12th Dec, 2022 You are being pruned (2) My suffering was good for me." Ps 119:71 NLT God uses problems, pressures, and people to prune you for greater fruitfulness. Are you aware of Him using any of these three things in your life today? God can use all situations in your life to help you grow if you will just have the right attitude.  He will use a major frustration,  a financial setback,  a sudden sickness,  a broken marriage,  a rebellious child,  or even the death of a loved one to get your attention.  You say, "But it hurts so much!" Yes, pruning is painful. Sometimes a gardener will prune a tree until it looks like a totem pole or a giant toothpick. It's not a pretty sight. But the pruning process is positive. God is not mad at you. "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Ro 8:1 NKJV).  God does not punish His genuine children. Jesus took your punishment on the cross. God's pruning is for your best, for more fruitfulness in your life. Can God's pruning fail to produce? Sure, if you don't cooperate. How does God produce "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" in your life? (Gal 5:22-23 NLT). He produces these qualities by allowing you to face situations and people with exactly the opposite qualities.  He teaches you to love by putting you around difficult people. He teaches you patience by letting things frustrate you.  You say, "How can I cooperate with God?" The Bible tells you: "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus" (1Th 5:16-18 NLT). God can use all situations in your life to help you grow.

14th Aug, 2022 Problem solving (1) "When we are knocked down, we get up again." 2Co 4:9 CEV Every problem you face in life introduces you to yourself. It shows you how you think and what you're made of. People basically respond to problems in three ways:  (1) they refuse to accept them, (2) they accept them and then endure them, or  (3) they accept them and try to improve things.  Which of the three people are you? Paul was a problem solver.  He knew that with God on his side, he would prevail. "We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again" (vv. 7-9 CEV).  So when it comes to having problems, what should you do?  (1) Anticipate them Since problems are unavoidable, prepare for them spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. If you pray for God's best and anticipate Satan's worst, you will find yourself in a good position to solve the problems that come your way.  (2) See the big picture. You can't afford to be overcome by emotion. Nor can you permit yourself to get bogged down in the minutiae and lose sight of what's important.  (3) Handle one thing at a time. Richard Sloma said, "Never try to solve all the problems at once-make them line up for you one-by-one."  And if you're facing lots of problems, make sure you actually solve the one you're working on before moving on to the next one. Every problem you face in life introduces you to yourself! 

4th Aug, 2022 The benefits of meditating on God's' "I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds." Ps 77:12 NIV What does the word meditate mean? "To engage in contemplation or reflection or to focus one's thoughts on." David said, "I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds..." Question: Until you meditate on God's Word, what can you say that will make any real difference? All you will be doing is sharing your opinion, which is just one of many. You will not be able to speak convincingly or make any real difference in the life of the person to whom you are speaking. It's God's Word that changes people's lives, not yours! Here are ten benefits of meditating on God's Word:  (1) It cultivates within you a love for God and His Word.  (2) It gives you new insights and spiritual understanding.  (3) It's a source of reassurance and strength.  (4) It empowers you to be a genuine witness for Jesus Christ.  (5) It renews your mind.  (6) It protects you from sin.  (7) It restores your soul and your emotions.  (8) It enables you to trust in the Lord with all your heart.  (9) It causes your spirit to come alive.  (10) It assists you in understanding God, others, and yourself. There is great power in God's Word, and Bible meditation gives you access to that power.  "Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you-your tickets to participation in the life of God" (2Pe 1:3-4 MSG). It's God's Word that changes people's lives, not yours!

26th Jun, 2022 Selah: "Pause and calmly think about it! "God will establish it for ever. Selah." Ps 48:8 Seventy-four times in the book of Psalms we read the word "Selah" at the end of a Scripture. What does it mean? To "pause and calmly think about it." You can't rush into Bible revelation. You can't skim the surface and discover the treasure hidden within it. That's why David wrote, "With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Ps 119:10-11). When you hide God's Word in your heart through meditation and memorization, you're able to stand on it when you have a particular need. Meditation involves taking time to reflect; to "pause and calmly think about it." It's a time-tested method God put in place for you. He wants you to learn to pray the Scriptures and meditate on them because these habits will help you to experience all He has for you. The most important thing you can ask yourself when you face life challenges is, "What does God say about this in His Word?" Why is asking that important? Read these two Scriptures, and you will find the answer: "Your word is settled in heaven" (Ps 119:89 NKJV). "The word of our God stands forever" (Isa 40:8 NKJV). God's Word is His will! When God called Jeremiah to leadership, Jeremiah had reservations about his ability. So God said, "I have put My words in your mouth" (Jer 1:9 NKJV). Then He told Jeremiah, "I am ready to perform My word" (v. 12 NKJV). The only thing you can count on for sure is that God will keep His Word. Selah! Meditation involves taking time to reflect.