A fresh word, direct to your spirit..
Struggling to forgive? (Pastor's Notes #003/25)
___TO THE BROKEN HEARTED ____
If you are struggling to forgive or to heal from nasty past hurts, say these things to yourself....
✓I can't change the past
✓What they intended for evil, God is turning it around for my good
✓God loves me, understands me and has good plans for me..
✓I choose to forgive all who hurt me not because they deserve it but because I need it.
✓I may still feel the pain and negative feelings may show up here and there but I have forgiven
✓I may not bring them back in the same place they were before but I have forgiven
✓I may not trust them but I have forgiven
✓I pray God blesses them and hold nothing against them. God knew what they did before they did it but He permitted them to. I may not understand why but God has the full picture
✓I thank you Lord for the best version of me that is emerging from the ashes. Your grace is upon me and I trust you to heal my heart completely, in Jesus' name AMEN
Remember child of God that you are not alone, we have all been there at some point in our lives but is with you through it all.
Basic keys to financial health (Pastor's Notes #002/25)
God wants us to prosper financially but they're keys to it. 3 John 1:2, Deuteronomy 8:18 and Deuteronomy 15:4
These principles work for all ages and for people anywhere.
1. Think right. Start to believe that God wants you financially well and have that settled in your mind. Your thoughts will determine your attitude and your attitude will determine your decisions and your decisions will determine your actions and your repeated actions will eventually determine your financial state.
2. Be a tither Malachi 3:10
3. Be generous 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 and Proverbs 19:17
4. Work hard and work smart. Get employed or apply the skills you have learned or solve the problems or the needs of the people around you. Love your job, love what you do and give it your best. Make use of technology to simplify what you do as well as to market your business. Proverbs 14:23
5. Live within your means ~ Don't try to impress people Proverbs 12:9
6. Learn to save and keep your savings safely e.g in a bank. Even minors can have a bank account or can even open accounts with reputable insurance companies which is also a form investment Proverbs 30:25
7. Invest from your savings. They're businesses even teenagers can invest in especially with the coming of the new secondary school curriculum. Invest. Don't fear to start small or to do small things as long as they can generate a profit. Ecclesiastes 11:6
8. Don't love free and quick things; you may lose even the little you have to scammers who are so prevalent these days. Proverbs 20:21
9. Never steal or try to get money in crooked ways. Proverbs 13:11
10. Minimize leakages. Imagine collecting water in a leaking vessel🤔🤔. Money too can leak through wastage, people stealing from you, avoidable taxes and business expenses etc. Master the art of retaining what you collect.
WHAT ARE YOU GAZING UPON? (Pastor's Notes #001/25)
Psalms 27:4 opens our eyes
"One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."
Our constant uninterrupted gaze should be on the beauty of the LORD and nothing else! The beauty of the LORD means everything wonderful in Him including His gift of righteousness to mankind.
~When we focus so much on our shortcomings, we loose sight of our righteousness freely provided in Christ.
Take this reading....
Then the LORD told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed! Numbers 21:8-9
"And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life." John 3:14-15
Christ Jesus is the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jehovah Tsidkenu)
Jeremiah 23:6 "In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Saviour."
I know you stumble but fix your eyes on the author and perfector of your faith and before you know it the poison (influence) of sin in your life will begin to disappear and the power of His righteousness will gain control over your life.
You are blessed
I don't know why! (Pastor's Notes #021/24)
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
They're times we experience bad things in our lives; unexpected circumstances visiting us. All this not because we have sinned or missed to do something right but somehow God permits it to happen. In such moments we often don't know why such and such is happening. I believe Joseph kept wondering why things kept turning against him.
I have found one truth....... "All things work together for my good."
Learn to value other people's contributions (Pastor's Notes #020/24)
"Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.” 1 Samuel 30:24
In instances when we seem to be the most visible contributors, there arises a temptation to downplay or to look down on what others are contributing. God knows our hearts and He is delighted by everyone's contribution/participation, however insignificant it may seem.
It's important to value what others are contributing even when you seem to be doing more.
Pastor's Notes #019/24 (Children are important to Jesus).
“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me...." Matthew 18:5 NLT
What a great blessing it is to bless children! Jesus takes it very personal✓. Any act of kindness you do to children on behalf of Jesus (in His name) Jesus takes it personal.... It's like you have done it to Him and He will reward you for it. Sometimes Children around us don't need a lot! Sometimes all they need is acceptance.
Let's think of ways we can be a blessing to the children around us. Jesus notices.
Pastor's Notes #018/24 (Behind the names of God).
"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you." Psalms 9:10
Every name of God reveals to us who God is and what He does. When we proclaim or call upon His name, we are expressing our faith and confidence in who He is and what He does.
"And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.’" Acts 2:21
Some of the names of God are Jehovah Jireh (The LORD will provide), Jehovah Rapha (The LORD who heals), among others.
LET'S PRAY🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Father your word says that the name of the LORD is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and they are safe. I declare my confidence in your name; I am protected, healed, saved and provided for. All I need, your name has made available. In Jesus' name we pray.
Pastor's Notes #017/24 (Our vindicator)
"And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb." 1Samuel1:6
There are situations in our lives and memories in our past that inflict misery to our emotions each time they come to mind or whenever we set sight onto them. Hannah endured a long miserable time of reproach and provocation from Peninnah her rival but she persistently sought her vindication from the LORD. Friends, our God hears and cares!
"And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?" Luke 18:7
Pastor's Notes #016/24 (Don't let your circumstances define you).
She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” Ruth 1:20-21
The name Naomi means pleasant and the name Mara means bitter. Naomi allowed her life to be defined by her circumstances, her loss and her misfortunes! She couldn't see anything positive around her including her daughter-in-law (Ruth) who loved her dearly. No matter how hard your circumstances may be, you are just passing through them and they shouldn't define you. Instead let your life be defined by the word of God. Your circumstances are temporary but His word is permanent.
LET'S PRAY 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Father in name of Jesus, teach me to fix my eyes on you and let your word be my reality.
Pastor's Notes #015/24 (Preparation)
"And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel." Luke 1:80
Almost every manifestation of excellence is preceded by a season of intense preparation. The Bible tells us John the Baptist's great ministry but this verse also tells us that before he appeared publicly, he had to endure a period of preparation in the desert.
Almost every great person has their desert seasons (preparation time). It's when you develop character and discipline; it's when you receive instruction and direction. The faster you submit to the preparation process, the faster your perfection and manifestation will come.
LET'S PRAY 🙏🙏🙏
Dear Father, I know you have good plans for me but you have also set in place preparation processes; help me to submit to them so that your purpose for my life may come to pass. In Jesus' name we pray.
Pastor's Notes #014/24 (Behind the scenes)
“But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." Job 23:8-10
We all like Job have moments in life when things don't seem to add up; that season when things are messed up and you don't know how and when it's going to come to order again!
At such a moment, Job knew that God was working behind the scenes and that his end would be greater than his beginning. In such seasons, we look to a God whose word says.....
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
LET'S PRAY 🙏🙏🙏
Dear Father, in the name of Jesus, I can't interpret what's happening right now but I believe you are working behind the scenes for my sake like it was for Joseph in Egypt.
Pastor's Notes #013/24 (We all have something for others)
But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” Acts 3:6
We all have something we can give to others. It can be as small as a smile, a polite compliment or a bottle of water in the heat of the sun. Sometimes what people need is just to listen to them or simply sit around them. You can always give something! At least you can offer a prayer for someone who needs it.
Peter had no money but he had the name of Jesus. We have what Peter had (the name), we have access to the limitless blessings of God.
We can change lives if we allow God to use whatever is at our disposal. Go out and be a blessing in both small and big ways.
"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay." Matthew 10:8
LET'S PRAY 🙏🙏🙏
Dear Father, I know someone needs what I have; it can be as small as a smile or a handshake. Help me be generous to others with the abilities you have put in my life. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Pastor's Notes #012/24 (Discipline)
"And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him." Luke 22:39
Have you ever wondered why Jesus was so effective in all that He did? One of His secrets is that He was disciplined. There are things you need to do consistently and persistently even when you don't feel like doing them; that's called discipline.
Jesus had a discipline of prayer, fasting, studying and memorizing scriptures, fellowship, among others.
Perhaps you are reading this and your next level of breakthrough is calling for discipline. It's never easy at the start but it's doable.
Challenge yourself to exercise the disciplines of prayer, right living, studying and meditating upon the word, fasting, fellowship, tithing and giving, hard work, among others. Your next level is beckoning you.
"He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read.." Luke 4:16
LET'S PRAY 🙏🙏🙏
Father in the name of Jesus, I realize how important it is to live a disciplined life, but I also admit that I can do nothing without you. Help me to start today and give me the grace to continue everyday. Amen.
Pastor's Notes #011/24 (Vision)
And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.
For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.." Habakkuk 2:2-3
- Seek the LORD to give you a vision (a vision is when God reveals to you what He intends to do in you, for you, through you and with you in the days to come).
- Write down your vision
- Pray for your vision
- Prepare yourself for your vision
- Act on your vision if need be (see big but don't be afraid to start small).
- Wait for your vision
LET'S PRAY 🙏🙏🙏
Dear Father, impart vision into my spirit, help me to know and to do my part in the fulfilment of your vision in my life. In Jesus' name we pray