Stay Focused 1

LET'S KEEP FOCUSED...THOSE OF US WHO WANT EVERYTHING GOD HAS FOR US.' PHILIPPIANS 3:15 TM

You become effective by being selective. It's human nature to get distracted. We're like gyroscopes, spinning around at frantic pace but not getting anywhere. Without a clear purpose you keep changing directions, jobs, relationships, churches, etc., hoping each change will settle the confusion or fill the emptiness in your heart. You think, 'This time it will be different,' but it doesn't solve your real problem; lack of focus.

The power of focusing can be seen in light. With a magnifying glass the rays of the the sun can set paper on fire. But when light is focused even more as a laser beam, it can cut through steel. Nothing is as potent as a focused life. The men and women who make the greatest difference in life are the most focused. For instance, the Apostle Paul said, 'I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing' (Philippians 3:13 TLB). Paul's obsession was to make Christ known.

So if you want your life to have impact, focus it!
Stop dabbling.
Stop trying to do it all.
Do less.
Turn away from even good activities and do only that which matters most. Never confuse activity with productivity.
Poet William Matthews wrote, 'One well-cultivated talent, deepened and enlarged, is worth a hundred shallow faculties. The first law of success in this day when so many things are clamouring for attention is concentration to bend our energies to one point, and to go directly to that point, looking neither to the right nor to the left.'

Does focus come easily or naturally?
No, it's a discipline that must be practiced every day.

adapted from The Word For Today.

Your Spiritual Compass (part 1)

'ABRAHAM SAW THE PLACE AFAR OFF.' Gen. 22:4

Imagine God sending Abraham to a place 'which I will tell thee of' (Gen. 22:2). Women tend to understand this better than men. When I ask my wife what she's shoping for, she'll sometimes say, 'I'm not sure, but I'll know when I see it!'

There are things you know, that you can't explain.

Listen: 'We have an unction [insight] from God and we know things'(1John 2:20 paraphrase). Look what happened: 'On the third day Abraham...saw the place...'(Gen. 22:4). Eureka! There's nothing like the moment you see what you've been looking for, the bell rings, and the spiritual compass within you registers, 'This is it!'

When you're at sea, all waters look alike. That's when you need a compass. Either you have one or you don't. When you see somebody who gets excited about things that aren't there, watch them!
Either they didn't take their medication that morning, or they see what you don't!
Because they get excited about the invisible, these people usually end up doing the impossible.

Why?

Because they've learned to follow their spiritual compass!
David defeated Goliath because he was the only man who had the faith to do it.
He knew this was a life-changing moment. If he missed it, he'd go abck to tending sheep!

When your moment comes, rise up and say, 'This giant is mine,' no matter how many others are running away from him.
God has given you a spiritual compass - learn to use it!
(adapted from THE WORD FOR TODAY)

Prevailing Prayer

It was September 1957, four young men began to pray regularly in a little school near Kells, Ireland. They persevered and prevailed in prayer, so someone was converted in January the next year. Following that, there was about one conversion every week. Twelve months later they had a weekly gathering of around fifty people at their meeting, and around a hundred other small prayer groups had sprung up in the area!

They held a service the next year, which attracted a huge crowd, so they poured out onto the street. People were convicted by the Holy Spirit, so much that some of them could not stand. Revival broke out, and every night there were gatherings. They prayed, praised, read the bible, and encouraged each other. They held meetings in everyday situations: kitchens, little barns, schools, fields, and even on sidewalks. They would pray and weep all night, and neglected their farm work so they could work for souls. How did it all start? God used four young Irish lads who prevailed in prayer.

"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." James 5:16

To promote a revival, we can use two things. One moves people, we can use the other to move God. We use truth to move men, and prayer to move God.
We obviously can't tell God to do something, but we are changed in prayer, so God can move in us. It's a lot like how God always wants to forgive a sinner, but He can't forgive until the sinner's heart meets God's conditions. So when we pray, the change in us allows for God to answer.

This is why we can't have a revival without prayer. The most exciting messages and truths alone will do nothing. Remember, words will never have any effect without the Holy Spirit. We must spend time in prayer, asking for Him to speak through the words and work in people's hearts. Without it, hearts harden, because they have "heard it all before."

Prevail means to triumph, win through, succeed or overcome. So prevailing prayer is prayer that persists and wins! This is one of the most important keys to a revival. We can't have a revival without prevailing prayer. Prevailing prayer isn't just a desire for something. It's prayer that gets what is seeks, it moves God and has impact.

Looking at the story above is just a glimpse of the impact that prevailing prayer has. Whether we are commuting, working, or at home relaxing, we all have opportunities to pray. This is one of the best ways to use your life for God's glory: asking Him to move. Will you commit to learning to prevail in prayer?

David Cooper writes about being a missionary in your day-to-day life, no matter what your situation is. You can read more about lifestyle evangelism, prayer, and Christian ministry at http://www.EverydayChaplain.com.

How to stay healthy over 40

At 46, it is very hard to have the same muscular body as those 20 year olds we see in the gym. After all, we have a family, a wife that's a good cook and most importantly no time.

So, how do we stay healthy at the age of 40? Let me tell you, browsing every night looking for the answer does not help. I have done it, every night trying to figure out if there is some magic book, potion, even some magic pills that will help me stay healthy at the age of 40.

Until one of the products I tried worked. It is all about going back to the basics. What do we have to eat, what should we not eat, how much exercise do we need to stay healthy at our age. No more secrets, no potions, pills, fancy training machines, just basic stuff that your doctor would most probably tell you too.

Christian Finn basically helped me drop 25 pounds by applying a few simple methods, such as working out at the right time, the right amount, in order to lose weight even when I sleep. I even ended up going to the gym less, having more time with my family and feeling healthier.

I recommend anyone who wants to stay healthy over 40 to apply these simple techniques and see for themselves. There's no need to buy expensive products, buy special pills or follow specific fitness programs at your local gym. You can learn more here : http://bonyayad1.cfinn.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=HEALTH2