I’ve come too far to stop now.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Psalm 30:5

Thomas Edison failed in his attempt to create a workable lightbulb 10,000 times before creating one that finally worked. In his words 'I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.'  

We all have dreams. It may take a while for us to accomplish those dreams.  So when the obstacles seem too great, don’t get discouraged. Success is always closer than you think. Just keep moving forward. This is what I keep reminding myself, 'I’ve come too far to stop now.'

Wake up with an attitude of expectancy. God wants us to be hopefully expectant. No matter how impossible, or hopeless a situation may look, your eyes should be fixed on God. Thing is from the human perspective, we don't see much happening. But know this, God is working behind the scenes. It’s not what people say, it’s what God says. Expect Victory!

Take your dreams and the promises God has put in your heart and every day declare that they will come to pass. Walk by faith.

The greatest difficulty always comes right before the realization of a dream. This could feel like the biggest battle, ever. But with the greatest of battles, comes the greatest of victories. Be strong and stay encouraged. Keep believing and know that God is faithful. 

Know that the enemy, will throw all obstacles on your path to stop you. He stops you not for who you are, but for who you will be. He knows that once you achieve the impossible, your greatest song of glory, will be to God. Don’t give up on a dream. If you find yourself stranded, know this that you have the Almighty breathing in your direction. Keep that dream alive. Everything happens in God's good time. And God always has a way to bring it to pass.

Remember: that it is always darkest before the dawn. Expect God’s favour, and you’ll see God do amazing things. Like I always say, 'I've come too far to stop now.'

YOU are my Sunshine. .. I LOVE You....

To,

My Reader,

Hi! This was a part of the New Years 2011 homily. It touched my heart. And I hope for you to read on.

Only Love will give you the strength to go on, the courage to fight the odds. Only love will see the light in the darkest of situations. Only love, will lead you home. Only LOVE….

I wish you a heart full of love,

                        Anita Almeida.

Like any good mother, when Karen found that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. Day after day, night after night, Michael sings to his sibling in Mommy's tummy.

The pregnancy progresses normally for Karen. Then the labor pains come. But complications arise during delivery. Hours, of labour. Finally, Michael's little sister is born. But she is in serious condition.  With siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushes the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee.

As the days inch by, the little girl gets worse. The pediatric specialist tells the parents, "There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst."

Karen and her husband contact a local cemetery about a burial plot. They have fixed up a special room in their home for the new baby, now they plan a funeral. Michael, begs his parents to let him see his sister, "I want to sing to her," he says.

Week two in intensive care. It looks as if a funeral will come before the week is over. Michael keeps nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care.

Karen makes up her mind. She will take Michael whether they like it or not. If he doesn't see his sister now, he may never see her alive.

She dresses him in an oversized scrub suit and marches him into ICU. He looks like a walking laundry basket, but the head nurse recognizes him as a child and bellows, "Get that kid out of here NOW! No children are allowed in ICU."

The mother rises up strong in Karen, the usually mild-mannered lady glares steel-eyed into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!"

Karen tows Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazes at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. And he begins to sing.

In the pure hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sings:

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,

you make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear, how much I love you,

Please don't take my sunshine away.

The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping.

I dreamed I held you in my arms.

When I awoke dear, I was mistaken.

So I hung my head and I cried.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

Please don't take my sunshine away.

Instantly the baby girl responds.

The pulse rate becomes calm and steady.

Live in God’s Word.

Jesus is called the Word.

God the Father wrote the Bible through the Holy Spirit. The Words of the Bible are full of life!

The Words of God promise salvation, eternal life, righteousness, redemption, deliverance, protection, prosperity, healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body. In order for us to take hold of the blessings of God and know His will for us, we need to read the Bible. In the Bible you will find Words that give you answers in ALL areas of your life.

God has a lot to say about the words you speak. You choose what you speak by what you feed yourself daily. Speak faith. Believe the Word. And follow God’s instructions for your life.

God even tells you what to choose! He tells you the right decision to make, but He allows you to make the choice! You’re walking in wisdom when you follow God.

ALL the answers concerning your life are covered in the Bible.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life! God says to give Him your cares, all of them, and He will take care of you. You’re not left on your own, never. God will never leave you or forsake you.

God’s Word is true—this is how He communicates His will to you—through the written and spoken Word. So when you know His Word is true and you act on it—you can have the confidence that you will receive what you asked for!

God is saying that you will make it through your valley of troubles. Don’t just give up! Take the Words of God and stand on these promises in faith. Standing on these promises will take you through, and give you peace, joy and contentment while you’re having the troubles!

If you believe God’s Word, then you will do what it says to do!

As you read the Bible, thank God for His Word. Take what it says personally, and act on it and you will begin to see God move in your life, as He ful-fills His Word through you.

The God of Impossibles.

With God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
Faith is a total surrendering of oneself into God’s care. My confidence is in my God, my God of impossibles.

Moses said to his people,Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. Exodus 14:13

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still. Exodus 14:14

The Lord was making Abraham a man of faith by leading him into an impossible situation. He believed in God against all hope and he obeyed. He knew, that God would deliver what God had promised.

Our faith is  not meant to get us out of a painful situation. But really, it is meant to reveal God’s faithfulness to us in the midst of our troubles. God does at times change our trying circumstances. But more often, He doesn’t. Because He wants to change us. Understand this, that when faced with a situation, God may not lift you out. Rather, He will let you grow in that situation. He will never abondon you. Not even for the tiniest fraction of a second. What, He will do however, is give you the grace required to make it through.

The situation is at times meant to break you up completely. And the Breaking, will be a completely new learning experience. What seems like eternity of pain, will eventually fade away. What will take over though is an incredible new you. The one that believes in God completely. The one that will not tremble or fear, but will stand in total obedience to God. When, He restores you, you will never be broken again. His grace, will sustain you.

Only in the midst of our crisis can we fully experience God’s power. This was the case with the three Hebrew young men. They saw Christ only when they were in the midst of the fiery furnace. And Daniel experienced God’s power and grace when he was thrust into the lions’ den. If they had suddenly been pulled out of their circumstances, they never would have known the full grace of God’s miracle-working power. And the Lord's mighty works would not have been known before the ungodly.

The greatest of miracles are witnessed not when God ends our trials. But the most important part of the miracle is when our faith is expressed. God will remain faithful to us through our hard times. If God makes a promise, He will deliver.  It may take a day, a week, a month, couple of months or a year. But God is always faithful. And I know, that I know, that I know, that I know…..

And the answer to the prayer will come. We need to have faith like Abraham and glorify God in the toughest times of our life. Because He who has promised is faithful.

PRAYER: Lord, look into my heart, you know what I feel. I trust, in you. And I know you will deliver. I wait on you, surrendering my heart to you completely. Your will be done.

With God all things are POSSIBLE! I serve a God of Impossibles.

IF you Aint got LOVE

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6

We live on God's green earth. There is a time for everthing, under Heaven. But do we understand and know the importance of that time. Let us therefore choose to walk by faith.  

Have you ever loved someone? And have you never had the hope that the both of you, would make it through? Well, ask any one in Love? And they will have the optimism that might baffle your senses. Love is like that. What would our lives be without Hope? Faith is the belief that, love will find a way, when there is none to be seen. 

Corinthians 13:13 states 'Of Faith, Hope and Love, Love is the greatest.'

Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians that only faith, hope and love will last into eternity. However, when love is the foundation for everything we do, it honours God.

To me love, is the only dream I have always known and cherished and chased. It is my dream of dreams. This is how I feel. 

You are answerable to yourself only. My question for you is, if you aint got love what good is…

All the wealth in the world?
All the finest of clothes and jewellery?
The Biggest of homes and the fanciest of cars?
Knowing the whos who?

Does having any or all of this really matter? In today's world, money matters. But really to what extent? And how far would you stretch yourself? Literaly speaking, when you leave this world, you wont take money with you. But what you will take is love, if you have build your life around it? Because, without love what have you? Having all the material things, mean nothing in the world. It just means you have all the materialistic comforts, in a materialistic world. 

You’re a truly blessed person, if you have got someone who loves you. Love is the greatest gift we can possess. If you have love, you have the world.

Love Is GOD……….

911-Gods Protection (updated 23/08/2011)

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

In todays world, there is a lot of uncertainity. And the only reason for this being is our lack of faith. While faith is what is required and what pleases God immensely. My question, here is why is it so hard to believe?

As kids, we used to wake up early on Saturday mornings. Me and my brother had to go to school. And my mum, had to report back to work. On the way, we heard a big thud. Before we knew the car fell off from the height and took 3 or 4 turns in the air, before, it landed upside down. We could see glass shattered everywhere. We all came out safe from the accident. The cops that came to our place for the accident reporting, said we were lucky. Because there had been many accidents on the same spot. And to come out unscatched was something that they declared as a miracle. I know it was. All said and done, God was always with us. I can speak of God's faithfulness forever.

Psalm 91 assures us of God's protection from all dangers. We are always under His mighty watch and there is nothing to fear. Nothing at all. Psalm 91 carries with it a tremendous promise for those who make God their dwelling place and who put their entire trust in Him. The blessings promised are for all who live in close fellowship with God.

The words we speak, in our times of trials, must indicate our supreme confidence and trust in God. We have to know that God is in control of every situation. The Almighty will shield you with His wings and shelter you. His promises become our whole armour of protection.

We live in troubled times. Everywhere, at some time or the other there is chaos. But, do not be afraid of any kind of dangers. Whichever disaster strikes, or however it may come, it will never effect you. You will however, notice that the wicked will not go unpunished. You will always, be under the watchful eye of God's angels and God will give them charge over you.

God will protect the people who trust in Him and rescue His loved ones. When we God's people call on Him, He will be with us in our troubles. He will rescue us and lift us high.

With long life I will satisfy them says the Lord and show them my salvation.

With an assurance as powerful as this, there is nothing to fear. God is my strength. He has and will always be my refuge and my rock. In you, my God I trust always.

The Fiery Furnace.

I Love reading the chapter on Daniel. It’s, page 1000 (the fiery furnace) on my Bible. And, it’s something that God so lovingly brings to my notice when things are the toughest, ‘1000’

In scripture, three Hebrew teenagers, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, were told to bow down to the king’s idol or they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. They refused to bow down, to the king. The furnace was heated seven times more than customary. The King ordered some of the strongest guards to bind and throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. The raging flames killed the men who lifted them.

The three young men walked around in the midst of the flames, singing praises to the Lord.

Their attitude was one of supreme confidence. They weren’t complaining. They were at peace. They knew God Almighty had His hand upon them. They faced a big problem. But, they knew that they served a Mighty God. No problem, too big for God. So, even though the furnace was seven times, more. They, knew that God was bigger than that.

The guards threw them into the furnace of fire, they came out without even the smell of smoke on them!

When, God places you in a situation, He provides you, with all that is necessary, to come out a victor. He does not doubt your ability to make it through. He, knows, you will. And He knows you will come out ten times stronger, than when you went in.

Know that God is with you. He’s doing a work in you, and He’s displaying His glory through you. And know that God is not amazed at your potentials, or what you can achieve? He, has given you all the required skills. What moves Him, is your faith. Do, you Believe in Him? And would you walk with FAITH through the Fire?

I BELIEVE!

    

Do not be AFRAID…

Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today...the LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:13–14

The Israelites came out of slavery and were heading toward the Promised Land, when Pharaoh changed his mind about letting them go and came chasing after them. They were at a dead end at the Red Sea. Instead of staying in faith and focusing on the fact that God had delivered them before, the Israelites got fearful and started complaining. And yet, the Lord was faithful to His Word and delivered them again.

Get out of the negative feelings that hold you back. Be in complete obedience to God. Keep God, first place. Believe.

Know that we serve a victorious God. What my words say to God is you are in control. What pleases God is faith.

Know that God will fight your battles. All you have to do is stay calm today because God is going to deliver you and lead you into your promise land! The Lord is faithful to His Promises. To me, He is Jehovah Roi (The Lord is my Shepherd)

GOD is For You….

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?  Romans 8:31       

When God is with you and for you, no person, no situation, no circumstance can keep you from the blessings of God. You will never be alone. Nothing, in this life can ever win against you. Because, God is on your side.

I have carved you in the palm of my hand. Isaiah 49:16

Don’t dwell on your short comings. Know that you serve an all knowing, all wonderful, magnificent, faithful and compassionate God. Know that you are always in the palm of His hand. 

This simply means, that you are always under His mighty watch. And you are safe. The following verse from the Bible is one of my favourites. It means, Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strenthen you and help you. I will raise you high.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10

To the Holy Father, Holy Son (Jesus Christ) and to the Holy Spirit, all Praise and Glory forever and ever. Amen.