Give Expecting Nothing In Return

Main Scripture:  But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35 (NIV)

In a world with a “if you scratch my back, I will scratch yours mentality”, it is kind of hard to accept the concept of giving without expecting nothing in return. It is tough because we live in a self-fish world where giving selflessly is practiced very often. In our world today, parents have children and grow them with the expectation that they will take care of them in their old age. Marriages are based on tit for tat, where one spouse loves based on how much the other person gives. Relationships are based on your earthly possessions and on so on.

This however, was not God’s original plan for us. God expects us to give selflessly, expecting nothing in return from those we give to; in return He our heavenly father will reward us. Today’s scripture assures us that if we live selflessly our reward will be great.

Ladies our little step towards achieving our full potential today is giving selflessly. Strive to give more to your spouse without thinking about his actions or how much he gives. Love your children until it hurts knowing that they are God’s gift to you and they are your responsibility. Love your neighbor and your enemies, do good to them, expect nothing in return. Although you may think they are ungrateful, give nonetheless, God will reward you.

I leave these quotes and scriptures with you:

·         “Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life's deepest joy: true fulfillment.” Anthony Robbins quotes (American advisor to leaders)

·         “We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them.” Buddha (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)

·         Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Phillipians 2:3 -4 (ESV)

·         “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. John 15:12-14 (ESV)

Have A God Filled Day Ladies

Let’s Pray,

Mighty God, our Father which is in heaven, we pray today that you will teach us to give selflessly. Mold our thoughts and our minds so that we will expect nothing in return when we give. Give us peace of mind knowing that you our heavenly father will reward us.

In Jesus Name

Amen  

Majoring on the Minor

Main Scripture:  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Matt 23:23 (ESV)

In this scripture Jesus is condemning the Pharisees for being so preoccupied with the minor things of the law and neglecting the things that were most important. The Pharisees in addition to tithing ‘grain, new wine and oil” also tithed garden herbs. Now Jesus was not telling them not to tithe on these things but he was  pointing out to them that they put so much emphasis on these things yet they neglected justice (being fair and righteous), mercy (compassion, forgiveness, kindness, understanding) and faithfulness (faith in God, loyalty and true to the things of God and your neighbours).

How many of us are like the Pharisees today? Do we knit pick on the small things and not focus on the major things?

I had a situation in my life for quite a number of years, where there is a person who irritated me so badly, sometimes I felt like tearing my hair out. I thought this person was just innately bad and wanted nothing good for me. As such I found that I was harbouring, unforgiveness, dislike and anger in my heart. I justified this by using the past experience I had with the person, where she would do things to hurt me for no apparent reason. I fasted and prayed about the situation, it got better then got worst. It had reached the point where even if the person was offering me help or advice I rejected it because she was a bad person in my eyes. I started knit picking and the smallest thing the person did I complained or hit back at her.

One night I had a dream where I was in a situation and the person was helping me out and I just could not receive her help because of what I had in my heart. In my dream there were a lot of ants because it was about to rain. When I sought to find out what all this ants meant, I found out that ants in your dream meant that you allowed the small things to bother you too much. This was an eye opener for me.

Moral of the story, focusing on these small things resulted in:

·         Years of a bad relationship, unforgiveness, dislike and anger

·         This person was not able to see Christ through me because of how I treated her. I also think that this affected how she saw other Christians.

·         Missed opportunities, this person have a wealth of wisdom that I could learn from however, because of the small things I wasn’t able to see when she was trying to help. More importantly, it was a missed opportunity to minister to her about the love of Christ.

·         Allowing the actions of the person to control my reactions. There is a saying that goes “he who angers you controls you.”

I have since passed that and pray that God will give me a second chance to make an impact on this person’s life and that she will see Christ through me.

Ladies stop focusing on the small things in your life, focus on those things that are major. Love your neighbours, submit to your husbands, nurture your children, Love God with all your heart and make an impact on the lives of those around you.

Have A God Filled Day Ladies

Let’s Pray,

Lord we pray for your forgiveness today for focusing on those things which are minor and neglecting the things that are weightier such as loving you and our neighbours. Teach us how to us your way and guide us accordingly.

In Jesus Name

Amen  

Heaping Burning Coals

Main Scripture:  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Romans 12:19-20

Song to Meditate on: Show Me How To Love (Lyrics) - Sidewalk Prophets (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ9SNWNulhw)

During my reflection recently I was thinking how amazing it is that God can actually cause someone who is your enemy to bless you. Also the scripture above was dropped in my spirit and like many persons I know, I always thought that “ I will my enemies to God because God is going to avenge them by wreaking havoc in their lives and send brim stone and fire on them for troubling “him pickney” (Jamaican for his child).” Well not so drastic.

Then I started researching and found that heaping burning coals has nothing to do with literal discomfort or trouble to our enemies. According to by Ivan Maddox in an article entitled Coals of Fire “This has been described as a reference to an Oriental custom. A fire in the center of a village was kept going day and night. This fire was used to light the fires in individual homes each day. Every morning a village youth would put a container on his head, and hot coals would be heaped into it. He would then go from house to house distributing the hot coals so that the villagers could start their fires. On cold days this was an enviable job, since the heat from the coals of fire kept the head and hands of the youth warmed. To heap coals of fire on someone's head, then, means to warm him, and, by extension, to bless him. “

God actually want you to bless your enemies not with the hope that God will take revenge but with the hope that they will see God’s love through you, that the good you do will warm their hearts and turn them around. It is kind of hard to show a cheating husband love and kindness or to forgive someone who has been unkind to you. However, when you show love to someone who has done bad to you, it confuses them and it will eventually change them and cause them to bless you in return. It is not our prerogative to worry about how God will bring about revenge we should just show love to those who does bad to us. Matthew 5:44 further encourages us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

Ladies you might be going through a hard time right now but if you are tired of the tension at work, with your husband, with a family member or with a friend. I encourage you today, pray and ask God to show you how to love, then instead of allowing the person to irritate you and cause you to do or say something bad them, show them love instead. Do this exercise this week and let us see how things change.

Have A God Filled Day Ladies

Let’s Pray,

Father God, teach us how to love our enemies in spite of the wrong that they have done us. Help us to start today by being kind to them and to encourage them.

In Jesus Name

Amen  

How Do I Look? Part 3

Main Scripture:  And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Col 3:10

Ladies in addition to having a clean heart it is also very important for us to watch our attitudes and our appearance on our journey to achieving our God given potential.

·         How Does My Attitude Look? – Zig Zagler once said that your “attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” It means that no matter how smart or talented you are, if you do not have the right attitude you will not get very far. Ladies on this journey it is important for us to develop positive attitudes.

Og Mandino says “Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new.”

Thomas Jefferson once said that “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”

“It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome” - William James

·         How Do I Look – The show looks at the physical appearance of the contestant. Physical appearance is also very important as this is the first thing someone will see when they meet you.

Harvard Business Review in writing about how dressing professionally and conservatively can advance careers states “Indeed, half the women surveyed and 37% of the men considered appearance and earning power to be intrinsically linked; they understood that if you don't look the part of a leader, you're not likely to be given the role. Far from imagining that appearance is a personal matter, they perceived that looking well-turned-out engenders self-confidence, a trait they considered the bedrock of authentic leaders."

Ladies, keeping up your physical appearance can also be good for your relationship. Many women have marital problems because they do not keep up their physical appearances. Also, your children often look at how you dress to determine their style. The fact is you are their first role model, so they will look to model you even in this area, if you do not dress appropriately; it is quite likely that your little girl will do the same. On the other hand the boys will just ask you not to drop them off at school.

Ladies I implore you today to start an assessment of yourself, allow God to lead you in this task and aim to put on a new self. We are representatives of God, we are successful and virtuous women thus it is very important that we have a clean heart, the right attitude and professional and conservative appearance.

Have A God Filled Day Ladies

Let’s Pray,

Lord we thank you for renewing our hearts, today we ask you to also instill in us a right attitude. An attitude that is humble, grateful and that seeks to do the right instead of the wrong. Also Lord I pray that you will teach us to have the right physical appearance always remembering that we are representing you.

In Jesus Name

Amen  

How Do I Look? Part 2

Main Scripture:  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)

Song to meditate on: Create in me a clean heart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGPmMcDeRpM)

When asking How Do I Look there are some very important aspects of ourselves that we want to look at. Ladies in order to fulfill our God given potential we should ask:

·         How Does My Heart Look? – Is your heart stony or is it a heart of flesh?  Ezekiel 36:26 says “I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”  

Heart in the Bible refers to our mind, the seat of our emotions. According to the Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, the heart is “the center of all emotional, intellectual and moral activity.”  C.H. Spurgeon in his sermon “The Stony Heart Removed”, a heart of stone is one that is cold, hard, dead, not easily softened, utterly senseless, exposed to the danger of final impenitence and is Satan’s throne. It therefore means that a person with a hard heart lacks compassion, does not take instruction very well, is unforgiving, is ungrateful, stubborn, disobedient, jealous and evil to name a few characteristics.

Ladies can these things be said of any of us today? Sometimes we do not realize that our hearts have become hard because it is second nature to us. Sometimes we become so unforgiving in our relationships that we forget our roles as wives. Sometimes we allow success to get to our heads we become aloof and treat our subordinates with disdain and contempt, not respecting them or giving them credit for the work that they have done.

Our hearts should be hearts that are pliable, readily taking instructions from God. Our hearts should be hearts of flesh. C.S. Spurgeon goes on further to say that a heart of flesh is tender to God’s will and tender to conscience. Do not allow your hearts to become stony; ask persons around you about what is emanating from you.

There are some companies that do an evaluation to determine the employees’ performance on the job. Conduct a performance evaluation of your heart, ask trusted persons around you, who you know will be honest with you. Ask God to take away your stony heart and replace it with one of flesh.

Have A God Filled Day Ladies

Let’s Pray,

Father, create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us. Take away our stony hearts and replace them with hearts of flesh. Give us hearts that are pure and righteous that is forgiving, compassionate and that seeks after your will. We thank you Lord

In Jesus Name

Amen 

How Do I Look? Part 1

Main Scripture:  Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life. Psalms 139: 23-24 (MSG)

Song to meditate on: Hillsong - Search Me Oh God (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxgDa1CkVqY)

 “How Do I Look?”  is a makeover show airing on the Style Network. The show features "fashion victims," purportedly turned in by their friends, coworkers, and family members. These ladies usually have big dreams and beautiful hearts and the makeover often coincides with a turning point in their life, such as starting college, changing careers, or losing weight. They usually have a no fashion sense and their appearance often negatively affects their own lives and other’s around them. These people however are usually in denial and see nothing wrong with their appearance. What I like most about the show however, is that by the end of the show these ladies are transformed in the way they dress and how they think. They leave looking beautiful and confident.

Another thing I noticed about these ladies is that they are often resistant. That’s usually the case when there is a need for change. It is said that "change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have—and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up." In addition to gaining self-confidence, a makeover and a new wardrobe, many of these people often gain better relationships with their loved ones who are often affected by these persons appearance.

In the same way ladies, in our quest to fulfill our God given potential it is important that we ask others to do an assessment of us. Understand that sometimes we are so set in our ways, sometimes our experiences are so limited that we are blinded and we are unable to see what needs to be changed in us. We often are unable to see that we are hurting those we love or even hurting our own chances of improving ourselves and our relationships.

David once asked God to search him and to know his thoughts, He wanted God to show him if there was anything he was doing wrong that needed to change. Let’s start off this series by asking God How Do I Look?  Spend some time today asking the one who created you to tell you if there is anything that needs to be changed and ask him to guide you to the right path.

Have A God Filled Day Ladies

Let’s Pray,

Father God, search us today Lord, show us the things in us that are not pleasing to you and that should be removed. Cleanse us Father and lead us into the path of eternal life. We thank you for all you have done.

In Jesus Name

Amen  

Choices Daily Devotion | CBN.com

Choices Daily Devotion | CBN.com

Higher Heights

Main Scripture: …  they shall mount up with wings like eagles; Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

Song to meditate on: The Script - Hall of Fame ft. will.i.am (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk48xRzuNvA)

Recently some Jamaican athletes and a prominent American athlete were caught with doping violations. I have really been praying for these guys because I believe in them. Even if they are guilty of doping, I still believe that they deserve second chances and that they can shine again. While praying however, the following story was dropped in my spirit:

One day, an old donkey in a farm fell into an empty dried up well. The animal cried and cried for hours as the farmer struggled to figure out how to get him out. Finally, the farmer decided that the donkey was old already and the well was dry, and that it was worthless to try and get him out. He decided to throw dirt into the well to fill it up and use it to bury the old donkey and take him out of his misery. He summoned his neighbors and they proceeded to help him throw dirt down the well that would eventually bury the old donkey.

The donkey realized what was happening and started crying and crying with every bit of dirt that came down. All of the sudden, to everyone's surprise, the donkey stopped crying, even though not much dirt had been dumped in yet. The farmer looked into the well and was surprised at what he saw…the donkey was doing something incredible: with each bunch of dirt, the donkey was shaking it off his back and stepping on top of the dirt to move a bit higher up the well.

Eventually, to everyone's surprise, the donkey eventually reached the top of the well and trotted out happily…

You see ladies the more dirt that is thrown on you, shake it off and use it to take you higher. People will talk about you, they will want to see you fail, you will also make mistakes but your attitude is what will determine your altitude. You have two choices, you can sit down, cry and allow the negativity to kill you or you can become resilient and use the negativity to make you stronger. 

The Bible tells us that we war not against flesh and blood but principalities and powers, behind every situation or person there is an active spirit world. Therefore your battles should be fought in the spirit. Trust God to fight your battles today, He is a mighty God who can do impossible things and is able to win any battle if you obey his commandments and follow His lead. Trust him to take you higher.

Have A God Filled Day Ladies

Let’s Pray,

Oh Father, we worship you and thank you for all your grace and mercies. Lord your mercies are new every morning. Lord although we are going through so many hard trials, people are talking about us and the way looks really dim right now, we trust you to take us out of this, to fight our battles and to take us higher. Give us the right attitude Lord as you are glorified.

In Jesus Name

Amen  

Give It in Love

Main Scripture:  But Elisha answered, “Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the Lord says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” 2 Kings 4:43 (NIV)

Song to meditate on: Give to the Lord – Ron Kenoly  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqaOEVx7y9I)

When an offering is being collected there is a little song that churches usually sing:

Give it in love; store it above; give it will a willing heart

Also the story in the scripture today shows us where Elisha told his disciples to give the food to the people to eat and there would be plenty for all and plenty left over.

Here is a principle that we should all adopt, not just about money but of our time, abilities and the very essence of our being. Ladies, the more we give is the more we will receive. This is a principle that is a constant theme right throughout the Bible. Luke 6:38 says “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back” (NLT).

Have you ever noticed how successful people are always giving to charities? This is because they understand the principle of giving. This principle however does not only relate to money, it can relate to giving with regards to taking care of your children, loving your spouse or even mentoring someone. Have you ever noticed the destruction that befalls a man who does not take care of his children? Ever notice that he usually does not have anyone to take care of him in his old age, that’s because what you reap, is what you sow.

Mother Theresa once said that “we should give until it hurts”. Ladies when we give of ourselves to make someone else happy, we will be happy in return. We will live fulfilled lives and God will be pleased with us and make no mistake, if it is until the end of the earth He will reward us.

The Bible describes the Day of Judgment in Matthew 25:34-40 like this:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Make your life count on this earth, start giving today.

Have A God Filled Day Ladies

Let’s Pray,

Oh Blessed Saviour, thank you for revealing to us today this principle. Help us to give in love our time, our resources and our abilities. Help us to give to the poor, needy and sick. Also Lord, help us to always take care of those you have entrusted us with. We give you glory and thanks.

In Jesus Name

Amen  

A Woman of Strength

Main Scripture: but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,  they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV).

Song to meditate on: The Woman God Wants Her to Be - Mother's Day Song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7zj--VBynU)

A woman has many roles to play; it gets frustrating at times as she is expected to play all of these roles excellently. Ladies be encouraged, God gave us everything we need to be a woman and we can execute these roles excellently if we strive to be a woman of strength and not just one who is strong.

A Woman of strength puts God first, understands her role as a woman, knows her identity in God and does not fight with her man for superiority and authority. The scripture encourages us to hope in God and He will cause to soar as eagles, He will cause not to grow weary or faint even when it becomes tiresome.

Ladies, understand that being a woman is a journey and you will make mistakes but God will make you strong and He will keep you. As C. JoyBell C says “the strength of a woman is not measured by the impact that all her hardships in life have had on her; but the strength of a woman is measured by the extent of her refusal to allow those hardships to dictate her and who she becomes.”

A Strong Woman versus a Woman of Strength
(Revised from a poem by Luke Easter with Dee Cheeks)

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape.
But a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.

 A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything.
But a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear.

 A strong woman won’t let anyone get the best of her.
But a woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future.
A woman of strength realizes life’s mistakes can also be God’s blessings and capitalizes on them.

A strong woman walks sure-footedly.
But a woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face.
But a woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey.
But a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong.

Have A God Filled Day Ladies

Let’s Pray,

Lord Jesus, I pray that you will cause these women to soar as eagles. Father God, give us the strength they need to effectively complete this journey. Draw us closer to you Lord so that we will look to you, the hill and our source, where our help comes from. Father God we thank you and we bless your name.

In Jesus Name

Amen  

Clothe with Compassion

Main Scripture: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion… Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

Song to meditate on: Heal the World – Micheal Jackson (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWf-eARnf6U)

"When you light a lamp for someone else, you brighten your own path too."

Do you find that you are miserable and unhappy? Do you find that you are always worried and cannot seem to find a way out of your situation? The quote above encourages us to be compassionate to someone else and this will cause us to be happy too. You see ladies there is really no greater joy you can find than when you impart into someone else’s life.

You might be thinking that you are so down and depressed and that your situation is so bad but there is always someone else with a far worst situation than yours. I agree that you may not have all you need at your disposal or you may be going through some hard trials at this time but I guarantee you that if you should take a poll of all your neighbours you will find that at least one of them are having a situation worse than yours.

It was Mother Teresa who said “Stay where you are. Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering, and the lonely right there where you are — in your own homes and in your own families, in your workplaces and in your schools. You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see. Everywhere, wherever you go, you find people who are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society — completely forgotten, completely left alone.”

Ladies when your eyes are opened and you find these people, don’t just feel sorry for them, put compassion into action, many times we see people with a bad situation and we feel sorry for them and do nothing about it. You do not have to have money to light a lamp for someone else; you can simply lend a listening ear or take some food over to the neighbor instead of leaving it in the refrigerator to spoil.

Recently, I met a very old man and someone told me that he was not able to pay his rent and at times he did not have food. Ladies, my heart went out to him, he is old but he is so diligent and kindhearted. When I asked how much his rent was, I was told $1,500 JD or $15USD per month. My heart went out even further because I knew that even though I do not have a lot of money; $1500 was not much so I started paying his rent monthly. This is not much ladies, but it alleviates his worries of paying the rent and is just a small example of compassion in action. It also an example of how when you think you have problems you realize that other persons are worse off, as I could not believe that someone was paying such a small amount of money for rent and could not afford it. God opened my eyes that night.

There are many persons around you that are in need of some compassion. Ask God to open your eyes to see them and ask him to clothe you with compassion so that you will reach out to them. The benefits of helping are twofold, you get rid of your unhappiness and the person is happy too.

I will leave you with words from the 14^th Dalai Lama ““When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.”

Have A God Filled Day Ladies

Let’s Pray,

Lord Jesus, thank you for another day, thank you for all that you have done for us Lord. Father, we pray today that you will clothe us with compassion and that you will open up our eyes to see those who need compassion so that this world will be a better place to live.

In Jesus Name

        

Amen