Hello Friends, my son accidently poured water on my laptop so its with the repairs. Thank God for insurance. It would have cost me a dollar and a dime to have it repaired if I had not covered the computer when I bought it. It was not convenient at the time to pay the extra money for the insurance but years down the lane its been worth it. I've had to take it in twice for repairs now and never had to pay extra. Please try and insure your valuables because accidents do happen no matter how careful you are. Don't think of it as an unnecessary luxury but a neccessity that will come in handy sometime.
Now today's post.
I'm all about goal setting but don't feel so pressured to achieve your desired plans that you'll sacrifice your morales for them. Its not healthy for you or any one at that. Do your best and leave the rest to God as the saying goes. This is no excuse/ reason to be shoddy at your plans or not make any efforts at all. I simply mean you don't have to sell your soul or hurt others in your efforts to achieve your goal."what will it profit a man to gain the whole world and los4 his soul" Mark 8:36. Neither should you be selfish or cut corners to be fulfilled or successful. Don't put yourself under pressure and don't put others under as well. Do what you can! Go the extra mile but with wisdom.
In Genesis 24, Abraham gave his servant an assignment to find a wife for his son isaac. The servant who was not overly familiar with God's covenant with Abraham(he was not as convinced as his master) became worried about the responsiblity placed on him as the instruction was specific "go to my country and to my own relatives. Get a wife for my son" vrs 4.
The servant was concerned that the intended woman might not want to return with him to which Abraham responded and this inspired this article. "the woman may not want to come with you. If she doesn't, you will be free from your promise but don't take my son back there".
In essense Abraham what meant was
don't kidnapp the girl.. lol-be righteous in your dealings
don't take my son back there-don't fall back into sin to achieve your goals
Come back home if your mission fails-If you encounter difficulties in your plans feel free to re-evaluate, re-strategise and re-trace your steps back to the beginning
Abraham freed him from the oath-your goals are not tied in stone. you can readjust them. No need to comprise your values
Abraham understood that the covenant was between him and God not the servant. He also understood that he needed the young man to achieve his goal but Abraham was not going to force him. He rather encouraged him and trusted God for good success for his servant
NO PRESSURE!!As you journey onwards to a better you, be mindful of the people you meet along the way. Don't treat people as disposable tools. Treat every man equally and be considerate of others. Tust God with your plans and He will establish your path. NO NEED TO CUT CORNERS.NO PRESSURE JUST HAVE FAITH.
There is something about food that makes me happy. Serve me a bowl of any edible, tantalising and finger licking delicacy and I'll be smiling like the cat that got cream..lol. I LOVE FOOD. But there are days that even the best cooked meal will fail to lift the corner of my eyes or touch my heart?
You see sometimes the last thing you feel like doing is smiling. Do you feel like crawling into a corner and bawling your eyes out right now? Go on, give it a good go! Crying serves its purpose, therapeutic and all but when you are done give that challenge a kick in the backside by smiling like the whole world depended on it. I have learnt to smile irrespective of the situation around me. I'm not talking about that false smile that people have somewhat mastered that comes out lifeless. I'm talking full on MEGAWATTS that comes from a point of knowing IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. David understood this principle that is why some of his psalms might start out sad and defeated but his countenance would suddenly brighten and so does his situation. He knew God is never far. Just like praise, your smile confuses the enemy and brings a ray a of sunshine into an otherwise darkened situation. You can't offer praise to God and be gloomy. You may start out sad but I bet when you get midway recounting the awesomeness of God, His faithfulness and goodness, you wont be able to stop that upside down frown turning ride side up (seriously smiling myself now). Just as Praise changes your perspective, a smile brightens up an otherwise harsh countenance. People that smile make better companions, are approachable and pleasant to be around. I have certain friends that I love being around because they have a way of lighting up and making others smile, I call them LIGHTBEARERS. You may feel there is no obvious reason to smile but you are never without hope. Keep smiling in the midst of it all and watch God show up on your behalf. Moreover, your smile matters to somebody and YOU ARE SOMEBODY'S REASON TO SMILE. My friend's mum once said watching me eat gladdens her heart..lol. Try it today, ITS FREE, ITS FREE and it has the capacity to transform just about anyone except Mr Burns in THE SIMPSONS ..lol
"Enough already!", she thought to herself as she smiled into the face of her dinner date. "can't you just see that I am not interested in all your gibberish in as much as its interesting?....but its interesting to you alone", she mused to herself while nodding to everything he said. "are you listening at all?", he asked. "you've been nodding your head all evening but your eyes seem faraway". he stretched his hands across the table and held her hand, gently caressing her palm with his thumbs. A slight shiver ran up her spine and her lips went dry. Its been so long that she'd been held by a man and she loved that sweet tingling feeling caused by his thumbs as they went back and forth over her hand. She burst out laughing, shaking her head as if to physically clear the fuzzy feeling slowly enveloping her. "I'm sorry", she said to the rather stunned gentleman in front of her. "I love your drive and ambition but its simply not me", she continued. "as laudible as your ideas are they don't align with MY vision of the future and I'm not going to buy into it because you're handsome and I'm attracted to you. Its your idea, your convictions not mine. As much as I believe in you, I believe in myself and know what I want". He looked into her face like she was demented while she grabbed her purse and sauntered out of the restaurant. The men stared at the beautiful lady sashaying out of the diner with her luscious hair but most importantly wondering about the reason for that cat-got-the-mouse look on her face. "taxi", she called as she stepped out. A red cab came into a screaching halt in front of her. "queeneth drive" she told the driver as she slithered into the back seat and the cab drove off. The gentle crooning of Ron Kenoly was wafting through the car speakers. she closed her eyes as she allowed his soothing voice to wash over her. her mind drifted over the events of the past few months. it seems everyman that she'd come across lately want her for one reason or the other. they all seem to know whats good for her, what her future should be like. Only lastnight, her mother had asked her for the zillionth time when she'll settle down, that all her friends were married! phew! Nobody seems to understand that she knew what she wanted..."A MAN THAT LOVED GOD". That idea seems crazy these days but she had this unwavering conviction that she'll meet that man soon enough no matter how long it will take, she'd stake her convictions on God. Her dinner date had been pressing her on a business partnership since she met him. "lordy", she thought loud. He couldnt seem to understand that she was not interested in his proposals. She just had this nagging conviction that she was a means to an end for him......his passport to greener pastures in Europe. "Rubbish", she thought outloud again causing the cab driver to glance at her through the rearview mirror. "everything alright missy", he asked. "i'm fine just thinking out loud", she answered. she glanced out the window watching the city lights come alive. People had used her in the past especially men! Before she found jesus, she'd fallen for every man that that had shown her any semblance of love but now she knew better. the maxim "if you dont stand for SOMETHING, you'd fall for ANYTHING" readily came to mind. With Christ she'd found strength to say NO to sin and its alure. she was no longer that weak girl that could be easily swayed by any sexy smile but a strong confident woman who knew what she wanted and would gladly stand by it. The cab pulled in front of a luxury 3 story apartment building. " we are here missy", the driver called out. "I change my mind", she answered. "take me to the nearest chip and fish shop, I feel like having kebab". she had this desire to celebrate and celebrate she would as the driver pulled away to the sound of Ron Kenoly's dilectable voice.
Standing for one's convictions is never easy ask Daniel in the bible but it is sure WORTH it. Several times challenged and tempted but chosing to always trust God to make a way of escape and daring to go all the way even if God choses otherwise. "I am not Daniel" you may say but that same grace is available to stand us out from the crowd. If God has said it, He will surely bring it to pass isaiah 55:11 "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it". Its time to dare to hold on to the convictions and truth of God's word. Its the solid rock on which a man can stand and not be blown by the tides of the world- a bankabable "spiritual tender". Yep! the storm will rage and tempest will roll especially from family and friends if the matter borders on marriage and the fact that you're no longer sixteen? And all other matters at that! I always say if I've bothered to wait this long, then I'll follow the lord the whole nine yards and more! Remember,"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint". Isaiah 40:31. On this matter I STAND STRONG
