Angels among US. . . .

Those who fear the Lord direct their friendship aright, for as they are, so are their neighbours also. Sirach 6:17

As, we are heading towards a New Year, we always, tend to set aside the year gone by. Let us take time to remember all the goodness around us. Let us remember the good people, the People, who I know to be Angels.

The purpose of "Angels Among Us" is to share my interest in Angels with you...Angels are mentioned in the Bible many times...And, it is my belief that they truly are among us. ...Are you aware that you have been an Angel to someone?

The word angel has always been associated with supernatural heavenly beings. There is this wonderful dream, I once had, the one I love the most. I dreamt that I had wings, and not just those artificial wings, but wings that grew from within. And I still remember that feeling, something that felt so real.

People around us are angels among us. There are angels everywhere. There are angels where I am right now. There are angels wherever I go. There are angels among us! If you could hear my mind, this is what it would be saying.

Angels Comfort You

I remember the night before my brother’s accident, God reached out to me through my kind neighbour who I had not seen in a very long time. We met in the elevator, and she just gave me this huge hug. The girl, I never knew, on the way back home, advised me to never give up. This all happened at midnight. People, are sleepy at that time. So what is it that motivated them? The resounding answer, definitely is God. Now picture it this way, God knows the storm is coming, and He embraces me to prepare me for the worst, before that He actually advises me to GO ON, not to stop and never look back. It is the Almighty, reaching out through people. People I call Angels. And I am surrounded by them all the time. Do you hear that, there are angels among us.

Angels Guide You

I know all of us go through periods in our lives when we seek for guidance. Most especially during times when we need to make certain life changing decisions or needing to choose a certain path.

I believe, we are surrounded by angels all the time. There have been times, when I needed so much of a push. And there would be just that poem or article that would not only inspire me but would motivate me to go to another level. What was that? It was God breathing in my direction. God, guiding me, through another person.

To those persons, my unsung angels, I thank you. There are angels among us.

Angels Help You

Back when I was a kid, we had met with a severe car accident. Our car was standing in a topsy-turvey manner (upside down). Anyway, there were people, who stopped their vehicles and helped us. To me they will always be angels.

Another instance, I clearly remember, my cousin telling me of a person, who was wounded and lying on the side of the road. My cousin, was in a hurry, and he left. But later, he regretted his decision. He prayed to God, to give him a chance, so that he could be of help. And what can I say, God heard him. When returning home, he saw that man still there. My cousin, got down from the vehicle and took the man to the hospital, and paid for the medical supplies. Angels, they are always around.

Angels Inspire You

Often, we give up. Most often, we need to hear that words of encouragement that come about. I am grateful, to God, that if a condition has arisen, God has arisen for me, each and every time. Often, we neglect the people that come to us and give us sound advice. We think that we know better.

To each and every one I know, whenever you have given me advice, I have thanked you. And I still do. And the reason I thank you, is because you are my Angels. Now you know. I am surrounded by Angels.

And to you, all of you, you all are my friends, you are my Angels too, and you inspire me, more than you will ever know. I thank you, I love you and I thank God for you.

Angels Teach You

The last conversation, I had with my brother, is something I clearly remember. And part of me wishes, that I had been more attentive to listening to every-word he spoke. I never knew that would be the last conversation I would ever have with him.

What I learnt from that experience is, that no matter what, never let any worries keep you from listening to another person. Cherish each moment because it is a Gift from God.  My brother was my angel.

Angels Love You

I believe one of life's precious gifts is to be truly loved..

Maybe at times, you have been terrified. Maybe, you’ve broken down when you could no longer be brave and strong. Maybe at times, you’ve been stubborn.

But there will always be someone who chooses to stay. Always stay focused on the good, kind, and compassionate side of a person. Always accept enough support and encouragement.

I know I am loved for who I am. And in that warmth, I can allow myself to soar. I could hear God whispering softly, "You have met your angel today."

Angels are Reflections of God's Love

Yes, we all are. In the deepest core of our beings, we are that which is love. As I am coming to a close on this topic, there are so many memories that seem to rush in reminding me of the countless people, -angels among us really- who have come to comfort, to inspire, to guide, to help, to encourage, to lift me up, to make me laugh, to teach me, to love and so much more.

Yes, we are all angels, and we are flying because we have each other.

REMEMBER: The mirror always reflects. If you walk right by God, and if your walk is faithful, then most definitely you walk with angels. But hold on, I can’t be the judge on that, all I know is I have always been surrounded by angels and I know you are too.

CONCLUSION: At the beginning of the topic, I shared my dream, of being an angel. Being an angel, does not only imply that one has wings. But it means, that one behaves in a manner of being God’s helper, in the best applicable manner. When we stand by for anybody, we each represent God’s glory, thus becoming His angels. I say it again, we have Angels among us….. And to all of you, my wonderful angels, I wish you, 'A very Happy New Year.'

Born to be Free!

To watch, wild horses on the run, it’s truly a sight to behold. Everything, about them spells elegance. The stallions (horses) on the run-are wild and free. One look at them, and you wish for that kind of feeling of freedom. Did you know that horses can strut (dance), to the sound of music?

Each of us is called to live a life of excellence. We are made in the image of God. Jesus, came in this world to set us free.

For nothing is impossible with God.  Luke 1:37

This verse is the response of the angel Gabriel when asked by Mary, the mother of Jesus, how she was going to have a child since she was a virgin.

God is SO MUCH HIGHER than our problems and perceived impossibilities that NOTHING is impossible with Him. The first Christmas was a time when God proved to the world that He is a God for whom nothing is impossible.

Mary’s question got her an answer that forced her to focus on the greatness of Who God is … and the impossibilities that He can accomplish rather than depending on her own strength and wisdom.

So… how about you? …Are you facing a seemingly impossible situation?

Don’t give up on God–He hasn’t given up on you. NOTHING is impossible with God–NOTHING!!!  Sometimes He brings us to the end of ourselves so that we can fully rely on Him by seeing how limited we are and how unlimited He is…

God's timing has and will always be INCREDIBLE! HIS WAYS are above my ways! For all things work together for the good of them who love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD! NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR HIM and His grace is sufficient for us. He will never leave us nor forget us. Seasons change...and things pass. One thing is for sure, God is faithful and true to His promises even when at the time it seems He has forgotten us, nothing can hide us from His love. 

Always, love with all your heart. This year, I encourage you to discover the wonder of you. Look for ways to be a blessing. Let God use you this Christmas and every day of the year!

Scripture tells us that Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God and Prince of Peace. He is Emmanuel, which means "God with us." When we celebrate Jesus, we are celebrating everything that He is, everything that He's done, and everything that He will do in our lives! We can celebrate recovery from every bondage and stronghold that has ever come against us because victory is imminent!

Galatians 5 says that "it is for freedom that Christ has set us free." In other words, God has no hidden agenda. He loves you with an everlasting love, and He wants you to be free and enjoy your freedom. But in this same verse it says, "Do not let your-selves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." In other words, now that you are free, stay free! Don't let the trappings of this world grab you. Don't allow addictions, wrong mindsets or unhealthy behaviours hold you back. You are created to be free!

I love you with all the strength of God and want to see you move forward in victory in every area of your life!

Remember, He is a God of IMPOSSIBLES! May His peace and freedom be yours every day of the year!

REMEMBER:  God has created you in His own image and likeness. You are His masterpiece. There is no other YOU in the world. You are irreplaceable. We are the reason why He chose to come into this world.

Jesus, chose to be born in the stable, being the Son of God. He could have chosen, to be born in a mighty family. But Jesus, was already God, and being the powerhouse, He did not choose a palace, for that would be something that everybody would expect. But that wouldn’t be Jesus. Jesus, came into the world to mediate between us and His Father. And the best way to represent us, to us, is through the lowest rung of the ladder. That would be the common man, people who had the toughest lives.  Let us remember, that Jesus is the Son of God. He deserves all the glory. He came to this world, knowing that His birth meant to have to live and to die on behalf of all of us, so that we may be redeemed. He paid the price for our transgressions.

Conclusion: Never let anyone, treat you bad. Never be the one to treat others bad. Never let anyone condemn you, because God condemns no one. Jesus, came into this world with all the love in His heart, for us. This Christmas, let us welcome Him with all of our hearts. And remember, you are Born to be Free. Merry Christmas!

My Delight – My GOD.

Every, now and then, we come across books that make a lot of promises. But very few meet the expectations.  Most start with telling you of how you can be successful in life or have everything that you ever wanted. And ofcourse, it comes with a price tag. But in reality there is no magic portion.

The word of God is for everyone, who wants to hear, or read. God’s promises are for everyone. If you believe, and walk with God, then God will do the impossible for you. God does not make promises, that He does not intend to keep. The Bible, is God’s word come true. So, if you are thinking, then that’s a good thing.  But let your thoughts proceed. I encourage you to stick by God, because when you do, He will guide you and watch over you. He is a protective, God. He will make all your dreams come true. And it will be more than you ever expected. The very moment I saw the caption at St. Peter’s Church,

Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
I Knew I had to write on this article. Dont keep God waiting on you. Take the step and He will take ten for you. You are His world, and so I write...

To have true delight in God implies that we have no will of our own-only that the will of God should be done. It implies that the soul has come practically to regard God as infinitely wise and good and to feel the fullest satisfaction.

It is one thing to obey, and another thing to have delight in obedience. Where the true spirit of obedience exists, we shall find our delight and happiness of course in the service of God. Delight in God implies that we supremely seek and desire eternal union with Him, this is all we ask, and we could lack nothing essential to our happiness.

The promise implies that we shall have those things that our hearts desire. If we delight ourselves in the Lord we shall have all things on which we set our hearts.

When our supreme desire is on God, it is then both consistent with the will of God, and with the highest good of being to grant our desires.

Whosoever delights himself in the Lord can never desire anything inconsistent with the will of God. And while he delights himself in God, he is sure not to set his heart on any thing unless he is drawn to it by the Spirit of God.

God loves to communicate of His own fullness to those who set their hearts on him. He loves those that love Him. But He greatly enjoys the communication of Himself to those who delight themselves in Him.

The soul that delights itself in God, has no way or will of its own, and therefore cannot be disappointed. While it delights itself in God it is of course cheerful and and can rejoice evermore, and pray without ceasing, and in every thing give thanks. When the mind has God, it has enough.

If we are drawn to God, He will be drawn to us. It is impossible that He should not delight in the soul that delights in Him; impossible that He should not seek after the soul that seeks after Him. It would be the same thing as denying Himself, not to delight in those that delight in Him. Whenever a mind seeks union with God, God sets his heart on that soul.

Whenever we find ourselves strongly drawn to God, God is infinitely drawn towards us.

When, for any reason God withholds the light of His countenance, it is impossible for any soul, then, to be happy. David tried to cheer up his soul, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him." Where an individual has come to delight himself in God, and falls into this state of mind in which he mourns, his mourning will be very submissive and very peculiar. It is not rebellious, and yet it is not joyful.
The happiness which the soul, that delights itself in God, finds in Him, is so different from all other delights, it is like no other happiness in the world. The whole being is so satisfied in God.  

He that will be content with God, and will really be satisfied with God, may have as much of God as he will. And just in proportion we shall have delight in God.

REMEMBER: Start looking at every obstacle and problem you have as a wonderful opportunity to open communication with God. God can fix anything. God wants a personal relationship with you "FIRST".
Some times God allows the obstacles to come into our lives for the very purpose of drawing us closer to Him. The sooner you start seeking Him, the sooner He can repair your life.

Love changes Everything

My Friends,

Hi! It’s good to be back and we’re headed towards the most cheerful seasons of all, Christmas. It’s all about the memories, isn’t it? This is why we strive so hard to get it right. Christmas is not about getting it perfectly done as an advertisement would have it stated, or a movie that you’ve seen, but it’s about sharing all the love we have with one another. This God of love has sent His one and only Son, to give us a hope and a future. This season, marks the birth of Jesus, it’s also a birth of a promise that was made by God and was accomplished. We celebrate that promise. We celebrate Love, we celebrate all the HOPE and Joy and Peace. We celebrate God.

I wish you God’s love and all the good cheer. Happiness always!

                                  With all my love,

                                       AnitA.

Give thanks to the Lord. For HE is good: His love endures forever.  Psalm 107:1

It is hard to define love, in just a sentence. That would be no justice at all. I guess the best place to start would be in chapter I Corinthians 13.

“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always “me first,” doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trust God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. Love never dies...” I Corinthians 13:4-8

Take the first part of that verse, love never gives up. I ask God to enable me to never give up. He is the only one who can empower me to do so. Then I stand on His Word. Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

God loves us unconditionally. That means His love is without condition, His love is not according to us but according to Him. In 1 John 4:8 we know ‘God is love’ and that true love is only seen in us when we imitate God, by imitating Jesus. The Bible calls us to love:

The Bible calls us to love God completely. A man asked Jesus what was the most important rule for life. Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your whole mind. Matthew 22:37-38. Once we learn to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, there will be a greater intensity in our love toward others, even toward those who are very difficult to love. If we love only to be loved in return, we will often be disappointed. 

The Bible calls us to love even our enemies. In Matthew 5:44, Jesus said, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. It takes supernatural love to love those who choose to make our lives miserable.

Jesus presents a clear pattern for love. As the Father (God) has loved Me, so have I loved you. . . . Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:9-12. God's love flows through Jesus Christ, to us, and this love is the source of real joy in our lives. As we follow Jesus' teaching, we will have Jesus' love-a love that can flow through us toward others.

REMEMBER: Our love is not to be focussed on ourselves or on what makes us look good in the eyes of others. True love is love focussed on others. As we love others, we are immeasurably blessed ourselves. Remember:

• Love is unconditional – No give and take.
• Love is to eternity - Always and forever. No second thoughts.
• Love is sacrifice – where you focus on the good of the other. Less of me and more of you.

CONCLUSION: It may seem funny, how life just falls in place somehow. There are times that we struggle, with love. We as human beings, often try to change people we love. We want them to be what we think they need to be. Never once does it occur to us, it’s we that need to change. If and when we truly love, the change will occur. Love is not forceful. Love does not seek its way. Love, changes everything. Love is God, and God brings about the required change. We need to trust in God.

PRAYER: Father, my prayer to you, is let every heart that yearns for love find their way to you. This I ask in Jesus, name. Amen.

         

A letter to you!

My Friends,

Hi! Thank you for being here. I, will be on holidays from the 25th of November to the 3rd of December. I leave, with all the prayers for you and your families. 

You, are under God's Mighty watch and protection. God loves you and so do I. Remember, you are His most prized possession. You are made in His image and likeness. There is no other you in the world.

Be good, loving, loyal, faithful and kind to everyone. Be forgiving. I wish you God’s Peace and Happiness. And above all I wish you God’s Love. I wish you an Ephesians 320 ‘Now unto Him (God) that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.'

Love, will always, win.

With all my love,

AnitA. 

P.S: 'I can do all things through Christ who strenghthens me.' Philippians 4:13

Don’t Stop Believing. . .

I love fairytales, especially Cinderella. They always have that magical ending… And they lived happily ever after. To say, it’s not like any other fairy tale I know of. After all how many princes, on falling in love would take a glass slipper and roam through the whole town looking for the one person that they fell in love with. It was not easy, considering, that he had to go from door to door, be patient enough to give every one a fair chance irrespective of whether they were close in resemblance or not. And to top it all to be patient enough to keep believing that if not this house then the next. He never gave up, and he never bothered about people’s reactions. Even if it’s a fairytale I admire his courage, to keep pushing through, to keep believing.

Have you been praying about a situation in your life and wondering why the answer hasn't come yet?

Sometimes we pray long and hard and we wonder if or when God will send the answer. The question is not if we'll wait, but rather how long?

When our prayers appear to go unanswered, and God seems distant, we wonder if there’s any use in praying, at all. Let's look at the experience of the woman in the passage from the Bible. Matthew 15: 21-28

The woman pleaded with Jesus on behalf of her sick daughter. At first, Jesus gave her no response at all. Next, Jesus’s disciples pleaded with Him to give her what she wants. And then, after she had literally fallen on her knees and begged for help, Jesus quoted a popular saying which likened her people to dogs.

Jesus was intentionally testing her faith, and she passed the test. Others might have given up, and walked away in bitterness and disappointment. But not this woman! She continued to persist, her prayer was answered, and her daughter was healed.

Her witness demonstrates the importance of persistence in prayer. Persistence teaches us patience. Our persistence in prayer, shows to God that some need is close to our hearts, and not just a casual request. Sometimes God says “Yes!” Sometimes God says “No.” And sometimes God says “Not yet.” God’s delays are not God’s denials. As St. Teresa of Avila said, “God never gets tired of giving; so let us never get tired of asking.”

All of us need to wait expectantly. Our heart should be filled with hope, expecting the problem to be solved at any moment.  We need to wake up every morning with an expectation, that this could be our day. It’s just like when a woman is pregnant. She carries inside her the promise of life, a baby, and even though she can’t see it, she knows it's there. The moment she learns of her pregnancy, she begins to plan for her baby's arrival. She knows the promise will be fulfilled—it's just a matter of time.

When our hearts are eager to hear from God, He loves to rush in suddenly with His solution. In many cases this waiting period actually serves as a time of preparation for the answer. If God answered right away, many of us would be un-prepared to handle His solution.

We need to keep waiting on God and trusting Him with a simple faith. Then, in a way we never could've figured out—God moves suddenly!  Then All of a Sudden... In the Bible Paul and Silas knew about waiting, and they waited well. Acts 16 tells the story of how they were attacked by a crowd, beaten and thrown in prison. Acts 24 says the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and fastened their feet in with the locks. He was making sure they couldn't escape. But about midnight, God showed up. Now it would have been nice if He'd come a little earlier, but Paul and Silas didn’t seem to mind—they just decided to start singing and began to worship the Lord. They began to wait on God. God answered them suddenly!

Acts 16-25 say, "But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them, suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone's shackles were unfastened."

 

When people patiently and expectantly wait on God in the midst of horrible circumstances, suddenly God breaks through. So don't give up! Don’t stop believing! Stay full of hope and expectation. God’s timing was and will always be perfect.

It was just yesterday, that I spoke with my friend, and I was letting her know, how important it is to have a child like belief.

Do you remember, when you were a child, and you asked something, maybe a toy, from either of your parent? And you simply believed that it would be there. Did you ever think, or even want to know from where your parent got it from? All that mattered was that you asked and persisted on asking till you got what you wanted. You simply believed and God provided your parents with the means to getting it for you. That is the way, we need to be, simple, trusting and always believing. Let the child in you, show you the way.

Another example I have to mention here is of a little child, when told to jump by his father from a height, will immediately jump into his father’s arms, because he trusts, his father will hold him. We need to have that kind of belief that God knows best.

CONCLUSION: I would rather suggest that let the music play in your head..and let the title for that be . . . DONT STOP BELIEVING . . . And in that instant you are reminded that the prince, found Cinderella, and the glass slipper fitted on, perfectly. And Cinderella and the prince lived happily ever after. . . . .

Life is filled with magical moments, and it’s our belief that makes them special. When you believe in the wonders of God, and you look at it, as if you were a child then everything, you look at will seem magical. It’s  abracadabra . . . . but on God’s time.

REMEMBER: When you have walked with God through the furnace, there comes a moment when you are at the mountaintop, and you can feel victory all around. And like God told Joshua, to give a shout of praise to God. And on their shout of praise the walls of Jericho, came tumbling down and the people of God were victorious. This is my shout of praise to God. To God, be the Glory forever and ever. Amen.

GOD’s Unconditional LOVE

We had just completed our school hours for the third standard. It’s just the three of us in class, me, my friend and our class teacher. She asks her, as to why her mother did not choose to re-marry? ‘Love is only once,’ was what I heard her say. Though at that point in time, I did not understand, the significance of that sentence. But that day, changed everything in my life. For that moment, as I now recall, life would never be the same, ever. I will always, recall the impact the word, Love made in my life. With that moment marked in my life, to this day, I recall all of God’s wonderful ways: to You 'My Almighty God,' this is my love song to You, To Your Unconditional Love,  

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever.  Psalm 52:8

At the core of most every person is a longing to know that God loves them.  They want the assurance God loves them.  God put this desire in people, and God truly wants people to KNOW and BELIEVE He loves them. 

Do you know why you can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence?

Unconditional Love! God loves you unconditionally!

A relationship with God is like no other relationship you may have experienced. God has a unique and unconditional love. God loves you because He loves you. There is nothing you can do to cause God to love you any more than He already does—and there is nothing that will cause God to love you any less.

Have you ever experienced the awesome feeling of knowing you are loved unconditionally? I have come to realize how many people struggle with understanding the concept of unconditional love. A Danish proverb states: “The next mile is the only one a person really has to make.” The knowledge that God loves you will keep you going when the next mile seems intolerably long.

To speak of God’s unconditional love is to utter a wonderful fact about God’s nature. He loves because He chooses to love and for no other reason. His love is not dependent upon finding something in us that merits His love. His love is without conditions — it is unconditional.

The revelation of God’s unconditional love affects us, in the following way.

• Knowing and understanding God’s unconditional love, will have a tremendous effect on how we relate to the Lord in our daily lives.
• It affects how I relate to myself. It affects how I feel about myself and how I understand myself in light of my relationship with God.
• It greatly affects our relationships with one another in the Body of Christ.
• It affects our relationship to humanity, to those who are lost.
• It affects our relationship to His eternal purpose. God’s love toward us always has a goal in view, and that goal is absolutely related to His purpose being worked out in this universe.
• God’s unconditional love affects our relationship with God and with every human being, and with God’s eternal purpose. God wants to rest us in His unconditional love.

He loves us when we have no potential, no victory, when we have come to an end — when we are nothing but failure. Each time His love is revealed, it is revealed towards ones in a rebellious condition, a sinful condition — conditions that merit absolutely nothing, that deserve nothing but judgment. But all the while, God keeps coming and revealing His love in an unconditional way.

Let me say this, God’s love to you is still unconditional because you are the object of His love. It is eternal love based upon an eternal choice and can never be destroyed or eradicated.

This means that He meets you exactly where you are. The nature of His love does not require that you first come up to a certain level. But just as you are, the way you are, God will come down to you and stoop and feed you. Praise the Lord for this kind of love. This is the gentle nature of God’s unconditional love revealed to us in Hosea.

God’s unconditional love is a part of God’s very nature. Have you ever had compassion towards someone? You felt mercy towards them. You loved, you wept, you went out to them. It came right out of you, because it was what was in you.

This unconditional love of God was demonstrated to us through Christ’s death on the cross. Romans 5:8 says, “while we were [yet] sinners, Christ died for us.” Then in verse 7 Paul gives the illustration that someone might “dare to die” for a good man. But God did not die for a good man. It says, “while we were [yet] sinners, Christ died for us.” So this is a demonstration of the love of God.

Ephesians 5:25 says that Christ “loved the church and gave Himself [up for her].” We were failures, ungodly, sinful and rebellious. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” (Eph. 2:4-5). This is God’s unconditional love.

Do you realize that God’s love and the revelation of that love to you is not based upon any beauty or potential in you? It is just His nature, to love the objects of His love. He cannot help Himself. He cannot help but love us.

Let God, today woo your heart just to love Him. It is a matter of just enjoying the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, from which nothing can separate you. Let Him come down and meet you where you are. He does not expect you to even lift up your head. If you can only say, 'Oh Lord,' if that is all you can get out because that is just where you are, then that is where He loves you. He loves you right where you are, just as you are.

Conclusion: I hope for you all the love in the world, because it will go a long way toward understanding the deep love of our wonderful God. The truth is, however, that no matter what our experience is, we can never fathom the depth of God’s love for His children (Ephesians 3:19). God's love is so wonderful.

REMEMBER: The love of God is deeper than our level of comprehension. He loves us, not because of who we are, but because of who HE is! He is God! He is the Creator of the Universe. He made you and me in His image so that He could love us and we could love Him. He doesn’t just give us love; He is love.

God loves you unconditionally. You didn’t earn it and we don’t deserve it. His love is yours whether you accept it or not. You cannot stop His love based on your behavior.

………………G O D  L O V E S   Y O U !………………………and He always will!

Who in your life, besides God, helps you understand unconditional love? Keep God, first place.

Good Manners

Manners are the outward expression of a person’s inner character. In the Scripture we find the basis for common courtesy and manners.  We are to:

Show proper respect to everyone. 1 Peter 2:17
Excel in the grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7
Be kind and compassionate. Ephesians 4:32
Speak words, that build others up. Ephesians 4:29
Deny ourselves to follow Christ’s example. Luke 9:23-26
Honour parents and authorities. Ephesians 6:1-3, 5-8

How we act… through our manners and our behaviour—is a choice. Our words and actions can bring light and life to our family and to others—or they can bring darkness and despair. And we want to inspire our children to make the right choices—to bring life… not darkness.

Choose to have an “Attitude Of Gratitude.” By having a thankful heart for what we do have, it will help us to stop complaining about what we don’t have. Our thankful attitude will help us show our appreciation and respect for others.

Using proper manners, in our daily lives speaks well of us, and they can carry us far. The way we treat others and how we conduct ourselves, the manner of respect and common sense speak volumes to others about the kind of person we are. Using good manners is something that we all should strive to do. Using respect for others by showing common courtesy is one thing we all can do. Practicing good manners makes a world of difference in how others perceive us.

We should have respect for one another and treat others with dignity. We cannot expect it from others if we never show it to those around us.

Our speech reflects where our heart is as well.  “From out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  (Matthew 12:34)  Avoid critical language.  Lift up others.  Always have something uplifting to say.  “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all,” is an old adage and is still good advice for today. 

The wonderful thing about good manners is that they help us show God’s love to a hurting world that desperately needs to know and experience Him.

We need to use these phrases, in our daily lives and also some of the qualites that can change the world! The top 10.

• Be polite, and use the word, Please.
• Thank you!(whenever someone does something nice for you, and remember to thank the Almighty God, too.)
• You’re welcome,(a reciprocation to the thank you, and to also say that whenever you need help, count on me.)
• Show interest in a topic and do not interrupt. Be a good listener.
• Take turns to speak. Do not have a one way conversation.
• Be a good sport. Don't get aggressive.
• Be kind. Kind words build people up.
• Be punctual.
• Excuse Me and
• I’m Sorry, Will You Forgive Me?(it takes just two words to mend a broken heart, or to just heal the damage of the hour.)

Respectful Actions

• Honour your parents.
• Show respect to our fellow brethren.
• Acknowledge everybody you know and meet, because God ignores nobody.
• Treat all elders and our community members, irrespective of who they are, with respect.
• Refrain from using foul language. 
• Respect other people’s property.
• Good table manners help us have more meaningful conversations and build stronger relationships.
• Good telephone etiquette.
• Our writing should be done with respect and politeness. Be careful not to write a letter or email when you’re mad.
• Be hospitable to guests who come to your home. 
• Kindness and compassion to those who are less fortunate and to every one around.
• Be thankful for our families and live bringing honour to your family.

Jesus said: “If anyone would come after me, he must take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)  As we make good behavior and polite manners a habit, it becomes easier to deny ourselves.  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden light.”  (Matthew 11:28-30)

When we deny ourselves we practice self-control, which is also a part of good manners.  Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  (Galatians 5:22-23)  The Holy Spirit can work His fruits in us, if we just offer a yielded life to Him.  To have genuinely good manners all of the fruits of the Spirit need to be evident in our lives. How many people do you know today who are courteous and polite to everybody, even to those who are not polite back? Courtesy and manners show love to others.

REMEMBER: We can’t solve all of the world’s problems, but we can help a little here and a little there. It may go completely unnoticed, or it may have an impact in ways we do not realize: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house” (Matt. 5:14–15). Be a light unto others. Spread the sunshine.

Conclusion: A friendly smile, a caring look—God is pleased with that, and He will bless us for it even though others might resent it or not even notice it. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven”.

Jesus taught us the truth when He said, "Therefore all things whatsoever you would that man should do to you, do even unto them" (Matt. 7:12). In other words, manners matter.

I leave you with these words:

‘The Sun, never tells the Earth, you owe me. Look what happens with a LOVE like that. It lights up the entire Sky.’

DREAMS……………….

I know God’s given you dreams — He’s put them on your heart in a way you can’t deny. You may not have told anyone. You may have thought it was too big to happen. But I want you to realize that God hasn’t given up on those dreams and you don’t have to either.

Job 33:13-18 “But you [Job] are wrong, and I will show you why. For God is greater than any human being. So why are you bringing a charge against Him?
Why say He does not respond to people’s complaints?
For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds. He whispers in their ears and terrifies them with warnings. He makes them turn from doing wrong; He keeps them from pride. He protects them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death.”

People in Job’s time faced some of the same issues in the world. They did not recognize that God was speaking to them in their dreams. It is still true today. Our society has taught us that dreams have very little value in our daily lives; and most of our society has not been enlightened to the fact that God is still speaking through dreams. But, this scripture makes it clear that God speaks to all men, He keeps trying, again and again, but they do not recognize it.

Common Purposes for Dreams

In the Bible, God used dreams for various reasons. A few of them to consider are:

• There were times when God used a dream to give a warning. Matthew 2:12-The Lord appeared to the wise men here for the purpose of warning them not to return to Herod, but to go back home another way. In the very next verse Joseph is also warned of the Lord in a dream to flee into Egypt with the Baby Jesus.

• There were times when God used a dream to reveal prophecy. Joseph was a man subject to dreams and the interpretation of dreams. Genesis 37-Joseph dreamed a dream about his brethren bowing down to him. Joseph was promoted to the second in command under Pharaoh. For approximately 13 years he had nothing else but these dreams that told of the future. In the Book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams that have a tremendous amount of prophecy in them. There are other dreams in the Bible that would fall into this category as well.

• There were times when God used a dream to encourage, obedience to the Lord. In Judges 7-we find the Lord thinning out the army of Gideon before he goes to battle with the vast army of Midian. Gideon begins with 32,000 soldiers. In 7:3, we find that 22,000 went home because of fear and in 7:6, we find that 9,700 went home because of the way they drank water(as under the guidance of God). This left Gideon with an army of only 300 soldiers. In this same chapter the Lord instructed Gideon that if he was afraid he should go down unto the camp and then he would be strengthened. When Gideon arrived in the host, he heard a man telling a dream to another man. The interpretation of the dream just so happened to be that the army of Gideon was going to defeat the Midianites. Immediately upon hearing of this dream, Gideon was strengthened and he worshipped God. Surely the whole purpose for this man's dream was the encouragement of Gideon.

Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hebrews 6:12

God’s the one who placed those dreams and desires on the inside of you. It’s never too late for God, which means it’s never too late for you!

I have never heard of a single story, in the Bible or in our time, where God gave someone a dream and fulfilled it on the same day. Trust that He has you in the right place at the right time. Trust that He is working all things together for your good. Trust that new doors are opening. Choose faith and patience, and you will inherit His promises.

Here comes that dreamer! they said to each other.   Genesis 37:19

Not everyone was excited about hearing of Joseph’s dreams. When Joseph was falsely accused and thrown into prison, he kept on dreaming. His life didn’t take the route he had expected, but God was working behind the scenes realigning his steps until those dreams in his heart became reality.

No matter what anyone has said about you, those God-given dreams in your heart are still in the making. Your part is to keep believing, keep forgiving, keep following your heart, and stay obedient to His Word. Stay in faith, just like Joseph. God will take you places you've never imagined.

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.    Philippians 1:6

Learning to walk in the destiny God has for you is a process. The first step is to get a vision, a clear picture from God that you can see. The next step is to trust Him — to believe in faith that it will happen. And then finally, you take a step of faith and live out what God has promised no matter what your circumstances or people around you have to say.

In the scripture even the great men and women of the Bible had to overcome doubts, they struggled on their journey, but they held fast to what God said knowing that He is faithful to complete what He started in us!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Thank God, life doesn’t turn out the way we plan.  Trust God because He loves you with an everlasting love, and He doesn’t want to see you settling for anything less than His very best.

Be strong and be courageous. Lift up your eyes to Jesus. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Live boldly and dream boldly so you can embrace the good things He has in store for you!

REMEMBER: Friends, today, if you are having a hard time believing what God has promised will come to pass, understand that you are in a process. Keep declaring that He who promised is faithful! Keep the vision in front of you knowing that it is for an appointed time. Dream it and believe it because it won’t be long until you are living the blessed life God has prepared for you!

Prayer: Father, thank You for the dreams You’ve placed within me. Even when I can’t see it, I trust that You are working behind the scenes. Fill me with Your strength today; fill me with Your hope, and keep me close to You always as I put You first in everything I do in Jesus’ name. Amen.