When God instructed Noah to build an ark of cypress wood, he went ahead and built the boat to God’s exact measurements. He was ridiculed by everybody for building a boat with no water anywhere around, but Noah had heard the Word of God, and he stepped out in faith to do His bidding, and thereby, he and his family found salvation when God unleashed the Deluge to destroy the wicked world (Gen).

Even though Abraham and his wife Sarah were well past child-bearing age, God fulfilled His promise to give them a son. God also promised Abraham that his son, Isaac, would give him descendants numbering as many as the stars in the sky. So, when God asked Abraham to offer his only beloved son to Him, on Mount Moriah, did Abraham hesitate? No, he stepped out in faith to do God’s bidding, because he had heard the Word of God, and he knew Yahweh would fulfill His promise (Gen).

Moses, who murdered an Egyptian, was hiding in Midian when God spoke to him from a burning bush, and commissioned him to bring out the Israelites from the bondage of Egyptian slavery, to “a land of milk and honey”. Moses stepped out in faith to do God’s bidding, and shepherded the Israelites to the threshold of the land God had promised them, because he had heard the Word of God assuring him, “I will be with you” (Ex 3: 7 – 12).

While the Israelite armies, led by King Saul, trembled and fled before the giant Philistine, Goliath, a young shepherd boy, David, stepped out in faith to do battle “in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel” (1Sam 17: 45). As he told Goliath, “…for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands” (1Sam 17: 47). This shepherd boy, filled with the Spirit of the Lord, armed only with a sling and five pebbles, prevailed over the giant, fully-armed, fully-armored Philistine!

Faith always played a crucial part in the signs and wonders worked by our Lord Jesus Christ during His short ministry on this earth. From curing the leper, or the paralytic lowered through the roof, or the twelve years hemorrhaging woman who touched His cloak, it was their great faith that brought about their cure. From curing the Roman centurion’s servant, to bringing to life Jairus’ dead daughter, it was their great faith that helped to accomplish the extra-ordinary events.

If you want to have a faith that can move mountains, what you say is very important. Remember, when Jesus cursed the fig tree and it withered away? Peter pointed out the fact to Jesus, who replied: “Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you” (Mk 11: 22 – 23).

The key phrases here are “do not doubt in your heart”, “believe that what you say will come to pass” and “it will be done for you”. From this, it follows that you get what you think in your mind, believe in your heart and speak with your mouth. So, to have a faith that can move your mountains of failures, your mountains of sickness, your mountains of financial problems, or your mountains of relationship problems, you have to get out of the habit of letting your thoughts and words dwell on your health problems, weaknesses and failures.

Rom 10: 17 tells us: “Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the Word of Christ.” So, fill your mind, heart and mouth with the Word of God.

Tackle your mountains of financial problems by memorizing and repeating often: “And my God will satisfy every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4: 19), and “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Ps 23: 1).

Tackle your mountains of failure by memorizing and repeating frequently: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4: 13).

Tackle your mountains of health problems by memorizing and repeating frequently: “By His wounds you have been healed” (1Pet 2: 24).

Remember, these are God’s words that you speak, and there is power in the Word of God. You will develop a faith to move your troublesome mountains as you hear the Word of God flowing from your lips.

If you need to remember to bring something with you the next day either put it in your car now, if it’s not perishable, so you don’t even have to try to remember it, or put it in front of the front door so you will almost  trip over it on your way out. If you must leave it in the refrigerator, then put something in the fridge that you definitely won’t leave the house without, say your keys, you get the idea, or put a note on the door that you go out of. 

If you want to remember to look something up next time your PC is on, put the paper, article, coupon etc on the keyboard or write your note on a post it and put it on the keyboard, mouse, stick it on the on monitor.
If your spouse forgets to tell you things when you get home, have them write down just a word or two on a post it and put it where you set your keys, purse, wallet etc when you get home. This is also a useful trick for yourself, if you want to remember to do something when you get home from work, just leave a note where you will be sure to see it upon arrival.

If you want to remember to do something in the morning, just put a note on your bathroom mirror.

You can leave odd items that will spark your memory like leaving an empty cupcake pan in the middle of the table because you are suppose to bake something  the next day or two or maybe on the weekend, but you want to remember to buy the mix sometime this week.

You don’t always have to write yourself a note, you can use items already available to help you remember. For example, let’s say you need to remember to pick the next Netflix movie you want from your queue, just use the outside part of the return envelope that you would normally recycle and leave it on your keyboard or laptop. It’s larger and red so it stands out more that a post it.

If you are washing and drying work clothes and you want to avoid ironing them as much as possible, simply set the timer for the approximate time it will take to wash them, promptly put them in the dryer and reset the timer again so you can promptly take them out before the dryer has stopped.

These days you can set reminders on Outlook, at the office, on your cell phone, your iPhone or just your old fashioned digital watch if that’s easier. Keep an erasable board you can write large notes to all on the fridge.

If you are having serious trouble remembering things be sure to see your doctor for a professional opinion. If you are just busy and don’t have a great memory, then try some of these  tips here and you’ll be able to sleep better knowing it’s all taken care of.

To deal with this unprecedented situation, Christianity must find new and effective ways of evangelizing and proclaiming the Good News. It must evolve ways that are in keeping with today’s culture, ways that will meet the spiritual demands and find a response from today’s mankind.

As usual, the answers we seek are in the Holy Scriptures. Looking back to the beginning of Christianity, before Jesus was taken up to heaven, He gave the following mandate to His apostles, to be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit:

To “preach the Good News to everyone” (Mk 16: 15), to “make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28: 19-20), to “heal people and set them free” (Mk 16: 17-18) and to “be my witnesses to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1: 8).

No doubt, this mandate was given to the apostles 2000 years ago, but it also holds true for every Christian today, because this privilege was passed on to us by the Lord’s own words: “Just as the Father has sent me, so I am sending you” (Jn 20: 21).

Further, the Lord has stamped a “Guaranteed To Succeed” watermark on this assignment He has set before us: “I tell you for certain that anyone who has faith in me will do the same things I am doing” (Jn 14: 12).

Yet, most Christians will balk at the mere suggestion to take on this awesome mission for the Lord. The majority will not feel qualified and gifted to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, others may even be reluctant to preach or to heal, but all Christians are in a position to be authentic witnesses to the Lord, as He was to His Father in heaven.

Today, Christians are called by the witness of their lives to take part, in an increasingly important way, in spreading the Good News to those that come in contact with them in their day to day lives.

Today, there is an urgent need for Christians to involve themselves in groups and movements to safeguard human rights and to promote truth and justice in public life, to reach out to the weaker sectors of society, to address the social evils of alcoholism, drug addiction and sexual child abuse, and to infuse all cultures with the values of the kingdom of God.

Today, it is the duty of the Christian laity to be at the forefront in seeking to apply the teaching of Jesus Christ to the ethical, moral and social questions which arise in their communities.

The task before every Christian, therefore, is to ensure that they are true witnesses to Jesus Christ, able to face the challenges of today’s world, not just with worldly wisdom and work ethos, but with their hearts renewed and strengthened by the two basic tenets of Christianity – love of God and love for their fellowmen.

If we truly love God, this immense love will radiate out to all those who come in contact with us – in our families, in our work places, and in our communities – making us true witnesses to the Lord.

Adam and Eve were privileged to enjoy everything in the Garden of Eden except the fruit from the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. When Eve listened to the voice of Satan, it was the first failure of faith. She didn’t believe that what God had restricted was for her own good, because she didn’t have faith in His perfect love for her (Gen.).

To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. It was by their faith that people of ancient times won God’s approval (Heb 11: 1 – 2).

It was faith that made Noah heed God’s warnings about the things in the future that he could not see. He obeyed God and built a boat in which he and his family were saved (Heb 11: 7).

Again, it was faith that made Abraham obey when God called him to go out to a country which God promised to give him, and it was faith that made Abraham able to become a father in old age. He trusted God to keep His promise that he would be the father of a multitude, and have descendants as many as the stars in the sky (Heb 11: 8 – 12).

It was faith that made the walls of Jericho fall down after the Israelites had marched round them for seven days! (Heb 11: 30).

The Old Testament is full of incidents that were brought about only because the Israelites believed in God’s Word and had faith that He would keep His promises to them.

The New Testament also abounds in miracles that were wrought by Jesus, because of the faith of the recipients, as well as the failures that resulted because of a lack of faith in Him.

Jesus healed the leper who came to Him in all humility and deep faith, saying, “Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out, touched him, and healed him (Matt 8: 1 – 3).

Jesus healed the servant of the Roman officer, who begged Him, “Just give the order, and my servant will get well.” Although a Gentile, the officer’s extra-ordinary faith moved Jesus to heal his servant (Matt 8: 5 – 8).

And Jesus healed the paralyzed man because of the faith of his friends, who lowered him down from the roof unto his presence (Matt 9: 1 – 8).

Again, Jesus brought back to life the daughter of the Jewish official, because of the man’s extra-ordinary faith, who knelt down humbly before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and place your hands on her, and she will live (Matt 9: 18 – 23).

But, see what happened when faith was lacking, even among Jesus’ own disciples.

When Jesus was in a boat on the lake with His disciples, a fierce storm hit the lake, and the boat was in danger of sinking. The frightened disciples woke the sleeping Jesus, begging Him to save them. Jesus calmed the storm, but rebuked them, saying, “How little faith you have!” (Matt 8: 23 – 27).

Jesus worked miracles everywhere He went, but in Nazareth, his own home town, He hardly succeeded because lack of faith and prejudiced opinions of the local people, made this impossible. They could not accept that anyone who had lived among them, especially a carpenter’s son, had any right to preach and work miracles (Mk 6: 1 – 6).

Again, when Jesus came walking over the lake waters to His disciples in the boat, Peter wanted to emulate the Lord. He got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus. But, when he took off his eyes from the Lord, he was frightened by the choppy waves and began to sink. Peter was rewarded with: “How little faith you have! Why did you doubt? (Matt 14: 22 – 31).

Faith is still the only ingredient that can make a difference in our lives. So, how do we get faith? There’s only one way. Holy Scripture says that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the preached Word of God” (Rom 10: 17). As we allow God to speak to us through His Word, we’ll not only get faith, but our faith will keep on increasing.

God has many wonderful things to give us. But, all His gifts are gifts of grace, and we need faith to receive those gifts.

To have faith in God means to trust Him, and to believe what He has said in His Word, in spite of what our feelings may tell us, or what other people may tell us. It’s as simple as that.

But if we see opportunity as something that only comes by chance, are we not leaving ourselves powerless? In this scenario we have no control in what comes to us.

If you have a dream, or a goal, you have to create your own opportunities and the way to do this is by focusing, believing, being and thinking.

We all get into a negative state of thinking from time to time. This can manifest in many different ways: anxiety, anger, resentment, bitterness, etc, etc. When we operate within these states we are closing the door to opportunity, and we cannot create constructive ideas that will move us forward.

However, when we operate from a positive state of mind, e.g. peaceful, loving, trusting, relaxed etc, we are more open to what is around us. It is from these states of mind that we can create new ideas and find new opportunities.

If you think that it’s too difficult to switch from one state of mind to another, then you are again leaving yourself powerless. Your emotions are controlling you instead of you being in control.

Once you realize that who you are being at any one time is completely within your control, you are then putting yourself at the control center of your own life. Once you are aware of your negative state, it is entirely your choice to switch to a more constructive one.

The way it works is this: What you focus on has a tendency to become a reality. When you are thinking negatively, your focus is bound to be negative. The first step in changing your state is to be aware of your thoughts. If you are feeling low, then it’s likely that your thoughts are negative.

Once you have noticed this, it is then a short step to creating new, positive thoughts.

Creating positive thoughts is just a case of changing your view of any given reality. For example, most of us know the feeling of suddenly getting a huge bill we weren’t expecting, or finding we’re overdrawn. Negative thoughts tend to crowd in at these times, making us feel powerless and depressed.

But instead of such thoughts as “I just never seem to have any money” or “Why does this always happen to me?”, both of which tend to keep us in the same situation, you can switch to something like: “The money I need is always available for me” or “My life is rich with opportunities” – or whatever works for you.

Once you start switching your thinking like this, you may notice an increase in energy and an increase in your ability to create solutions and find the opportunities that are all around you.

We live in a world of broken promises, broken marriages and broken homes.

It’s a world of never ending problems, filled with people who have lost their jobs because of peer jealousy and people who have been cheated out of their life’s savings.

It’s a world filled with children estranged from their parents and parents estranged from their children. It’s a world filled with families whose members don’t even speak to each other anymore, and close friends who have drifted apart.

Invariably, all the cruelty and meanness done to us leads us to anger and hatred, towards our tormentors. It leads us to bitterness, frustration and sleepless nights. Eventually, it leads to ulcers, high blood pressure, migraines, cancer, and lots more.

Modern psychology and medical research has proved, beyond any doubt, that most sickness in man is due to broken relationships. Painful memories and thoughts destroy us and make us sick. So does rejection and hurtful words from our family, friends and colleagues.

Scientists and researchers tell us that there are numerous health hazards associated with anger, hatred and bitterness. They say it increases blood pressure and leads to hormonal changes which eventually result in cardiovascular disease, immune suppression, and possibly, impaired neurological function and memory loss.

There is a close relationship between emotions and disease. It is a fact that 90% of diseases are pneumo-psychosomatic. So, although we run to doctors and hospitals, and spend loads of money, we get no relief. We have to realize that the only real cure for our malady is total forgiveness of our perceived tormentors.

Forgive my tormentors? Yes, for this is the only way to release them from your life and set yourself free. It’s not easy to forgive people who have hurt you and caused you so much pain, but it’s possible if we focus on Jesus Christ hanging on the cross at Golgotha.

What happened that day was unforgivable, but no finer, purer or better example of can you find than Jesus, hanging on the cross, close to death, praying to His Father in heaven to forgive the very people who were putting Him to death!

Condemned to death by these evil men who wanted Him dead, convicted by lying witnesses who testified falsely against Him, Jesus looked down on the mob who were taunting, mocking, jeering and cheering His sufferings, and the only truly innocent and sinless man who ever walked this sinful earth, uttered words that still melt the hardened hearts of sinners: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk 23 : 34).

These dozen words still ring across 2,000 years, and shatter into smithereens all our lame excuses for not forgiving those who ill-treat us and hurt us, for continuing to carry our burdens of bitterness, anger, and our desire for vengeance.

Forgiveness is never easy. But, it becomes easier when we realize that forgiveness is not about us, and it’s not about those who hurt us. Forgiveness is all about God.

Jesus said, “If you forgive others the wrongs they have done you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done” (Matt 6 : 14 – 15). Then He went ahead and put into practice what He had preached, on the cross at Golgotha.

Your forgiveness doesn’t depend on the person who you wish to forgive. You don’t need their permission to forgive them. You neither need their approval nor their agreement that they were wrong.

“God said there’s a seed that’s been planted in your heart. You either hate and be angry, or you forgive.

Today, we live in a world of plastic cards, especially Credit cards and ATM cards. When we need money we go to the Automatic Teller Machine and withdraw what we need. We have instant money in our hands. That’s why we call them Any Time Money cards.

But, few of us know that in our hearts we have an automatic dispensing machine, too, and it responds only to our Any Time Mercy card. So, choose forgiveness in your heart, flash your Any Time Mercy card, forgive your tormentors, and move on to a healthy and stress-free life.

The Power To Empower Yourself
by: Amy Twain

A set of goals would empower you and you could then proceed to begin and follow your journey or voyage by setting your desired goals. Goal setting is indeed very necessary if you would like to empower yourself, as it is the initial step towards a more satisfying and fulfilling life. So to use personal empowerment to develop and further enhance your life, ample support from family, friends and relatives are essential and you need discipline as well to create and come up with the right and best decision in your life. Goal setting could be in the form of the achievable and the feasible and also, those which are not within your ability and your budget but that could be addressed later.

Personal empowerment will allow you to follow the dreams that are not within your means now. Take those small steps and set attainable and reachable goals within a brief time frame so that you would feel empowered when you accomplish them. Achieving goals become easier as you pursue and persist to empower yourself. You could take your time to experience your growth personally as it can be very empowering to aspire to move on and be more in life. There are several rewards you can reap to personal empowerment but you really need to think forward as goal setting would enhance your life for the better and likewise help you to attain more.

Inspiring moments are also helpful and it could enliven you more and move on to pursue and foresee more personal goals. As you pursue and reach every small goal, you can see positive and better changes in you and the succeeding set of goals become more and more challenging. You would begin to look forward to it and personal empowerment would form a life you truly desire and always dreamed about. Every personal growth would heighten and intensify your sense of power and ideas and ambition are no longer out of reach. You may also need to map out a group or team of action to handle with the several obstacles in life as they delay and postpone one’s progress.

Always bear in mind to keep pushing yourself and think positive at all times, as they can be so empowering. Get rid of the negative vibrations and feelings. It will take time, yet try to make it a routine to think more on a positive note. Turning negative into something optimistic is a good distinctive feature and never, ever giving up as endurance and perseverance and patient and tolerant in overcoming the many barriers and hindrances, and always looking forward is truly important to empower oneself. To create something out of your own life, there are myriad of ways out there but each begins with a small step.

To begin empowering yourself, you have to do things which truly interest you and along the way, you would be the person ever you will hold in high regard. Don’t stop empowering yourself because your personal empowerment and growth as a person will bring about self worth and positive image.

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“It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you” (Proverbs 29:25 GN).

• Fact #2: It’s not necessary to please everybody. There is a myth that says you must be loved and approved by everybody in order to be happy. That’s just not true. You don’t have to please everybody in order to be happy in life.

• Fact #3: Rejection will not ruin your life. It hurts, sure. It’s not fun. It’s uncomfortable. But rejection will not ruin your life unless you let it.

Quit trying to please everybody! Remember that nobody can make you feel inferior unless you give them permission.

The Apostle Paul says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 TEV) This means we can think like this: ‘God likes me, and I like me; if you don’t like me, then you’ve got a problem. If God likes me, who cares that everybody doesn’t approve of everything I do.’

Remember, nothing you ever do will make God love you less. Nothing you ever do will make God love you more. He loves you completely right now.