Monthly Archives: September 2011

Excelling In Life

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Excelling  In Life
by Pastor Afolabi

People often busy themselves with some  activity that they believe would give them an edge for excellence in various  areas of their lives. For some, it is enrolling for that extra on-the-job  course to sharpen their business acumen; for others, it’s hiring the services  of a pro trainer or coach to improve their skills in some sport. For some  others still, it is sitting for weeks, months or even years under the tutorship  of world class professors and ultimately obtaining a first class degree from  some renowned institution in well acclaimed areas of the world. And maybe for  some, recruiting the best skilled hands to execute the goals of their companies  or organizations would definitely do the “excelling” trick.

These are undeniably laudable efforts,  worthy of emulation. However, that individual who will become truly excellent  in his or her life must primarily learn and apply God‘s principles and skills  of living. Man is a created being; and must necessarily seek to know his  Creator, who having made the product, understands his full functions and  specified his operations; and thus knows what man can achieve, and how and when  best he can achieve it. The Bible is the product manual and must therefore be  the pivot and reference for whoever will maximize his potentials, and  ultimately excel at his endeavours as God’s divine product.

Excelling is not an act or performance,  which is here for a moment only to disappear into oblivion. Rather, it ought to  be a way of life. Excelling in life requires 100% usage of one’s mind; and  one’s capability and its utilization can be reviewed and improved by choice and  at will. A poet once said, “Few are born with talent that excel, but all  are capable of living well.” Rarely will an infant have an angel descend  at his birth and whisper in his ear “You are among the few born with  talent.” Often times, the infant himself grows up to recognize his  talents, and sets the ball rolling to achieve his goals, with a touch of  excellence. Not many are born into the world with the tag “WINNER”.  Thus, winning and doing so excellently is indeed a matter of choice.

So what you need to do is to always  acknowledge yourself as the best product of a painstaking manufacturer, laden  with innate abilities, great talents and limitless potentials. And these, when  put to the right and timely use, according to the principles provided in the  manufacturer’s manual – the Bible – will definitely produce excellent results.

Constantly apply yourself to training and imbibe fresh and   updated information in your field of expertise, or whatever area of endeavour   you seek to pursue. Become consistent, diligent and continually improve on your   skills and personality, always staying abreast of the facts in your field of   play. Soon enough, excelling in life will be your sweet story to tell.

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Don’t Let The Noise Of This World Keep You From Hearing The Voice Of God!

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DON’T LET THE NOISE OF THIS WORLD KEEP YOU FROM HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD!

IN SEARCH OF SILENCE!

I HAVE CALMED AND QUIETED MY SOUL. (PSALM 131:2)

My next record should be 45 minutes of silence”, said singer Meg Hutchinson, “because that’s what we’re missing most in society.”

Silence is indeed hard to find. Cities are notoriously noisy due to the high concentration of traffic and people. There seems to be no escape from loud music, loud machines, noisy generators, and loud voices. But the kind of noise that endangers our spiritual well-being is not the noise we can’t escape but the noise we invite into our lives. Some of use noise as a way of shutting out loneliness: voices of TV and radio personalities give us the illusion of companionship. Some of us use it as a way of shutting out our own thoughts: other voices and opinions keep us from having to think for ourselves. Some of us use noise as a way of shutting out the voice of God: constant chatter, even when we’re talking about God, keeps us from hearing what God has to say.

But Jesus, even during His busiest times, made a point of seeking out places of solitude where He could carry on a conversation with God (Mark 1:35). Even if we can’t find a place that is perfectly quiet, we need to find a place to quiet our souls (Ps 131:2), a place where God has our full attention. – Julie Ackerman Link

There is a quiet resting place,

Where peace and joy are found;

Where burdens may be laid aside

And faith and love abound-Moore

Don’t let the noise of this world keep you from hearing the voice of The Lord.

May God Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

 

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Honour your father and mother that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12

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HONOURING YOUR PARENTS

Honour your father and mother that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12

My dad recently turned 90 years old and his physical capabilities are fading. He can still move around with his walker, but he needs someone to cook his meals and help him with other tasks.

My older brother Steve and his wife Judy lived close to him, so they decided to move in with Dad to care for him. Wanting to help in some way, my wife and I flew across the country to help out a bit by watching Dad while my brother and his wife had some time away together. We enjoyed our time with my father and were glad to ease Steve and Judy’s load – even if it was only for a few days.

The Bible says to “honour your father and mother” (Eph. 6:2). One New Testament commentary says that to honour someone is to “treat him with the deference, respect, reverence, kindness, courtesy, and obedience which his station in life…..demands.”

For young children, this means obeying your parents. For teenagers, it indicates showing respect for Mom and Dad even if you think you know more than they do. For young adults, this means including your parents in your life. And for those in middle-age and beyond, it means making sure that parents are cared for as they move into old age or their health declines.

How can you honour your parents this week? – Dennis Fisher

Don’t miss the opportunity

To honour and obey

The parents God has blessed you with –

For they’ll be gone someday. – Sper

Honouring Our Parents Has No Age Limit!

May God Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

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Jesus Loves You And He Understands Your Pains And Sorrows! The Lord Is Gracious And Full Of Compassion. Psalm 145:8

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Jesus loves you and He understands your pains and sorrows!

The Lord Is Gracious And Full Of Compassion. Psalm 145:8

I have a friend who was working in his home office one evening, trying to get some necessary paperwork done. His little girl, who was about 4 years old at the time, was playing around his desk, puttering about, moving objects here and there, pulling out drawers, and making a good deal of noise.

My friend endured the distraction with stoic patience until the child slammed a drawer on one of her fingers and screamed in pain. Reacting in exasperation he shouted, “That’s it!” as he escorted her out of the room and shut the door.

Later, her mother found her weeping in her bedroom and tried to comfort her. “Does your finger still hurt?” she asked. “No,” the little girl sniffled. “Then why are you crying?” her mother asked. “Cause,” she whimpered, “When I pinched my finger, Papa didn’t say, “Sorry!’”

Sometimes that’s all we need, isn’t it? Someone who cares and who will respond with kindness and compassion, someone who will say, “Sorry!” or “I love you!” We have One name Jesus who does that for us.

Jesus loves us, understands our pains and sorrows, and gave Himself for us (Eph. 5:2). Now we are to “Walk in love” and imitate Him. –David Roper

Knowing God – what comfort there,

Drawn by His eternal care;

Love from God- what joy we share,

Drawn into His mercies rare. – Branon

God’s whisper of comfort quiets the noise of our trials!

May God Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

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The Secret Things Belongs To The Lord Our God

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WHY ME!

The secret things belong to the Lord Our God (Deuteronomy 29:29)

Recently I read Psalm 131, one of my favorite Psalms. In the past, I viewd it as an encouragement to understand that mystery is one of the hallmarks of God’s character. It challenged me to let my mind be at rest, since I am unable to understand all that God is doing in His universe.

But then I saw another side of David’s calm spirit: I am unable to understand all that God is doing in me, and it is impossible to try .

David draw a comparison between a weaned child that no longer fret for what it once demanded, and a soul that has learned the same lesson. It is a call to learn humility, patient, endurance, and contentment in all my circumstances-whatever they are-though I do not understand God’s reasons. Divine logic is beyond the grasp of my mind.

I ask, “Why this affliction? Why this anguish?” The Father answers, “Hush, child. You wouldn’t understand if I explained it to you. Just trust me!”

So, I turn from contemplating David’s example to ask myself: Can I, in my circumstances, “hope in The Lord?” (vs 3). Can I wait in faith and patience without fretting and without questioning God’s wisdom? Can I trust Him while He works in me His good, acceptable, and perfect Will? –David Roper

It may not be for me to see

The meaning and the mystery

Of all that God has planned for me

Till “afterward!”

In a world of mystery, it’s a comfort to know The God Who knows all things!

May God Almighty Our Heavenly Father
prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus
Christ Name, Amen!

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Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal

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INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:20)

Jason Bohn was a college student when he made a hole-in-one golf shot that won him a million dollars.while others may have squandered that money, Bohn had a plan. Wanting to be a pro golfer, he used the money as a living-and-training fund to improve his golf skills. the cash became an investment in his future – an investment that paid off when Bohn won the PGA Tour‘s 2005 B.C Open. Bohn’s decision to invest in the future instead of living for the moment was a wise one indeed.

In a sense, that is what Our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to do. We have been entrusted with resources-time, ability, opportunity-and we decide how to use them. Our challenge is to see those resources as an opportunity to invest long-term. “Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven”, is how Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ puts it in Matthew 6:20. Those protected tresures cannot be destroyed nor taken away, The Master assures us.

Think of your resources: talent, time, knowledge. These are temporal and limited. but if you invest them with an eye towards eternity, these temporary things can have enduring impact. What is your focus? Now or eternity? Invest in the future. It will not only have an eternal impact, but it will also change the way you view life each day. – Bill Crowder

Whatever is done in love for Christ

Will one day have Heaven’s reward;

Today let’s do what we can for Him,

Our loving Savior and Lord –Hess

The richest people on earth are those who invest their lives in Heaven

May God Almighty Our Heavenly Father
prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus
Christ Name, Amen!

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Teach Us To Number Our Days That We May Gain A Heart Of Wisdom (Psalm 90:12) Grandfather’s Clock

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TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS THAT WE MAY GAIN A HEART OF
WISDOM (PSALM 90:12)

GRANDFATHER’S CLOCK

In 1876, Henry Clay Work wrote the song “My Grandfather’s
Clock.” The song describes a grandfather’s clock that faithfully ticks its way
through its owner’s life. Childhood, adulthood, and old age are all viewed in
relationship to his beloved timepiece. The refrain says:

Ninety years without
slumbering,

Tick, tock, tick,
tock,

His life’s seconds
numbering,

Tick, tock, tick,
tock,

But it stopped, short,

Never to go again,

When the old man died.

The relentless ticking of the clock reminds us that our time
on earth is limited. Despite the joys and pains of life, time always marches
on. For the believer, our time on earth is an opportunity for gaining wisdom.
The psalmist writes, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of
wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

One way of numbering our days is to ask ourselves these
kinds of questions: How can I become more like Christ? Am I reading the Bible
regularly? Am I devoting time to prayer? Am I meeting together with other
believers? The way we answer these questions is an indicator of the progress
we’re making in gaining wisdom and becoming more like Christ Jesus.

No matter the phase of life – childhood, youth, middle age,
or our senior years – life always afford us opportunities to grow in faith and
wisdom. Numbering our days is the wise response to life’s inevitable progress.

How are you progressing on your journey? – Dennis Fisher

Don’t spend your time
– invest it!

May God Almighty Our Heavenly Father
prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus
Christ Name, Amen!

 

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Hero worship! I wil praise You, For I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)

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HEROES WORSHIP! I WILL PRAISE YOU, FOR I AM FEARFULLY AND
WONDERFULLY MADE (PSALM 139:14)

When I was a kid, I had a hero: Peter Maravich, a
high-scoring basketball player who handled the ball like a magician.

Problem was, my desire to be like Pistol Pete blocked my
satisfaction with who God made me to be. When I realized I could never play
like Pete, I grew discouraged. I even quit my college team briefly because I
couldn’t measure up to the Maravich standard.

Kids still do that kind of things. They grow unhappy with
who God made them to be because they measure themselves by their “perfect”
heroes.

Christian singer Jonny Diaz recognized this and wrote a song
called “More Beautiful You.” The song begins: “Little girl fourteen flipping
through a magazine; says she wants to look that way.” Some young girls wish
they could be like Disney star Selena Gomez or another star the way I wanted to
be like Maravich. Diaz sings, “There could never be a more beautiful you; don’t
buy the lies……; you were made to fill a purpose that only you could do.” Diaz
is saying what another songwriter said under the inspiration of God thousands
of years ago: “[We are] fearfully and wonderfully made”. (Ps. 139:14).

God made us the way He wants us to be. Believe it! There
could never be a more beautiful you- Dave Branon

Lord, we are Yours,
You are our God;

We have been made so
wondrously;

This human frame in
every part

Your wisdom, power,
and love we see

We are beautiful
masterpieces designed by God!

May God Almighty Our Heavenly Father
prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus
Christ Name, Amen!

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I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord (2 Kings 22:8) Find the book

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I HAVE FOUND
THE BOOK OF THE LAW IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD (2 KINGS 22:8). FIND THE BOOK!

One Sunday
at the church where I pastor, I invited three children to find several scrolls
with Bible verses written on them that I had hidden in our worship centre. I
told them that once they found them and read the words aloud, I would give them
a prize. You should have seen those kids! They ran, moved chairs, and looked
under plants and in purses (with permission). Their search for the scroll was
intense, but exciting. Their diligent search and subsequent discovery of the
scrolls led to joy in the children, affirmation from our congregation, and a
renewed sense of the importance of God’s Word.

In 2 kings
22-23, we read how King Josiah and the people of Judah rediscovered the joy and
importance of God’s Word. During the repairing of the temple, Hilkiah the high
priest found the Book of the Law. It must have been lost or hidden during the
reign of Manasseh. The when the scroll was read to King Josiah, he listened and
responded to it (vv. 10-11). He sought further understanding of it (vv.12-20),
and he led the people to renew their commitment to its importance in their
lives (23:1-4).

Many today
have unprecedented access to God’s Word. Let’s renew our commitment to “find” it
every day and by our lives show its prominence. – Marvin Williams

O Book divine, supreme, sublime

Entire, eternal, holy, true;

Sufficient for all men and time-

We pledge our faith to thee anew

To know Christ, The Living Word, is
to love the Bible, the written Word.

May God Almighty Our Heavenly Father
prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus
Christ Name, Amen!

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Beloved, let us love one another: For love is of God; and everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not knows not God; for God is love

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BELOVED, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER: FOR LOVE IS OF GOD; AND
EVERYONE THAT LOVES IS BORN OF GOD, AND KNOWS GOD. HE THAT LOVES NOT KNOWS NOT
GOD; FOR GOD IS LOVE (1 JAMES 4:7-8)

The Lord Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?”
and He insisted on a respond each time (John 21:15-17). Though Jesus knew Peter
loved Him, He wanted him to say it. In Matthew 17:5, God the Father, spoke from
heaven of His love for Jesus. You see, God doesn’t only love, He talks it too.

Some people find it difficult to say, “I love you.” Some
parents find it difficult to say to their children, “I love you.” “My kids know
I love them”, they’ll say. If you ask them how they came about that conclusion,
their response may be, “I feed, house and educate them; so they ought to know I
love them.”

Well, that’s not good enough. Convicts in prisons are fed,
housed and even clothed and it’s not that the government loves them; rather,
it’s out of their responsibility. “I love you” is part of the love-language in
the Kingdom of God. Therefore, as God’s child, you must train yourself not only
to demonstrate love through your actions; but also speak its language.

When Christ fills your life, it will become easy for you to
talk love. The Bible tells us that God sent Jesus because He loved you and not
that you were very nice and kind (Romans 5:8). You’re a product of love. When
you begin to think this way, you’ll see others through the eyes of love; you’ll
see them the way God sees them, as valuable and priceless. You’ll also learn to
say, “l love you” not out of weakness, but out of the understanding that love
is the greatest power in the universe. Make up your mind to speak the language
of love always. Even if you were treated badly or spoken to in an
uncomplimentary way, refuse to respond with harsh or bitter words. Remember
that “……the love of God is shed abroad in
our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5). You are
a love-child of a love-God, therefore, let your words be full of love.

CONFESSION

The love of God has been deposited in my heart by the Holy
Ghost, and I walk in love every day of my life. I refuse to walk in malice,
anger and bitterness. I am a love-child of a love-God. Amen!

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

Thank You Daddy for Our nations Nigeria and Israel! In Jesus Mighty
Name, Amen!

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