PRAY AND FAST

TheBETTERLife Post
Week of December 29, 2014-January 3, 2015

It is true that how we finish is more important than how we start. But sometimes if we start out on the wrong side we may never get to the finish line. For this reason, it is important that we start well by inquiring from the Lord who knows the end from the beginning. One of the best ways to do this is through prayer and fasting.

Prayer is the official communication means between man and God. When combined with fasting, prayer properly positions us to receive signals and direction in the form of ideas, insights, concepts and discernment from God.

Why bother to ask God?

Because most of us have plans for tomorrow. Yet, none of us knows tomorrow. What appears to us to be the right way and the right plan at first can lead to disaster in the end. But if we commit our ways to the Lord God and trust in him; if we acknowledge him in all our ways and do not lean on our own understanding or plan, he will direct our steps. No one will argue that prayer of inquiry is better than a prayer of rescue because many are the plans in a man;s heart but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

That is why our loving Father God who knows the end from the beginning declares to all: "Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things that you do not know. For I know the plans that I have for you. They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope".

So, before we set out to do anything we have planned for the coming months in new year, let us heed God's call. Let us inquire from the Lord and trust him with all our hearts to lead us. We are free to make our plans but let us not rely on what we know. Rather let us acknowledge God and ask him to direct our paths in the new year. With God leading, we believe that 2015 shall go down in history as our year of undeniable DOMINION.

#PastorPeterOkaka, #TheBETTERLife, #FreshwaterChristianHouse, #Fastingandpraying, #newyear, #dominion

FOLLOW YOUR HEART? IT DEPENDS...

TheBETTERLife Post
Week of December 22-27, 2014

FOLLOW YOUR HEART?  It Depends...

"Just follow your heart” is a common advice we give to friends and people we know without thinking of what might be resident in their hearts.

Following our hearts is only as good as what lies in our hearts.
~ Adolf Hitler followed his heart and he brought war and death to the world.
~ Martin Luther King Jr. followed his heart and he brought life and freedom to the world
~ Judas Iscariot followed his heart and ended up with suicide.

For our hearts to lead us in the right direction, we must first put the right stuff in there.

So next time you want to advice a friend to follow their heart, it might be good to first ask them “what’s in your heart”? Or more appropriately: “who lives in your heart”?. And before you follow your own heart, ask yourself the same question. There is a way that appears to be right to a person but in the end it leads to death.

But God has a better way - The JESUS WAY.

Jesus does not just know the way to go, he is The WAY!

On JESUS WAY, there is no night, darkness or confusion corners because Jesus is the LIGHT - a lamp for our feet by night and light on our paths by day!

On JESUS WAY you do not need directional signs because Jesus will not just show you the way, he will walk with you and lead you along.

As the good shepherd, he feeds, guides and shield us. When he leads, we do not lack because he makes us to lie down in fresh tender, green pastures.
~ He leads us beside the still and restful waters.
~ He refreshes and restores our souls.
~ He leads us in the paths of righteousness just to honour his name.

Yes, though we may walk through the scary and sunless valleys of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil. Why? The Almighty is with us.
~ His rod and staff is there to protect and guide us, and that brings comfort!
~ When the enemy comes our way, Jesus rises to the task and spreads a red carpet for us to have a feast while the enemy watches in frustration and afar off.
~ He honours us by anointing our heads with oil while his angels fill our cups with overflowing blessings.

Following this shepherd guarantees that only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow us all the days of our lives.

This is why we have made a covenant to follow this shepherd and live in his house forever.

JESUS WAY is the big WHY of Christmas. So choose to follow the JESUS WAY this Christmas and always

Merry Christmas!

#PastorPeterOkaka, #FreshwaterChristianHouse
#TheBetterLife
#JESUS, #Christmas, #life, #reflections

IS TRUTH RELATIVE?

TheBETTERLife Post
Week of December 15-20, 2014

Some have informed us that there is no such thing as truth and that if truth does exists, it cannot be known. Others asserted that everything is true and nothing is true, insisting that truth is whatever the individual chooses to call truth and that 'what is true for one is not necessarily true for another' Does that sound familiar?

Well, if you carefully listen to the argument you would realize that much of the confusion lies in information overload. In our technologically advanced Information Age, there appears to be too much to browse and too many options to choose from. As a result many have become confused about the truth.

THE WAY I SEE IT

In nature, some things are similar while others are opposite. Opposite things are usually easy to distinguish but not so easy with similar things. In both cases however, we do have  common grounds.

First, similar things are not the same things. For example, in some of our nocturnal cities, midnight may look exactly like midday. It's as bright and busy as noonday. But no one will argue that midnight - no matter how bright and busy - is not the same as midday.

Second, similar things may be identical in looks but opposite in composition.
Some identical twins are difficult to distinguish. Again, you'll agree that no matter how identical such twins may look, they are different people. Often, they are different in gender, temperament and other important compositional make up.

Third, whatever is true must  of necessity be constant or eternal in nature. It must be affected by variable conditions. Making truth the reference from which all others take their bearings.

From these we may simply conclude that:

1. TRUTH does exist and can be known. Just because we don't know which one is true does not mean that none is true or that all is true.

2. TRUTH is not relative. For anything to be relative it must take its bearing from a constant. Whatever that constant is must also be the truth. Therefore, truth cannot be relative to itself.

The only one that meets all these conditions is JESUS.

JESUS declared and demonstrated that he is the TRUTH. "I am the way the TRUTH and life" he said. Some may sound like the TRUTH but are not the same as TRUTH. Some may act like the TRUTH but they are in fact lies.

JESUS demonstrated by his birth, death, resurrection, Holy Spirit as well as his promised return, that he is the TRUTH that was, is and ever will be. Some may claim deity but none transcends time and change like JESUS.

To know JESUS is to know the truth and to know the truth is to look intently and reverently into the WORD of God.

May this be for you a week of discoveries and blessings! In Jesus' name.

#PastorPeterOkaka, #FreshwaterChristianHouse
#TheBetterLife
#JESUS, #Christmas, #life, #reflections

DEATH DONUTS ~ THE UNIDENTIFIED KILLER [5]

~ DEATH DONUTS ~ THE UNIDENTIFIED KILLER [5]
[the case of the good life and the better life]

DEATH DONUTS are the delicious and desirable sweet things we eat, see, hear, think and do regardless of our conscience alarm that these are not good for us. Death donuts may be pleasant to see and sweet to taste at first but in the end they will cause chaos, confusion, disaster and death.

Death donuts have been sold and served by the Serpent Restaurant since the days of Adam and Eve and is still here today. With one hand the Waiters serve death donuts and with the other hand they flag a sign: "did your father say you should not eat death donuts? Don't mind your mom, death donuts won’t kill you right away"
While the foolish son takes, eats and pays the high price, the wise son walks away free remembering what The Father said:

 "My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck. When you walk, their counsel will lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up, they will advise you.

 For their command is a lampand their instruction a light; their corrective discipline is the way to life. It will keep you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of a promiscuous woman.

 Don’t lust for her beauty. Don’t let her coy glances seduce you. For a prostitute will bring you to poverty, but sleeping with another man’s wife will cost you your life.

 Can a man scoop a flame into his lapand not have his clothes catch on fire? Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? So it is with the man who sleeps with another man’s wife. He who embraces her will not go unpunished”. (Proverbs 6:20-29) nlt

Think and Talk about It:
1. Can anyone live on a meal of sugars and not suffer health problems?
2. In ways are we commonly tempted to eat, see, think and do things that we know are bad for us?
3. How can we arm ourselves to make good choices on the day of temptation?

#PeterOkaka
Freshwater Christian House - KW -ON
#Sacrificeandstrategies, November 2014
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