Give Thanks

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thes 5:18

Have you thanked God for what and where you are today?

I came across this sometimes back.

It was spring, but it was summer I wanted - The warm days, and the great outdoors.

It was summer, but it was fall I wanted – The colourful leaves, and the cool, dry air.

It was fall, but it was winter I wanted – The beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season.

I was a child, but it was adulthood I wanted – The freedom and the respect.

I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted – To be mature and sophisticated.

I was middle-aged, but it was 20 I wanted – The youth and the free spirit.

I was retired, but it was middle-age I wanted – The presence of mind, without limitations.

My life was over,  But I never got what I wanted.

                                                            Jason Lehman.

Wait, lets bring it closer home.

I was in school, but it was to be a graduate I wanted – The joy of not having to face a lecture or endless assignments.

I was a graduate, but it was employment I wanted – To have my own money and live in comfort.

I got employed, but it was to own my business I wanted – The freedom of controlling my schedule and time.

I own my business, but it was stable income I wanted – Not to be worried about balancing the account and all these odd hours work.

I was single, but it was marriage I wanted – Someone to share my life with, what thrill.

I got married but it was youth I wanted - Not to have these many responsibilities ...

got the gist.

Today is the answer to your prayers of yesterday, so enjoy it. Count your blessings and give thanks.       

Finding A Common Ground

When I am with the Jews, I become one of them so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with those who follow the Jewish laws, I do the same, even though I am not subject to the law, so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with the Gentiles who do not have the Jewish law, I fit in with them as much as I can. In this way, I gain their confidence and bring them to Christ. But I do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings.  1 Cor 9:20-23 (NLT)

Have you ever wondered why you need to be well-read, why you need to understand the systems and groups of the world or why you need to be the best at what you do? Paul gave us the answer in the scripture above. Being all things to all people that we might win them to Christ.

Staying in our little group and being defined in that group can only win members of that group to Christ yet, we have a commission to evangelize the whole world. Our destiny is to preach this gospel to every nation and group in the world. So, we have a duty to try to find common ground with everyone.

You might need to learn about football so you can win over your Premier League loving friends or completing your PhD so you will have the platform to win over those in the Academia. You will learn about the history of other nations, their cultures and lifestyle so you can ‘fit in with them as much as you can’ in order to win them to Christ.

But how do we remain consecrated and separate, you ask? Well, let’s read the verse 22 again in the Message translation “… I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ--but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view…” we do not take on their way of life, we keep our bearings in Christ, our feet firmly rooted in God’s word all the while meeting them at a common ground for the sake of the gospel.

If you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and saviour, you cannot take advantage of what God had prepared for you. We urge you, don’t wait another moment. Make up your mind and say this prayer:

“Dear God, I ask you to forgive me all my sins and make me anew. I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised him up for my justification, I confess that He is Lord over my life, now and forever. I accept the ministry of the Holy Spirit into my life in Jesus name, Amen!” Congratulations! Now that you are born again, look for a Bible believing Church to attend that you might know what God has provided for you. (For more Christian articles, kindly visit www.lothshine.blogspot.com, thank you.)

Dealing With Offences

Offence as stated in our earlier article “Don’t Take Offence” is simply a cause or occasion of stumbling or sin, any action or words spoken against your person that could cause you to be displeased or angry. We saw why and how we can live offence free. However, despite our best efforts, sometimes the offence stick, you just know you are offended and justifiably so. The sight of the person and even the thought of the person or the situation gets you angry and you know you must deal with it.

We will be looking at ways of dealing with offences, one or all of the steps below might be what you need to do to be rid of that anger. However, the base line is a readiness and willingness to forgive. First, be sincere with yourself that you are offended and then forgive the offender. Your forgiveness is not based on the weight of the offence or the repentance of the offender; rather it is based on the weight of God’s forgiveness to you. A constant remembrance of how much God forgave us is the reason we forgive others. Col 3:13 “You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others”.

Having forgiven from your heart, pray for the person. Oh, not the prayer of vengeance, fire and brimstone rather a prayer of blessing and increase. Jesus speaking in Luke 6:28 says “Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” Take time out to pray for the person and for yourself for obeying God despite your feelings. Also, consistently confess to yourself that you live free of offence and that you walk in love towards the offender.

Believe the best of the offender, Make excuses for the person. It is just possible that the person did not mean to hurt you or was under enormous pressure. It could also be that the person would have acted differently if he/she had known you more or known your intents. Whatever it is, let your heart rest on the fact that with better understanding things would have been different. 

Do something good to your offender. Buy a gift, render a service, just go out of your way and break the cycle of wrong. Rom 12:21 “Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good”.

Finally, seek clarification with the person after you have dealt with the offense to the end that you might be reconciled. This should be done only if it is necessary and after you have dealt with the offence. Doing it before the offence is gone will more often than not bring more anger and hurt. The peace of God be with you as you live free of offence in Jesus name.

New Creature

"2Co 5:17 KJV Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

That Word was the saving grace that cleaved to my heart and glued to my tongue when I finally committed my life to Jesus' able hands.

I'd heard about him before, I'd given my life to him several times, but I just kept going back to the old habits. I found myself going back to the wrong company, living like the one who had never known Christ at all! I had segregated myself unto the path of destruction. Even though I had become a princess to my God but was busy begging to be accepted by the world. My words wouldn't count, I had no positive impact on anyone, I had only lived to please people. My life was shattered. I had dated and double dated. It was that terrible. I just knew something was wrong deep down within.

Then I lost someone dear to me and was told by some spiritists that I was the next to die but God saved me by this Word, "If any man be in Christ , he's a new creature, old things have passed away, behold, all things have become NEW!!!!!!!".

"If any man be in Christ......", was the word that changed my life and my perception of self. It has changed me truly! It changed the choices that I began to make like, the kind of music I listen or dance to, the kind of people I allow to influence me. It changed my outlook and my demeanor. I've grown and I'm still growing.

This word could just be what you need right now, dear reader, if you have any issues staring at you in the eyes as a Christian, cry out  to God!!!,  Say it out loud to yourself, "I'm a new creature in Christ Jesus!!!!!" Believe it, don't doubt, say it consistently, meditate on it and reject every contrary thought with all boldness in Jesus name! But if you are yet to give your life to Jesus Christ, say the Word of prayer written below with all your heart. 

Don't stay bowed to that situation staring at you, look into it's eye and call God your God. God will order your steps into the right company and sort things out for your good. Nothing will hurt you, the Lord will bring rescuers your way in Jesus name. So, say 'Yes' to God willingly from your heart today! You have to be deliberate with Him.

If you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and saviour, you cannot take advantage of what God has prepared for you. We urge you, don’t wait another moment. Make up your mind and say this prayer:

“Dear God, I ask you to forgive me all my sins and make me anew. I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised him up for my justification, I confess that He is Lord over my life, now and forever. I accept the ministry of the Holy Spirit into my life in Jesus name, Amen!” 

Congratulations! Now that you are born again, look for a Bible believing Church to attend that you might know what God has provided for you. (For more Christian articles, kindly visit www.lothshine.blogspot.com, thank you)

The Christian Heritage

And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." Exodus 17:9

The enemies were around and Moses been the leader of the nation of Israel gave Joshua an instruction to choose men to go and fight the enemies. Moses did not join in the physical battle, he went up a hill with Aaron and Hur, but he was much also into the battle though not physically. Moses went up the hill to pray for the battle going down. He stood in the gap and the position he took that day was a determinant factor for the victory that day.

As I read the account of this battle, the whole event portrayed the Christian life to me. I see a lot of Christians who simply take life from a physical standpoint. They are all about strategy, planning, career etc, and it all ends there. They see their progress in life largely as a product of their own human effort. They just believe if you put in the required efforts alone, all will be fine. This has worked for them and they also preach the same to others.

Some even go to the extent of talking down on other Christians who might not appear to be as successful as they are but more religious. They see other’s religiosity as the reason they are at that present position in life. They forget there are people more successful than they are who are very spiritual too. They have separated their faith from every other area of their life. Sometimes, it so happens that someone has built a successful career without any serious spiritual commitment and then see no reason to now bring their faith into it.

This kind of Christians remind me of how Joshua must have fought in the battle with all his might, skill and expertise. However we can see that victory didn’t come to them solely because they fought well or outnumbered their enemies. Victory was theirs because there was a man of prayer up the hill interceding for them. Joshua would have made a great mistake that day if he assumed his might alone brought the victory. Our Christian heritage will always be useful at whatever stage we find ourselves in life.

As Christians in a changing world, we mustn’t lose touch with our spiritual heritage as we sojourn this world. While it is good to have all the necessary qualifications on the job, it is better when we are also armed spiritually on the job. Our spiritual heritage is our cutting edge as we navigate this world. When all the known human strategies fail us, we can withdraw spiritual resources from heaven’s bank. We shouldn’t wait till all our plans go south before we realize that there is a God in heaven who is always with us. Never talk down on others spirituality today because it might just be what will save you tomorrow.