PERSONAL ADVICE TO YOU

Don't depend too much on anyone in this world. Because even your shadow leaves you when you're in darkness. People hurt you, God will heal you. People humiliate you, God will magnify you. People judge you, God will justify you. In life, God doesn't give you the people you want. Instead, he gives you the people you need - to teach you, to hurt you, to love you, and to make you exactly the way you're meant to be.

There Is No "I" in Team

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT)

There is no “I” in team. I remember that phrase volleying back and forth during  tennis match with my sweetheart back in Ghana. I would miss a put away at the net and turn to my partner saying, “I’m sorry.” Her reply, “It’s okay. We’re a team, and there is no “I” in team.” In a later match her down the line shot goes wide and she exclaims, “Sorry I missed that.” I respond, “Remember, there is no “I” in team. 

Reset and let’s go.” Every match didn’t sound like that because once that tone was set, we knew it to be true. We won and lost as a team! That spirit of teamwork is what kept us driving forward during a tough match.

That particular partnership lasted a long time because we were a solid team; we won most of our matches, but we lost our fair share, too. Looking back, I think one of the biggest factors of our success was our mindset. Sure we took clinics to work on our game and played challenge matches to keep us on our toes, but on the court there was no “I”. We won and lost as a team! 

I never walked off the court feeling responsible for the loss. Equally important, I never went down the path of pointing the finger to place the blame on my partner. Come to think of it, there is no “U” in team, either!

I tell you Jesus was a master at team building! Twelve men choose to uproot their lives and become disciples of Christ. Through sharing His life, these men went on to reach out to others as a unified and powerful witness to the truth of God’s love.  

“I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me. I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me.” John 17:20-21 (CEV)

What a word, amazing, this is Jesus speaking. Run away from men of God and leaders who are pompous and feel they alone can do everything. LIKE Jesus, remeber team work is very crucial. There is no “I” in team, but it’s all about the “U” in Jesus!

Relying on Christ

My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need.” Philippians 4:19 (NCV)

Living a Christ-centered life can mean different things to different people, but one thing’s for sure. When God’s word in scripture promised to meet our needs, it wasn’t meant to be viewed as a guarantee for trouble-free living. 

Although putting an end to events that cause pain sounds appealing, God promised to give us everything we need to deal with that pain, not to eliminate it all together. 

Sometimes this strength comes through the Holy Spirit while other times He uses the kindness and comfort from the people He has placed in our lives. More often than not, God works one-on-one in our hearts through faith and hopeful expectation. 

It’s fairly easy to place my confidence in Christ when things are going well, but trusting in His strength during times of crisis requires an intentional choice on my part. I can’t be sure if my tomorrows will be filled with joy and happiness or pain and sorrow. Most likely it will be a mixture of both. 

But this I know; I am confident in His promise of faithfulness and it’s my faith that brings me hope.

As soon as I begin to question God’s ability to provide for my needs, I turn to His promise in scripture, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)..Hallelujah....we serve a living God

Remember the “THANKS” In Thanksgiving

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

Thanksgiving Day was first shared as a harvest feast between the colonist and the africans,  Indians etc. in 1621. Pilgrims and Puritans carried on the tradition for more than 200 years. 

On November 26, 1789, President George Washington proclaimed the first nation-wide thanksgiving celebration, “as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God.” George got it right.

“As a day of public thanksgiving” - “I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His rightness and justice, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.” Psalm 7:17 (AMP) What better way to publicly acknowledge God in your life than to sing praises for others to hear.

“and prayer” - “Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 (CEV) Even during his imprisonment, Paul reached out to the Philippians with thankfulness and encouragement, showing unity in the face of persecution.

If the president of America could do this, then no wonder the country is flourishing.

Techinically and spiritually, when you bless the Lord (Psalm 103:1-2), He establishes you (2 Samuel 7:16)

Make up your mind to bless the Lord at all times to bless the Lord and He will establish you. It is an everyday affair. Be blessed!