A Tribute To My Dad

My Dad – A Man Who Changed the World through Prayer!

This is how I’d like to introduce and remember my father for the rest of my life. I spent a day and a half and had a wonderful visit with him on our recent mission trip to India. Even though he was getting frail, he lived a fully functional life. On April 9, 2016, I got the dreaded call from my eldest brother, Pat. Our father had taken his last breath on earth and his first in heaven! My Dad had been promoted to glory. 

His life was filled with highs and lows. My father was born in the early thirties to a poor family in a village in India. In order to support his family, he had to drop out of school in seventh grade. He was around twenty-years-old when he married my mother who was about sixteen years of age. Life was a short-lived bliss and they had four boys. Suddenly, when I was one, my mother passed away. Dad loved mom and almost always had tears in his eyes while talking about her for the rest of his life.

He didn’t surrender to struggles. Shell-shocked, dad took up on an offer by a Methodist orphanage to send his four boys there. The earliest memory I have of my father is that he came to visit us on the limited days parents were allowed to meet. He couldn’t give us much but even a pack of cookies was received with great joy. Sitting on his lap and hugs were a rare treat but they were greatly appreciated and anticipated. 

He was a gentleman. After graduating from high school, my brothers and I were in search of our identity. I was fresh out of college and I had just moved to Nepal along with my two brothers, Neil and Guine. My father had made the treacherous journey to come with a village friend to meet us. We were young and dumb — who put him back on the bus the next day. We were so focused on our lives that we didn’t appreciate his visit. He obliged and traveled back to India. Dad never resented it. I never saw him getting mad at anybody.

He was a small town man with a big world view. Even in his advance years, he read the newspaper front to back. Once, we relocated him from the village to New Delhi — the big, capital city of India. He missed his social connections in the village so after about three months we moved him back to his native village. In the years to come, Dad traveled the world to spend time with us but he always went back to the village.

He loved construction. My father was a visionary. Whether it was to build our brick house (in place of the mud house), the local church (biggest building in his village), or anybody else’s building project — he loved to direct and supervise construction.

He was a leader in his community. Poorly educated but highly gifted in his talent to connect with people. When he was able, he would walk to the market every day. There he chatted with the people and enquired about their well-being while sipping on a cup of tea. Whenever he had money, he’d help those in need. He was loved and well respected by his community.

He was a man of prayer. My father didn’t say a lot but he made it up in prayers. He didn’t pray in public but often he would wake up between 3 and 5AM and pray to God to use his four boys for His purpose. Sitting in a mud house under a thatched roof, it didn’t seem possible but he didn’t consider what he saw in the natural. I say this to the glory of God, thirty years later all four of his boys are serving the Lord. Together, we’ve traveled to more than 150 countries and preached to millions of people. Over thirty of our extended family members are serving the Lord because of the answer to my Dad’s prayers. 

Friend, if you have a living parent, don’t take them for granted. Give them a call. Celebrate their lives while they’re still with you. Let them know how much you appreciate them. Put it on your schedule to spend time with them or else you’ll never find time for it. In the Ten Commandments, there’s only one that comes with a promise in return – "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you” (Exodus20:12 NLT). Friends, let us love, respect, and honor our parents. They’re the reason, we’re here.

I love and miss you, Dad!

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When Nothing Seems to be Happening

“So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up” (Galatians 6:9 NLT)

None of us like to wait. We want fast, if not immediate, results. Many people struggle when they do the right thing and don’t see the desired result. If a drought lasts for a long time, it can easily squeeze the life out of us. The good news is that everything can change instantly.

One touch of God’s favor blowing in your direction can do more for you than what you can do on your own in a lifetime. The challenge is to stay hopeful in trusting God when things are going slow.

Just because you don’t see any progress doesn’t mean there isn’t any. If God was to pull back the curtains and let you take a peek at what’s happening in the background, you would be amazed. Many people quit just before the major breakthrough is about to take place.

What to do when nothing seems to be happening?

Pass the discouragement test. One of the main things you have to battle is mental fatigue. When we begin to lose hope, it’s hard to stay pumped up. No matter how dark it looks, you have to have an internal dialogue and belief that things are going to change today.

We can learn a lot from a farmer. If he decides to gather a barn full of corn, he doesn’t just hope, pray, and expect the corn to appear miraculously. He does what he has to. A farmer prepares the ground, plants the seeds, waters, nurtures, and waits for the right time to harvest the corn. He doesn’t go back the day after and dig out the seed because it has not produced yet. He’s confident in the seed, the soil, and the law of sowing and reaping. He’s secure that his labor will bring forth much fruit.

In the same way, when you’re in a slow season, keep putting seeds on the ground faithfully – make those follow up calls, take your family to church, stand believing for your healing, attend the local chamber of commerce, and keep working on the marriage. Keep doing what you know. If you do the right thing long enough, you will reap your reward. 

Keep the right company. You should never hang around with naysayers. It will kill your spirit faster than the venom of a cobra. It is especially important while you’re waiting that you associate with faith-filled people. Anybody can tell you why it won’t work; you need to hear how God is going to turn things around. Feed on the positive. Overdose on God’s promises for your problem. Bad company corrupts good manners. The opposite is also true.

Lastly, have an attitude of gratitude. If God has done it once, He will do it again. Most criminals are repeat offenders. At times, that’s all they know. In some ways, they don’t know any better. They can’t help themselves. They know the system.

God is like a criminal. Ok, I better clarify that. Unlike doing wrong, God can only do what’s right. God has a track record of doing the best for you. That’s all He can do and will do.

God cannot but help you, bless you, empower you, open doors for you, and propel you to your next level of victory. You need to know how God's laws work by studying the Word.

Friend, you are His masterpiece. You are His pride and joy. You’re His fatal attraction. He’s fascinated and even intoxicated by you and your success. Don’t mix up the devil and God. The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy but Jesus has come to give us life and an abundance of it.

 

This is your time. This is your moment of favor and breakthrough. Tag, you’re it to receive God’s abundant favor, mercy, healing, and prosperity. Let’s get our hopes up. Let’s pitch our tent in the land of hope. Cast away the loss, the sadness, depression, discouragement, and disappointments. It’s a new day to experience God’s love and mercy. I pray and declare: you’re about to come into your promised land. I love you and I’m praying for you and your good success.

 

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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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Be a Friend of God

Many of us know God as our Creator, Savior, Judge, Father and so on. It is good to give him due respect and reverence for all that He is. One of the greatest ways we can know God is as a friend. This is an incredible privilege!

Recently in my home, we’re learning about being a friend of God. My children and I are having a lot of great discussions. Today, I’ll share a few thoughts about knowing God as our friend.

Friendship with God brings us to the even field. When we’re friend with someone, we’re blind to their social, economic or spiritual status. We relate to them just the way they are. We accept their good, bad and the ugly. Good friends don't keep track of each other’s wrongs. Neither does God. It should give us great confidence to know that God loves and accepts us just the way we are. He’s not expecting us to come up to His “standards” before He can be our friend. We have to just accept His friendship.

Friendship with God means we can talk about anything. Friendship between two people breaks down every barrier. We feel safe talking to friends about our deepest secrets and desires. We don’t have to worry about being misunderstood. We can have real conversations. When we’re friends with God, we can talk to Him when life is easy, and we can talk to him when life is hard. He understands our deepest emotions. He feels for our sadness, despair, dreams and hopes. He can handle when we’re upset and angry. We must also take time to hear and understand God’s heart.

Friendship with God is a two way street. Best friendships are those that are based on giving and receiving. If we’re the ones always asking, requesting and getting stuff from God then our friendship is warped. You cannot expect to have a healthy friendship if you’re always on the receiving end. When we love God as a friend, we take interest in the things that touches His heart. In the center of God’s heart is to bring the Good News to the poor. He wants to heal the broken hearted. He wants to set the captives free. He wants to bring liberty to the oppressed. Luke 4:18. When we get involved in these activities, we’re strengthening our friendship with God.

Friendship with God requires that we spend time with Him. When we value a friendship, we make time for that relationship. We spend at least eight hours a day because we value our job and business. What about our relationship with God? How much effort do we make to connect with him throughout the day? I can’t sit still in one place for too long. I don’t pray two hours every day. I pray to God frequently. They are normally short interactions. I don’t always ask for stuff from God. Most of my personal time with God is spent on expressing my worship to Him. I’m thankful for our friendship. I verbalize my gratitude to God out loud all the time. You too can strengthen your friendship with God by simply spending time with Him.

Friendship with God means we make sacrifices and give gifts. How many times has a friend called us in the most inconvenient time, and we still make ourselves available to him? If we’re to be close friends with God, we have to make some sacrifices. We have to say no to our flesh. We have to be proactive in doing what’s right in things that please God. Giving a gift of our loyalty to God will enhance our friendship. When we trust God in the darkest situation, our friendship is concrete. Let’s not just ask what God can do for us; let’s also focus on what we can do for Him.

It is an awesome privilege to be a friend of God. Let’s not take our friendship for granted. Let’s invest in the most important friendships of our lives by reaching out to God. His friendship is always motivated by love. He accepts us just the way we are but He loves us too much to leave us the way we are. Let’s be better friends with God. He calls us friend!

“I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me” (John 15:15 NLT).

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Pay It Forward

Most of the time we’re so focused with our own lives that we don’t have the time to think about others. Life is a cycle. What we do for others God will make sure to do for us. When we help those in need, we’re depositing into our own future.

Today, my friend Tyler is hosting his second Pay It Forward event. It will benefit several charities including Build International Ministries. For those of you who know Tyler, you know about his Texas-size heart. He is an exceptional chef but his real mission in life is to help people and expand God’s Kingdom on earth. Every time I talk to him, he’s got a people project on his mind. He’s an outward focused young man of God. Today he’s making history by paying it forward by hosting this fundraiser event. Everybody say, “God bless Tyler!”

One of the greatest hindrances to helping people is to think we don’t have what others need. We look at our time, talent and treasure and nod our heads in despair. I’ve learnt, instead of looking at what we don’t have and giving up, a better approach is to look to God and let him orchestrate our means to help others. First the decision and then comes the provision.

This is what happened to my friend Tyler. He had been sharing with some mutual friends of ours to become the title sponsor for today’s Pay It Forward event. When he approached our friends they were very open and willing to help. They’re some of the most generous people. But they have their limits too. The lady said they’ll help if God brought some extra funds into their hands. As Tyler was sitting in her office a white envelop slipped out of her drawer. She had been looking for that envelop for a long time but she couldn’t find it. She had prayed, “Lord, if you help me find it, I’ll bless someone with it.”  Inside was the exact amount Tyler had requested for them to be the title sponsor! God made sure to provide for Tyler and our friends when they made a decision to help those in need.

I heard a story about strangers paying it forward to buy coffee and pastries at Starbucks. It started with just one customer paying for the person behind him. The next customer was so impressed and thankful that he wanted to do the same. The next customer did the same thing. An unbroken chain of forty seven customers paid it forward for the person coming after them. One customer paid for six drinks in the van after him! Helping people is inspiring and contagious. This is why I’ve dedicated my life to helping others. For the last twenty seven years, thousands of people have given their time, talent and treasure to impact eternity. I’m so grateful to YOU and the lives we’re able to change.

When you become outward focus, God becomes laser focused on you and your own need. It doesn’t have to be money. One of the best things we can give to people is our words of encouragement. Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Steve Jobs (Apple) were frenemies. In the dying days of Jobs, he received a letter from Gates. Despite their business battles over the years, they had mutual respect for one another. Jobs cherished Gates’ letter so much that he kept it by his bedside until he passed away. Friend, you may not have a lot of resources right now but can you write a letter of encouragement? I have an “encouragement” file where I keep all the heart-warming letters and cards I’ve received by mail and emails. When I feel discouraged I just read three or four of those letters and I get back my joy and purpose and spring right back to action. Pay It Forward – someday it will come back to you.

Friend, nothing is more satisfying than living a life of giving. God loved us so much that He gave… You can give without loving but you can’t love without giving. Be a part of making an impact in someone's life. God will provide if you make a decision. You don’t have to do anything big. Like the Starbucks customers, buy someone a cup of coffee. Like Gates, take time out of your busy schedule and write a heart-warming letter to someone who needs hope. A small act of giving beats greatest good intentions. The only Jesus many will see and experience is YOU. Pay It Forwards – it ALWAYS comes back to you!

“In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good” (Ecclesiastes 11:6 ESV).

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Broadcast Yourself

We live in the age of media, social networks and webcams that bring instant attention to whatever we want to promote. Often things we see are not very wholesome. But there’s a way you can broadcast yourself without costing you a dime.

Smile.

Yesterday, I got the biggest compliment when someone said to me, “You always have a smile on your face!” I’m not conscience of it anymore but yes there was a time when I made it my personal growth plan to “learn to smile.” Our smile has powerful implications. Researchers say it take forty seven muscles to frown but only four to smile. Today we’ll look at many benefits of smile and laughter.

Our smile is the billboard that either draws people to us or repels people from us. When we smile, we’re saying, I like you; I’d like to get to know you better. If our eyes are the window to our soul, our smile is the window to our heart. When we smile, we express the joy in our hearts. A smile breaks down barrier and makes us welcoming to strangers.

When I was in “smile training” I made me think happy thoughts or a funny incident to get me going. I’m sure, at times, people thought I was stupid. But that didn’t stop me from my smile exercise. Soon it became so part of me that I was smiling naturally. I didn’t have to fake it or manufacture it. I had a cheerful continence without making any effort. Now, everywhere I go people are drawn to me because they feel welcomed to talk to me.

I’ve always felt awkward watching Christian movies where Jesus is characterized as a serious, mystical figure. Sometimes even his voice is altered and it sounds very fake and religious. In a recent version, Jesus is smiling when He comes out of the waters of baptism. He plays with the kids and jokes with the disciples. I believe that Jesus was a lighthearted man. People felt safe to be around him. His smile made people comfortable.  His smile broadcasted His heart.

Modern medical science is finding out the benefits of smile, laughter and a cheerful continence. The neuroscience section of the Discovery Channel lists some of the advantages of laughter. It lowers blood pressure. It reduces stress hormones. It increases disease-killing cells. It releases endorphins – a feel good hormone that reduces stress. It strengthens the immune system. It improves memory and creativity. I don’t know about you but I’ll smile all day just to get the benefit of any one of these. I love it when medical science proves age-old truths in the Bible. God’s Word says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs. 17:22 NLT). Did you know in many nursing homes, old comedies are being played? It’s bringing healing and lengthening the days of its occupants. Laughter brings longevity.

In our recent missions trip to China, we’re standing in a long line trying to enter the Great Wall. It was a very hot day and there were no covers anywhere. Hundreds of people were packed like sardines. My team and I were all very uncomfortable. Suddenly, I spotted a little Chinese boy and his sister who were with their mother and grandparents. They were being impatient like us. I smiled and made some friendly gestures and immediately they responded. Soon we’re laughing, tickling, playing and providing entertainment to at least couple of dozen people standing in the line around us. The time passed must faster. When we’re about to enter the gate those two kids made their way in front of us to say bye to us. I put my hands on them and prayed a silent prayer for them to know Jesus and serve Him someday.

Smile my friend. It suits you. It will add years to your life. When we broadcast ourselves with a smile, people know we’re open for business. They feel safe to befriend us. We can be healing balm to those who are hurting. A smile, laughter and a merry heart does good like a medicine. Smile!

“All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15 ESV).

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Be a History Maker

Inside each of us there is a desire to do great things in life. God put that dream in there so that we can change history. Our lives are not to be like a leaves floating through life but to make an eternal impact. We’re born to make history.

We all start off with great dreams and visions in life. Children go around in the capes trying to be a super-hero. Unfortunately negative experiences and words of people convince us that we’re merely ordinary. We give up our dreams and settle for the average life. At best, we’re satisfied with the American dream – big, house, big car and a big bank balance. None of this is wrong in itself but if that is where our dreams end then we’re dreaming too small.

Last week I was attending a funeral of my dear friend Mr. Tim. He was only in his mid-sixties but his life came to an abrupt end. He’s in the loving arms of Jesus now. Please pray for his family. What I liked about his funeral was that people came forward to attribute greatness to his life by the lives he touched. Some flew in from out of town. The room was packed with people. Every person in the hall was touched by Mr. Tim in one way or other. I myself went to the microphone and shared how his life and partnership continues to change lives in Asia. Apart from his sterling character, Mr. Tim was a history maker. He will meet the people he touched and spend eternity with them worshipping our Lord.

It is easy to get so busy and focused on the natural things of the world that sometimes we have no time left to think about eternity. Yet, what is unseen is much more real than what we busy ourselves with every day. When Jesus walked on this earth, he constantly pointed people to heaven and life after death. Our time on earth is short-lived but eternity is forever. We too must spend our time, effort and energy in the light of eternity. God wants us to make our mark in history.

Often we look in the mirror and think, “What difference can I make?” That is one of the biggest lies of the enemy. God has put gifts and talents in each of us to make a difference in our world. Parhald is a young man in the Himalayas who had to quit school in seventh grade. There was very little opportunity in his village so he joined the revolutionary fight for an independent state in his region. He carried weapons and lived the guerilla lifestyle fighting for their cause. During his short visit home, a family member challenged him to serve God and do something great with his life. Shortly after, Prahlad came to our Mission Training Center and received short training in the Bible. Long story short, for the last sixteen years, Pastor Prahlad is serving the Lord full time with our ministry. He has been instrumental to touch hundreds of thousands of lives in the Himalayas. He is a true example of what God can do with an ordinary person. Pastor Prahlad is a history maker!

I meet people every day who are living an ordinary life but deep inside they have an uncanny desire to do something great for God. Lawyers, business persons, housewives, students, professionals want to be part of Build International Ministries because they know we’re touching thousands of lives with the Gospel every month. No matter what you do, always think of yourself as a history maker. There’s more to you than what you think. You are here on earth to make an eternal impact. Nothing is too small when you do it for our great God.

Friend, don’t settle for a mediocre life or even the American dream. I challenge you to find and live God’s dream for your life. He wants to use you to make history. Like my friend Mr. Tim, Pastor Prahlad and Jesus, we too are born to touch lives for our God. Together, we can make our world a better place to live and make an impact in eternity. You are a history maker!

“If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21 NLT).

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Don’t Seek the Glory

We live in a culture and society where instant gratification is the code of conduct. Our attention span is getting shorter. We don’t like to wait for anything and certainly if we do an act of service, we want the spotlight.

This is very contradictory to the teachings of Jesus. His life was filled with miracles yet He told people He touched “Don’t tell anybody.” How different it is from the mindset of today. You hardly can do anything without getting acknowledged for it. Not that it is wrong to be recognized and thanked for what we do but when we seek the glory for what we do, we’ve missed the heart of it.

Couple of weeks ago, I was traveling in Oklahoma. We stopped for lunch at a local restaurant because I really wanted to try some country food. While we waited for our order I spotted three young soldiers in their uniform eating and having a good time. The sacrifice of the servicemen always touches my heart. I called the waitress to the side and asked her to put their tab under my name and not to tell them anything. When they came to pay their bill I was sitting right next to the counter. Trying to be anonymous I kept talking to my kids. I thought they’d just leave but the waitress had told them. They came by our table to thank me for buying them lunch. I didn’t want to be recognized but it just played out that way. No harm was done that day although I’d have preferred to have been anonymous.

One of the great lessons I learned early in life is to help others without seeking glory for it. There’s nothing wrong when people acknowledge our goodness but when we’re doing something to impress people rather than God then we’re doing it for the wrong motive. A far greater attitude is to help people because it is the right thing to do. What we do for others in secret will be rewarded by God openly.

In December 1938, a 29-year-old London stockbroker by the name of Nicholas Winton was about leave for a Skiing holiday in Switzerland. Just as he was about to leave he got a call from a friend in Prague, Czechoslovakia asking him to come and help him with the most interesting assignment. When Winton got there he found thousands of Jewish refugees living in camps under appalling conditions.

Immediately Winton began a rescue operation for the children. After he returned to England, Winton worked as a stockbroker by the day and labored late into the night to bring Jewish children out of the danger zone. After the war Winton didn’t tell anyone, not even his wife Grete about his wartime heroic effort. Half a century later Grete discovered a scrapbook in their attic with all the children’s photos, a complete list of names, letters from the parents to Winton and other documents. Winton had rescued 669 children from the sure death of the Nazi regime. Half a century later Winton was recognized by various groups, and the nation of Israel. Today Sir Nicholas Winton is 104 years old. He still wears the ring given to him by some of the children he saved. On the ring is inscribed: “Save one life, save the world.”

 

Friend, very few of us can do great things but all of us can do a small thing in a great way. You may not be able to save hundreds of lives like Sir Winton but can you buy lunch for a serviceman? Jesus healed people without getting recognition from the religious institution of His days. Can you reach out and touch a broken heart? Modesty is a lost art today. But God never forgets anything we do in His name. When we help others without seeking glory for it, God Himself will pay us back.

Don’t say to yourself I cannot do anything great. Don’t seek greatness; have a heart to help. Don’t focus on what you cannot do. Do what you can. When we save one life with the Gospel of Christ, we give them eternal passage. Save one life, save the world!

His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness” (Matthew 25:21 NIV)!

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Ride on God's Favor

Life can be hard at times. Things don’t always go the way we want. When we have God’s anointing or favor in our lives, we can go through a hard thing in an easy way. A mature Christian knows how to operate in favor.

The Bible says God has surrounded us with favor for a lifetime. That means we’re to go around looking for favor. The rules and policies may say one thing but when we operate in favor, we can anticipate special privileges.

God’s favor upon our lives is like a well-oiled machine. The task may look hard but because of God’s favor everything becomes easy. I’ve had favor ever since I was born. My mother died when I was one year old but God had already prepared two other ladies who brought me up in an orphanage. I found favor again when I got admitted to a very prestigious college without much of my own merit. Serving God in the ministry has been an ongoing saga of God’s favor upon my life for the last twenty seven years! I expect preferential treatment every day. The more I expect the more I find favor.

If you want an anointing of ease upon your life, you too must be favor-minded. Most of the time favor is unmerited. It comes as a gift from God. However, there are principles in the Bible that can bring us favor. Proverbs 18:22 says, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor.” Love, respect and honor your wife and it will bring you favor. Proverbs 22:29 says, “Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.” When we as Christian becomes top producers in our jobs, we add value to the company and it will bring us favor. Mary the mother of Jesus lived a righteous life and that brought Mary favor from God and had a supernatural birth of our Lord. Favor is out there but you have to go after it. When you seek favor, you’ll find it.

When you’ve found favor, be grateful and ride the favor as long as you can. God sends special people in our lives to believe in us, give us strength, support and confidence we need. People we have favor with today may not feel the same way about us tomorrow. Therefore, it is imperative that you ride the favor as long as possible. Recognize and be thankful for God’s favor in your life.

A great mistake we often make is to continue to seek favor when it’s gone. I’ve had many instances when people have shown me great favor and then as suddenly as they came into my life they’re gone. I’d call, invite them to lunch, want to go and visit them but no response. Suddenly they seem to ignore me. Here’s what I’ve learned:  God’s favor is for a lifetime but it’s not always through the same people. When favor is gone don’t keep trying to win that person back. Don’t spend endless hours trying to figure out what you did wrong to fall out of favor. Be grateful and move on.

When a season of favor ends, don’t become sour and bitter toward the person. Instead, remember the favor. Don’t have a chip on your shoulder and develop a negative attitude. Be thankful to God and show gratitude towards the person. Talk about how the person helped you in the past to bring you to your current fortune. Keep a running record of happy memory instead of negative ones. When we meditate on the goodness of God we will draw in the favor of God.

Friend, God has all sorts of favor lined up for you. Release favor upon your life and experience preferential treatment. Call in favor in every day situation. Get up every morning and say, “I’m blessed and highly favored.” Ask for God’s favor in small and big things. Ride the favor as long as you can. Don’t frustrate yourself trying to win people’s favor once it is gone. When one season of favor ends; expect God to bring you to another. Remember the people who have shown you favor in the past. Instead of criticizing, brag on them for their contribution to your current success. Keep looking for favor every day and you’ll find them. Rejoice, you’re highly favored; the Lord is with you!

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime” (Psalm 30:5 NIV).

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Book Sandy Anderson as Speaker: Call 972 800 4346, Email: buildinternational@sbcglobal.net 

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Loving God through Our Giving

Giving is always associated with love. We can give without loving but we cannot love without giving. When two people fall in love, one the compelling characteristic in the relationship is giving. For God so loved the world that He gave… We too are most like God when we give.

When we give of our time, talent and treasure, we’re not just saying but showing our love for God. In my opinion, giving is very selfish because it benefits the giver the most. God gave His best to demonstrate His love for us. When we open our hearts and hands to help others, God Himself will make sure that we have everything we need.

One of the most important things we can give to God is our worship. No matter what we’re going through when we chose to worship God, we have a direct line to God’s Throne of Grace. Sure God loves everybody and there’s no partiality in Him. But when we stand up in praise and worship to God, we’re standing out among the masses. Giving always causes you to be noticed. Today and every day of your life, set aside a little time to thank, praise and worship God for the things He has already done in your life. When we worship God, we create an environment for miracles to happen.

Another way we can give is by volunteering our time and talent. When we offer our services in the church, ministries and other ways to serve people, we’re piling up God’s favor. Our motive is not to get anything but it’s a universal law. We cannot give without getting back. Invest your time to teach a Sunday school class, work in the parking lot, be a door greeter or design website – expect God’s blessing on whatever you can give.

A powerful way we can give is by extending our hospitality. Opening up our homes is another way of bringing God’s Hand of blessing straight to our doorsteps. The widow in the Bible had plenty of supply when she decided to take care of God’s servant Elijah. Jesus was a regular at Mary and Martha’s house. They were hospitable to Jesus’ tired body, mind, spirit and soul.

My friends Ravi and Leona were ordinary couple living in the high Himalayas. Ravi worked as a tour guide and Leona was a stay at home mom. They didn’t have a great ministry or a huge name for themselves. However, they’re both very hospitable. When I lived in Nepal, after church they’d often invite us to their home and feed us delicious food. Leona’s house was a place of refuge, rest and relaxation – not only for me and my brothers but for many others. Fast forward twenty five years, today Ravi and Leona are serving God with their lives. Their children are excelling in collages of their choice around the world. Ravi and Leona have plenty for themselves. I believe part of their good fortune is because of their willingness to be hospitable. Today their home is still buzzing with people of all nations. When we extend our hospitality to friends and neighbors, we invite God’s blessing on our family and home.

An obvious way we can give is by sharing our treasures. When we sow financial seed into God’s work, we’re setting ourselves up to get God’s attention. There’s a man in the Bible by the name of Cornelius, who wasn’t even a Christian. His prayers and giving stood up to God as memorials – imagine a tall skyscraper! Most of the people I minister to in Asia have very little possession, yet they bring bags of rice, vegetables, cash, jewelries, chickens and goats from the increase God gives them. Jesus talked about the widow’s two mites. It tells me two things. God is watching our giving. And the size of our heart is more important than the size of our gift. The widow’s gift was small but it had a big impact! Two thousand years later, we’re still talking about her sacrificial giving! Giving is not about the size of the gift but the size of our heart.

Today, I challenge you to be a generous person. Give of your time, talent and treasure. Don’t just be generous to the world; give your best to your spouse, children and family. They deserve our best not just our leftovers. When we give back to God, like a magnet we’ll draw in God’s favor and increase in our lives.

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back" (Luke 6:38 NLT).

Click Here to Spread the Message of Hope: www.buildinternational.org

Book Sandy Anderson as Speaker: Call 972 800 4346, Email: buildinternational@sbcglobal.net  

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