Cry on!

Part of the beauty of life is that we can cry.

A 21st century miracle

I woke up stretched to my right to turn on my lamp (electricity). Reached to the left grabbed my laptop (communication, entertainment, The Word), in seconds everything I needed I had. This is a 21^st century miracle people, that so few, sadly, enjoy.

The Road to Success....

Tip #1

Me to friend: You know what - If you build it they will come

I believe in that

Start something off and ask for a heck load of favours along the way

but don't forget to repay and pay it forward!

A prerequisite for a partner

is someone who points me further to Christ.

Thought for the day

"

"'I was raised in a culture that insisted I could do anything; that I was without limits, given enough energy and commitment on my part; that God made things that way, and all I had to do was get with the program. My troubles began when I started to slam into my limitations...in the form of failure.' What's your most painful limitation? The one you won't admit? The one you don't want anybody to see? Acknowledge it. Seek honest feedback. Ask for God's help in accepting the limits He's placed on you for your own protection."

We could all act with impunity but what would be the point??!

You don't have to believe in God if you choose not to but Godly principles like 'love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, forgiveness, not coveting, not lying,' are surely solid principles to live by, no? The murders, madness and mayhem are simply a result of careless, LAZY living. It's easy to be a twat and we could all act with impunity but what would be the point??!

Everybody check your ingredients. Who are you and what are you made of? What do you stand for? Being mean and malicious, or minuscule in mind, not caring about others because they are not you, 'not the same colour', not from the same 'background', not from the same 'ends' - whatever the hell that means, or not from the same red brick university (equally as ridiculous) is cheap. Having an ego that means you don’t care about anything out of ‘your’ world is cheap. Cheap like mobile phones, anyone can possess that attitude. Caring about people more than you, now that’s hard...and noble. Extending a hand of friendship when someone has pissed you off, that's hard...and noble. Caring (really caring) about a boy, murdered, at the other end of town that's hard...and noble. Not becoming so wrapped up in your own world all of the time that is hard...and noble. Not being pretentious, with an over fluffed ego when you are succeeding in life that's hard...and noble. Not being angry, jealous or bitter when you are not succeeding in life that's hard...and noble. Being ‘truly’ beautiful on the inside and the outside, now that’s hard...and noble.


Again, check your ingredients. Who the heck are you and what are you made of?

Right now I am thinking about: Zachary Olumegbon, the Congo fuel truck explosion that has killed at least 230 people, I am thinking about BP, I am thinking about people who think taking drugs are ‘cool’ -forgetting all the people who die to get it it up their noses or veins, I'm thinking about Mexico, I am thinking about people who put their feet on seats in buses and trains and I am considering me.

A small selfish act is as bad as a big one.
A small selfless act is as grand as a big one.

A Series on Compassion: Part 1

Self-compassion involves acting the same way towards yourself when you are having a difficult time, fail, or notice something you don’t like about yourself. Instead of just ignoring your pain with a “stiff upper lip” mentality, you stop to tell yourself “this is really difficult right now,” how can I comfort and care for myself in this moment? Instead of mercilessly judging and criticizing yourself for various inadequacies or shortcomings, self-compassion means you are kind and understanding when confronted with personal failings – after all, who ever said you were supposed to be perfect?

Oh so applicable right now...

Oh so applicable right now...funny thing is when I think of all my hopes and dreams the feeling I have is of giving birth and I was saying this to myself this morning before reading this. I was saying to Eddie yesterday that I really just want to see the physical manifestation of the dreams. This is my encouragement.

What's Your Dream? (1) 09 Jun 2010'He dreamed still another dream...' Genesis 37:9When it comes to dreams, Joseph teaches us two important principles: 1) Keep your dream alive! The story's told of a couple who loved mushrooms and bought several pounds of them from a roadside vendor. They made mushroom omelettes, mushroom salad, mushroom soup, and even concocted a mushroom dessert. Their cat gobbled up the leftover mushrooms. Later the lady went into her kitchen and found the cat lying on the floor, gasping for breath. She immediately phoned the vet who said they'd probably gotten some poisoned toadstools and advised they go to the hospital. After having their stomachs pumped the couple came home expecting to see their cat lying lifeless on the floor. Instead the cat was in the corner with a brand new litter of kittens. What they thought were death pains were just birth pains! When it seems that your dream is gasping its last breath, keep believing God; you're closer to giving birth than you've ever been. 2) Dream again, only bigger! Joseph dreamed a second dream, an even bigger one! '"...This time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me..."' (Genesis 37:9 NKJV). If you've abandoned your dream because of discouragement, rise up and reclaim it. If you've already fulfilled it, ask God for a bigger one. You say, 'But the challenge looks too big for me.' It's not too big for God, you'll never out-dream Him. In His Word He asks, 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?...' (Genesis 18:14). You may die with your dream on the drawing board or under construction or left to be completed by another, but you must seek God and dream again! What's Your Dream? (2) 10 Jun 2010'...The butler and the baker of the king...had a dream...' Genesis 40:5When you have a dream: 1) You must cultivate the companionship of other dreamers. By interpreting the dreams of the butler and the baker, Joseph was introduced to Pharaoh, who also had a dream, one that changed Joseph's life. So build relationships with people who also have a dream, who strengthen your faith and shape you into the right person. '...Iron sharpens iron...so a man sharpens...his friend' (Proverbs 27:17 NKJV). 2) You must be both forgetful and fruitful. Your willingness to forgive and forget sets you free from the past; your willingness to try something new opens the door to the future. '...Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead' (Philippians 3:13 NKJV). 'Forgetting' and 'reaching' call for sequential action: forget, then reach! What you refuse to get over, you'll live under. What you refuse to forget, you'll drag like a ball and chain through life. 'But I've tried to forget and I can't.' God will help you! 'Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: 'For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house.' And the name of the second he called Ephraim: '"...For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction'' (Genesis 41:51-52 NKJV). Note the words 'God has caused.' God can help you to get over it and move on. 'Does that mean I won't be able to recall the event?' No, that's amnesia. It means you won't want to recall it. God will give you the ability to reframe it, glean wisdom, and become successful because of it. Six More Great Quotes On Dreams Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil. ~ James Allen ~ You can dream it, you can do it. ~ Walt Disney ~ When you cease to dream you cease to live. ~ Malcolm S. Forbes ~ Ialways have to dream up there against the stars. If I don't dream I will make it, I won't even get close. ~ Henry J. Kaiser ~ To accomplish great things we must first dream, then visualize, then plan... believe... act! ~ Alfred A. Montapert ~ Big thinking precedes great achievement. ~ Wilfred Peterson ~

I am learning that

There is no place for perfectionism in LOVE; that is to say, if you wait for perfection to love you will not have loved truly or fully.

This is so aptly me...

17 May 2010 Perfectionism 'Even perfection has its limits...' Psalm 119:96 High standards and attention to detail are commendable; they show you take pride in your work. However, dyed-in-the-wool perfectionists take an all-or-nothing approach by finding fault and obsessing over how they could have done it better. Case in point: after delivering one of history's most memorable speeches, Abraham Lincoln described his Gettysburg Address as a 'flat failure.' Perfectionists see opportunities to perform as opportunities to fail, so even when they do reach their goal there's no sense of accomplishment. None of us will ever attain perfection this side of eternity. We're all imperfect; get used to it! We only '...know in part...' (1 Corinthians 13:9 NIV). So: 1) Give yourself permission to fail, in order to succeed. Henry Ford said, 'Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.' 2) Though you're not likely to excel initially, don't be afraid to try. You won't get perfect results, but it will let you see that sometimes 'average' can be progress. 3) Lighten up. Be forgiving of yourself, and extend grace to others. Emerson said, 'A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.' 4) Don't get bogged down in details. Set a time limit; say, 'I'm going to give this thirty minutes.' A well-known counsellor says, 'Have reasonable expectations...do your best and encourage others to do the same. Flaws and imperfections determine your uniqueness. Relish them. Embrace them...you're human ...God made you that way.' The truth is, God doesn't judge our mistakes nearly as harshly as we do. He '...remembers we are only dust...' (Psalm 103:14 NLT). This reminds me of India Aries 'Back to the Middle' I'll have to explain later (gotta to go hit the shower)

The 1 Minute Sermon

We are instructed to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind and with all our strength - this being the first commandment. To do this, we must fix our eyes on Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. Being lukewarm - neither hot nor cold is no good, instead we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. It is therefore imperative that we as friends, family and joint heirs, encourage one another and build each other up lest we forsake our first love.

Ref:

Mark 12:30

And you shall love the lord your god with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment

Hebrews 12:2

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of god.

Revelation 3:16

So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

Philippians 2:12

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling

Romans 8:17

Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Revelation 2:4

Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken your first love.

The Garbage Law

This is great and something to remember...

OhMyGod! I love this...

Look what I stumbled upon this morning! God keeps blessing me with these great finds!

The artist is Coffey, the album this song is comes from called Worship Unplugged, Vol. 1. It's wicked and will be purchased very shortly.

Buy here or on Spotify.

Thank God I am born again 'gain 'gain 'gain.

Look! what I stumbled upon this morning, God keep blessing my with these great finds!

The artist is Coffey, the album this song is comes from calledWorship Unplugged, Vol. 1. It's wicked and will be purchased very shortly.

Buy here or on Spotify.

Thank God I am born again 'gain 'gain 'gain.

Lesson

Lesson from yesterday: when you are in the spirit AMAZING things happen.

Lesson for today: Stay in the spirit.

OhMyGod! I love this...

Look! what I stumbled upon this morning, God keep blessing my with these great finds!

The artist is Coffey, the album this song is comes from calledWorship Unplugged, Vol. 1. It's wicked and will be purchased very shortly.

Buy here or on Spotify.

Thank God I am born again 'gain 'gain 'gain.

3R's

You the God of 3R's

Renewal.

Restoration.

Rejuvenation.

A Post for Mama

I meant to type 'tye dye' into Google Chrome's search bar but as usual my brain moves much faster than my hands and whatever it was I typed led me to this page http://www.tybello.com/ and this video. A fortuitous find!

I feel proud. If the media are to be believe we Africans are just sitting around waiting for someone to come in and clean up our backyards. Mama Ekundayo disproves this fallacy - she is just one in many that are doing more than their fair share to help Africans and Africa.

I don't know that much about Mama Ekundayo but I do know that she is an inspiration and I pray that I will do something worthy with my life, the way she has with hers.

God bless and sustain her in all she does.

http://www.tybello.com/Music/

Anxious?

New American Standard Bible
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:6

I Pray...Love

May I learn to appreciate love in all it shapes and guises.

Prayer and Promises

This morning I was thinking about prayer and promises.

I thought, 'if we Christians truly believed in what God says about Himself, who He says we are and what He says He would do for us i.e. His promises to us, how different our lives would be.' I really felt convicted that if I put into perspective all God has done in my life and beyond, and tie that together with what He has promised to do for those that love and seek Him, then I would not only be blown away but I would walk fearlessly into the future with an enormous spring in my step. My prayer is that, in my lifetime, I will come to understand the magnitude of God promises to me.

With these thoughts in mind, I cruised the internet for 'promises of God to His Children'

and came across JesusCentral.com. The site simply listed Jesus promises to us with some supporting verses. I have listed the promises here with a single verse but check out the rest of the passages if you can.

:: Love and Friendship of God

They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." (John 14:21)

:: Fresh Start/Forgiveness

"Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (Luke 15:4-7)

:: Answers To Prayers In Faith

"Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven given good things to those who ask him." ( John 15:7)

:: Eternal Life

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." ( John 3:16)

:: God's Spirit Present With You

"When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry before hand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit." ( Mark 13:11)

:: Peace

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." ( Matthew 11:28-30)

:: Rewards in Heaven for Sacrifice Now

"You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." ( Mark 10:21)

If you have time, read the story below. If not, then just read my conclusion.

When we become more eternally minded, we become less fearful of earthly things - they hold less weight and so become less frightening. We become immune to the criticisms and judgements of others because we do not elevate man above his station. Without so much to fear, we can become more courageous and emboldened in our lives, and most importantly, what God says becomes paramount. So today, lets focus on Him, be bold in our prayers, remember the promises of our Creator - the Father are true and unbreakable and start to live a more fearless life.

Surely, He who made the heavens and the earth can make our hopes and dreams come true?

Nature Slideshow

View more presentations from elejol.

Let me tell you a story about a woman named Ruby. Her daughter and her grand-daughter are long time members of this church. Ruby trusted Jesus a lot, and because of that took some risks. She went to seminary way back in the 30s when women didn't do that. You can imagine what people said to her, she got some criticism. But she didn't worry, because she cared more about the eternal things, like God and his people and his kingdom, than she cared about what some folks thought about her. That's temporary. Then she worked as a missionary with Asian Americans here in Washington State. She got married, she raised a family, but then her husband died. But she didn't worry, because she knew that God would provide for her basic needs.

Then, later on, she started to travel. In her 70s and 80s she started smuggling Bibles into Communist countries, just for the fun of it I guess. That's pretty cool, don't you think? A Bible smuggling Grandma? You just got to love what Jesus does to people. I'm sure that wasn't easy to smuggle Bibles. I'm sure there were dangers, bad things could have happened, but she didn't worry because she knew that no matter what, God would provide, and that even if bad things happened God would use them for good. He always does.

Well, several years ago Ruby got pancreatic cancer. Even then she didn't worry. Again, she knew that God would provide and she cared passionately about God's kingdom. She knew that even in her cancer she would get to be a part of God advancing his kingdom in her life and in the world. That's what he did. For starters, she ended up having almost no pain, which is very rare in pancreatic cancer. It's usually very painful. She kept on going into prisons and preaching as she had always done, even in her illness.

Also along the way she befriended a doctor and his wife. The doctor's wife had been divorced and some of her friends had shunned her because of that, but Ruby befriended them and showed them the grace of Jesus. As a result, this doctor made special efforts when it came to Ruby's case. In fact, when the doctor knew that Ruby had cancer, he went to her house on a Saturday morning, his day off, to tell her the news personally. Talk about God providing: when was the last time your doctor made a house call? When he told her that she had cancer, Ruby's response was to quote St. Augustine, `We don't know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.`

During her illness her family and church friends were all around her taking care of her, and that was a huge witness to the non-Christian doctors and nurses who were treating her. In fact, the social workers and the hospice care providers were so impressed with the Christian community around Ruby that they told her they didn't need to come to her house any more, because the quality of her support group was so good. They said they had never seen a community like that before. So even in her illness, even as other people were taking care of her, Ruby was showing people who Jesus was.

During her last days, Ruby's daughters would take turns reading the Bible to her out loud. One of her daughters wasn't a Christian, but she would read the Bible to Ruby anyway. It was while this non-Christian daughter was reading the Bible that Ruby finally died. Now her family jokes that what made Ruby finally comfortable to die was hearing her non-Christian daughter read Scripture, that she could trust God even with her daughter's soul. It turns out that was a good trust because now that daughter is coming back to family and faith.

Now, was everything easy in Ruby's life? Absolutely not. She faced a lot of hardships but as her daughter told me, she always trusted that whatever it was she faced, she knew that God knew what he was doing, even when it was tough. The things that were most important to her were eternal and could never be taken away anyway so she didn't worry. She gave her needs to Jesus knowing that he would always meet her physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, and he always did. She cared passionately about what God was doing in the world and in her life, and knew that nothing could stop that, and that he would always bring good out of evil. Because of that she didn't worry, and now she has the ultimate healing, which is to be with Jesus forever.

Distant dream

It is a distant memory, this love thing.

An old dream,

a future thought

That now and again slices through my present.

It is a laugh, a guttural chuckle

a note

a groan

a cry

It speaks softly at first and then loudly - so definite its call.

I am alone

Twirling in an open field

Arms stretched out, head titled back, my curious eyes piercing a deep blue sky

painted with children’s style marshmallow clouds.

Love plays a familiar tune in the distance

The sun shines bright.

I am enraptured

then suddenly the clouds open,

even before it has a chance to turn a deep saturated shade of indigo blue, which it always does in this dream

thick, fat raindrops fall

I look around, there is no shelter

I stand still.

I am alone.

My future distant, my past gone

And my present in a deep dark longing for its future self.

How to Write About Africa

WOW...this is powerful stuff!
The Poet is Binyavanga Wainaina.

Job 36:32

this blew me away...
³² He fills his hands with lightning
and commands it to strike its mark.

Psalm 1:3 (New King James Version)

³ He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

What a great prayer this makes it could go something like this:

God make me like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
that whatever I do shall prosper.

Amen