Tag: Paul

Posted in My Little Story

MY LITTLE STORY: DON’T QUIT

Posted on by Uplifting Christ

Ethiopia_London2012_APLondon 2012 Olympics went on smoothly without any interruption despite several bomb threats. I really enjoyed the games but one race that caught my attention most was the Women’s Marathon. It was inspiring and I enjoyed watching. Tiki Gelena from Ethiopia had all the reasons to quit the race yet she continued to finish, setting a new Olympic record of 2hrs 23min 07sec.

Tiki Gelena fell twice but it didn’t stop her from running. In an interview, she told the reporter that “When I fell, I said, ‘Oh, wow, I’m not going to finish,’ But I just concentrated on running. All of a sudden, I made it.” She thought about pulling out after a hard fall that bloodied her right elbow but she found a new motivation, and headed on the road. In the end, she won the race. I was surprised when she said she had not felt any pain during the tense excitement of the race. She said “It didn’t stop me from running,”

Lesson

There is lesson to learn from Gelena’ story as believers. We don’t have to quit when we fall down or hit obstacle(s). It doesn’t matter the number of times you might have fallen in the past, you can get up again and concentrate on running. Satan will whisper the thought of quitting into your ears but let them enter in one ear, and leave through the other. You shouldn’t allow his lies to stop you from running. Know that Jesus is your strength. Paul said that “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Jesus is your strength. There is a gold medal that awaits you at the finishing line.Tiki

One thing I observed after her fall was that some athletics pulled out of the race because of fatigue but she ran on. She didn’t allow the pain from the fall to hinder her from winning the race.

I don’t know the area(s) in your life where you have fallen, maybe once or twice or many times, but I believe you can get up, like Tiki Gelena did, to complete the race. Be encouraged today to get up today, clean yourself, and start running because God is going to send down rain that will carry you through the finishing line. Don’t quit in life.

 

Posted in GIVING, SOUL FOOD, Uplifting Christ

Don’t Get Tired

Posted on by Uplifting Christ

hope against hopeSo let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we reap a harvest of blessings if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9, NLT)

In February 2011, one of my workers came to my house to talk about his family issues. After hearing his story there was nothing I could do than to grant him the loan he came for to pay his son’s school fees. He promised to return the money before the month ends. The month ended, the year 2011 ended, 2012 ended, 2013 is about ending, and I haven’t received the money. He had different reason(s) any time we talked about it so I finally decided to write it off as bad debt. I was helping a brother in need but I ended up losing.

In 2012, several other people came for money they promised to pay back but they never did. The story has been the same this year.

Someone asked me why I have not learnt lesson(s) from the past? Or why do I still open up to people when they are in need?

I told him what Paul said to the Galatians that “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good…”.  As Christians our job is to be our brother’s keeper. Proverbs 3:27-28 says “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

Some people will pay you evil for good but that shouldn’t prevent you from extending helping hands to the needy. Always remember that God has blessed you to be a blessing. I had had similar experiences in the past but I am not going to let that discourage me from doing what is good.

In the same way, don’t let what people do hinder you from receiving the best from the Lord. Keep doing your best. Keeping helping those in need, don’t get tired.

Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The Generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:24-25, NLT)

Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who closed their eyes to poverty will be cursed. (Proverbs 28:27, NLT)

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we reap a harvest of blessings if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9, NLT

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. (Matthew 5:7, NLT)

 

 

 

Posted in CONTROLLING SELF, NEW CREATION, SOUL FOOD

Empty your Recycle Bin

Posted on by Uplifting Christ

recycle binThe recycle bin keeps unwanted or deleted files on the computer. Although we delete these files, they occupy space on the computer hard drive. The user must empty the recycle bin to get rid of them permanently as there may be the temptation to restore what has been deleted.

In the same way, we must empty our “recycle bin” to get rid of anything that slows us down in our walk of Faith. The “recycle bin” could be your wardrobe, CD bag, Bedroom, Fridge, Office, relationship, certain channels on TV, etc. There may be some clothes you do not want to wear, movies you do not want to watch, songs you do not want to listen to, drinks you have said “No” to, certain thoughts, etc. You no longer use or need them but you still have them in your bags, office, fridge, wardrobe, etc. These things should be deleted permanently so that we can run our race well. Paul said “since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down…” Hebrews 12:1

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.” Matthew 9:17 NLT

Search your life today; are there things in your wardrobe, fridge, room, office, relationship with people, life, etc that you need to delete permanently? Be encouraged to do it today. God will not descend from heaven to do it for you. It is your responsibility dear friend.

I want to encourage you to empty your recycle bin. Let your “No” be “No”. The enemy of your new life in Christ is your old life in the world. Therefore keeping things of your old life will slow you down. God bless you!