Lifted Hands
Lifted Hands...
Whenever we ask for something and it was granted, we always say 'thanks'. As a sign of appreciation, we smile, we utter thanksgiving, and most often, we say a prayer. But how do we really say a thanksgiving prayer?
Throughout the Scriptures, we find various physical postures in thanksgiving, praise, and worship that can tamper with our comfort. No matter what is your denominational background, we have either seen or heard of worship practices we may question. Nevertheless, we cannot deny that God’s Word doesn’t just invite us to worship our beloved King with words and songs of praise; it summons us to incorporate physical worship.
Most Christians say a prayer of thanksgiving with a lifted hand. Let’s look at the blessed gift of lifting our hands.
Universally, the sign of surrender is the raising of our hands and arms above our heads. Yes, surrender is at the apex of every worship time. With hands lifted high, we are at our most vulnerable. We are not covering ourselves. We are not trying to preserve or protect ourselves.
Perhaps the most endearing and sweet aspect of raising my hands to Abba, our Father, is like this. " I am coming as a little child to my Wonder-full Father and exclaiming, Daddy, You are the best! Please hold me!"
If you haven’t yet practiced this form of worship, be encouraged to in the privacy of your time alone with Jesus. It may be in your room, at your house, or in your church setting. Both you and He will find great pleasure when you do. Just do it sincerely with love in your heart.
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Surrender Ourselves to HIM
Let's Begin... As we embark upon this journey of thanksgiving, praise, and worship through God’s Word, let’s begin at the beginning.
Surrender. Yes, surrender is the ultimate act of worship and gratefulness. And surrender is where we find our true selves – who we were meant to be from the hand Who so lovingly created us.
Really. When we lose ourselves to Him, we find life at its fullest, most satisfying, and most complete. So, you see, we can sing all the songs, raise our hands, and shout praise all we want but real rubber meets the road when we allow the Holy Spirit to pour out our small, selfish, limited lives for HIS large, love beyond reason, priceless, and boundless adventure for us. Because surrender means we trust Him, and when we trust Jesus, we worship with all our being.
From Genesis to Revelation, we discover that the Almighty, Who flung the galaxies into existence like glitter from His hand, ever and only wants – our hearts. He desires us to desire Him and there is no greater act of love and honor we can bestow our heavenly Father than the gift of ourselves.
So, let’s do this thing. This thing that so often trips us up, is so much easier said than done at first, and requires every ounce of our being. Let’s offer our lives to the One Who holds every detail that concerns us in the tenderness of His heart. Let’s surrender everything to Jesus. Let’s worship Him by giving Him our all.
He is always with you
Our journey is not always the same. The life we have differs from one another. And whether we belong to a good life or not, we all face trials and problems. Yet, we are not alone. Someone sees us. Someone up there knows everything.
And He was Not Caught Off Guard. Sometimes life happens and we are caught off guard by the events that transpire. Unplanned events can leave us feeling anxious, unsure, helpless, and at times, hopeless. We may feel that there is no hope. And we sometimes view God solely through our limited human scope.
We treat Him as though, because we were caught off guard, that He was surprised, too. This couldn’t be any further from the truth. He is not caught off guard by our trials nor is He caught off guard by our responses to those trials.
God does not live in the moment. He has knowledge of every moment. He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. (I like to add on that He is also the in-between.) There is not one moment that He did not see coming. When He created each of us, He already knew those moments when our bodies would hit the mat. He also knew that the purpose He assigned to each of us would be greater than any hit that life could throw.
And so, It’s time to get back up. We are not alone in this journey of life. He is not just in your corner, He is right on that mat with you. Lift up your eyes and see the beauty of everything!
Imposter Syndrome
Are you aware of imposter syndrome? It is a sickness. It describes feelings of severe inadequacy and self-doubt that can leave people fearing that they will be exposed as a “fraud”, usually in their work lives. It can affect anyone, regardless of their success.
It also means “A mental pattern of which a person doubts their accomplishments or talents and has constant internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud”.
You are in the fight. You get knocked down and think that is the end for you. But suddenly you feel strength flow to you. You get up and back into the fight. In the end, they tally up the score and announce you as the winner. Initially, you’re excited, but then that inner voice begins to speak up again saying:
You know you didn’t REALLY win, right?
Everyone sees how weak you really are!
There is nothing to you. That’s why you keep getting knocked down.
However, we should still believe in ourselves. Though there are times that we feel this kind of syndrome, We have to be careful in circumstances like this. It is because we will project our own negative feelings onto God. Yet, He sees us exactly how He created us: fearfully and wonderfully made. God sees us, He knows us (flaws and all) and yet He still chooses us.
The assignment might seem big but that is because He never intended for us to do it alone. Every bit of our purpose was designed with His assistance in mind.
You are not an imposter. You are a child of God. Believe in yourself!
Share you knowledge
What You Say, Coach? God is a loving Father but He is also the master teacher. And just as we gain knowledge in school, we don’t keep that knowledge for ourselves. That knowledge is shared with our children, our family, coworkers, and friends.
The same should be true for the lesson we learn through the trials and battles we face. It is true that problems are there and have been a part of our lives. They cannot be avoided most of the time. But it is there for a reason. If the diamonds that are produced through the pressure of life are only held within the reserves of our minds and hearts, then how valuable are they really?
The fruit that is produced in our lives is meant to be picked. The experiences we go through are meant to then serve as navigation for those traveling down the same road. You heard me right. All that we go through is not solely for, or about, us. Some battles we fight are to condition us for the purpose that was assigned to our lives.
We are needed to help prepare others for the fight. We are needed to be that same support we needed in our own battle. We are needed to show the compassion He showed to us. We are needed to show His heart to the world. We are needed to show His redemptive power. We are needed to show the world that His resurrection power is in full effect and even when we counted ourselves out. His LOVE LIFTED US. We can overcome any trials!
Forgive and Forget
The heart never forgets. Once it felt the joy or the sadness of the situation, the feeling it had will stay. But what if the heart gets hurt? Is it ok to let the pain remain?
I believe it is not healthy for the heart to suffer. We only have one heart, and it is important to keep it safe. One way of doing so is by making sure it is free from heartaches and pains. So it is good to forgive if someone hurts you. It is good to forget the sadness you felt when someone has did something wrong to you. I hope that is easy though.
Crying is one way of releasing the hurt, the pain and the sadness. You may cry all you want, if you think it will help. Praying is another way. Our God is so majestic that nothing is imposible to Him. We can tell Him to help us ease our burdens and recover quickly. Moving on will be easy if we allow it. And the process to forgive and forget will evetually come. This will help our hearts heal and become happy again.
Endure and persevere..
Claiming God’s Promises in the Delays. There’s an important principle in Scripture that will open the door to the treasure houses of heaven for you once you learn and apply it. You especially need this principle during times of waiting because it will keep you steady and strong as the storms of adversity and waves of doubt arise.
What is this crucial precept? It’s the principle of claiming God’s promises to you—helping you persevere with hope as you wait for Him. Many people believe that waiting is passive … but that’s not what the Lord intended for us as believers. Yes, we are still in the sense that we take our hands off of our situations and allow the Father to work through our circumstances. But we’re also supposed to be active and growing spiritually—and we do so by resolutely taking hold of God’s Word. As we discover God’s will, we actively claim His promises and continue obeying Him step by step.
Think of it like this: Just as we work on our physical muscles in a gym, this time of waiting is an opportunity to develop our spiritual muscles—our faith, hope, and perseverance. We do so by making the deliberate decision to incorporate Scripture into our lives and to have faith the Father is working on our behalf. We eagerly take hold of the promises He’s given us in the Bible, vigorously set our hearts to believe Him, and energetically obey whenever He calls. As we make the active choice to trust His promises, our hope grows, and we learn to face our times of delay with expectant endurance.
Thankfully, because the sovereign God of the universe has never faltered in fulfilling His Word, we’re absolutely assured He will not fail us now. Our active resolve to trust Him will certainly lead to blessing. With this in mind, Hebrews 10:35-36 admonishes, “Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” The Living Bible paraphrases it like this: “Do not let this happy trust in the Lord die away, no matter what happens.
Remember your reward! You need to keep on patiently doing God’s will if you want Him to do for you all that He has promised.” In other words, our perseverance is key to receiving the very best God’s planned for us. Therefore, we must endure, walking in His will—no matter what happens or how long it takes—so that we can know for certain we’ll receive the blessings He’s planned for us.
Survive with Courage
Continued delays can be disheartening, especially when circumstances don’t go your way or your burdens become too heavy to carry. Most likely, you’ve experienced heartbreaking occasions before—devastating disappointments that have robbed you of the last of your strength and resolve. The days, weeks, months, and sometimes years go by without any answers to your prayers. The illness, financial difficulty, conflict, loneliness, uncertainty, or need persists. You struggle, feeling the overwhelming temptation to give in to utter despair and fall back into destructive habits.
There’s nothing that can plunge you into the darkness of despair like a prolonged season of waiting. But this is when you must determine to wait on the Lord with courage. The quality that enables us to endure suffering, opposition, and the challenges of life with a steadfast and fearless confidence in God’s provision and protection is courage. And it’s your courage that’s stretched and refined in your darkest and most painful times.
Courage is a state of mind that’s absolutely essential for the child of God to triumph. When everything looks bleak and there’s no hope in view, we dauntlessly continue to trust that the Father is in complete control. We don’t give up or quit because we have faith the Lord is still good and has wonderful plans for our lives. We’re willing to face adversity and forgo good opportunities that offer temporary comfort in order to take hold of the very best the Lord has planned for us.
So how do you stay on track with His purposes for your life when everything seems dark and you feel desolate? How can you bravely take hold of the truth that God will take care of you and lead you through? Remember that … God is with you. He knows exactly where you are and what you’re facing—and He’s walking with you, providing for and protecting you along the way. He has an important purpose for the seasons of adversity you face.
In order to make you His useful and effective representative, the Father trains you in the fires of adversity. Why? Because there’s nothing that deepens your understanding, stirs your compassion for others, and shows you what’s truly important the way pain does. You’re in a spiritual battle (Eph. 6:12). You have a real enemy who strikes at the core of who you are. How does he do so? Through what you think and believe (2 Cor. 10:4-5). There’s no more effective time for the devil to discourage and torment you than when you’re waiting on God. He knows exactly how to pinpoint the most painful, vulnerable places in your life and lead you to despair. But through Jesus’ example in Matthew 4, you can resist the devil’s disheartening lies with courage and the powerful truth of Scripture. You must express thanks to God, regardless of what happens (1 Thess. 5:18). You must give thanks in every situation and delay you face, courageously trusting in the One who will ultimately bring you through.
Take courage—there’s a limit to the delays and sufferings in your life. They will only continue as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purposes in you (Ps. 138:8). If you’ll remain courageous and faithful, trusting God to guide you through the difficult seasons of your life, then He’ll do amazing things in and through you. And He’ll move you from despair to the wonderful place where all of His promises for you are fulfilled.
Reap your rewards
Always try your best in everything you do. It may be hard sometimes, but don't lose hope. God is working on your behalf, even though His plans for you take time. My prayer for you is that you’ll learn to anticipate His answer—no matter how long it takes—and to do so faithfully, patiently, and joyfully. You’ve invested so much time, energy, prayer, and confidence into waiting for Him, it would be a shame for you to abandon your hope now … especially when you’re on the brink of blessing and when His answer for you is closer than ever before. So don’t ever give up! Be assured God’s actively, powerfully, wisely, and lovingly arranging the circumstances of your life.
Even though His activity may not be obvious to you, He’s drawing you closer, refining your character, teaching you His ways, and fulfilling His promises to you. First Corinthians 2:9-10 teaches, “Eye has not seen and ear has not heard … all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” In other words, you may not be able to imagine all that the Father’s doing in and through the days, months, and years you’ve been seeking Him, but it’s absolutely amazing. And if you wait for Him with expectant endurance—directing your focus to Him, purposefully seeking His will through Scripture and prayer, actively claiming His promises, and courageously facing adversity with faith—you’ll certainly see the fruit of your obedience.
While you expectantly wait, here’s what you can do: Humble yourself before the Lord and focus on Him rather than your desire. Remain obedient to God’s will. Have faith that the Father will do as He’s promised. And finally, be courageous. We began this plan with a list of “nevers.” However, I pray that after each day’s devotion, you’ve been encouraged and have discovered principles and biblical truths that will strengthen you whenever the Father appears to delay and human reason tells you to give up.
You can endure expectantly with the joy of knowing God will never let you down. You can keep hoping—even when the nevers of life bombard you, realizing that the Lord is the One you really hope for, and He perfectly cares for all that concerns you. You can trust the Father to lead you and know for absolute certain that He has your very best interest in mind.
The Meaning of my Name
When I was young, I was amazed with the beautiful names I hear. My friends and classmates' name sounds beautiful to my ears. I hear the name Grace, Sophia, Stephen, Cielo, Theresa, Catherine, Dolores, etc. But then, I found my name as unique and pretty as I am.
My name is STEPHANIE. As I grew up, I never what it meant. But then I asked my mom why did she choose that name for me. And this is her answer.
Stephanie or Stefanie is a female name that comes from the Greek name Στέφανος (Stefanos) meaning "crown". ... The form Stéphanie is from the French language, but Stephanie is now widely used both in English- and Spanish-speaking cultures.
Each letter of my name has their own meaning also. Below is letter analysis of the name Stephanie:
S: You are highly imaginative. You can spend all day in your head dreaming.
T: In can be hard for you to express your feelings to others.
E: Your emotions can be complicated. Sometimes it’s hard for others and even yourself to understand them.
P: You have high confidence. This show everywhere you go.
H: You take pleasure in the simple things. Every day, ordinary things seem to put a smile on your face.
A: You have a sharp analytical mind. This allows you to view the world in ways that others just can’t see.
N: You have the ability to see things before they happen.
I: You are highly emotional. It is easy for you to get your feelings hurt and your heart broken.
E: Your emotions can be complicated. Sometimes it’s hard for others and even yourself to understand them.
Thank you for reading this article. I hope you can also share the meaning of your name with me.
Please comment your name below and share it with me. Thanks again!
Practice Being Still
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” - Exodus 14:14
Just after they escaped from Egypt, Moses encouraged the Israelites with those words. Perhaps it is understood that our natural reaction in moments of uncertainty is to restlessly bounce between anxiety and despair. Feelings of uncertainty can result in the prefrontal cortex in your brain “shutting down”, impairing your ability to solve problems, pay attention, and stay flexible. This increases your chances of engaging in irrational behavior and makes you more prone to anxiety, depression, and stress. That’s why it’s important to fix your mind on what matters by centering your heart on God’s truths.
Stillness is a discipline that takes continual, conscious practice, but the act of stillness sharpens our senses and makes us more aware of God’s presence in our present circumstances.
So, how do you practice being still? One practical way is by walking through the 3 action steps: 1. Acknowledge your limitations: 2. Spend a couple of minutes paying attention to what you’re feeling, and name those emotions. Give yourself permission to not feel okay. This process helps break the cycle of intrusive, anxious thoughts, and helps your brain start to think through new ways to handle uncertain situations. 3. Lay down your expectations: What’s currently causing you to feel anxious or afraid? Visualize putting those concerns into a box, and then give that box over to God. Ask Him to replace your worries with reminders of His promises. (You may have to repeat this process several times before you feel ready to move on.) Pick up God’s declarations: Spend at least 5 minutes pouring over God’s promises. Imagine putting them on like clothing, and ask God to show you which ones He wants you to focus on that day. (Some days, it may seem like God has a lot to say, and other days, it may feel like God is quiet. Both are normal, natural fluctuations in healthy relationships.)
Whatever you face in the weeks ahead, remember that nothing you experience is uncertain to God. He was at work in your past, He’s here in your present, and He holds your future. Hold fast to His promises and trust that He is good.
The "Nevers" of Life
Never. It’s the word that can stir the deepest fear in the bravest heart.
“I’ll never find a job.”
“This will never get better.”
“I’ll never get married.”
“I’ll never have the child I long for.”
“He’ll never come home to me.”
It’s the lie that originates with our sinful nature, and it insists on putting a decisive end to all of our hopes. Don’t bother to dream, it whispers cruelly. You don’t deserve it. Stop wishing for what can never be. And so we continue to drive the nails into the coffin of our dearest longings.
“The Lord will never answer my prayers.”
But this is the challenge of waiting on God. It’s the ability to keep hoping when the nevers of life bombard us—when the minutes, hours, days, and years tick away without any answers to our most passionate pleas at the throne of grace. It’s the faith to hang on to the Father on the long road when human reason tells us to give up.
If the nevers of life are discouraging you, if you’ve waited for the Lord to fulfill His promises to you, if you wonder why God has allowed such a lengthy delay in answering the deepest cries of your heart—if that’s where you are, friend—then this is the right reading plan for you. If you look, you’ll find meaning and hope in these times of waiting on the Lord to respond. Though you don’t see Him working, you can know for certain that He is because He guarantees that He “acts on behalf of the one who waits for Him”.
Not only that, but the Father has an awesome plan for you—purposes that are fantastic, perfectly suited for you, and that will give ultimate meaning to your life. However, God also has a very specific schedule—one that’s often vastly different from what you’d expect, may have you wait far beyond what makes you comfortable, and most likely will make you feel that all earthly hope is gone so that you’ll rely solely upon Him (2 Cor. 1:9).
His Faithfulness never ceases
When we have some thought in mind, and we want to share it with others, then say it. Lay Down Your Expectations. Make it happen.
There was a story on this and it looks interesting. It is a story about Moses. There was a part in the story that Moses has to leave. And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us.” - Exodus 32:1 400 years. That’s how long the Israelites waited for God to deliver them from slavery. But after they left Egypt, God didn’t take them directly to Canaan. Instead, they camped at the base of a mountain while God instructed Moses. But after 40 days, the Israelites grew frustrated. Their delayed expectations led to poor decisions: they rejected God and pursued whatever pleased them.
If you’ve ever felt frustrated by an uncertain season that lasts longer than you anticipated, you’re not alone. We can become so focused on our disappointments that we forget God is still in control. That’s why it’s important to remember that your waiting is never wasted. Even though the Israelites couldn’t see it at the time, God wasn’t withholding His promises from them—He was preparing them for it.
So, if you find yourself weary from waiting, do what the Israelites forgot to do: look for evidence of God’s presence, and look back on what He’s already done. God’s timeline may be different than yours, but His faithfulness doesn’t waver. Your waiting might be preparing you for the plans and purposes God has for you.
God will sustain you
Whatever challenges we may face in life, always think that we will survive. We should always have the positive thinking that our God will never abandon us. He will will always us no matter what. Because He always does, and it is evident in His ways as written.
In the scriptures, you can read it there, that Joshua summoned all Israel … “…you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.” - Joshua 23:2;14.
Joshua spent most of his life enduring adversity, setbacks, and disappointment. And yet, he never stopped believing that God would keep His promises. By the end of his life, Joshua saw God’s faithfulness come to pass, which is why he told the Israelites to recognize and remember God’s promises.
The thoughts you fill your mind with are crucial because what you cling to influences your worldview. If you choose to dwell on God’s promises, you start to recognize God’s blessings during uncertain times. Plus, trusting that God will redeem your present pain equips you to walk forward in faith and keep on fighting.
As you walk forward today, reflect on some of God’s promises, and let them transform the way you think: God will sustain you. God’s peace will guard your heart. God delights over you with singing. God will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. God is your refuge and strength, your help in times of need. In all things, you are more than a conqueror because God loves you. God will never leave you or forsake you. God’s perfect love casts out all your fear. Nothing can separate you from God’s love. God’s not done with you. And He will always be there to help you.
Your heart matters
On some occasions, we celebrate with friends or Families. Special celebrations sometimes requires us to give presents. Gift-giving has become a part of our traditions whatever the occasion may be.
What was the most awkward gift-giving experience you’ve ever seen? Maybe you or someone you know got busted regifting. Or, the gift wasn’t something the person wanted at all. When it comes to giving gifts, the point is not the gift itself. The point is the heart of the giver. There was a story in the bible like, In Genesis 4, we meet two brothers, Cain and Abel. Cain begrudgingly gave the leftovers from his harvest, but Abel gave God the most valuable animals in his flock. Abel’s gift came from a love and a desire to please God. Cain did not. God gave Cain a chance to change his heart and warned him of the sin waiting to overcome him, but instead, Cain grew angry and allowed jealousy to consume him. Cain murdered Abel, which led to him being condemned from God’s presence.
Giving is a heart issue. God doesn’t want us to give to Him so we can check off a task. He also doesn’t want us to give less than our best. God wants us to give from a faithful heart that desires to please Him. God doesn’t need our gift; He wants our heart. We should be thankful for giving is a caring heart. Because God cares more about the condition of our heart than the size of the gifts we could offer.
Have more faith
As Christians, we believe in God and everything He created for us. HE gave us our life and anything we need. It is our faith that helps us strong.
Faith—no matter how small—is a powerful thing. In the book of John, one of Jesus’ followers, John, describes a time when Jesus got so fired up that He preached and taught well into the evening. People started to get hungry, so His followers asked Jesus if He could wrap it up and send the crowd home for dinner. Instead, Jesus told His followers to find food. The best they could have was a little boy’s lunch. It includes a fish and loaves of bread. That day, Jesus fed more than 5,000 people using five loaves of bread and two small fish. Talk about a miracle! Because one little boy had enough faith to give all that he had, thousands of people were fed “as much as they wanted” (John 6:11). The boy not only got back more than what he gave, he was able to share with thousands because there was so much.
God doesn’t ask us to give because He needs what we have. God wants us to give because we need what He has. Your faith in giving has a bigger impact than you could ever imagine. When we decide to step up and give, God will use our faith to do miracles. When Jesus saved us, He brought us from death to life. We are a walking miracle!
Use your gifts
Good day everyone! I would like to share with you a parable.
In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus explains that the coming Kingdom will be like a man who has entrusted his servants with his property—each of His servant's given different amounts according to their ability. Even though it was little, the two faithful servants invested what they were given and returned twice the amount to their master. At this, He invited the servants to “enter into the joy of your master.”
Often we are like the third servant, however, who in fear and laziness hid that which was entrusted to him. Instead of investing his talent and creating more value, he only gave back what was given to him and was called “worthless.”
Praise the Lord our worth is found not in the amount or type of “talents” given to us, but instead in how we respond to that which God has entrusted us. What a wonderful master we serve to entrust us with his possessions! Not only that, but when we demonstrate faithful obedience through his grace, he promises us much more.
Find strength and empowerment today knowing that the Creator finds worth in you to entrust you with the gifts you have. Respond with the attitude of a faithful servant so that when the day comes you may hear the Master beckon you saying, “Enter into my joy.”
Now let us say, Lord, I praise you for the gifts you have entrusted to me. Help me to be a good steward of those gifts and use them to your glory. Thank you for the confidence I have to use these gifts because of your love!
No Regrets
In this journey of ours, we surely have made many different decisions in life. Those decisions may have required us important judgments. It may be for the betterment of a relationship, for our loved ones, and for our family. Some of those decisions may be right. But not all of them. Because some may have resulted in regrets. I have a few regrets though. But right now, it also made me realize some sort of things.
If you regret some of the decisions you made in the past, don’t be so hard on yourself. At that time, you did your best with the knowledge that you had. At that time, you did your best with the experience you had. It is at that time when you have limited options I guess. But come to think of it. If you were to make those decisions with the wisdom you have now, you would choose differently. You would handle life’s challenges in more effective ways. So give yourself a break and forgive yourself. Do not punish yourself. Time and experience have a wonderful way to make us realize that we prosper, grow, and learn to make better choices today, for ourselves and those we care for. It is not too late. There is always a rainbow after the rain.
We don't own anything
Everything belongs to Jesus. When we work hard for something, we feel a sense of ownership over it. Whether we’re working for a paycheck or raising kids at home, we see the results of our hard work as ours. But the truth is that the earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.
We don’t own anything—not our houses, our cars, or our 401Ks. Everything we have is a blessing from God, and what we do with it matters to Him. Because our money belongs to God, we have a responsibility to manage it well. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of a master who gave money to several servants. One servant did a bad job managing what he was given, so God took His money from that servant and gave it to another who had been diligent. God trusts us to manage what we are given. When we prove ourselves trustworthy with what God has given us, He can trust us with more!
Think About This:
1. Have you ever thought about the fact that everything you own belongs to the Lord? How does that change the way you make financial decisions?
2. If God were to look at your finances today, would He see you as a faithful manager? Why or why not?
3. What one thing can you do today to be a better manager of the wealth God has given you?
Everything I have is Yours Oh God and everything I am I owe to You. Help me to be a good steward of what You have given me. Amen
I would appreciate your comments on what you think about these questions. Thank you!
Be Debt-free
God wants you to be debt-free. Debt is not God’s best for our lives, because it prevents us from being able to do what He’s called us to do. If God called you to move to another city, cut your hours at work or give extravagantly to someone in need, could you do it right now?
Whatever we’re controlled by is what we’re enslaved to. When we’re in debt, we belong to those who lend us money. The more debt we take on, the fewer options we give ourselves when it comes to where we work and how we spend our time. Instead of making decisions based on what we want to do, we find ourselves thinking about what we have to do. Debt will always leave us feeling stuck, and Jesus wants so much more for our lives. When Jesus died for our sins, He paid the ultimate debt, a debt we could never afford to pay. Jesus died to give us freedom from sin and an abundant life. That’s why Paul encouraged the Christians in Rome to pay off whatever they owed, whether it was money or an apology. When the only debt we’re concerned with is how to love the people around us, we’ll do more for God than we ever imagined (Romans 13:7–8).
Now Think About This:
1. What could you do for God if you were debt-free?
2. What debts do you owe to those around you? What step can you take this week to start paying off those debts and living in freedom?
Please let me know your insights on this. And let us ask God to help us be debt-free.
It's not about me
In ancient Middle Eastern culture, servants were a common part of the household. Servants were treated like employees, but sometimes, if the master was kind, the servants would be treated like privileged members of the family. No matter what kind of relationship servants and masters had, one thing stayed the same: the servant was always responsive to the master. The master wanted certain tasks accomplished, and it was the servant’s job to get it done.
Before we met Jesus, we were slaves to sin. Jesus saved us through His death and resurrection. We are no longer slaves to sin, but through Jesus, we are servants of God. God welcomes us into His family and gives us His inheritance. This means we get to be a part of His kingdom, helping Him make things right in the world the way things are right in heaven. God calls us to be faithful stewards of what He’s given to us. He is a good master. It’s not our job to question the master’s plans or to tell the master what we will or won’t do. Our role is to obey the master and joyfully do the work He’s given us.
Now let us think about this and reflect:
1. Do you think of yourself as God’s servant? Why or why not?
2. When it comes to money, who’s the boss of your bank account? How can you put God in charge of your spending this month?
3. What three changes can you make this week to be a more faithful servant?
Please share your thoughts with me. I would appreciate all your sharings. Thank you so much!
Giving is more fun than receiving.
Have you ever been so excited about finding the perfect present that you couldn’t wait to give it?
Whatever the perfect gift was, you got excited because you loved the recipient and you knew the gift would make him or her happy.
The reasons we enjoy giving to our loved ones are the same reasons we enjoy giving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
If you want to get excited about giving, get to know Jesus. As we get to know Him, we grow in love for Him. Instead of giving on a whim or because we feel like we have to, we find ourselves thinking about what would make God happy. And when we picture His excited response, we become giddy about giving our gift.
Everyone special deserves something. And that is when we give gifts. It may be a material thing or not. But if it is given from the heart, it will always be special.
The Lord gave us the ultimate gift—the gift of salvation! May the gratitude that we have for that gift overflow into every area of our life.
Do Whatever it takes.
There is always work to be done, but there are different “jobs” to do. It’s our job to provide for our families and love the people in our lives. We should do the work of our careers as well as the work of serving others.
God calls us to be people who live out a “whatever it takes” mindset. Because Jesus did whatever it took to save us from our sins and give us new life, we can follow His example by being responsible, including how we use finances.
“No job is beneath you” isn’t about doing work that involves lying, stealing, cheating, harming others, distracting people from Jesus, or any other sin. It means we should do whatever it takes (short of sin) to be responsible financially, because debt is slavery.
In the story of Jesus visiting Mary and Martha, there are two different “jobs;" one is displayed by Martha, who worked to prepare food for Jesus. And Mary fulfilled the role of hostess by making Jesus feel welcome. Unfortunately, Martha’s work in the kitchen distracted her from Jesus. Mary did whatever it took to value Jesus above everything else.
If Martha sat at Jesus’ feet, they wouldn’t have had dinner. There are some “Martha” seasons of our lives when we need to hustle and work hard to make ends meet. But we also have some “Mary” seasons when we need to learn to rest in what God provides. The key is to listen to God’s Spirit for when to do which. This is how you can do whatever it takes to be faithful to Jesus, with your life and your finances: whatever “job” God has called you to, listen to Him and do the best work you can do.
Work with purpose
We all have work to do. Everything we do — from the way we work to how we talk — is an act of worship to God.
One of the reasons we work is to experience happiness in God (Ecclesiastes 3:22). When we exert energy to complete a task, there is joy from accomplishing something. God is the source of all work; our meaning is found in Him, no matter what work we’re doing.
Work also gives us the financial means to meet our needs, help others, and worship Jesus. By working toward something and earning a living, we are building a life of freedom. Freedom is the ability to live according to God’s directions rather than according to the restrictions of our debts or obligations. Working is how God has designed us to live in this freedom.
God wants to do work in you, not just make you accomplish tasks. Ultimately, our jobs are about stewardship. We’ve been given great opportunities to use our minds, bodies, creativity, and attitudes that God has allotted for us. Be responsible and grateful for the resources and abilities you have. Work because you’ve received a task from Jesus, not just for a paycheck.
And now let us say, Jesus, thank You for my job. It is a gift from You! Help me to use the resources and influence You’ve given me wisely.
Hard work always pays off
Big goals require focus, sacrifice, and a lot of hard work. You have to want the outcome with a passion, saying “no” to other things that are competing for your time.
Breaking big goals into daily activities will help you achieve them. It’s hard to say no to dinner with friends or to wait until the sweater you want goes on sale. But you have to be willing to make changes to see success over the long haul. One less dinner out a month for 12 months could be the difference between going into debt for a new dryer or being able to buy it outright.
We cannot expect to see our lives change or experience freedom if all we do is talk about what we can do better. We all have a next step when it comes to our finances, and we have to take action if we want to see things change.
We all have the ability to manage money like amateurs or like professionals. The difference comes from practice and perseverance in making wise choices and following biblical principles. As Solomon put so wisely, “hard work always pays off” (Proverbs 14:23).
Think About this: 1. What is one thing you worked hard to earn? What did you learn about perseverance during that experience? 2. Have you ever started budgeting and stopped? What caused you to quit and how can you prevent that from happening again?
Let us hope and pray, that Jesus may help us to keep going even when budgeting is hard and saving is not fun. And to give us the passion for managing money in a way that honors HIM.
You can't control someone's loyalty
Our journey into this world is unbelievable. It may be full of ups and downs. It has so many lessons for us to learn. It helps us understand other people. The various experiences we may encounter gives us the meaning of life. Honesty, trust, and loyalty are just a few that we may value. And it teaches us many things.
Life has taught me that you can't control someone's loyalty. No matter how good you are to them, doesn't mean that they will treat you the same. No matter how much they mean to you, doesn't mean they will value you the same. Sometimes the people you love the most, turn out to be the people you can trust the least.
It is heartbreaking though. When people you love the most are the ones who hurt you the most. When you lose respect for someone that you love, it becomes hard for us to trust that person again. But then, it is said that you can forgive, but can not forget the wrong things he or she has done to you.
Sad but true. This truly makes it extreme hard to let your guards down to even feel like you can trust them ever again. I, for instance, had been through a lot of pain. And it has taken me a long time to figure out why this has happened. But then, let us choose to move on and be very careful about whom we can trust again.
Count your blessings
All people belong to a different level of society. We have the higher class, the middle class and the lower class. But the general thought is somehow different. It is either you are born rich, or you are born poor. To illustrate, Some were born with rich parents having a lot of businesses and a mansion. Their children are born with silver spoons on their mouths. They go to popular schools and lives in a very big house. They have cars and they can buy whatever they want. They live in luxury. They consider themselves fortunate.
But there are also some who were born into a not so rich family. These are those who cannot afford the luxurious life. They doesn't have cars and big houses. They don't have a business. They don't have lots of money. But they managed to eat three times a day. And they go to public school just to finish their studies. They work hard to earn a living.
We may live differently, but it is important to note that we are all blessed. We may born to a rich family or to a not so rich family, but everything we have is a blessing. The apartments may not be a house, but you are not homeless. The car might not be a Mercedez Benz, but you are not walking. That job might not be the best, but you are working. SOMETHING is always better than NOTHING. So count your blessings!
Make yourself proud!
You have to take care of yourself. In this world full of different people, there are also different characteristics that you will encounter. You may experience ups and downs in your journey, but it is Ok. You just have to be yourself. You just have to make yourself proud.
Many times we are bound to certain things that we need to do. We may run a business after school or be employed at different establishments. Here, we may encounter different kinds of personalities that may help us. But most of them might be the ones that will hurt. Some can make us cry. But whatever it may be, you have to stay strong and be confident. Do whatever you think is right in any given situation. Carry along honesty and integrity in the workplace. Bring these values anywhere you go. And surely, you can make yourself proud.
Cheer up! Your family needs you. Be kind and do good things to others. Be ready to help if your friends or loved ones come to you. You came to their minds when they felt sadness. And they know you bring sunshine to their faces. Just do your best to be someone they can rely on. You may not have a lot of financial things, but your presence is more valuable. Your support to them is what matters most. You can do It! Make yourself proud!
Be a good social media netizen
During this pandemic, many things had happened. The Quarantine moments of more than a month had made unexpected changes in our lives. It is during this time that the emergence of the use of social media has become popular. Almost every day, we browse online, check our Facebook accounts, watch youtube, record videos, and even more. We even do our jobs online while being on a work from home.
And since everyone is on social media right now, we can observe the use of the popular Tiktok, and so the rise of Tiktok downloads. Ever since the lockdown had started, it has been noted that almost 2 Million people downloaded and subscribed to the Tiktok app. Since we have more time to use different apps, we tend to do it always. And almost every day.
Bu then, how can we be a responsible netizen considering we have these different applications in social media?
These social media applications are just fine. It keeps us busy, and happy. But there are also negative sides. Because of this, there is also a rise of misinformation and fake news. With these, there are a lot of people who experience anxiety or were diagnosed with depression because of the excessive use of social media.
So I suggest that in order to be able to be a good social media netizen, let us set our prioritize in social media. Let us choose our platform strategically. Lets us do this wherein, for example, if you want to be entertained and enjoy watching long-form content, you go for YOUTUBE. If you want to engage in more conversational, sensible, and critical conversations, go and use Twitter. And then if you want to seek inspiration, you go for Instagram. So it is more of setting prioritize in each platform but not literally being active across all platforms.
When love is gone...
Love is the happiest feeling for me. It creates wonderful things in life. It is an affectionate greetings conveyed to someone. It is an intense feeling of deep affection. It is everything we want. It makes the world go round and colorful. It is a many splendor thing.
But what happens when love is gone? How would you know it? What will you do?
One of the most obvious indicators that love is gone is the feeling of contentment when your partner is absent. When two people are on amicable, loving terms, they want to see each other. They enjoy each others company, so they spend time together partaking in almost any activities.
But When you ignore the fact that your partner cannot be with you anymore, then that's it. When you feel better when you are not with them, and you enjoy other people's company, then love is gone. And when you think that it will never be the same again with both of you, when sweetness is gone, it is time to move on. Making excuses just not to be with them is a sign. The discomfort of saying 'I love you' is another thing. It hurts. And it will never be that same again.
@Louise1478
