Have A Heart Of Honor.

"God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" William A. Ward - Christian Writer (1921-1994).

As a noun, honor in the Holy Bible means “esteem, value, or great respect.” To honor someone is to value him highly or bestow value upon them. The Bible exhorts us to express honor and esteem toward certain people: our parents, the aged, and those in authority
(Ephesians 6:2 ; Leviticus 19:32 ; Romans 13:1 ).

But we must also understand that all authority and honor belong to God alone ( Revelation 5:13 ).
Though He can delegate His authority to others, it still belongs to Him ( Ephesians 4:11-12 ).

Peter tells us to “honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king” ( 1 Peter 2:17 ). The idea of honoring others, especially those in authority (the king), comes from the fact that they represent God’s ultimate authority. A classic example is the command to “submit to the governing authorities because they have been established by God” (Romans 13:1-6 ). Therefore, “he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans
13:2 ). This means it is incumbent upon Christians to honor those whom God has placed over us through our obedience and demonstration of respect. To do otherwise is to dishonor God.
Also, as you show respect to those in authority, always remember to respect those you come into contact with, your lectures, your peers, guardians, followers, and even those you honor but don't seem to appreciate it. Know that yours is to show love, honor, respect and pray for them.

INSIGHT
Wow, the power of one or two words spoken in one second with sheer gratitude has the capacity to provide hope and change lives sometimes dramatically. We never know how a heart felt word or two can plant the seed of gratefulness in this around us. By pairing those words with a smile much sunshine and a sense of worth can shine into the lives of those experiencing a struggle of darkness or an emptiness of spirit. God supplies much to all if we are willing to share His gifts with others. God must have invented multiplication and he counts on us to distribute His gifts.

Some Health Benefits Of Eating Mango.

Mango, also called “The King of Fruit,” are one of the most nutritious, not to mention delicious, fruits we have at our disposal.
Mango are chocked full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. As such, there are a great many health benefits of eating mango. Eating mango is one of the healthiest decisions you can make for your body, while enjoying one of the sweetest fruit in the world.

Vitamins & Minerals

Some of the health benefits of eating mango can be found in the nutrients in this wonderful fruit. To start, mango are a rich source of
vitamins and minerals. Mango have vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin E, and Selenium which can help to guard against heart disease and other illnesses, such as colon and cervical cancer. The vitamins A and C in mango are also a great source of potassium, which helps to regulate blood pressure, muscle contraction, and keep your bodily processes working correctly. Mango high Iron content is beneficial to people with anemia and pregnant women, if eaten regularly. Mango also contains Vitamin E, which can help the hormonal system perform more efficiently, consequently boosting the sex drive.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are nutrients in our food that work as slowing or preventative agents against oxidative damage to our bodies. Another health benefit of eating mango is that it is high in antioxidants. It contains antioxidant an agent called phenols. This phenolic compound is said to have powerful anticancer effects for the human body.

Acidity and Digestion

Mango can also treat acidity and poor digestion because of an enzyme found in the fruit which soothes the stomach. These enzymes are also said to be partially responsible for feelings of contentment, which is always helpful when trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. All the more reason to enjoy this healthy fruit.

Fiber

Due to the high amounts of fiber found in mango, it can be a helpful in keeping you regular, thereby helping or preventing constipation. Fiber can also guard against certain types of cancer (e.g. colon), high blood and cholesterol levels, and even some degenerative diseases, especially those regarding the heart.

Other benefits of eating mango include:

Asthma Symptoms
Bacterial Infections
Clogged Pores
Constipation
Diarrhea
Dysentery
Eye Disorders
Fever
Hair Loss
Heat Stroke
Kidney Problems including nephritis
Leucorrhea
Liver Disorders
Menstrual Disorders
Morning Sickness
Piles
Prickly Heat
Respiratory Problems
Scurvy
Sinusitis
Spleen Enlargement
Vaginitis
Weight Gain

As you can clearly see the health benefits of eating mango are far from scarce. Making mango part of your daily diet can be very beneficial to your overall health, without sacrificing taste. This deliciously sweet and juicy treat is a great way to stay on track when
maintaining a healthy diet.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about health benefits of eating mango [http://healthyfreshfoods.info/the-health-benefits-of-eating-mango-eating-healthy-fruits], please visit Healthy Fresh Foods [http://healthyfreshfoods.info] for current articles and discussions.

Article written by : By Sobiya N. Moghul.

Live Your Dream.

"Our dreams are like a puppy's paws - they start out big so they can support as we grow." Dixie Gillespie - Author

Got big dreams? No worries! Big dreams would be the glue that keeps us together when rough reality crops up. Along comes naysayers, obstacles, barriers, financial hurdles, or physical limitations. Keeping those dreams alive depends on the passion and power of the grip of those dreams in the dreamer. Dreams are worth dreaming. They enliven and spark the soul of our being. Dare to allow yourself to live out your dreams.

INSIGHT

In 1 Kings 3:5-15 "At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."  Solomon answered... 'Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?' The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.  So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.  And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."   Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream."

Like Wise King Solomon, his dream was for Almighty God to give him a discerning heart to govern his people, notice Solomon did not ask for riches and honor but rather God gave it freely to him, dare to ask God for wisdom and all other things will be added Unto you, and with his Grace by you side, you will surely succeed in Christ Jesus name AMEN!

Always remember to stand for what you believe in even if that means standing ALONE, and as you stand alone quit allowing your past shortfalls from interfering with your destination(dream). - nEshun

Be Someone Of Influence.

Be someone who makes someone else look forward to tomorrow.

As you interact with others today, ask yourself. . . What is it like being on the other side of me? How does my presence impact those around me? Are my words and countenance uplifting and encouraging or sharp and critical? Speak power and life into those you meet through words of hope. We never know the trials others have walked through. But we can encourage them to want a tomorrow. We can all be that someone for others!

Now, what does the Holy Bible Preach about Positive Influence?

Do not be deceived: evil company
corrupts good habits. Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. - (1 Corinthians 15:33–34—NIV).

What is the lifespan of influence?
Great men have influenced an era, a generation, or an age. What is the potential lifespan of the influence of a common man? Our text implies that your influence has the potential to be eternal.

Influence is the ability to produce an effect upon others. We all go through life receiving influence from and giving influence to others.
That Apostle Paul reminds us that both good and bad influences are operating all around us.
There is much truth taught in the first verse. It is common sense that you take on the character of those with whom you chose to associate. "Evil company" is descriptive of poor choice in friends, associates, and favorite haunts. Surprisingly, most people do not evaluate the quality of friends they expose themselves to, nor do they become missional about choosing better associates.

Proverbs 13:20 states, "He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be
destroyed.", does the words in this Scripture mean anything to you? Also, we can find out in Proverbs 22 : 24 - 25 which says, " do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared."  Poor choices in associations lead to gradual forsaking of our "good habits."

The second verse refers to the eternal influence possible for the average Christian. An average Christian to me is one who does not bear fruit. Jesus made this know in John 15: 1- 17 “ 1, I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire
and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s
commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear
fruit, fruit that will last and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
17 This is my command: Love
each other."

Paul challenges you to soberly awake from insensible, spiritual slumber and recognize the ignorance around you. There are people around you who spend their days burning daylight without the least thought of preparation for life after death and the eternal
consequences of unpardoned sin.
If a Christian provides the message of God’s grace offered through His Son’s death on Calvary and the Holy Spirit causes it to take root in a new convert’s heart, then that Christian has had an influence for not just an era, or a generation,
or an age, but for eternity!

Do you jealously guard your heart from evil influence that will woo you away from complete obedience to God? Are you careful in your choice of friends and associates? Have you grasped and taken ownership of your role as an influence for God upon this generation?

Are you daily begging God to use you to influence someone else to glorify God? Then ask yourself this question, Whom can I have a positive influence today? Prepare your mind for that and never look back.

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Today Is Your Day!

"Your time is limited, don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinion drown your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." Steve Jobs - Apple Cofounder (1955-2011).

Opinions are just that... Opinions. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and you have the power to ignore it. Do you trust your gut enough to tune out the chatter of other opinions? Tuning into your intuition could reveal a path of unique discovery. Be still and listen to the still inner voice. New ideas are only able to survive if one is able to drown out the noise of criticism and pursue that idea with undaunted determination. Dream, do and pursue! Today is that special day to make your dream a reality.
" The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." - Steve Jobs.

Only IF.

"If what you're doing is not your passion, you have nothing to lose." Celestine Chua - Personal blogger.

Do you know your heart's desire? What lights up your life? What excites you or used to excite or light up your life? ? If not, it may be time to reflect on your youth because that's where the seeds of your personal interests and passions began to sprout but may have become stagnant.

Take time to explore, nurture and follow your heart's passions because there lies the steam-filled vehicle carrying your life's energy... Called Passion!

Once you are driven by Passion about what excites you the most and brings-out the best in you in a positive manner, who knows you might be on your way to bring your divine given talents to revolutionize the world positively and make an Impact.
Today, I urge you to reflect on your life and realize those God given talents and this will enable the best life you were always craving for. Once you take that step of faith into fulfilling those talents, know that God Our Heavenly Father will bring all the connections you need to succeeded once you ask Him.
Without Passion, Life is nothing.

KINDNESS

"Kindness can transforme someone's dark moment with a blaze of light. You'll never know how much your caring matters. Make a difference for another today." - Amy Leigh Mercier - American Author

As you go about your business running errands today and encounter others, consider asking yourself a few questions of significance. What kind of a kindness ambassador am I? As a parent or teacher, do I look beyond the behavior of a child and ask, "What kindness can I give that speaks to this child... You matter! "

Do I spread seeds of kindness that may sprout seeds of love and light into God's Kingdom? Or are the judgmental looks and sharp words discounting the child's worth and ultimately dimming the heart's light? Do I look at the check-out clerk at the grocery store and wonder what struggles she may be facing, what are the mountains in her past, what challenges await her at home? What kind of hope may she need for today? What if the only kindness for her day was what kindness I had to offer? What would that look like? Perhaps you are the one in need of being lifted up with the blazing light of kindness. Being that light for another miraculously creates beams of kindness for all.

INSIGHT
Encourage through light and laughter! Be that blaze of light today! "Kindness can transforme someone's dark moment with a blaze of light. You'll never know how much your caring matters. Make a difference for another today." as said by the American Author is one of those tools you can use to transform the fortunes of darkness in to a blaze of Light, I will urge you to sow this seed of kindness in the life of others and as this seed begins to grow and manifest into their lifestyle, it would encourage them to continue to sow the seed of Kindness and the world will have a peaceful c-oexistence.

INSIGHT
James A. Garfield once said, there are men and women who make the world a better place just by being the kind of people they are. They have the gift of kindness or courage or loyalty or integrity. As you go through your daily life activity, notice the type of gift you exhibit and use it to bring smiles on the faces of those you come in contact with and they might show such gift to others and will enable peace to reign.

Our Heavenly Believes In Us.

"My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person; he believed in me." - Jim Valvano- - American Basketball Coach (1946-1993)

"To believe in someone means to see beyond who they think they are with enough love to plant a seed of Hope. That hope provides a never-ending faith in them.

Specifically, it means that encouragement, love and support will remain strong not only during the mountain times but also during the low times as well. Is there someone in your life that provides or has provided unending support to you ? How has that served you in your journey through life? Believing in someone does not mean financially supporting them.

That type of support simply robs them of their own dignity to provide. Genuine belief in someone conveys the attitude that the person is worthy, valued, and matters and that they have the fortitude to overcome a hopeless situation. Who in your life needs showered with an unending amount of encouragement? It could mean the difference between under the radar living or soaring like an eagle living. Only God compels that kind of love. The journey begins with believing in Him and seeing others as God sees them.

INSIGHT
The greatest joy is watching someone soar like an eagle and knowing you had a small part in getting them off the ground and into the air!

Know Who You Are

You will never become who you want to be if you keep blaming everyone else for who you are now.

Insight 

We are all born with shortcomings. Then, of course, we accumulate additional shortcomings through our environment and our reactions to our environment. So flawed as we are . . . just know that there is hope for each person who seeks to accept the flaws. Blaming our parents, our teacher, our boss, our friend or spouse fails to move us forward. Blaming others never allows for self acceptance. Take your eyes off the blame game. The key is to accept your flaws, grow in compassion for others and look toward your creator for guidance. Create a compassion for others and allow the gentle part of who you are begin to emerge.

Be Yourself.

"You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth." William W. Purkey - American Author

Insight

In order to be able to live in a manner as shared above one cannot be encumbered by worries, fears, intrepidation, or low self esteem. Instead a person must be totally comfortable with the person God intended them to be. Be free to dance like Biblical David did by turning grief inside out and into joy, Sing without restraint for your Heavenly Father. Eliminate the sting of rejection and love others wholeheartedly. Allow yourself the freedom to experience worshiping God through genuine singing, loving, and dancing on Earth as is done in Heaven. Life only gets better!

The part to Wisdom is payed with with Humility.

Health Benefits Of Tomatoes.

Things to Know About Tomato.

Tomato is not just a vegetable but also a citrus fruit. It provides plenty of health benefits. It refreshes your face and keep your body healthy. When cooked, it is very sweet and delicious. Its high acidity makes it a perfect one for canning.
Studies have shown that Tomato prevent the occurrence of certain cancers, especially stomach, and lung cancers. There is a substance called LYCOPENE contained in Tomato. Lycopene is a carotenoid and phytonutrient found in red fruits and vegetables such as Tomato. This substance protect the effect of cancer in the body. A little bit of fat like olive oil with Tomato helps Lycopene to be better absorbed by the body.
Reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases: Tomatoes have some essential nutrients such as Potassium, Vitamin B, and Folate which help lower both high blood pressure and high cholesterol. In turn, could aid the prevention of heart attack, stroke, and some other cardiovascular diseases.
Tomatoes contain Vitamin K and Calcium, although they might be fair but both help to strengthen and repair bone tissues.
Vitamin A which is present in Tomato helps to keep your hair shiny and strong. It is also good for your body. Removing the seeds while cooking or eating Tomatoes lessen the risk of Kidney Stones and Gallstones.
Tomato is Anti-oxidant due to the presence of Vitamin A and C. These Vitamins help to neutralize harmful free radicals in the blood stream. Red Tomatoes are very good for Anti-oxidant, and have a lot of health benefit.

By - Sunday Idika

The Cross, Our Salvation.

Christ took away our sins. He endured not just the nails of the Romans, the mockery of the crowd, and the spear of the soldier, but he endured the anger of God! God didn’t overlook our sins, lest he endorse them. He didn’t punish you lest he destroy you. He instead found a way to punish the sin and preserve the sinner. Jesus took our punishment, and God gave us credit for Jesus’ perfection.

As long as the cross is God’s gift to the world, it will touch you but it will not change you. We have to embrace it and put our Faith in HIM and accept that He died for our since and through Him there is life. Precious as it is to proclaim, “Christ died for the world,” even sweeter it is to whisper, “Christ died for me !”
For my sins he died. He took my place on the cross. He felt my shame and spoke my name. Thank God for the day Jesus took our place, for the day that grace happened to you!

Sweet Fragrance.

Sweet Fragrance By Cindy Hess Kasper.

We are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. —2 Corinthians 2:15

Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 32-34; Mark 15:26-47.

Some scents are unforgettable. Recently, my husband mentioned he was running low on shaving cream. “I’ll pick some up,” I offered.
“Can you get this kind?” he asked, showing me the can. “I love the smell—it’s the kind my dad always used.” I smiled, recalling the time I had been momentarily taken back to my childhood when I got a whiff of the same shampoo my mom used to wash my hair. For both Tom and me, the fragrances had brought an emotional response and pleasant memory of people we loved who were no longer around.

Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “Memories, imagination, old sentiments, and associations are more readily reached through the sense of smell than through any other channel.”
So, what if our lives were a fragrance that attracted people to God? Second Corinthians 2:15 says that “we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” Our fragrance is pleasing to God, but it also attracts others to Him or repels them. We who understand the sacrifice of Jesus have the opportunity to be the “fragrance of.Christ”—a reminder of Him—to others.
The sweet scent of the likeness of Christ can be an irresistible pull toward the Savior.

Let my hands perform His bidding,
Let my feet run in His ways,
Let my eyes see Jesus only,
Let my lips speak forth His praise. —James

When we walk with God, we leave behind a sweet fragrance that can inspire others to follow.

Insight
In today’s reading, we see a dramatic picture of Christ as victor. In the world of ancient Rome, a conquering general would be rewarded with a “triumph,” a celebrative victory parade. The conquered enemies subjugated as slaves would often follow the procession. Paul used this event familiar to his audience to represent Jesus Christ as the triumphant hero. Considering himself a slave of Christ (Phil. 1:1), Paul thought it an honor and a joy to have been conquered by the Lord he now loved and served. Often during a triumphal parade, the temple doors were thrown open and the fragrance of garlands and incense flooded the parade procession with the sweet aroma of victory. Certainly, the gospel has a sweet spiritual aroma for those who believe.

Whay Happened? Grace Happened.

We are sometimes incarcerated by our past. We have been found guilty! Our executioner’s footsteps echo against the stone walls. We sit on the floor of the dusty cell, awaiting our final moment. We don’t look up as he opens the door. We know what he’s going to say. “Time to pay for your sins.” But we hear something else! “You’re free to go. They took Jesus instead of you!”

The door swings open, the guard barks, “Get out!” And we find ourselves shackles gone, crimes pardoned, wondering, what just happened? Grace just happened! Christ took away our sins.

Romans 3 says that God, in his gracious kindness, declares us not guilty. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins. We are made right with God when we  believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing His life for us.

What happened ? Grace happened!

Years From Today.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." H. Jackson Brown, Jr. - American Author

Bowline is an ancient knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope allowing the rope to be easily tied or untied. Bowlines, also, allow a boat to be safely and quickly perched near the shore away from troubling storms and near safety nets. It's very comfortable living a predictable and safe life. Are you fixed, inflexible and unwilling to venture out? Who wants to live in the midst of storms? Life brings us storms no matter how close to the shore we stay. And it's unwise to create our own storms, but sometimes storms just happen. We can, however choose to grow and mature our way through life's storms and learn to appreciate storms as opportunities. Who wants to live in the midst storms? The pioneers do. The dreamers do. The explorers do. And the discovers do. One doesn't have to live recklessly to be a pioneer, but don't be afraid to loosen the ropes of restriction and sail away from the shore and into unknown territories. Tie your ropes of reliance onto your Father in Heaven.

Like Yourself

"The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique." Walt Disney - American Entrepreneur (1901-1966)

What do you think of yourself? Are you funny, responsible, loyal, witty, a procrastinator, or creative? How you see yourself defines who you are. But who does God say you are? Ask Him. You might be surprised to know who He has designed you to be. There is no one else like you. Accept yourself . . . The good, bad and ugly. You are His wonderfully, unique one of a kind creation. It's time to believe in yourself and in the one who created you, your Heavenly Father.

Job Titles by By C. P. Hia.

Read: Ephesians 4:11-16

For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith.

Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 26-27; Mark 14:27-53.

When the British Broadcasting Corporation asked for examples of important-sounding, obscure, and even bizarre job titles, one writer
offered hers: Underwater Ceramic Technician. She was a dishwasher at a restaurant.

Sometimes titles are used to make a job sound more important.
When the apostle Paul listed some of God’s gifts to the church in Ephesians 4:11, he did not intend for these to be understood as high-
sounding job titles. All the parts of the body are necessary for the body to function properly. No one part is better than another.

What was of primary importance was the purpose of these gifts. They were “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to . . . the stature of the fullness of Christ” (vv.12-13).

It matters little what title we hold. What is important is that we strengthen the faith of God’s people. When we gauge our effectiveness by the standard that the Bible gives us, it will not matter when we are moved to another role
or no longer hold a specific title.

Out of love for God, we serve to build up fellow believers, and we let God give His commendation in
heaven as He sees fit (Matt. 25:21).

Lord, please use me as Your instrument to touch others’ lives. Help me not to be concerned about what title I hold but instead that my life might show others Your grace. God’s gifts to us are not for us but for others.

Insight

Today’s reading records Christ giving spiritual gifts to the church, the body of Christ. These gifts include: apostles, those who open up new mission territories to the gospel; prophets, who apply the Word in spiritually compelling
ways; evangelists, who have a special ability to share the gospel that often brings a positive response; and pastors/teachers, who communicate the Word so that believers are built up in their faith. The goal of the use of these gifts is that Christians will be “perfected” in their faith and move on to maturity.

The effective use of gifts creates a unity that bears witness to the reality of Christ (John 13:35).

Source : Osborne.org

The Devils Accusations.

Satan’s condemnation brings no repentance or resolve, just regret! Satan has come to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). To steal your peace, kill your dreams, and destroy your future. Satan has deputized people to peddle his poison. Friends dredge up your past.
Preachers proclaim all guilt and no
grace. And parents, oh, your parents.
“Why can’t you grow up?” they say.
“When are you going to make me
proud?” they say. But your accusers will not have the last word!  Jesus has acted on our behalf. Jesus Christ has risen to
your defense.
Hebrews 10:22 urges “. . .let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience.”
Not just for our past mistakes but also for our future ones.  Behold the fruit of grace: saved by God, raised by God, seated with God! Gifted, equipped, and commissioned!

Fear Not.

Hope knows no fear. Hope dares to blossom even inside the abysmal abyss. Hope secretly feeds and strengthens promise." Sri Chinmoy - Poet

Sometime in your life everything will depend on the strength of your hope. What must one do to strengthen hope? Believe in your Heavenly Father who created you and for Christ who is the path to your Father. Dare to blossom in darkness. Know that His light will shine in the darkened abyss of life. Light trumps darkness. He secretly feeds his children to strengthen them during times of weakness. Keep your eyes on His light!

Bubbles In Our Life.

"Two bubbles found they had rainbows on their curves. They flickered out saying: It's worth being a bubble, just to have held that rainbow thirty seconds." Carl Sandburg - American writer/poet (1878-1967)

Many people seek to experience their fifteen minutes of fame during their lifetime but how much greater the experience when the fame reflected is in the form of hope growing in others. Oh what joy to hold another person's rainbow in your mind's eye if for just a few seconds. What an invaluable priviledge to have had a part in reflecting the rainbow of hope to another. God shares his plan with those that seek. Allow His plan of love and energy to allow you to have a heart for God's vision. Be a part of His plan and see what He has planned for those who believe. Our lives are but a bubble in time. Allow God's love to reflect that bubble of hope in others not discouragement. Be the rainbow of love . . . How? Rest in his hands like a bubble and reflect his love toward others.

GRACE! God's Greatest Idea.

God’s dream isn’t just to get you into heaven, but to get heaven into you. Grace lives because Jesus does, works because he works, and matters because he matters. To be saved by grace is to be saved by Jesus—not by an idea, doctrine, creed, or church membership, but by Jesus himself, who will sweep into heaven anyone who so much as gives him the nod. Grace won’t be stage-managed. I have no tips on how to get grace. Truth is, we don’t get grace. But it can sure get us.
If you wonder whether God can do
something with the mess of your life, then grace is what you need! Make certain it happens to you!
Allow God to transform your mess into a message to redeem you.

Grace, Its more than We Need, Greater than We can Imagine and its all that HE gives.

You Are Responsible For Your Own Happiness.

Although this endeavor will be different for everyone, this article will contain all kinds of advice. Hopefully everyone can get something out of this 13 steps.

1. Start off by looking at yourself and knowing who you really are and where your interest in life lies. Not in comparison to anyone else, but just look at yourself. Ask yourself these simple questions.

Who am I?

What is my purpose(destiny) in Life?

Where do I currently stand in my life?

What role do I play in others lives?
(Sister, mother, friend, role model,
teacher, partner, etc..)

Am I living to my fullest potential?

Am I happy? Fulfilled? At peace?
Why, or why not?

2. One huge mistake people make in their lives is covering themselves from pain. Hiding from the truth. Denying reality. DEATH exists. Become at peace with that. MURDERS and RAPE and DISEASES happen. Accept it. Once you face the facts that life isn't all rainbows and butterflies, you will be more prepared to handle tough situations, and you won't take disappointment as such a shock.

3. Determine which people in your life are actually worth your care . Eliminate all the fake friends and the users from your list who always pour-out their short-comings in life and expect you to assume responsibility and save them out. It's good to offer a helping hand to those in needs but sometimes people tend to use you as a crouch and end up making poor decisions and always expect you to bail them out. List only those who make you feel happy when you're around them. Now make an effort to spend more time around those people, and relatively less time around the people who do no good for you or your life. It's okay to be a little selfish in this sense every once in a while. Just be sure you give back an equal amount to what you take (and that doesn't only mean physical things, but emotional needs, as well).

4. Look on the dark side . Yes, this isn't a mistake, the DARK side. Because often times, when dealing with personal relationships,  looking on the bright side just leads to disappointment when we are let down from what we expect or wish to happen. As the cliche' goes, 'hope for the best, expect the
worst.' Did you know the formula for happiness is Reality divided by Expectations? What it means is don't think you are going to get what you want.

5. Find something you love to do, and do it . Do it often. Simple as that. From my personal experience, I was very fond of following football which I still do but not much often, writing article on them, updating my followers who joined a sports page I was an administrator on, although I loved what I did, I once came to know that what I was once into was not actually what I wanted to do in life. I can confidently say that Sharing the Gospel Of Grace through blogging has given me the Joy I need and even enabled me to discover some hidden potentials in me and now I very happy in this field.

6. Often, change is a good thing. Change they say is always a Choice and you have the responsibility to change or not. Welcome something new into your life, whether it be a new friend, a new interest (separate from the one from the step above), or a new favorite show you watch religiously. Change up your routine a little. There are billions of Gods creation out there waiting for you to take advantage of to make Life worth living.

7. Think back to something you loved in your childhood. Did you once the passion for writing articles? Your love for spending time with your family and friends? Maybe playing make-believe with your friends? Revisit one of those things, and you will most likely recreate the joy it used to bring.
Play and enjoy every precious time of your life with your family and friends, or do something to change the life of those around you. Let a child bring you into their carefree world for a few hours. It could be your little cousin, your own children, or you could babysit and enjoy the world of your childhood days.

8. Always try to see every situation from different perspective. Don't just see things your way, actually take the time to try to see things through the eyes of another. You'll gain insight, which can be enlightening.

9. Blast some music and just dance your heart out. Lose it in the music. Either alone or with friends. Just dance for hours. You'll get a good workout and release those formula
which make you happy. Speaking of music, you can click on this LINK ,to download one of my favorite songs this year by NANA JD - Great Is Your Name. Don't forget to put on your dancing shoes.

10. Try something you've never tried before. Take up a class, or use directionals maps and try to figure it out for yourself. Cooking, painting, whatever. And if you screw up, laugh it off for a secured person is always able to laugh their way out even if things don't go their way.

11. Smile . As often as possible. When you don't even feel like it. Just do it for you look so much better when you smile, So Smile!

12. Stop hiding from your misery . Realize the cause of your negative feelings and attempt to find solutions and ways to overcome it in the near future. If you simply cannot fix it, screw it. Anything that is out of your control is a waste of your time. No longer let it faze you.

13. In the end it comes down to you . Only YOU have the power to allow yourself to be happy.

God's Best Idea.

Your dad forces you go to church, but the facts is he can’t make you listen. At least that’s what you’ve always muttered to yourself. But today you listen because he speaks of a God who loves prodigals, and you feel like the worst sort of one.

You can’t keep the false secret much longer. Soon your parents will know. The preacher will know.  He says God already knows.  You wonder what God thinks!

Grace is God’s best idea. Rather than tell us to change, he creates the change. Do we clean up so he can accept us? No, he accepts us and begins cleaning us up.
What a difference this makes.

Can’t forgive your past? Christ can, and he is on the move, supernaturally budging you from graceless to grace-shaped living. Forgiven people forgiving people.
Deep sighs of relief.

Spiritual Heart Transplant.

Grace! The bank gives us a grace period. The seedy politician falls from grace. Musicians speak of a grace note. We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings and pre-meal prayers. We talk as though
we know what grace means.

You turn the page of your Bible and look at the words.  You might as well be gazing at a cemetery. Lifeless, stony. Nothing moves you.  But you don’t dare close the book, no sirree. You dare not miss a deed for fear that God will erase
your name.

God’s grace has a drenching about it. Grace comes after you. It re-wires you. From insecure to God secure. From regret riddled to better-because-of-it. From afraid to die to ready to fly.

As Paul said in Galatians 2:20: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
You might call it a spiritual heart
transplant!

SERVE ONE ANOTHER.

Read: Mark 10:42 - 45

Christians are to serve but not to be served. We are called to the service of God to render good and quality Christian service to lost souls. With the help of the Holy Spirit we disciple and lead souls for eternal life. We also maintain our holy and righteous lifestyle for every soul we are discipling to imitate us as we are all imitating Jesus Christ. We are shepherd who
have sheep under our care and charge to tend and feed them.

Greatness in service to people does not demand pride, but humility. Our nature inherited after
Jesus Christ must be laid out to do good to all.We stoop to the nearest services and labor in the hardest services. We must always prefer others better than us and seek to encourage them if they are weak.
Those useful now to the LORD in service shall be the most honored in the future Kingdom to come. As Christ had loved us not based on conditions, He came as our servant and offered Himself as a lamb for our salvation. Jesus even went the extre mile by washing the feets of His disciples. As we have Jesus Christ as our example, we should also love and serve others to the point where the world will even say to us “you a fool to do this”.

INSIGHT: Fools in the sight of men are wise in the sight of God. We are to look at Jesus’ own example; as a submitted Man first to the
greatest hardships and hazards, to the point of dying on the cross, before entering into His glory.
Do not despise, but associate yourself with sinners, the poor, widow, prisoners, destitute, sick, and serve them. We should not always be with the rich, wealthy and sound because of what we may get from them.

You are servant not to be served, but to serve.

God Answers The Mess Of Life!

You stare into the darkness. The ceiling fan whirls above you. In minutes the alarm will sound, and the demands of the day will shoot you like a clown out of a cannon into a three-ring circus of meetings.
And for the millionth time you’ll make breakfast, schedules, and payroll…  but for the life of you, you can’t make sense of this thing called Life. Its beginnings and endings. Cradles and cancers and
cemeteries and questions.
The meaning of life!  The poor choices of life. God answers the mess of life with one word: Grace! Do we really understand it?

Ezekiel 36:26 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you!” Grace calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off!

Instant Gratification By David C. McCasland

Read: Psalm 27:4-14

Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. — Psalm 27:14

Bible in a Year: Numbers 28-30; Mark 8:22-38

When the Polaroid SX-70 camera was introduced in 1972, it revolutionized photography. An article by Owen Edward in Smithsonian magazine described the camera as “a miracle of physics, optics and electronics.” When a photo was snapped, “a blank square would emerge from the front of the camera and develop before our eyes.” People were sold on speedy, immediate results. Oswald Chambers saw a strong connection between our desire for the immediate and lust: “Lust simply means, ‘I must have this at once’; it may be a bodily appetite or a spiritual possession. . . . I cannot wait for God’s time, God is too indifferent; that is the way lust works.”

In Psalm 27, David wrote of his waiting on God during a time of great trouble when there was no solution in sight. Instead of giving in to despair, he maintained his confidence that he would “see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (v.13).
We live in a world that worships the
immediate. When it seems there is no sign of our deepest longings being fulfilled, the psalmist urges us to cling to the eternal God. “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” (v.14).

Help me, O Lord, to be content! My lips to seal, To every vain desire, each whim—instead to kneel,
Acknowledging Thee, Lord and King, and in that place To kneel, to pray, to wait until I see Thy face! — Adams

The answer to our craving for the
immediate is to focus on the eternal.

Insight

One of the main focuses of this psalm is the Lord’s “house” (v.4). At the time of David’s writing, the temple had not yet been built. The place of worship (the tabernacle) was regarded as a symbol of the presence of God among His people.

Source : obd.org

You Are Not Damaged Goods

There is no dysfunction, injustice or
disappointment that can keep you from your destiny! Many people today go around with a “damaged goods” label, feeling guilty and condemned by what they’ve been through. But the truth is, we’ve all had difficulties. You can’t live very long without making a mistake, being hurt by someone, going through a breakup, being broken by divorce, an unhealthy childhood or an addiction. The key is to move forward and let it go. Life will sometimes shows us how to do just that and get out of the “damaged goods” section. Find out how to make the most of your life, regardless of how you were raised, how many bad breaks you’ve had, or how insignificant you may feel. It’s time to move forward, let it go and walk in greatness once again!

Today is a New Day! Don't let your History interfere with your Destiny. It doesn't matter what you did or where you were… it matters where you are and what you're doing. Get Out There and Explore! Sing the song in your Heart and NEVER let anyone shut you up!!!

                
                 

Please Note That Most Part Of This Article Including The Title was courtesy Joel Osteen's This Week Message ( 2/03/2014).

Freshen Up Your Oil Always!

"To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it." Mother Teresa - Missionary (1910-1997)

In early times, the oil lamp was vital to the farmer or village dweller, and thus the lamp had to be kept in good working order filled with oil, a good tapered wick and readily available. Our body, mind and spirit are no different. Resting one day a week, feeding our spirit with God's oil-based ointment (God's Word) and allowing our mind and bodies to renew through rest, quiet contemplation will allow us to be wholly present and available to ourselves and others. Seek to renew yourself, rest and be fed wholesome Godly direction. Like a lamp you can help light an eternal path for others in need.