How to Pay Off Your Debt

Owing money to your family, friends and financial institutions can keep you from reaching your highest potential. Many today are facing their financial mountain with no practical information to eliminate debt.

While I’m not a financial advisor, we can learn certain principles from the Bible that will help us eliminate our debt in due time. There are things you can do to put things in motion that will allow you to be debt free sooner than you think. Let’s talk about paying off our debt.

Be hopeful. If you are so drowned in debt that you can’t see the daylight, it’s time to find some hope. Be encouraged. There’s light at the end of the tunnel. You can overcome any financial mountain. Don’t just believe in your own strength, hope in God. It doesn’t matter how you got into this mess, the good news is God is here to get you out.

Put your debt on paper. It’s hard to imagine the magnitude of our debt in plastic. Confront your fear and then overcome it. When you put down your debt in paper, it helps you to see the big picture. Itemize every debt line by line. For example, Visa Card $2100, Sears $821, House $150,000, car $12,000. Writing them down will give you a reality check of your total debt. When you write down your debt, you’re ready to create an action plan and eliminate them.

Be disciplined. This is one of the main causes of debt. When we’re living without boundaries, we’re inviting troubles into our lives. One of the greatest strength you can have is to have financial discipline. Just like our emotions, we cannot afford to react to every financial spending that looks attractive. Trust me, the opportunity of a life time will come again. Not every sale that’s out there is for you and me. If you learn to say no now, you’ll enjoy life later.

Pay bills on time – every time. It’s amazing to me how many people do not pay their bills on time. We’re so quick to point our fingers at Washington but personal responsibility begins at home. I’m saying it with a smile! Put your bills on auto pay. Having bills paid online is another smart way to eliminate debt. First pay off your high interest rate debts. Don’t forget to check your monthly statements. Companies make mistakes! Another good habit of paying bills is to have bi-monthly dates on your calendar to write your checks at one time.

Live within your means. The scripture teaches us to be content with what we have. This is not to say you can’t desire for more but if you have 10 don’t spend 12. Life usually has a way of getting worse before it gets better. Say with me, “I can’t afford this right now.” See, it’s not too difficult. Learn to say no to your flesh and God will make you ruler over much.

Develop a Joseph plan. Before the famine hit in Egypt, Joseph charged the whole nation to save 20% of the grain. Today, we call it the emergency fund. If you put 10% or 20% from money that comes into your hand, you’ll have plenty to pay off your mountain of debt. Putting a little aside every month will bring your stress down immensely and give you hope.

Believe God for supernatural provision. You must do your part. You can’t pray every problem away. You have to develop some character. However, after you’ve done everything you can, ask God BOLDLY for His supernatural provision. I have a friend whose 1.2 million dollars hospital bill was forgiven. Yes, our God is still Jehovah Jireh – God our Provider! He loves you greatly. He is with you and He is for you. There is ALWAYS hope in our God. You can eliminate EVERY high mountain of debt. I declare you to be debt free, living in the blessings of God. I’m praying for you!

“God did extraordinary miracles through Paul” (Acts 19:11 NIV).

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Trust in God's Promises

We live in a microwave society. We want everything instantly. If we've prayed for something for three weeks and God hasn't answered our prayers yet, we throw in the towel, looking for greener pasture elsewhere.

God told Abraham that at an appointed time Sarah would bear a son. He told Abraham to look up at the sky and remember the promise. As time went by, their faith began to weaken and eventually they got involved in "helping God out." In spite of their grave mistake, God kept His promise and gave them Isaac!

We face the same problem believing in God's promises. We start off with great faith but when a long time elapses, we become weak in our faith. Today we will discuss trusting in God's promise in times of adversity.

Find your promise in God's Word. If it's in God's Word, you can count on it. God will keep His promise no matter how impossible it looks. Some of God's promises are peace, joy, healing, provision, and salvation. Remind God every day what He has promised. Instead of nagging, brag on His promises to you.

Write down the promise and place them in a prominent place where you can see it every day. Stick it on the mirror, fridge, computer screen, car steering - anywhere that will remind you of His promise. Every time you remember, thank God for bringing it to pass.

Make a point of contact. When I pass a bank, I say under my breath, "Thank you Lord for providing my needs and allowing me to touch the world." When I pass a graveyard I say, "Thank you Lord for satisfying me with a long, healthy life." There are certain dreams in my heart that only God knows. I have pictures of those things on my desk and in my house. When I run into them, I say, "Thank you Lord for satisfying the longing desires of my heart." Put up pictures of what you're believing God for!

Don't be consumed by the promise. If you think you have to have something in order to be happy, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. It is good to believe in God's promise but don't forget to enjoy life in the mean time. Do what you know is right while you're waiting on God's promise. Don't put your life on hold. Live every day as if it was the last day of your life.

Keep a good attitude. When you keep a good attitude while you wait, you'll draw God's attention. That is what Paul and Barnabas did in the prison. After they've been beaten and thrown into a dungeon, they began to sing God's praises in the midnight hour. God sent an earthquake and not only they're set free but the jailor got saved! Friend, when you keep a positive attitude, you'll influence others in their faith.

Do not pull out your seed. When you're waiting on God's promise, do not make the mistake of getting in a hurry and pulling up your seed. Stay committed and connected. Bloom where you are planted. Remain faithful to the things God has given you now. There is a tsunami of breakthrough coming that will catapult you to a new level of God's blessing.

"My word, which comes from my mouth, is like the rain and snow. It will not come back to me without results. It will accomplish whatever I want and achieve whatever I send it to do" (Isaiah 55:11 God's Word).

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You Belong in the Hall of Fame

Deep inside each of us is a desire to be great. It is part of our DNA because we all originate from the Great I AM. That is why we’re always attracted to people who are successful, prosperous and going places. Deep down each of us, there’s a desire to belong in the hall of fame.

A whole generation of people has been told that they’re worthless. Their gifts and talents have been marginalized by well-meaning people. They’ve been given every excuse why they cannot achieve what God put in their heart. Today I’m here to remind you, “You belong in the hall of fame.”

Recently, I came across a song that my kids listen to. It is called “Hall of Fame.” When I heard the lyrics it inspired me. Irish band The Script sings:

“Yeah, you could be the greatest

You can be the best
You can be the king kong banging on your chest

You could beat the world

You could beat the war
You could talk to God, go banging on His door

You can be a master
Don't wait for luck…
Dedicate yourself and you can find yourself

Standing in the hall of fame

And the world’s gonna know your name…”

I don’t necessarily endorse all their songs or the band but in this song The Script is singing what God is saying, “You’ve got what it takes. The seeds of greatness are in you. You can win the race. Hard work, dedication and due diligence will pay off. You belong in the highest class. You’re a born champion. You must believe in God. You must believe in yourself. You are designed to leave your mark in this world. You belong to God’s hall of fame.”

One thing that keeps us from the hall of fame is our past failures and shame. I cannot explain how many talented people are held up in their past. Here’s what I’ve learned: Failure is temporary unless you refuse to stand up one more time.I say this respectfully, but no matter what happened to you, God has paid the price for your failure. If you’re struggling with the shame of the past or even the present, listen to what God has to say, “Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours” (Isaiah 61:7 NLT).

Friend, you belong in the hall of fame! You need two things – desire and dedication. The Scripture says, God will satisfy our longing desire. No one can make you desire what you want in life. Dedication is putting due diligence behind your faith. Only you decide how high you want to go with God. You can overcome lingering sickness. You can defeat addiction. You can beat unemployment. You can have your marriage restored. You can send your son to a private school. With God, ALL things are possible. When you have a longing desire, you will take corresponding action. Perseverance always pays off. Take that online course. Write the first chapter of your book. Open a savings account. Ask for the business. Get a passport. Pray for someone to be healed. Apply for your dream job. What am I saying? You belong in the hall of fame!

You’ve got what it takes. Your business will flourish again. God has the right connections lined up for you. He has the right person waiting for you. We can spread the message of Hope. One day when this short life is over you’ll be standing in the hall of fame and the world’s gonna know your name.

“I will make you a great nation and bless you. I’ll make you famous; you’ll be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2 The Message).

Check out Hall of Fame: http://youtu.be/mk48xRzuNvA

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Becoming God’s Pet

Recently my kids got three kittens. Don’t ask me why but somehow they convinced me. I must have had a moment of insanity. I’m a dog lover but these three furry balls have interrupted our lives with joy.

All three of them are the cutest you’ve ever seen. They run around, play and take cat-naps. Each of them has excellent personality and they’re adorable. When I walk to another room they follow. All of you cat lovers raise your paw if you know what I’m talking about.

I don’t like to play favorites but Cloud has got my attention. While Rue and Fang entertain us all the time Cloud will make sure to connect with me in regular intervals. In the middle of whatever they’re doing, Cloud will come by and rub its fur against me. It will cuddle next to my feet or on the couch. It will climb straight up my chest and almost try to kiss me. Don’t tell this to my kids but Cloud has got to be my favorite because she acknowledges me throughout the day. She has my favor and attention.

We all have heard about being the teacher’s pet but what does it mean to be God’s pet? I know it doesn’t sound very theological so take it in the right sense of the way: we’re all God’s pets. He loves us. He takes care of us. He feeds us and provides for our family. One thing God craves in return is our love, devotion and solidarity with Him. He has innumerable angels who worship Him like robots but God is pleased when we worship Him out of our own free will. Just like our kitten Cloud, in order to be God’s favorite, we must do three things.

Enjoy life. Nothing makes me happy to see these cats playing around. Our God is the same way. You may be in a place where you cannot see much into the future but don’t lose your song. Enjoy what God has given you. Express your passion for life. Don’t forget to make the most of what God has given you. God loves to see your cheerful countenance. He loves to see you be joyful and free. We’re created for His pleasure and He loves our smiles regardless of what we’re facing in life.

Focus on what’s right with you. Many of us are so trained to think on our faults that we seldom remember what’s right with us. We know God’s going to judge us for our wrongs but have you ever considered God’s going to reward us for the things we do right? The Bible says God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. When you take time to thank God for His blessings, provision, protection and prestige you put a smile on His face. When we take a bold approach toward God as our loving Father, we gain confidence toward Him and tap into heavens full support.

Hang around God. Mary and Martha the two sisters who loved and served Jesus, reminds us that it’s better to sit with God than to be busy for God. Martha was busy serving while Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.” This may not look fair in the human eye but God is more impressed with our presence than our penance. God doesn’t have favorites but if you want to grab His attention, acknowledge Him in everything you do. Involve Him in your decision making process. Remind Him of His promises. Say a quick thank you for what He did 15 years ago. Listen to a praise song and sing along to God with your grateful heart. Return to God what belongs to Him with your tithes, time and talent. Focus on God’s goodness and what’s going right with you. Spread some cheers. Just like our cat Cloud, when you hang around God, His favor will find you.

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6 NAS).

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Reaching China with the Gospel

Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.” It was His last command before He ascended to heaven with a promise to return and take us home. The first century Church thrived with the vision to spread the Gospel because they’re the first generation carrier of the vision they’d received from the Master first hand.

As time went by Christians began to put the Great Commission in the back burner. Thank God that someone was faithful to keep the message spreading. Aren’t you glad that someone preached the Gospel to you?

No matter where we live it is hard to imagine that there’s a world out there that needs to hear about our Lord. Today, we want to talk about China because on July 18, 2013 we’re launching our next mission trip there. It is my hope and desire to create an interest in you to learn what God is doing in China.

As many of you know, China has the largest population on earth with almost 1.3 billion people. That means one out of every seven people in the world is Chinese! In spite of China’s recent economic success, the people have suffered invasion, injustice and intolerance for centuries. Under Mao’s 1949 Cultural Revolution a staggering 60-80 million Chinese people died. They have suffered long and hard in the hands of their own leaders. The situation is much better now compared to before but still there is human rights violation in every part of China.

China is a great country and her people are even more intriguing. The Chinese people in mainland China is nothing like you’ve experienced anywhere else in the world. They’re extremely hospitable, sincere and kind to the outsiders. Yes, at times they’re suspicious but who wouldn’t be if you’ve been dominated by foreign intruders for centuries. There are many social problems in China today, corruption being one of them. However, when you get to know them personally, you’ll know the beauty in their heart. They’re some of the kindest people you’d ever meet.

Christians around the world know very little about God’s work in China. Because it is a restricted-access nation, not many Christian go to China and not much Christian news come out of the country. I’ve been working there for the last 27 years! The communist tried to kill God in China but He is very much alive in this great nation. Did you know 25,000 people accept Christ every day? Researchers are saying that there are more than 130 million believers in China.

Most of the Chinese believers are first generation Christians. Many of them come from secular or Buddhist background. Like most parts in Asia, when someone accepts Christ in China, they’re often looked down or kicked out of their family. Often they’re harassed at work and denied promotion. Although there is freedom of religion in paper, in application there’s a lot of oppression and even persecution and imprisonment for Christian. China’s Church is a persecuted Church.

We’re going back to China on July 18, 2013 to share the love of Christ with them. One of the greatest needs in China’s Church is encouragement for the leaders. We will conduct leadership training in several locations empowering the pastors and leaders. Another goal we have is to distribute 5,000 Bibles to the poor Christians in China’s country side. They don’t have means or access to a Bible like in the city. A Bible we give away costs only $3 each. Most of all, we will be praying for our brothers and sisters in China. Today, will you please consider reaching China with the Gospel? Please take a moment to click on the link below.

Click here to help China’s persecuted. https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/cWztb

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Follow Your Dream

We’ve all heard people say, “Whatever you can dream, you can have.” While we desperately want to believe that it feels more like fleeting fable than a reality for most.  As a kid what starts out as dreams often gets drowned and pushed aside by our experience in life.

I have many friends right now who have lived a robust life and seen tremendous success in their lives. They have been very fruitful in their career. They have topped the corporate world but yet they’re not fulfilled. Something inside of them cries out for more. They have had success but now they want significance. So how do we find and follow our dream?

The first step to achieving your dream is to have one! The best place to find a dream is in the heart of God. The dreams that originate from heaven are the easiest to fulfill on earth! If you have not been convinced by God what your dream may be you’ll be easily talked out of your dream by well-meaning friends and family members. Find your dream and believe in it.

A real dream takes real faith. If you can achieve your dream by yourself, you’re thinking too small. The only dream worth having is a God-size dream. You have to envision your dream before you can actually live in it. When I was in college I’d never flown out of my country in a jet. I’d never travelled internationally. I remember sitting in economics classes drawing the logos of Pan Am, SAS and British Airways. I saw myself flying across the world. At the time I was so broke that I didn’t even have a dime in my pocket. But I never lost the passion to doodle airline logos. Today I can humbly say that I’ve traveled to over forty countries ministering to people and counting. Faith is to live in tomorrow while it’s today! Visualize your dream.

If you want to follow a dream expect some turbulence. Joseph had a dream and it came from the heart of God. Joseph didn’t just go from his dream to his destiny. In between, Joseph encountered some very unpleasant things. He went from being thrown into the pit to being sold as a slave to the prison and finally to his palace. You too will encounter some resistance between your pit and the palace. Don’t be discouraged. Keep your eyes on the dream. Keep your integrity. God has said it and He will help you get there.

In the pursuit of your dreams, you’ll have to overcome many excuses. One of the main obstacles you have to overcome is procrastination. One of the biggest lies you’ll have to deal with is the time is not right. Don’t wait for a more opportune time. If you want to see your dream come true, you have to take small steps right now. If you want to be free of $10,000 debt, don’t wait until you win a lottery or for the IRS to send you a check. Discipline yourself and decide to take at least 10% of every paycheck right off the top and start paying off your debt.

Find your genius club. It takes one person to dream a dream and thousands to fulfill it. When God gives you a dream, it always supersedes your own capacity. If you want to see your dream come to pass, surround yourself with people who believe in you. Follow people who are already there where you want to go. Ask them to be your mentor. You’ll meet dream-killers along the way but if you surround yourself with dream releasers you’ll make it to the top.

I believe God has put a dream in your heart that is about to give birth. Like Joseph, you will go from your pit to your palace. Like me you will fly high in the sky. You’re made for more. God is stirring you up so that He can fulfill the dreams He put inside you. Now is the time, this is the moment. A Chinese proverb says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Follow your dream and God will help you fulfill it.

"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions” (Joel 2:28 NIV).

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7 Secrets to Effective Communication

Everyone communicates but the champions in life are those who master the keys to communication. I’ve been a lifelong learner of communication and spent hundreds of hours on this subject. I believe today’s discussion will propel you to a new level.

People communicate in different ways. When women say, “I’ve no clothes to wear,” they’re saying, “I have no new clothes to wear.” When men say the same thing, they mean, “I have no clean clothes to wear.” Same sentence different meaning. Here are seven secrets to effective communication.

Value the person. When we value the person in front of us, we’re honoring God. We’re all created in the image of God. We’re all valuable. When we value someone we’ll treat them with respect and interact in appropriate manner. We don’t have to have long drawn conversations but we don’t have to be sharp, abrupt and rude either.

Take genuine interest in people. When you’re getting to know a person, it’s easy to get lost. Many people don’t have a clue what to talk about in a social gathering. When you’re lost for words, ask about F R A N K. Ask about their friends, relatives, associates, neighbors and kids. These are pretty general conversation starters but once you get going taking interest about them they’ll talk forever. You may never get to talk about your product but that’s ok. It will always come back to you. The more people talk about themselves the more valuable and important they feel.

Focus. One of the greatest ways you can show value to someone is to give them your undivided attention. We live in a technology driven world. The phone is ringing, text is buzzing and social media is sending you notifications. If you want to add real value to someone, give them your focused attention. Turn off the cell phone. Don’t stare at your computer screen. Lift your head up from your desk, look people in the eye and give them your focused attention. In a group setting, don’t always look over people’s shoulders hunting for a higher net worth person. Honor the person in front of you and God will honor you.

Be a good listener. It is the most important communication skill you can ever learn. When you’re a good listener, you will learn a great deal about the other person. Being a good listener is a balancing act. When the other person is talking, lean forward, clasp your hands and put them under your chin. Look them in the eye/forehead area but don’t stare. Make approving comments, “I see, aha, wow, really etc.” Try not to interrupt too frequently. Don’t hijack the conversation with your own story to tell. Oh there is so much more…

Give advance notice. It will not only prepare the other person but it will give them a chance to participate more intelligently. If you’re going to take some time, be polite and ask, “Is this a good time to talk for a couple of minutes?” Or “I need to talk to you about something. When is a good time?” This is especially important if you’re calling people on the phone.

Be a person of value. Everybody loves a resource person. Be a connector and a door opener. People always left Jesus feeling better about themselves. That’s what we must also do. Give people hope. Keep it positive. Lift them up from their pit. Check your phone and introduce them to someone they’ll benefit from. Give a recommendation. Invite them to your circle of friends and groups. What you do for others, God will make happen for you.

Pray for people. You’ll be surprised how many people will allow you to pray for them if you simply ask. Prayer is the most valuable thing you can do for others. When you pray, God hears and He answers your prayers. You can have no better communication than to talk to the Creator of the universe. Don’t just pray for people pray with them.

Friend, today I challenge you to become a life long student of communication. The better we communicate the more influence we can have in our world. Learn, improve and get better. Good communicators rule the world!

“The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry” (Proverbs 25:11).

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Fight for Your Beans

Are you tired of fighting and feel like giving up? Are you in a place of long drawn out battle? Have you stood in faith for a long time and see no result? If you feel this way, you’re not alone. Life is a fight and we’re in it by default.

Before you give out a sigh let me tell you this, we’re in a fixed fight. We win. We have to put on our gears and show up at the rink of life but the match has already been won. No matter what our circumstances are God has already won the victory. You say, “Oh yea, so why are we suffering here on earth?” There could be varieties of reasons and I feel bad for your lack of fortune but God has already made a provision for our situation long before it ever became a problem. Everything facing you today is subject to change.

Among David's mighty men were highly trained soldiers who fought in his victories. Among these men were three who served as David's personal bodyguards. These men and their exploits are described in 2 Samuel 23. One of these men was Shammah.

The Bible tells us that the Philistines attacked the people of God. When the enemy came, Israeli soldiers ran away - all except Shammah! He took his stand in the middle of the field and defended his beans. The Lord brought about a great victory because Shammah didn’t cower down and had the courage to fight for what was his.

Anything of value in life will come under attack and you’ll have to fight for it. Most people I know are peacemakers. We don’t like conflict. We want to be left alone, living in peace. That is a healthy way to live. However, there also needs to be in each of us a warrior and a resolve to fight. If we don’t have this warrior mentality, we’ll easily roll over and give up our God given rights to the enemy’s threats. While we’re to live in peace, we’re never to let our guards down and allow the enemy to steal our joy, family, finances, health and our wealth. Jesus said, the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy but I have come to give you life and abundance of it. Don’t get our God mixed up with the enemy!

If you want to live in peace, you have to learn to fight. I’m not talking about physical fight but a spiritual fight. The enemy wants to steal from us what God wants to get to us. The spiritual and the natural are in constant fight. But don’t be discouraged. Jesus our big brother has already won the victory. Now you just have to declare victory over your situation with the Word of God.

If you’re sick, you have to declare, “By the stripes of Jesus, I’m healed.” If you’re lacking financially, you have to announce, “My God will supply all my needs according to His riches.” If you’re troubled emotionally, say, “I’m His beloved and He is mine. He understands how I feel. He will never leave me or forsake me.” No matter what battles you may be facing, remember, you’re in a fixed fight. Be bold and very courageous. The enemy is only a roaring lion. Jesus is the Lion of Judah with the bite!

Next time you’re tempted to think this battle is going to take you down, remind the enemy of his defeat on the Cross. The situation may look bad, you maybe outnumbered, the economy may look bad but the good news is God is still on the Throne and He is on your side. He that is for you is much more than he that is against you. Fight for your beans! You’re in it to win it.

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you” (Luke 10:19 ESV).

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You Have a History with God

Yesterday, my friend was distraught. He was in great stress. He felt he’d let himself, his family and God down. He’d made some mistakes but in the midst of his calamity, he’d forgotten all the things he had done right.

When we’re discouraged, we tend to forget all the things that are going right with us. We forget our past accomplishment and things that we’ve done right. We forget that the Bible says that our future will get brighter and brighter. A temporary setback does not define who we are but our history with God does.

We all have areas in our lives to improve. None of us have arrived. You may still have a long way to go but don’t forget to stop and look how far you’ve come. When you look at your past victories, you’ll have faith in God for your coming exploits. Don’t get bogged down with how far you have to go, just keep going and do the best you can. When we take time to approve ourselves, we will fuel our future victories.

The key to your future success is not to be affected by your past failures. Successful people are those who get up one more time, hold on to their faith a little longer and looks at God’s promise one more time. The greatest men of faith in the Bible made glaring mistakes. You have to understand that it’s not your “doing” that attracts God but it’s the humility of our hearts that gets God’s attention.

Like I told my friend, look at all the things you’ve done right. You took care of your family. You spent time with your children. You went to work without complaining (Ok maybe a little bit)! You put up with your micro-manager boss, you volunteered, you prayed, gave your tithes and offerings, helped a neighbor, said kind words to a stranger – the list goes on and on. I’m not suggesting let your good outweigh the bad philosophy. The Bible says, when we humble ourselves and confess our sins God doesn’t remember them anymore. The biggest key on God’s computer is the delete button. Don’t torment yourself one more hour that have happened in the past.

When you’ve fallen short of His grace the best thing you can do is plead guilty, ask for forgiveness and move on. Remind God that you have a history with Him. Thank Him for the times He came through for you in the past. Remind Him about the time He healed your child. Tell Him how you got into your first house. Recall how He delivered you from a legal situation. God loves history. He honors the fact that you’ve been faithful and loyal to Him. The scripture says, come let us reason together – He is inviting us to remind ourselves all the times He came through for us.

I have three children. I consider myself to be a good father. I’m a little biased but my kids are the best in the world! I tell them that every day. They’re close but not as perfect as their dad! They’re growing. At times they make mistakes. No matter how wrong they are one thing they all know, as soon as they ask for forgiveness, they’re clear with me. I don’t bring up their mistakes and they don’t remember what they did wrong. Our Father in heaven is much better than any earthly father. God is not looking for you to make a mistake so He can punish you; He is looking for you to do something right so that He can bless you. Don’t punish yourself. Accept God’s free gift of grace and mercy. Sin no more! Get on with your life and enjoy what God has in store for you. Don’t look at your flaws look at your strengths. Your value has not diminished. You have a history with God.

If you haven’t heard it lately, know that you’re loved and celebrated. Shake off the dust of your past. Rectify your wrongs and move on. You’re bigger than your mistakes! You’re going to go places you’ve not imagined. God is not only with you, He is for you. I believe in you! God believes in you. Now you must believe in yourself. I know you will.

“Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me” (Psalm 27:10 NIV).

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Keep Your Joy

June is the month of JOY. However, we won’t have joy unless we’re intentional about it. The enemy knows the powerful force of joy therefore he will try everything to steal our joy. He will even use people who are close to us to rob our joy.

Often we use joy and happiness as interchangeable words. But there’s a major difference in these two words. Happiness is defined by our circumstances – what’s going on around us determines our level of happiness. Joy is a gift of the spirit. It’s an inside job that affects our outside world!

One way we can keep our joy is to identify our “joy-stealer” buttons. We all have areas in our lives that push our button. Maybe it’s the traffic. Maybe it’s customer complaints or making cold calls. Maybe it’s certain individual or even a family member. I used to have a friend who always made me feel like I wasn’t doing enough for him. He had a good heart to help others. But for some reason, he was always sarcastic how I wasn’t calling him enough or meet with him. I did my very best trying to please him but there came a time when it was stealing my joy. It is not our job to keep everybody happy. I had to turn him over to God and move on. What/who is your joy-stealer? Identify them and then try to get rid of that.

Some of you live and work with difficult people. I’m not suggesting you get rid of them. In these situations, you can pray for God’s grace to be sufficient for you. Overdose on the positive before and after you deal with them. I’ve found that most of the time when we’re caught in these situations, God is putting things in motion to take us to a higher level. New level; new devil! He’s trying to make us immune to negative people. Don’t be mad. Be glad. God is trying to promote you.

Another way you can keep your joy is not to focus on negative communications. A phone call, email, FB comment or a face to face confrontation can steal our joy. Don’t let that happen to you. When you meditate on a negative phone call, email message or a conversation, you let that person have control over you again and again. Resist the urge to play that phone call in your mind over and over. Don’t read that email or comment twice. Learn to shake off the negative and move on to the positive. This was such a hard lesson for me but I’m getting better. You can too! Keep away from anything that is draining your time, effort, energy and joy on a regular basis.

In order to keep your joy you have to have a relaxed, easy-going attitude. The more uptight we are the more easily we get irritable. When we live a stressful life – packing our schedule with appointments, procrastinating, being undisciplined we’ll lose our joy quickly. Let’s build better habits. Get up each morning and pray, “No matter what or who comes my way, I’m going to enjoy this day. So help me God!” Sometimes, all it takes is an attitude adjustment on our part to keep our joy.

What to do when we’re tempted to lose our joy because of our faith? This happened to Paul and many other people today. Paul was in house arrest when he wrote to the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Friend, if Paul can rejoice after all that he suffered for the Gospel, so can we. The Lord says, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

Friend, joy is a powerful force. When you have joy in your heart, don’t forget to inform your face. Have a cheerful countenance. Shake off the criticisms. Overdose on God’s grace. Be an easy-going person. Be filled with the Holy Spirit so that JOY can burst out of you to touch, influence and change your world. I’m praying for you!

“You give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity” (Psalm 94:13 AMP).

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Making Sacrifices to God

Sacrifice is not a word we hear much these days. We’re accustomed to comfort, good life and blessings. While we shouldn’t invite anything other than these, if we want to please God, there will be times we have to make sacrifices.

The definition of sacrifice is an act of slaughtering an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to God. Sacrifice has been there from the fall of Adam and it is continued in the New Testament with Jesus being our ultimate sacrifice. What does it mean to sacrifice unto God? Today we can learn about three ways we can make sacrifice that releases great blessings.

God loves the sacrifice of a broken heart. Just like the Israelites, we don’t do very well remembering God when everything is going good. We’re stubborn and even arrogant when God wants to deal with the sins in our lives. We can go on pretending everything is alright or like King David, we can humble ourselves and offer the sacrifice of our broken heart to God. When we surrender to God, we’re setting ourselves up for God-size victories.

I can’t help but think of the Pharisee who prayed announcing his righteousness and looking down on the sinful tax collector. But when the tax collector prayed, he begged for forgiveness and mercy. God heard him. Jesus said, “All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Another way we can sacrifice to God is through praise and worship. We don’t always feel like expressing our gratitude to God. In fact, sometimes life is hard to get along with. There’s always something that seems to steal from us. When we take time to offer our thanksgiving to God, we make Him proud. No matter how dark situation you’re going through right now, find something to thank God for. Remember your salvation, healing and the way God blessed you with a spouse, family and a job. Most likely, everything you have today was a miracle from God once. Thank God for what He has done!

We can offer sacrifice through our giving. We’re so programed to fend for ourselves that we seldom remember how we can be a blessing to others. God wants us to live with an open heart. He wants us to sacrifice in our giving. When we give financially we’re making God happy. When we’re praying for people going through a rough patch, we’re making Him smile. When we want to give someone a piece of our mind and we restrain ourselves, we’re making a sacrifice unto God. When we’re going to church, being our best, serving our family, we’re offering sacrifices unto our Lord.

Friends, making sacrifices unto God is a powerful tool. In China, India and many other parts of the world, people are making tremendous sacrifices to follow Christ and spread His message of Hope. Many are beaten, tortured and even murdered. But our brothers and sisters sacrifice daily to please our Master. Shall we also not make sacrifices when the Lord prompts us to help others?

In Mark 10:17-27, the rich young ruler in the Bible had done everything right by the book. Jesus asked him to sell off his possessions and give it to the poor. Like some of us, this man had a heart issue. He didn’t want to sacrifice his possession to save his soul. Friend, let us offer Him the sacrifice of our broken heart. God is pleased with the sacrifice of our praise and worship. He loves a cheerful giver who is willing to sacrifice his possessions. God is calling us to sacrifice to reach the world. What would you sacrifice unto our God? The blessing of a sacrifice is a reward of an eternal harvest.

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (I Peter 2:5 NIV).

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20 Facebook Etiquettes (Part II)

Yesterday, we started talking about Facebook etiquettes that I shared with my 15-year-old daughter to make her online experience more enjoyable. What we say, how we say, when we say and whom we say what we say are very crucial. We can impact a lot of lives simply by being a little cautious before we bare our minds to the world. Here are a few more tips that might help you…

11. Engage. Be generous with your “likes, comments and share” Just like you, people are looking for approval. When you “like” you’re saying, “I believe in you. I agree with your feelings. I endorse your thoughts, work and hobby.”

12. Talk to the wall! Write on your friends’ wall, simply to check on them or encourage them. My friend Jay is excellent with that. Wish people Happy Birthday and engage with their interests. Post a link on what they’re interested in.

13. Promote a Godly cause to help someone. FB is a powerful platform. People take notice what you say from your “pulpit.” Use your platform to influence and empower others. Yesterday, I put out a request to help a family who lost a young boy in a tragic accident. Only an hour later, a good friend of mine fulfilled that need. You can touch lives simply by sharing a good cause. On that note, please don’t forget to like and endorse Build International Ministries. Thank you!

14. Keep it positive. Criticism doesn’t work. People do more of what we brag about and less of what we nag about. Do not criticize authority, management or the government. One day you and your decedents will be in the position of authority. Don’t sabotage your/their future. You’ll never attain what you criticize others for. If you’re not directly responsible, leave it alone. Prayer will do more than our criticism. Use the same effort and energy to do what God has called you to do. Remember, you have limited resources – especially time.

15. Post pictures. Start with your own profile. You’re on social media! A picture is worth a thousand words! Occasionally post pictures of good times with your friends, family and places you’ve been to. Highlight your friends and their interest. Like their photos – especially their kids. Parents love to show off their kids. When we engage with their posts, we’re empowering the parents.

16. Share a wholesome song or a video that you like. Quote, Bible verses and inspirations are great also but use them sparingly.

17. Set a time limit per day/week to be on social media. Avoid the temptation to mindlessly browse endless hours. Share your thoughts, read what others have to say and get offline and get on with your life. This is a communications tool not a chat room.

18. Learn to ignore. This is difficult with people with strong values. When we engage with comments we don’t agree with we’re wasting our valuable, limited resources on trying to make everyone think like us. They have other things to say where you can make a positive deposit. Don’t get drawn into conflict. Walk away.

19. Do not accept games request. Please don’t send them to others either. You’ll lose friends faster than you think. It’s considered spam. It irritates people.

20. Friend people you know. Accept friend requests from people you know or a trusted source. Don’t get hooked on the numbers game. Most people who have thousands of friends online have very few real life relationships where it counts the most. Get off online and build offline relationships.

Friends, I hope you’ll get at least one thing that might be helpful to you. I appreciate all the “shares” yesterday. Yes, if we like, share, influence and educate others we have a potential to impact a billion people who are on Facebook and other social media. I “like” you!

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4 ESV).

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