All posts tagged: attitude

God, Time, and Promotion

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The proper time for promotion It is not my time It is not a chanced time It is not premature time It is not an expired time It is God’s time! The key to finding God’s time is twofold: Humility Humble yourself under His mighty power… in due time He will lift you up! Trust Casting all anxieties on Him We are either prideful or fearful in general when it comes to finding success, achieving our goals or reaching our destiny. We often get in the way of the Lord by enthroning ourselves. We are impatient. So we take matters into our own hands. And instead of seeking Him for wisdom we operate on a human level instead of on God’s supernatural grace. The result is fear and frustration. The longer we stay in that state, the harder it becomes for us to step into God’s proper time. When fear begins to rule, we fall further away from seeing God at work in our lives. Fear unleashes in us all forms of anxieties. We shut …

10 Reasons we fail to come into our true Greatness

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Time Magazine got it wrong when they put T.D. Jakes’ picture on the cover of their September 17th 2001 magazine with the question – “Is this the next Billy Graham?” Our culture is always on the hunt for the next big thing. But that idea falls short of the glory of God. Why can’t both preachers be great in and of and by themselves? In this third part of their ‘America’s Best Series’, the magazine failed to rise above the age long temptation to define greatness in terms of position, power, prominence and possession. Even Jesus’ disciples stumbled over this same temptation when they “argued with one another about who was the greatest.” The desire to be better than or above everyone else is born in a sinful, broken and bankrupt place of an arrogant heart. A lot of people tend to think that this is an American problem. But this is not an American problem, it is a sin problem. Pride is a disease. And the gospel, in all its simplicity and power, is …

Here is Ben Rector’s two-cents about Making Money

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Making money, it isn’t easy And it sure won’t make you happy So I think it’s funny, we’re so concerned with making money And money won’t keep folks from grieving And it won’t stop love from leaving So here’s my two cents What’s the use in making money And I know that life ain’t cheap And not all good things are free But there is no enough and no too much and it seems so strange to me I just think it’s funny, we’re so concerned with making money I make my living singing love songs That I made up cause I love songs But folks believe them, So I’m receiving paper money Don’t get me wrong, I love my lady And I probably wouldn’t trade her But life’s no better with debts or debters Making money And I know that life ain’t cheap And not all good things are free But there is no enough and no too much And it seems so strange to me I just think it’s funny, we’re so concerned …

WWJD with Difficult People?

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My first attempt at a title for this post was, “7 types of people I really don’t like.” I know! I know I should love people unconditionally. I know I should go the extra mile. I know I need to be like Jesus, but I fall short so many times  in my love and patience for difficult people. How many can handle a church member who’s always giving you a dirty look, a sarcastic remark or a backhanded compliment. Frankly, only those who know difficult people can really understand what I am talking about. This is the kind of people I want to talk about in this post. I will briefly mention 7 character flaws of people, and frame them as highly difficult to live or work with. Having said that, I hope to encourage all of us to strive and commit to growing into the likeness and character of Jesus. This, I believe, is the first key to  dealing with difficult people. The second is to become cognizant of the fact that these people are – family members, co-workers, …

What will your treasure be?

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Every day, every moment, every decision, every choice we are faced with this question – “What will your treasure be?” Will it be for your power? Will it be for your fame? Will it be for your success? Will it be for your wealth? Will it be for honor of yourself? Every post, every tweet, every picture, every share on your social platform cannot dodge the question “What will your treasure be?” Will it be for your glory? Will it be for your greatness? Will it be for your stardom? Will it be for your notoriety? Will it be for your praise? For every material possession we have or desire to have, we must ask this question – “What will your treasure be?” Will riches be your legacy? Will possession be your security? Will money be your God? Will it be the measure your worth? Will it be idol? Luke 12:34 says, “wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” The heart is extremely greedy and selfish. It focuses on …

Refreshing Times of Reconciliation

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This short epistle (letter) written by Paul to Philemon has one of the most powerful messages on conflict resolution in the bible. This story is not only a powerful demonstration of the gospel to transform lives (“formerly he was useless” but “now he is indeed useful,” v. 11), but also a demonstration of the powerful impact the gospel can have on human relationships as well (receive him “no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother,” v. 16). Apparently during Paul’s three-year ministry in Ephesus, Philemon heard the gospel and was saved. He began serving the cause of Christ in the Colossian community, opening his home for a group of Christians to meet there regularly. At some point, Onesimus, one of Philemon’s slaves, fled to Rome, possibly having stolen money (or property) from Philemon and now a fugitive. Onesimus somehow came into contact with the apostle Paul and became a Christian. As he grew in Christ, he spent much time and effort helping Paul, who was severely constrained by his imprisonment. Paul thus wrote this letter as an appeal to Philemon to appreciate …

Not because the bus stops, you should get on it

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My destination was Hayward, but my transit stop was Oakland. I decided to take Greyhound to Oakland, than the train to Hayward because I didn’t want to drive. After waiting for at least two hours, I stepped toward the side door of the bus and handed my ticket to the driver. He ushered me on the bus barely glancing at my ticket. I got in my seat, put my earphones over my ears, closed my eyes, and three hours later I was in Reno. I was furiously boiling inside, to fine myself in Reno and not Oakland, but kept my cool. The bus driver apologized for not looking intently at my ticket and offered a six hours drive on another bus heading to San Francisco. It was a drive that would take me from Reno, back through Sacramento en route to San Francisco. I promptly declined and asked for a bus back to Roseville, Sacramento, where I left my car. My money was reimbursed, and I got a free ticket with priority boarding back home. …

One Word that should define your entire life

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Consecration “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man or woman, who is totally dedicated to Him.” What is Consecration? The word first and foremost means to “be set apart.” It is the act of separating from a common to a sacred use, or of devoting and dedicating a person or thing to the service and worship of God. The Hebrew words kadosh and Greek  hagiazo are translated by several different English words: holy, consecrate, hallow, sanctify, dedicate. In the Old Testament God is said to be kadosh or “holy.” The Hebrew word originally meant “to be separate.” The Holy One of Israel is separate because He is God. “I am God, and not man; the Holy One in your midst” ( Hosea 11:9 ). Hosea pointed to both the otherness or separateness of God and His nearness. The holiness of God came to mean all that God is. To the prophets, God’s holiness included justice, righteousness, and many ethical concerns. “God who is Holy shall be sanctified in righteousness” (Isaiah 5:16 ). When people or things were “consecrated,” they …

Human life is a pilgrimage between two moments of nakedness

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There was a wealthy lady who died, and everybody in the community was extremely curious as to the extent of her fortune. One person was brash enough to come up to the pastor immediately after the funeral and whisper in his ear, “How much did she leave?” The pastor had the wisdom to reply, “She left everything.” The apostle Paul also calls us to a lifestyle of simplicity and contentment. I have learned,” he said, “in whatever state I am therewith to be content Paul said, Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world and we shall take nothing out of it. Or as Job put it, Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I shall return. Have you ever considered, brothers and sisters, that human life is a pilgrimage between two moments of nakedness? We would be wise to travel light because there is no doubt that we shall leave everything behind. Let us be content. Covetous people always fall into a traps. The love of money is a …

Don’t Toot your own Horn

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Take heed that you do not your give alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does:  That your alms may be in secret: and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward thee openly. When it come to bragging or boasting about our accomplishments or achievements, some people have a hard time reining it in. Because of that lack of self-control they come across as proud, boastful and obnoxious. I understand that there is usually tension, especially for professionals, between selling oneself and humility. To be frank, even people who find themselves on church staff or on staff at other christian organizations, struggle with the tension between humility and standing out. But whatever situation you find yourself, the biblical principle of humility still stands. …