What if things don’t get better? What if the pain, sickness, and brokenness you face is permanent? Hope is good, but what if the hope you have just doesn’t pan out?
It is good to encourage people to hold on in the midst of their struggles. Continue to be faithful in what you do in spite of the difficult circumstances you are in. Our hope is that one day, things will turn around for the good.
For some people, the only healing they’ll receive for their bodies is at the time of resurrection. Resurrected bodies will be free of sickness and pain.
Whatever struggles you face, there is a longing to be free from that pain. There is always that thought that maybe one day, the agony will go away. So we continue to pray for healing, and ultimately desire wholeness in every area of our lives.
Yet throughout the Bible, there are people who went through life never having received what they longed for. Abraham never reached his “destination” during his life. Moses missed the promised land. Although Job got back more than what he lost, his children were no more.
What if our pain is permanent? What if your loss is never to be recovered? I remember the words of Job: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.”
Maybe it’s the end of your hope. Some things may never change. Maybe it’s the end of your life as you had wished it to be, with all its success and grandeur.
Jesus asked the Father to take away the “cup” of torture and agonizing death, but he submitted himself to the Father’s will. Although the pain was too much to bear, he loved his Father more than his desire to be free. And of course, He loved us too much to give up.
I am learning a new lesson. It’s an old one, and I’ve known it all along, but it is finally getting into my heart. This life is temporary. This is just “practice” for eternity with God. The fullness and true reality will come then. Today is the day to learn to be in relationship with God and to trust Jesus.
Your Turn
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Category: Inspiration
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We consider it an important value that everyone gets to play, but leadership is limited. They need to be tested first. Active involvement is open to all of God’s children. We are not to limit anyone because of their situation in life.
Once people are involved, they need to prove themselves faithful. When tasks are assigned, we observe their commitment to the task. Are they faithful? Are they committed?
Paul clearly expressed this important principle to Timothy. “And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless” (1 Tim 3:10).
Salvation is open to all people as God wants a personal relationship with everyone. Ministry involvement is open to all of God’s children without putting any limitations on people. But Leadership in the church is limited only to those who have proven themselves faithful to the tasks assigned to them. Likewise, they need to be people of character in their personal lives, family, and in society.
People’s reputation in the society is vital as the community sees the church through the people of the church, especially its leaders. So everyone gets to play, but church leadership is limited to the faithful.
Your Turn
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* Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page.
** For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List.
My Books:- Considering your goals? Wondering where your life is headed? Read Living Your Potential
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Leaders are the key to have a peaceful and dignified society. As the leaders are, so are the rest of the people.
In every society, leaders are criticized and stereotyped as corrupt and power-hungry. In 1 Timothy 2:1-7, we are encouraged to pray for the leaders of our society.
Everyone desires a peaceful and dignified life. Paul says the way to get there is through prayer. When we pray for our leaders, God is pleased with our prayers.
But the ultimate key to that prayer is that our leaders may come to know Jesus. This is because Jesus is the one mediator between the true God and people.
When leaders have a genuine relationship with Jesus, the society can enjoy peace and live a dignified life. These qualities come as a result of having leaders who are committed to Christ and committed to governing with biblical values.
So, what about our complaints regarding the nation? Yes, they may be valid and accurate, but the instruction for us is to pray. Our prayers will transform them, and transformed leaders will transform our society.
Your Turn
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* Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page.
** For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List.
My Books:- Considering your goals? Wondering where your life is headed? Read Living Your Potential
- FREE – Facilitating discussions, leading small groups, and more. Read Tips For Effective Ministry
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I didn’t do anything special. I simply looked His way. One look was all it took, and He was so gracious to me and filled me with faith and poured out his love to me.
This is clearly unique to the Christian faith, that our faith is based on God’s grace to us. It wasn’t a great set of sacrificial deeds on our part, but entirely on the grace of God.
The thief of the cross simply looked at Jesus and said “remember me.” Those words of desire was sufficient to Jesus for him to be accepted into his kingdom. Jesus clearly taught through parables that this acceptance was entirely God’s prerogative, and not based on our works or abilities.
As if that was not enough, he filled us with faith and love. Because of our sinful and broken condition, we don’t even have the ability to have faith in Him. He graciously provides that too, the faith to keep believing and trusting in Him.
Then, to top all of that of, he gives us his love. Of course, it was love that prompted the Father to send His Son to die for us in the first place. But now, he fills us with that kind of love. His kind.
So just as we did in the beginning, let’s keep looking in his direction…
Your Turn
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* Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page.
** For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List.
My Books:- Considering your goals? Wondering where your life is headed? Read Living Your Potential
- FREE – Facilitating discussions, leading small groups, and more. Read Tips For Effective Ministry
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For a long time now, I have been on a quest to “move” people. The aim has been to move people towards God, and towards a better life.
Normally this should be an easy task. Who wouldn’t want a better life and a better future? Unfortunately, many are not able to stay focused on a life set in that direction. People want the end result, but they waver in their commitment and focus.
Paul the apostle wanted people in the Thessalonian church to remain faithful to the call of God on their lives. Here is what he said to them: “And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness [patient endurance – NLT] of Christ” (2 Thes 3:4,5 ESV).
Since Jesus patiently endured so many things in his life, we know that we can too. We are being formed into the likeness of Jesus. That is why Paul’s confidence was “in the Lord,” about them. He had confidence that they would endure, because of Jesus.
So, will you make it in the Christian walk? Will you be fruitful? Paul would be confident in Christ about you — that you will endure.
Your Turn
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* Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page.
** For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List.
My Books:- Considering your goals? Wondering where your life is headed? Read Living Your Potential
- FREE – Facilitating discussions, leading small groups, and more. Read Tips For Effective Ministry
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In the midst of all we face in life, we are in a great struggle just to make it from one day to the next. But I keep bumping into verses of Scripture that tell me that we are to live with another perspective.
When Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica, he told them they were called to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Glory? But that word seems to imply great honor, praise, value, and other amazing things.
So God is calling me to something great, but I am stuck here with my limitations. What are we to do to move in the direction God has for us?
We clearly know that Jesus experienced all the struggles of life that are common to us. But he lived with a higher purpose and perspective. While people all around him struggled with living their daily lives, Jesus focused on how he could please his Father in heaven. He wanted to do the works of his Father and speak the words of the one who sent him.
He lived a life of glory and a life of greatness because he lived with a purpose that was greater than a common purpose. It was a glorious life lived among common people, but in an uncommon way.
What is God’s higher purpose for your life? What will it take to move you toward greatness? Get ready to switch over to a life of glory that Jesus has for you.
Your Turn
Join the discussion and add your thoughts. What have you learned?
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* Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page.
** For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List.
My Books:- Considering your goals? Wondering where your life is headed? Read Living Your Potential
- FREE – Facilitating discussions, leading small groups, and more. Read Tips For Effective Ministry
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As we grow in our faith toward God, there is a clear expectation that our love for one another must also grow. We may have a clear and valid right to hold grudges and not love each other, but our faith in Christ cancels that right and leads us to love.
The church in Thessalonica struggled under the pressure of persecution. They looked forward to the return of Jesus Christ. As they increased their focus on Jesus and His return, their love for each other grew. Surely they faced similar relational struggles as we do. But I believe their focus on Jesus and the desire for His quick return changed their focus.
Conflicts arise when we are overly concerned about our rights. In the midst of persecution, they experienced a situation where all their “rights” were stripped away.
Once their “rights” have been removed, their focus was completely altered. Conflicts are reduced to a minimum. Their focus is on survival, not the guarding of their rights as individuals.
The only hope they found in their difficult situation was the return of Jesus. That hope refocused their minds in a proper way.
As we grow in faith, let us grow in our focus on Jesus. This focus allows us to love one another without all the hindrances that are normally prevalent in relationships. Thus faith without love is no faith at all.
Your Turn
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**Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page
My Books:- Considering your goals? Wondering where your life is headed? Read Living Your Potential
- FREE – Facilitating discussions, leading small groups, and more. Read Tips For Effective Ministry
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There are many things that help us to be organized and systematic so we can be more effective in what we do. For me, there are some online tools and apps that have helped me. The list of “Tools” I have listed below continues to change as time goes on, but this will give you a good Idea.
These are the tools I use on a regular basis. Under each category, I’ve listed the options in order of my preference.
I have not given much details regarding each one as you will be able to look up its features on the internet. The list below is just the most important features and complications that I have observed. I hope this will be beneficial for those who are looking for ways to be a bit more organized and effective.
File Storage
Google Drive- Downloads a copy to a local computer
- Collaboration with ease
- Unlimited storage when you use Google format
- Purchase additional storage
- Publish directly to WordPress
Dropbox
- Downloads a copy to a local device
- Allows for collaboration
- Limited storage
- Flexibility of using any editing software, but causes problems with formatting
- Synchronization problems when using multiple devices and coloborating with others.
- Gain free storage by promoting Dropbox
- Purchase additional storage
e-Reader
Kindle- Storage for a few thousand books
- Accessible from anywhere
- Book-like
- Mobile app available
Recommended Reading
Click here to get a list of books that I’ve been reading.
Social Media
Tweet Jukebox- Scheduling
- Suggested tweets
- Free and paid version
Newsletters
MailChimp- Flexible
- Better stats
- Free up to 2,000 subscribers
Feedburner
- Free
- Use with any blog
- Less flexibility
Media Storage
Google Photos- Free unlimited storage
- Easy sharing options
Google Music
- Virtually unlimited storage
- Connect several devices
- Categorizes your music
Website Hosting
Bluehost- Affordable
- Easy to use service
- Simple to host a WordPress blog
- Click here for details
I hope this list has been helpful. Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you have further questions or comments about any of the above services, you can look it up on Google.
Your Turn
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**Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page
My Books:- Considering your goals? Wondering where your life is headed? Read Living Your Potential
- FREE – Facilitating discussions, leading small groups, and more. Read Tips For Effective Ministry
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After 18 years of seminary teaching, I’ve been looking at some common responses of students. Towards the end of the academic year I ask students about their aspirations of the future. I tell them to imagine what they see themselves doing in 10 to 15 years.
Many said they see themselves having a global impact. They want their ministry to have an influence that is much beyond their local region. In its essence, such a view is not bad, but there is one complication.
When many of these students graduate, they do not commit to anything, waiting for some truly “global” opportunity. Their relationships are shallow, focus is fuzzy, and their words become flaky. Like a bee zipping from one flower to another, they never settle.
But I believe you can work locally and have a global impact. Here are some thoughts regarding this.
The World is Becoming Local
The concept “international” or “global” is completely different than ever before. People’s thinking patterns are becoming more global as time goes on. Because of social media, people think of their connections overseas as just a few clicks away.
You Can Easily Get Training That is Global
Learning modes are changing, and the option to receive formal and informal training online is phenomenal. By connecting with institutions and church organizations that you are a part of, you can get the training that you need.
Incorporate Global Concepts While Keeping the Local Culture
Never avoid local culture in any ministry that you desire to do. You can learn principles from what others are doing across the globe. Always find ways to apply it to the local culture and make it meaningful there.
Local Expressions Have Global Value
What is “local” for you is truly “global” for others. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you are missing out on something by being focused on the ministry you do in your local area. This is why I like the “Locally Global” term.
Your Turn
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**Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page
My Books:- Considering your goals? Wondering where your life is headed? Read Living Your Potential
- FREE – Facilitating discussions, leading small groups, and more. Read Tips For Effective Ministry
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You’ve always seen problems as your enemy. But think again. Sure, no one wants a life of trouble, but let’s face it, problems are guaranteed. There’s no way around that.
God has been trying to speak to you through the problems you face. But you’ve fought with God repeatedly. He has asked you to submit yourself to Him in total surrender, but you are not convinced that this is the best approach.
So you fight with God by not allowing Him to take the lead. You think that you just need to try a little harder next time. God said, “No, let me take the lead.” Then you said, “No way, it’s my life and I’ll fix it.”
As God spoke to Israel through Hosea, He reminded them of their forefather Jacob who fought with God. At various points in life, Jacob ran from his problems. Instead of allowing God to handle the difficulties of life, Jacob jumped into the situation and used all the tricks he knew. But at each point, God met him and affirmed His covenant and sufficiency to carry him through.
At each point of struggle and conflict, God took Jacob’s relationship with Him to the next level (Hos 12:3-6).
Here are three ways you benefit from “fighting” with God.- Understanding Self
The struggles you face will bring you to a much better self understanding. But you thought, “I know myself better than others know me.” But maybe that is not an accurate statement. God knows you best, and He wants to reveal some things within you that is hidden from you. Until you come to realize and accept those things, there is no moving forward. You’ll just continue spinning your wheels.
Nowhere in scripture do we see Jacob’s struggles described as a wasted attempt by God. God was bringing him to the point of self-realization where he would be able to acknowledge his need for God. But he continued for a long time without realizing that need.- Understanding God’s Sufficiency
Once you begin understanding yourself…then the real problem begins. What do you do about the brokenness within you? You’ve always handled your situation without the help of others. So you set out to move forward with more vigour than ever before, still unable to handle the things within you.
God wants to step into your life, your brokenness. But you’ve got to trust Him and believe that He is sufficient to handle any and every situation. Since your situation has left you scarred with a feeling of hopelessness, you wonder if God can really help.
Jacob also needed to learn that God was sufficient to deal with the difficulties that he faced. Because of Jacob’s intense capabilities with people, he thought that he needed to help God. But God didn’t need Jacob’s help. God is able to bring good in Jacob’s life without any help.- Understanding Your Need to Give Up
Finally, it’s time to give up. Yes, really. Give up with your attempts in your own way, and allow God to take the lead. Slow down and listen for His still small voice. Invite God into the deepest parts of your personhood. In every area of pain and struggle, ask God to step in and bring healing. Ask Him to take the lead as you take a step back and rest in Him.
What’s your struggle today? If you run, run to God. If you fall, fall at God’s feet. If you fight, fight with God…He’ll pin you down and speak to you. In every struggle, connect with God. Your relationship with Him will move to the next level.
Your Turn
Join the discussion and add your advice for those of us who struggle. What have you learned?
Please share briefly in the comments.
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**Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page
My Books:- Considering your goals? Wondering where your life is headed? Read Living Your Potential
- FREE – Facilitating discussions, leading small groups, and more. Read Tips For Effective Ministry
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