the head nurse recognised him as a child and bellowed, “Get that kid our of here, now! NO children are allowed.”

The mother rose up strong in Kate, and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse’s face, her lips a firm line. “Victor is not leaving until he sings to his sister.”

The head nurse obliged Kate.

Karen towed Victor to his sister’s bedside. He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. After a moment, he began to sing. In the pure hearted voice of a three-year-old, Victor sang:

“You are my sunshine,

My only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray...”

Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. Her pulse rate began to calm down and become steady. “Keep on singing Victor,” Kate encouraged with tears in her eyes.

Victor continued singing:

“You’ll never know, dear,

How much I love you.

Please don’t take my sunshine away.”

As Victor sang to his sister, the baby’s ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten’s purr.

“Keep on singing, sweetheart!” Kate cried.

“The other night, dear,

As I lay sleeping,

I dreamed I held you in my hands…”

Victor's little sister began to relax and rest. A healing rest seemed to sweep over her.

“Keep on singing, Victor”

Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse.

Kate glowed.

“You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are grey

You’ll never know, dear,

How much I love you.

Please don’t take my sunshine away…”

The next day, the little girl was well enough to go home! It was a miracle, God used Victor.

Meditation: I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving. – Psalm 69:30

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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During World War II, a soldier was separated from his unit on an island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades.

Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves.

Although safe for the moment, he realised that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed.

As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, please spare my life. Whatever will happen, I love you and trust you. Amen."

After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one."

Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave.

"Hah" he thought, "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humour."

As the enemy drew closer, he watched from the darkness of his hide out and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand, but then he heard the leader of the soldiers say:

"You may as well ignore looking in this cave...if he had entered here this web would be broken!" So they left and he was delivered!

To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on.

Suddenly he realised that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while.

"Lord, forgive me," he prayed. "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall.”

He will use the most foolish things in this world to confound the wise! God is your protector, if you believe in Him.

-- Author Unknown

Meditation: God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. – Psalm 46:1

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:

Helpless Love
Covered By the Cloud
Where Do You Seek Help?

1. Eagles fly alone and at high altitudes. They don't fly with sparrows, ravens, and other small birds.

Application: Stay away from narrow-minded people, those that bring you down. An eagle flies with other eagles. Keep good company.

2. Eagles have an accurate vision. They have the ability to focus on something as far as 5km away. No matter the obstacles, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it.

Application: Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacles and you will succeed.

3. Eagles do not eat dead things. They feed only on fresh prey.

Application: Do not rely on your past success, keep looking for new frontiers to conquer. Leave your past where it belongs, in the past.

4. Eagles love the storm. When clouds gather, the eagle gets excited, the eagle uses the storms wind to lift itself higher. Once it finds the wind of the storm, the eagle uses the raging storm to lift itself above the clouds. This gives the eagle an opportunity to glide and rest its wings. In the meantime, all the other birds hide in the branches and leaves of the tree.

Application: Face your challenges head on knowing that these will make you emerge stronger and better than you were. We can use the storms of life to rise to greater heights. Achievers are not afraid to rise to greater heights. Achievers are not afraid of challenges, rather they relish them and use them profitably.

5. Eagles prepare for training. They remove the feathers and soft grass in the nest so that the young ones get uncomfortable in preparation for flying and eventually flies when it becomes unbearable to stay in the nest.

Application: Leave your comfort zone, there is no growth there.

6. When the eagle grows old, his feathers becomes weak and cannot take him as fast and as high as it should. This makes him weak and could make him die. So he retires to a place far away in the mountains. While there, he plucks out the weak feathers on his body and breaks its beaks and claws against the rocks until he is completely bare: a very bloody and painful process. Then he stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers, new beaks and claws and then he comes out flying higher than before.

Application: We occasionally need to shed off old habit no matter how difficult, things that burden us or add no value to our lives should be let go of.

Never give up, be an eagle.

Author Unknown

Meditation: As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings, so the LORD alone led him, and there was no foreign god with him. – Deuteronomy 32:11-12

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Leadership Lessons From a Janitor (Part 1)

Joe and his wife don’t sit next to each other during Church services. Even when going to Church services, they go in different vehicles; and when they travel in the same car, it is usually a very quiet and uncomfortable ride.

Joe sat at his usual spot during the Church service; the fourth line on the far left row. His wife sat on the center row.

The Pastor took to the podium.

“Husbands, stop wasting your time praying” the Pastor began.

The congregants were alarmed. No one expects to hear a pastor saying prayer is a waste of time.

“I am not here to discourage you to pray. I am here to encourage you to pray right.” The Pastor countered. “Husbands, stop wasting your time praying if you are not treating your wife well. The Word says that when you treat your wife badly, it hinders your prayers.

“Men, you claim to be prayerful. You come to church driving your expensive cars, giving your offertory and tithes, active in Church, some of you are Church leaders; but how are you treating your wife?

“You may look good to us Church members, but it is your wife and children that know who you truly are.” the Pastor paused.

Joe turned to face his wife. She looked at him. Joe could see her eyes. Her left eye was swollen from the blow he gave her last week when she confronted him about his alcoholism, pornography use and mischievous behavior.

People couldn’t tell she had a black eye because of the makeup she had on, so well done.

The Pastor continued, “People have perfected the art of cover-up. Here in Church, so many are hurting but you wouldn’t know. People come here wearing their nice clothes, shiny smiles, they are active in ministry, but hurting a lot in their marriage.

“We have become numb and plastic, brushing things under the carpet. But today we shall heal; we shall address those wounds we hide.”

The Pastor cleared his throat and continued, “Many of those who are hurting their spouse are using the church to hide. They think that because they give offertory and tithe, because they make public prayers, because they stand in front to give testimonies or because they hold a Church leadership position that they are right with God. God is interested in what you do in your marriage and in your family.

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“Your first ministry is your home. Stop trying to blackmail God with your service in Church, yet you are mean and hurtful towards your spouse.”

Many of the members of the congregation got restless and unsettled.

The Pastor continued, “Many of those who are being hurt by their spouse hide their pain and want to project an image that all is well to validate that they are blessed and in control. Some of you are active in Church to run away from the pain in your marriage.”

The congregation was silent. Some straightening their ties, others fidgeting with their Bibles, adjusting their sitting position. This pastor was preaching the truth and it was uncomfortable.

The Pastor continued, “The husbands are not the only ones guilty. Wives, don’t you know the Word says when your husband found you he found good and you bring favour? Then why are you the source of your husband’s headache and stress? Have you been so toxic that you have turned your prayerful husband into a prayerless one?

“Do you make him regret marrying you because you bring more complications to his life than he had before marrying you? How you treat your husband can be a stumbling block in his walk with God or an environment that encourages growth.

“Many of you married your husband primarily because of his relationship with God, why are you now destroying his relationship with God instead of celebrating and nurturing it? Why are you becoming a burden to your husband emotionally, spiritually, socially, sexually and financially instead of being one who brings favour?”

Joe’s wife looked at Joe. Joe looked at her, she looked away.

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The Pastor paused to drink his glass of water.

The Pastor continued, “When I am thirsty, I drink a glass of water. When your spouse gets thirsty, will you allow God to use you to bless your spouse? You’ve been told many sermons that focus on you as an individual, that God will make you prosper as an individual.

“I am here to tell you your blessings are tied to people, you are blessed to be a blessing to others. Our God is not an individualistic God. Your blessing is tied to your marriage, your family. It’s not about you, you, you; it is about Jesus and Jesus is about love.

“What good is it to prosper and be successful when you have no love? It is all vanity. God cares about your family, how you treat your spouse and children.”

Silence.

“Yes, we pray. But what kind of prayers does your spouse pray because of you? When your spouse prays, is it largely to cry to God because of the hurt you bring? Is it to plead with God to change you from the monster you’ve become? Is it to plead for grace to deal with how difficult you are? Or is to give thanks for you?”

Silence.

“Are you really prayerful? Do you really value prayer? Then why is it that many of you find it easy to come to us priests for us to pray with you as an individual, you find it is easy to pray in public in a Church service or Bible study, but find it so hard to pray with your spouse?

Isn’t that telling of what is going on in your marriage? Don’t you know that the more you pray with your spouse the stronger your marriage will be? But how can you find it easy to pray with a spouse you hurt or who hurts you?”

The Pastor paused and looked at the congregation. Eyes staring at him.

“I challenge you. I challenge you to pray with your spouse and to treat your spouse well. Husbands, you are the head of the home. I challenge you to stand up and go to where your wife is and pray with her as a start of a more prayerful chapter in your marriage. Don’t do it because I asked you to but because you want to. Your choice.”

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One by one, the husbands present stood up. Joe stood up too.

Joe walked to where his wife was. The face of Joe’s wife overwhelmed with love, she looked on as her husband walked to her. She almost stood up, but he gave hand gestures at her to stay seated.

Joe reached where she sat. Their eyes met. Joe knelt down. He stared at her then kissed her swollen left eye.

“I am sorry,” he said. “Can I pray with you?”

She got up from her seat and knelt down too. There, on the floor, as the Church service was still ongoing, husbands prayed with their wives.

Joe prayed kneeling with his wife. They prayed for forgiveness, for thanksgiving, for love, for renewal, for peace, for direction; for their marriage.

Marriages were healed at that service. If You have been blessed by this message, please share. You might just be saving a marriage.

– Author Unknown

Meditation: Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered… Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives. – 1 Peter 3:7; 1 Peter 3:1

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:

The Prodigal Couple
The Deformed Couple
Message from a Couple Who Have Too Much Stuff

I’m so busy that I spend the first three hours of my day praying – Martin Luther King

It was reported that 10 years after the death of EW Kenyon, nobody could come close to his war room (prayer closest). The devil has no business with men on the altar who have no prayer life.

A lady once said to me, “Ceph! I’ve lost the fire of prayer.” I said to her, “Go down on your knees right now and start praying.” She said, “I’m about going out for business.” Then I said to her, “This is the problem, God is not first!”

The devil may never attack a Christian’s study life but would do all to stop the praying Christian.

Prayer is not the vehicle for the change, prayer is the Change. Everything will remain at rest until an external force acts on it, that external force is the force of prayer. I can change the decisions of the king, I can turn the hand of the clock, I can change your opinion if I can pray.

Demons will have an upper hand in our societies, our homes, our churches, and even our finances when we don’t pray.

Quoters of the word will agree with me that there are impossibilities despite their depth of God’s word and it’s so because there is no prayer life. The Lord said to me, “Ceph the secret of a successful ministry is first prayer.”

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We can’t lead the people to His presence until we come out from His presence. Prayer is the greater work. Men on knees; destines on feet. To a reasonable and high degree, the success or failures of a man are traceable to the degree of his prayer life.

Whosoever asks, receives. They don’t receive because they don’t ask. Men ought always to pray.

— Author Unknown

Meditation: Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. – Luke 18:1

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:

The Lord’s Prayer
Is Prayer Important?
Prayer of a Six-Year-Old

There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park. Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad. Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak. She never said a word. Many people passed by her, but no one would stop.

The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if the little girl would still be there. Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes.

Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone. As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl's dress was grotesquely shaped. I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no effort to speak to her.

As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my intent stare. As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more clearly. She was grotesquely shaped in a humped-over form.

I smiled to let her know it was OK; I was there to help, to talk. I sat down beside her and opened with a simple, "Hello." The little girl acted shocked, and stammered a "hi," after a long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back.

We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty. I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me with a sad face said, "Because I'm different." I immediately said, "That you are!" and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder and said, "I know."

"Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent." She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and said, "Really?"

"Yes, you're like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all those people walking by."

She nodded her head yes, and smiled. With that, she opened the back of her pink dress and allowed her wings to spread, then she said "I am. I'm your Guardian Angel," with a twinkle in her eye.

I was speechless -- sure I was seeing things.

She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself. My job here is done."

I got to my feet and said, "Wait, why did no one stop to help an angel?" She looked at me, smiled, and said, "You are the only one that could see me," and then she was gone. And with that, my life was changed dramatically. So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you.

- Author Unknown

Meditation: For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. – Hebrews 2:16

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Angels’ Talks
Angels in the Classroom
The Girl in the Pink Dress

I cannot change the way I am,
I never really try,
God made me different and unique,
I never ask him why.

If I appear peculiar,
There's nothing I can do,
You must accept me as I am,
As I've accepted you.

God made a casting of each life,
Then threw the mold away,
Each child is different from the rest,
Unlike as night from day.

So often we will criticize,
The things that others do,
But, do you know, they do not think,
The same as me and you.

So God in all his wisdom,
Who knows us all by name,
He didn't want us to be bored,
That's why we're not the same

- Author Unknown

Meditation: I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. – Psalm 139:14

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Stay Grateful
Absolute Truth
Wasted Investment

A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.
A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself (and doesn’t feel even the least bit weird shutting your ‘Pepsi drawer’ with her foot!)

A simple friend has never seen you cry.
A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.

A simple friend doesn’t know your parents’ first names.
A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book.

A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party.
A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean.

A simple friend hates it when you call after they’ve gone to bed.
A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.

A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems.
A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.

A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.
A real friend could blackmail you with it.

A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument.
A real friend calls you after you had a fight.

A simple friend expects you to always be there for them.
A real friend expects to always be there for you!

– Author Unknown

Meditation: Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of [a]feasting with strife. A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, and will share an inheritance among the brothers. The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts. An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue. He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father. Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince. A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers. He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends. Rebuke is more effective for a wise man than a hundred blows on a fool. An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord. Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, since he has no heart for it? A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. – Proverbs 17:1-17

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Friendship
Forever Friendship
The Test of Real Friendship

A man found the cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and could go no further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took as pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could have been. And we could never fly. So have a nice day… and struggle a little.

-- Author Unknown

Meditation: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. – James 1:2-3

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Do You Know Miracles?

A son and his father were walking on the mountains. Suddenly, the son fell, hurt himself, and screamed: “AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!”

To his surprise, he heard a voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: “AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Curious, he yelled: “Who are you?” He received the answer: “Who are you?”

Angered at the response, he screamed: “Coward!” He received the answer: “Coward!”

Perplexed, he looked to his father and asked: “What’s going on?”

The father smiled and said: “My son, pay attention.” And then the father screamed to the mountain: “I admire you!” The voice answered back: “I admire you!”

Again, the man screamed: “You are a champion!” The voice answered: “You are a champion!”

The boy was surprised but did not understand. Then the father explained: “People call this echo, but really this is life. It gives you back everything you say or do.

“Our life is simply a reflection of our actions. If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart. If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence. This applies to everything, in all aspects of life; Life will give you back everything you have given to it."

Author Unknown

Meditation: As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man. – Proverbs 27:19

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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The Hug
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Process and Result

There was a group of women in a Bible Study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three, which says: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of them offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, this woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot. Then she thought again about the verse that says, “He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.”

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

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The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?”

He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy – when I see my image in it.”

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Author Unknown

Meditation: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. – James 1:2-4

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Wet Pants
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One Good Reason to Hang on (1)

Below are some offensive things some people do in church. Perhaps, you would find one or more you are guilty of and adjust as appropriate.

1. Constantly looking at your wristwatch to check the time: Most people are guilty of this. Once the sermon is getting too long, they begin to take glances at the wristwatch, praying the service would come to an end quickly.

2. Chewing gums: Have you ever sat near someone in church who is chewing gum like a cow chewing cud? You know how annoying that can be. Some even go as far as making silly sounds and blowing bubbles.

3. Receiving calls, pinging, and texting: This is pure disrespect for God! As if it’s not bad enough that your phone rings out during service, you will now go ahead to pick the call. You see some people pinging and texting away during service. This is just so wrong. Would you be pinging if your boss was talking to you? God deserves more respect.

4. Wearing party clothes to church: There are clothes meant for church. You shouldn’t wear your skimpy and revealing clothes to church. Just because the church allows you the freedom to be comfortable doesn’t mean you have to take it for granted.

5. Taking selfies during service: This applies mostly to the ladies. They are the ones who like to take photos of people’s outfits and hairstyles for fun or because they also want to make that style.

6. Sleeping and snoring during sermons: It’s funny when you spot people sleeping, snoring, and falling over their neighbours. You might be tired and all, but try and keep your eyes open. It’s just for a little while and you will be in your bed.

7. Coming late: Some people are in the habit of coming to church when the sermon is about to start or halfway into the service. Some give the excuse of not being able to get their children ready on time. During school days, how do you manage to get them to school before 8 a.m.? If you can get them to school early and if you can get to your place of work early, you can also get to church early.

8. Gisting during service: Most people engage in silly chit-chat while the service is going on, not paying attention to the pastor and they end up missing out.

9. Keeping your eyes open during prayers to watch how others are praying: Close your eyes and pray your own so that your miracle doesn’t pass you by. Stop watching others.

10. Public display of affection: We understand you love your spouse a lot, but can you keep the petting till you are out of the church? It could be distracting to those around you.

11. Reading newspapers and magazines. Some men do this during sermons and prayers. Why come to church if that can’t wait till you get home!

12. Jotting the pastor or speaker’s grammatical errors: Some people do this to keep themselves busy. Instead of listening to get the message, they pay attention to get all the errors the pastor will make.


Men and brethren, would you blow bubbles or make noise with your gum if you were standing in a court of law, and in front of a judge? Would you pick your calls when your boss is talking to you? If your answer is no, then you shouldn’t do it in God’s presence. God deserves respect and honour.

Spit out your gum, turn off your cell phone, check that you’re appropriately dressed, and make the most of the precious little time you have to spend in the presence of God.

Author Unknown

Meditation: God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him. – Psalm 89:7

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Indicators of Mature Christians

A professor was teaching from Proverbs 15:1. He asked his students, 'Why do we shout in anger? Why do people shout at each other when they are upset?'

The students thought for a while. One said, ‘because we lose our calm.’

‘But why shout when the other person is just next to you?’ Asked the professor. ‘Isn't it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice? Why do you shout at a person when you are angry?’

The students gave various answers, but none satisfied the professor.

Finally, he explained, 'When two people are angry at each other, there is a distance in their hearts psychologically. To cover the distance, they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will shout to hear each other through that great distance.’

Then the Professor asked, 'What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly. Why? Because their hearts are psychologically close. The distance between them is very close.’

The Professor continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? They don't speak, only whisper and they even get closer to each other in their love. Finally, they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all.’

So next time you shout at a loved one, know that you are creating distance between your heart and that person’s heart.

-- Author Unknown

Meditation: A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. – Proverbs 15:1

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Wings to My Dreams
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Do You Know Miracles?

One day, a schoolteacher wrote the following equation on the board:

9×1=7

9×2=18

9×3=27

9×4=36

9×5=45

9×6=54

9×7=63

9×8=72

9×9=81

9×10=90

When he was done, he looked back at the students as they were all giggling because of the first equation which was wrong.

Then he said to them: “I wrote the first equation wrongly on purpose, because I wanted you to learn something important. This was for you to know how the world out there will treat you!

“You can see that I wrote the right thing nine times, but none of you congratulated me for those. But you all laughed and criticized me because of one wrong thing I did.

“The lesson here is: the world will never appreciate the good you do a million times, but will criticize the one wrong thing you do. So don't get discouraged! Always rise above the laughter and criticism.

“Don't look up to man; look up to God.”

-- Author Unknown

Meditation: Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,  – Philippians 2:1-14

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Truth of Life
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How Do You React When Hit By The Truth?

One rainy afternoon, I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick.

Suddenly my daughter spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat. “Dad, I’m thinking of something.”

This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some fact for a while, and was now ready to expound all that her six-year-old mind had discovered. I was eager to hear.

“What are you thinking?” I asked.

“The rain!” she began, “is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away.”

After the chill bumps raced up my arms I was able to respond. “That’s really good.”

Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little girl take this revelation? So I asked…

“Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?”

She didn’t hesitate one moment with her answer: “We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us.”

I will always remember this whenever I turn my wipers on.

The truth is God is more interested in pardoning our sins than in keeping the record of our wrongdoings. He is not judgemental of our actions, neither does He set out to dog our steps until we commit a sin so that He can pounce on us. That is not God.

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Even when we reject His counsel and do things our own way, in addition to the agony of our rejection, He is also more pained by the consequences of our sins than we can ever be. That is why He is ever eager to forgive anyone who comes to Him with a sincere and repentant heart.

— Author Unknown

Meditation: “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. – Isaiah 1:18

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Forgiveness
A Lesson on Forgiveness
Purpose: Exalted to Give Repentance and Forgiveness

A man married a beautiful girl. He loved her very much. One day she developed a skin disease and slowly she started to lose her beauty. It so happened that her husband left for a tour one day and while returning, he met with an accident and lost his eyesight. However, their married life continued as usual.

As days passed, she lost her beauty gradually. The blind husband did not know this and there was not any difference in their married life. He continued to love her and she also loved him very much. She eventually died, and her death brought him great sorrow.

He finished all the last rites and prepared to leave that town. A man from behind called and said, “Now how will you be able to walk all alone? All these years your wife used to help you?”

He replied, “I am not blind. I was only pretending because if she knew l could see her ugliness it would have pained her more than her disease. So I pretended to be blind. She was a very good wife. I only wanted to keep her happy.”

Sometimes, it is good for us to act blind and ignore one another's shortcomings in order to be happy.

No matter how many times the teeth bite the tongue, they still stay together in one mouth. That's the spirit of forgiveness. Even though the eyes don't see each other, they see things together, blink simultaneously and cry together. That's unity.

May the Lord grant us the spirit of forgiveness and togetherness.

Alone I can say but together we can talk; alone, I can enjoy, but together we can celebrate; alone I can smile but together we can laugh. That's the beauty of interpersonal relationships. We are nothing without each other.

The razor blade is sharp, but can't cut a tree; the axe is strong but can't cut the hair. Everyone is important, according to his/her unique purpose, never look down on anyone unless you are admiring their shoes.

-- Author Unknown

Meditation: We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself. – Romans 15:1-3

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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I recently watched a movie called "Zero Account".

From the quality of the movie, I was already discouraged. As the movie progressed the Lord open my eyes to see a deeper meaning. A devoted Christian was going on a journey. In the bus, he was with some unbelievers and unfortunately there was a crash. Of all the passengers in the bus, he was the only one that died while some of the unbelievers left that same bus without so much as a scratch.

The Pastor of his church was so bitter that he cried unto God asking why he would take him at his young age and leave the unbelievers. At that instant, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in human form and showed him the life of the young man after death. The young man was taken to hell with an angel of the Lord. While they were there, the angel told him that his life was a wasted investment unto God and because of him, so many people had been cast away in hell. He was surprised.

A demon arose and called his roommate at the university. It was shown that his roommate wanted him to show him the way of God on the night he was to be initiated into a cult group, but he said he couldn't because he was late for fellowship. That same night his roommate was killed during the initiation by a rival cult. He never got to hear the word of God from him.

The demon called another name and a woman came forward. She was his close friend during his youth service year. People even used to call them husband and wife. So many times she invited him to clubs and parties, but never did he invite her to church. On the last day of camp on their way going home, she saw a tract in the cab they boarded. The outline said "Jesus the way, the truth, and the life". She begged him to explain to her, but he was angry because he lost his flash drive at the stadium. Even when they got to their destination she kept on begging him to tell her more, but he refused and promised to call her the next day. She left sad and distraught. On her way home alone, she had an accident and she died. She also died without the knowledge of Christ from him.

Once again, the demon called out another name. His own biological sister came out. He was shocked. He was already in tears when he saw the others, but when he saw his sister he wept uncontrollably. She lived a wayward life, always drinking and partying. He always condemned her, but he never introduced her to Christ. She had an abortion one day and it went wrong. On the hospital bed, someone came to preach to her, but he sent the person out. Even in pains, she begged him for forgiveness and for him to preach to her, but he turned deaf ears to her pleas.

On that same bed, she lost her life without the knowledge of Christ. After these three people had given their accounts, he wept bitterly because he had so many opportunities to preach to them but he didn't. Their blood was on his hands. After this was done, the angel took him to Heaven, to the hall of judgment where they met another angel. The Angel explained to him that for everyone that didn't go to hell, they would come to the hall of judgment before they would be given access to Heaven where their works would be tested in the fire to check the quality. Those whose works had strong content and a good foundation, their works would remain. But those whose works had no tangible content would be burnt completely in the fire.

When his work was tested, it was burnt completely. He was shocked. The moral is this: You can serve God from January till December, you can pray 24/7, you can go on an all year fasting, you can clean the church with your body day in day out, you can speak all the tongues known to man and in the spirit, BUT if you do not evangelize and preach the word of God, all you've done is nothing.

Even a sinner can attend service and clean the church. The primary function of a Christian on earth is to bear fruits. In the story above, the young man didn't fulfill his purpose, he didn't preach the gospel. He did nothing! Absolutely nothing. He was a wasted investment because he didn't impact any life on earth.

-- Author Unknown

Meditation: Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’ – Ezekiel 33:11

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Uncommon Courtesy

The Lord came to me like a dream one day and asked, “why do you sorrow?”

I answered, “Lord my life is so full of pain, I can’t face one more tomorrow.”

The Lord sat down beside me, and gently took my hand.

He said, “Let Me explain to you, and then you’ll understand.

Each sorrow is a stepping stone you must surmount each day,

And every stepping stone you climb is a sorrow that’s passed away.

The road of life is a mountainside, with crevices in which to be caught,

But as you struggle on your way, I, the Rock, will lend support.

Every stepping stone you climb, makes spirit and heart grow strong.

Exercising character and faith, this road seems painful and long.

The way is paved with stepping stones, to uplift your heart and soul,

Though difficult, they aid your way, to a City paved with gold.

I know that you are tired, for I too have walked this way,

My sorrows did they multiply, but I cleared many stones away.

I left My Rock to lift you up, I left behind My story.

To give you strength to make your climb, to that special place in glory.

And never fear, the Rock is here, you’ll never climb this mountain alone

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Surmount life’s sorrows, continue on, for they are but stepping stones.

– Author Unknown

Meditation: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13

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Purpose: Sent to Bear Griefs and Sorrows
Purpose: Sent to Bear Griefs and Sorrows (2)

A man was asked to paint a boat. He brought with him paint and brushes and began to paint the boat a bright red, as the owner asked him. While painting, he noticed that there was a small hole in the hull, and quietly repaired it. When finished painting, he received his money and left.

The next day, the owner of the boat came to the painter and presented him with a nice cheque, much higher than the payment for painting.

The painter was surprised and said, “You’ve already paid me for painting the boat, Sir!”

“But this is not for the paint job. It’s for having repaired the hole in the boat.”

“Ah! But it was such a small service. Certainly, it’s not worth paying me such a high amount for something so insignificant.”

“My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened. When I asked you to paint the boat, I forgot to mention the hole. When the boat dried, my kids took the boat and went on a fishing trip.

“They did not know that there was a hole. I was not at home at that time. When I returned and noticed they had taken the boat, I was desperate because I remembered that the boat had a hole. Imagine my relief and joy when I saw them returning from fishing.

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“Then, I examined the boat and found that you had repaired the hole! You see, now, what you did? You saved the lives of my children! I do not have enough money to pay your ‘small’ good deed.”

​So, no matter who, when, or how. Just continue to help, sustain, wipe tears, listen attentively, and carefully repair all the ‘leaks’ you find. Because you never know when one is in need of us or when God holds a pleasant surprise for us to be helpful and important to someone.

​You might have repaired numerous ‘boat holes’ along the way for several people without realising how many lives you’ve saved. You see, some will ignore the hole and the kids will die in the process. Some repairers had the opportunity to fix the leaking hole but they ended enlarging the hole.

Meditation: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. – Ecclesiastes 9:10

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A Surprise Lesson from Squeezing an Orange

A little boy and his father visited the country store. Upon leaving the store, the owner of the store offered the little boy some free Sweets, “Get a hand full of Sweets”, the merchant said to the boy.

The boy just stood there looking up at his father. The owner repeated himself, “Son get a hand full of Sweets. It’s free.”

Again the boy did not move, continuing to look up in the face of his father. Finally, the father reached into the candy jar and got a hand full of Sweets, which he gave to his son.

As they walked back home, the father stopped and asked his son why he did not grab a hand full of free candy. The boy with a big smile on his face looked into the face of his father and said, “Because I know that your hand is bigger than mine.”

So, whatever your needs are in the new year, please place them in the Father’s hand, because His hand is bigger than yours.

– Author Unknown

Meditation: Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:6-7

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Trust Your Needs

A famous writer was in his study room. He picked up his pen and started writing:

"Last year, I had surgery and my gallbladder was removed. I had to stay stuck to the bed due to this surgery for a long time.

"The same year I reached the age of 60 years and had to give up my favourite job in the publishing company in which I had spent 30 years of my life.

"The same year I experienced the sorrow of the death of my father.

"And in the same year, my son failed in his medical exams because he had a car accident. He had to stay in bed at the hospital with the cast on for several days. The destruction of the car was another loss.

In the end, he wrote: "Alas! It was such a bad year!"

When the writer's wife entered the room, she found her husband looking sad and lost in his thoughts. From behind his back, she read what was written on the paper, left the room silently, and came back with another paper which she placed on the side of her husband's writing.

The husband found the following written on the paper:

"Last year, I finally got rid of my gall bladder from which I had spent years in pain.

"I turned 60 with sound health and got retired from my job. Now I can utilise my time to write something better with more focus and peace.

"The same year my father, at the age of 95, without depending on anyone or without any critical condition met his Creator.

"The same year, God blessed my son with a new life. My car was destroyed but my son stayed alive without getting any disability.

In the end, she wrote: "Last year was an immense blessing of God and it passed well!"

See. The same incidents but different viewpoints.

In our daily lives, we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful but gratefulness that makes us happy. There is always, always, always something to be thankful for!

Your current position is somebody's future expectation. Your life now is somebody's prayer request. Don't let the devil point at you that somebody is doing better than you. It is a strategy for ingratitude.

Anything you celebrate multiplies, anything you despise diminishes. Appreciation is the vehicle for acceleration. Gratitude is the lift to great altitude. To see what God will do, you must acknowledge what God has done.

Stay grateful.

Meditation: In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Also read:

The Journey is So Short
The Sweet Old Fisherman
When the Doors are Closed Against You

A group of blind men heard that a strange animal, called an elephant, had been brought to the town, but none of them were aware of its shape and form. Out of curiosity, they said: “We must inspect and know it by touch, of which we are capable”.

So, they sought it out, and when they found it they groped about it. In the case of the first person, whose hand landed on the trunk, said “This being is like a thick snake”.

For another one whose hand reached its ear, it seemed like a kind of fan. As for another person, whose hand was upon its leg, said, the elephant is a pillar-like, a tree trunk. The blind man who placed his hand upon its side said, “Elephant is a wall”.

Another who felt its tail described it as a rope. The last felt its tusk, stating the elephant is that which is hard, smooth and like a spear.”

Whenever anyone takes a partial, unconditional view of the ultimate reality and denies the possibility of another aspect of that reality, it is an instance of the above parable and a defective view. All reality has infinite aspects and attributes, all assertions can only be relatively true. This does not mean scepticism or doubt is the right path to knowledge, but that any philosophical assertion is only conditionally, partially true. Any and all viewpoints, that do not admit an exception are false views.

– Author Unknown

Meditation: And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. – 1 Corinthians 8:2

Also read:
Awesome God
Soar, Don’t Quack
Realities in Alphabet

As I was walking down life’s
highway many years ago
I came upon a sign that read
Heaven’s Grocery Store.

When I got a little closer
the doors swung open wide
And when I came to myself
I was standing inside.

I saw a host of angels.
They were standing everywhere
One handed me a basket and said
“My child, shop with care.”

Everything a human needed
was in that grocery store
And what you could not carry
you could come back for more.

First I got some Patience.
Love was in that same row.
Further down was Understanding,
you need that everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of Wisdom
and Faith a bag or two.
And Charity, of course,
I would need some of that, too.

I couldn’t miss the Holy Ghost
It was all over the place.
And then some Strength and Courage
to help me run this race.

My basket was getting full but I remembered I needed Grace,
And then I chose Salvation for
Salvation was for free
I tried to get enough of that to do for you and me.

Then I started to the counter
to pay my grocery bill,
For I thought I had everything
to do the Master’s will.

As I went up the aisle, I saw
Prayer and put that in,
For I knew when I stepped outside
I would run into sin.

Peace and Joy were plentiful,
the last things on the shelf.
Song and Praise were hanging near
so I just helped myself.

Then I said to the angel
“How much do I owe?”
He smiled and said
“Just take them everywhere you go.”

Again, I asked “Really now,
how much do I owe?”
“My child,” he said,
“God paid your bill a long, long time ago.

– Author Unknown

Meditation: This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. – 1 John 4:9

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:

One on the Wall
Lessons from the Titanic
The Presence of Christmas

May today there be peace within

May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in the sun.

It is there for each and every one of us.

– Author Unknown

Meditation: Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:8-9

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. – Romans 12:1-2

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:

There is Good in You
10 Most Important Things
The Evil and the Good You Do Remain

To a Friend – Loyalty

To an Enemy – Forgiveness

To your Boss – Service

To your Child – A good example

To your Father – Honor

To your Mother – Gratitude and Devotion

To your Spouse – Love and Faithfulness

To Yourself – Respect

To All Men – Charity

To God – Your Life!!

– Author Unknown

Meditation: For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. – 2 Corinthians 5:14-19

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:

The People in Your Life
The Reason for the Season
The Best and Favourite Teacher

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria). And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on
whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to the one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2: 1-20 NIV)

– Author Known

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:

Birthday Celebration
The Twelve Gifts of Birth
How to Celebrate Christ’s Birthday