"Let Your Light Shine"

Should we really retaliate when we get angry?  26 " A quarrelsome person starts fights      as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood ." ( Proverbs 26: 21) (NLT). Retaliating is a negative trait. It keeps things going on and on; it doesn't resolve anything. All it does is escalate the problem at hand. Earlier in the post I discussed that to avoid anger, you could refuse to be offended and ignore people's words that may upset you. Most people do like to argue and cause debates which then, if not careful, cases upsets. At times they use conflict to get your attention, to get your mind thinking, which causes you to question what they have said. For example, someone at work makes a remark that you strongly disagree with. What do you do? Well, simply, you could make a statement which could causes the fire to get started. Or you could refrain yourself from making that statement and not give in, because you may or may not know truly what type of pers...

How do you control your anger when you get angry? What makes you angry? How do you calm yourself down?  19  "Understand this my  dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.   20  Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires." (James 1:19-20) (NLT). When someone causes you to be angry it is God using them to shape your character just like sandpaper. Sandpaper is used to polish surfaces. God uses the people he brings into our lives to take off our rough edges and smooth us. Sometimes we just have to overlook the behaviour of those who make us angry, annoyed and frustrated and show them mercy instead of insulting them back or getting even. The Bible says, 38  " You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'  39  But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also."  (Matthew 5:...

" You can make many plans,   but the  Lord ’s purpose will prevail."  (Proverbs 19: 21) (NLT)  You can make all the plans in the world. Plans that you think you will follow through all the way. But the thing is life isn't smooth sailing, your plans may not fall through because that is not what God's plan is for you personally! He has a plan for your life. If you come to a dead-end in your career, your studies, your work or even your relationship, it isn't because it has run its course, its because its our of your control and you truly cannot do anything about it. God is in control of these things. When you come across things that aren't in your control you must focus on what God is doing in that situation. It may be his message to you, telling you to leave it in his hands, because he is trying to increase your faith, to trust him with all you heart. The bible says,  5   Trust in the   Lord   with all your heart  and lean not on your own un...

"I thank my God every time I remember you." (Philippians 1: 3) (NIV). When you are grateful and when you develop the habit of being grateful for those who you have in your life you will enjoy your relationships more and be much happier. You will notice that your relationships with family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances will be brightened when you develop gratefulness. To enjoy other people and be grateful for them, you have to focus on their strengths and what you like about them, for example, why you like being around a person? What distinguishes them from others? There's always good in every single person. You must put the unkind thoughts and those sorts of things aside that you may not like about them or maybe they've hurt you in the past and you've forgiven them but you're still holding a grudge. Do you feel like the longer you've known a person the less you feel grateful for them so the more you focus on faults and the less you focus on the g...

God's Amazing Love For Us! Good Friday? What is this day truly and really about, what is good about it and why is it highly talked about? Well, for many Christians Good Friday is celebrated as the day Jesus suffered and took all our sins to the cross and was crucified. Jesus willingly suffered for the sins of humanity, he was righteous and died for us who are unrighteous. This was God's plan!! Although Jesus suffered and was crucified, he rose on the third day to enter his glory, to be seated 22 "at God's right hand- with all the angels, authorities and powers in submission to him". (1 Peter 3: 22) (NIVUK). Good Friday followed by Easter, the celebration of the day Jesus was raised from the dead paving a way for those who believed and are united to him by Faith.   18 " For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit". (1 Peter 3: 18) ...

What does it mean to forgive? 14 "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you". (Matthew 6: 14) (NIV) .  Forgiveness grows and develops when you meditate on God's word and encounter Him. Forgiving someone is not about considering what they have done and contemplating whether it deserves forgiveness.  In the Lord's prayer, it says 'Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass/sin against us'. It can be difficult to forgive those who sin against us, for example, those who hurt you verbally, physically or emotionally; and the natural way, the worldly way, is to be angry or get revenge for these types of hurt done against you. But that is totally not correct. The Bible says, 19 " 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". (Romans 12: 19) (NIV). The Bible says,  1 3  " Make all...

How do you maintain your friendships? Are you a good friend?  24  There are “friends” who destroy each other,  but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18: 24) (NLT). Some people say that your friendships highly reflects who you are as a person. Is your friend like a brother or sister? Do you come into conflict with your friend? Do you forgive and forget when you fall out? The bible says  “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need” (Proverbs 17: 17) (NLT). There are friendships  that go deeper and shows loyalty from both sides. This is because these kind of friendships are a choice and have surpassed everything. Sometimes there's nothing to surpass, but to maintain a deep level friendship you have to be there for the person just as much as you expect them to be there for you. This type of friendship is a true and real friendship. True friendships go through thick and thin! We cannot only hope to rec...

How do you Love? Jesus said  “ A new command  I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ” (John 13: 34) (NIV). Love is an action we express to others. Action speak louder than words (known fact) and this can be seen when we carry out things such as serving and sharing. The same way that God loves you, you should offer this love to everyone else around you, people who you come to contact with.  36  “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  37  Jesus replied:  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  38  This is the first and greatest commandment. (Matthew 22: 36-38) (NIV).  39   And the second is like it: ‘ Love   your   neighbour  as  your self.’ (Matthew 22: 39) (NIV). It doesn't matter whether you like someone or not, you must love them because of this commandment from Jesus. The time you s...

Where is Joy found? Where do you find your Joy! 11  "In Your presence  is  fullness of joy" (Psalm 16: 11) (NIV). Where is Joy found? Do you find yourself seeking joy in a friend, a book, a hobby, or even in your job? I assure you now that type of Joy doesn't last very long Joy may be easy to find but quick to lose. Joy can be lost so quickly and there are so many ways to lose it.For example, you have joy but then you lose it after receiving terrible news or if you lose your phone, car keys or wallet. In life, you go through so many emotions, so many situations, so many ups and so many downs, but do you focus on the bad and how they cause you to feel or the  Good.  You  have the choice to choose, are you going to focus on the Good or the bad? A Christian life is goodness, peace and  JOY.  This is what the bible tells us. "...The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living, but of righteousness, peace...

Where does your peace come from? 14  "Seek peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34: 14) (NIV). We all want peace. Peace in ourselves, with family, with friends, within our job, within our most difficult situations.  Having peace could be as easy as wearing a fragrance which claims to give you peace that allows you to have peace of mind.  Unfortunately, it's not that easy. True peace only comes from God! 27  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give you to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid".  ( John 14: 27) (NIV). The peace that God gives us is a peace that keeps us calm, controls us; our hearts and feelings when everything is not stable or steady. These are just three things that may keep us from having peace: Unexplainable problems- M ost things that we expect to be a good turn out aren't and this makes it easy for us to lose our peace. We may not know the reason for this and this can ...