Word for today: Do not despise the days of small beginnings.

Another great word from Kris Vallotton, so enouraged!

Don't despise the day of small beginnings. For more than 5 years I preached in a convalescent home every Sunday morning. My congregation consisted of about 11 people; 8 of which had Alzheimer's. When I would a yell a powerful point, (I used to preach with drama), several of them would pee the floor and the nurse would wheel them out. 
Bill Johnson taught me that if I prepared as if I was teaching 1000s, someday God would entrust 1000s to me. So I spent hours every week, reading, studying, and preparing my messages. As I prepared, I would envision myself in stadiums filled with hungry people, all listening to me preaching. Many times I would preach at the hospital with my eyes closed...I was preaching to a different reality.
I taught an average of 4 times a week for 17 years...almost all of my public ministry was to groups nobody wanted. Camp grounds, hospitals, home groups, children's church, 11 people I mentored every Sunday for 10 years, kids on probation, jails, prisons...anyone who would listen.
We started 9 businesses during that time, while raising a family of 4 kids. I also coached, basketball and soccer.
Busy? Yes! We didn't have time to watch TV or waste time. But we worked and played together as a family, with great passion.
Three of our four kids fell in love with ministering to people and made it their career.
Many people want more for their life, but they are unwilling to pour their lives into anything; unwilling to sacrifice. They have a lottery mentality; they keep playing the numbers believing that someday they are going hit the big one.
Hard work, persistence and passion, are quickly going out of vogue; viewed as anti-grace, dead works, and religion. It's just easier to promote yourself with a great website and large a blog, than it is to actually get in the trenches, and dirty your hands with the souls of men.
Crazy teaching comes from those who have never actually had to live out their teaching or make it work.
I am nobody special...but I am a man possessed with possibility. ‪#‎kvm‬

Success : what is it?

Most people define success as acquiring wealth and achieving goals, prestige, favour and power. "Successful" people enjoy the good life - being financially and emotionally secure, being surrounded by admirers, and enjoying the fruits of their labours. They are leaders, opinion makers, and trendsetters. Their example is emulated, their accomplishments are noticed. They know who they are and where they are going, and they stride confidently to meet their goals. By these standards, Jeremiah was a miserable failure. For 40 years he served as God's spokesmen to Judah; but when Jeremiah spoke, nobody listened. Consistently and passionately he urged them to act, but nobody moved. And he certainly did not attain material success. He was poor and underwent severe deprivation to deliver his prophecies. He was thrown into prison and into a cistern and he was taken to Egypt against his will. He was rejected by his neighbours, his family, his audience, false priest and prophets, and the kings. Through his life, Jeremiah stood alone, declaring God's messages of doom, announcing the new covenant, and weeping over the fate of this beloved country. In the eyes of the world, Jeremiah was not a success. But in God's eyes, Jeremiah was one of the most successful people in history. Success as measured by God, involves obedience and faithfulness. Regardless of opposition and personal cost. Jeremiah faithfully proclaimed the word of God. He was obedient to his calling. (Life application Bible)

Don't be too hard on yourself when you fall

Lance Wallnau just posted this and I'm loving it! that's a good word right there. Hope this encourages you as it encourages me .

Open your Bible and start reading. Get about 3 chapters in and watch man mess up. From chapter three all the way through the rest of the Bible you've got God fixing the problem.

What does that mean? It means that you should not be hard on yourself when you mess up or disqualify yourself because you don't measure up. The Bible see's the world as it is.

"Therefore lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so EASILY entangles us,..." (Heb 12:1)

You get that? God knows how "easy" it is to run and slip. Get back up and keep running. Thats the second part of the verse.

You have two natures in you, and old man and a new man. BUT God does not see you as two, He sees you "in Christ."

This isn't a play on words. It's actually how God sees you. Its the lenses He wears. He sees you "in the beloved."
You see you as two people. Thats why you and I need to remember that...
He who died FOR you
also died AS YOU.

"You are dead and YOUR LIFE IS HID IN CHRIST!"

YOU got a NEW MAN in there who is made in the image of God. When that person comes out Heaven invades your environment and angels step back and serve.

The art of Prayer

Your breakthrough maybe just a prayer away. Sometimes we pray and wonder if God has hears our prayer or if he even cares. We grow weary and give up, but I believe in the art of persistent prayer is to not give up. In this fast-paced world where we want everything fast and instant , (heck we can't even wait for the microwave to finish heating the food up!) we get discouraged real fast after our prayers do not get answered. 

I remember as a young Christian I was praying and asking God what was his will/calling for my life. I prayed for one month and heard nothing. One day I had enough and in desperation I cried out to God but God did not answer me... well not in the way I wanted anyway. Instead, he lead me to Matt 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. I had tears in my eye and the presence of God filled the room , the verse I had read turned into the Rhema word of God. I was not offended but actually encouraged because God actually spoke to me instead of staying silent, even though that was not the answer I was expecting. Through my years walking with God I realized one thing, God may not answer our prayers the way we want but He IS in the business of working behind the scenes to see our prayer come to pass. 

In her book, Mornings With the Holy Spirit: Listening Daily to the Still Small Voice of God , Jennifer LeClaire shared 4 prophetic words from God that I believe will inspire your daily life.
Taken from charismanews.com

1. I Love to Hear You Pray

I love to hear your voice in prayer every morning when you awake. It's one of My favorite parts of the day. When you awake and begin declaring your love for Us, it moves Our heart. When you inquire of Me, it is My pleasure to answer. When you speak to My heart, it is My joy to speak back to yours. I hear your voice even when the hectic pace of life makes it difficult for you to hear Mine. So keep lifting your voice to Father in prayer. Keep telling Me about your struggles, fears, dreams and victories. I'm listening.

2. Keep Crying Out

Sometimes when you stand up for what is right, people around you will call you a fanatic and say you are overreacting. But truth is truth, and you are called to proclaim it. Sometimes when you pursue Jesus with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your strength, people will say you are too fervent. But fire is fire. Remember blind Bartimaeus! He needed a touch from Jesus, so instead of remaining silent when the Messiah went by, he cried out to Him. The people around him told him to quiet his mouth, but he cried out all the more. Don't stop crying out for truth. Don't stop crying out for a touch from Jesus. Don't let anyone put out your fire. We love it!

3. You Can Tell Me Anything

You can trust Me. I am your Confidant. I am your Counselor. You can tell Me anything. Share your God-given dreams with Me, and I will help you bring them to pass. Share your fears with Me, and I will help you overcome them. Share your prayers with Me, and I will help you lift them to Father. You can trust Me. Seeing you walk in everything Jesus has for you—helping you reach your destiny in Christ—is part of My mission. I am on your side! I am for you, not against you.

4. I Can Do More Than You Can Imagine

Take the limits off. Do you realize that the power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead dwells in you? Do you know that I am able to do more—much, much more—for you than you can ever imagine? Do you know that I want to? Will you believe in Me the way I believe in you? Take the limits off! Dream with Me! Let your eyes see, your ears hear and your heart dwell on what I have prepared for the one I love. Your best is yet to come. Only believe.

Living on the Edge

We are living in a time where there seems to be a lot of teachings on how to make yourself happy, prosperity and how God will bless you so you can live your life comfortably.. Now I'm not against that because I do believe in giving and receiving, God blessing you and providing for our needs... I am however not into the teaching where you are to live comfortably. The apostles did not have a comfortable life when they followed Jesus, in fact they were ridiculed and persecuted for their beliefs. They could have gone back to being a doctor, fisherman, have a nice job and not follow Jesus but these guys chose to live life on the Edge just like the many great men in the bible did. They became revivalist and saw healings, miracles and numbers were added daily. They were persecuted, wrongly accused, martyred all for the sake of the gospel. They lived life on the Edge.

Here are 4 principles to live life on Edge.
1.) Preference of God
Here's a question what is your Isaac? Those that is most precious to you.
Sometimes it will cost you to follow the preference of God. John 4:34
When you hit God's preference you will be blessed, even though there are times we can't see what God is doing. It can be finding your life partner, a job or even starting a business or ministry.

I love how Bill Johnson put it this way. When God says 'no' it's because there's a bigger 'yes' to follow.

2.) Presence
That's how I got saved, all I knew was the presence of God that touched me in a church service my friend brought me too. It was there when I had an encounter with God and felt his liquid love over me convicting me of my sins and failures. That's why I can't live one day without  His presence.

Get a sense of God on things when you want to do something, what is He saying, what is the Logos and Rhema word of God say? Do you feel peace or uneasiness when you want to make a decision? obey the preference and presence. I don't do anything if I don't sense the presence of God.

3.) The Promise of God
What had God said? Are we being faithful in what God has promised us?
Be faithful in the Kairos- Joseph had a promised but he had to wait and go through 13 years before he was suddenly promoted. How well do we steward the promise of God when we receive it?

4.) Embrace the process
Steward what God wants you to do. The process sometimes is not easy but when we get the right perspective and knowing who God is and His character it'll help us to direct our lives to success. Success is not necessarily what you see on the outside but the battles won in the secret where no one is watching.

This is a book that I've read that I found really helpful. Heidi Baker is one of the people that I look up to who is living life on the edge.

Compelled by Love: How to Change the World Through the Simple Power of Love in Action By Heidi Baker In "Compelled by Love," Heidi Baker gives you a glimpse of total dependence and authentic Christian community by taking a fresh look at the Beatitudes. Throughout she shares many examples from her and her husband's ministry in the war-torn country of Mozambique. Time and again they have seen the miraculous power and provision of the Lord to the "poor in spirit," showing that the Kingdom of Heaven does belong to such as these.

He restores my soul Psalm 23

So so good!!"He restores my soul" Ps 23. The wonderful news is, no matter how life has torn you down, there is a Good Shepherd who can rebuild and revive you! -Jeremy Riddle

Sunday Reflections and Thoughts

• God walks us through the trouble, sometimes God doesn't save us from the trouble but through the problem

• In the midst of storms don't ask why God instead what are you doing for me in the midst of all this

• Sometimes God puts us in the storm to be part of the solution.

• There is God's favour in the storm as Paul did in the shipwrecked and the snake attack in Acts 27-28. He turned the test into a testimony.

• God can turn a Mess into a Message, a test into Testimony,  a trial into triumph and a victim into victory.

The Word by Isaac Wimberley

I have been listening to this for awhile now and I love it when Isaac Wimberley came out to shared 'The Word' using his God given creative gifts. The word exemplifies the Christian Faith, as I listening to this it brought me to tears and stirred my longing for more of God. I actually stumbled on this when I was feeling down and deceided to listen to Kari Jobe's version of the Forever.

The Word" by Isaac Wimberley  (6:40)

"If there are words for Him then I don’t have them. 
You see, my brain has not yet reached the point where it could 
form a thought that could adequately describe the greatness of my God, 
and my lungs have not yet developed the ability to release a breath 
with enough agility to breathe out the greatness of his love. 

And my voice, you see, 
my voice, is so inhibited, restrained by human limits 
that it’s hard to even sing the praise of… 
You see… if there are words for Him then I don’t have them. 

My God, 
His grace is remarkable, mercies are enumerable, 
strength is impenetrable,
He is honorable, accountable, favorable, 
He is unsearchable yet knowable, indefinable yet approachable, indescribable yet personal, 
He is beyond comprehension, further than imagination, constant through generations, 
king of every nation. 

But if there are words for Him then I don’t have them. 
You see, my words are few, and to try to capture the one true God, 
using my vocabulary will never do, 
but I use words as an expression, 
an expression of worship to a savior, 
a savior who is both worthy and deserving of my praise, so I use words. 

My heart extols the Lord, blesses his name forever, 
He has won my heart captured my mind and has bound them both together, 
He has defeated me in my rebellion, 
conquered me in my sin, 
He has welcomed me into his presence, 
completely invited me in. 
He has made himself the object of my sight, 
flooding me with mercies in the morning, 
drowning me with grace in the night. 

But if there are words for Him 
then I don’t have them. 
But what I do have is good news, 
for my God knew that manmade words would never do, 
for words are just tools that we use to point to the truth, 
so He sent His son Jesus Christ as “The Word”, living proof, 

He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation, 
for by Him all things are created, giving nothingness formation, 
and by His words he sustains, in the power of His name, 
for He is before all things and over all things he reigns, holy is his name, 
so praise him for his life… 

The way he persevered in strife, 
the humble son of God becoming the perfect sacrifice, 
praise him for his death… 

that He willingly stood in our place, that he lovingly endured the grave, 
that he battled our enemy and on the third day rose in victory

He is everything that was promised, 
praise Him as your risen king,
lift your voice and sing for one day he will return for us 
and we will finally be united with our savior for eternity, eternity. 

So it’s not just words that I proclaim, 
for my words point to “The Word” and “The Word” has a name, 
hope has a name, 
joy has a name, 
peace has a name, 
love has a name 
and that name is Jesus Christ." 

Holding on Through the Storm

What do you do when the storms in life come? In life we face storms... they are unexpected and out of our control. Being a Christian does not mean that life is a bed of roses or storm free. In fact Jesus told his disciples that they will face trials (John 16:33). HOWEVER, the trials are there to strengthen us, give us the courage to overcome. You see every disappointment is an opportunity for a miracle. Does storms drives us away from God or closer to God? 

You may face storms in your life, it could be financial problems, marriage problems, no one understands you or even that little lie that says 'Give up, it will never work, nobody cares''. David in the bible returned home and found that his enemies destroyed and stole everything from him. His own men wanted to stone him. He had no one to turn to. Now imagine if you were in David's shoe what would you do? He could allow grief to conquer him and sink into depression, give up and quit. But no, he chose to encourage himself in the Lord and I believe it was in Psalm 34 that you see his response. One of the things I noticed in the Psalm is how David chose to praise God despite the circumstances. Praise is a weapon for warfare, Praise brings down what is high and make it small which causes us to overcome. Sometime it's hard to give Praise when life is hard but that is when it means the most. That's why the bible says to offer up a sacrifice of praise. It can be hard but in the end it's worth it, it's your energy, it's worth your time. Through praise, faith will arise and we will have the courage to overcome.

Terry Law in his book Power of Praise And worship wrote
God is not interested only in the praise that we give him in times when things are going well. He is after that praise that comes in the midst of great trial, great difficulty , grief, sickness, demonic oppression, temptation, relational difficulties, and financial problems. He still requires praise. When we give it to Him in time of difficulty it means all the more to Him. We are operating according to the principle of sacrifice.

1 Peter 4:12 (The Msg)Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. 

So don't give up! You see God is not interested in the right circumstances but the right response, when you have the right response you are able to overcome the storms in life just as the great men of God like Job, Paul and David did. 

We Will not Be Shaken

Can't wait for the new album by Bethel!! I had the chance to watch the whole session in iBethel.tv and it's awesome!

We will not be shaken is about encouraging people to 'not be shaken' in times of trouble, but trust in God. Brian Johnson was given a prophetic word to sing the phrase We will not be shaken and it spontaneously came out during a worship session in church.  We will not be shaken is now available in iTunes.


One of my favourite is No longer a Slave. Here is the lyrics for No Longer a Slave

Verse 1 

You unravel me, with a melody

You surround me with a song Of deliverance, from my enemies    

Till all my fears are  Gone

Chorus            

I’m no longer a slave to fear
I  am a  child of  God 

                                     

Verse 2

From my Mothers  womb                                 

You have chosen me

Love has called my name                            

I’ve been born again,
into your family            

Your blood flows  through my veins

Bridge

You split the sea, so I could walk right through it

All my fears were drowned in perfect love  

You rescued me, so I could stand and sing  

 I am child God

Word For Today

Kris Valotton shared this during his communion message and it really spoke to me. Hope this inpires you too!

The only way you can lose is to stop trying! Sin can't defeat you, the grave can't hold you, death can't have you and the devil can't stop you. You are incredibly loved, unreasonibility powerful and unimaginably protected. Your past is forgivinen, your present is blessed and future is predestined for glory. The Lord loves you, the angels serve you, the devil fears you and creation awakens for you. You can do the impossible, dream the unreasonable and ask for the unimaginable. You are royalty....never...never...never give up!

I have been on hiatus for so nearly 2 years now and I truly missed the time when I blogged and share my personal revelations from God. Keep this space posted, will be doing it more this year :)

Successful Student Ministry

LOVE LOVE THIS!! TOOK it from Perrynobles blog and as a student leader this has really helped me a lot!! Enjoy :)

#1 - Support and Vision from the Senior Pastor

If you are going to have a thriving student ministry you’re going to do so because you’re leading volunteers and students with the same heart and words that are emphasized in every major platform of your church. I cannot accentuate this point enough. The best-case scenario for a ministry that ignores this point is a ‘flash in the pan’ momentary success that ends up splitting a church up because there were 2 visions…aka Di-Vision. Student ministers that embrace their leadership’s heart for people will avoid frustrations and pave the way for a healthy church long after their season of leadership is over.

#2 - Teaching the Bible

Every human being on planet earth needs the Gospel. Humanity is universally broken and therefore everyone needs the good news of Jesus Christ. No matter the demographic, the Gospel is the universal language of life and hope and healing. Preach it. Say ‘no’ to other things/activities in order to say ‘yes’ to teaching the Bible. Otherwise we are not being the church, but rather some kind of new version of the YMCA or Boys & Girls Club or daycare. Every student in our ministry needs the life altering words of the Bible.

#3 - Evaluation and Follow Up

Once your vision is clarified and the wins are known, then evaluation and follow up is a next step. This is where momentum really starts to get built. Challenge. Change. Progress. Find a way to weekly celebrate the people that are doing a great job in your ministry area. Don’t just talkabout how they are doing a great job, but talk to them about how they are doing a great job. What you celebrate is what others will replicate, so work on the art of celebration. Likewise, you must point out the opportunities for improvement and you must talk to the individuals that are responsible for improving (this is a true test of love). Commit to this discipline weekly with your team leaders. It will change your culture.

#4 - Relationships with Students

Relationships are the glue of every ministry. They are what take a ministry from a one night of the week gathering to an everyday of the week lifestyle. Truths may be preached from the platform but they will be learned and applied inside of the context of relationships. We must value them. Cultivate and celebrate leaders who make this a priority. Remember what you celebrate is what they will replicate, so make a big deal about relationships in your ministry. Leader, you must model this, not simply say it.

#5 - Grit…Willingness to work hard!

WARNING: Here’s my soapbox. Historically, I think lots of student ministries don’t win because of good ol’ fashion laziness. If you’re the youth guy who plays video games all night, sleeps in every morning and are constantly the last one to staff meetings… WAKE UP! Heaven is real and so is Hell. Jesus taught the parable of talents and I think it’s a great parable for youth workers. God might bless you with something more if you invest what’s in your hand now and stop burying it in the back yard. Don’t whine because someone else has more. Realize that there is no one with a greater voice and opportunity to change the future of the church than you and the folks you are pouring your life into.    

The secret place

The secret place is where you hear the father heart of God speaking to you. The voice that is powerful yet tender. You will know what the father heart is thinking of you, over your situation. Come back to the secret place, blessed are those who have yet not seen and yet believed. 

The secret place is more important than those seen in the open. Every prayer, desperation, cried in secret, even in the barren times you felt nothing and not see the reaping, it moved the Father the most. Because it's Faith that moved the father heart of God. Come back to the secret place.. just you and Him

The secret place is where you hear the father heart of God speaking to you. The voice that is powerful yet tender. You will know what the father heart is thinking of you, over your situation. Come back to the secret place, blessed are those who have yet not seen and yet believed. 

The secret place is more important than those seen in the open. Every prayer, desperation, cried in secret, even in the barren times you felt nothing and not see the reaping, it moved the Father the most. Because it's Faith that moved the father heart of God. Come back to the secret place.. just you and Him

Merry Christmas 2013

It's that time of the year again, every year I wish I have enough to be able to give gifts to everyone. Unfortunately, for a recent graduate that does not have a full time job for a couple of months its not easy to do that. I've come to realised I'm going to give what I can and have, be it if it is just a small Christmas card. If people can't accept that, then they are basing their friendships on what they receive rather than being remembered and just being together. I dislike the feeling of not being remembered (who doesn't?) especially during times like Christmas. But what I want to do is to let y'all know you are remembered and from the bottom of my heart I wish EVERYONE including strangers, aliens, stalkers, friends that I have not spoken to for awhile a MERRY CHRISTMAS to YOU!! yes YOU!!!

Splatters and Bouncers

“Our response to discouragement holds the key to our future.

I’ve noted two types of people in the world: splatters and bouncers. When splatters hit the bottom they land with a thud and stick like glue. No matter what you try to say and do, there’s no use trying to pick up a splatter who has fallen flat. Bouncers on the other hand, pull themselves together and rebound after hitting the bottom. Give them a little bit of encouragement, and they will ride it back up to the top.

Everyone who falters has a choice: are you going to get up or give up? The difference between the splatters and bouncers lies in their attitude. Splatters bemoan their fate and blame others for their problems. Bouncers learn from their failures and find supporters to help them recover.”

John Maxwell

ExMe

Check out this awesome site!

www.exme.info

First post of 2012

I know I have not been updating my blog but I have been through a lot last year. There was a lot of stretching and growing for me which is painful... I think for the next few weeks the posts that you will read will be just a room for my thoughts, I'll post my thoughts publicly and not sugar coat on anything so if you would to join me in my journey of faith you're welcome to :)

For years I have dreamed of becoming a leader in the church, to do great things for God and extend his Kingdom. Last year the pastors in my church approached and asked me if I was willing to take the next step and be a leader.

I took the offer but little did I know I actually had second thoughts of becoming a leader in the church. I had a lot of flaws and saw myself as incapable of leading other people. I do not love people wholeheartedly, I really dislike doing administration and planning for the church or life group, comparing myself to other leaders I feel that I am so far behind. I feel like dropping everything and just go back to being a regular member serving in the church.

I don't know, the feeling is weird because I did not have this kind of feeling before I became a leader, I was more passionate, had plannings for the group/church and dreaming with God but now it seems that I just don't want anything to do with this even though I know the calling God has for me. I think it's lack of confidence and all the negative thoughts that just get in my head.

Those are just my ramblings but if anyone who knows anything about being in leadership or has anything experience please feel free to share, your comments will be greatly appreciated :)

Happy New Year 2012

Happy New Year to Everyone!! So what is your plan and resolution for this year? I know one thing for sure is to update this blog more often !