An elderly woman in Africa lived under an overpass in a cardboard house. She was dirty and alone. Her body was full of tuberculosis and no one wanted anything to do with her.
One day several ladies from the local church ventured out to see this lonely soul. You can only imagine how shocked this sick little woman was to see these very proper women show up under her bridge! The ladies had come to invite her to an outdoor Christian meeting where people were being healed. Reluctantly, she agreed to join them, but not knowing how the people might react to her, she insisted on standing at the edge of the very large crowd.
As she stood there she heard the speaker say, “God loves you, He’s closer than any friend and He doesn’t want you to be sick!” At that moment the church ladies glanced over and noticed their sick friend was smiling and breathing normally!
Her new companions were so excited that they insisted she go to the platform and tell everyone what had just happened. A few minutes later, as she stood there on the platform, she said to the large crowd,
“You know me. I am the woman you pass by every day. The one who lives under the bridge.” The ladies who brought her interrupted her and said, “Tell the people how God healed you today. Tell them!” The little old lady looked at the crowd and began her story again. “Yes,” she said, “I am healed, but what I know is that when I go home today, I will never be alone again! I have a new friend and His name is Jesus!”
If God has done something wonderful in your life and you have a story you would like share, we would love to hear from you! http://bit.ly/1MtTjPF
In his book, “The Message that Works,” Dr. TL Osborn includes a chapter about Friendship With God, in which he states that God declares, “You can trust Me, I will trust you!”
Have you ever considered that God trusts you? And therefore you can trust yourself? I believe this is the essence of God’s heart toward you today.
You and I were created for fellowship with God, for friendship with God. Our rightful place is at His side—not under His feet or under His thumb. He doesn’t carry a hammer or a whip, commanding obedience…no, our rightful place is standing arm-in-arm with the living, loving God.
There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. What does a true friend offer? Unconditional Acceptance, Unwavering Commitment, Unswerving Loyalty. And today, what does Jesus offer YOU? Uncompromising, unwavering Support when you don’t know where to turn.
If you would like to know more about friendship with God, contact us today. We are here to help you! http://bit.ly/1gmsroF
In the midst of his captivity, Patrick discovered a life-changing truth – a discovery that I am praying you will also make. YOU HAVE A FRIEND WITH GOD. A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.
Six years after Patrick’s kidnapping he had a dream. In his sleep, he heard a voice say “Your hungers are rewarded: you are going home.” He sat up, startled, and the voice continued, “Look, your ship is ready.” So Patrick got up and began walking. 200 miles later, he arrived at the coast and saw a ship.
Now, no ship would ever give passage to a fugitive slave, and the captain told the young man to move on. But knowing this was his ship, Patrick spent some time in prayer. Before he had finished, a sailor approached him with the message that he could sail with them.
Have you ever asked the question, “How do I pray?” In Patrick’s 6 years of solitude, he found the answer: prayer is talking with God, your friend. It’s just a conversation between friends!
So, what’s holding you back today? The scripture says seek Me and you will find Me. You can seek Him right now! How? Just ask Him to come into your heart and into your thoughts. Prayer is opening your heart to God’s thoughts and ways—He desires to open His heart to you, and He will answer you.
Out of young Patrick’s friendship with God grew one of Christianity’s most widely known figures. Today Patrick is known as St. Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland. And today – God offers you friendship!
If you have just opened your heart and your life to God and would like to know more about receiving God’s love, contact us today. We have resources to help you! http://bit.ly/1h5jTCD
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:13
What does “friendship” mean to you? Unconditional acceptance, Unwavering Commitment, Unswerving Loyalty? The Holy Scripture states, “There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.”
Many centuries ago, a young man named Patrick discovered this friend. In the year 401, a village on the coast of Britain was attacked by slave traders and a 16 year old boy was taken. Stripped of the comforts of his home life as well the future of an education and career, he was made a shepherd-slave to a distant clan. For Patrick, life was miserable. In a land of unknown languages, he experienced severe hunger as well as months of isolation on bitterly cold mountainsides.
These severe circumstances drove Patrick to God. Turning to his family’s faith, he spent his bitter days in constant prayer. As he did, a deep love of God and a profound sense of God’s Spirit was at work within him. Scripture says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
Can you imagine what Patrick endured? God knew. And just as He knew what Patrick endured, He knows what you are going through today. Scripture tells us God has felt our very weaknesses. Perhaps you are being held in captivity to your own thoughts. In captivity to a terrible family situation or a life destroying habit. Regardless of where you find yourself, I want you to know that Jesus said, “I don’t call you servants, you are not a slave…I call you friends.”
If you have a need and would like someone to pray with you, contact us today at http://bit.ly/1KzCS1T
Scriptures: James 4:8, John 15:15
You and I were created to walk and fellowship with the source of dignity – GOD! A famous author said: “Religion in its humility restores man to his only dignity, the courage to live by grace.” This source of our dignity is greater than a human dignity built solely upon our actions.
A life lived with dignity is a life where we don’t measure ourselves by the standard of others, but we measure ourselves according to the values that we have set for ourselves. Ask yourself this question: “What standard or values have I set for my own life?”
When you stop comparing yourself to others you can rise above average and become truly exceptional! Remember, comparison limits your expression to what you have seen in others. Identifying YOUR uniqueness will allow you to shine with ease.
Right now, consider your own unique qualities. Have you considered how unique you are? I encourage you right now to jot down one of your unique qualities! Your uniqueness can be as simple as the thing you love to do! No one is just like you! And no one is truly an enemy to your future except you!
Quote: “Today, people have the means to live, but nothing to live for.” – Victor E. Frankl
Victor E. Frankl, a Nazi prison camp survivor and a renowned psychotherapist, discovered that in the midst of great human tragedy he could retreat to his true spiritual self and find a picture of life that was not relegated to the external—but empowered him through the eye of his imagination.
Human dignity is an internal characteristic that allows us to draw an image of self not dependent upon what others say or what others do, but dependent upon an inner source of spiritual strength. Have you found this source of inner strength?
Victor Frankl connected with this strength and in his mind found the true meaning of life. Yet, as many would observe, this spiritual strength comes from a living “God” connection with the true spiritual self. This “God” connection as some would say, has little to no meaning if the word “God” is meant to include everything or all things worshipped. But, this “God” source that penetrates throughout eternity has a name and a purpose—to restore humanity to the “true” dignity for which we were created.
Scripture: Psalm 8:4-6, 9
What is Dignity? Is it missing from your life? Is dignity the preservation of the family name at any cost? Is it the justification of any action regardless of cost? History shows us that national dignity is the motivation for wars, genocide and other atrocities. Yet true dignity comes at the moment you realize that God has great plans for you!
David the Psalmist said, ‘Who is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
God has a name, He is called The Great “I Am”. Scripture says He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. We find true dignity in trusting in the One who calls us a king and a lord—regardless of our station in life! This King of kings and Lord of lords offers to you today a new view on life, a new opportunity to discover Him. Let’s pray together. “Lord Jesus, I want to know you. Come into my heart and reveal yourself to me today. Come into my heart and lift me up today.”
Scripture: Psalm 8:4-6,9 ESV
My experience from working with people in over 60 nations shows me that DREAMS need an action plan and strategic intention in order to move forward! A dream of the heart without a plan, simply put, is nothing more than a fantasy! Together we can discover simple truths and take action steps that will enable you to identify and fulfill the dream that is in your heart!
Let’s begin with STEP 1 – Establishing a LITMUS test—a foundation on which to begin. This foundation requires three important questions for defining your Dream. These questions also create a standard for you to measure your dream by, as well as setting parameters for your life that will guide you throughout your dream building process.
QUESTION #1: Is my dream good for God? A simple, yet profound question by which to measure our dream. What would God want me to do to better or to improve the world around me? What is His highest and best will for my life?
I can tell you that God’s will is not a mystery or drudgery! Knowing God’s will produces confidence! When you can say your dream is within the will of God, it is as if God Himself is saying this must be done.
QUESTION #2: Is my dream good for People? Creating win-win scenarios for people unlocks great potential and resource, and paves a way for others to join you in your business, mission or project. Remember…solving a problem for someone else is a clear path to your own problems being solved!
QUESTION #3: Is my dream good for Me? Only by understanding how valuable you are can you value your dream. Measure the cost you must pay physically, emotionally and spiritually! Consider what this new idea, vision or dream will introduce into your world? Ask yourself this question—are you ready?
What does the word “dignity” mean to you? One of history’s great examples is found in the life of Queen Victoria of England.
“I never was happy until I was 18,” Victoria declared. On the day of her birthday in May 1837, Kensington palace was festooned with banners and crowds cheered her as her carriage drove out. However, her mother, the duchess, was in despair. Her daughter was now of age, and the king was still alive.
As the king’s health worsened, the duchess devised a devious plan, spreading rumors that Victoria was too stupid to rule and attempted to blackmail her into appointing their financial manager, Conroy, as her personal advisor. Conroy even threatened to lock Victoria up and starve her!
On June 19th at Windsor Castle, the king’s health seriously deteriorated, and just after midnight he breathed his last. Upon his death, the Lord Chamberlain and the Archbishop of Canterbury set off to inform Victoria. The duchess prevented the meeting while attempting one last maneuver to convince Victoria she was incapable of ruling. At six o’clock she wakened Victoria with the news that the great men were waiting to see her. The duchess tried to enter the meeting, but Victoria refused her request. Here we see Victoria’s character begin to shine!
Victoria’s first act was to ask for an hour alone. Then she asked servants to remove her bed from her mother’s room. Next, she faced the Lords of England. Addressing them, she began a reign that lasted longer than that of any other British monarch and any female monarch in history – a reign of 63 years and seven months. The Victorian era was a period of great industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom, and was marked by a great expansion of the British Empire.
The story of Queen Victoria is a story of dignity! Victoria understood that she was raised for nobility—for divine dignity. And in the moment of crisis, she rose to the occasion and acted on her nobility. Royalty may be a birthright, but it is not birthed until acted upon. Victoria acted and began a reign that impacted the globe!
On our many travels to Australia our friends would tell us about the “tall poppy syndrome.” It was explained to us this way: anytime anyone raises their head higher than others, they are cut down. Essentially, the purpose is to keep everyone running at the same pace.
Perhaps you feel cut down—as if life has passed you by. Perhaps when facing great challenge, you have not acted with dignity – whether in business, sports, family or education.
God does not see you as a tall poppy; He sees you as a crown of splendor. The Psalmist David said God is “the lifter of my head.” Regardless of the missed or failed opportunities, we can take courage and recognize that if God lifts your head no one can put it down! Jesus said, if I be lifted up I will draw all people UP to Me.
Today allow God to be the lifter of your head. Reach out and receive the true dignity He offers to those who call upon His name!
Scriptures: Psalm 3:3 (ESV), John 12:32 (paraphrased, emphasis mine)
