Life in Exclamation Mark
By: Stella Tabelon
(Psalm 103:2-5)
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
My late sister Gilda, who was one of my greatest teacher told me that an exclamation mark could liven up the story. As a kid, I remember the level of excitement ever quite reaching a fever pitch every time my sisters and I learn languages and playing musical instruments. Likewise, my sisters and I experience broad range of emotions in different situations and given events in our walk with God, the exclamation mark reminds us to slow down, something exciting and surprising is happening.
In Romans 8:28 Paul writes, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
and
(Psalm 103:2-5)
says
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
So, it is good to spend time to bless, listen and talk to God and seek His will. Starting a life in exclamation mark is really embracing a life with a new found confidence and joy by standing firm in God's promises and walking on that promise while trusting Him completely. He is always faithful to complete it in you!
Lesson:
Run for the intensity of your entire experience. Let your physical exclamation, mental exclamation, emotional exclamation, financial exclamation and spiritual exclamation find their right place in your relationship with Christ. Don't hold back.
Prayer:
Precious Lord I come to you now to be restored and to embrace your love. I honor You and I surrender every aspect of my life totally and completely to you. Amen.
The Aroma of Jesus
By Stella Tabelon
John 12 :1-8
Mary’s anointing of Jesus’ feet with ointment after she washed them with her tears and dried them with her hair occurred just after Jesus has raised Lazarus from the dead and right after Jesus’ triumphant entry in Jerusalem to celebrate the Pass-over. Mary’s anointing of Jesus’ feet points to Jesus’ death and burial. It symbolizes hospitality, humility, love and grace.
But what is anointing? The bible says that anointing applies to everyone who belongs to Christ because Christ is the anointed one. The degree of our anointing depends upon the closeness and the daily walk with God. Anointing is given to the chosen true, brave, faithful, sacrificing and loving ones who seek God with all their hearts, mind, body and strength, who hungers for more of His touch, who longed for God to put His hand more powerfully upon ones life and ask God for more anointed honor through many hours of tearful, wrestling prayer and sacrifice of praise, who long to be mightily used by God for His kingdom. Persons, things were often set aside through special purposes through anointing. Anointing conferred holiness upon a person or thing. Today we celebrate the anointing ofJesus. He is sending the Holy Spirit to us.
As we encounter temptations and dangers of the road, on our spiritual journey, we must remember to offer another hospitality, to be extravagant in our sharingof grace and love.
Questions to discuss :
Christ concern is synonymous with concern to the poor and that our mission as His followers is to show another concern.
Are you contented with the territory God has given you?
Do you ask God to extend your territory?
Describe your territory. Give verses that best connect you, to your dramatic changes since your first journey with Jesus.
Share your most treasured moments with God.
GOAL
Fall in love with the Holy Spirit!
COMMITMENT THIS WEEK
1. Attend praise and worship and corporately offer sacrifice of praise.
2. Offer sacrifice of praise to God (one-on-one) in your room.
3. Help a needy person.
PRAYER
Loving God, bless the gifts and talents you have given me that I may be mightily used by You in any way. May my touch and prayer bring healing and ignite people to be drawn closer and closer to You and to serve you with love and commitment.. May my love be open channels for your love and grace. Amen and Amen.
Becoming A Person of Impact
By Stella Tabelon
Romans 12:8 (New International Version)
If it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
(New International Version – NIV)
We can’t deny that we connect with people everyday of our lives. With influence, you can achieve success at home, at work church and in every other area of life. Being a person of impact is not easy, it is tough, but you can learn it. To begin with, you need to ask wisdom from God to develop a vision and a plan. Take a glimpse of God’s heart by seeking Him. You need to learn how to do it before interacting with the people. Then share that vision and implement the dream God has put in your heart. Be open to ideas and constructive criticism.
A person of impact is a winning combination of mental powers, winning attitude to act as a leader and contagious spiritual strengths. God has given you the authority to impact people’s lives. It is a process and so, you need to practice to achieve it. Believe that you are equipped, you are talented and you are creative, so enlarge your vision and empower people today. You need to direct the activities of others so they can live the good life God wants them to have. Motivation and encouragement also play a vital role. Above all help one another just as Christ has commanded.
Growing Our Spiritual Wings
By: Stella Tabelon
Isaiah 40:31 KJV
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Jesus is the best teacher who teaches us how to grow our spiritual wings. He taught us through stories in their current surroundings, so we can apply it to our spiritual lives. God compares all of us to eagles in Isaiah 40:31.
Isaiah 40:31 KJV says...
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
But how can we grow our spiritual wings like the eagles?
The flight feathers provide stability during flight which enables the eagle's bright eyes to enjoy such broad and such quickly changing views. Like the eagles, we need to learn how to fly and hunt to prepare us to some situations and challenges that may come our way. Therefore it is vital to grow in our knowledge in Jesus, pray and to spend a quite time with God to be healthy and make a difference in this world. When we fly like an eagle we begin to live by God's word, riding the air currents with confidence. Flying by faith becomes the avenue to rise above circumstances and become victorious. Like the eagles we need to increase our belief in God in different situations. Soaking in His presence accomplishes what He wants us to do for Him in this life.
Lesson:
Like Jesus we are to share our relationship with God to other people, share our failures, victory and how He intercedes to give us a dynamic and successful life.
Things to do:
Find a quite place where you won’t be disturbed.
Close your eyes and sing praise songs.
Leave your worries behind and focus in pleasing and worshiping God.
Prayer:
Lord God, bless me as I spread my wings and soar in your presence. Help me ride the storms of life and give my prayer the power of the eagle's wings and take shelter in you.