Character Development is a personal choice.

Reflections and thoughts:

I was pondering today with how invested we are in developing our character. Does it even matter to pay attention to personal character development? What are our motivations to do so?

Subconsciously or conciously, what are the factors that build our character?

Do we have strong sense of compass? That directs us towards a direction of living a life with greater purpose and impact.

Where are we truly in our personal character development? Are we comitted to it?

Character development is a personal choice.

What are your thoughts about this?

Daily ponder: In times of trials

The past two year has been the most difficult of the most, maybe you have experienced a salary cut, a job loss, a business, loss someone. Maybe the bills are piling up and the debts is just growing and provisions seems no-where in sight.

These are moments of trials, I have been reading through revelations and it was prophesied there that God’s people will go through extreme persecutions and hardship. What should we do when we do when we are in times of trial and even worse.

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

Revelation 14:12

We are called to remain faithful to Jesus to the end.

Nobody in the right mind would actually like to pursue a life of suffering and pain. We are actually inclined to live a life in pursuit of convenience and happiness. But life is not like that. It is an illusion, the Bible is clear that there will be trials and tribulations, many faithful men and women to the Lord died a tragic death continually professing faith to Christ. We are called to be faithful to the end to Jesus because we know that this time on earth is only temporary and eternity is set before us. Dead has not sting on those who believe and put their faith on Christ.

We are called to patient endurance.

In the middle of suffering and pain, we normally express “How long oh Lord I must suffer” the very same lines as King David expressed in the book of Psalms. It is okay to express to the Lord our grievances, but no matter what it our clear picture of who He is and His promises that will keep us on the journey of patient enduring. We can be patient knowing we have a promised keeper with us. We have a faithful God that is beyond what this physical life and the is the hope we have in Him. I am no seeker of a reward, but it is who promises it and desires to give it to those who remain faithful to the end.

Friend, If you are reading this. Thank you! It is my prayer that this thought of the day, spoke well to your soul. There is no such thing as an accident, everything happens weather we accept this or not. As you come across this blog of mine, this might be for you or a person you know. God bless your heart and your whole being!

Daily Ponder: A purpose and a mission

It’s been seven months away from home, here I am in a foreign land, my temporary home maybe for the next five to 10 years. I choose a life which for the many is never easy, what is a normal to me might just be a trauma and too stressful, on the uncertainties it may bring.

Here I am starting life all over again. Too often I am ask what I missed the most? Or Do I miss my home country?

To be honest, I don’t miss my country what I miss are the people who showed so much love and care. I miss them and I remember them well. Thank God for technology, I sincerely feel they are so near though far away.

I have a purpose and a mission to fulfill, two things that keeps me grounded to why I am doing what I am doing. A purpose and a mission enough to make me leave my comfort zone and dearest friends.

It is easy to quit with things are going tough! when uncertainties are piling up and you may feel there no-where to go nor run. I remind myself of my purpose and my mission, For God’s glory and honor, In obedience I will go.

Where do you lean on?

Daily Ponder: #022

I don’t understand, I have given my best, I have tried to do all that is possible on my end but things don’t seem to be moving in the expected direction. I felt trap and frustrated.

As I battle through these emotions earlier, I got reminded of proverbs 3:5-6. Lean not one your own understanding, I was trying to grasp the events but I couldn’t. But I got reminded to trust in the lord and bring into submission that weighs my heart.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Things may not make sense at the moment, nor in the coming days but I can trust the Lord that this too is His will. This is an opportunity to lean on him all the more, to trust in Him. This is a growing opportunity, to grow in trusting Him and His words.

His ways are perfect, It’s tried and tested. I have experienced that and there will always be moments in my life I need to go back to that. In trusting Him, I submit in His Lordship and His leadership, He knows best for me.

Submission may not be easy for you. Trusting may have been the hardest, But He isn’t human. He is beyond compared. He knows and He listens. He will always have the better plans, nor directions.

Feeling vs. Facts

Daily Ponder: #021

Life can be filled and met with frustrations and struggles. I don’t know what challenges you are experiencing, the depth nor darkness you might feel you are in. It is my prayer that this thought today would be of help.

Your feelings are valid! It is real! I remind myself this and recognize my humanity. Never invalidate that. We need to pay attention to what are our emotions is saying to us. It is an invitation to ourselves for a self talk. Permit yourself to feel and experience that moment, don’t be afraid, explore and discover this emotions.

However…. Yes…. However..

We also need to come to terms to a greater reality and a greater truth. We can’t afford to be stock in a pit of emotions. We can’t let is as well over rule us. We need to see beyond the feeling and labels we attach in it. We need to seek a bigger perspective, a way out of ourselves, or of our own world. Seeking a different perspective and a different voice. You don’t need to rush in it nor force yourself.

We need the brutal facts! It can go against our egos, pride and arrogance. Brutal facts are coming to terms that we can be very wrong, that we magnified something so little we made it into a monster. You may not want to hear it, you may not want to recognize it, but you know deep inside you will come to it one day.

I respect space and phase, I remind myself that actually. Moving to facts takes phasing, some takes slowly, some takes it faster. May you enjoy the learning, may you be merciful towards yourself, may you be forgiving and accepting towards your shortcomings. Permit yourself the time you need. What matters is you are moving to the grater truth and greater facts.

There is a hope, a future and a life. There is healing and growth. There is a light in every darkness. You are not hopeless. You are valued. You have a purpose. You are a blessing to humanity.

Not sharing is a form of isolation.

Daily Ponder: #020

This caught my attention while watching doom patrol, while the context of this is for the team to open up and have conversations, It resounded in me as well as I work with a team and this applies as well in life key relationships. Here are some of my thoughts and would love you hear what you think about it as well.

Un-intentional isolation

Sometimes we aren’t really aware we are keeping it to ourself. In most cases you might have been so used to it, it’s doesn’t bother to share.

Intentional Isolation

Most often this happens out of fear, fear of being known, being rejected, being seen as something else, fear of being seen as weak. But it can also be out of pride, selfishness and arrogance.

To share is to be vulnerable.

To be vulnerable is never easy, it is never comfortable. Vulnerability is a strength and sign of humility.

The strength of working relationship is trust, foundational in teams and personal lives. It also takes wisdom in communicating but never the less, we must gather the strength to speak up when needed specially opening up areas in our lives that we may invite others to come and help, provide advise and assistance.

Daily Ponder: #019

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Revelation 3:19 NIV

As I went through the Book of Revelations today at chapter 3 verse 9. I was reminded of how love operate in our lives and in our community.

Love does not tolerate what is wrong, rather out of love it addresses issues that does not please the other. In this case, the issues was that the people of faith in laodica was neither cold or hot. this is where the rebuke came from. Hence an invitation to repentance.

Love invites us to change that leads to repentance. Godly love will always bring the best in us that transforms us to Christ-likeness. Biblically we are to transform into the character of Christ.

Repentance is also a fruit of love, because of it’s genuine intention and motivation that springs from a revelation of God.

Daily Ponder : The Love you have lost

#018

 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Revelation 2:4-5 NIV

The Love you had first

One of the interpretation is that Ephesus had lost its early love for Christ. Another interpretation is that Ephesian believers had lost its love for one another and needed to revive compassionate works they did at first. Many interpreters think both are in view, since love for christ and love for one another is related.

ESV STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY

My thoughts:

Our tendency to lost our love for Christ, over theological knowledge and wisdom is one of the many battle a Christian has to weight in and check our hearts carefully. We can be passionately zealous for the mission, for the ministry, for evangelism, public ministry and have a heart so far from Christ is a pity.

On another extreme, we have lost grace towards fellow believers on their failings, shortcomings and probably their convictions aren’t satisfying enough on our eyes. The community becomes dry of love when to much driven on working and no loving relationship exist.

Our love for Christ, over flows in our relationships and community. We will always be in a heart check, knowing our sinful tendency, But praise be to God for His grace in our lives that enables us to repent and go back to our first love. Jesus Christ.

Daily Ponder #018 Alpha & Omega

 I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 1:8

Jesus is the beginning of all history, The CREATOR and the goal for all whom all things are made. All history moving towards glorifying Him.

More than being a a comforting verse, it is a power for those who believes. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega. When our lives are fully submitted to him, we are relieved from the cares and worries of this world.

He knows your beginning, he knows your failings, your darknest past, your shame, your brokenness. He knows. Nothing is hidden, everything is bare naked and fully known before him.

He knows the end as well. He knows the journey, you will go through. He know every inch of it.

WHO HE IS MATTERS above all, His character cannot be likened to humanity. Perhaps the question is do we know him? Or do you associate God with the failings of parents, christians friends or on what you see on those who claims to be of faith? Are we living a life in pursuit of of knowing him more?

May we live lives that is centered on Jesus, He is the way, they truth and the life. He is the Alpha and the Omega. May we live lives that desires to give more glory and honor towards him.

May He be your Alpha and Omega.

Daily Ponder: #017

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Jude 20–21 NIV

The best antidote to the lies of this world is by building up our most holy faith. Build is the key word. This entails labor on our end, the discipline and effort, the humility and a hear that desires God more than anything else.

Build the faith, not out of obligation but rather out of the revelation of the underserved grace, mercy and love. Build the faith because we cherish it the most.

Praying in the Holy Spirit does not mean talking to God about our agendas but rather in a sense praying in harmony with the leading of the Holy Spirit.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Romans 8:26-27 NIV

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Ephesians 6:18 NIV