The Power of Gratitude

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Learn to appreciate the people around you. No one is an island. We all need somebody. A cheerful look brings joy to the heart (Prov 15:30), in the same way that a grateful person makes you want to go all out for him/her. Sure, there is plenty you do not have, but there is much you do have if you have people around you.

Appreciate the smallest of gestures and you’ll find that you feel better for doing so and you may also make someone else’s day.

Saying “Thank you” costs you nothing, but you can earn much favour with those you truly appreciate.

God Sees The Best In You

Do you know people who only see the cup as half full? That’s not your God.

God always wants the best for you and sees the best in you. Sure, He wants you to “fix up” in those challenging areas of your life, but through it all, He’s rooting for you to get it right.

Imagine running in a stadium and you’re about to beat Usain Bolt in the 100metres; there’s someone cheering wildly in the crowds and shouting at the top of their lungs. That’s God cheering you on and waving a banner saying “You can do it!”. Just imagine that.

God sees the best in you, but how you see yourself matters. So today, look in the mirror, what do you see? I see greatness.

In His Hands

“Many things about tomorrow

I don’t seem to understand;

But I know who holds tomorrow,

And I know who holds my hand.” – I. Stanphill

Take Heart, Hold On

“Never give up, never give up

Never give up to thy sorrows

Jesus will bid them depart

Trust in the Lord, Trust in the Lord

Sing when your trials are greatest

Trust in the Lord and take heart.” – F. Crosby

From the Hymn “Never Give Up”
Related Post:
1. Never Give Up by Just A thought
2. Joyful in Hope by Just A Thought

 

Peace Forfeited

Oh what peace we often forfeit
Oh what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer. – J. Scriven

From the Hymn “What a Friend we have in Jesus”

Public vs. Private

“We call things ‘secular’ because we have neatly detached God from most spheres of life and confined Him to spiritual game-reserves called ‘sacred areas’ where we visit Him from time to time.”

Disturbingly true, isn’t it?

Just A Thought

Excerpt From: Greenslade, Philip. “Every Day with Jesus Jul/Aug 2013: The Great I Am.”

“Here I am, Lord”

Think about this for a moment please- God is not interested in your abilities, so much as does your availability. We will literally astound ourselves, and others, if we really made ourselves available to be used by God.

“Here I am Lord, send me!” Isaiah 6:8

Give it a go…
Every blessing, in Christ Jesus

A User-friendly God

So much in our modern world – and sadly in the Church too – contributes to what one theologian has called ‘the trivialisation of God’. We may not have stopped believing in God altogether, but we often cut Him down to our size, reduce Him to our dimensions. However, we domesticate God at great risk. It is dangerous to try to make this transcendent God user-friendly.Excerpt From: Greenslade, Philip. “Every Day with Jesus” July/Aug 2013Just A Thought
Every blessing

It’s a dare, creation!

The heavens proclaim
the glory of God;
The skies declare his majesty and power.
Day after day, night after night,
they make him known.

Without a voice,
or word,
yet their message goes out to all the earth.
This is creation pointing to its maker

I am wonderfully and fearfully made!
I am the crown of God’s creation,
Apple of His eye,
With voice,
and word!
I too, will point to my maker.
I must, I will bring him praise all my days
No rock will cry out in my place.

Lets see who praises loudest, creation.
It’s a dare!

Dominic Ahiaga-Dagbui, © 2013

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Scriptures for The Tough Times

QUESTION:

What verses/chapters of the Bible do you turn to when faced with difficult times?

Please share your verse in comments to encourage and bless other readers here.

Disappointing Christianity

Christianity has to be disappointing, precisely because it’s not a mechanism for accomplishing all our human notions and aspirations; it is a mechanism for subjecting all things to the will of God- Simon Tugwell

Perhaps he was right – God doesn’t exist to serve our wants and desires or act like a vending machine (get what you want). Understanding this should hopefully set us free from some of the frustrations on our Christian spiritual journey.

 God’s will results in our ultimate good.

Just A Thought

Faith Comes by Hearing

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of the Lord (Romans 10:17).

Is your faith not growing? The text above can almost be paraphrased simply as ‘more of God’s word, more of faith’, with the help of the Holy Spirit of course. What do you spend your time hearing, reading or listening to? Programs that cause doubt or bring guilt? Voices the criticize and only remind of your weaknesses and failures? Or the Word of God that brings life, sets free, builds faith and confidence in the Lord ?

Make a practice of  hearing & reading only what builds you up in the Lord.

Every blessing, in Christ Jesus.

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“Your Promise Revives Me…”

For whatever was written …was written to teach us, so that by our steadfast and patient endurance and the encouragement drawn from the Scriptures, we might hold fast to and cherish hope. Romans 5:4.

It is good to have family and friends that can comfort us in hard times, but there can be no better place to find comfort and encouragement than in the Word of God. Can I encourage you to make a habit of regularly reading the Bible yourself?  It is full of assuring words of God’s comfort and reminder that He never leaves, nor forsakes.

Not sure where to start? Try Psalm 34

“Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.” Psalm 119:50

Every blessing, with prayers…
Word of Hope Ministries

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The Right Focus

“…keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Hebrews 12:2 NLT

Isn’t it easy to focus so much on our own inadequacies, past failures and limitations in life? Saved by grace, we are being transformed gradually into the perfect image of Christ. We are works-in-progress, meaning it is possible to get things wrong sometimes. In such times, may you remember to lift your eyes to Jesus in faith believing that He who started the good work of salvation in you, will bring it also to a perfect finish.

Prayer: Spirit of God, help me keep my focus on Jesus at all times so that my failures and weaknesses wouldn’t stunt my growth in you.

Every blessing
Word of Hope Ministries

Who do you think you are?

In Christ, I am…

• Forgiven. Loved.
• Chosen to be holy [set apart]
• Adopted into the beautiful family of God
• Gloriously graced to be the best I can be
• Showered with God’s kindness, along with His wisdom and understanding (Culled from Ephesians 1:4-8)

This is an identity worth celebrating and rejoicing in every single day! A good practice might be to remind yourself, as often as you can, of this identity. May you go through today fully conscious of who you are in Christ, to the glory of the Father.

Every Blessing, with prayers…
Word of Hope Ministries

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