Time out!
Being Ridiculously In Charge
I’m very much impressed by the story of two people of old recorded in history, who made incredible life changing decisions that their peers find ridicules. But their decision did not only change their surrounding but the whole nations. One of them was just sixteen years boy who was a slave in the land of Babylon. Babylon was situated along the Euphrates River about 50 miles south of modern Baghdad, the capital city of Iraq.
History has recorded that Jehoakim King of Juda started to take wrong decisions which lead the whole nation into lawlessness until God departed from them. As a result, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged Jerusalem and took all the articles from the temple and he demanded that all educated young man from the loyal family be taken captive. Smart move hey? Did it occur to you why the king decided to take this young educated from loyal family?
King Nebuchadnezzar was very smart. He knew very well this young man are the next kings, priests, governors and lawyers. If he take them captives and use them to serve him, Jerusalem will always be under his siege since there will be no one to rule and no priest to teach god’s ordinances which always keep Jude surrounded by God’ hedge of protection.
Even though Nebuchadnezzar’s plan was evil towards the children of Juda, the principle he used was very intelligent. And the lessons in this decision taken is awesome. Every decision you take, make sure that it will be a pillar for you tomorrow. It should be in your advantages and of those that are dear to you.
Before we continue with king Nebuchadnezzar I want to warn you. May be you are reading this book and you are not a God person and this story is kind of boring you and you feel like dropping the book. Hold on yet a little while. While this book is not necessarily about Christianity but decision making, the principle and examples used in this biblical story is so amazing and worthy emulating. So I urge you to sit back. Relax and enjoy reading and draw in the principles unfolding in this story.
Now, we all are probably aware that slaves were used to do hard labour and obey their cruel master who are only interested in their work being done than in the slaves. But with king Nebuchadnezzar things are always done differently. The king was more conscious in decision making. He does not make foolish and careless decisions. He did not want to regret in future. Every step of the way should be more beneficial not only for Nebuchadnezzar but for his whole empire. He was very careful. Thus why he decided to take decisions that will strengthen the rule, governance and economic growth of Babylon.
So, instead of using the technique of Pharaoh the King of Egypt, he ordered that the young man be nourished, educated (for three years-college education) and mentored to serve as leaders in Babylon. Are you kidding me? Leaders? Slaves? While Pharaoh used his slaves as slaves which created rebellion and stubbornness, Nebuchadnezzar set with them on the same table as his leaders. He used their skills and expertise to advance Babylon.
Before we continue, let’s look at the criteria king Nebuchadnezzar used to select his slave.
Characteristics of the young man to be taken to Babylon as slaves;
No blemish-no physical defect
Well favored-loved, handsome and well behaved
Skillful in all wisdom-showing aptitude for every kind of learning
Cunning in knowledge-well informed
Understand science-quick to understand and to explain the mysteries of science
Ability to stand in the king’s palace-qualify to serve in the palace
If you look very well at this characteristics, you will see that king Nebuchadnezzar know exactly what he wanted. He was not careless in his dealings. He went to Jerusalem with a purpose and a plan. Not just to keep liability slaves but slaves who will advance his kingdom. Now I want you to see what happened next;
The king has also ordered that these young man be taught the learning and the tongues of Babylon in every way. They should be taught the Babylonians way of living, culture and customs. In other words they should be made Babylonians. What a wisdom!
Not only has that but the King appointed them daily provision of the king’s food and the wine to drink. Don’t forget that this young man were of the loyal family. And Nebuchadnezzar knows very well that if he want them to cooperate with him he has to treat them as such. Therefore they were given the best food and best wine of Babylon which was reserved for the king and his loyal family only. The king wanted to ensure that their appearance fit the palace.
Like I have said already, these young man were given the best food, the best wine, and best education so that they will be able to take up best positions in the government of Babylon. They were also given best Babylonians names after the gods of Babylon so to blend in and not sound foreigners. Probably you are asking why did Nebuchadnezzar did all these, he wanted to make sure that these young man feel at home. He wanted them to completely become Babylonians. He wanted them to forget where they came from, who they are and to forget their God give purpose for their life.
He gave them a new identity, purpose and plan for life. Trust me if you don’t know who you are someone else will decide for you and help you to make your life time decisions. Nebuchadnezzar wanted a paradigm shift in the mind of these young leader. He assign them great scholar and philosophers to indoctrinate them and transform them and their way of thinking. These kind of decisions can only be made by a visionary leader. Someone who want exactly he want out of life. He want them to be loyal to him and his gods. He knows very well that people know their God shall do exploits.
The greatest victory is over self. "Aristotle"
Oxford dictionaries define identity as “the fact of being who or what a person or thing is”. There is an old story of and eaglet that grew up with chicks and ultimately believing it was a chick, hence it cannot fly. Every time it see other birds flying it envy them and only wish it could fly. Why. Because it did not know who it was.
All what this poor eaglet needed to do is to make up its mind and beat its powerful wings to fly into the clouds. Only if it knew that it was created for greater heights. It’s destined to eat in the clouds, to sour in the winds and storms not for mediocre life. It grew up believing its nothing but a mere chicken. Here it was, clucking and pecking with chickens because it did not know its identity. When the wind and the storm comes which was supposed to take it to greater heights, it run and hind with the chickens
Just like this poor eagle, most of us are clucking and pecking and just hoping one day things will be better. We follow wrong people because they seem to be cool. We try to imitate what other people are doing for recognition and fame. We struggled to enjoy the peace of mind because we are being someone else. We turn to cruelty to satisfy our ego but even that would not help us. We trade our sexuality and personality, only to realize that the hunger for being better gets even bigger.
As long as we have a void space of identity, nothing can satisfy us and we are prone to do stupid things to satisfy ourselves or to feel worth of living. We were created for a purpose. We are destined to reign, to succeed, to prosper and enjoy life. The book of Jeremiah 29:11, God said “for I (God) have a plans for you, plans to prosper you but not to harm you, plans to give hope and a future”.
That is the starting point that is the beginning. God created us with a plan and purpose. “Purpose”? Yes! Purpose. The biggest challenge and problem people are facing today is the struggle of finding ones purpose. Due to lack of direction, many a times people take wrong decisions which land them in hot soup. Instead of evaluating how they ended up in the soup, they blame the boiler, but it was their decisions to jump into the pot of soup. There is a proverb in Oshiwambo, “Be careful not to jump a tree bark, you might step on the snake.” This words are normally directed to people who think they are smart and can maneuver their crooked ways. They think they can do anything and go away with it. Only to be surprised by the outcome. Is it not usually the case?
It so amazing that most often we ask the question above when we are in trouble but yet the creator clearly indicate that if we want to know why he has created us, then we ought to ask him or look in the manufacturer manual (Bible). No inventor ever invented in garget without a purpose and plan. We all know very well that every time we buy a garget, we find the manufacturer’s manual inside to help us on how to use the garget correctly/according to the manufacturer. And we know as well any misuse of the garget will cause dysfunction. Is that right?
So, the creator has a plan and purpose for each and every human being. Hence his plans are only known to him and he has in script them in the creation manual. Therefore anyone who want to know his plan and purpose on earth is ought to look in the manual or ask the manufacturer for guidance and direction. When you know your purpose and plan, decision making becomes easy and mistakes are minimal.
BE CAREFUL OF THE TRAFFIC CYCLE
Are you a student, Business person or politician?
In schools some have taken their studies for granted. Instead of spending more time with books discovering and exploring, they have been lazing around the campus or school ground either talking unimportant things or causing havoc. Some students sneak out of the hostel to sheebens to drink alcohol while others have chosen wrong friends because there are popular for trouble making, who, at the end of the day landed them in trouble of failure or suspended from school for misbehaving. While yet other engaged in unprotected sex hereafter becoming pregnant and drop out of school. Even though the government of Namibia have clearly indicated that education is a right hence no child should be out of school despite their situation as long as it does not endanger other learners, most of learners who fall pregnant drop out of school. The fear of being teased by other learners could not keep them in school. Don’t talk about the embarrassment of carrying the pregnancy in the school.
The same fate befall the business world and political scenes. People spend more time gossiping their colleagues or boss, instead of spending more time in coming up with innovative ideas that will boost the business sale which may give them more opportunity for recognition for promotion. And the funny thing is that these same people are the one to complain how their boss trust more their colleague than the rest of you but you don’t know that your colleague comes early to work and leave late. In fact you even labeled him a workaholic. In fact you asked him if he does not have a house that he is ever in the office, and now you think your boss like him more. What do you expect?
Politicians makes decision which make them unpopular and lose trust from their followers. We have seen many revolution groups emerging recently due to bad decisions made in many countries. Political leaders have grown big heads that don’t want to hear anyone telling them what to do. They handle a country as if it’s their own houses. They careless about the same people they were begging to vote them. Corruption and maladministration hits newspaper headings week in week out but yet they are untouchable. Apparently if they ask you to jump, you should not ask why but how high. We have seen civil wars emerging in Africa time and then due to such leaders.
Mistake of the past can't hold you
Mistake of the past
The most difficult stage to make decisions is youthful stage. Young people are full of energy and are very ambitious. In most cases they made either major right decision which will have positive influence on their life or wrong decision which will hamper their future progress. Youthful stage is very exciting and confusing. At this stage, life is full of promising choices and almost every road looks so bright. Peer pressure becomes so heavy on us. We want to like someone else because he is popular or dress nice etc.
Here, one will have to take some major decisions that will either impact your life positively or negatively. Therefore one need more guidance and proper direction to make right decisions. Decisions have to be consciously made and guidance become very crucial. There is an African proverb which say “the fly that does not listen to advice will be buried with a coffin”. One need to learn to listen to proper advice otherwise the future will be very dim.
Life is all about decision making. We decide on what we want to eat, drink, who we love to associate with, what music to listen to and what field of study or line of business to take. As our ages advance, the challenge of decision making becomes even more. Who you want to marry, how many children to have, what type of house to buy, which town to live in and what type of family business to embark on.
This is a clear indication that we have more opportunities to make decision that affect our life either way. Its undeniable that situation we find ourselves in and the environment have influence on our decision making but we have entire control over the decision. It’s up to us to decide what type of decision to make. The weight of our decision despite the circumstances far outweigh the circumstances. Hence wherever we find ourselves today, no doubt is the results of the decision we made yesterday.
Decide to Decide Right
DECIDE TO DECIDE RIGHT
The future will depend on what we do in the present.
≈Mahatma Ghandi≈
Decision Making
In its simplest sense: 'Decision Making is the act of choosing between two or more courses of action'. However, it must always be remembered that there may not always be a 'correct' decision among the available choices.
There may have been a better choice that had not been considered, or the right information may not have been available at the time. Because of this, it is important to keep a record of all important decisions and the reasons why these decisions were made, so that improvements can be made in the future. This also provides justification for any decision taken when something goes wrong.
Life is full of choices from which we should choose. We all have to decide what we want to do and who we want to become. The sad reality is that most of us have made decisions yesterday that are bearing fruits that we don’t like today. Even though we all know the concept of sowing and reaping, we hardly practice it. It obvious whatever you sow that is what you will reap. Who we are and what we have today is a result of the decisions we had made yester years. The regret and the pain we have today is a result of yesterday’s decisions we have made whether consciously or unconsciously.
Sometimes we are influenced by circumstances in our decision making but unfortunately whatsoever the decision may be, it will affect us either way. In some instances we may even forget that whatever we are going through was our own making, hence tempted to blame the circumstance we were when we made irrational decision. We try to remember all the hardship we went through and all the people involved to find a good enough reason to satisfy us to accept our current situation.
For years I have been always blaming my current state on my father’s death. I have been always tempted to say only if my father was here, I wouldn’t be who I am today. The funny thing is that it feels so good when you are not to blame. Therefore blaming someone else becomes a good option. Yes I agree that the situation we went through plays a big role in who we become but I hate to say situations don’t decide for us. It’s me who decide at the end of the day.
I hear you saying, you just don’t know what I have gone through. You don’t understand my fate in life. I am very sorry, forgive me for not understanding. I really agree that you are going/went through your situations because of others and circumstance beyond your control. In my case it was my father’s death and my father’s family that took all our inheritance away because they believe children don’t belong to the man but woman. Hence the man’s properties and wealth does not belong to his children but nephews, nieces, and his biological brothers and sisters. I blamed my school teacher for failing to give me career guidance. If they could have done that, I would not end up where I AM.
After my father’s death I literally have to walk, sometimes, 50 km to the secondary school I was schooling from weekends or to weekends due to lack of transport fund. I have to eat papa with salt only or drink sugar water. Most of the time the sugar is from the neighbors because there was no money to buy proper food. I have had only one trouser. I wore that trouser day in, day out.
Don’t you think I had a good reason to drop out of school? We were many of us in that house and sometime we have no food in the house and I mean no food. We till the land with our own hands to produce food for us. No money to hire a tractor or someone with donkies or oxen to till land for us. We worked very hard but we couldn’t produce enough because we spend most of our food before end of the year. In fact all of us went to school, only mom who spend most of her time in the field.
Mom had all reason to say kids, stay home, let’s produce food for us to survive or you go to school and die of hunger. I had a very good reason to drop out of school to look for a job to help mom raise my siblings. But what kept me in school? Mom and myself. How? Mom and I decided. She was going to do anything possible and lawful to provide for us. And I’m going to study hard and not let anything stand in my way. Mom sold fat cakes and Okapana (meat sold at open place) to raise funds for us. Do you think that was easy? No. Did I kept my promise? Yes and no. I will talk about that later. The point is, regardless of the situation we are going through, we are responsible for our decisions we make in the midst of the situation.
It is sad to say, but when we dwell on our past failure and find comfort in blaming game, we are likely to remain in the same situation for years if not for life. Ifs... and it’s not my fault, gives us consolation and closed roads. Isn’t that often the case? We invest so much time in the journey of not going nowhere but keep cycling around our past hurts, disappointments and circumstances that has gone ages ago and there is nothing we can do about them. They are gone.
But what about if we start asking ourselves questions like; what did I do or did not do that brought me here? What can I do to change from here to there? From point A to point B? What mechanisms should I employ to become a better person, business man or leader? What do I love doing that I can invest my time, resources and energy in to better my tomorrow?
Confucius said “choose the work you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”. Think about your best practice, your wows. What is giving you the peace of mind/inner satisfaction? Stop the BLAME GAME it will not help you accomplish anything.
7 Ways to Make Bad Decisions
I’ve made lots of bad decisions in my life. That includes my time in leadership—both in business and ministry, but I’ve also made plenty of bad decisions in family and personal situations. None of us set out to make bad decisions, but sometimes the way we make them can significantly increase or decrease the chance the quality of our decisions.
Granted, I’ve learned from every bad decision I’ve made. And I’ve even repeated a few of them a few times—and still learned something. But, as much as I can, I want to make better decisions—the first time.
In my experience, there are a few common factors that lead to me making a bad decision. As I often say that we Christian must and have to learn from our mistakes as well as from good experience through and in the Holy spirit.
Here are 7 ways to make bad decisions:
Make them too fast – I’ve learned that haste does indeed make waste. I make lots of decisions each day. I would be a poor leader if I couldn’t make most of them quickly. I’d always be stalled from my potential. When the potential outcome is significant, however, the more time I can give to it the less likely I am to make a mistake—certainly the ones that could have been avoided with more thought. Learning when to wait, seek God, the counsel of others and for better personal discernment is part of maturing, but can help us avoid some of the more costly bad decisions.
Make them too slow – Equally true, there are times when a fast decision is easy; even prudent. If I know the right answer—if it has a Biblical basis, for example, or my conscience is clearly convicted—but it is simply hard to implement, I’ve learned that waiting seldom makes the decision easier and often only complicates the process. I’m more likely to make a bad decision the longer I wait.
Make them to keep people happy – The right decision is seldom the popular decision. People pleasing as a decision motivator rarely accomplishes matters of worth. It often makes the worst decision of the options available.
Make them when angry – I don’t know about you, but I don’t think clearly when my emotions get in the way. If I’m angry—or emotional in any other way—I tend to overreact or under react. Emotionally based decisions, especially immediate decisions, are often ones I tend to regret later.
Make them alone – “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22) A part of leadership involves standing alone at times, but rarely are we really alone. We should always walk in the counsel of God’s Spirit, and, in my experience, even when I have to make the decision seemingly alone—if I’m making wise decisions—it’s not really that I’m alone. I’m just ahead of where others know we need to go, but haven’t yet been willing to go. Building a collaborative environment as much as possible helps me avoid bad decisions.
Make them reactionary – Ultimately we want to work from a plan. We want to make decisions before the decision is needed. We want proactive decision-making. That’s obviously not always possible, but in my experience, I’m more likely to make a bad decision when I’m reacting to a situation, rather than having thought about the scenario and my response beforehand.
Make them out of fear – We are called to walk by faith, yet fear is often a more powerful initiator. But I’ve learned, when I decide because I’m afraid to—or not to—do something, I almost always make a mistake. Following my faith gut, even when afraid, is part of leadership. And part of life.
I’m sure there are many other ways to make a bad decision. These are some of my personal examples.
Which of these get in your way the most in making good decisions?
What are some ways you end up making bad decisions?
Some thoughts from Bible.
The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. — Proverbs 12:22
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. — James 1:19-20
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. — Psalms 105:4
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
Blessings and Grace
LIFE CHALLEGES
Alcohol Abuse – How Serious is It?
First of all, we need to recognize how extremely serious alcohol abuse is, and how easy it is to become a victim of alcohol addiction. Our bodies can cope with an occasional small intake of alcohol, but unfortunately alcohol has an added lure. This is due to the fact that it makes us feel happier, more relaxed and at ease, and best of all, it helps us to forget the problems and pressures in our lives.
For this reason, it is too easy for someone who normally drinks only sparingly to be tempted into having a little more each day, especially when they are going through a difficult time. This is one of the ways where the abuse of alcohol begins, and once it has a real grip on someone’s life, it can ruin that life and have devastating effects on the lives of their friends, coworkers, and family. This terrible addiction can cause marriages to fall apart, families to split up, and bring untold misery and damage to the children who are involved. Regular drunkenness often results in violence towards the spouse and children. Instead of a having happy, united family where the children feel loved and secure, the children live each day in terror, not knowing what to expect next.
Alcohol Abuse – What are the health risks?
Added to all this is another very real danger which is the damage alcohol abuse can cause to physical health. Long term and often fatal damage is done to the internal organs of the body:
irritation to the stomach lining resulting in ulcers,
high blood pressure which can bring on a stroke, heart failure, inflammation of the pancreas,
cirrhosis of the liver which is irreversible and eventually causes complete liver failure,
Praise And Worship
Praise and Worship - A Natural Desire. Praise and worship seems to be universal. Have you ever heard of an explorer finding a new tribe or culture that doesn't worship? Worship is a natural instinct and a basic need for every person. A simple definition of worship is to regard with great devotion or to honor as a divine being. Take a second to think about what you are most devoted to in this life and ask yourself, "Is it worthy of my devotion; do I worship a divine being?" We don't all worship the same God, but everyone worships something or someone. Since we all worship, we should question the reason for this desire. The most logical conclusion is that we were created by a higher being for the very purpose of worship. The ongoing quest of man is to find answers to the fundamental questions of human origin, human nature, and human destiny. There is one book that has the answers to all these questions, including our questions about worship. The Bible is the wonderful and mysterious book that God has chosen as a way to communicate with us. God is the focus of our devotion in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In Exodus 20:2-3, God says, "I am the LORD your God .....You shall have no other gods before me." In Matthew 4:10, Jesus says, "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only." So, worship is not merely a natural instinct, it's a command from God.
Praise and Worship - Why Should We do it? God alone is worthy of our devotion, praise and worship. He is God, our Creator, and we are commanded to praise and worship Him. Psalm 96:9 says, "Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth." Psalm 29:2 says, "Give unto the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." A.W. Tozer said, "Without worship, we go about miserable." God doesn't want us to be miserable -- He has a perfect plan for our lives. He has done so many things to show us that He loves us and doesn't want us to be miserable. He wants us to have hope for a future with Him --he wants us to have eternal life in heaven with Him. A life of praise and worship fills our deepest needs, and amazingly, it also brings great joy to God. Zephaniah 3:17 states, "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Praise and Worship - How Do We do it? God tells us how to praise and worship him in His Word. John 4:23 says, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." In order to worship God in truth, we need to know that Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." So, before you can worship in the way that God desires, you have to develop a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus, His Son. The best way that we can praise and worship God is with our every thought and action. Romans 12:1-2 states, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Praise and Worship - Love from the Heart. Many people think that praise and worship is only singing songs at church, but it is so much more! It is also a condition of your heart -- a willingness to exalt God and yield to his will. Worship is an expression of love and awe to the God who gives us more than we deserve. Whether you express your worship by singing, playing music, dancing or in some other way, remember that you are called to worship God with your every action, every day of your life. God is holy, loving, and worthy of all our worship and devotion. "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deut. 6:5)
What is True Worship?
Worship - More Than Music. Christian worship is often thought of as the music portion of a church service - people singing songs to God, heads back, eyes closed, and hands raised in the air as they sing. Christian worship happens when we sing to God, whether in church or alone - in our cars or in the shower.
If our desire is to please the heart of God, it is worship, no matter where the location or how many are involved. Music affects our emotions and the lyrics can swell our hearts, causing us to become lost in the experience. Christian praise and worship music is a great tool for helping us feel closer to God. It's not uncommon for people to even pick a church because of the style of its worship music. Often people will emerge from a service saying, "The worship was wonderful today," or "The sermon was great, but I was really moved by the worship." You may be surprised to realize that the entire service is about worshipping God!
Christian Worship - Showing reverence and gratitude to God. Another picture of Christian worship is showing reverence and gratitude by bowing down before God, as in this passage from Nehemiah: "Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, 'Amen! Amen!' Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground." Nehemiah 8:6 Both singing and bowing down are acts of worship, but they are only part of the picture. Christian worship is so much more than that!
Christian Worship - It's all about the position of our hearts. Christian worship begins with discovering and admitting what we have been worshipping in our lives. All of us worship something, whether we know it or not. We may not physically bow down to it, or offer it songs of praise and adoration, but whatever we devote most of our time and attention to is often what we worship. Consider this Merriam-webster definition of worship: "Reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; also: an act of expressing such reverence; a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual; extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem." Seen in that light, it's easy to see that we can worship God, we can worship money, or power, or a rock star, or we can even worship a lifestyle. Worship is more than an act of reverence. It is an attitude of the heart.
Christian worship is clearly of interest to God. He knows we have an inner need to worship, so He asks us to worship Him. He, being God, can handle the weight of being worshipped; humans cannot. People who are worshipped by others can often be influenced to think more highly of themselves than they ought. The Bible makes it plain that there is only one God worthy of our worship: "Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land." Deuteronomy 6:13-14.
Do you love God? Are you thankful for what He has done for you through His Son Jesus Christ? "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness." Psalm 29:2 You can follow the admonition of Psalm 29:2 by turning away from what you formerly worshipped and acknowledging the lordship of Jesus. Let the life you live be an act of worship to Him. Whether you are called to be a preacher, a singer, a writer, a software engineer, a salesperson, or a truck driver, you can do everything for the glory of God. When you do, you are engaging in Christian worship. The Bible says that one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11).
He alone is worthy of our worship and praise. One day, both those who choose to worship Him and those who have refused His free gift will acknowledge that He is Lord above all. When that day comes, only those who have chosen Him will go on to live with Him in eternity. According to Scripture, those who have denied Him will spend eternity with Satan and the fallen angels who are condemned already. Do you know Jesus as your Lord? Why wait? Discover, while you still can, that the Jesus Christ who gave his live for you is worthy of being your CEO, your life director, your all-in-all. All you have to do is believe that Jesus died and rose three days later. Then ask Him to forgive your sins and save you. Millions have already made that choice - you'll never regret it!
What is Love
What is Love – Seasoned Feelings Ask any teenager or senior citizen, “What is love?” and their answers reflect a similar influence. Love involves feelings -- romanticized by music, literature, and media. We all yearn to recreate that intimacy based on what seems so ideal. Our deepest longings shape what defines love -- fervor (passionate), flawless (perfect), and fulfillment (joy).
When we express love, we develop a strong emotional attachment, anticipating our love to be returned. What do I receive out of the relationship? What’s my level of contentment? Our feelings focus upon discovering that one individual who satisfies all our heart’s desires. Sadly, what nourished and warmed our love for one season often withers and grows cold. “The course of true love never did run smooth.”1
What is Love – The Cost of Giving What is love if not costly? Real love demands sacrifice that can’t be found in self-centeredness. You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. Sacrificial love requires that we give what we value most: our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. Real love does not always follow our natural inclinations; it is not an impulse from feelings. Love can only be understood from the actions it prompts. When we bear with the failings and weaknesses of others, divine love reveals itself (Ephesians 4:2). At all costs, this love compels us to give so that we alleviate the suffering of others. Instead of seeking to fulfill our emotional and physical needs (receiving), we humbly give of ourselves (1 Peter 3:8–9).
What is Love – God’s Nature In a response to, “What is Love?” it is erroneous to say “love is God.” God created love, not the reverse. He deliberately chose to express His love to us -- revealing the very nature of God Himself.
When we express love, we develop a strong emotional attachment, anticipating our love to be returned. What do I receive out of the relationship? What’s my level of contentment? Our feelings focus upon discovering that one individual who satisfies all our heart’s desires. Sadly, what nourished and warmed our love for one season often withers and grows cold. “The course of true love never did run smooth.”1
What is Love – The Cost of Giving What is love if not costly? Real love demands sacrifice that can’t be found in self-centeredness. You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. Sacrificial love requires that we give what we value most: our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. Real love does not always follow our natural inclinations; it is not an impulse from feelings. Love can only be understood from the actions it prompts. When we bear with the failings and weaknesses of others, divine love reveals itself (Ephesians 4:2). At all costs, this love compels us to give so that we alleviate the suffering of others. Instead of seeking to fulfill our emotional and physical needs (receiving), we humbly give of ourselves (1 Peter 3:8–9).
What is Love – God’s Nature In a response to, “What is Love?” it is erroneous to say “love is God.” God created love, not the reverse. He deliberately chose to express His love to us -- revealing the very nature of God Himself.
God Is Sacrificial – God initiated an eternal love relationship with us before we loved Him (1 John 4:10).
God Is Merciful – God extended the wealth of His kindness even when we were undeserving of His love (Ephesians 2:4-5).
God Is Faithful – Even in the most extreme circumstances, God’s love for us remains secure (Romans 8:35, 38-39). God did not need to create the universe. He made that choice as an expression of His ultimate love for us. Then God created us a certain way -- to experience all that perfect love was meant to be (Song of Songs 4:9-10; 8:6; 1 John 4:7-12). “ . . . May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is” (Ephesians 3:17-18).
God is Love: How do we Define Love?"God is Love", but how do we define it? The American Heritage Dictionary defines love as "an intense affection for another person based on familial or personal ties". Often this "intense affection" stems from a sexual attraction for that other person. We love other people, or we say we love other people, when we are attracted to them and when they make us feel good. Notice that a key phrase in the dictionary definition of love is the phrase "based on". This phrase implies that we love conditionally; in other words, we love someone because they fulfill a condition that we require before we can love them. How many times have you heard or said, "I love you because you are cute;" or "I love you because you take good care of me;" or "I love you because you are fun to be with"?
Our love is not only conditional, it is also mercurial. We love based on feelings and emotions that can change from one moment to the next. The divorce rate is extremely high in today's society because husbands and wives supposedly stop loving one another-or they "fall out of love". They may go through a rough patch in their marriage, and they no longer "feel" love for their spouse, so they call it quits. Evidently, their marriage vow of "till death do us part" means they can part at the death of their love for their spouse rather than at their physical death. Can anyone really comprehend "unconditional" love? It seems the love that parents have for their children is as close to unconditional love as we can get without the help of God's love in our lives. We continue to love our children through good times and bad, and we don't stop loving them if they don't meet the expectations we may have for them. We make a choice to love our children even when we consider them unlovable; our love doesn't stop when we don't "feel" love for them. This is similar to God's love for us, but as we shall see, God's love transcends the human definition of love to a point that is hard for us to comprehend.
God is Love: How does God Define Love? The Bible tells us that "God is Love" (1 John 4:8). But how can we even begin to understand that truth? There are many passages in the Bible that give us God's definition of love. The most well known verse is John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." So one way God defines love is in the act of giving. However, what God gave (or should we say, "who" God gave) was not a mere gift-wrapped present; God sacrificed His only Son so that we, who put our faith in His Son, will not spend eternity separated from Him. This is an amazing love, because we are the ones who choose to be separated from God through our own sin, yet it's God who mends the separation through His intense personal sacrifice, and all we have to do is accept His gift. Another great verse about God's love is found in Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." In this verse and in John 3:16, we find no conditions placed on God's love for us. God doesn't say, "as soon as you clean up your act, I'll love you; " nor does He say, "I'll sacrifice my Son if you promise to love Me." In fact, in Romans 5:8, we find just the opposite. God wants us to know that His love is unconditional, so He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us while we were still unlovable sinners. We didn't have to get clean, and we didn't have to make any promises to God before we could experience His love. His love for us has always existed, and because of that, He did all the giving and sacrificing long before we were even aware that we needed His love.
God is Love: It's Unconditional God is Love, and His love is very different from human love. God's love is unconditional, and it's not based on feelings or emotions. He doesn't love us because we're lovable or because we make Him feel good; He loves us because He is love. He created us to have a loving relationship with Him, and He sacrificed His own Son (who also willingly died for us) to restore that relationship.
Where is God?
Where is God? The Ultimate QuestionWhere is God? Have you ever asked that question? Most of us have at one time or another. Its answer has more to do with His presence in our lives than with belief in His existence. We want to know -- where is God when I hurt, or where is God when something goes desperately wrong in my life? Our conclusions depend on what we rely on as a benchmark for truth in our lives. Do you believe the Bible is true, and that it is what it claims to be? If you do, then you recognize that it is the very Word of God. What a great place to begin looking for His presence.
Where is God? How Can I Know He Exists?Where is God? If this question still needs to be settled in your mind, consider the evidence for God in His creation. Genesis 1:1 says, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Do you believe it? Look around at the evidence. Psalm 19:1-2 tells us: The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. God wants us to know He exists. Where is God? We see Him in what He has created. Do you believe that God wants you to see Him? The Bible says He does. He reveals Himself to us. Psalm 98:2 says, The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. God reveals Himself to us through His creation (see Romans 1:20) and through His Word: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Finally, God desires us to know Him so much that He took on the form of a man, in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. Consider these words from Paul in Philippians 2:6-8: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. John, another apostle, helps us understand that Jesus is the same God who created the universe when he says In John 1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. We can see God in what He has created; we can see Him when we read His Word; we can see Him in the person and character of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to help us understand God, and to assure us that God understands us. John goes on to say: No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18). Jesus declares His existence and further reveals the truth about God.
Where is God? How Can I Relate to Him?Where is God? There's a popular song that says God is watching from a distance. Or you may have heard Him referred to as a higher power, the man upstairs or a divine imminence. But the Bible tells us He is a person, and that He is near. James, a man history records as the brother of Jesus, tells us that if we draw near to God, He draws near to us (James 4:8). What more could we ask? Does that give you a picture of being cuddled? It should - God longs to cuddle you in His arms. Have you believed God is waiting to judge you? The Bible says He longs to forgive you. Over and over throughout the pages of Scripture, we read of His longsuffering nature. From Genesis through Revelation, we see a consistent picture of a God who continues to offer forgiveness, up to the very end of time. He is not willing that any should perish, the Bible says, but that all should be saved. The reason He sent Jesus into the world is so that we could all be saved! (John 3:17). Religions teach us we need to earn God's favor. The Bible tells us God's favor is a gift. All He is waiting for is for us to admit our need. Once we confess our sin, His forgiveness is ours. (1 John 1:9)
Where is God? What Next?Where is God? In today's world, it's easy for us to think that we suffer alone. But if you have wondered where God is, so has someone else. Now that you know who He is and where He is, you can help someone else know where God is, too. Near the end of the Gospel of John, just before He was crucified, Jesus told His disciples about a comforter He would send, to remind them of all the things He had taught. That comforter, the Holy Spirit of God, came at Pentecost, just a short time after Jesus ascended into heaven. In the first chapter of Acts we read about that event as His disciples were filled with His Spirit and began declaring the Gospel message. What this means for you and me is that once we confess our sins, receive God's forgiveness and accept the gift of salvation through Christ, we can know the presence of that Comforter, too. With His Holy Spirit living in us, His nature gradually overtakes our own. As that happens, others will begin to discover where God is by knowing you.
Who Is God?
Who is God? If we are willing to accept the Bible as containing truth, then we know the answer to "where did we come from?" According to the ancient scriptures, we were created by God. So the next question is…why? After all, He’s God, and as such, He certainly doesn't need us for anything -- so why did He create us? Who is God really? What does He see in us, really? Check out some of the following for some answers…
Who Is God - Who Does He Claim to Be?Who is God? He's been described as everything from an impersonal life-force to a benevolent, personal, almighty Creator. He has been called by many names, including: "Zeus," "Jupiter," "Brahma," "Allah," "Ra," "Odin," "Ashur," "Izanagi," "Viracocha," "Ahura Mazda," and "the Great Spirit" to name just a few. He's seen by some as "Mother Nature" and by others as "Father God." But who is He really? Who does He claim to be?
Who Is God - Father God or Mother Nature?Who is God? What has He revealed about Himself? To begin with, whenever He refers to Himself in parental terms, He always addresses Himself as "Father," never "Mother." He calls Himself "a Father to Israel,"1 and in one instance, when His "children" were particularly disrespectful to Him, He said to them, "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence?" 2 His prophets acknowledged Him as Father by saying, "You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand,"3 and "do we not all have one Father? Has not one God created us?"4 Never once does God refer to Himself as "Mother" and never once is He called such by the prophets to whom He spoke. Calling God "Mother Nature" is comparable to calling your earthly father "Mom."
Who Is God - What Does God Care About?Who is God in terms of moral attributes? What does God have to say about Himself in this regard? He says that He delights in justice and righteousness: "…Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight."5 "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity…"6 Justice and equity are very important to God. But so are grace and mercy. And so, while God will hold everyone accountable, each for their own lives, He extends His grace to the repentant sinner. He promises that, "'If the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,' declares the Lord GOD, 'rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?…I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,' declares the Lord GOD. 'Therefore, repent and live.'"7 By "death" God is not referring to the physical death which we might have in mind. Rather, God is referring to something which will happen in eternity, after our physical deaths. The Scriptures refer to this event as the "second death."8 The first death separates us from our bodies and takes us from this world. The second death is different. It also entails a separation, but it's the separation of one group of people from another: the righteous and the forgiven on one hand and the wicked and the unrepentant on the other. The two groups will be judged separately. The one group will be rewarded according to the good that they've done. Their evil deeds will be overlooked, forgiven by God. The other group will be judged according to the evil that they have done, and their good deeds will not keep them from their punishment. God says, "When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die." But "when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. …Therefore, repent and live."9 In this way, God will see that justice ultimately prevails, but that mercy is given to the humble and the repentant. God has made a provision for those who want to repent, a provision to atone for the sins of those who want to be made right with Him. He sent a "Messiah," a Servant who willingly suffered and died a vicarious death in order to pay for the sins of those who would repent and trust in Him. The Scriptures say, "Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?…Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows…He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.…it was the LORD's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the LORD makes His life a guilt offering, He will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in His hand. After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.…he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." 10
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