Shaping

Aloha precious friends and readers, 

Your point of view informs your priority. The one who takes their studies seriously and goes on to start a successful business and leads a lifestyle that speaks volumes attesting to the character of the person and the one who does not take their own life seriously and so wastes time engaging in unproductive activities and associating with non progressive individuals who idle about both have one thing in common ‘perception’.  How you think is how you see things and in effect how you prioritise and use the two most important commodities: your ‘time’ and ‘your energy’. Therefore, it is important to weigh in on issues before you form your perspective on them that you can informatively choose where you are going with your life. One of the challenges we all face in life is to know what to do with our lives.  Sometimes you find yourself doing one thing and wondering to yourself what else is there to be done or whether you are doing the right thing in that moment in time. During this time the one thing you cannot afford to do is to confuse your opinions and the way you see things with truth. Need I remind you that truth does not alter no matter what  situation it is presented in or how long it takes for the truth to be discovered and accepted.

“And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].” (John 8:32)

If you wondering what sin is; it is anything that does not hold true in line with the word of God.  So what truth are we referring to here?  We are talking about the truth that sets you free from contradictory mindsets and  lifestyles. The times that we live in is no longer about molly cuddling where truth must be wrapped in candy wrappers before it is served. Those who are looking desperately and diligently for rest for their souls can pick up truth, easily digest it and actually live it. Whereas those who are not interested in truth need to be convinced and perhaps bribed to take in parts of truth which they find hard to digest let alone to live it.

One thing I do know for sure is this: “So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free.” (John 8:36 AMP) The Son himself is the word of God. He is the truth that when you find, will shape your perception and affect your perspective.

Dear friend, what is shaping your perception? And whatever it is that is shaping your perception, is it the truth? I encourage you to go into yourself and ask yourself, “what do I prefer as a person, excellence or mediocrity and if it is excellence what kind, the one the world applauds or the one God requires of us that comes by putting on Christ who clothes us in His righteousness so that the life that we live is no longer us who lives but Christ that lives in us and is working through us to perfect His perfect plan in and for our lives. You can trust God even when you can't trace Him. You can follow Him even when you can't figure Him out. Why and How?  For the simple reason that whatever He says comes to pass. Whatever He says, is truth. When he looks at you even in your weakest state and calls you strong then that is what it is. Take a look at these accounts of Gideon and Jeremiah to capture what am trying to show you.

Gideon was going through some stuff then am sure, which cast some doubts about who he thought he was and what his life should have been, yet listen to the greeting."And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.( Judges 6:12 AMP )  Jeremiah says here "Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, For I am [only] a young man. But, the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am [only] a young man,’( Jeremiah 1:6-7a AMP) this is the kind of truth you will come into when you begin to make God's perception yours.

 

I urge you to go after the truth-Jesus, the soon and coming King in whom we find our salvation and shape your life after Him. For Himself is truth. He is The word that became flesh and lived amongst men.(John 1:14)  His return to earth is nearer than we ever thought and we cannot afford to be caught unawares living outside of Him.  What is worth more than your soul? And if you find yourself unable to understand this simple truth and really struggling to take it in  then perhaps it is that you are not ‘His’. In that case, you can decide to change that by meditating on His love and forgiveness and becoming His or just ignore everything said here.

Last but not the least, I have the pleasure to inform you about my new school on http://paragon.teachable.com Go there and invest in your future as we prepare to end the year strong and stay ahead in the coming year.

To doing life in the excellency of Christ.
R.

Puzzles

Aloha Precious readers and friends,

Remember those days when you were growing up when puzzles used to be one of the many presents you got from your parents or family members?  If you didn’t like them then, I promise you, you would love them now.  Why?   Let’s take a trip down memory lane and see the different pieces and sizes in front of you, perhaps; Thomas the tanker, Lightning Mcqueen, Bob the Builder, Fifi the flowerpot, Fireman sam,  skippy the bush kangaroo if you as young as I am, clifford the red dog, Barney, Sesame street, Tweenies or whatever your favourite television programme was when you were little.  Start piecing the puzzle together with your eyes fixed on the image of the finished puzzle on the box.  What does it feel like when you pick up that piece that looks almost like the perfect fit and turns out not to be the one?  Often that is the time you take a closer look at the finished image of the puzzle with a determination to figure out what to do next as you capture in your mind the image of what you are looking for, isn’t that right?  

Well it figures “Thoughts are pictures of the mind that have  constructive and destructive possibilities and have power with emotions.They are deliberately created by you and can hold you prisoner in  a situation for too long.” Chris Oyakhilome Phd.

This is what happens with puzzles too.  Reality check-Life is like a giant puzzle you need to piece together.  I have two simple questions for you:  

(1)what do you see ahead of you in your life?  

(2) what are you thinking?  

Between the difficult situations or subjects that seem impossible to overcome or achieve the best grade yet is the bridge called faith that allows you to crossover  to possibilities and owning your moments.

Here is the principle by which this works.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.( Hebrews 11:1 KJV)  

The Amplified Version says “Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].”

God knows before we started this school year a lot of preparation went into disciplining ourselves to be in the right frame of mind to enable us roll out our action plans yet you will be amazed to know I have had some challenges which if it had not been for the fact that I am convinced about what I am doing, it would have been likely for me to give up. I have found myself in the midst of several things demanding my attention and the only way I have remained resilient against these odds was a decision between what is urgent and important.   

I have had to challenge my own thoughts against these seemingly impossible situations. And I have struggled making the distinction between believing and having  faith and realised it's one thing to believe and one thing to have faith.  Thank God for the Holy Spirit-my present help in time of trouble.  The Greek  translation of the Holy Spirit is Parakletos which translates the helper that comes along.  He caught me in the middle of my struggle and helped me to understand impossibilities are like puzzle pieces. The harder it is to fix, the more your focus becomes sharpened to pick up details that would bring the pieces together to fit perfectly.

I understood for the first time— you believe to receive— once you understand that you have received what you are looking for to go to the next stage where you know you have in your possession what you are looking for, you act on it. That is Faith in action.  In other words, Faith does not try to receive something, it already has it and acts on it. Faith is prove of what you possess.  And we all come to this point in our lives where our expectations are not met or delayed and it seems there are some roadblocks and you are wondering to yourself whether to reroute or bulldoze your way through?

And you either think there are so many ways to get the job done or you get ready to run away from your challenges like an Olympic gold medallist, but hold it right there.  You don’t have to succumb to circumstances or deviate from course for substitutes that would only provide temporary relief just because you are facing some challenges today.  See it as training to toughen you up and shape your character as a leader. Shortcuts, my friend always turn out to have hefty prices attached to it. Take a careful look at our principle again.

Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. (Hebrews 11:1 AMP)

It is about what you see.  Now isn’t the time to panic or be afraid.  I recommend you journey with David and see how he took Goliath down.  When Goliath took a step towards the young lad David, David charged towards him and took him down.  You think am making it up...No, no, no... see it for yourself, right here

“When the Philistine rose and came forward to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:48 AMP)

What does that mean?  I found out the answer. You need to realise what you have.  You already have what it takes to accomplish your action plan and change things for the next year.  Set your priorities right, beginning with the urgent, followed by the important and move quickly. Get on with it.  It's interesting when the time is right for a season in your life how everything in the universe cheers you on.  A little afraid? don’t worry about it.  If God is for you what can be against you?  I know there is nothing that can stand in my way because of whose I am and Him who dwells in me.  Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.  So if what I don’t want to see shows up I reject it and turn my focus to what I want to see.  Friends, what do you see? If it is not what you want, change your mind and look for the right piece that perfectly fits that puzzle space.  If you have faith it would work. Know that you cannot fail.  Don’t let your thoughts hold you prisoner.  You are my heroes and heroines.

To courage.

R.