And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

In the last blog post “Keep at it” we talked about stick-ability and endurance. No matter how the going gets tough you need to endure. Why? As long as you are acting in line with God’s word, everything will work together for your good.

Many times we give up at the first site of a roadblock during our quest for success. The bank refuses your start-up loan application and all of a sudden you feel maybe it wasn’t that good a business idea anyway then you give up. You toss that business plan in the nearest bin and someone passing by picks it up and sees an opportunity, approaches a few people and implements your business idea. A few years down the line the business has grown and this person is receiving awards for it. Had you not given up you would have been the genius here.

Some of these challenges we face in our daily walk are just to test our patience. Remember successful people are the ones who make a decision to pursue a certain course and see it through. Romans 5:3-5 explains it well: “…knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed…” When you put your trust in God as you patiently endure hardship, He will surely come through for you. Be like David when he said, “Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.” (Psalms 27:3) He knew who His God was.

The Loan application refusal might sound like a trivial matter to most. You might be thinking, “I have a bigger problem, I am the bread winner but I just lost my job,” or maybe “I do not have enough money for my final year of university” or “my marriage is on the rocks”. Well I have news for you. The bible in 2 Corinthians 4:17 assures you that these challenges are for a moment. They are actually getting you ready for a greater glory that lies ahead.

In conclusion, though we often suffer, we are never crushed. Even when we do not know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again. Ref 2Corinthains 4:8. Do not give up.

Stay blessed

"And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples,which are not written in this book." John 20: 30

The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are filled with various extra-ordinary things Jesus did during his walk on earth. The Bible makes it clear that these are not the only miracles Jesus performed,for, "...if they should be written everyone, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." John 21:25

However,these miracles were written so that by believing,we may have life through Jesus. Ref John 20:31. Also remember, Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 11:8) therefore miracles can still take place today.

Do you need a miracle? Get to God's Word, as you read about what Jesus did, your faith is stirred making it a conducive environment for your miracle to take place. Always remember the Words of the Master to the woman with the issue of blood (Matthew 9:22) or the blind beggar( Luke 18:42) or one of the ten lepers (Luke17:19) : THY FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE!

Stay blessed

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

Product design is a process concerned with efficient and effective generation and development of ideas through a process that leads to new products. Every new product is made according to certain specifications and its use is designed to achieve certain objectives. In other words, a product is made with its purpose in mind e.g. A Cell phone for mobile communication, Mascara for extending eyelashes, YouTube for uploading short videos etc. In addition, a product is made with its capacity to perform ( e.g. the Mascara should be able to extend the length of one’s eyelashes ) and may have to operate within certain limiting factors(e.g. YouTube’s maximum video length is only 15minutes).

The best person to tell you about a product is its creator, (S)he knows more about its capabilities, limiting factors and purpose more than anyone. Even more, they are the best to solve any malfunction of the product. And to make it even easier, they develop manuals which show how the product should be used as well as what to do in the event troubleshooting occurs.

Ok so what am I getting at? Is this a free tutorial of product engineering? No, not at all! The above is actually an illustration of our life situation. Really!!?? Yes, really! WE are the product, God is the creator and The Bible is the Manual!

So in essence we have been created for a purpose, with certain capabilities, though no limiting factors exist as I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.( ref Philippians 4:13) . Have you ever asked yourself why you are here today? Why did God create you and put you in this place? What can you do? What are your limiting factors? Turn to the Creator and the Manual for answers. Are you troubleshooting (sick, broke, depressed etc.) also refer to the Manual and find ways to rectify the problems.

I cannot emphasise it enough, learn to study God’s  Word and continually ponder on it as it ensures a high product success rate as stated in Joshua 1:8 , “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Stay Blessed

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11

A certain Preacher gave the members of his congregation a mandate to go and read John 23:1-14 in preparation for the next service. At the beginning of the next service he asked how many had performed the mandate. Almost everyone raised their hands and those that didn’t shyly confessed that they didn’t get the opportunity to read it because of other pressing commitments. The Preacher went on to ask everyone to close their Bible and listen to his sermon based on John 23. He read from His “Bible” about the story of how “Zedekiah was put in a lion’s den and how Jesus came to save Him.” During the teaching everyone was jumping up and down, shouting Hallelujah!!! Yes the Preacher was preaching good that day! As he was concluding his sermon, the Preacher asked everyone to open their Bibles and read with him John23:14 and to their amazement the book of John ends on chapter 21! I can imagine the looks on their faces!

The Bible is our Life Manual. It contains solutions for any problem or challenge we can face in our daily walk on earth. That’s why it is important for us to read it constantly. Find out what it says about your health, your prosperity and your entire life. After all, it is our true reflection, our mirror as eluded to in the Amplified Version of 2Corithians 3:18, “And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of God, are constantly being transfigured into His {very own} image in ever increasing splendour {and} from one degree of glory to another…” The more you read the Word of God, the more you become what it says! For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God! (Ref Romans10:17)

Make up your mind to read the Bible more often, not just speed reading like a novel but study to understand. Maybe you find it difficult to read the Bible by yourself; you don’t even know where to begin! http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans/all has many Bible reading plans to choose from. Lastly, always remember, “Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they’re bursting with health” Proverbs 4:22 (MSG)

Stay Blessed