Wait on The Lord.....

So often, we as a people can become so impatient. We want what we want, when we want it and immediately. The word patience can become such a foreign word.

Yet, we have heard the phrase many times - "Patience is a virtue".

But, what is virtue and what does it mean?

First, virtue is a Noun.
1. moral excellence
2. chastity
3. admirable quality

Meaning:
1. by reason of; because of
2. to make the best of a difficult or unsatisfactory situation

many of us get frustrated when things don't go our way. We get upset with God, we cease to pray, we become alienated from others, especially when we become impatient.

Lets take our positions on our jobs. Some of us do excellent work, always on time, do whatever our managers ask of us, we are proactive, always helping others, especially one person in particular and all of a sudden, that one person that you've helped constantly, has just gotten the promotion you have been waiting for. What a bummer!!!

Now, you are not only frustrated, but now you are angry and growing impatiently frustrated.

Listen, each of us has a destiny and God has a purpose for each of us. Patience will help you reach your destiny.

Wait on The Lord to elevate you, even on your Job. Know this, whenever you are elevated on God's timing, you will be fully equiped to handle any job and any situation that will surely come your way. You see, God has a purpose and a timing for your elevelation.

Also, learn to listen to the voice of God and listen to those who are over you. There is always a lesson to learn and knowledge to gain.

Learn to be faithful in your position. Dare to be honest as well.

Listen to what God told Josua when it was time for him to be elevated:

"And the Lord said to Joshua, 'This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.'" (Josh 3:7-8).

Rememer, when God elevates you , He will also equip you.

Read the writings of OS Hillman below to gain an even greater insite.

Happy reading.....

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The Purpose of ElevationTGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os HillmanFriday, December 31 2010

"And the Lord said to Joshua, 'This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.'" (Josh 3:7-8).

Joshua had been a faithful number two man under Moses for 80 years. Can you imagine serving one man for 80 years? Now that is faithfulness!

Even so, when the time came to pass the mantel to Joshua, God knew he needed to be elevated in the eyes of the people in order for Joshua to accomplish his purpose. That is the purpose for elevation - so that you and I can fulfill our purpose and our mission.

We are not called to elevate ourselves. If we elevate ourselves before our time we will short circuit God's plans for our lives. We will not have the same level of grace as we would have if it were in God's perfect timing. Jesus refused to let others elevate Him or make Him into something contrary to His purpose. Moving into a job or responsibility before we are ready is a formula for failure. We may not be mature enough. We may not have the proper skill set.

Let God elevate you in His timing and you will be successful in the thing He created you to be and do.

Bishop Paul S. Morton - Let it Rain

What happens When...

The holidays are here? do you feel lethargic, depress or down? Do you have holiday blues? Have you ever wondered why you get depress during what is suppose to be happy times during the year?

Do you find yourself feeling lonely? Needing to be in the presence of others, but not willing to make the effort to do so?

Do you find yourself eating more? do you drown yourself in foods that contains lots of sugars and starches. Do you fill yourself with coffee or lots of alcoholic beverages?

Do you lie in bed most of the day during the holiday season? If you see yourself in this state, you could be in a state of depression.

Many people find themselves in this state during the holiday season. Stress is the primary reason some people find themselves depressed.

Some of us can cut out stress and avoid depression, while others are more vulnerable to to become stressed and depressed this time of season.

Some are depressed and stressed because they are lonely, some because they do not have enough finances, some because of the lost of a love one through death or because of a broken relationship. Whatever the reason, depression during the hoilday season can be very detrimental to some.

Here are some tips to avoid depresion due to stress:

Know your spending limit. If your money is low, this can be very depressing. So don't buy any more than you can afford.

Give something personal. it doesn't have to always be a purchased gift. It could be a letter, note or a poem that means a great deal to you.

Get organized. if you are a person that likes to attend holiday parties or functions, attend the important ones in sequential order.

Share the load. Don't attempt to do it all yourself. Share responsibilites.

Learn to say no. Don't fear that dreadful word {no}. Say no sometimes. You cannot be everywhere.

Be realistic. Do not to put pressure on yourself to create the perfect holiday for your family. Focus instead on the traditions that make holidays special. And remember that just because it's a holiday, family issuess don't go away. If you have a hard time being around your relatives, it's okay to set limits on your time at events and visits.

Keep a regular sleep, meal, and exercise schedule. Limit the booze.

Remember, the holiday season is for enjoyment. It's purpose is not to see who can out do the other. We all need to remember the reason for each holiday season.

It is very important that we stay focused, not get stressed or depressed. I hope this makes sense.

Don't get stressed about who gives who what!!! Just be happy!!!


Happy reading...

Make sure your friend....

So often in life we have disappointments. Failure to achieve a goal, a love one passing on, a promised not kept and the one person you knew you could always count on abandoned you.

Worst of all a close friend’s betrayal!

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I remember in high school I had a very close friend. Whenever you saw him, you saw me. There were very few times we would not travel together, or I would be at his house eating. We played basketball and football together.

At parties if you him you saw me. It was as though we were as close as brothers. By the way I had three brothers and he only had one.

As a matter of fact, there were times we would bully his brother. That is how close we were.

But one day something happened. He totally betrayed me. We did not speak for days and once we did our relationship was never the same.

You see, betrayals are expected among enemies, not among friends. Especially, a close friend as close as a brother or a sister!

When it comes to the enemy, you prepare yourself. You brace yourself for an attack. You understand the inevitable. But, when it comes from a friend, usually, you are un-prepared.

The word of God says a good friend is closer than a brother.

A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:4.

Do you have a friend closer than a brother or sister? Are you a friend to someone closer than a brother or a sister?

Understand, as a leader, you will be tested and tried. God will allow the enemy to sift you, but once you have been sifted, tried and tested, then you will be stronger. Note: God will not put more on you than you can bear. He knows your strenghts and weaknesses.

This is what Jesus told Peter when he was about to be tested:

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: Luke 22:31-32. Jesus also told Peter that He prayed for him that his faith should not fail; and when he return to Him “strengthen your brothers.”

According to the word of God a great betrayal occurred against King David.

David, according to the Word of God, was tested and tried. He was a man after God’s very heart. It did not matter how many mistakes David made, He still had a heart for God and God honored that. David was God’s anointed and God was not going to allow the enemy to snuff him out.
See what David said when he discovered who his enemy was.

Passage Psalm 55:12-13:
12For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it;it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him.13- But it is you, a man, my equal,
In others words, Davis and his friend worshipped god together, they walk to Church together, they shared secrets together and that person was David’s worst enemy.

Remember this; forgiveness is always a must, if you were betrayed. Asking for forgiveness is always in order, if you betrayed someone.

Lastly, there are very good and faithful friends out there and when you find him or her hold on to them dearly. And always remember that you must also prove yourself be a faithful friend.

For good friends are hard to find, but when you do, you can confide and trust them.

God is always a friend you can trust. You can tell Him everything!!!

Happy reading…

Stress in the workplace…

Are you stressed?

We all know what it feels like to be under stress, yet most of us don’t know why we experience this condition. During intense times our bodies release adrenalin and steroids. We get a rush of anxiety. We understand that stress causes headaches and tension. It also causes high blood pressure and it can lead a heart attack.

There is something called Fight or Flight response, which was designed to help us defend ourselves. It was placed in us from birth. We learn to persevere, and we are suppose to know when to give up.

This is call wisdom…

The fight or flight response is healthy in small doses. The Fight or Flight is just what it says. Either we are going to fight our way through stress or we must determine when we need to run from it, or not allow it at all.

First let us define stress: Physical, mental or emotional strain or tension. Also, Stress is your body’s response to worry, unease, or demands.

Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel anxious or scared, frustrated or angry.

Stress will at some point and time affect most of us and as you know stress is not good for the heart.

Sense we are aware that stress is dangerous, why do we allow it? Why can’t we control it, avoid it? Is it because it should be apart of our daily lives, because we enjoy it? The answer is no and we can prove it.

Oh, just a secret between you and I. Stress accompanied with an unknown health issue can be very deadly…

But first let’s talk about stress in the workplace. Are you happy at work? Do you enjoy getting up in the morning or at night to go punch that magnificent clock? Do you rise up saying yeah; it’s time to go to work?

If I’m smart, I would say, hum, no. I doubt that very much. Yet each of us rise each morning and we go through the same routine. Get up -{I hope you pray}, use the rest room, brush our teeth, wash our faces, put on a pot of Java, eat breakfast, jump in our car, hit the traffic, get frustrated because of so much traffic, and now the driver in front of you is going to slow. All of this brings on stress.

Oh, wait, now you are at the office and you say to yourself, “this place makes me sick”. Is this you?

So often we blame stress on the workplace, and true enough the workplace can be very stressful. There are so many demands and to us the pay does not compensate for the work we do or for the stress we endure.

We drink cups of coffee over and over again, we sit in front of our laptops, starring at the screen, answering and sending email. The demands keep coming and we allow stress to continue to build.

Please notice, I said we allow...

We take our lunch break and the work that has to get done is still fresh on our minds. {What in the world is a person to do?} Now, does this sound like you?

Again, we blame the workplace for our stress, but is it really fair? Let’s think for a moment. Is it really fair for me to blame my job, for me allowing my job to stress me out? My personal answer to my own question is no. I should not blame my job for me allowing my job to stress me out. No sir or Ma'am.

Please understand, our job is a means of supply, but God is our main Supplier.

Let’s look a little farther. The word of God says:

Philippians 4.6,7: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the piece of God which passeth all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

In others, don’t be stressed or worry about anything, and trust God as the source for all your needs.

Philippians 4:19: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

We all need to learn how to relax and live stress free lives, and remember it is you that allow your job to stress you out. You, not your job!

learn to exercise, eat properly, take your vitamins. Research what vitamins and foods are good for stress.

 

Meditate for at least ten minutes or more a day on pleasant things, relaxing things, loving things.

 

And learn to Manage Stress in The Workplace...

 

 

These are my thoughts..... I welcome yours!!!

Physical Abuse...

Physical abuse as you know is even more deadly than mental abuse. Yet, so often Women and children go through this abuse every day.

We’ve discuss Mental Abuse in an earlier writing. I do hope and trust it has enlightened you in some Way, Shape or Form.

I am aware of the abuse of Children, as well as the abuse that happens between Gay couples, but today I wish to focus on the abuse within a relationship between a man and a woman.

It has been stated that, just before you die your whole life flashes before you, yet some never saw that flash, because their lives ended so abruptly.

Remember this; it’s very hard to keep physical abuse a secret when it’s written over your body.

Yet so many try to cover it up with lies, by making excuses as to what happened to them.

Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm.

Forms of physical abuse Striking, Punching, Pushing, pulling Slapping Whipping, Striking with an object and so many other degrading aggressive actions. If I ask which is more detrimental? Mental abuse or Physical abuses what would be your answer? Whatever your answer is, both could end up in bodily harm and or physical death.

What IF…..
You only had hours to live? What exactly would you do? Would you go visit Family, Friends, Give your Children the biggest hugs ever? Thinking on these questions, how far would you go to protect your own life?

There are so many women that are being abused every single day. They tell themselves, He loves me, He cares about me, he’s just going through something right now, He want do it again.

There is a word out there and it is called Delusion.

Delusion: A persistent false belief held in the face…of strong contradictory evidence… Delusion is an unshakable belief in something untrue. These irrational beliefs defy normal .

So many Women are deformed for life. Some will never taste or smell food again, or anything else, because of broken noses and or slit tongues from being hit by an abusive husband or live in mate.

Some will never see again because of being battered in their faces.

When I was younger I recall a woman on T.V. saying she was told by her Doctor, that she may never taste food again, because of the number of times her nose had been brok, lips swollen from being hit by the man she said she loves and the man that said he loves her.

One day she realized this man was not going change. She found a way to get out, thank God with her life. She said and I quote, “I may never taste of smell food again but thank God I am Alive”. I never forgot that show, nor her statement.

Many of us grew up in homes where our parents were constantly fighting. Many of us would lie in bed afraid, not knowing what to do. Afraid that the weaker parent would be killed or seriously injured.

We recall the Police being called, the stronger parent which is usually the culprit being ask to leave the house or simply given a slap on the wrist.

Many of you have witnessed a parent or guardian being killed. Abuse of any kind is wrong and has no place being associated with this very powerful word called "Love"

Women, you must understand that a man that can do these violent acts, can in no way possible love you…And, if this is love you don’t need it.


The Bible speaks plainly concerning love, and this is what it says…

GALATIANS-5: 22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gentleness, self-control.

If you say you love this person in spite of his abuse, yet you are afraid of him. Let’s see what God says about fear and love.

1st John 4:18:
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Please flee your abusive relationship before it is too late!!!

I hope you hear God’s voice in this…

Please note: Men if you are the ones being abused, then you too must find a way to get out of that abusive relationship...


Happy reading…

When love is real…

Some might say that they have been hurt in their relationships. Relationships can be Fulfilling, Exciting, Fun and very rewarding.

You reminisce and realize that love can sometimes hurt so badly, even to the point of saying to yourself “I don’t ever want to be in love again”;

And when you stop and look within yourself, you realize how wrong you were, and you’ll see that the search for love is not over.

Someone has said “when you really love a woman you can see your world inside her eyes" and it at that point you know without a doubt that she is truly a part of you. This is a joy that will last for a life time, and it will shine brighter than the band of gold you’ve placed on her finger.

Your love for her will be an everlasting non ending song; that will last for life time. You will think of her out of the blue, and realize she lives inside of you. {Your Heart}.

You will forget time, when you are together, moments will past so quickly because you long to be with her every moment of everyday.

Her eyes will burn gazing at you in the night, you will even lose yourself inside of her, and you will find yourself holding her closer than you would ever dare.


In fact, Love is like a river, because it run swift and very deep. You and the one you love can separate, your love for each other can end, but true love will never lie.

You may even step back and ask “Love what have you done to me”?

When love is real you can lie down beside her and feel her heart beat next to your’s.

I trust one day you will find a true love that will last forever. A love you could spend a life time wishing you were together, especially if he or she has walked away…

However, should you discover that his/her love is not true; though you struggle, yet inside your heart you must decide what you should and must do. Whether you should stay or in difficultly walk away.

Yes, when in love you can sail together and whisper words so sincerely, yet you can still drift apart….to avoid the drift your arms must always be open, your ears attentive and always ready to listen, your heart must always be ready to forgive, and your eyes always locked into her eyes.

When love is real difficult decisions can be made….

When love is real, it is always accompanied by Faithfulness, Loyalty, Honesty and Commitment.
These four elements must be alive and living well within any realationship if it is going to be successful.

Now....

Focusing on the latter, When love is real, it is always accompanied by Faithfulness, Loyalty, Honesty and Commitment.

Are you at a lost within your relationship? do you feel empty, alone, tired, etc?

You don't know which way to turn, but you know you need help!!!. You desire the love relationship mentioned above.

Here is how to achieve it....if you have tried and have done all that you know to do...and if you have talked to all you thought could help....

Then try this:

Make a commitment today to Jesus. Lay all that you have at the alter,
Proverbs 3:5 (Whole Chapter) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all you ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.
Psalm 37:5 (Whole Chapter) Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Be open and honest with God, besides He knows all anyway...

Do you think it's time for an Heart inventory check? Do we dare be honest?

I guess Michael jackson said it best when he said in his song "I'm looking at the man/woman in the mirror".

Happy reading...

Mental Abuse....Tried, Proven and Victorious!!!

While on vacation and sitting in a restaurant today I found myself talking to a waitress. She came to the area I was sitting to take orders.

At first I wondered if she had an issue with me sitting and not ordering anything, even though I had ordered a meal earlier.

after everyone had left the area, she once again came back to clean. This time she saw me sitting and gazing at wall with my left pressing up against my head. She asked me, "are you okay"? "I replied yes", losing my train of thought. She replied, "oh, I'm sorry I disturbed you", and I said, "Oh, no. my phone rang and I became paralyzed mentally".

She asked, " may I ask what are you writing about"? I replied, "my thoughts are on mental abuse". From there she began to share with me concerning her twelve years of marriage to an abusive husband that mentally abused her. What a coincidence?

As she shared, I thought and wondered, how my women are walking around feeling the pain from men who have left them in an abused state.

Many of these men have moved on to new relationships, and are happy, while their ex-wives or ex-girlfriends are still hurting and remain in a metally abused state. Fearing to date again, based on past history.

I know what you are thinking, there are men out there in the same state, and you are correct.

Abuse of any kind, towards any sex, male or female can be devastating.

But how do you deal with mental abuse?

First, there must be a full surrender to God, for He alone can solve any and all issues that enter our lives.

If we desire to fully walk with Christ, there is a cost. We may give intellectual assent and go along with His principles and do fine; however, if we are fully given over to Him and His will for our life, it will be a life that will have adversity. The Bible is clear that humans do not achieve greatness without having their sinful will broken. This process is designed to create a nature change in each of us, not just a habit change. The Bible calls it circumcision. Circumcision is painful, bloody, and personal.

"But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold." Job 23:10

If God has plans to greatly use you in the lives of others, you can expect your trials to be even greater than those of others. Why? Because, like Joseph who went through greater trials than most patriarchs, your calling may have such responsibility that God cannot afford to entrust it to you without ensuring your complete faithfulness to the call. He has much invested in you on behalf of others. He may want to speak through your life to a greater degree than through another. The events of your life would become the frame for the message He wants to speak through you.

II-Corinthians 4:17...
Do not fear the path that God may lead you on. Embrace it. For God may bring you down a path in your life to ensure the reward of your inheritance. "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all".

God has never, nor will He ever put more on you that can bear. Believe it...

I truly hope and pray that this reading will greatly help you as it has helped me as I was writing it.

Happy reading...

Living Forward, Understanding Backward

Have you ever traveled and gotten lost? No map, or compass at hand? Do you recall fretting, getting angry, realizing that you had just enough gas left to get to where you hoped to be civilization?

Some how you found your way, and with that an immediate sigh of relief. Then you think back and wonder how did you get over?

Nevertheless, you did not stop seeking your way. You continued to press forwarded, yet thinking backwards, and wondering, did you make the right turns to get where you needed to be.

Perseverance is a great attribute to have.

God has said in his word:
Philippians 3:13 (Whole Chapter) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Philippians 3:14 (Whole Chapter) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Never stop seeking the truth, never give up, always seek God's guidance.


Psalm 121:2 (Whole Chapter) My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.


Please read another great print by, OS Hillman...


Happy reading....

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Living Forward, Understanding BackwardTGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os HillmanWednesday, December 01 2010

"The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it." - 1 Thessalonians 5:24

when I was in my 20's, I participated in a wilderness-training course in a desert and mountain area. For our "final exam," we were blindfolded, placed in the back of a pickup truck, and taken to a remote area. We were dropped off and told to meet back at the camp in three days. We did not know where we were. We had to determine our location with our compasses. It was a frightening experience for four young people who had learned to navigate through the use of a compass only a few days earlier. With our food and water on our backs, we began our trek. It had just snowed that morning, so the way was difficult. We walked through valleys, canyons, snow-covered hills, and forests. In all, we walked more than 60 miles in three days. There were times when we did not think we could go another foot. Exhaustion and frostbitten feet were taking their toll. However, we finally made it to our base camp successfully, and to our surprise, we were the first ones among the other patrols to make it back.

At the conclusion of our journey, we were able to stand on top of a ridge, look behind us and see the beautiful terrain that we had just scaled. The pain of what we had just endured seemed to subside. We could not believe we had actually walked through those valleys and snowcapped hills. There was a sense of accomplishment.

Life is very much like this. It is often lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road a bit that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale and the spiritual deposits He has made in our life as a result. When you begin to realize some of this, you sit back and breathe a sigh of relief because you know that God was in control all along. It didn't seem like it at the time, but He was.

Are you in the midst of a difficult journey that seems almost impossible to continue? Be assured that God is providing grace even now to equip you for that journey. There will be a time when you can say, "Wow, look at what God has done because of what I gained through that valley." Trust Him with the outcome of where you find yourself today.

Hiroshima - Turning Point

Flirting With Danger...

This is worth reading....

I know of a friend who was and is having marital issues. It appears that instead of her sincerely seeking God's guidance she chose to seek her own. What a grave mistake!

So often when we are in pain our first instinct is to seek a remedy on our own, yet all through the word of God is says: Psalm 105:4...Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

Jeremiah 29:13...And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Her first mistake was to seek comfort in the arms of someone else. in doing so she assumed that he would be her hiding place, her comfort, the one who would take away her sorrows.

After the breakup with her husband and eventually the divorce, she married this guy.

Things were good at first, as most of the time it is. But, soon afterwards she began to see what type of man this guy really was and is.

She began to try and please him by doing whatever he asked. He would dictate to her what she should and should not wear. He sometimes got physical with her. He became intimidating.

In all of her trying to please him, she lost who she was in the process and it became very difficult to find herself again, and she is still searching.

Torn between a rock and a hard place she began to feel as though she was in prison, in despair, lonely, sometimes confused and lost as she did in her past marriage.

Remember the word of the Lord says : Proverbs 16:25..."There is a way which seemeth right to a man, but the end therefore are the ways of death". Sometime that could mean a physical death, or Spriritual death, or both simutaneously.

This can also lead to an emotional strain. Is this you? have you followed this same path, are you in the same type of situation?

Know this, God is able to make lemon-aid out of the most sour of lemons. in other words God can turn a sour, degrading, seemingly worthless relationship into a budding Rose.

But you must seek Him with your whole Heart. With every fiber of your being, with a Yearning, Burning, Intensifying desire.


Luke 11:9 (Whole Chapter) And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Luke 11:10 (Whole Chapter) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Now to the men....

God did not call us to be a dictator in our homes. Yes the man is head of the wife, but she is his help-mate not his property, slave or child.

We are to protect the wife, love her even as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it.

Would you really harm someone you love? Abuse someone you love?

Guys understand this, Mental abuse can be just as fatal as physical abuse!

Ephesians 5:28 (Whole Chapter) So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wifeloveth himself.

Ephesians 5:33 (Whole Chapter) Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Please let this register, with a clear understanding. Remember if you are a believer in Christ and so is your wife, then know that she is also you sister in Christ as well as your wife, and to the iwife, he is your brother in Christ as well as your husband...


Happy reading...