God's Timeline

God has a way of making the hardest thing easier within His own time frame. Everything that happens within God's timeline occurs swiftly and peacefully. However, in the middle of waiting for His promise to come to fruition, your patience and faith will be tested continuously. Remember not to lose hope in this process because in the end, it will all be worth it.

Game Changers

Finding the right people.. 

If you want to partake in any endeavor with others, you must first have agreement. This holds true for those in the faith who may come alongside you on your faith walk. It's important to surround yourself with faithful people of God who share your vision. Be careful of those who may distract you from what God has called you to do. Stay far away from pessimists, understand the concerns of realists, and embrace the optimists as they are the world changers.

Overcoming Adversity

It's essential to avoid getting too comfortable in a particular season of life, as God may have only intended it to be temporary, especially during times of adversity. Knowing when to move on to the next challenge and burying the thrill of the current one is crucial. Life has many chapters, and closing one only signifies the beginning of another. Always seek God's guidance and insight into each new chapter. Reality is often a sharp tool that cuts through any illusions or fantasies, exposing the truth. Do not shelter your children from reality but expose them to it so that they can become better equipped to face it head-on without hesitation. Help them learn to confront adversity with a smile without being coddled. 

Painful experiences can often teach us the most valuable lessons in life. Despite hardship, we can still see and experience God's hand in them. It's not what we go through, but how we handle these experiences that counts. Most people are more interested in how we handled our difficulties than the actual problems we faced. Overcoming adversity isn't only about our personal journey but can inspire and help others through their challenges. Even when His goodness appears inconvenient, God is always good. Those who understand the heart of God will have the strength to persevere through any obstacle.

Earthly Possessions

Embrace a life free from earthly possessions and prioritize seeking the kingdom of God. It is unfortunate that some people are not content with what they have and continue to pursue more wealth, often resulting in harm to themselves and their loved ones. However, it is important to remember that the Lord has promised to provide for our needs, not necessarily our wants. The danger of the love of money is that it can lead us to always desire more and never appreciate what we already have. It doesn't matter how much money we have if we do not respect it, as we will always desire more. To overcome greed, we must learn to appreciate the little things and be thankful to God for them, recognizing that He is the provider of both small and large blessings. We should ask God to use all of our resources, both little and extra, for His glory

In God's Will

The intention of God is to break your reliance on worldly resources, so you can turn back to the Source, which is Him. For those of you who enjoy planning, you must understand that living in God's will means taking each moment as it comes. Planning is only productive when it's in line with the will of God. In the world, failure is inevitable without a plan, but in Christ, only God's plan can bring success, and your plans can be interrupted by divine intervention. When God completely takes over your life, you will feel powerless, but at the same time, you will be empowered by Him.

We are like guitar strings, different notes in the hands of God. Let Him play your note. When you are in God's will, you are not in control, but He is. Even more so, He can work intensively. Be prepared to let go of everything, even the resources you idolize. Money is insignificant compared to the will of God. In His will, signs and wonders should always follow because He provides resources beyond your imagination.

If fear overwhelms you, God can heal your mind, will, and emotions, so you can stay on the path of His will. It's crucial to realize that God is sovereign and can do as He wishes. He can heal your infirmities, or if it's His plan, His grace will be sufficient for the situation.

Enemy without a face.

Malevolent individuals remain malevolent as they are; there's a reason why someone becomes your foe. It's essential to recognize that your enemy has no physical appearance. If you assign a face to your opponent, they have already conquered you. Rejoice and pray fervently to overcome your adversary. It's impossible to defeat the sly tactics of the devil with a fleshly mindset, who masterfully wields the weapons of the tangible world. This earth is his playing field and relying on material weapons won't work. However, if you seek God's guidance and fight the battle together, the devil will surely lose.

Choose your battle.

As you speak negatively in any circumstance, you grant the adversary power to claim it as his rightful ownership. Remember that the words you choose to utter are as sharp as a sword, have the potential to do damage, and not all situations warrant a response. Don't allow others, your surroundings, or even yourself to impose limitations on you. With Christ, limitations disappear, and with God, all things become possible. Avoid conflicts that put you in harm's way, not every battle is worth fighting.

God is still doing miracles.

Going to Baltimore to see my mother, I missed catching my train and had to opt for a bus connection. The staff was considerate enough to work out a deal and allowed me to pass through without any additional fees, which still enabled me to arrive on time for my commitments.

When I was purchasing gifts for Mother's Day, I found the cost to be too high, but fortunately an elderly lady, who also happened to have a discount card, kindly offered me an additional 30% off of my purchases.

Coming back from Baltimore, I had a time-management mishap again and missed my train as I thought the departure was at 6:30 am, but it was actually 6:08 am which caused a lot of concern for me. To make matters worse, the next train that was available was going to cost an extra $100. However, thanks to the valuable advice from staff, I was able to switch trains and hope to catch my train to Newport News, which sometimes stops in DC to recharge. Although it took about an hour to get to DC, I assumed that I had missed my train. However, when I reached DC, my train was still present! I was able to board it within 20 seconds and leave. It seemed as though my train was waiting for me to arrive before departing, God is so good!

Defeating the Devil

Defeating the devil on earth only happens when you walk in the light. Simply resisting him doesn't involve rebuking him with words, using crosses, holding up bibles, or anointing oil in your house - these are merely meaningless rituals. To resist the devil genuinely is by walking in the light and understanding the resurrection of Jesus. God is the embodiment of light, and with Him, there is no darkness. Darkness is a consequence of buried iniquities, ignorance, and carrying the burden of sin in our hearts. When we allow this to happen, it provides the devil access to wreck chaos in our lives.

The Snake Scheme

A fleshly mindset is insufficient in overpowering the deceitful tactics of the devil. The devil is a specialist in physical combat and will always prevail on his battleground. The earth is his domain, and no earthly weaponry can conquer him. However, when you choose to fight in the spirit, the battle becomes unfair in your favor. A fleshly mindset is inadequate in defeating the devil's cunning schemes, as it places you on his territory. Conversely, victory is guaranteed when you fight the devil through prayer. Satan may attempt to have a conversation with us, but we do not engage in dialogues with him. Instead, we confront him with God's word and declarations concerning him. Refuse to compromise with Satan, but dismantle his tricks and schemes by wholly depending on God to deliver you and grant you triumph. Always remember that it's God who takes credit for the victory! Therefore, when you pray and invite God to join you in fighting, the devil will be overcome. So keep on praying and stretch your faith, and witness God's might-consuming all your challenges.

Inner Peace

It is advisable to avoid making critical decisions when upset and wait until you have found inner peace. Achieving peace is possible by letting go of things and surrendering them to Christ Jesus, instead of trying to control every situation. By holding on to things, we risk developing anxiety and distress.

Maintaining our inner peace can be challenging, especially with factors such as work, health, finance, society, and individuals who lack serenity. Such factors could rob us of our peace, especially when people with worries and concerns approach us instead of seeking divine intervention.

To avoid losing your peace, it is crucial to leave everything- be it your job, family, finances, health, or people's views- at the foot of the cross. Don't let anyone or anything steal your inner peace in God. 

Success: Seeking the Imaginary Lines

To experience contentment, it is important to understand what success truly means to you, rather than focusing solely on the feelings it generates. Instead, you should define success in terms of what it signifies for you - this involves recognizing the practicality of it. Numerous people associate success with reaching an imaginary summit, and believe that satisfaction will only be attained once they have achieved this pinnacle. However, this is not the case - true success must be defined as such that when you find it, you will live and breathe it. For instance, if being an excellent parent is your definition of success, then you must work daily to become one. Similarly, if success to you means owning a house, having a secure job, or being in a happy marriage, you must live in and appreciate this success, being grateful to people who have helped you along the way. Failing to recognize and appreciate success, will only result in always searching for the next thrill, such as obtaining a new job, car, or partner. Therefore, it's important to be grateful, live in your success and define it in a way that is authentic to you.

Who is your faith?

Your belief determines where you go in life. If you believe you can climb Mount Everest, then you can achieve it. Anything is possible for those who have faith and pursue their wildest dreams. However, blind faith is not recommended. Sometimes what we place our trust in will collapse, disappoint, or mislead us. That's why it's important to put our faith in Jesus, who is the only true leader that can guide us through life's challenges. He can lead us to everlasting life and fulfill our deepest desires. Without Him, everything is meaningless. When we fully trust in God, we relinquish control over our lives and allow Him to guide our steps towards our ultimate purpose.

Guard your heart

It is important to safeguard our hearts by being mindful of what we expose ourselves to, particularly negative news. There are individuals who benefit from spreading propaganda, whether for personal gain or monetary reward. While it is their job to create panic and instill fear, it is our responsibility to guard our mental health and well-being. In today's information age, not all news is beneficial, so it's important to prioritize our time and attention accordingly. If listening to the news keeps you informed, ask yourself the following questions: What value does it bring? How does it impact your peace? Does it offer any solutions, or does it only distress you? While some news outlets may offer education or potential solutions, it is wise to filter out any propaganda that may merely increase your anxiety. You cannot control what people say or do, but you have control over what you choose to expose yourself to. By limiting negative influences and choosing positive news sources, you can safeguard your heart and enjoy a more fulfilling life.

The Ultimate Goal

The ultimate goal in life is not material possessions or fleeting experiences, but rather seeking the kingdom of God. Money, beauty, and fun are all temporary and can never truly satisfy the desires of our hearts. However, when we seek Jesus and His ways, we will find the satisfaction and fulfillment that we long for. By seeking the Lord and His righteousness, we can appreciate the things we do have in life, but also realize that they are temporary. It is through a relationship with Jesus that we can find true contentment and purpose. 

Seek Ye First.

Making seeking the Kingdom of God a priority involves embracing a life that is free from material possessions. Sadly, many individuals are not satisfied with what they have and relentlessly chase after more wealth, jeopardizing their well-being and that of their loved ones. Nevertheless, it's worth remembering that the Lord assures us that our needs will be fully catered for, but not necessarily our wants.

The love of money can easily lead us down a dangerous path of insatiable desire for more, thereby blinding us towards the blessings that we already have. No matter how much money we accumulate, without respect for it, our longing for more will never wane. Overcoming such greed entails being grateful and content with the simple things in life while acknowledging God as the provider of both great and small fortunes.

It is therefore vital to ask God to help us use our resources, no matter how little or abundant, for His glory. By appreciating even the slightest blessings that we receive from God, we cultivate hearts of gratitude and contentment, which enables us to prioritize seeking the Kingdom of God above all else.

Life Stages

Throughout life, we experience a series of changes that are not always welcome. It is important to prepare ourselves for the moment when change occurs. These changes can flip on and off like a switch and even seemingly constant changes may arise when we find ourselves in the valley. At such times, relying on God's strength is key.

Even when we feel like we cannot escape the valley, we must remember that these changes are inevitable and we must be equipped to face them. It is precisely at this stage of life when we need God's guidance the most. Abiding by His principles may not always be easy, but doing so will help us create a better life for ourselves.

During our toughest life stages, we must be willing to learn how to play the hand we are dealt. Some of us may be dealt a difficult hand in life, and it may be tempting to wallow in self-pity. However, it is not our circumstances that define our destiny, but our ability to navigate through them. If we reach out to God for help and follow His principles, we can learn to play our cards well and overcome challenges.

Knowledge put to test

Gaining knowledge from experienced and elderly people is valuable. It's common for the younger generation to feel like they know more than the older generation, and sometimes they might have more information. However, information can't replace the wisdom and experience of those who have lived longer. Education is important, but just sitting in a classroom and acquiring theoretical knowledge doesn't guarantee practical application of that knowledge. It's essential to put that knowledge to the test and ensure it can be applied in real-life situations. It's great to read and study the Bible, but it's equally important to live out its teachings. Don't be like the individuals Apostle Paul mentioned, who are always learning but retaining nothing.

Bible Thumper

Sharing knowledge is important, but it's not always enough for it to be retained solely by verbal communication. As Paul the Apostle mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13, having all the knowledge in the world means nothing without love. We can read countless scripture verses, but if it doesn't translate into our actions and character, it's pointless. Speaking from personal experience, when I first started reading the Bible as a new believer, I made the effort to memorize chapters, but I struggled to put my knowledge into practice. I later realized that knowledge is a virtue that requires patience and practice; if we don't use it, we will lose it. Reading books on love is great, but without putting it into action, it's just a collection of information that will eventually become irrelevant.

The Holy Book

The Holy Bible is more than just a good book or a source of information. It is the foundation of truth and holds greater insight into the origin of creation than any other study of the universe. While experience can provide some comprehension, it can only take us so far in understanding who God is. The Bible provides a deeper perspective of His character and His relationship with humanity. However, to approach God, one must come in truth through repentance, acknowledging their own sinfulness and need for forgiveness. This requires a willingness to be honest with oneself and seek healing through God's truth. Lies, on the other hand, only lead to further deception and cover-up. True healing can only come through embracing the truth and humbling oneself before God.