Faith, Prayer, Atheism

There was a little old lady who would come out every morning on the steps of her front porch, raise her arms to the sky and shout, "Praise the Lord!"

Well, one day an atheist moved into the house next door. Over time, he became irritated at the little old lady. So every morning he would step out onto his front porch and yell after her, "There is no Lord!"

Time passes with the two of them carrying on this way every day. Then one morning in the middle of winter, the little old lady stepped onto her front porch and shouted, "Praise the Lord! Lord, I have no food and I am starving. Please provide for me, oh Lord!"

The next morning, she stepped onto her porch and there were two huge bags of groceries sitting there. "Praise the Lord!" she cried out. "He has provided groceries for me!"

The atheist jumped out of the hedges and shouted, "There is no Lord. I bought those groceries!"

The little old lady threw her arms into the air and shouted, "Praise the Lord! He has provided me with groceries and He made the devil pay for them!"

Thanks and best regards,

IAT Boluwatise
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Worth Sharing

This is a story worth sharing indeed. It came in a mail from a friend. I love it, you should too.

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired.

During their visit, the conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups -- porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain-looking, some expensive, some exquisite --telling them to help themselves to the cof
fee.

When all the alumni had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, "Notice that all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it is just
more expensive and, in some cases, even hides what we drink.What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups, and then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; your job, money, and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life.

The type of cup one has does not define, nor change, the quality of life a person lives. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us."God makes the coffee, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of
everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Enjoy your coffee!

Thanks and best regards,

IAT Boluwatise
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Legitimacy of Power and Sword Versus Wisdom in Prayer and Dependence

In one of the issues of Breakpoint commentary, Chuck Colson pointed out that, "This fallen world is dangerous, and out of mercy, God has given legitimate governments the power of the sword to protect us. The just war doctrine, derived from Scriptures, enables us to evaluate and hold our national leaders accountable when they must use the sword.

"We know from 2 Chronicles that King Jehoshaphat of Judah was a great warrior with a large, seasoned army. But when Jehoshaphat was confronted with an invasion, instead of riding out to meet the invaders, he led the people in prayer. "We do not know what to do," he prayed, "but our eyes are on you." And God's deliverance came in a thoroughly unexpected way. Jehoshaphat's army didn't fire a shot.

"Christians should follow the example of Jehoshaphat in prayer. Yes, we have the finest fighting men in the world... But remember that prayer is mightier than our armies, and God alone gives the victory or defeat."

Thanks and best regards,

IAT Boluwatise

Time

A friend said, "My problem is that I have surrendered my time to work, to other people, and to bad habits." We should first surrender our time to God.

God owns it anyway. Our task is to manage properly what has been entrusted to us until he returns or wants it back, including our time.

Think about a compass and a clock Two very important tools, but two very different instruments. One would be wise not to confuse the two. To surrender our time to God is to be governed by a compass rather than to be
controlled by a clock. A compass provides a sense of direction, purpose, vision, perspective, and balance. A clock measures duration, the expenditure of time. A compass determines effectiveness-doing the right tasks. A clock
determines efficiency-how long it takes to accomplish a task. Both have their place. But, the compass must come before the clock, therefore, effectiveness before efficiency. The "mega priorities" of the compass
subordinate the "mini priorities" of the clock.

A compass, therefore, becomes a symbol of an internal guidance system that provides us with our values and convictions based on God's Word. This non-negotiable governs our lives. In the same manner that the gravitational force pulls the compass needle; it is God that governs the drive of our lives. We surrender to his force.

Our time should be surrendered to God daily. I asked a friend who is engaged in many pursuits successfully, how he managed it all. He said, "I give my first minutes to God, then I commit the remainder of the day to his Lordship. And amazingly I work more effectively and efficiently."

Have you surrendered your time to God? Is your time in his hands?

Courtesy: Rick Ezell, *(One Minute Uplift* newsletter)

Grace, Divine Protection

The following story is the personal account of from an experience Pastor Rob Morgan had. It is a good illustration of the protection we enjoy in Christ.

"Several years ago, I was walking down a sidewalk in East Nashville, making a pastoral visit. Suddenly I saw a German shepherd flying across a lawn, barking, snarling, teeth bared, mouth frothing. I was so startled that as it lunged at me, I screamed and jumped backward. But between me and my would-be attacker, there was a chain-link fence. The dog struck the fence full force. My heart was racing, but I was utterly safe because of the protective fence.

Satan can growl and bark, lunge and threaten. But when we're enclosed by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, he can do us no real or lasting harm."

Courtesy: Pastor Rob Morgan in his book, The Red Sea Rules.

Thanks and best regards,

IAT Boluwatise

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Two Travellig Angels

Keep reading to the bottom of the page -- don't stop at the feet (You'll see).
 
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy
family.

 
The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest
room.

 
Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement.
 
As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.

 
When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied,
 
"Things aren't always what they seem"
 
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.
 
After sharing what little food they had the  couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest.

When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears.

Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.
 
The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen?

The first man had everything, yet you helped him, he accused.
 
The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die..

"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied.
 
 
"When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall.

Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it."  
 
"Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife I gave him the cow instead.

 
Things aren't always what they seem."
 
Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every out come is always to your advantage. You just might not know it until some time later...

                               Oooo
Some people           (    ) come into our lives   )  /
and quickly go..      (_ /
 
       oooO
         (    )       Some people
          \  (        become friends
         \_ )    and stay awhile...
 
leaving beautiful          Oooo
footprints on our         (    )
  hearts...                       )  /  
                                    (_/
 
             oooO
              (    )      and we are
               \  (          never
                \_ )      quite the same
                            because we  have
                           made a good
                            friend!!
 
 
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!
 
 
I think this is special...live and savor every
moment... This is not a dress rehearsal!
 
            (\        /)
             ( \__ / )
             (  \()/  ) 
             (  /   \  )    TAKE THIS LITTLE  ANGEL
             ( / \/ \ )    AND  KEEP HER CLOSE TO YOU
               /      \    SHE IS YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL
              (        )    SENT TO WATCH OVER YOU
               ____

Thanks and best regards,

IAT Boluwatise

Special Sauce

Author: Unknown   
 
I was sitting at the drive-through window at McDonald's this weekend (ok, I eat out a lot). I did the usual thing, I drove up to the menu and ordered. I proceeded to the first window and paid, then drove to the second window and waited for the order. After sitting there for a few minutes, the clerk slid back the window and asked, "Will you please pull over to the side? your order is not ready."
 
I was a little upset and even impatient, but I pulled over and waited. I thought, "How come other folks ordered and drove straight through and I have to wait." I waited for another two or three minutes. It seemed like hours before the clerk finally ran out, tapped on the window, and handed me the order.
 
Of course I asked, "Hey, what took so long?" She replied, "You wanted the Special Sauce, which meant it had to be specially made for that sandwich - it doesn't usually come with that one.
 
It seems to me this scene could be a reflection of our prayer lives. We make our request to the Lord. Our menu is His Word, where He has listed promise after promise. We stand before Him and request and plead and, sometimes, even beg. We go to the first window and pay, sometimes with fervent prayer, sometimes with prolonged suffering, sometimes with obedience, and sometimes not at all.
 
We then move to the second window and wait for our order. If God doesn't answer within a few minutes, we become upset. You know the phrase, "Jesus, it's 5:00 p.m. Friday; I prayed to You yesterday, and You still haven't answered. I can't wait much longer."
 
Why is it taking Him so long? I've seen people drive up before me and they received their orders right away! We even go so far as to tap on the window and ask if He has forgotten our order. We become impatient. We become upset. We become downright mad.
 
Lord I asked for a mate ten days ago and I don't see him/her anywhere.
 
Lord, I've been asking for a new job for two years; others have passed me by.
 
I've been waiting on a financial blessing for ten years and I still have more month than money.
 
Where are You and why haven't You blessed me?
 
And just when you think He is giving you the answer, He pulls back the royal curtain of Eternity, and says, "Please pull over to the side and wait a while longer."
 
This once frustrated me to no end, made me mad, made me want to give up, made me
want to holler; that is, until the clerk brought out my sandwich. Then, the revelation became clear.
 
Do you know why the Lord has put you on the side? Do you know why you have had to wait for this blessing longer than before? Do you know why He has put you through more this time than ever? Do you know why it seems as though He has not heard you and He does not care? Do you know why it seems like you have had to go through more tears, more pains, and more struggling this time?
 
Because this blessing is a Special Sauce Blessing!
 
This is an Overflowing, Pressed-Down, Shaken Together, Blessing!
 
You made a Special Order and God has been putting together a Special Sauce Blessing for you and He has to prepare it for you!
 
That mate you wanted . . . He's putting together a Special Sauce!
 
That job you wanted . . . He's putting together a Special Sauce!
 
That financial blessing . . . He's putting together a Special Sauce!
 
That peace on the job . . . He's putting together a Special Sauce!
 
That house . . . He's putting together a Special Sauce!
 
That deeper anointing . . . He's putting together a Special Sauce!
 
That promotion . . . He's putting together a Special Sauce!
 
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of
peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end... [and a Special Sauce].
Jeremiah 29:11
 
How many people have driven away before the clerk brought their food, and how many people have missed their blessings because they did not wait?
 
Hang on there. Keep on waiting. You made a Special Order, now wait on God's Special Sauce!
 
But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up
with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk, and
not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
 
They who wait shall receive a Special Sauce!

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken
together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same
measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." - Luke 6:38

__________________________________________
"God has His own Time Plan for You, Wait upon Him."
__________________________________________________

Thanks and best regards,

IAT Boluwatise
08088701393 www.boluwatise.blogspot.com
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On Our Own

Why is it so difficult for you and me to admit that we have a problem?

We men are chronic at what is almost a gender-oriented disability. We get in our car to go somewhere convinced that we can find our way without specific directions. After wandering around futilely in the general vicinity of our destination, our wives suggest that we stop and get directions, only to fuel in us a greater determination that we know precisely what we're doing. We refuse to get help until finally we're forced to admit that we're lost. Why is it?

Our study workbook in Galatians describes Jill calling out, "Honey, you had better call the repairman. Our TV is on the blink again."
"Who needs a repairman!" Ron replies confidently. "I can fix it myself."

Four hours later, "There, that should do it." As Ron plugs it in, there is a loud buzzing noise, smoke rises from the TV, the lights begin to flicker, and then darkness blacks out the room.

"Uh . . . maybe you're right, dear," Ron says sheepishly. "I suppose calling a repairman couldn't hurt."

Whether we're dealing with frustrating but not so crucial issues like these all the way to those debilitating addictions of drugs, alcohol, sex, power, and greed that hold us in their stranglehold, we somehow think that we can solve the problem ourselves. We learn that when it comes to addictions, you and I are helpless to solve them on our own without the help of our "higher power."

This is precisely what the Apostle Paul is addressing in Galatians 3:15-29 as he continues to deal in this doctrinal section of chapters three and four with the theme of Grace and the Law.

The bottom-line thesis is that the Law is there to confront you and me with our need of outside help and then to point us to Jesus Christ as the only one who can give that help.

He is the one who gives the best directions. He is the one who is the true repairman. He is our "higher power" who can do for us what we cannot do in our own effort.

(To read the entire article Exposing Our Needs from John A. Huffman Jr. at Preaching.com, click here (http://www.crosswalkmail.com/lhmwkqmnwzwrmhnyrdpcfrsfmqrhgpphzjmfkkymjqgzgzh_lqwdhggmnwqn.html)) 

Thanks and best regards,

(Lack Of) Self Discipline

(Lack Of) Self Discipline

2006 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sigmund Freud. Many of Freud's ideas are no longer accepted, while others are still embraced. What no one disputes is that he is the father of analysis and psychotherapy.

In what is a strange irony, Freud was able to help others, but never able to help himself. He died of cancer in 1939 because he was unable to break himself of an addiction to cigars, having smoked a box a day even after having had his jaw removed.

By J. Michael Shannon, professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati, OH.

Perception and Opportunity

Joseph Campbell via last.fm

"Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging." - Joseph Campbell

Sometimes in my personal development Workshops, I will ask people to look at a picture that will probably challenge their perceptions. Then, I ask my delegates what they can see. You might like to try this for yourself before going any further.

There are some pictures worth taking a look at here ... Perceptions

Personally I think the tiles the dot pictures provide an excellent example of how easy it is to trick our selves; and I think there are many lessons to be extracted from contemplating this truth. But this week I wanted to discuss the role perception plays in enabling us to recognise opportunity.

Let this sink in: opportunity surrounds us every day of our lives, but we miss most of it because of what our minds are focussed upon. Wherever you are and whatever your circumstances opportunities surround you right now. You may not be able to 'see' them - that's certainly true - but they are nevertheless there; right in front of your nose.

The opportunities you are aware of - the ones you can see - are visible because of what you are concentrating on; those for which you have programmed brain to look. Contemplating this basic truth, I believe, provides us with the understanding of why it is important to have a personal vision.

A vision is not a goal or even a mission; it is a higher view of your future and provides you with the necessary context for living your life successfully. So if you don't have a vision for your life, you need to make the space in your life to develop one.

With the right vision, you have effectively programmed your brain to 'see' the right opportunities. The ones that are there in front of you, but that you may not be able to see right now.

from Will Edward - The White Dove Partnership

Be Responsible

Image by Umang Dutt via Flickr

It is quite common for people to generalize when they speak without being situation or condition-specific. Often time following such words is feeling of guilt in those who are not mature.

I once had an opportunity to share somewhere on "Understanding the Will of God'. To do a measure of justice to a thought I discovered in the context of Ps. 103, I quickly pass a few comment on "he satisfied my mouth with good things ...." I explained how there is the possibility of being satiated with the abundance that God can supply and how this suggest his willingness to meet our need.

I made reference to times in the past where many have been taught to think short of abundance and how on the other hand many make judgments based on the sphere of their experience. For instance, a preacher once spoke against what on earth one will do with the ownership of four to five cars. 'it is sheer wastefulness" he declared, "and madness". I did not know this until someone reacted against the statement in the previous paragraph. While I took care not to know who made the statement, I made bold to state that the statement cannot be generalized as situations in life are diverse.

A man who is blessed to be on the board of multiple companies might be fortunate to have official vehicles from all. His status commanded it without him having need to spend money buying any of them. You cannot judge him for sheer madness. A man who is not too outgoing and that has a few wears reserved for special functions and occasions cannot be judged to be hoarding materials if he has not touched some of the specials in six months.

A man who knows the secret place of prayer to make his need known to God cannot be subjected to common judgment as the one who has desires with the skill to transverse around to garner support to be able to acquire what is bigger than his size.

Before you start to make doctrine of non-universals, make the decision to take responsibility for your life.