Why Problems

WHY PROBLEMS?

Life is full of problems—sickness, accidents, financial problems, family problems, loss of loved ones, and on and on the list goes. “Hasn’t there been some sort of mistake here?” we ask. “If God truly is love, as the Bible says in 1 John 4:8, and if He truly cares for us like a father, as the Bible says many times, then why all these problems?”

The first thing to understand is that God doesn’t cause these problems; they are the result of people’s bad decisions—others’ or our own. God doesn’t cause our problems, but He does allow them to befall us, and for reasons that are nearly as varied as the problems themselves. Sometimes He uses them to remind us how incapable we are of solving our own problems, so we will turn to Him for help. 

 

Sometimes He lets them happen so He can show us how much He loves us by working things out. Sometimes they happen to test and strengthen our faith. Sometimes they happen to make us pray more earnestly. Sometimes they happen to teach us lessons of patience or positiveness in the face of adversity. Sometimes they happen to keep us humble. 

 

Sometimes they happen to make us wiser. Sometimes they happen to help us appreciate our other blessings and all the problems we don’t have. Sometimes they happen to draw us closer to others who are going through similar things. There are all kinds of reasons for troubles, but whatever the reason, God always wants to turn them for our ultimate good. “All things work together for good to those who love God.”

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1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

John 16:33 ESV / I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Romans 12:1-2 ESV / I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Onyedikachi Kingsley Ogbonna (Surv.)

CHANGING MINDSETS

CHANGING MINDSETS

We sometimes limit God’s power to work in our lives because we lack faith. We look at things too much from our own perspectives instead of trying to see them as He does. Our outlook is trapped on an earthly plane. When we find ourselves in that situation, it’s time to change our mindset about some things.
The definition of mindset is: a set of beliefs or a way of thinking that determines somebody’s behavior and outlook. What this means is that the way we look at things, our attitudes, the things we think and believe, determine our behavior.

A major factor in making progress is shedding any mindset that holds you back and taking on a new mindset that will have a positive effect on your behavior and outlook. We all have some wrong attitudes, so we need to find out what those are and fight to change them into positive ones.
Consider the story about two shoe salesmen who were sent by their company to Africa. 

The first salesman wrote the home office saying, “Nobody wears shoes here,” and turned in his resignation. The second salesman was thrilled with the potential and wrote, “Everybody here needs shoes!”
The first fellow’s mindset, his negative attitude‚ caused him to resign. He had the wrong mindset about the situation, and this mindset determined his behavior, which in this case was to give up in despair. Now contrast that to the other fellow who had a positive mindset. “Everyone needs shoes!” What a difference! The positive mindset brought faith. Where one man saw an impossible situation, the other saw endless possibilities. Clearly, our mindset affects our outlook and, most importantly, our behavior.

It’s important that we shed any negative mindset that holds us back, and instead embrace a new, positive mindset that will change our behavior and performance for the better. To get the most from life and give the most in return, we should focus on the unlimited power of God, which He has put at our disposal. When we do that, we see the potential instead of the problems. That positive mindset will help us to act in a positive, full-of-faith manner—and with faith, anything is possible.

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Romans 12:1-2 ESV / I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

James 1:5 ESV / If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

1 John 1:9 ESV / If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

#HappyNewWeek

Onyedikachi Kingsley Ogbonna (Surv.)

A TALE OF TWO SEAS!

A TALE OF TWO SEAS!

As you probably recall, the Dead Sea is really a Lake, not a sea. It’s so high in salt content that the human body can float easily. The salt in the Dead Sea is as high as 35% - almost 10 times the normal ocean water. And all that saltiness has meant that there is no life at all in the Dead Sea. No fish. No vegetation. No sea animals. Nothing lives in the Dead Sea.  And hence the name: Dead Sea.

The other Sea is the Sea of Galilee. It happen that the Sea of Galilee is just north of the Dead Sea.

Both the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea receive their water from river Jordan. And yet, they are very, very different.

Unlike the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee is pretty, resplendent with rich, colourful marine life. There are lots of plants. And lots of fish too. In fact, the Sea of Galilee is home to over twenty different types of fishes.

Same region, same source of water, and yet while one sea is full of life, the other is dead. How come?

Here’s apparently why. The River Jordan flows into the Sea of Galilee and then flows out. The water simply passes through the Sea of Galilee in and then out - and that keeps the sea healthy and vibrant, teeming with marine life. 

But the Dead Sea is way below the mean sea level that it has no outlet. The water flows in from the river Jordan, but does not flow out. There are no outlet streams. It is estimated that over 7 million tons of water evaporate from the Dead Sea every day. Leaving it salty, too full of minerals and unfit for any marine life.

So the Dead Sea takes water from the River Jordan, and holds it. It does not give. The result? No life at all.

Mind you, the sea of Galilee does not discriminate. It's gives off its water freely to the open sea this is what keeps it fresh and alive.
This is what our dying world needs most today.

MORAL LESSON

Think about it. Life is not just about getting. It's about giving. We all need to be a bit like the Sea of Galilee.

We are fortunate to have wealth, knowledge, love and respect. But if we don't learn to give, we could all end up like the Dead Sea. The love and the respect, the wealth and the knowledge could all  evaporate like the water in the Dead Sea.

If we get the Dead Sea mentality of merely taking in more water, more money, more everything, the results can be disastrous. Nature communicates to us all the time and this is one perfect example !

In the sea of your own life, make outlets; many outlets. For love, peace, happiness, joy  and everything else you get in your life, make sure you don't just get; give as well.

Open the taps and you'll open the floodgates to happiness. Make it a habit to share and you will experience the richness of life.

Don't break the circle, keep sharing. Don't be like the dead sea. 