Turn Up Your Expectation

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him" (I Corinthians 2:9 NLT).

Expectation is a powerful motivator. Every living being should expect that something better will come along. When we’re expecting something new, we can endure extreme circumstances. If we want to live a large life, then we must have consistent and high expectations.

Many people find it hard to expect anything big from God because they think they’re going to offend God by asking for too much. Others feel they don’t deserve anything good. Truth is, our lives often directly reflect our expectations.

We have a cat named Rue. She’s one of the four kittens my children rescued from the snowy weather. Now, Rue is almost two years old. Every morning when I get up, I make myself a cup of tea. Without fail, Rue comes up to me rubbing against my legs, expecting to get a treat by crying with her pathetic voice. I love Rue’s attitude of faith. Every single morning she gets up expecting! There have been times when I didn’t want to give her anything but was moved by her expectation; I’ve been compelled to give her treats. Like Rue, it will do us all good if we wake up each morning with expectancy.

God often meets us at the point of our expectation.

Often we lower our expectations in life because of a major setback or a series of setbacks we experience. I don’t want to minimize your experience but unless we learn to shake off our negative experiences, we won’t be able to enjoy all that God has in store for us.

A negative experience can be your best teacher or it can be your worst enemy. How we deal with a negative experience will determine the quality of life we’ll enjoy.

Successful people know how to put a negative experience behind them quickly and move forward with positive expectations in life.

In 2 Kings chapter 4, there’s a famous story about the Prophet Elisha, a widow, and her two boys. After the death of her husband, the poor widow almost starved to death. When Elisha asked for something to eat, she obeyed and fed the man of God. In a gesture of gratitude, the Prophet asked the widow to borrow as many jars as she could from her neighbors. In a miraculous act of God’s power, the small jar of oil that she had kept pouring out oil and filling containers of various size. Here’s what I want you to see. The oil from the jar kept flowing until the widow’s son couldn’t find another vessel to pour oil into. In today’s context, we can say the oil ran out at the same moment the expectation was gone. The oil continued to flow up to the point there was an expectation of a miracle from God.

In the same way, could it be that our miracles have clogged up because of our lack of expectations? Needless to say, people will disappoint you. Even those who you love and are close to you will let you down at times. But if we learn to put our hopes and expectations in God, He will never let us down. Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that moment” (Matthew 8:13 NIV).

Get up each morning expecting something special from God. When you stand in front of the bathroom mirror, say out loud, “Something goooood is going to happen to me today!” Expect people to be good to you. Expect your children to excel in life. Expect the lights to stay green and the traffic to open up for you until you cross. At work, expect your boss to like you. Expect preferential treatment. Expect customers to flock to you. Expect your business to prosper. Expect the healing to spring forth today. Expect your strained marriage to be turned around. Expect each and every day to be miraculous. Your life will directly correlate to the expectations of your heart. So why expect small things when you can have big things and become a blessing to others? Turn up your expectation – that’s all you’re going to get! I pray and declare that you’ll achieve every goal, every purpose, and every dream God put in your heart. Something goooood is going to happen to you today!

Spread Your Influence: http://www.buildinternational.org

Stay Inspired: https://www.facebook.com/BuildInternationalMinistries

See Your Impact: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125710914@N05/

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.

 

Spread Your Influence: http://www.buildinternational.org

Stay Inspired: https://www.facebook.com/BuildInternationalMinistries

See Your Impact: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125710914@N05/

 

Don’t Shoot the Wounded

People do unpredictable things. We say, “What were you thinking?” We have all done some things we’re not very proud of. When people make a blunder, it is easy to point fingers and judge but the right thing to do is to forgive, love, and restore them.

Recently, I got a call from a friend informing me how Billy Graham’s grandson had succumbed to some indiscretion. He wasn’t just informing but reminding me to show mercy. I agreed.

That’s exactly the attitude of Jesus. The Bible says, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world” (John 3:17 NIV).

Once, an adulterous woman was brought to Jesus. The religious fanatics of the day threw her at the feet of Jesus claiming that they had caught her in the act. What a religious duty to look through the keyhole! I always wonder why they didn’t catch the man.

I see the dust rise. This young woman had gone astray. It could have been your daughter, my daughter. Jesus was the only person qualified to judge her but He wouldn’t. He said, “Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!"

If you want to be like Jesus, quit throwing stones at people!

Celebrity or not we’re all under the clutches of sin. By the way, there’s no celebrity Christian or VIP sinner in God’s eyes. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

As long as we’re here on earth, none of us are immune to sin. Let's not judge people simply because their sin is different than ours. God doesn’t see any difference.

Some say, “But these are leaders in a position of influence and authority!” So what? If we’ve not prayed for a person to walk uprightly before God, we have no right to judge them.

Whenever I’m tempted to point fingers at others, I’m reminded of the terrible mistakes I’ve made over the course of my life. I sinned deliberately. I knew better. But against all good judgment, I failed. How grateful I am for God’s mercy and people’s forgiveness.

9-year-old Kim Phuc suffered terrible burns by the napalm bomb dropped into her village during the Vietnam War. As she ran for her life, naked, photographer Nick Ut shot a picture of her that decorated the covers of every magazine and newspaper in the U.S. Phuc spent more than a year in hospitals. After dozens of reconstructive surgeries, Kim survived. Now 52, she lives just outside Toronto, a wife, mother and the subject of the iconic picture in 1972.

Kim could not find peace. She wanted to disappear. She even wished for death. She thought if she died she wouldn't have to suffer mentally, physically, and emotionally. She began to seek answers, studying different religious texts. At 19, she became a Christian, and she credits her faith for helping her embrace life again.

"When I became Christian, I have a wonderful connection -- the relationship between me, and Jesus, and God. And from that point," she says, "I learned to forgive."

Clearly, if anyone should have difficulty forgiving, it would be Kim. But she allowed God’s forgiveness and mercy to flow towards her assailants. What was humanly impossible was made possible through God.

Let us not be so quick to judge. Let us not drag people through the mud when they make a grave mistake. Christian army is the only army that kills its wounded. Where is the compassion? Beware! We too are susceptible to fall into temptation. Instead of pointing fingers, let us pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Don’t shoot the wounded. Let us show mercy and restore the fallen!

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted” (Galatians 6:1 NIV).

Spread Your Influence: http://www.buildinternational.org

Stay Inspired: https://www.facebook.com/BuildInternationalMinistries

See Your Impact: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125710914@N05/

Get Out of Debt

We live in an age of instant gratification. Our society thinks that there’s nothing wrong with about living beyond our means. Some of us are so deep in debt that we’ve given up the hope of ever getting out of it. Today, I have good news for you. God wants you to be free and clear of all debts.

According to creditcards.com, the average household with at least one credit card has nearly $15,950 in credit card debt. The average interest rate runs in the mid to high teens at any given time. That’s just credit card debt. Then there are retail shops, student loans, mortgages, and car payments. How then can we get out of debt? 

The first step of getting out of debt is a change of mindset. Unless we change our thinking, we will never change. The Bible says, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7 NIV). Today let’s discuss seven practical ways to get out of debt.

1. Make a decision. Unless we see ourselves getting out of debt, we never will. Whatever you focus on will grow. I speak from experience. Once you make the decision to get out of debt, you’ll be amazed by how many ways you can find to pay off your debt. Make a decision today!

2. Accept that it will take some time. None of us got into our debt overnight and we’re not going to get out of it in just a month. However, if we plan, prepare, and cut spending, we’ll be able to pay off our debt sooner than we thought possible. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!

3. Start with the highest interest debts. Paying the minimum balance on your debt can often take up to 5-10 years and you end up paying three to five times the amount you borrowed originally. I’ve been paying a certain loan that should have taken 15 years to pay off. Recently, I started doing what I’m telling you. I’m making sacrifice and paying five times more towards my principal rather than the minimum payment prescribed. Now I can pay off that debt in less than two years!

4. Change your spending habits. The marketing people will always tell you how you “deserve” it. Not only that, why wait? Have it “now.” The advertisements will entice you with a “one day only sale.” Don’t fall for these traps. Your house is loaded with stuff you couldn’t live without and now just collects dust over the years. Be honest with yourself and resist the urge to spend on whatever your little eyes see. Let me say something hard with a smile on my face. Out of control spending is an addiction just like drugs and alcohol. Unless you get rid of it, it will get rid of you. Get some help and be secure in God – not the stuff you have. Smile!

5. Learn to manage your money. God wants to make you the ruler over much but not until you’ve learnt to be a good steward over what He has already given you. Nineteen percent of Americans spend more than they earn. As your income increases and sudden money comes into your hand, don’t buy more stuff and increase your living standards. The secret to living a financially balanced life is to live on 70% of your income. Right off the top put 10-20% in savings and investments (after you’ve paid off your liquid debts). Give at least 10% to God’s work. Consult a financial advisor.

6. Practical ways to save money. Refinance your house with a lower interest rate and 15 years loan or less. Re-evaluate your car, health, life insurance, and service plans. Eat out less and eat more healthy food at home. Get rid of brand name coffee, soda, sugar, cigarettes, and liquor. Carry only your debit card. Use cash whenever possible. Buy when the price is half the cost and not when the advertisers or your impulse tells you to. Cut down spending on big-ticket items, vacations, or entertainment until you’ve paid off your liquid debts. Be generous and develop a habit of giving (doesn’t have to be big) for we reap what we sow. Give to bless Israel and God will bless you.

7. Pray for supernatural debt cancellation. Many people in debt feel guilty about asking God for helping them get out of debt. Like all our indiscretions, nothing catches God by surprise. God’s grace is not performance based. It doesn’t matter how you got into your debt – Jesus can get you out! Believe God for supernatural intervention. One of my friends had a $1.3 million debt canceled because they did their part and dared to believe God for the impossible. God wants to help you come out of debt. Do your best and let God do the rest. Friend, there is help and there is hope. Starting today, let’s make it a priority to come out of debt. I’m praying for you!

“Owe nothing to anyone--except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law” (Romans 13:8 NLT).

Spread Your Influence: http://www.buildinternational.org

Stay Inspired: https://www.facebook.com/SandyAndersonLive 

See Your Impact: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125710914@N05/

God Wants You to Prosper

Most Christians are taught that money and God cannot mix. We’re indoctrinated to believe that somehow poverty is holier than riches. This negative way of thinking has kept people poor more than anything else. When we embrace prosperity (body, soul and spirit), prosperity will come.

Jim came from a very poor and humble background. When he was young, his father lost his job. The family had to live in a camper van in a relative’s yard. They all worked as janitors and security guards at a factory. Jim himself had to work an eight-hour shift after school.

Broke as a joke, it was no laughing matter for Jim to dream big and envision himself making it big in life. He had an unusual talent; Jim could make anyone laugh. In 1985, a broke and depressed Jim drove his old beat-up Toyota up to the Hollywood hills. Sitting there overlooking Los Angeles, he wrote himself a check for $10 million for “acting services rendered.” He post-dated the check five years and put the check in his wallet. The check remained there until it deteriorated but he made it. Jim made millions with his comedy and acting. Today, a Hollywood superstar, Jim Carrey is worth $150 million!

Why do some people prosper and others don’t? One simple answer is vision. Most people are content with a “me and my four and no more” mentality. Others dream dreams – big dreams and work towards them. They realize that life’s not just about them but making an impact on others. Like Jim Carrey, you may be broke right now but if you keep the right vision of prosperity in front of you, one day you too can influence many for God.

Today, change your thinking. See yourself as prosperous. Believe that God wants to prosper you. Everything about God is lavish and expansive. He created the universe, the diamond mines, and the oil fields. He’s not going to be unsettled if you begin to experience abundance. Your desire for wealth is from Him. He knows that you want to help people and bless the world with the Good News of Jesus. It takes great resources to change lives.

Don’t depend on your paycheck or business. Scientists have discovered that our brain is active when we sleep. Your mind is so active during sleep that it can even make new discoveries! How is that possible? That’s God speaking to you in your sleep! Make God the Source of your life. He will give you ideas and inventions. Your stocks will suddenly double. Your roofing business will explode because of a storm coming through your city. Your main competitor will move to another state. A sudden inheritance will come into your hands. You’ll save tens of thousands of dollars through a lower paying mortgage refinancing. A sudden promotion will take you from being the receptionist to CEO of the company! Friend, God has ways to prosper you that you haven’t yet considered. Don’t look to the east, west, north or south for promotion; look up!

In the Bible, Abraham is called to be the father of faith. He believed in God’s promises even when his circumstances looked impossible. He was a hundred years old when the promised son, Isaac, was born. This was a great victory for God. What many people do not know or talk about is that Abraham came from an idol-worshipping family. But when He began to follow the True and Living God, he began to prosper. “The man [Abraham] became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy” (Genesis 26:13 NIV).

It is interesting that many Christians embrace Abraham for his unflinching faith but they don’t want to talk about his wealth. The Bible says in Ephesians 3:14, “So that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith” (ESV). Abraham honored God with his faith and God had no trouble making him one of the richest men of his time. God wants to prosper you!

Today, believe that it is God’s will to promote you. See yourself with great resources and then you’ll have it. Make a list of ways you’re going to give to God’s work when your income doubles, triples, even quadruples. Not even the sky is the limit. It’s our own limited thinking that keeps us in lack. God is all about abundance. Just keep the focus on others instead of yourself. Believe that you’ll make more this year than any other year before. I pray and declare that you’re blessed to be a blessing. You’re strong. You’re creative. You’re full of God’s health and healing. You’re the head and not the tail. You’re above only and not beneath. You’ll lend and not borrow. If you believe and act towards it, you’ll eat the good of the land. I love you and I’m praying for your influence to increase!

“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2 NAS).

Spread Your Influence: http://www.buildinternational.org

Stay Inspired: https://www.facebook.com/BuildInternationalMinistries

See Your Impact: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125710914@N05/

Remember Their Sacrifice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spread Your Influence: http://www.buildinternational.org

Stay Inspired: https://www.facebook.com/BuildInternationalMinistries

See Your Impact: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125710914@N05/

God Will Pay You Back

We’ve all had unfortunate things happen to us. Someone takes advantage of us. Someone steals our just rewards. Even a lack of recognition for our hard work can hurt our feelings. We don’t have to be numb to our feelings but if we keep a good attitude when the wrong thing is happening to us, then God will pay us back in due time.

My 14-year-old son Daniel is in Royal Rangers (the Christian version of Boy Scouts); he’s been enjoying this program for several years now. Once a week, he gets to hang out with a group of boys and do boy things. He has always worked very hard for his merits therefore he is ahead of most kids his age.

Recently they had a graduation ceremony. Daniel was the youngest of the lot to get the Gold Medal Award (GMA). Unfortunately, not all of leaders were in favor of him getting the recognition even though he had met all the requirements. It was a long, drawn out drama and finally they allowed him to receive the honors he had earned. 

Maybe you’ve been done wrong. You worked hard for the commission but the sale went to another person. The house you were hoping to buy was sold under your feet. You may have gone through the training, putting in the extra hours, but you didn’t get the promotion you were praying for. You cleaned the house all day but you weren’t appreciated for it. You may have been betrayed in a relationship or a business partnership. No matter who did you wrong, God will pay you back with double the honor.

This is what happened to my son Daniel. Not only did he get his Gold Medal Award in time, he got to meet with the Mayor of our city (pictured here). His outpost had sent many requests before for previous candidates but this was the first time the city officials decided to recognize Daniel in front of the whole city council. Not only that, it was broadcasted live! Even though a few people were against my son, God honored him in front of higher authorities and a greater audience. God paid him back double for his troubles. In the same way, if you keep your peace and stay in faith, God will pay you back more than what you’ve lost.

People do unpredictable things when they’re hurt, insecure, jealous, or threatened by another person. If you try to defend yourself, God will stand back. But if you take the high road, keep calm, and stay in peace, the Lord will fight the battle for you. I’ve learned that the higher you rise the more critics will come out of the woodworks. But if you stay in faith and trust God instead of taking revenge, He will make things right for you. The world may not be fair but God is!

This is what happened to a man named Mordecai in the Bible (Book of Esther). He was a Jew and once he had saved the king’s life from a certain coup. Unfortunately, nobody remembered his contribution to saving the king’s life. One night, King Ahasuerus couldn’t sleep. He ordered his servants to bring him the book of the records from the library. Of all the thousands of books, they picked the one with Mordecai’s story in it. There it was found that Mordecai had saved the king’s life from an assassination plot. It prompted the king to ask, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” They said, “Nothing.” Long story short, it was Mordecai who was honored through the city and his enemy Haman was hung in the gallows. We should never wish evil against our enemies. But rest assured, God knows how to make it up to you. He will never allow you to go through a tough situation without honoring you for it.

Friend, no matter who has done your wrong, today it is time for you to give it up to God. He cannot fight for us as long as we take matters into our own hands. But if we trust him with our troubles, He will do what we cannot do. He will not only reward you but He will make sure that he does it in front of your enemies. Our God is a great equalizer. You’re the head and not the tail. You’re only above and not beneath. He will not cause you to shame.

Today, I challenge you to let go and let God. Like my son Daniel, He will honor you in public. Just like Mordecai, He will bring you to remembrance at the right time. Don’t seek revenge on those who have done you harm. If you release those offenses to God, He will make you soar like an eagle. You’ll go to new heights that you’ve never dreamed of before. I love you and I’m praying for you.

“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).

Spread Your Influence: http://www.buildinternational.org

Stay Inspired: https://www.facebook.com/BuildInternationalMinistries

See Your Impact: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125710914@N05/

How to Make the Most at Work

Human nature is to magnify the small problems. The longer we stare at our problems, the bigger they look. If we’re not setting the tone for our day with a positive attitude right at the beginning, our circumstances will probably set the tone for us in a negative way.

One reason we feel bad about ourselves is because we complain. We dislike the traffic. We don’t like our jobs. Our boss is too stiff. Our co-workers are lazy. We feel unappreciated and so on and so forth. However, when we change our attitude, we can change our lives.

Let me give you some perspective. Think about the person who doesn’t have a car, a job, or a nice environment to work in. Think about the person who is battling a long-term disease. Think about a family who is going through a divorce or a foreclosure on their house. Even worse, they just lost their loved one to a dreaded disease.

People go through extreme difficulty every single day. While we complain and throw a fit over petty things, others are fighting life or death situations. Somebody would love to have your job, your health, your vehicle, your house, or your income.

Our lives gravitate towards our thoughts. What we constantly think about, we bring about. If you’re expecting clients to be demanding, they probably will be. If you’re planning to have a tough day, you probably will. On the contrary, if you believe that today you’ll hit that sales goal, you probably will. If you believe that you’re favored by the Power on High, you’ll be the most productive employee in the company. Whatever you believe, you’ll experience.

The famous Zig Zigar said, “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” Years ago, I worked at a nation-wide computer retail store. Most people there had a sour attitude at work. They didn’t like the management. They were offended at a customer. They complained about the constant change in the company policy. They had relationship problems at home and they brought it to work with them. I was going through a difficult phase in my life with some of my own personal problems. I was a sales person but very quickly I realized how blessed I was compared to those around me. I was in a negative environment but I didn’t allow the negativity to get in me. I began to reach out to my co-workers. I took time to listen to their frustrations. There was one guy who was struggling so I got lunch for two of us the whole time I was there. I prayed for them in the break room. Amazingly, I got promotion after promotion!

Don’t misunderstand me; I wasn’t perfect at all. Once, I stormed into my manager’s office and let him have several pieces of my mind. I took off my Christianity for a while and cussed him out. My manager was shocked! Half an hour later, when the Holy Spirit began to deal with me, I went back to my manager and asked him to forgive me. He was relieved!

I spent most of my time at work trying to help customers or co-workers. I became the go-to person with difficult customers or employees. I was the minister in the marketplace. As I helped others, my sales increased. I was making more on my off days than when I was present because the cashiers were putting sales through in my employee number. In a short time, I became one of the top performers in the company among thousands, winning all sorts of trophies, vacations, and awards. Change your attitude about work! Jesus said, “Give and you’ll receive.”

Today put on a sun-dried, lemon-fresh attitude. Wear a big smile – it says you’re open for business. Take the first step to make someone feel like a million dollars. Buy your co-worker a coffee or a lunch. Hum a praise song of God’s goodness in your life. Look at your family picture at your office and remember that because of you, their lives are blessed. Set your mind in the right direction first thing in the morning. You’re born to do great things. I speak blessing, focus, creativity, favor, increase, peace and prosperity in your life this week. Change your attitude and you’ll change your life. I’m praying for you!

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8 NLT).

Spread Your Influence: http://www.buildinternational.org

Stay Inspired: https://www.facebook.com/BuildInternationalMinistries

See Your Impact: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125710914@N05/

My Graduating Daughter

 

It’s hard to believe that you’re graduating from high school today. You’ve reached the pinnacle of success because you can’t go higher than high school, right? ;) Your hard work, dedication, persistence, and commitment have finally paid off. Look back with pride on a job well done. Look forward with excitement to what lies in front but celebrate this moment because it’s yours to enjoy. You have a lot to be proud of and the world is waiting for the experience of you.

 

A wise person once said, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” You’re about to embark on your life’s journey. There will be many different voices trying to tell you many things. Hear them but most of all follow the still small voice in your heart because that is the Holy Spirit leading and guiding you. You and God will always be in speaking terms. He will speak to you louder about your own life than any other person in the world.

 

Today, I want to share seven secrets with you that will give you a head start in life.

 

Live with your heart. Now that you’re a graduate and you’ll soon go into college. You’ll hear many different opinions. They will try to redefine right and wrong. Many times, your own head will reason with you but always follow your heart. That is where Jesus lives and if you make Him the center of our life, everything else will fall in place. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23 NIV).

 

Be a student of inner beauty. You’re gorgeous! You can be grateful to mom for giving you the good looks. Being a girl, you’ll spend endless hours in your life trying to look beautiful on the outside. That’s good and you must have fun with it. But never let anyone mislead you in what is true beauty. Your weight, height, or color of skin doesn’t define who you are. God does! You’re beautiful because you’re the child of the Most High. He never makes anything second class. Spend at least equal time developing your inner beauty as you improve your outer looks. “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD (still) looks on the heart” (I Samuel 16:7 ESV).

 

Work hard. Through hard work, perseverance and a faith in God, you can live your dreams. Your hands can heal or it can tear down. Use your life to build. Don’t wait on anybody for a handout. Do your best and then let God do the rest. Whatever you do, do it with excellence. “The hand of the diligent will rule” (Proverbs 22:14 ESV).

 

Always show mercy. I’ve made so many mistakes that I can’t even count. But one thing I’ve learnt through my failures; God is a God of mercy. He doesn’t give us what we deserve. He always gives us better than we deserve because He is a merciful God. If you want to be like Jesus, quit throwing stones at people and show mercy. Only strong people can forgive. Always take the high road. Store up mercy because one day you’ll need it. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:5 ESV).

 

Have compassion. One of the greatest virtues you can have is to be compassionate towards the poor, needy, and hurting people in the world. When you’re compassionate with others, you’re being a “Jesus” to them. We’re most like God when we show God’s love, forgiveness, and compassion to those who deserves the least. “When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them” (Matthew 9:36 KJV).

 

Always build new friendships. It’s great to have close friends and you must be loyal to them. However, people are always cycling out of our lives. If you don’t invest in building new relationships, you’ll eventually run out of them. Friends are special but don’t idolize them. At any point of your life, if you have a handful of true friends; you’re rich! “Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family” (Proverbs 27:10 NIV).

 

Honor God with your life. In every crossroad of your life, ask yourself, “What will honor God in this situation?” The Bible is still the roadmap for life. Put the Word in you when you don’t need it and it will come out of you when you do need it. There will be tough times but remember you’re tougher. The Holy Spirit is your Helper and He is present with you always. Life’s a boomerang. Whatever you send out will come back to you. “'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind” (Luke 10:27 NLT).

 

Daughter, you’re amazing! Your one-of-a-kind smile, your warmth and thoughtfulness, gifts and talents they’re enough to make anyone proud. But it’s your unique blend of them all that makes you such a special person – someone so easy to love, and so deserving of anything good in life. Congratulations! Happy graduation! Happy future! I love you and always will. ~ Dad

 

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

 

Spread Your Influence: http://www.buildinternational.org

 

Stay Inspired: https://www.facebook.com/BuildInternationalMinistries

 

See Your Impact: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125710914@N05/

 

7 Keys to a Long Life

Everybody wants to live for a long time. It is a universal desire to be happy and healthy. However, many people are not living to their full potential because they may be putting the effort in the wrong places. I believe God wants us all to live a long, satisfied life.

Recently, when I tuned into the radio, I heard a commercial claiming that we can lose weight without exercise, diet, or basically no effort on our part. They said that their technology can help us lose 10 pounds for only a small fee of a few thousand dollars. I’m sure there are people out there who will fall for it but don’t let that be you. Today, let me share seven keys to long life.

1. Eat regularly. I hope this is good news to your ears! Unlike popular belief, eating is not the problem. God made us to enjoy food. What we eat is the key. It is better to eat several meals a day than to starve and then eat all you can. Think of your body as a car engine. The more active we are during the day, the more fuel it will need to run smoothly. Eat slowly because it takes 20 minutes for the stomach to signal the brain that is full. People in France and China eat heartily and yet they’re not overweight because they take their time eating, laughing, and enjoying their meal in moderation. Try to avoid food at least two to three hours prior to bedtime.

2. Eat small portions. As we get older, our metabolism slows down. Our body takes three to four hours to process the food. When we snack all day, it gives the digestive system no rest. Small portions take a shorter time to process. Eat from a small plate; it will trick your eyes and brain into eating less because it appears as more. When we eat less, we feel more energetic.

3. Cut down on sweets. Sugar, salt, and heroine are all white substances that harm our bodies. An average American takes about 32 spoons of sugar every day! Is it any wonder that we’re the heaviest country in the world? Just because sodas and deserts come in large and meal portions doesn’t mean we’ve to finish it. We shouldn’t waste. But it is better to waste food than to waste your body.

4. Get active. No amount of diet or technology can substitute exercise. The methods really don’t matter as much as regularity and discipline do. I’ve learned that every bit adds up. I often take the farthest parking spot in a parking lot. There’s always space there and others don’t dent my car! I also break down my exercise time into two or three segments per day. Of course this requires dedication and discipline but later it even becomes enjoyable. I take this time to pray or listen to a podcast to learn something. Burning calories slowly is better than a fast and short burst of exercise. I walk for about 20-25 miles every week. You can do that easily!

5. Don’t smoke. If you do, get help and quit as soon as you can. Our dependency on drugs (even prescription ones) and chemicals will shorten our lives. Those harmful products come with a health warning for a reason. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. What you put in it is a test of stewardship. If you want to live a long life, you have to make the right choices.

6. Drive safely. Speeding may be thrilling and a habit but it will hasten your meeting with Jesus. I’m guilty of this myself but when we drive above the speed limit, angels are not obligated to protect us. Whether we agree or not, it is good citizenship to abide by the law of the land. If we want our kids to drive safely, we have to set a good example for them.

7. Pray for divine health. It doesn’t matter what your health condition is right now; you can get better. If you’re sick, Jesus can heal you. But God won’t do what you can do for yourself. Your body is not only where you live but it is where God lives. Pray for long, satisfied life. It is part of your inheritance in Christ. Every time I pass a certain landmark, I have a habit of praying, “Thank you Lord for a long satisfied life”. When we pray for divine health, quoting health and healing scriptures daily then we’ll live a long, satisfied life as God has promised us. I pray and declare health, healing, and wholeness over your body today and all the days of your life.

“With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation” (Psalm 91:16 ESV).

Spread Your Influence: http://www.buildinternational.org

Stay Inspired: https://www.facebook.com/BuildInternationalMinistries

 

See Your Impact: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125710914@N05/

Mother's Influence Shape History

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spread Your Influence: http://www.buildinternational.org

Stay Inspired: http://buildinternational.blogspot.com/

See Your Impact: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125710914@N05/