Heros of the Bible

Moses Friend of God

          Abraham Justified by Faith

          Daniel Warrior of Faith
          David A Man after God's own Heart

          Joseph Predestined for Glory

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            and Suanny?

Leadership and Innovation

Who's Job is it?

Engaging people across all levels of the company has many advantages including:

• Greater involvement in the business and a willingness to follow through on new initiatives – this works to build enthusiasm and ownership
• Inspiring people to be searching for new and better ways, knowing they will be listened to
• Collecting real information from the interface with the customer.
• Building a sense of team within the business
• Taking some of the pressure from the top management.

Making it happen
The CEO of one of the most innovative businesses in the services sector in Asia has a KPI on all divisional mangers that 10% of each successive year’s revenue shall come from new and innovated products. Such is this company’s commitment to innovation, and it works. They achieve this by leveraging staff knowledge through the formation of cross functional innovation teams spread throughout the business.
These teams have a mandate to work using the proven tools of “Innovation” and “Opportunity Capture” to forever create and explore new ideas, pass these through a first evaluation filter, (referred to as the “Technology Diffusion”) then package and present them to senior management.
This process works, is systematic and simple so long as the staff have the right tools, a strong mandate and the ear of management.

Finally – remember this simple message
“Those organisations that fail to innovate will ultimately fail to exist and the extinction horizon these days is approaching just five years and narrowing!”

http://sbr.com.sg/media-marketing/commentary/its-all-about-leadership-and-innovation

Leadership and Innovation: Relating to Circumstances and Change

Innovation takes place at different levels from modest improvements on an existing product or process to dramatic and even historically significant breakthroughs in how we relate to the world. In all cases, the capacity to innovate will be a function of our commitments, what we want to accomplish and our relationship with the circumstances we perceive we are in.
If we are resisting or coping, we see no innovation and whatever change we generate will be as a reaction to the circumstances and part of the process by which those circumstances persist.
When we are responding or choosing we are in a position to innovate and will do so naturally and consistently as a function of what we observe to be possible or what we observe is missing in our perspective of the world. Change based on this view is likely to be an improvement on what already exists.
When we are bringing forth or creating we are not only in a position to innovate but are predisposed to do so. Further, in these ways of relating to circumstances, we have few if any limitations on what we can imagine and generate. We are likely to be generating breakthroughs or even creating entirely new spheres of possibility.

6 ways of relating to change associated with different leadership models, intentions and views of circumstances http://www.innovation.cc/discussion-papers/selman.pdf

Walk on Water, Pete! – Matthew 14:22-33

 

In the end, who looks better? Peter who tried and sank or the other 11 who didn’t even try?
http://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/2009-07-10-Walk-on-Water-Pete!/
It was Helen Keller who said, “Life is either a daring adventure, or it is nothing at all.”
Heavenly Father, grant that we might be great risk-takers for the kingdom of God. Shake us loose from the security of staying in the boat. Help us to walk on the waters of faith because we believe that Jesus will hold us up. Amen.

Creative Thinking

Creative thinking - you can be like a sponge, absorbing everything and anything, even the dirty water
or you could be panning for gold. sieving through the rubbish for the gold. 

Total Forgiveness

RT Kendall's book on Total Forgiveness
7 Steps on totally forgiving others

1. Make the deliberate and irrevocable choice not to tell anybody what they did
2. Be pleasant to them should you be around them
3. If conversation ensures, say that which would set them free from guilt
4. Let them feel good about themselves
5. Protect them from their greatest fear
6. Keep it up today, tomorrow, this year and next
7. Pray for them

The 5 stages in praying for our enemies

Duty

Debt

Desire

Delight

Durability





RT Kendall on Total Forgiveness

http://rtkendallministries.com/jwplayer/player.swf?width=500&height=410&flashvars=&player_width=500&player_height=380&file=https://s3.amazonaws.com/RTKM_Video/total_forgiveness_qtp.mp4

The Law of the Harvest

As you sow, so shall you reap.

In order to have an abundant crop this year, you have to follow particular steps, in order. You have to cultivate and prepare the ground. You have to plant and sow the seeds. You have to water and tend to your growing plants. Finally, you have to bring in the harvest at the right time and put it in a safe place.

If you try to take a shortcut with any of these steps, all of your efforts will have been for nothing.

In fact, a key element of the law of the harvest has to do with our mind and our attitude towards life.

Your mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.
Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so you may tend the garden of your mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts.

By pursuing this process, you sooner or later discover that you are the master gardener of your soul, the director of your life.

Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bear bad fruit. As the reaper of your own harvest, you learn both by suffering and bliss.

Let us alter our thoughts and we will be astonished at the rapid transformation it will effect in the material conditions of our lives.
http://www.morejoyinlife.com/the-law-of-the-harvest/

Ladders

Evaluate to Motivate

Possible techniques
1. COD - Content, Organization, Delivery
2. POSE - Positive, Objectives, Suggestions, Encouraging
3. GLOVE - Gestures, Language, Organization, Vocal Variety, Enthusiasm

not more faith but use the faith you have

When the apostles in  Luke 17:5 asked Jesus to increase their faith, His response shocked them. He told them they didn’t need a large amount of faith. A mustard seed size would do!

In man’s eyes mustard seed faith could never remove this mountain. But God back’s up His promises to us. God is so simple—He will not make things difficult for us, or make something out of our reach.
Matthew 17:20 says, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
Mark 9:23 says everything is possible for him who believes.
Mark 10:27 says that all things are possible for God.
So, how do we obtain Mustard Seed Faith?
God gives us the measure of faith (Romans 12:3).

OK so now we have mustard size seed faith. What do we do with it? How do we use it?

1. We need to get our minds off ourselves, off the other person, off the situation and focus completely on God. We need to see what Jesus has already done for us by His stripes and the cross, and look to the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus says trust in Him, He tells us so many times, "I tell you the truth," He watches over His Word to perform it.

2. Focus on building your own faith. The gift God gives you is enough, but you can build upon what you have.
Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
God’s Word is Truth; you build your faith by getting the truth into your heart.
Mark 16:18 says that if you believe you can lay hands on the sick and the sick will be made well. Healing is a sign following you when you obey God and lay hands on the people. 

3. Keep a close fellowship with God. Keep teaching others what God says about healing. Keep combining your faith with the faith of others. Keep doing what God tells you that you can do!
Mark 11:23-24 a prayer of faith. Now notice in verse 22 that it says "Have faith in God." This is where it all begins. The words I want you to focus on here are say, do not doubt, and believe what God says, ask and believe you receive. So when you pray you need to say the Word, talk the Word and act on the Word.
Hebrew 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God, because everyone who comes to Him must believe.
2 Cor. 5:7 says that we must live by faith NOT by sight. Seeing can be very deceiving. Keep your eyes on God.
1 John 5:14 says, that we can have confidence, that if we ask anything according to the Word of God then we will receive what we ask. This verse should steer us to the Word to see just what God’s will is concerning healing or anything for that matter.
You use the same faith to administer healing as you do when you believe that God created the world.
You use the same faith to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and you made a confession that He is your Lord and Savior.
You use the same faith to believe that you have received the Holy Spirit when you asked.
You use the same faith to believe you have received wisdom when you ask.
You use the same faith to believe God hears you when you pray.
You use the same faith to believe you are made righteous and justified after you are born again.
This same faith comes through you with power and conviction when you lay hands on people and pray for others to receive healing or deliverance.

4. Continue to work by love, develop this love in your life. 1 Cor. 13:2 says that faith has to be proceeded by love.
Jesus did all things with love and compassion for others.
1 Thes. 5:8 says to put faith and love on as a breastplate. Faith and love go hand in hand, and protect and shield your heart. Remember, God looks on your heart, your motives.
Jesus had mustard seed size faith, because He believed the Father. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). He lives in you. Use your faith!

Look at your tiny mustard seed, and see Jesus and the Power of the Holy Spirit working in you and act on this faith and move any mountains standing in your way.

http://www.tgm.org/MustardSeed.html

LoveSingapore - 40day2011

The Eleventh Hourhttp://www.lovesingapore.org.sg/40day11full.pdf

1. Early Warning
2. Search and Rescue
3. Seedtime and Harvest
4. Costly Grace
5. Waves of Disaster
6. Hour of Reckoning

Training time ... 40 days of Unlimted Power

This is the season in which our intimacy with Christ has to grow and the fruits tested. We gain wisdom in walking through the processes and seasons that God has laid before us. For if we pass through them successfully there is a great commission that we can fulfill more effectively with the leading of God's hand.

Week 1 - Prayer Walk
Week 2 - Pray for the Sick/Elderly
Week 3 - Party 1 (Fun get together)
Week 4 - "People" Treasure Hunt
Week 5 - Project - Visit and Serve the Poor
Week 6 - Party II (Celebrate & Tell a Story)

Eyes of Faith

Circumstances in your life may seem to only have an either/or resolution. Let the eyes of faith  perceive another way.

Father, my eyes have seen trouble, and my tent feels tattered and frail. But I know -- by faith -- that Your promises are true and trustworthy. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit, to understand which of Your promises and commands are to be my vision for this day. Amen.
http://www.biblrytr.com/eysof8th.htm
Moses
http://www.pbc.org/files/messages/10522/heb20.html

God IS in Control

There is no circumstances that exists without His knowledge or without God's approval. We might not always understand our circumstances or how our different situations will work out, but we need to learn to rest in God and trust in Him Prov 3:5
So since our ultimate destination is victory and glory, we should be easily able to trust God with everything in between, because God is in complete control over everything
So focus on the promises of God and trust in Him Romans 8:28   It means to trust in God's sovereignty even when things are scary because our own wisdom does not give us an answer.

Bitter Envy & Selfish Ambition - where does it end?

bitter envy and selfish ambition
James 3:13-18

When Selfishness, Pride and Money Divides People

http://ginaeubank.blogspot.com/2011/02/when-selfishness-pride-and-money.html

People need validation just by listening to them

Finding God's Path Through Trials

James 1
Hard times? Consider it an opportunity for great joy.
A time for the Testing of faith when we can only depend on God and realising God's grace is sufficient to get through the trials. Trusting God to use everything for His glory
Benefits brought by trials? endurance has a chance to grow, patience and empathy

Turn to Jesus, where we will find Hope, Joy, and Meaning in the journey, no matter how bumpy it seems.

There is purpose, wisdom and comfort in trails
http://bible.org/seriespage/god-works-through-trials-james-11-13

Before venturing where darts are flying...

I said, "I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
while in the presence of the wicked."

Ps 39:1 

Your prayer should be, "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe."
Having prayed, you must also watch; guarding every thought, word, and action, with holy jealousy. Do not expose yourselves unnecessarily; but if called to exposure, if you are bidden to go where the darts are flying, never venture forth without your shield (faith); for if once the devil finds you without your buckler, he will rejoice that his hour of triumph is come, and will soon make you fall down wounded by his arrows. Though slain you cannot be; wounded you may be. "Be sober; be vigilant, danger may be in an hour when all seemeth securest to thee." Therefore, take heed to thy ways, and watch unto prayer. No man ever fell into error through being too watchful. May the Holy Spirit guide us in all our ways; so shall they always please the Lord. Charles Spurgeon

Heart-work

"He did it with all his heart and prospered."

2 Chronicles 31:21

Consumerism

 “I shop, therefore I am.”
The plausibility of consumerism depends entirely on the apparent permanence of life in this world, we must continually remind each other-and ourselves-that this world and its lusts are indeed passing away (1 Cor. 7:30-31). “Sell your possessions and give to the poor,” Jesus says to us. “Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys” (Luke 12:33).

An EXTRA-ORDINARY life to live when you have a SUPERNATURAL encounter with God

How God Speaks to Ordinary People

God speaks to ordinary people, through His Word
1) as a love letter to Cherish Jer 15:16
2) as an instruction manual to Master 2Tim 3:16-17
3) as the wisdom of the ages to Ponder Josh 1:8
http://www.lotecommunity.org/messagenotes/AncientPathsPart02.pdf

Uncanny Coincidences

What's the meaning of this? When an errand needs to be done, I will land up there without even speaking about it. Example, 2 Sundays' ago when I urgently needed to get dog food, old mother Hubbard, went to the cupboard,... the cupboard was bare.  Lo and behold, we headed straight to Bukit Timah Plaza for dinner - first stop, the pet shop. Another example, I thought of taking Ma to have breakfast at Changi village and then Serangoon Gardens for early lunch for steak and then thought maybe we could go to the one in AMK3,but I forgot where it was. This same afternoon we seemed to be aimlessly driving around and landed in Changi Village for late lunch, and had Nasi Lemak. After a comment about prices of property jumping in Serangoon Gardens, we drove through it and then made a beeline for the AMK3 steak place for dinner.

"Understandest thou what thou readest?" Acts 8:30

We should be abler teachers of others, and less liable to be carried about by every wind of doctrine, if we sought to have a more intelligent understanding of the Word of God. As the Holy Ghost, the Author of the Scriptures is he who alone can enlighten us rightly to understand them, we should constantly ask his teaching, and his guidance into all truth. When the prophet Daniel would interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream, what did he do? He set himself to earnest prayer that God would open up the vision. The apostle John, in his vision at Patmos, saw a book sealed with seven seals which none was found worthy to open, or so much as to look upon. The book was afterwards opened by the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who had prevailed to open it; but it is written first--"I wept much." The tears of John, which were his liquid prayers, were, so far as he was concerned, the sacred keys by which the folded book was opened. Therefore, if, for your own and others' profiting, you desire to be "filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding," remember that prayer is your best means of study: like Daniel, you shall understand the dream, and the interpretation thereof, when you have sought unto God; and like John you shall see the seven seals of precious truth unloosed, after you have wept much. Stones are not broken, except by an earnest use of the hammer; and the stone-breaker must go down on his knees. Use the hammer of diligence, and let the knee of prayer be exercised, and there is not a stony doctrine in revelation which is useful for you to understand, which will not fly into shivers under the exercise of prayer and faith. You may force your way through anything with the leverage of prayer. Thoughts and reasonings are like the steel wedges which give a hold upon truth; but prayer is the lever, the prise which forces open the iron chest of sacred mystery, that we may get the treasure hidden within.

Year of His Presence

Ps Benny Ho's word of the season for 2011.
Only the tangible manifested presence of God can satisfy the heart.
        How to get into this zone of the manifested presence of God?
                                                       H  U  N  G  E  R
                                                                     pushes us into the wilderness
                                     3 Open Doors

1. door of IMTIMACY - renewed passion for God's presence

Songs of Solomon 5:2,3  Rev 3:20 

2. door of REVELATION - where we can hear Him speak from a fresh spiritual reality; intepret events.situation from a heavenly realm  Rev 4:1
3. door of HOPE - a fresh purpose, renewed passion for living; turn people's valley of trouble to doors of hope  Hosea 2:15

Great hearts can only be made by great troubles.

Deep trials and afflictions bring us to God, and we are happier; for nearness to God is happiness.

Attitude of gratitude

Declare war on grumbling

Fight for a thankful heart - replace a grumbling spirit with a thankful spirit. Change your song.

 

Building faith one doubt at a time

Imagine how different your outlook on life would be if you had the absolute confidence that God was with you? Imagine how differently you would respond to difficulties, temptations and even good things, if you knew with certainty that God was in all of it and was planning to leverage it for your good.

 

The surprising truth about what motivates us

Get up, go away!

Get up, go away!
   For this is not your resting place.
Micah 2:10

Time to move? Would the new place be better?
Dreaming that the streets are paved with gold?

Change must come from within, and you need to work on it. Your world doesn't magically change for the better by moving or running away.

The Holy Spirit - Fruit, Gifts, Work

Fruit of the Spirit
Gal 5:22,23 - What kind of fruit is in your basket?

Gifts of the Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 - Use it or else....
includes wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Similar lists appear in Ephesians 4:7-13 and Romans 12:3-8.

Work of the Holy Spirit
In 1 John 4, the great theologian and pastor Jonathan Edwards was able to identify five distinguishing characteristics of the Holy Spirit's work. In short, a true work of the Holy Spirit: (1) Exalts the true Christ, (2) Opposes Satan's interests, (3) Points people to the Scriptures, (4) Elevates truth, and (5) Results in love for God and others.

Impacting people around you a day at a time

Crazy dramas, daily struggles, great joys and deep hurts ...when you really think about it, a lot of our life is out of our control. This challenges us to trust God who is in control. Pray diligently - in prayer we find our security & strength in God.

"Next" the movie

A quote from "Next"
Here is the thing about the future. Every time you look at, it changes, because you looked at it, and that changes everything else.
How true is this?

e.g. in the Book of Daniel and Revelation, knowing what is to happen, what changes in you everytime you study it?

 

DANIEL: ON THE WAY TO THE FUTURE by Ray C. Stedman

http://www.pbc.org/files/messages/3102/0227.html 

The Parable of the Growing Seed

"The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. ²⁷He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows;he knows not how. ²⁸The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. ²⁹But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." Mark4:26-29

Sow God's word and He will do the rest

Sowing God’s Word (The Sowing Song)

Words by Harrison Woodard

 

Sung to the tune “Row Row Row Your Boat”

 

Sow, sow, sow, God’s Word

Plant it in your heart

Verily, verily, verily, verily

God will do his part

Sow, sow, sow, God’s Word

All throughout the day

Verily, verily, verily, verily

Faith will come to stay

 

Sow, sow, sow, God’s Word

Believe what you say

Verily, verily, verily, verily

Problems go away

 

Sow, sow, sow, God’s Word

Water it with praise

Verily, verily, verily, verily

Joy fills all your days

The Parable of the Growing Seed
http://www.michaelgrahamministries.org/mark/mark16.html


Jesus through the bible as told by a 11-year old
http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=76WDLLNX

Burning Bush

Lord, when the bush is burning, let me not burn lower as the fire does, but let me burn higher and higher


Did You Overlook Your Burning Bush?
Exodus 3:1-5
by Robert L. Cobb
http://www.newsforchristians.com/archive/sermons/ser006.html

The Burning Bush
by George Whitefield (1714-1770)
http://www.newsforchristians.com/clser1/whitefield013.html

He will carry you

C                                        Em             F
Their is no problem too big God cannot solve it
G7                                                          F    C  G7
Their is no mountain too tall He cannot move It
C                             Em                        F
Their is no storm too dark God cannot calm It
G7                                                        F    C  G7
Their is no sorrow too deep He cannot sooth It

      C                                   Em               F   
If He carried the weight of the world up on his shoulders
G7                                                 C    G7
I know my brother that He will carry you
      C                                     Em               F
If He carried the weight of the world up on his shoulders
G7                                              C   Em    
I know my sister that He will carry you, He said

Bridge:
Am         Em  G           D    Dm
Come on to me, all who are weary--y
    F        G7      C   G7
And I will give you rest


 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi8tajO11SM

In the furnace with God we grow in faith

Live by faith, not by sight  2 Cor 5:7

If God sends me harder tasks, I am assured that am growing as God entrust those He trusts with greater things Matt 25:14-30

Sorcery, Satanic or Sin?

Galatians 5:19

 ^19-21It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

How to help such a person?  Who becomes a drain on resouces: emotionally, mentally, financially without a care for others. Just the big I, Myself and Me. A black hole where everything and everyone gets sucked in and gone forever.

Is it a matter of inconvenience?

An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." GK Chesterton

OK Let's consider it an adventure.  

Refined by God's fire or be scorched by it

Fall in, therefore with the gracious design of God; follow every affliction with prayer, that God would follow it with his blessing. God kills your comforts, out of no other design but to kill your corruptions with them: wants are ordained to kill wantonness, poverty is appointed to kill pride, reproaches are permitted to pull down ambition: Happy is the man who understands, approves, and heartily sets in with the design of God, in such afflicting providences.



The Method of Grace
by John Flavel
http://www.gracegems.org/27/method_of_grace17.htm

Letting Go

^15-16On the other hand, if the unbelieving spouse walks out, you've got to let him or her go. You don't have to hold on desperately. God has called us to make the best of it, as peacefully as we can. You never know, wife: The way you handle this might bring your husband not only back to you but to God. You never know, husband: The way you handle this might bring your wife not only back to you but to God.

1 Cor 7:15-16 (The Message)

Don't Give Up

 

 2 Cor ^8, 9  We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken.

Gal 6 ^9-10 So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

Qualities of a Spiritual Warrior

Available for battle even in the face of danger
                             Read how God selected Gideon's soldiers 

It is too big, God says. So Gideon asks the fearful to leave (they were not available) 

Anticipate battle even during a time of ease
...but it is still too big. So they go to a brook to drink, and those who drink with their hands are asked to leave, but those who lap the water like dogs can stay (these were ready for battle).
This shrinks the army to 300, less than 1% of the original
Armed for battle with weapons of the Lord's choice
Trumpets (power of praise) and clay pots (smash the pots and the power of God is released)

Missio Dei

What is God’s mission? What is my role in that? The term missio dei (mission of God) implies that God has a purposeful plan... looking forward to the details in tonight's sermon by Dr. Doug Norwood

The Writing is on the Wall

In a fix and have tried every possible way out? God wants a surrendered heart that will humbly submit to Him. Instead of trying to fix the problem yourself, seek Him for answers.


We don't know God's timetable. Sometimes it feels like He's going too fast, sometimes it feels like He's taking too long.  Regardless, trust God to know not only where, what and how but also when.

Fear of the mysterious future unknown?  For all we don't know, we know Who does.  Really, there is nothing to worry about.

The Writing is on the Wall

Encouraging one another

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

1 Thess 5:11 (ESV)

Pray Until Something Happens (PUSH)

Keep praying, but be thankful that God's answers are wiser than your prayers - William Culbertson

Start practising by praying for car park space.

Be specific in prayer

John 16:24 (English Standard Version)

Until now you have asked nothing in my name.  Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Jeremiah 33:3

Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come. (Do you need wisdom? Ask. Do you need clarity on a matter? Ask. )

When praying for specific and direct requests, God will answer accordingly.
http://www.sharelifeministries.org/lessons/print_lesson.cfm?id=181

God of SUDDENLYs

We are in a Suddenly Season!

Suddenly - happening, coming or done quickly without warning or unexpectedly ---occurring without transition from a previous state.

We are entering a time where the things that are going to happen in your life will come quickly, without warning – this manifestation will occur without logical progression.

We are in a season where God is going to do things suddenly. If you are walking in faith and believing God for manifestation, be on the LOOK-out for a sudden, rapid, swift change.

http://www.agachurch.org/SiteFiles/102060/Content/documents/A_Suddenly_Season.doc

In God's Hands

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
Daniel proceeded to indicate in detail—the meaning of the vision. "You are the head of gold. And after you shall arise a kingdom inferior to you, and another third kingdom. And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, forasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things." Thus history ever reads. One kingdom gives place to another. The greatest kingdoms are pushed aside—and thrust down by the less. Not only among nations is this true; we see the same in families and among individuals. The rich of one generation, are the poor of the next. The high in rank today, are forgotten tomorrow. Thrones built by human hands crumble. God can humble the proudest whenever He desires. He can destroy the head of gold; and crush the arms of silver; and break the legs of brass; and demolish the feet of iron and clay! "The snowflakes of Russia humbled Napoleon's pride, and the raindrops at Waterloo sent him into exile!"

There is a story of an emperor in whose realm, there was a rebellion. Certain of his subjects were in revolt. The emperor was setting out to the scene of the uprising, and said to his nobles, "Come with me and see me destroy those rebels!" But when he reached the province he showed only kindness to those in revolt. He treated them with gentleness and affection. The result was that they laid down their arms—and became his most loyal subjects. His nobles reminded him of his words to them, "Come and see me destroy my enemies!" He replied, "I have destroyed my enemies; I have made them my friends!" This illustrates Christ's conquest—and the way He extends His kingdom. It is set up not by force of arms—but by love; it rules our hearts!http://gracegems.org/Miller/nebuchadnezzars_dream.htm
J.R. Miller

God Opens Doors

The Real Presence—What Is It?

Many believers are overly anxious about what they shall do in their last sickness, and on the bed of death. Many disquiet themselves with anxious thoughts—as to what they would do if husband or wife died, or if they were suddenly turned out of house and home. Let us believe that when the need comes—the help will come also. Let us not carry our crosses—before they are laid upon us! He who said to Moses, "Certainly I will be with you!" will never fail any believer who cries to Him. When the hour of special storm comes, the Lord who walks upon the waters will come and say, "Peace! Be still." There are thousands of doubting saints continually crossing the river of death, who go down to the water in fear and trembling, and yet are able at last to say with David, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil—for You are with me!" (Psalm 23:4).

http://www.gracegems.org/23/real_presence.htm
by J. C. Ryle

Wisdom for the Wise

"He gives wisdom to the wise—and knowledge to the discerning." Daniel 2:21

Natural knowledge puffs up its possessor, and the more he has—the more self-sufficient he deems himself. But it is the very opposite with spiritual wisdom—the more God bestows of that upon His child—the more ignorant and stupid he feels himself to be—and the more dependent upon the Holy Spirit does he become. Then it is, that he really values that precious promise "If any of you lacks wisdom—let him ask of God—who gives to all liberally and upbraids not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5). The truly "wise" person will not only greatly prize such a promise—but he will daily make use of it, mixing faith therewith, pleading it before the throne of grace, and obtaining answers of peace. As it is "when I am weak [in myself]—then am I strong" (2 Cor. 12:10), so it is when we (spiritually speaking) conduct ourselves as "babes" that God reveals unto us what is hidden from the worldly "wise and learned" (Matthew 11:25).

http://www.gracegems.org/Pink2/wisdom_for_the_wise.htm
Arthur Pink

Spiritual Gifts : Wisdom

"To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit." (1 Cor. 12:8 NIV)

The Spiritual Gift of Wisdom Defined

The gift of wisdom is the ability to have insight into people and situations that is not obvious to the average person, combined with an understanding of what to do and how to do it. It is the ability to not only see, but also apply the principles of God's Word to the practical matters of life by the "Spirit of wisdom" (Eph. 1:17).

 

People with the Gift of Wisdom

These people often have an ability to synthesize biblical truth and apply it to people's lives so that they make good choices and avoid foolish mistakes. These people today function well as coaches, counselors, and consultants.

http://theresurgence.com/2009/04/26/spiritual-gifts-wisdom

Mark Driscoll

Conviction vs Preference

A conviction is a belief that you will not change. Why? A man believes that his God requires it of him. Preferences aren’t protected by the constitution. Convictions are. A conviction is not something that you discover, it is something that you purpose in your heart (cf. Daniel 1, 2-3). Convictions on the inside will always show up on the outside, in a person’s lifestyle. To violate a conviction would be a sin.

http://bible.org/illustration/conviction-versus-preference
David C. Gibbs

Symphony of Praise

We Have Come to Worship Him

by John Piper 

True worship is not just ascribing authority and dignity to Christ; it is doing this joyfully. It is doing it because you have come to see something about Christ that is so desirable that being near him to ascribe authority and dignity to him personally is overwhelmingly compelling.

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/we-have-come-to-worship-him

Walk in the Light

Isaiah 2:5—"O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord." Oh that the literal "house of Jacob" would walk in the light of Jehovah by acknowledging Jesus, who is the Dayspring from on high! Alas, they refuse the light, for the veil is upon their hearts! Let us pray for the assembling of the tribes of Israel. Surely "it shall come to pass in the latter days." (Verse 2)

Accept This Invitation.