Love God and Love People

"'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Luke 10:27 NLT).

Christianity is at a crossroad. Some people are repelled by it while others are willing to give up their lives to follow Christ. In many instances, it may look like we’re on our back foot but the Bible assures us that His government and peace will have unlimited growth.

For centuries, Christians, leaders, and churches have tried to invent and reinvent the message of Christ. There’s nothing wrong discovering and growing in the knowledge of our infinite God; however, Jesus, the founder of our faith, gave us two basic commands.

The essence of Christianity is to love God and love people. 

Recently, I was visiting my brother’s family. They were returning from a worship concert when they stopped at a red light, a homeless man approached them. When they gave him a leather bag filled with medicine, toothbrush, cash, food, tracts, stationary, T-shirt, flashlight, and other basic necessities; the homeless man was dumbfounded. The first words that came out of his mouth were, “What the hell is that?” He couldn’t believe the kindness of total strangers!

I believe this is where Christianity is losing its flavor. We’ve become too private, intellectual, cynical, and judgmental of each other. People have taken advantage of us, so now we’re filtering our responses through our past experiences. This is not the best reflection of our faith.

Here’s the key: if you love God you will love people and vice versa!

In the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), Jesus spoke about a wounded man who was bypassed by a priest and a Levite. Their reasoning may have been along the lines of he’s not part of our church, culture or faith therefore; he doesn’t qualify for our help. What if God treated us according to His high standards? Jesus crossed every creed, color, social, racial, and cultural barriers to reach people and so should we as His disciples.

Jesus taught us to love people – ALL people. It’s easier said than done but when this is our intent, the love of God has the power to transform society.

Recently, a 22-year-old Egyptian Christian woman lived out her faith in deed. Her former husband (from another faith) divorced her. After several years, she got married to a young Christian man and they had two beautiful children together. She was pregnant with their third when they decided to visit their former church to fellowship with other believers. In the city, they’re spotted by her former family members. They kidnapped her and pressed her to renounce her faith. When she refused to deny Christ, her own sister beheaded her in order to “teach a lesson” to other women who chose to follow Christianity. What would be our response in such situation?

God forbid that we have to face such brutal fate. However, there are million little ways we can impact others with the love of Christ. The scripture says, “The goodness of God leads people to repentance” (Romans 2:4).

Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

A couple of months ago, my friend was driving home in her pickup truck when she saw a bunch of men working under the scorching sun. She was moved with compassion but didn’t have any water in her truck. She went home and brought back ice-cold water for the men working on the street. She didn’t have to preach that day because she was the Gospel.

Our action towards our fellow men is a direct reflection of our love for God.

Friend, if we want to encounter God in supernatural ways, it’s not good enough to dress in our Sunday best, clap our hands, and sing, “I love you Lord.” We have to live intentionally and love the crying, sighing, and dying people God brings on our path. Loving God means to reflect the same love Jesus showed us. When we unite in loving people, we’ll see a new move of the Holy Spirit sweeping through our nation like never before. Let us love God and Love people!

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Come Let Us Give Thanks

“Give thanks in all circumstances,¹ for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:18 NIV).

Thanksgiving is a wonderful tradition celebrated in the United States. It’s a time of reflection and thanksgiving for all of the great things God has done in our lives. The commercialization of this great day has eroded a lot of its original meaning. However, it is still one of the most powerful traditions in American culture.

Thanksgiving, or giving of thanks, is a recurring theme in the Bible. One of the first mentions of thanksgiving is recorded in Genesis chapter 14. There, priest-king Melchizedek brought an abundant supply of food and wine to Abram (later renamed Abraham), along with Abram’s 318-member team of warriors to express their extraordinary victory against the king of Sodom, Gomorrah, Zeboyim, and the king of Bela.

“Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:18-19).

Centuries later, after liberating the Hebrew people from 400 years of slavery, the Lord instituted two yearly thanksgiving holidays that celebrated the two harvest seasons.

While it is easy to celebrate thanksgiving when everything is going right in our lives, it is not so spontaneous or easy when we’re fighting a hardship, legal battle, prolonged sickness or even the loss of a loved one. It is hard to do but it can be done.

Horatio G. Spafford was a successful lawyer and businessman in Chicago with a lovely family — a wife, Anna, and five children. Their young son died from pneumonia in 1871, and in that same year, much of their business was lost in the great Chicago fire. Yet, God, in His mercy and kindness allowed the business to flourish once again.

On Nov. 21, 1873, the French oceanliner, Ville du Havre, was crossing the Atlantic from the U.S. to Europe with 313 passengers on board. Among the passengers were Mrs. Spafford and their four daughters. Although Mr. Spafford had planned to go with his family, he found it necessary to stay in Chicago to help solve an unexpected business problem. He told his wife he would join her and their children in Europe a few days later.

About four days into the crossing of the Atlantic, the Ville du Harve collided with a Scottish ship, the Loch Earn. Within 12 minutes, the Ville du Harve slipped beneath the dark waters of the Atlantic, carrying with it 226 of the passengers including the four Spafford children.

A sailor, rowing a small boat over the spot rescued Mrs. Spafford. Upon her safe arrival in Wales, Anna wired her husband a message saying, “Saved alone, what shall I do?” Mr. Spafford booked passage on the next available ship and left to join his grieving wife. With the ship about four days out, the captain called Spafford to his cabin and told him they were over the place where his children went down. Overwhelmed and in great distress, Mr. Spafford penned the words to a timeless hymn:

It is Well with My Soul

When peace like a river attendeth my way | When sorrows like sea billows roll | Whatever my lot | Thou hast taught me to say I It is well, it is well with my soul |

Friend, if grieving Spafford can write such a powerful song of gratitude in such great distress, we all can find something to thank God for. Here’s the key: Don’t let something that was once a miracle become ordinary.

The more we talk about God’s goodness in the past, the more we draw in His blessings in the future! There are three areas you can always find something to thank God for. First, celebrate what God has done in the past. Second, be grateful for what God is doing in your life right now. Third, thank God for what He is about to do and the glorious future we have with Him in eternity. Remember the time you found love in your life. Thank God for the day your children were born. Thank Him for healing you from that dreaded disease. Remember, the many incidences of how God saved your life from accidents and calamities. Once you start counting your blessings there’s no stopping. This Thanksgiving, let us not only make it about food, fun, and family but let us give thanks unto our Lord who has done great things! Happy Thanksgiving!

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Remember Their Sacrifice

Our love for God should be reflected through the values our country stands for. Today, as we celebrate Memorial Day in America, it is good to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live the life we now have.

In his book “I’m No Hero,” U.S. Navy jet pilot Captain Charles Plumb tells the story of his flaming plane going down in the enemy territory of the Vietnam War zone. After seventy-five combat missions, he was shot down by a surface-to-air missile in the dense jungles of Vietnam. Plumb ejected and parachuted himself out of the flaming jet only to glide himself in the enemy’s camp. He was captured as a POW. He was tortured beyond what is humane, but somehow he survived the horrific six years in a communist Vietnamese prison.

One day, Plumb and his wife were enjoying a meal together in a restaurant. A young man from another table walked up to theirs and said, “You’re Plumb. You are a fighter jet pilot. You carried out missions in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. Your jet was shot down!”

Perplexed, Plum asked, “Who are you? How did you know all this?”

The young man replied, “I packed your parachute sir. I guess it worked!”

Filled with gratitude, Plumb replied, “Yes it did! If your chute hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t be here today.”

That night he could not sleep, thinking about the young sailor who saved his life. How many times Plumb walked past those sailors in navy uniform with a bib flipped backward and didn’t even bother to say, “Good morning, how are you?” or shake their hand? In his mind, he was a fighter jet pilot – a class apart from the lowly sailors. He began to imagine how the sailors who spent long hours delicately weaving the material and packing the silks of each chute; at the end of the tireless and monotonous completion, the sailor who was holding the life itself of someone whom he did not even know.

Today, Plumb lectures to thousands, crisscrossing the country asking this one question: “Who is packing your parachute?” Sometimes in the daily challenges of life, we miss what is really important. We fail to say hello, please or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, or just do something kind for no reason. Don’t let that be you.

You see, we all have people behind us who pack our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parachutes. None of us made it here on our own. When you look back at the long line of people who have helped you, it is only fitting to think about how you can help someone else. Your life today is the aggregate of God’s goodness and the kindness, sacrifices, and investment in others.

It is not enough to be grateful to them in our hearts. Let us express to them what their sacrifice means to us. We cannot do anything to those who made the ultimate sacrifice but we can honor those who are left behind.

Today, let us reach out to someone who lost a loved one. Go knock on their door and bring them something to lift their soul. Call someone who has lost a son, or a daughter, a father, or an uncle and let them know how grateful you are for their sacrifice. If you know or see a serviceman in uniform, buy them their lunch. Stop them in their tracks and take a moment to thank them for their daily service to protect our country. If you are part of a family who lost a loved one, we want you to know that we remember! Let us not take anything for granted. Let us value the freedom we have and honor those who paid the price for it.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 ESV).

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Mother's Influence Shape History

If you’re a mother and unsure of your calling, you must know what an amazing person you are! Mothers have an incredible weight on the human race. A mother’s influence on a child begins before he or she is born and continues for generations. If you’re a mother, we celebrate you!

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Men are what their mothers made them.” It is the same for women as well. No other person makes sacrifices like a mother does. You may not understand your impact now but your dedication and perseverance will continue long after you’re gone. The burden you carry now, and the sacrifices you make in secret, will soon be rewarded openly.

The Bible teaches that when we’re living right and doing our best to please the Lord, we can pile up blessings and favor for our children and the generations to come. None of us got here on our own. Part of who you are today is because there was a praying mother, or a grandmother, or even a great-great grandmother, who took the time to honor God. They believed, they sacrificed; they made choices even though they’re hard to keep. They modeled a life of excellence and now you’re reaping the benefit of it.

In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul said to his young disciple Timothy, “I am reminded of your faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now lives in you.” What Paul was saying is that the faith in Timothy didn’t start with him but with his grandmother Lois and if he continued in the things of God, it would continue from generations to generations.  Mothers, what you do today will affect generations to come. The life we live, and the decisions we make, should make it easier for those who come after us.

This is why it is so important for women to realize their role as a mother. You’re not just cooking, cleaning, and serving the family. Every sacrifice, every hardship you endure, you’re impacting generations to come. When you keep doing the right thing while the wrong things keep happening to you, you’re storing up blessings and favor for your children.

Most mothers tend to downplay their role in society. They don’t realize that it is their prayer, giving, and sacrifice that change history. The Bible talks about Joshua and people of Israel being in a fierce battle. Moses was on a hill holding up the rod of God in the air. As long as Moses held up his arms in the air, Joshua won but when he got tired and put his hands down, the enemy started to win. Joshua didn’t realize this but the only reason he was winning is because Moses was up on a hill holding up his staff. Without Moses doing his part, Joshua and the people of Israel would have been defeated. In the same way, mothers are often invisible from the limelight of the society. But it is your prayers, hardship, and sacrifice that bring forth champions in the world. They win because of you! My challenge to us today is to live our lives in such a way that will cause others to win. Every right decision you make, you’re holding up your hands. You’re making it easier on those who come after you. 

Some time ago, I watched a documentary about the giant pacific octopus. She lays thousands of eggs and then doesn’t leave them for anything, not even to eat. When she gets really hungry, the mother octopus has been known to eat one of her own legs. The eggs hatch after many months of enduring care from their mother. Once they’re on their own, the mother dies. I know many moms who have given up everything for their children. Even if your children are not walking with the Lord now, your prayers will ruin their party until they come to Jesus. Today I want to remind you that God will never put you through something difficult without rewarding you for it.

As we remember and celebrate the contributions of mothers in our society, let us remember the words of President Theodore Roosevelt, “The mother is the one supreme asset of national life.  She is more important, by far, than the successful states-man, businessman, artist, or scientist.” Mother, your children and grandchildren or even a hundred years from now, someone in your family line will make history because of the choices and sacrifices you make today.

Mothers, today we remember you and we celebrate you. Thank you for all you’ve done. We love you and we appreciate your dedication and service! I’m praying for you today!

“Be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (I Corinthians 15:58 NLT).

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Why Go to Church

In the West it is cultural to go to church. This is a good habit for every Christian. But why we go to church is far more important than merely fulfilling a religious obligation. While any reason is a good reason to be in church, it will serve us best if we go to church with a heart of worship.

Every other Christian activity can be done individually but when we worship Jesus corporately, a special power is released over our lives. Many flock to church for good teaching, motivational speech, and great concert-like worship services and that’s all good. However, the most important reason God wants us to be in church is so we can worship Him for who He is!

We’re created to worship our Creator. Some of the ways we can show our worship to our Savior is to express our gratitude. Worship is easy. Remember the day of your salvation. Remember the day God healed you and set you free from wrong desires and addictions. Thank Him for your children and family. Express your gratitude for His bountiful provisions. Give Him some praise for protecting you from accidents, plagues, and sudden calamities.

Many Christians are uncertain about how to worship. The posture of our heart is far greater than our physical appearance. Let us take at least as much time preparing our hearts as we do looking good on the outside. God still looks at the heart! He will not turn away a broken and contrite spirit. King David, the greatest worshipper in history, often danced before the Lord with all His might. The Scripture exhorts for us to worship God “lifting holy hands.” Singing and clapping are common expressions of a heart of worship. Many are uncomfortable with being emotional at church but it is completely alright to “let yourself go” in the presence of the Almighty. A church is not a place to showcase perfect people; it’s a hospital where broken hearts are mended by God. If you’re uncomfortable looking at others getting emotional in church, you’re looking in the wrong place. Let’s focus on Jesus -- the object of our worship. Don’t worry about what anybody else is doing. Worship for the audience of One!

Much emphasis has been given to tithes and offerings in the church. While you cannot love God without giving, don’t do anything out of religious obligation or membership “rules.” Why we give is far more important than what we put into the offering plate. You have heard about giving 10% of your income to God. May I challenge you to a greater blessing? God doesn’t want a percentage of your life. He wants your whole heart. Friend, surrender your whole life to God and you’ll be amazed by how easy it will be to give. Make Jesus your greatest Treasure. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It is sad to say but many people treat church as a social club. While it is healthy for believers to fellowship with one another, church should not be a place for us to grow our business connections. It may happen organically and that’s alright but don’t go to church with the intent to scout for customers. Seek God and customers will find you! The only reason we should go to church is to worship our Lord and learn the Word to bring others to Christ. The intent of our heart is the test of our character. 

Preachers, one of our main responsibilities is to feed our sheep. Men, women, and children in your congregation are looking for answers. Let’s teach them how to be a better husband, how to be a better employee, how to be a better witness for the Lord. Teach them how to live a victorious Christian life Monday to Saturday. Let’s lead our flock to an encounter with God. Don’t try to beat your people to submission. Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” If you lead them to green pastures of God’s love, joy, and peace, they’ll follow you by the droves.

Friend, God is pleased with you. It honors Him to meet you in His House. You are the body of Christ. You don’t have to be in the gathering of others. However, your life will be enriched when you surround yourself with other like-minded believers. If going to church was good for our Lord, there may be something in it for us as well. Let’s put aside the hurt and disappointments of the past. This time around, let’s follow Jesus and not people. Let’s worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth. I’m proud of you for taking your family to church. God is smiling down upon you.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name” (Psalm 100:4 NLT).

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Remeber the Good

Life has a way of draining us. If we’re not proactive, negative thoughts dictate our lives. When we actively seek to remember the good, the positive experiences of life will override the negatives.

Brain science tells us that our negative experiences occupy more of our brain space than our positive ones. Knowing this, we have to make a conscious effort to remember the good things and start vocalizing them. When we speak our positive experiences out loud, we reinforce our brain to keep positive memories in the forefront of our minds. This is extremely important because our lives follow our thoughts.

I heard of a young couple who was having trouble in their relationship. The counselor asked them to write down their negatives of each other. The wife was very excited for an opportunity to share her frustrations. She made a long list of complaints about her husband. On the day of disclosure, the wife went through her long list of grievances about her husband. She felt good to let her husband know. When it came time for her husband to share, she was blown away by his one line statement. It said “I love and like you just the way you are!” Truth is, human beings have more in common than we tend to realize. None of us have it 100%. Let’s focus on the 80% that’s good and overlook the 20% that’s not so good. Let’s magnify what’s good in each other.

When we remember the good, we attract more of God’s blessings in our lives. This is what the children of Israel did. Every time God did a miracle for them, they established a memorial stone unto God. They were nomadic back then. Every time they passed that way again, they were reminded of God’s mighty miracles in their lives. They understood the principle that if they were not proactive about remembering the good, life’s negatives would override their perceptions automatically.

Many people have a difficult time remembering the good that was once a miracle in their lives. Let me help you remember how God brought that beautiful women into your life. Remember when your children were born. Let us remember how God gave you that dream job. Do you remember the day you walked into your first home? Do you remember how God healed you of that dreaded disease? Remember the day you got saved. Friend, let us remember God’s mighty works in our lives!

Getting started on remembering the good is the hardest part. Once you shift your mindset, it’s not so hard to produce a long list of things to be grateful about. In my daily prayer walks, I regularly remind God of the 20-30 major things He has done in my life. I start with the day I was born. I remind God how He gave me an upbringing at the orphanage. I remind God of the day I graduated from high school and college. You may think these are ordinary things but for most of us, what is ordinary today was once a miracle. Let us not forget and take time to remind God of His mighty deeds. While you’re remembering the good, don’t forget to express your gratitude to your loved ones, co-workers, clients, neighbors, and others who have enriched your life. When we magnify the good, our differences will minimize automatically.

When we remember God’s mighty works in the past, we fuel our faith to believe God for the current impossible in our lives. Before young David defeated Goliath, he first recalled and verbally recited all the previous victories. He remembered how God empowered him to kill a lion and a bear. In the book of Psalms, he reminded God how He brought water out of a rock and how He parted the red seas. Is it any wonder that David’s life was highlighted by God’s favor!

If you’re facing a difficult situation in your life today, be like David. Remind God of the things He has already done for you. Don’t focus on how big your problem is, focus on how big your God is. If God helped you once, He will do it again. Don’t nag. Instead, brag about what He has done in the past. It’s not so much our circumstances but our attitude in how we respond to them that will change our situation. Today in America, we remember God’s goodness in our lives. Let us not just stop there; give thanks to God as a lifestyle. When we do, we’ll see more of His goodness and favor unleashed upon our lives. I love you and thank God for you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…” (Psalm 103:2 ESV).

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Give Honor

Much of our society is disintegrating simply because of a lack of honor. Our culture was built on respect and honor. When we honor people, we add value to them. In a culture of honor, people are empowered to high thinking and living.

Everybody wants to be on the receiving end of honor but few people want to initiate it. I’ve learnt that you’ll never have what you’re not willing to give. Great men and women are those who are secure in themselves. They can recognize the greatness in others. Our own peace and prosperity are directly tied to the honor we give to others.

Recently, a friend of mine joined me on a mission trip to China. One of his sons has lived a very colorful life and he’s finally coming around to serving the Lord. Just before we left for China, his son came to him and handed him $350 and told him that he wanted to honor his labor for the Lord. This young man works for a multinational corporation and they were laying people off left and right. His own job was on the line. He asked his Dad to pray that he would not lose his job. My friend prayed for his son and reminded him that a thousand may fall at his side but it shall not come near him (Psalm 91:7). Miraculously, the son survived the final cut. Today, he has a permanent job. He gets almost a whole month of paid holiday leave. He has full insurance benefits for his family. And he even has a 401K started in his name. You may think this is no big deal but you have to understand; this young man has never had a job this good. I believe that all of this happened for the young man because he honored his Dad by sending him off to serve God in China.

The Scripture says, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12 NIV). In fact, it is one of ten commandments God gave us. When we honor people, we are honoring God.

One of the first places we should practice honor is in our own homes. Often we’re slowest in honoring those who sacrifice the most for us. One definition of honor is to respect that which is given to someone who is admired. Husbands and wives can show honor to each other by doing what their spouse prefers. Husbands, honor your wives (I Peter 3:7). Wives, as long as you hold back in honoring your husbands with your words and deeds, he will never reach his full potential. Don’t be stingy in expressing honor. Let us set an example for our children and allow them to learn from us. You don’t have to agree with everybody but honor your parents, in-laws, outlaws, and those relatives who don’t think and speak well of you. No dishonorable situation is made better by dishing dishonor. Why don’t you become the agent of change and establish a culture of honor in your home? You’ll be surprised at how fast it catches on.

We should honor people in the marketplace. Honor your neighbors by turning down the volume of your party. In church, honor the usher and sit where he tells you. Give honor to the clerk at the store by being courteous. Prefer the other person. When we give heed to people in authority with a good attitude, we’re sowing honor. I’ve found that the amount of God’s favor in my life is directly linked to the honor I bestow on others. Let’s give honor because it glorifies God.

In the Bible, King Saul tried to kill David in spite of his loyalty to the king. On multiple occasions, David had the opportunity to hurt Saul but he understood the principle of honor. Could it be that David rose to the throne because he knew how to honor those in authority? Today we live in a culture where we’re quick to criticize anyone, from the President down to our own family members. Is this an area where God is prompting you to come up higher? Instead of criticizing, let us pray for them. Let us honor the people we love. Honor people by telling them what a great job they’re doing. None of us got here on our own. Let us honor our parents by calling them regularly and visiting them whenever possible. When we cultivate a culture of honor, we will raise the bar for all, God’s blessings will pursue us, and we’ll live long on earth. Friend, you are loved, celebrated, and honored. Remember, God's favor will be upon your life to the degree you honor others. I honor you!

“Give honor to whom honor is due.” (Romans 13:7).

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Bearing Spiritual Fruit

The quality of a good tree is the fruit it bears. God compares His people with fruit trees that should bear much fruit. The truth is that all of us are producing fruit but not all of our fruits are wholesome.

Just like a healthy tree produces healthy fruits, a mature Christian is supposed to produce spiritual fruits. In Luke 6:43-45 Jesus said, “A tree is identified by its fruit.” As believers, we may be breathing but we’re not really living if we’re not producing spiritual fruits.

In America, too many of us are closest Christians. When everybody is coming out of their closet with something immoral, we’re hiding! What’s up with that? We’ve become so politically correct, and “tolerant” of others, that we’ve surrendered and neglected to defend our own faith. Today, let’s talk about bearing spiritual fruits.

First, let’s bear fruits at home. Our home is the most fertile ground for bearing good fruit. Not only are we surrounded by loving people who are cheering us on, but home is also an environment where fruit is produced organically. When we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we’re nurturing an environment to produce good fruit. Galatians 5:33-23 lists nine fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. One way we can judge our spiritual maturity is to evaluate ourselves against the Word of God. Are we operating in love? Do we have joy in our hearts and on our faces?  Are we patient and kind with our spouse and children? If we’re not producing fruit in the loving environment at home, it will be difficult to produce fruit elsewhere.

Next, we need to bear fruits at work. We spend almost half of our waking hours in the marketplace. We get up early and work late to bring home a paycheck and it is very commendable. However, if we are not producing spiritual fruit at work, we’re suppressing our saltiness. When was the last time you shared Christ at work? We’ve bought into the lie that we cannot bring our faith to work. We also believed the lie that in order to share Christ, we have to hit people on the head with the Bible or shoot scriptures out like a machine gun. We’ve created prayer rooms for others but abandoned prayer ourselves. We don’t have to be hostile or obnoxious to share our faith at work. However, if we don’t stand for our faith, we’re going to fall for anything.

Third, we must bear fruits in our community. Jesus said, “Occupy until I come.” I heard of a church in California where they’re sharing Christ with the dancers in the night club. They have eradicated cancer within a certain radius of their church. They’re influencing their community. However, the Church at large has no initiative in the community. We’ve believed a lie that we can only bear fruits within the walls of the church. Every week, we’re summoned to exalt the pastor and we’re beautifying the building instead of glorifying Jesus and helping the hurting, sighing, and dying. Let’s be involved in the chamber of commerce, mother’s clubs, little leagues, major leagues, arts, entertainment, network groups etc. If you’re a pastor, don’t just preach from the pulpit, go and serve in your neighborhood through the week and they’ll follow you to your church on weekends.  

Lastly, bear fruits in world missions. Jesus always had the world in mind. Every believer should impact the world. If we don’t have world perspective, we’re thinking too small. One reason we’re seeing such a drastic surge in terrorism is because we’ve stopped proclaiming the Gospel to the world. In the absence of the Good News, bad news prevails. Build International Ministries (www.buildinternational.org) and many others are taking Jesus to the world. There are people like you who are impacting the world by partnering with us. Pray, go, give, and bear fruit in world missions. 

Friend, let us be intentional about bearing spiritual fruits. Our lives are like vapor. We’re here for a very short time but we can outlive ourselves by bearing spiritual fruits. When we bear fruits, our descendants will continue the legacy of our faith. Are we going to exercise our faith on which this country was founded on? Or are we going to be overrun by others because we’re too timid to live out our faith at home, work, in our communities, and the world? What kind of fruit we produce will determine what kind of world our children will live in. Let us bear spiritual fruit!

Jesus said, "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” (John 15:5 NIV).

Let’s Change the World: www.buildinternational.org

Invite Sandy Anderson to Speak: Email: buildinternational@sbcglobal.net 

Stay Inspired: http://www.facebook.com/pages/BUILD-International-Ministries/113937368637778?ref=hl 

I Love Traffic

We live in such stressful times that we automatically react negatively to traffic. In the rat race of life, we are easily irritated by driving around, even when we’re not in any particular hurry. A change of mindset can change the way we behave in traffic.

Years ago, I lived in Hong Kong. It is a bustling international city; people from all over the world are there for business opportunities. This city is always on the run. During the time I was there, I ministered a lot in Europe and Asia. Whenever I stepped off of the plane, even though I was not in any hurry, I’d fall into the rat-race. I’d rush to catch the subway or the bus or the taxi. Often, even a leisurely walk would turn into a brisk one. One day it dawned on me that I was sucked into the hurried lifestyle.

In America, we drive everywhere. We complain about traffic routinely. It is almost a conversation piece in the morning. On the surface it may look innocent but if we’re not careful, stress in traffic can take a toll on our lives. Today, let’s look at a few positive ways to turn traffic into a productive time.

Pray in traffic. I pray more in traffic than any other time. Prayer is talking to God just as we do with another person. It accomplishes two things. One, I can pray for my friends – that’s you. Two, when I pray, it’s hard to complain or have a bad attitude. Talking to God also makes me feel safer. Of course, I pray with my eyes open and I recommend you do the same. Praying helps me keep the focus off me and on God and others. When I’m not praying, I listen to worship music. Instantly I feel the peaceful presence of God. It is a great substitute from getting agitated over traffic.

Traffic helps build character. I lived in Los Angeles for five years. You may not believe me, but I had road rage. Yep, miracles still happen! When people cut me off, I’d speed up to get alongside the stranger and give them my death stare. I was oblivious to the fact that gun owners in Los Angeles practice their target shooting in traffic! When I realized that I had an issue while driving, I made it my personal growth plan (PGP) to not allow strangers to affect me. It took me six months to get rid of anger. Today, traffic doesn’t bother me. I can honestly say, “I love traffic!”

Traffic makes great evangelist. It is a great place to influence others for good. In the past, I’d not allow another vehicle to slide in but now it’s easy. I often keep a two or three car gap in front of me. I slow down to let other cars squeeze in front of me. Have you noticed; when we’re courteous, others follow? It is a great way to spread joy and kindness and make a positive deposit in others.

Traffic time can be educational. I heard that if we spend one hour listening to CDs or podcasts every day for three years, you can become an expert on the subject. This is really powerful because it has happened to me. I used to listen to music or talk shows on the radio but then I got more intentional about using my time more effectively. I downloaded free teachings and sermons on subjects onto my iPod. Now I learn while I drive. Occasionally, I still rock with U2!

Our roads are treacherous. No matter what motivates you, you must find a way to keep your cool in traffic. When we’re not at peace, we’re more prone to make mistakes. When you’re at peace, you’re powerful. Change your confession about traffic. Stop saying, “I hate traffic.” Here’s the key. What we say has powerful impact on what we experience. Let’s say it with a smile, “I love traffic!” See, it wasn’t too hard was it? The more you say it, the more you’ll believe it. The more you believe, the less traffic will negatively impact you.

Friend, let’s change our attitude! You have a great life. You’re sitting in a comfortable car with your personal space. Be thankful that you have a job to go to or return to your loved ones at home. Be kind and considerate. You can brighten someone’s day by simply allowing them to squeeze in front of you. Smile instead of getting sour and you can change the atmosphere in traffic. When you spend your time praying and learning in traffic, you’ll be the number one rat, in the rat-race of life! Sow kindness and you’ll reap the same. I pray and declare that you’ll never complain about traffic again. Drive safe. Drive happy. Spread a little cheer in your journey!

“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things” (I Corinthians 13:11 NLT).

 

Let’s Change the World: www.buildinternational.org

 

Invite Sandy Anderson to Speak: Email: buildinternational@sbcglobal.net 

 

Stay Inspired: http://www.facebook.com/pages/BUILD-International-Ministries/113937368637778?ref=hl 

 

 

5 Lessons from the Church in China

 

As many of you know, I just returned from another mission trip to China. Every time I go there, I’m amazed at the believers. In spite of severe persecution, opposition, and difficulty, they continue to follow Jesus with their whole heart.

 

While it is not fair to compare the Church in China and the Church in the West, we can learn valuable lessons to improve our own spiritual journey. We don’t have to invite persecution or hardship into our lives, however, we all should be New Testament believers. Here are some of the trademarks of Christianity in China.

 

1. Christians in China are joyful. In spite of severe persecution and limited freedom to worship, believers in China exude this fruit of the Spirit. They travel long distances, sometimes up to three hours one way, to get to a meeting where their civil liberties taken away and even thrown in jail. However, instead of complaining about the tiring journey, the inconvenience of walking, or taking multiple modes of public transportation, they jump right into the praise and worship wholeheartedly.

 

2. They love and care for each other. Unlike our churches in the West, the believers in China are connected with each other. If one doesn’t show up, they all go to that person’s home to make sure they’re ok. When believers come with concerns in their hearts, they’re not hastily sent away by the leaders. They take the time to pray and minister to their needs, both spiritually and physically. We had one sister crying bitterly for the healing of her four-year-old son. I was so touched by the way the whole church responded. They cried with her, hugged her, and made her feel like it was their own child who was sick. Wow, what empathy and compassion! People really don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

 

3. They are a giving church. While China continues to prosper, most people in China are poor. The Christians have even less because of discrimination in the workplace. We went to many homes where they fed us their best, even when it cost them half a month of their salary or more. One lady, with a little cell phone shop, came to us twice and put a substantial amount of cash in our hands. It wasn’t much in American money but to her it was a huge sacrifice. We found that churches often eat together after the service even though it was just rice and wild vegetables and mushrooms from the village. They don’t get hammered every Sunday to bring their tithes and offerings but they give far more than 10% of their income to the church.

 

4. They are grateful. The church in China is quick to give thanks to God for everything. When we gave them your Bibles, they acted like we gave them a brick of gold. Of course, the Word of God is that precious to a believer but they were so thankful that many were kissing the Bibles. One of our teams was intercepted and thankfully everyone was released by the authorities without much hassle. Now the family/church has to relocate because it is not safe anymore. They’re grateful that they’re not in jail! We heard no complaints, only praise.

 

5. They pray. The Church in China doesn’t just talk about prayer but they actually pray. You cannot fall asleep during prayer because after every sentence the whole congregation agrees in unison saying, “Amen.” Often for security, we’d ask the believers to keep their voice down. We’d start off softly but within minutes they were praying at the top of their lungs. It’s wonderful to see their fearless petitions to God and He hears them.

 

While it is not wise to compare cultures and congregations, it is good for us to learn from each other. All these qualities in the Church of China are actually from the Book of Acts. When we love and serve God with our whole heart, our lives and church should reflect the New Testament Church. Today, instead of saying, “Oh that’s good for China,” I want to encourage you to have a closer relationship with our Lord. Let us not just seek His Hand but also His Face. Jesus said, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” When we do, like the Church in China, His blessings will overtake our lives.

 

“When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed” (Jeremiah 29:13 MSG).

 

Let’s Change the World: www.buildinternational.org

 

Invite Sandy Anderson to Speak: Email: buildinternational@sbcglobal.net 

 

Stay Inspired: http://www.facebook.com/pages/BUILD-International-Ministries/113937368637778?ref=hl