As we seek to prepare for the dawning of Vision 2010, many resolve to create resolutions and to see these resolutions throughout the year. I am one to also admit that I also have begun my "TO DO LIST" for 2010 but my desire is to begin and end successfully. I read a very beneficial article today courtesy Real Simple Magazine (Jan 2010 issue). It highlights the nine secrets of highly motivated people. I have done the honors of posting the abridged version.

9 Secrets of Highly Motivated People

1. When you make plans, anticipate bumps
2. Channel the little engine that could
3. Don't let your goals run wild, but work on then every day
4. Go public with it
5. Lean on a support crew when you're struggling or need motivation
6. Make yourself a priority
7. Challenge yourself and change things up
8. Keep on Learning
9. Remember the deeper meaning and the real reason you begun your quest.

Remember ALL Goals must be S.M.A.R.T.
S- Specific
M- Measurable
A- Attainable
R- Realistic
T- Time-bound

http://www.realsimple.com/magazine-more/inside-magazine/table-contents-more/january-2010-00000000026689/index.html

So God stopped time for thirty-three years
And he pitched a tent of flesh
Which he unfolded one night
And enfolded the next

And that moment in which God tread time
Lasting from the darkness to the darkness
From the sunrise to the sunrise
Was called Jesus Christ

In great pain Mary labored over God
And suddenly in merciful agony
A man burst forth from the courtroom
Into the yard filled with a vicious mob

And the mother knelt down
To wrap the baby in swaddling clothes
And they ripped them from His body
And kneeling down gambled them away

And because there was no room in the inn
She gently laid Him
On the wooden beams of a cross
Where they nailed His reaching hands

And the animals heard the baby
And they drew close hoping to be fed
And they bleated and bawled
Crucify him, crucify him!

And the shepherds on the hillside
Came to see this thing
Which they thought would soon past
And asked, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

And the wise men came to see Jesus
One brought spices, another perfumes
And a third removed his golden crown
And jammed its thorns into His brow

And in that dark Judean night
The newborn baby cried out
Wanting protection from the cold wind
My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
And as the star stopped over the manager
There was a darkness over the whole land
And just before the baby fell asleep
He softly cried It is FINISHED

And in that moment of ghastly glory
When Mary lay exhausted with an empty tomb
He said, “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.”
And in the next moment he redeemed the time.

By Lee Magness

You may have been battered, bruised, torn, subjected to insult, but God has still been faithful. You may have had plenty but now your need is great, but God still is faithful. You may be persecuted and dragged through the mud, but God is faithful. Faithful is our God. In sickness and in health, in abundance and in need, through the advent of life or the sweep of death, God is Faithful. You must know this... God is Faithful!

Webster's definition

The purpose for your being becomes the world's inheritance! Please do not abort it. Abortion is when we fail to take responsibility for the potential that is birthed inside of us. We neglect to accept and implement its purpose. When this happens, there is self destruction. Do not die with your purpose still in the raw potential stage because no one benefits.

God's impartial love


The love of God is best personified in the kinship between two people whose oife stories are the total opposite, but thrives against all odds. "Your limitation is God's opportunity." ~ Denver Moore, coauthor of Same Kind as different As me.

http://www.samekindofdifferentasme.com

Do we desire to be more like Jesus or do we really want Jesus to be more like us? Paul describes us as being living epistles that should be read by all men in 2 Cor. 3 but this gives us greater responsibility. We should ensure that our walk is as circumspect as God wills and not drag Jesus into our mess but allow Him to clean it up. We need a real life personal relationship with our Savior & Lord where nothing can separate us from His love. Not just vow to talk about him, but talk to him daily.

In all that you do, day in and day out, please ensure that your labor is never in vain. Remember your life's work will become the world's inheritance. Work hard and work smart but most importantly work with a purpose.

Today has been an eventful day to say the least. I taught Sunday school, went to service, ate an egg salad sandwich and Bob's famous brownies at a make shift picnic @ church, went to the 10k Labor Day weekend festival, got diagnosed with a misaligned neck, walked through Cumberland Mall, helped Wesley find some tennis shoes at DSW, had dinner with one of my past 2nd graders and her mother, played the games: Jenga and Life respectively, Lost to Wesley as is usual and now we return home with our stomachs filled and heart overflowing in joy. You, Oh God, have been so good to us. It is always a blessing on Sunday.

    All is needed is but a few words for I am always overwhelmed when thinking about God's grace. I have no clue where I will be right now if it was not for the grace of God. His love and mercy have kept me through every challenge, storm, and opportunity. Let us take time to reflect on His grace. Thank him for it!!!

Romans 5:14-16
"Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins."

When night has come and the bones are weary,
The body aches as the days are dreary.
Yet through it all, I am forced to wonder
Is it just for sleep or a blissful ponder .

But through the day where sleep is shy,
I must admit, I can't deny
This one aches for relaxation
A peace of knowing there is a heaven.

With refreshment and redemption
A chance to review
All that has happened and the things I knew

When time is taken to be restored
The precious time with my Majestic Lord
When all that seems timely
Fades as a whimper and what I seek
I can't remember

Yet all I hear in just a whisper,
The shepherd speaks as He draws me nearer,

He says, "Just Rest!"

Many of us boast to being highly driven person in pursuit of a purpose and life calling.  This in itself is not a bad thing. It, however, becomes detrimental when you are blind-sided by the drive to complete an assignment that you fail to realize that you were never chosen nor equipped for the task. You fight and press to ensure the pieces fit into a mold you thought was perfect when the truth of the matter is: you weren't the one called for this particular project.

The Driven work hard.
The Called work smart.

The Driven see power in possessions.
The Called see power in purpose.

The Driven are burdened by the busyness of business.
The Called banished all busyness that will bring a burden to their business.

The Driven desire a powerful life.
The Called desire the most rewarding life.

The Driven seek to maximize their resource.
The Called seek instruction from the Source.

The Driven complain about clutter, happenstance, and hurriedness.
The Called commend those for their commitment, honesty, and handwork.

The Driven, famished, retorts,  "There is never enough hours in a day to complete this task!"
The Called, fulfilled,  responds, "What a day to complete this task!"

The Driven comments: - Today is a gift that is why we call it the present.
The Called replies: - Today in His presence surpasses even the present.

The Driven end their day in a busy, endless pursuit focused on seeking dead things.
The Called begin their day in a calm, calculated pursuit focused on seeking the Living One.

Driven or Called: Choose One!

Recommendation: Ordering Your Private World by Gordon Macdonald
http://www.amazon.com/Ordering-Private-World-Gordon-MacDonald/dp/0785288643

To this day, it is still a wonder when thinking about the power packed name of Jesus. Is at this name, all knees will bow and tongues confess that He is Lord. We are encouraged to glorify this name through our worship. My question is this.... How can we truly worship Jesus without an intimate relationship? You can call me by my name as much as you want but I may never respond, especially if I do not know you. Let us make every effort to connect with our Savior daily as He reveals to us the power in His name.

It is evident that death is a norm in livelihood yet we are slow to accept this fate. It will be correct to presume that one is much more effective in life than in death, yet  we must not discount this state because for many there is gain. There is a peace that surpasses all understanding for those that have ventured to be with Christ in mind, body, and spirit. This is an enrapture in which the natural mind does not comprehend.

There is also a state where those who live in anguish and beguile, lust for death. It is to you, I speak today. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that Death and Life is embedded in the power of the tongue. Jesus, the manifested Word of God in the flesh, profoundly illustrated the potency of his utterances.

It is with the very Word of God that you should speak like into every dead and dry area in your life. Every parched morsel, every barren womb, and all futile ventures must submit to the spoken word of the ONE who has spoken and it came to past. For it is under God's authority, it lives, moves, and has beginning. God's purpose WILL prevail in your life. I beseech you to SPEAK LIFE!!!

I Speak Life by Donald Lawrence 

Today, I celebrate with my fellow Trinbagonians as we celebrate 47 years of Independence from Great Britain. This is a great accomplishment as a small nation and no small feat at that. To be trusted with such power and responsibility for over 1.4 million people, is an honor yet I compare this with our lives as Christians.

I really do believe that if Christ had to choose a mode of Government, it will be a variance of Communism, Democracy, and Socialism. His goal will be to achieve total dependence on the Creator and interdependence among creation. We will surrender our very essence to God and have Him use us in the most creative way that brings Him the most glory. As we serve God with our all, we also serve His people. We must understand that loving God requires loving His people. This is a commandment, a commitment, and a choice.

One thing is constant and that is change, but what we fear the most is not change but loss. We grief for what we think is most dear to us and makes us most comfortable. We must however understand that being a disciple of Christ, one must experience loss. Paul admits after exchanging all worldly acclaim as a devout Jew to becoming a measly apostle of Christ that " whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ." We have been chosen for this.... do not let this loss constrict you from the greater calling you have been wired to accomplish.

Know this:

Where there is change, people notice

Matthew 5:13-16


"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 1In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Where this is change, your challenge then becomes your opportunity

Acts 1:3-7

3After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. 4As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. 5John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon."

6When they were together for the last time they asked, "Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?"
7He told them, "You don't get to know the time. Timing is the Father's business. 8What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world."

Where there is change, your character is built and commitment is redefined

Philippians 3:10-17

10I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. 11If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.
Focused on the Goal
12I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. 13Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward--to Jesus. 14I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

15So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision--you'll see it yet! 16Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
17Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal.




My peeps, ponder on this... Change never comes easy, but the rewards are definitely worth it!

Born into His Will!

There is no safer place to be than in the will of God. There may be tumultuous times and the sun may seem like it will never shine on your situation but know that the SUN of righteousness still reigns on high in all HIS glory. This is the story of my life. Please stay tuned with me as we begin with the PREFACE in days to come. Know that our Providential God was there from the beginning and knew my epilogue even though it has not been written. There are many things, I will love for you to know much as we journey together revealing the awe of our OMNISCIENT God.

Precept No#1 God's will transcends barriers, cultures, space, time, countries, water and our limited thinking. Let's ponder this together. Fell free to leave your comments!

Isaiah 55:8-11 (The Message)

8-11"I don't think the way you think.
The way you work isn't the way I work."
God's Decree.
"For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
and don't go back until they've watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
not come back empty-handed.
They'll do the work I sent them to do,
they'll complete the assignment I gave them.


Psalm 139 (The Message)

Psalm 139: 1-22

A David Psalm

1-6 God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.
I'm an open book to you;
even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
I'm never out of your sight.
You know everything I'm going to say
before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you're there,
then up ahead and you're there, too—
your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
I can't take it all in!

7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you're there!
If I go underground, you're there!
If I flew on morning's wings
to the far western horizon,
You'd find me in a minute—
you're already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
At night I'm immersed in the light!"
It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you;
night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you.

13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother's womb.
I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I'd even lived one day.

17-22 Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful!
God, I'll never comprehend them!
I couldn't even begin to count them—
any more than I could count the sand of the sea.