Beware of what you put into your mind!

Hi everyone! How's everything been for the past few days of work or studies..it's always good to take a break right? And that's what Friday nights are for..alright just a recap on what Ps. Gideon had preached the last concurrent...

WE ARE TO BECAREFUL ON WHAT WE READ!

Especially books which you are not supposed to be reading. Examples witchcraft, vampire and etc!! You might think it is not harmful to you. You probably might be thinking, "It's just a book only whatt", "What can it do to me? After I read also I cant remember wan", "The book teach me good values also worr". Yes, you might be partially right BUT look at how the "good values" are brought forward through readings like that. Through witchcraft and ways that God doesn't like it either!

Just a small part of correction :)

"I think some of the youths have misunderstood me and taken my answer out of context. I made this statement - "Some people say that these books encourage reading so why are we so against reading?" My answer was - "Well, my question to you is whether you have read your Bible from Genesis to Revelation already? If you have not done so, you have no business reading those kinds of books about vampire, witchcraft etc."

What I meant was - "If you want to instill a reading culture, you should start with reading your Bible. If you want to create a reading habit, your reading material should be the Bible. If you can't even read your Bible from Genesis to Revelation, reading a paperback of 400-500 pages like Twilight will not help you instill a reading habit. So the argument of encouraging reading does not arise"

I did NOT mean - "If you have read your Bible from Genesis to Revelation then you can go ahead to read books like Twilight which is on vampire & witchcraft"

My stand is clear - "We as Christians should not be reading any books that will cause us to compromise our faith and doubt God. If it doesn't glorify God then we should not be reading it. As far as Twilight & Harry Potter is concern, we should not read it because its medium of communication is using witchcraft & sorcery even though it has good morals"

I did make the statement that - "Our Bible should be our foundation so that we know what is good & evil but this applies to books that we don't know their content nature is all about. But if books like Twilight & Harry Potter which we already know their content nature about witchcraft & vampire, we should not even pick it up to read."

How to Get along with Your Parents!

Just to refresh your memory. ;)

Rev. Mike Constantine 19/7/2009

Why must we get along with our parents?
Ephesians 6
-we will have long and good life.
- in God you can grow & learn.

-You need freedom to discover your personality or who you are.
but never abuse your freedom. :)

- as responsibilities increases, parental control decreases.
You desire for more freedom? Then, show more responsibility in the way you handle your studies, life choices and etc.

-when freedom are abused, parents exert MORE control.
that is why, when given freedom do not abuse it

William tell Mom- Youtube


-Make wise decision & live with the consequences.

"Parental control becomes parental influence"
When we're taught about things or being restrained from somethings since we were young it will be a lifestyle as we grow older.

-style is a matter of choice


1. Honor: respect, appreciate
Show them respect for who they are

2. Submit: do not rebel
Recognising their authority

"Cleaning this gun" by Rodney Youtube



Girls must understand that they are in more danger than the guys are. Your parents are not protective or sexist. They just love you very much. :)

3. Appeal, do not assault
Learn to speak nicely to them and not be harsh. Think bout it, wud they listen to you more when you run about shouting and slamming the door or when you speak to them in a good manner?

4. Love, helping them helps you.

5. Encourage
encourage them in times like this.
in their work, let them know that you care
appreciate them not only on mothers/fathers day
they work hard to raise you up :)

6. Forgive
-if you let unforgiveness mount up in your heart, you will turn bitter.

MOST IMPORTANT
NEVER LIE
"How can anything be good for you, if you have to lie to your parents about it?"

Have a great week ahead! It is going to be an awesome week amen!?
I pray for strength to be upon you and that God will continue to minister to you throughout the week!

Challenge yourself to make a difference!

Remember to fast and pray! :)

Till the next concurrent!

It'll be easier on the roads now.

Tank hit empty?

Breakdown?
You've gotten so far and now you've lost it?

Many times we've felt this way and we just let go easily most of the time. We breakdown. We turn to our pastors and call our close ones, thinking maybe they can help but always end up realizing that all they can do is hear us out but they can never fill that emptiness inside of us. So, what really is the answer? How do we get back on track? The answer's just right in front of our eyes. Just take a look at the signboards. It has always been there for us but yet we never really use it. We never tried it. We turn to other directions which only gets us lost. In fact, we'll just stop after feeling worn out, tired, dry and weary.

Here's where we should turn to:

GOD.

Matthew 11:28-30. ²⁸"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

• So now u know where to turn? Are u sure? Well, God said turn to Him. Mp3/4s', Walkman s', I pod's, friends, pastors, aren't Him. All these materials and humans can only distract you for that moment but it isn't the right turning you're looking for. Him= JESUS. For God, and God alone can renew, refresh and recharge us.

• -and I will give you rest. God WILL give u rest. He did not say 'I might', 'Maybe', or 'I'll take into consideration' to give us rest but He said He WILL. And that is a GUARANTEE! So, fret not, doubt not and fear not but believe it.

• ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."What exactly is God saying here? A yoke is never light. In fact, it is very heavy. God was trying to say that if you choose to follow him and do things his way, you will find that you're yoke will actually get easy. Which means, put God the center of everything in your life. Pray and seek his answers and obey Him. ''Yoke is not an egg yoke ahhh!''-Pastor Gideon. Here's what a yoke is:

It's that inhumane thing on the oxes!

We need to do things with God's strength and not ours. With God's help, things will always be easier and we'll always be on the right track. God's yoke is easy and His burden is light for He will be carrying it along side you. He shall not let u do it on your own and He will never make things too hard for u. Besides, spiritual things can only be done by spiritual strength. When we do things our way, we tend to forget that God is in control and rely on our own physical strength. And that's how we get tired and worn out, physically AND spiritually. 3 Steps on how to avoid burnouts:-
1.Develop habits that refresh u physically.

• Rest.
• Balanced diet.
• Regular exercise.

^{For 1 Corinthians writes:
20}you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

2. Develop habits that recharge u emotionally.

• Solitude.

^{Mark 6:31}Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

• Recreation.

• Laughter.
  

Proverbs 17: ²² A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

3.Develop habits that renew u spiritually.

• Daily quite time with God.

2 Corinthians 4: ¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

• Small groups. (cell)

Ecclesiastes 4:

⁹ Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:

¹⁰ If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

¹² Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

• Worship. (God)

Psalms 59:16

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Conclusion: Turn to God for strength. Only He can refill your tank. And He WILL give u rest. There is no other way. Follow Him. Do things God's way and You'll find that His yoke is light. Finally, you're not superhuman. Everything and everyone burns out. You gotta take care of yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Now U know where to refill your tank?
You wont hit empty anymore.
It'll be easier on the roads now.

-inplanned