WISHING YOU MERRY X MASS 2015

THANK YOU LORD

How can we repay the Lord for all His goodness toward us? Psalm 116:12-13

We need to THANK God and I give Him thanks; for all things, for all blessings:  Thank God for seeing my hurt and my fear. For all the things that are coming on my way I have failed to even notice I give you thanks today. 

Thank you for this year 2015 election in Tanzania which ended in peace through your hand and your Grace.

Thank you for never leaving me. Thank you for all the people who manage to make me laugh. Thank you for giving me one more day to leave. And for every other gift I am too blind to see that totally comes from you -Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Amen.

I know that God has taken a bunch of unwanted, unloved people, saved them by His grace and set them out on display and He says here is what I can do for you too! 

How thankful we should be. God has been so good to us all. He deserves nothing less than to find a thankful heart in every believer. The Bible, especially in the Psalms, encourages a thankful heart:

Psalm 69:30, ''I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.''

Psalm 95:2, ''Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.''

Psalm 100:4, ''Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.''

Are you thankful today in whatever situation you are in???????????
It is a time to meditate and continue to salute Our Almighty GOD

                      AMEN

THE MIND IS EVERYTHING;

 God has created us in such a way that our actions follow our thoughts; a man's life is determined by the nature, or character of the man. A man's nature and life are determined by the contents of his heart.

From this context it is easy to met people who are dominated by their passions.  Or you’re meeting a person who is full of a lot of pride are controlled by beauty. Others are controlled by lust. Same are controlled by wealth; while others are controlled by materialism.

The mind is like a farmer’s field. If a farmer plants corn he will get corn. If he plants wheat he will get wheat. It would be stupid for the farmer to plant corn and then expect to harvest wheat. It is simple; whatever you plant is what you get. If you sow to the flesh you will reap corruption. It is impossible for any person to sow to flesh and get a spiritual harvest. God has given you the ability to control what you sow and thereby control what you harvest.

As Romans 8:5-8 "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set our minds on the flesh leads to death, but to set our minds on the Spirit leads to life and peace. That is why the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile toward God. “Indeed, those who are under the control of the flesh cannot please God."

You need to apply the law of your mind what you put in is what you get out. It is IMPOSSIBLE to put worldly things in your mind and get spiritual results out.

We know human beings can change their lives by changing the thoughts of their mind. That's how you change your life. If an unrighteous man wants to abandon his sinful ways he has to abandon his sinful thoughts. It's just that simple. Isaiah 55:7, 8. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. 

If you want the way to be right then your thought ought to be right. It starts with the brain. One reason God’s ways are different than our ways is because His thoughts are different than our thoughts. Well, you can think with the mind of Christ. We need and we can have the mind of Christ.

What goes on in our heads is very, very important. You can control your actions by controlling your thoughts. How we respond to those thoughts determines our eternal destiny. Watch your thoughts, they will become words THEREFORE:

• Watch your words, they will become actions

• Watch your actions, they will become habits

• Watch your habits, they will become character

• Watch your character; it will become your destiny!

You see, your future is in your mind. You are becoming what you think about in your private moments. If it isn't good, ask God for a New Heart! Ask forgiveness for the past wallowing in muck. Invite the Holy Spirit to take charge of your mind.

BLESSED ARE POOR IN SPIRITY

PEOPLE ARE BLESSED IN DIFFERENT WAYS WITH DIFFERENT THINGS;  DIFFERENT TIMES AND PLACES.  

Question: What draws me closer to God? Away from God? Why do bad things happen? Why isn’t the world a better place?             

                

When I was young, I used to run away from home with some food and other kids stuff  and give out to a group of homeless kids outside the house. My parents  used to look for me without any success and when they used to find me outside with the kids, after I shared with them food and some of my things. They could not point me out from the rest because I was “dirty” and unrecognizable, it was a headache for them but to myself I was so proud because I was able to make those kids happy.

·        See, at that age I did not understand why I had clothes and food while I passed other people in the streets that had no food around them, they did not look like they knew what they were going to eat either. I passed them every day and they would ask them for something, and I would ask my mom if she had any money for me to give them.

·        I harassed my parents a lot at the point of helping other people, I used to tell them all the time “remember when God said if you have two, you should give one to your neighbor” That used to hit them hard.

·        Thanks for my parents who decided to welcome them and live with us and educate them through the organization for me called ROTU, This organization takes in orphans and helps them get an education so that they could be able to provide for themselves. Once I heard some of their stories I was like God thank you, thank you for the life you have granted me. I used to think I had problems but I really did not.

·        I lived with one some orphans the girls and they told me their sad stories, one Orphan she had no home and the rest of hers had cast her out after the parent’s death. They did not even think twice about it, they just didn’t want her. As she was telling me this, she asked me “do you know the feeling of not being wanted in your own family?” At this question, my heart stumbled. Can you imagine your parents not loving you at all; you are all alone in the dark not knowing what is coming up next. As soon as her parents died, and was casted off, she started looking for another life, went to her aunties and uncles but no one wanted her. Then she came across a (Pastor) and he took her in and that how we came to know of her because the pastor knew my mom and the program and therefore led her to us…..  (No parents, no love, no family. What is that like?)

·        There was another girl whose parents were dead and had no place to live or go to. She decided to become a maid since in Africa once you are not educated, being a maid is the only good option to get money. She got a work from a family that ended up converting her to a Muslim. She became a new person, driven away from what she once knew to a new beginning that she could not understand herself. We took her in and converted her back to Christianity and opened for her a whole new chapter. Beatrice finished school and is now studying to get her degree/bachelor in teaching.

·        Another girl story is far from the fairy tale world where  we young people believe in. High school sweethearts, relationship with such a young age while our minds are yet to reach that level of maturity. Her boyfriend took the iron and burnt her whole body without any mercy. She was in a critical condition when she arrived at the hospital but survived by God’s miracle. She then wanted to open a case upon him, though she did not have any money and therefore lost the case before it even began. Took her in, educate her and now she is studying for a higher level. Why?

·        Burnt all over her body yet God choose to save her life instead of taking it why? We all have a purpose in the world, for some of us they are clear, for some of us, well, not so clear. So should we give up? NO. Our job is to find the answer to that question, now do not think that you will go out on the streets to search for your purpose in the world and it will be handed to you like a piece of candy, oh!! No, you will be day dreaming. See we are disciples of God in this world, and our work to lead the others cannot just be easily given to us. We have to prove that we are ready to conquer anything that will come our way, the temptations, the tests and all that God has on hand for us to be tested if we can persevere and carry on without quitting. So in any work, job, you will have disappointments though what matters is if can stand through them and get back to work.

·        There a lot other kids with similar stories and others that just need help to reach their goals so that they can help others too.

i)    SO HERE IS THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION: The world is the way it is because it’s the world that we, in a sense, have asked for.

·         If we want to change it, we can simply by changing the way we do things and how we take others. Luke 6:36 says, “Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier” When you have helped that one person, you have not only done that to help them but it is one step to changing the world since we are all there is to change it. It begins with us, we can’t tell others to change the world while we are not so let us make the first move then the rest will follow.

     

What helps me to become more a part of God’s realm (god’s way of being and doing) in my daily life? In my home life? In my community? In the meeting’s? In the wider world?

My God is Awesome

Loving heavenly father, you know all my worries and fears in my life; you are a most loving heavenly father and You understand my innermost feelings! Yes Lord! I am so nervous thinking about my life and where life takes me. You know my limitations Lord, but Your word says that Your strength is enough in our times of my weakness. I admit that I have no wisdom or knowledge of my own. But I have confidence that I can do everything thorough Christ who strengths me.

I do not know what is in store for me but I know that my future is in the hands of Lord of Lords, Who has made me. So Lord be with me and help me to find grace in the sight in the eyes of the concerned authorities. In my day to day life I need not be afraid of men because I have the Lord Almighty beside me. In whatever I do Please remove all the unwanted fears and worries and fill me with courage. Let me never be put myself to the shame. I thank You Lord for listening to my supplications and filling me with Your peace. In Jesus' name I pray.

Lord keeps me strong to fight all the trials I have now in my life. Give me more strength to fight all these troubles. Make me always calm to be able to think for the right things to do. Guide me in all things I am doing. Thank you Lord for all the graces you have showered to me and my family. Keep us all in good health and keep us all away from accidents and diseases or any sicknesses that will arise. Lord, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Thank you lord for keeping me strong, and from folding, for answering my prayers in those little amazing ways you do. Please help me to continue on wards with strength and happiness; Continue to show me that I am important and that I can do this and be a good example to others.

I know that I must change my way of thinking I need to think and act more with faith. In my weakness is where God’s grace and power flow to meet my need. When I am weak, I know I need God. God always comes to me especially in my  weakness and failure because that is where God’s grace is released. Thus, Paul could boast in his weakness because that is where God will be glorified.

Dear Lord, thank You for what Jesus did for me on the cross. Because He died for me, I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins—past, present, and future. You have given me Your righteousness and remember my sins no more. I am completely forgiven and greatly blessed and loved by You. I am confident of this, that the good work You began in me You will carry out to completion (Philippians 1:6). Thank You for Grace. Amen

JE YATUPASA KULIPIZA KISASI DHIDI YA WENZETU KATIKA MAISHA YETU;

 Kwa hakika mwanandamu anahitaji upeo mkubwa wa nuru ya kiroho ambayo itaweza kumfanya azike tamaa zake na hisia zote za kulipiza kisasi; tunatakiwa kuwa na uwezo wa kujizuia na hasira, kuzikandamiza hasira, chuki kwa moyo mpana na kujenga daraja la msamaha.  Kusamehe mtu ambaye amekukosea, kuwapenda ndugu na jamaa ambao wameukata uhusiano pamoja nawe, na kuwa mkarimu kwa yule ambaye aliwahi kukunyima, kukutukana, kukusababishia hasira,kukudharau, kukudhalilisha na kadhalika sio jambo rahisi. Tumewaona hata watumishi wa Mungu ambao wanaielewa sana bibilia wakishindwa kabisa kuktekeleza kanuni hii.

Kumsamehe yule aliyekutendea yasiyo sahihi hutusaidia kutupatanisha na Muumba wetu; vile vile msamaha hudumisha mshikamano wa udugu ambao umeharibiwa. Kwa kusamehe tunaandaa njia ya kumwendea Mungu; Lakini  pasipo  imani  haiwezekani  (Waebrania 11:6). Inatufundisha kuwa mtu  amwendeaye Mungu  lazima  aamini  kwamba  yeye  yuko,  na  kwamba  huwapa  thawabu wale wamtafutao,”. Msamaha hutujengea wa kumwendea na Kuishi na Mungu katika Imani.

Kama ilivyoandikwa hakuna mwenye haki, hata mmoja” (Warumi 3:10). Mungu yuko tayari na anasubiri kumsamehe mtu anaye omba msamaha imeelezwa katika Zaburi 86:5 "Kama wewe Bwana u mwema, umekuwa tayari kusamehe, na mwingi wa fadhili kwa watu wote wakuitao". Daudi aliweka wapi tumaini lake la msamaha? Tukisoma Zaburi 51:1 "Ee Mungu unirehemu sawasawa na fadhili zako kiasi cha wingi wa rehema zako uyafute makosa yangu. Mathayo 6:14-15 Kwa maana mkiwasamehe watu makosa yao na Baba wenu wa mbinguni atawasamehe ninyi bali msipowasamehe watu makosa yao wala Baba yenu hatawasamehe makosa yenu." Wale wamesamehewa husamehe. imeandikwa Waefeso 4:32 "Tena iweni wafadhili ninyi kwa ninyi, wenye huruma ninyi mkasameheane kama na Mungu katika kristo alivyowasamehe ninyi."

Kusamehe kwa kweli hakuhesabu makosa. imeandikwa Mathayo 18:21-22 "Kisha petero akamwendea akamwambia Bwana ndugu yangu anikose mara ngapi nami ni msamehe? hata mara saba? Yesu akamwambia sikwambii mara saba bali hata saba mara sabini." Katika kusamehe Yesu ametukomboa kutoka kwa dhambi na mshahara wa dhambi. Wakolosai 2:13-14 inatueleza kuwa "Na ninyi mlipokuwa mmekufa kwa sababu ya makosa yenu na kutokutahiriwa kwa mwili wenu aliwafanya hai pamoja naye akisha kutusamehe makosa yote akisha kuifuta ile hati iliyoandikwa ya kutushitaki kwa hukumu zake iliyo kuwa na uwadui kwetu akiondoa isiwepo tena akaigongomea msalabani."

Zaburi 51:7-12 "Unisamehe nami nitakuwa safi, unioshe nami nitakuwa mweupe kuliko dheluji unifanye kusikia furaha na shangwe, mifupa ilio ponda ifurahi. usitiri uso wako usitazame dhambi zangu uzifute hatia zangu zote Ee Mungu uniumbie moyo safi uifanye upya roho iliyo tulia ndani yangu usinitenge na uso wako wala roho wako mtakatifu usiniondolee unirudishie furaha ya wakovu wako unitegemeze kwa roho ya wepesi."

Zaburi 32:1-6 "Heri aliyesamehewa dhambi na kusitiriwa makosa yake heri Bwana asiyemhesabia upotovu, ambaye rohoni mwake hamna hila niliponyamaza mifupa yangu ilichakaa kwa kuugua kwangu mchana kutwa na kwa maana mchana na usiku mkono wako ulinilemea jasho langu likakauka hata nikawa kama nchi kavu wakati wa kaskazi nalikujulisha dhambi yangu wala sikuuficha upotovu wangu nalisema nitayari maasi yangu kwa Bwana naweukanisamehe uoptovu wa dhambi yangu kwa hiyo kila mtu mtauwa akuombe wakati unapopatikana hakika maji makuu yafurikapo hayatamfikia yeye."

Wale walio wanyonge moyo wako mbele ya Mungu na wala kutambua hatia yangu, haijafika hali ya kwanza ya kukubalika. Tunahitaji kuokolewa kutoka katika aina zote za tabia zetu mbaya pamoja na misukumo ya ndani inayotushurutisha kufanya mambo fulani mabaya: kama vile, kusema uongo, hasira inayomfanya mtu atukane watu, tamaa mbaya za mwili, uchungu, kutaja machache tu.

Hatuwezi kujiokoa wenyewe kutoka katika dhambi au kuigeuza tabia yetu kwa kujitegemea wenyewe kama vile Simba asivyoweza kuamua awe mwana-kondoo (Warumi 7:18). Dhambi ina nguvu nyingi kuliko nia yetu ya kufanya yale tuyatakayo. Lakini Kristo anaweza kukufanya wewe uwe "imara kwa uweza wake, kwa kazi ya Roho wake katika utu [wako] wa ndani" (Waefeso 3:16). Anafanya kazi yake ili kuondoa tabia zetu ziletazo uharibifu na mahali pake kuweka tabia hizi nzuri: upendo, amani, furaha, upole, uwezo wa kujitawala (Wagalatia 5:22,23). Kristo anaishi maisha yake kupitia ndani yetu, kisha tunapokea uponyaji wa kiroho, tunarejeshwa katika maisha mapya, na kuwezeshwa kuishi maisha hayo mapya.

Hakuna dhambi ambayo ni ya kutisha sana asiyoweza kuisameka Yesu anatamani sana kwamba kila mmoja wetu hatimaye awe na uhusiano mzuri na Yule aliyemkosea na kumsababishia majeraha ambayo yamejenga chuki ambayo inahitaji msamaha. Yesu anataka tupokea msamaha na utakaso wa Mungu ni; katika  imani jambo ni  rahisi na la maana sana kama tunavyofurahia kumpokea motto mdogo aliyezaliwa na kumkumbatia. 

Lakini kutokana na ubinadamu wetu, majivuno, kiburi, masengenyo inatuwia vigumu sana kutoa msamaha wa kweli pale tunapokosewa, tunakuwa na kiburi ambacho kinatufanya kuona kuwa Yule aliyetukosea hastaili msamaha wetu; lakini kama tunayafuata mafundisho ya yesu na mifano ambayo ametutolea katika Bibilia Takatitifu tunatakiwa tuondoe ugumu katika mioyo yetu na kuuvaa unyenyekevu kama yeye alivyovaa unyenyekevu na kuuvua Umungu kwa ajili ya makosa yetu, na alikuja kukaa nasi na ametutengenezea daraja la msamaha ambalo kila mwanadamu lazima alipite ili kuweza kukamilisha safari yake ya kwenda mbingu.

SUCCESS ALWAYS EMBRACE FAILURES

Most thinkers believe that to achieve the greatest success, you have to embrace the prospect of failure. It is true that to achieve your personal best, you need not to fear failure, you must think big, and you have to push yourself. It when we reach the conclusion that the sweetest victory is the one that’s most difficult. “Failure and defeat are life’s greatest teachers. Like the innocent smile of little girl.

One scholar once said that “The quickest road to success is to possess an attitude toward failure of ‘no fear,’… One of the biggest secrets to success is operating inside your strength zone but outside of your comfort zone,”

We need to pray and ask God to give us courage which do not allow our fear of failure to stop us from trying new things and to keep us from jumping into the unknown, many of our wildest dreams and most of our biggest goals shall be left without being achieved. At the end of life, there we shall be, repeating a long list of regrets over and over again in our minds.

We need to be kind of people who recognize that that worry and failure are a part of life, the kind of people who don’t let that fact stop them from making the most out of their short time on this planet.

There is value in failures, as you can see. And most importantly, failures are lessons. What you can draw out of each failure is experience and knowledge that will help you succeed better. That is why you should never ever be afraid of failing, because there is absolutely nothing to fear. In the game of life, nobody plays a perfect game. If you think that some people lead perfect flawless lives, it’s your perception, but certainly not reality. 

Accept that failure is a part of life, and the better you will be for it. Accept that you have failed. For some people, their past failures haunt them, and they never get over it. Accept it. Know that this is not some isolated incident, everyone has faced this. You are no different. 

therefore we must accept that failures is a bridge of the future success. 

REFLECTING CHARACTER IN THE KINGDOM

ZUNGUKA ZUNGUKA - ZE COMEDY

WEMA WA MUNGU UMENIZUNGUKA

DR.MYLES MUNROE: UNDERSTANDING GOD'S PLAN

WHY ARE WE SHEADING TEARS?

 

David said in Psalm 6, "I'm worn out from groaning all night long." Theologically the shedding of tears shows that the heart is engaged. In others words as most believers said “Tears are a language God understands.” in other words “Life is represented as a scene of unending struggles and sorrows; and men are made to walk under a constant shadow.”

as human we shed tears in our sorrows during our difficult times of our life; this shows that we are weak and asking of help from others to join in our difficulties; but Paul said that we should not sorrow as one who has no hope.scientists argued that “Tears are familiar to the infant as well as the oldest person living at this very moment. From infancy to old age the record of every man’s life is written in letters of  tears”.

 The Bible has a great deal to say about this matter of “tears”. In the Scriptures we see (babies) weeping; we discover (strong men) crying…we read of our Lord weeping and shedding “tears”.

The first mention of ‘tears’ in the Bible is in [II Kings 20:5]. Here we have a record of a King weeping. King Hezekiah was sick unto death…he had just been informed by the Prophet that he was going to die. Turning his face to the wall, he cries out to the Lord; pleading for his life. The Lord saw his tears and stayed the hand of death and added years to his life.

 It is found in [Revelation 21:4]- “And God shall wipe away ALL TEARS from their eyes.”

God is the One who gave us “tears” to shed. He is also the great ‘tear’ drier. God dried the ‘tears’ of King Hezekiah when he cried to the Lord…And one day God will dry every ‘tear’ from the eyes of His children.

Every single one of us has shed “tears” at some time or another----and the majority of us has shed many, many, many “tears”. The shedding of “tears” is a peculiar unique human method of expressing emotions, such as sorrow, pain, despair, and disappointment. Man is the only created being who can laugh. Man, too, is the only one who can shed ‘tears’ in the sense of expressing emotion.

we need to be proud because  “Tears are a language, God understands.” Whether you know it or not, God sees you in your good times and also in your bad times. God is near you when you smile and also when you are brokenhearted. God remembers when you think on Him because you love Him---and He remembers you and records your “tears” when you think on Him because you need Him close to you.

“Tears” of physical pain comes from experiencing some form of disease. There is the pain of having surgery…having an accident…

 Think of the child whose feelings are hurt because they didn’t get their way.

"Sorrows, emotional pain cannot be treated by physicians…they really cannot be understood by philosophers. Medicine, pain pills cannot cure emotional distress. Doctors cannot treat a heart that has been broken by death. A Preacher cannot take away the hurt that a person feels when they have cancer".

“Tears that are shed make us willing to leave this valley of the shadow of death and go home to be with Jesus. If there were no troubles; if there were no sorrows; if there were no hurts; if there were no separation; if there were no death, we would be perfectly content to remain here on this earth forever.But the “tears” that have been shed; the “tears” that will be shed by a Child of God remind us that one day all sorrow, suffering; sickness; sadness; separation will be over.

Every trial that comes into your life becomes a test of your faith. You either pass or fail. To fail the test by wrongly responding to it allows it to become a temptation. If it ends up leading you to sin, it has proven to be successful in tempting you. If it ends up in victory, it has proven to be successful in strengthening you. the quick solution is to shed tears. Simon Peter wept when he denied the Lord 3 times.

As the son of God we need to shed tears for his glory and not for our Pain because he is a comforter and healer of our pain.

AMEN

 

WHEN WE FACE TRIALS JESUS IS THE ANSWER.

• Jesus never looked for trouble, but He always accepted it when it came.

 

James 1:2 says, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials."

James is saying that if your Christianity is genuine, it will prove itself in times of trouble. If my faith in God is good only when I'm doing well, then it's of little value. True faith will sustain the believer when life goes wrong.

Trials are tests that reveal the genuineness and strength of one's faith (James 1:3), and therefore apply to believers as well as unbelievers. If you consistently persevere through trials and never abandon your trust in God, then you prove to have genuine faith.

When a false Christian goes through a test, it will inevitably reveal his true colors. When a true believer goes through a test, he will be driven to prayer, leaning on the strength of God rather than his own weakness. Trials burn up imitation faith but strengthen true faith. They may cause us pain when we are confronted by our weaknesses, but they have the good result of causing us to turn from ourselves to the infinite strength of God.

Evaluating a trial as being joyful is something a Christian must discipline himself to do, because joy is not the natural human response to troubles. It takes a conscious commitment. Paul made such a commitment while a prisoner in Rome . He told the Philippians, "Rejoice in the Lord always" and "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am" (Phil. 4:4, 11). Trials should be faced with a joyful attitude because they bring about proven faith, strengthen us, draw us into communion with God as we identify with Christ in His sufferings, and promise us better things to come.

In 1 Corinthians 10:13 Paul says, "No temptation [trial] has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able." Not everyone has the same ability to endure trials.

God faithfully works in our lives in a personal way to allow trials, unique to each individual, to take us to higher levels of spiritual maturity.

• If you fight against God's perfecting work, the trials may become more difficult.

• It is as mandatory as Paul's instruction to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17).

God intends for you to recognize the limitations of human reason. Proverbs 3:5-7 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes." When you're going through a trial, you must put your faith in God's wisdom and not in your own limited understanding.

In James 1:5 James explains God's response to our prayers for wisdom: "[He] gives to all men generously and without reproach." We have a gracious God who desires to give us what we desire and need. The Greek word translated "generously" speaks of something that is given unconditionally, without bargaining. It is reminiscent of Matthew 7:7-11: "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. 

Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!"

When you go through a difficult trial, go to God in prayer. He will generously give you the wisdom you need to understand that trial and properly respond to it.

In James 1:6 James gives an analogy of the doubting person: "The one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind." The doubting person who goes to God but doesn't believe He can provide him the necessary wisdom is like the billowing, restless sea, which surges back and forth with its endless tides, and is never able to settle. 

Then James tells us what the double-minded man should expect: "Let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord" (v. 7). When faced with a trial, an unbeliever who professes to know Christ will doubt God and get angry with Him, eventually severing his association with a church. A true Christian who is spiritually immature may respond in a similar manner. He reacts emotionally to his difficult circumstances and doesn't fully trust God.

 In the midst of trials he doesn't experience a joyous attitude, an understanding mind, a submissive will, or a believing heart. He is unable to ask for wisdom from God and unwilling to take advantage of the resources God has provided. As long as He continues to doubt God, he will never know the resolution available to him through faithful, persistent prayer to God.

Loving the world and trying to love God at the same time is impossible.When you enter a trial, you will be able to endure it through divine wisdom and the confidence that God will freely give you what is necessary for victory. But the condition is that your faith be unwavering. Otherwise you will be unstable in every area of life and never receive the wisdom you requested. True stability in life is characteristic of those who trust God in the midst of trials.Whether rich or poor, trials humble all believers to the same level of dependency on God. 

Money doesn't buy people out of their problems, although it may solve some economic ones. Equality is driven home through trials. When you lose a daughter, son, wife, or husband, it doesn't matter how much money you have. No amount can buy your way out of that trial. We should not exalt those who have much over those who have little because earthly possessions are inadequate to buy us what we need spiritually.

James ends his discourse on trials in verse 12 by saying, "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 5:11

AMEN

THE MASSAGE FOR GOOD FRIDAY 2015 BE KIND AND COMPASSIONATE:

The message for Good Friday 2015 comes from Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”.

The bible remands us that Loving one another does not mean loving only those believers to whom we are naturally attracted. It means loving every believer. The Apostle John said that loving one another is the proof that we have been truly follower of Jesus despite the fact that our personalities are so different, we are naturally attracted to some people and not attracted to others.  God made us different from one another, and therefore we have different likes and dislikes. Jesus did not say that we must like every believer; He said that we must love them.

Right now, God may be speaking to you about someone you do not love. It may be a relative, a fellow church member, or someone else. You may be saying, "I know that I should love that person, but how do I do it?

i know that it is easy to say that I cannot control my feelings, but I can control my will. I cannot make myself have a feeling of love toward someone, but I can choose to love that person. If I make that choice and hold to it, I will find that my feelings will, in time, follow the choice of my will. The important thing to remember is this: I am controlled by the decision of my will and not by my feelings.

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." Matthew 5:43-44

it is a challenging when we read that; "If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic" philosophically this statement can expressed as " to go out of your way to avoid a nasty confrontation. Even though provoked, instead of lashing out, you turn the other cheek. In fact, I think that's pretty close to what this sentence means in Jesus' teaching. Remember, the context is enemies, those who insult us and seek to embarrass us".

Jesus' point is that we are to avoid hitting back, the natural human reaction. How can we love when we hit back with something that will wound our opponent? Husbands and wives sometimes get into arguments; tensions that may have been simmering for years boil over once again. And with the boiling comes anger, and with anger a willingness not just to defend, but to strike back. To get an advantage. To have the last word. To wound.

Though Jesus' instruction to turn the other cheek is intended in the arena with a sworn enemy, the principle applies to every area of our lives. Don't retaliate. Don't hit back. Don't move from a position of prayerful love for your enemy to a drop-down, drag-out fight. Love doesn't retaliate. Love seeks the enemy's good (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

The second command is harder yet to understand. "If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic"  But we need  love him and  pray for him. The bible wants us to avoid  to get grabby and nasty and accusing behavior. Through the massage of this Good Friday we need to ask  the Spirit of Jesus to working through you he can teach you to love your enemies -- even at their ugliest.

• "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full."

• "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful"

Therefore this Good Friday Lord,  help me to take your words seriously and not discount them. Make your point deep in my heart. Teach me your mercy. In Jesus' name to;

• Love your/my enemies
• Do good to them
• Lend to them without expecting to get anything back.

 AMEN

HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY 2015

DEALING WITH DIFFICULTY PERSONALITIES?

Tips questions about dealing with difficult people:

• Can you recall the last time you had to deal with a negative or difficult person?

• Or the last time someone said something with the intention of hurting you? How did you handle it?

• What was the result? What can you do in the future to get through these situations with peace and grace?

• It is true that wherever we are going we will face people who are negative and who will oppose what you think it is right.

• How can we handle negative situation when it happens?

• Why we need to be careful when we are dealing with negative people or negative issues?

The Bible gives us some practical guidelines for managing difficult people. The first is found in Matthew 18:15-17 and Ephesians 4:15. Both of these passages instruct us to confront difficult people privately and in love. Take the initiative; but in doing so, be sure you are fair, firm and friendly.

According to the Bible the way to deal with difficult people is to love them, pray for them, expect to give rather than to receive, maintain a humble spirit, and relate to them in patience and kindness.

The Bible also cautions us that we also need to examine ourselves before judging others by praying for the Spirit’s power to change our own hearts and minds toward the difficult person and enable us to see them as needing the same love, grace and mercy that God extended toward us.

We have a clear example of Jesus forgave the men who were going to kill him, as we read in Luke 23:34-39. The way to deal with difficult people, then, is to practice Christ’s humility and love. That kind of response is both edifying to us and pleasing to the Lord. Pope John Paul II Demonstrating with his personal deeds, he visited the man who attempted to kill him and forgave him for his wrong doing. He exhorted the faithful to be merciful as our Heavenly Father is merciful. So what about us do we always utilize this merciful tool in our life towards difficult people?

If in our life we don’t do that what we create is holding grudge what does this means in our life, it is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. But we forget that the only person we hurt is ourselves. When we react to negativity, we are disturbing our inner space and mentally creating pain within ourselves.

Why people initiate negativity, it looks like it is a reflection of their inner state expressed externally and sometimes because our ego likes problems and conflict. People are often so bored and unhappy with their own lives that they want to take others down with them.

As I have explained before that when we are in a negative state or holding a grudge against someone, we don’t feel very good. We carry that energy with us as we go about our day. When we don’t feel very good, we lose sight of clarity and may react unconsciously to matters in other areas of our lives, unnecessarily.

We can run away from the truth that we are humans after all, and we have emotions and egos. And we need to understand that Negative people can be a source of energy. When you find yourself identifying with emotions and thoughts, bring your focus on your breath.  Need to remember that when we are  dealing with difficult people, don’t try to change the other person; you will only get into a power struggle, cause defensiveness, invite criticism, or otherwise make things worse. It also makes you a more difficult person to deal with.

Therefore lowering your expectations of people will make you more comfortable with difficult as James 1:19-20: said that "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God"