Put Up a Fight

Like it or not, life is a fight. As long as you’ll live, there will be struggles and challenges. Instead of thinking, “Why is it happening to me?” a better way to think is, “I will overcome this also.”

Life’s a lot like taking of your backyard. You can neglect it for a while but if you’re not proactive, the weeds will come out thick and fast. Interesting thing about weeds is you never have to plant a weed seed. They come persistently – uninvited. I have learnt that if we are not aggressive in our fight, the enemy will overrun our lives.

Conflict, disappointment and trouble come uninvited. If you are not proactive, it will soon permeate your life. Today, I want to encourage you to stay on guard prepared for the battle [with the enemy]. Have bulldog tenacity. Say to yourself, “I’m going to win this battle. I will not cower, I will not go retrieve. I will fight till then end.” Your attitude about your situation will determine the outcome of your fight. If you’re a Christian, remember this – you’re fighting from the position of victory. Our God has already won the war for us. The Bible says, “The Lord your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes” (Deuteronomy 1:30 NASB).

Let me share a quote from one of my mentors whose passion was to see the unreached people reached with the Gospel of Christ:

Great it is to dream the dream

When you stand in youth by the starry stream…
But a greater thing is to fight life through,
Fight, fight, fight…
And say at the end,
The dream is true. ~ Late Pastor John Osteen

“The kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it” (Matthew 11:12 NIV).

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Love Extravagantly

Happy Valentine to you! Love is the most powerful and basic need in every human being. If you have not heard it lately, you’re loved.

Those of you have a valentine to celebrate with make the most of it. You can never tell your loved one how much you love, cherish and care for that special person. Men it is okay to express in words how you feel about your love. If you feel inadequate saying the words, get a meaningful card for your valentine. Pay attention to the words, that’s what she’ll read over and over. Ladies, today is a good day to pay a tribute to your man’s hard work, faithfulness and commitment to the relationship. Men like to be admired. Pump his ego!

For the ladies of the Lonely Heart’s Club: You are beautiful! There is nothing wrong with you. You are more desirable than rubies. It doesn’t matter who rejected you. He didn’t know you enough to recognize your real value but God does. You’re the apple of His eyes. Don’t despair. Keep a good attitude like Ruth. If you stay busy, keep doing your best in what’s in front of you, your Boaz will show up. Like Ruth, you’ll go from working in the field to owning the field; married to a rich man. Did I say rich?

For the gentlemen of the Lonely Heart’s Club: You’ve got what it takes. He knows how it feels to be single! Honoring God when you’re single will attract God’s favor and bring you love. Don’t be in a hurry. But don’t hesitate to be proactive. Miss America is not going to come knocking on your door – you’ll have to find her. Remember, Jacob in the Bible? He worked seven years for free for the love of his life – Rachel. A man with a job is attractive! A man who loves and honors God with his life is irresistible!!

No matter who you are today you must know that God loves you so much that He gave His only Son to die for you (John 3:16). You’re God’s fatal attraction! Nothing you have done can alienate you from the Father heart of God. You’re loved, cherished and celebrated. You are Beautiful and Needed. I love you and praying for you today!

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Love is a Decision

We’re talking about love, leading up to the Valentine’s Day in America. Media and everywhere you go are trying to define what love is. One thing I can tell you for sure: Love is not a feeling; it’s a decision.

Feelings are fickle. They are like the waves in the sea, they come and go in a whim but true love is a commitment. Love is like any communication, if you don’t send it out, you will not get a return. You’ll have many opportunities to get out of a relationship if you don’t make continual decision to stay in love.

Love is something that grows from your decisions and actions. Often our wedding vows include, “for better or for worse.” Most of us are willing to stick together when the times are good but when we hit a few bumps we’re too quick to check out. No relationship can be fun, enjoyable and peaceful at all times. A healthy relationship requires continually making choices to strengthen the bond.

Practice making a decision to love and then following that decision up with loving actions and admiration. Let go of the little things. Give without strings attached. Try to see look at things from his/her perspective. Don’t play the blame game. Agree to disagree. Find a win-win solution to problems. Forgive quickly. Laugh together and often. Set goals and work on your future together.

Love always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end (1 Corinthians 13). Loving someone is giving them the power to hurt you, but trusting them not to.

Love is not a feeling, love is a decision followed by action.

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Love and Marriage

I know this is a very broad subject but I believe there are four elements necessary for every successful marriage. Tell me if you agree with me or not!

1. Communication. Any good marriage must start with great communication. You have to express the good, bad and the ugly but how, when and what you say makes all the difference. A loving marital relationship should be safe and trustworthy. Women want to talk and men want to go to their caves. Neither is wrong and both should be allowed space to have it their way with a balance. Become a student of communication. It will make a bad marriage good and a good marriage extra-ordinary.

2. Friendship. Even a boss finds it hard to fire a friend! When you take the time to develop friendship in your marriage, you’re investing in your own future. Friendship is to like and accept someone just the way he/she is. It means not to take the other person for granted. And friendship means to be loyal among many other things. Cultivate friendship in your marriage and you’ll never get tired of each other!

3. Affection. We all know women long for affection. But did you know researchers are finding out that men crave affection as much as women? Non-sexual affection and touch communicate a very powerful bond in a marriage. Practice affection with your clothes on; it will do magic when you’re without.

4. Intimacy. Intimacy in marriage is not only for fun, pleasure and pro-creation but it literally brings two people together and makes them one. The scripture says that the marriage bed is undefiled. But it should also be done with mutual respect. It should never be used to manipulate. God invented intimacy. Don’t be afraid to explore.

One last word about love and marriage: focus on what your partner does have and overlook what he/she doesn’t have. Don’t sacrifice the 80% for the sake of 20! “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24 ESV).

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Love Doesn’t Force Itself on Others

Oh, how we spend endless hours trying to change the person we love! Problem is no two human beings are supposed to be the same. God made each and every one of us unique and one of a kind. There is no other person who is like you, not even the person you love the most.

It is interesting in a relationship when we become critical and cynical about the qualities that made us fall in love in the first place. Human nature tends to seek in others we find deficit in ourselves. That’s why opposite attracts. Problem starts when we try to make our object of love to be just like us. Unfortunately, most of us are resistant to change. We’re like rolly polly or sow bug. The moment someone tries to change us, we curl up in a ball! We like being who we are. While we should try to please our loved ones we should not have to abandon our individuality.

In a healthy relationship, couples should try to find some common grounds to build a united foundation without sacrificing who they are. Just because you love someone doesn’t mean you have to become Siamese Twins. Enjoy being who you are and allow the person you love to be who they are. Instead of resisting, celebrate diversity.

The only time we should try to be like someone else is when we follow our Lord. He is not hard to follow because He always has our best interest at heart. He laid down His life in willing sacrifice so we might inherit eternal life. When we love like the way Jesus did, we never have to worry about trying to change the people we love. When you love, serve and give of yourself, you’ll always have plenty of people wanting to be like you because God in you is attractive!

Let us not try to change anybody. Instead let us inspire others to become more like our Savior. Be the change you want others to be!

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Love is kind

It is amazing how two people who profess to love each other could fight bitterly but when the phone rings we get all sober in an instance. We reply, “Hi pastor or friend, it’s so good to hear from you!” I’m sure you don’t know what I’m talking about but I’ve done this many times. Why is that?

Two reasons! Lack of respect and taking the person we love for granted. When you love someone, you have to have boundaries. You never want to cross certain lines that will hurt your loved one. A bitter word is like a burn. You can say it only once but it can sting for months. That’s why we cannot just say what we think we have to measure the consequences. A good principle to live by is this, “If you cannot say something good, don’t say anything at all.” We have to show restraint and be kind.

Love is kind. Often we go out of our way to help a stranger but we’re reluctant to put away the dirty sock or play with little Johnny. Love means we offer our act of service without being nagged to do. You have to get out of your comfort zone and constantly find a way to please the person we love in a healthy way. No man has ever been honored for what he taken but what he gives!

Love is kind. That simply means you just want to be good to the person you love – consistently! Often we wait for the big day or event to express our love to someone. A better way to show love is to do something small for the person you love on a daily basis – as a lifestyle. Say how much you love them or give a compliment. Write a few words of appreciation and encouragement in a beautiful card. Do a random act of service. Give a meaningful gift. Care enough to listen – without offering a solution to “fix it.”

"God is love" (1 John 4:8 NIV). When we say we love God, in essence we're saying to the people we love, "I love you - unconditionally!" Be kind. Let kindness begin at home! I’m praying for you.

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Love is Not Selfish

One of the first signs of a troubled relationship is the mention of what a person is not getting out of it. Once this same person was satisfied and content but now they begin to talk more and more of their dissatisfaction in the relationship.

I don’t want to stereotype anybody but selfishness is always a sign of a weakening relationship. When we take people for granted; when we are self-absorbed, we tend to take in more than we give out. This is out of balance and we need an infusion of unconditional love into the relationship.

Let’s admit it. We are selfish by nature. If we are to develop deeper love for people, we have to intentionally make sacrifices to put others first. When we live unselfishly, God Himself will make sure that we get compensated. We should not serve to be served. Instead our motivation to serve should be love! Think of the time you fell in love. What did you not do in the name of love? Bury your past experiences in the relationship and go back to your first love.

Love is serving unselfishly but it does not mean to become a slave. Our lives need balance. A loving relationship is a two way street. You do not have to be a martyr to prove your love for anybody.

I know these things are easier said than done. But I believe that if we ask for God’s help, we can love unselfishly. “Love cares more for others than self” (1 Corinthians 13:4 Message).

Love is not what you take. Love is what you give.

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Love is Patience

In the next few days a lot will be said about love. Millions of dollars will be spent in the name of love. Have you ever wondered how God sees love?

In the love chapter of I Corinthians 13 the first attribute of love is patience. Why is that? God knew that any time two individuals enter into a love relationship will need a lot of patience. It is easy in the first few days, months and even years but the longer we are in a love relationship the more faults we find in each other. Our job is not to find flaws and try to change the other person but to exercise patience and allow the person to become more Christ-like.

Just because we love our spouse, child, friend or a co-worker does not mean that we will be free from conflict and controversies. Instead of getting impatient and frustrated with them, exercise patience. I don’t agree with all his philosophy but Aristotle the great philosopher said, “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” None of us like to exercise patience yet all of us want others to be patient with us. This is human nature. However, for a long term result, if you want others to be patient with you, you must plant the seeds of patience yourself.

One way you can have patience is never to say that you are impatient. Jesus said, “You will have what you say.” You may be challenged in this area of patience but say instead, “I am full of patience.” When you say what God says, He will back you up to be what God wants you to be – full of patience.

I encourage you to practice patience and the fruit you will eat will be sweet. Start with small things. Don’t complain about the traffic. Don’t look restless standing at the long line in the store. Don’t get irritable when your spouse is not just ready yet and you have to leave - read a book, have a snack, watch some TV instead! Don’t lecture the child for not finding his sock or her books. Show a little restraint.

Love is patience!

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Prioritized Your Life

One common thread that runs through all successful people is that they have learnt the art of prioritizing their lives. They understand the difference between urgent and important. The urgencies in life will rob you from what is most important in life.

So how do we prioritize our lives? There are two simple steps. First, decide what priority to you is right now. Second, commit to it.

Of course, this requires thinking and if you are like me, writing them down. When you take the time to figure out where you are and where you need to be, you will find out what you have to do. Our selection of priority and then commitment to the process will determine whether or not we will reach our goal.

Some of my priorities are God, family, relationships, fitness and finances. I have often heard people say give first priority to God then to your family and so on and that is OK. But may I submit, give first priority to God, give first priority to your family, and give first priority to your relationships and so on. Why is that? I believe giving our best to what is in front of us is the most important priority in life.

We can learn from our Master. Jesus knew His priorities. That is why He rose early in the morning and spent time praying and ministering to His Father in heaven. But He was 100% there when he was healing a sick, casting out a demon or chilling at a wedding. Jesus taught, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27 NIV). He gave His best to God and to the people He was with.

Today, I urge you to prioritize your life. Do not just fill your daily schedule with appointments but make sure those meetings are producing the most results in your life. Prioritize your life – decide what is most important to you and then commit to it.

Action expresses priorities. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

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God is Well Pleased with You

Many people go through life thinking God’s upset with them. They try to earn God’s favor by doing religious duties. But our God is a great God of love. Ours is the only “relationship” when God reaches down to us!

Today I want to remind you that God is pleased with you. He loves you just the way you are. In fact, He does not have the capacity to love you one ounce more. The Bible teaches us that when we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Imagine the love it will take to die for someone! But He did it because that’s how valuable you are to God. Do not keep trying to bribe God to earn His favor. He has already accepted you!

Receive God’s love and approval today. When you know you belong to the King, everything about you will change. You will have God-fidence and good success in everything you do.

Stop listening to the lying and accusing voices of the enemy. Sometimes even your loved ones will try to minimize you without even knowing so. Do not put your identity in what other people say about you. Listen to what God says and agree with it, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11 NKJV). You protest, “But Sandy, that’s God talking about His son Jesus!” Yes, but when you become a follower of Christ, you too become a son or daughter of God – literally! Just think about that!

Friend, God is pleased with you. Embrace His unconditional love for you. He is with you and for you. God is well pleased with you! I am praying for you today.

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Prepare for Greatness

So many times in life we’re told what we cannot do while God is leading us on to believe we’re born for greatness. We’re born to do great things and leave a mark on earth for the glory of God. But somehow life has a way of robbing us of our dreams and visions. We settle for small things in life.

Today, I want to awaken the giant in you! Cast off your small thinking and go back to the impossible dreams and vision God once placed within you. Instead of rationalizing why it cannot happen, ask yourself why not? Jesus said, “With God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26 (NIV).

Instead of surrendering your life for the “American Dream” – a house, cars, dog, cat and a nice retirement, prepare for greatness. How about you build a school, a hospital, an orphanage, a church, a thriving business to create thousands of jobs! Last year alone Warren Buffet gave away 21.6 billion dollars. You say, “Oh Sandy, if I had that kind of money I would do the same.” Friend, what you may not know is Buffet did not start off rich or inherited his billions. He went door to door selling chewing gum, Coca-Cola, or weekly magazines. For a while, he worked in his grandfather's grocery store. While still in high school he made money by delivering newspapers, selling golf balls and stamps, and detailing cars, among other means.

Friend, a dream from God combined with hard work can get you anything and take you anywhere! Prepare for greatness. Dream big dreams! Preparation is something you can do. God makes you great!

“In the end, when it's over, all that matters is what you've done.” ~ Alexander the Great

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Whatever You Focus on will Grow

We all tend to do things that are enjoyable. In fact our culture emphasizes, “Whatever you do, make sure to have fun.” To certain extent it is true. But we all know that not everything that needs to get done is “fun.” If we’re to cease the opportunities God has given us, we have to step up to the plate and focus on what needs growth.

For example, if we don’t like to find new customers, we will soon dry up our pool of people. You may not enjoy doing it but you have to set aside dedicated time in finding new customers. Maybe like me, you do not like paper work. My strategy is to get my paper work done as soon as possible so that I can focus on things that I really enjoy doing.

Remember, whatever you focus on will grow. When a certain area is neglected and it needs attention, take the time to invest in it. If you don’t the whole roof may start to collapse. On the other hand, you must know your strength and put majority of your time, effort and energy to build your organization using the gifts God has given you.

This week, do a little inventory and find out where is the weak link to your organization. Either invest some time to strengthen it yourself or assign some resources to do it for you. Remember, whatever you focus on will grow.

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV). I am praying for you and your success.

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Be a Game Changer

Super Bowl is a special and almost a religious day for many. The nation’s eyes are fixed on this spectacular event when two teams fight out their supremacy in front of thousands of viewers.

Players in these two teams have toiled hard and fought through impossible challenges to appear at the games largest stage. They have practiced hard. They have gotten through injuries. They sacrificed their family to be in training. They have almost exhausted themselves to play the last game and win the world cup.

All the men say “Amen” because I see a lot of similarities between Super Bowl and Christianity. First, if you want to play the game, you must be padded up and get in the playing fields. As believers, you don’t have a choice. You are enlisted the day you get saved. You might as well put on your spiritual armor and take your position in Christ.

Second, get comfortable with some hits and bruises. If you are going to be in the game, you will be hit. You can expect a few hits in your Christian walk – a brother may betray you, church may offend you and a leader may fall but be courageous and stay in the game.

Last but not the least, if you want to win the game you must go after the ball and score or assist others to do the same. Keep our eyes on the prize! Look, you may not be the Most Valued Player but everyone loves a game changer. That’s what God has called you to be. He has put gifts and talents in you to be a game changer.

In God’s Super Bowl the question is not whether you will play or not but how much effort you are going to make so that you and your team can win. I believe you will do your best because a cloud of witnesses are watching and cheering you on. What you do will affect the rest of the Team.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT).

Be a game changer!

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Join a Mission Trip to India/Nepal

Build International Ministries will be leading a short-term mission trip to India and Nepal from March 30 – April 15, 2013.

 

In the business of our lives, it is easy to forget that there are millions of people in Asia who have never heard the name of Jesus – once! The Bible says, “And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them” (Romans 10:14 NIV)?

We will be training pastors, leaders and believers. We will minister and love on the poor and orphan children. We will reach out to our persecuted brothers and sisters. We also plan to dig a Life Well to provide clean drinking water for a village with 3,000 people and share the Gospel with them. There will be many other ministry opportunities to bless God’s people.

If you or anybody you know would like to join this outreach, please contact us. If you cannot go at this time, please pray and share this with your friends and family. Others of you may be able to invest in those of us going with your support. No matter what role you play in going or sending, rest assured you will reap eternal rewards.

Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… I am with you always” (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV). Do you want God to be on your side? Let’s go preach the Gospel, win souls and touch lives with the love of our God. I look forward to hear from you!

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Shake Off the Dust of Your Past

When you get in your car, have you ever noticed how small the rear view mirror is compared to the windshield in front of you? Why is that? It is more important to see where you’re going than to see where you’ve been.

Yet millions of people today are trapped in their past. Fact is we all have made some serious mistakes in life. Regret will make you look back. Worry will make you look around. Only a vision forward will make you look ahead with anticipation. Hindsight is 20/20 but life is meant to be lived looking forward.

One of the greatest challenges to dealing with our past is the accusing voices in our mind. Our thoughts are processed by our brain. But did you know a negative thought takes up more space in our memory than a positive one? That is why negative thoughts are often in the forefront of our mind.

So how do we convert a negative thought into a positive one? Think of your brain as a TV set. There are hundreds of channels that are available for you to watch – good, bad and the ugly are all in there. But the manufacturer has given you the remote control to select the channel of your preference. Similarly, God has given you the power through His Word to choose your “channel.” If what’s playing on your mind is holding you back, simply change to the victory channel. Jesus died on the cross to set us free from our past. Paul said, “I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13 NLT). You can’t have better tomorrow if you spend all your time thinking about yesterday today. Shake off the dust of your past and you’ll live a flourishing future God has for you.

 

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Develop Winning Habits

Researchers say 90% of our lives run on auto-pilot. A habit is simply an action done repetitiously without a conscience effort. John Dryden, the famous English poet once said, “First we make our habits. Then our habits make us.”

Developing new habits are like sending a spaceship into the space. Colossal firepower and energy of the rocket is needed to get the ship off the ground. Once in orbit, it continues on its own. Our good habits are formed in similar way.

So how do we go from bad habits to forming new ones? Identify your bad habit (anger, overeating, frivolous spending, and negative thinking and so on) and replace it with good. Focus on one habit at a time giving at least thirty days to change. Don’t be discouraged if you fail in the middle. That is part of the process. Don’t give into condemnation. Get up and keep going again. Changing a bad habit is as easy as ABC…

A. ASK God to help you change. You can expedite your transformation if you invite God to work with you. Find scriptures to support your case and meditate on them.

B. BELIEVE in yourself. You CAN change! No matter how long it has been, if you set your mind to it, you can do anything. Once you make a mental shift and attitude adjustment, you will be amazed how easy it is to develop good habits.

C. CREATE accountability by sharing with your close friends. When you tell others about your effort to change they will keep you on track and encourage you for your efforts. If you’re hitting it more than you’re missing it – you’re well on your way.

One reason Jesus came to the world was to “destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8 NLT). I believe and declare that 2013 will be the year you’ll break bondages and live the abundant life God has for you. I believe in you!

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Don’t Respond to Everything

Recently my friend was distraught over some comment that his friend made toward him. My friend did not know how to respond. This happens to too many of us and like my friend we are dumbfounded. How do we handle a difficult comment?

I have found that not every comment needs to be addressed. When you hear a hurtful or a loaded statement, try not to take it too personal. Do not start chewing on it for your comeback response. People often say things in the heat of their emotions. When we have the maturity to refrain from comments it automatically dies for lack of “oxygen.”

This is what happened to King David in the Bible. God’s people were taunted by Goliath. When David came to the battleground his own brother Eliab made fun of him. It was very tempting for David to defend himself and give Eliab a piece of his mind. Instead, the Bible says, “He [David] turned away from him [Eliab]” (1 Samuel 17:30 ASV). You see, David knew what to ignore. He knew engaging in a fight with Eliab would bring him no spoil but engaging with the real enemy - Goliath would free him from taxes and reward him with the king’s daughter in marriage. David turned away, did not respond to his critic, went on to win the battle and collect his spoil.

Today, I want to challenge you not to respond to everything negative that you hear. Stay on the hunt for the real spoil. Fight the real enemy and not your family, friends and co-workers. When you turn away, like David, you too will take the spoil.

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Have an Abundance Mindset

I grew up in India surrounded by utter poverty. Everyone I knew was living just to survive another day. When I became a follower of Christ, I heard money was evil and we must shun from it. You can imagine my distorted view of financial prosperity!

Fortunately, I learnt the Biblical view on money. Money is a neutral tool. We can use it to bless our families and advance God’s Kingdom on earth or misuse it and destroy God’s purpose for our lives. One thing I know for sure, you cannot have a poverty mindset and experience God’s abundance. You may be in dire poverty right now but never let poverty get in you. You must believe money is a good thing.

God wants you to prosper so that you can be a blessing to others. In our world system, money is power and influence. Jesus said, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32 NKJV). Do you really think God has a problem when you ask Him for your needs to be met? Do you think God has a problem if you ask for a few thousands extra every month so that you can help someone else? The answer is a resounding no. God wants to give to you so that He can get it through you.

Why don’t you raise the bar and start praying, asking, working hard and expecting God to make you wealthy so that you can become a blessing to the world? Have an abundance mindset!

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Be Generous with Your Compliments

Compliments are like glue to a relationship. It is one of the most basic human needs. Everyone wants to be recognized, appreciated and complimented for their efforts no matter how big or small they are.

In the work environment, compliment your employees or associates for the great job on a certain project. When we compliment people openly, we empower them to rise to the top of their caliber. Learn to give compliment without any strings attached. Resist the urge to mix criticism with compliments. People perform better when we show our confidence in them through sincere praise.

In the home front, it is easy to overlook the services and sacrifices of our loved ones. Do not make the grave mistake of taking them for granted. Without their understanding, support and sacrifices you would not be where you are. Do they know you appreciate them? Compliment them verbally. Write notes. Give cards, chocolate, roses or do whatever you can to show your appreciation.

One of the most empowering things you can do for yourself is to compliment yourself. This is very hard for performance-minded people. Yes, there is always going to be a better, more efficient way of doing things. But you have got to develop a healthy habit of complimenting yourself. Even God congratulated Himself after creation and said, “It was good.”

Compliment others without flattery and your life will be like a blooming garden of flowers!

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Stir Up the Gifts

Life has a way of draining us. If we’re not charging ourselves constantly, we will begin to deplete and become ineffective.

This is what happened to the children of Israelite. They were super excited about the possibility of being free and enter the Promised Land. It was only days’ journey to inherit their promise. But somewhere along the way they got weary, tired and lost their focus on the goal. They began to complain and murmur and the short distance turned into forty years!

We too are subject to such onslaught of the enemy. We have to stay on guard about apathy and Luke warmness to creep in. No matter what is happening in your mind or what you see in the natural, don’t let discouragement eat your day. Business maybe slow but say to yourself, “Today is a day everything is going to turn around.” Your health may not be quite up per but say to yourself, “By the stripes of Jesus, I am healed.” Finances maybe tight and bills maybe pending but say to yourself, “My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches.”

Paul knew young Timothy started off great but a more challenging days will be ahead of him. “I am reminding you to fan into flames the gift of God that is within you” (2 Timothy 1:6 ISV). I am not Paul, but I’m reminding you to awaken the giant that is within you. I’m praying for you today!

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Don’t Neglect Your Family

At the end of the day, regardless of our success in carrier or business, our family is all we will have left. They are the highest contributors to our success but sometimes least appreciated people in our world. Let’s not take our family for granted.

One of the best ways we can show our appreciation to our family members is through our praise. Remember, people do more of what you brag about and less of what you nag about. Lavish your praise for your family. Thank, appreciate and encourage them both in private and in public – daily, several times a day.

Another way you can add value to your family is to offer your act of services in the home front. Men, it’s not enough to be the breadwinner of our family. We’re also to provide security, emotional support and practical help around the house. Ladies, your man needs your admiration and appreciation. Tell him how proud and confident you are of his abilities and sacrifices. If you want A+ kids like mine, catch them doing something good. Praise them and correct them. Never allow rebellion to take root. You’re the boss; you make the adult decisions. Children need boundaries. They will bring you immense joy! You’re to enjoy them not endure them.

Last but not the least, overlook a few faults. Listen, don’t sabotage 80% good in your relationship in exchange for 20%. None of us are perfect. Instead of harping on their faults, just pick up the dirty sock or help your wife find that car key that’s always missing. You can turn your home into a battlefield or you can choose to cover for your loved ones and make a beautiful harmony of your lives.

Friend, nobody gets to choose their family. No matter what you think, they are a gift from God. Like, enjoy and celebrate your family. When the world sees us loving our family, they will glorify God and want to be part of His family.

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