The Divine Positioning

Esther was an orphan who was adopted by her Uncle, Mordecai. There was a conspiracy by Haman, one of the Prominent and influential princes under the reign of king Ahasuerus, to wipe out all the Jews, because Mordecai would not bow down to him (Esther 3:6).

Haman was going to succeed in the plot because he already got an approval from the King to carry out his wicked act (Esther 3:9-11).

The only lifeline that was available for the Jews to escape from the plot of Haman was for Esther to risk her life, by volunteering to appear before the king, contrary to the law of the land, all in a bid to save her people from destruction.

Esther 4:15 “Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
VS 16 Go gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish I perish” (KJV)

Lessons:
The Lord must have positioned Esther in the palace for the purpose of delivering His people from the hands of their enemies (Haman in this case). Queen Esther was willing to lay down her life as she knew the consequences of appearing before the king without an invitation, yet, she took the risk.

How much sacrifice have we made or can we make for the salvation of the souls of our parents, siblings, friends and neighbours?
Even though Esther was an Orphan, she realised there was something she could offer, and that is to stand the gap on behalf of her people.

Esther, though a Queen, was humble enough to listen to the counsel of her Uncle, Mordecai.
How many times have we despised the counsel of our parents or guardian because they are not as educated as we are? Do you look down on your husband because you earn more than him or you have a higher educational degree than he does?

The bible says:
Pr 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall”.

So many have lost their marriages and some their honour before their husband, on account of Pride.
Can God depend on you to deliver your family from destruction? How about your co-worker that does not have a relationship with Christ?

What are the limitations around you?
Is the devil telling you it is not possible?
Have you told yourself you cannot do it?

All these are lies of the enemy to keep you under. Overcome your fears and take the bold step that God has been longing for you to take today.

You are created to affect your generation positively, you have no business been on the floor feeling defeated and looking for pity party. God has deposited so much in you to fulfill destiny, not even the devil can contend with that, arise sisters because you can!

 

How To Control Your Anger

There’s one issue that doesn’t get much air time, but every man struggles with to varying degrees. And, every many probably deals with it differently. Once it’s unleashed, chaos reigns. The enemy has fire to fuel, and he applies liberally. Relationships get torn while sin is born.

Anger.

Some men rage, others suppress. Some shout, others pout. Some get aggressive, others passive aggressive. Some men throw a fit; others get physically fit. Some men ignore it; others embrace it. But one thing is for sure, if you don’t control anger, anger will control you. It’s madness on the march, trampling anything in its path.

We would all agree that getting angry rarely solves anything. But Jesus explains the seriousness of it in Matthew 5:21. From the Message translation, check this out:

“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder.

Anger Fact: it seldom exists at the level at which you finally express or see it. It’s deeper. God knows this and He revealed where anger is birthed—in the heart and mind.

In Genesis 4:3-12, the Bible gives a case study on anger and its consequences. God was not pleased with Cain’s offering and it ticked Cain off. Why? Because Cain’s offering did not come from the heart, he was just going through the motions. Cain wasn’t mad at God. He was mad at himself and jealous of his brother. Instead of taking his problem to God and being honest with himself, he loosed his anger and committed murder.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it” (Gen. 4:6-7).

In this passage, God says don’t let anger master you. Do the right thing. If you don’t—and here’s the BIG WARNING—Satan capitalizes on the opportunity. It’s much easier to lie to an angry man (and get him to do something he’ll regret) than a man who has his emotions under control.

God says to Cain and to every man who will listen: “You must master your emotions.” Easier said than done! But the key is getting right with God.

To get a grip on anger, first recognize there are, and will always be a stimulus, a trigger and fuse. Then, there’s a reaction; that’s the jumping off point, followed by a consequence.

Fortunately, the Bible gives the math for dealing with anger: Quick + Slow + Slow

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen,slow to speak and slow to become angry.” -- James 1:19

How to Diffuse Emotional Bombs

Conflict is inevitable; destruction is optional. You’re not going to stop triggers that fuse bombs, but you don’t have to light them. The goal is to stop reacting, start responding. When you feel the fire burning and the pot is about to boil over, follow these steps:

1.  Press “PAUSE.” Don’t escalate or retaliate. Fight for a pause. Agree to take a few minutes before responding. If you don’t, the problem will get magnified. So between the stimulus and your response, distract yourself. Take out the trash. Do the dishes. Take a deep breath. In fact, take 10 of them. Count to 10 slowly. Settle down. When madness is on the march, you can slow that train down if you deal with it early, honestly and humbly.

2.  Talk and Walk. Just pray and say James 1:19. Saying scripture is praying. Ask God for help, being honest with your feelings of frustration and weakness. Confession is a sign of strength! Walk in the Spirit, by inviting the Holy Spirit for wisdom and to guide your steps in the coming conversation. Think of God as your heavenly father who is eager to give His advice, and send help. You have to fight fire with fire, and the Holy Spirit is a holy fire.

3.  Turn and Take. Turn inward and take ownership of your part in the conflict. Understand God’s desire in moments of disagreement. His desire is for us to seek and own the truth about ourselves. Are you willing to look at you, unlike Cain? What’s your part? When we own it, we diffuse it. The quickest way to douse the flame is to take responsibility for yourself and your own actions.

4.  Discover the Driver. In the process, between stimulus and response, you will discover something—the problem doesn’t exist at the level you see it. It’s just coming out as anger. The real issue, the deep-down driver is probably related to pride. If you can put a lid on your pride, honestly ask God for His presence, and humbly submit to His Spirit then you will find a desire to please God, not yourself. Remember to operate from a place filled with grace and truth. Then you can speak and respond to the situation.

5.  Resolve to Resolve. Now you’re ready. But your intent must be to seek understanding, not squash it. Be quick to listen, not speak. Seek to please God instead of winning the fight. Resolve to resolve. Making peace may be easier than you think, and that’s what will please God.

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Eph. 4:25-27).

God has a purpose in disagreement—to discover the real truth driving the emotion. Things, circumstances and other people may trigger anger, but they are not driving it..

By Kenny Luck

THE CHALLENGE

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Philippians 1:12

As children of God, we all face trials from time to time. These trials come not to destroy us but to challenge and build our faith.

When we face our trials with the strength of the Lord, and with the assurance that they will ultimately turn out for our good, we will always triumph over them.

In 2 Corinthians 1:8, we read that the trials the Apostle Paul faced were so horrendous that he sometimes desired to depart this life and be with the Lord.

But Paul learned to live above his circumstances, and overcame all his challenges. And you too can do the same.

Here are 3 lessons we can learn from him:

• Focus on God and not the problem. As you deal with life's trials keep the eyes of your heart focused on Jesus Christ.

He has the sovereign ability to handle whatever you are facing. When you relinquish control to God, He is free to work in a miraculous way.

• Focus on the will of God and not on the opinions of men. Seeking the counsel of others always is a wise idea, and the Bible supports this.

However, be sure what your friends tell you align with God's Word, which is your ultimate authority. Also make sure that you spend time alone with God in prayer.

• Focus on positive results and not personal pain. No one enjoys hardship.

However, when trials come ask the Lord, to show you what He wants you to learn from the situation, and how you can apply those lessons to your life.

Paul lived above his circumstances because his focus was set on the Saviour and not on the trial. As a result, he gained a tremendous victory.

Prayer: Father, give me the strength to focus on Jesus so that I may live above the difficulties and challenges of life.

Scriptural Reading: Philippians 1:12-14

Try these: Much Better Than Nutter Butters

You’ll go nuts for these scrumptious treats, made with almond butter and toasted almonds for an update on the beloved peanut-butter sandwich cookie. The make-ahead icebox dough is cut into thin rounds that are perfect for pairing and filling.

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup creamy natural almond butter, stirred
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup sliced almonds, toasted and finely chopped
16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preparations

1. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Beat butter with an electric mixer on medium-high speed 1 minute. Add almond butter; beat until smooth. Beat in brown sugar, then egg, until well mixed. Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour mixture until just combined. Stir in almonds.

2. Form dough into an 11-inch-long log, 1 3/4 inches in diameter. Wrap in parchment and freeze until firm, about 1 hour (or up to 3 months).

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a chef’s knife, slice log into scant 1/4-inch-thick rounds, using one quick motion for each slice. Arrange rounds 1 1/2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets, pressing back into shape.

4. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until cookies are light golden on edges, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks. Cookies can be stored, covered, up to 5 days.

5. Beat cream cheese, honey, and vanilla with mixer on medium speed until combined. Spread 1 tablespoon each on bottoms of half of the cookies, then sandwich with remaining cookies, pressing gently to spread filling to edges. Filled cookies are best the same day.

Source:yahoo.com

Appropriating The Kingdom

TEXT: MATTHEW 11:1-15

Key verse: “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11:11).

Making heaven at last after leaving this sinful world is not the exclusive preserve of a few people. The kingdom of heaven is for as many as would believe the gospel and take it seriously.

In our text, Jesus Christ knew the impact the teaching and preaching of the gospel would have on the lives of the people, and therefore devoted much of His public ministry to it. Before this time, John the Baptist really prepared the hearts of the people for the coming of the Lord by preaching repentance from sin. Many of the publicly recognised sinners had believed John, while the Scribes and Pharisees rejected the message of life that could have given them eternal life. Though Christ praised John and his exploits, yet He (Christ) emphasised that he that would be born again through the scriptures, shall have a better heritage than John in God’s kingdom - yet as by violence. Christ was saying in essence that to be born again and continuing, as a believer requires a great measure of seriousness and determination.

For one to profess that he believes the gospel without seriously laying aside every weight, and the sin which does easily besets him, is an indication that such an individual has not determined to make heaven. One needs to be violent against sin and be seriously committed to holy living. Being religious like the Scribes and Pharisees without truly accepting Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Saviour, makes the idea of getting to heaven like building one’s castle in the air.

As you make up your mind today to surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ and maintain a closer walk with Him, remember that you are entering into a lifelong journey of obedience, trust and courage. It takes these to ward off the string of intimidating obstacles, which the devil will want to put on our way to deny us of the eventual laurel. And it is only those who endure till the end that will be saved.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Nothing is impossible for the willing heart.

What do you do when people hurt you after you've helped them?

“Why am I doing this anyway?” I muttered under my breath while moving about my day. I was irritated. Not just a little, but a lot. Some days in ministry, serving other people is not really appealing. I have days like that less often now, but every now and then, I find myself asking this question again.

On the surface, it’s a sarcastic question. But as I pondered it, I realized the power of this flippant question. In this case, other ministry people had disappointed me. Their action scraped an old wound of mistrust that I have struggled to keep cleansed and submitted to the Lord.

People hurt us in ministry, even other ministry people. I am at the place where it no longer surprises me. Yet something about people close to us being hurtful is still an irritant.

So, why am I doing this anyway? The Lord seemed to burn that question deep into my heart today. “Are you doing it for yourself? For them?” I fought back a bit. Of course I’m doing it for Him—or so I think—until my heart gets this ugly.

SEEING THE INVISIBLE

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Walking by faith is not always easy. This is because we have become accustomed to walking by sight. But to walk by faith is to believe what God has said, not what we see.

For instance, when we pray and ask God to meet a need in our life that is clearly promised in His Word, we must believe that God has met that need even before we physically receive our request.

We must believe that God's Word is true and that He has actually done what He said He would do.

Jesus said in Mark 11: 24, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."

Jesus did not say that we are to believe we have received when we see results. He said we should believe that we have received what we have asked for at the time we pray.

That's praying in faith. We pray, then we believe God so much and trust His promises so strongly, that we know that He has already accomplished our request. This is seeing the invisible and calling things that be not as though they were.

From that time on, we give God thanks for meeting our need. Waiting to believe when you receive is not faith.

Faith is believing God, regardless circumstances. As Christians, we are to walk by faith and not by sight. If the circumstances say one thing and God's Word says another, we must take side with God.

God does not lie. He is dependable. He will always do what He said He would do.

Prayer: Father, give me inner strength to always trust in your word.

Scriptural Reading: Hebrews 11:1-7