Success is doing-not achieving.

God will frequently give you challenges and/or assignments to do.  But when you do them, you may not be successful in achieving what you think are the goals.  This frequently happens so God can teach you some valuable lessons.  Such as: We need to trust Him not our own efforts.  Also, that it is the love and trust that is important to our lover; not our achievements.  Doing these non-completion tasks will strengthen us for future projects.  and there are other reasons.  We just need to do and let God be concerned over the results.

Times of emptiness.

Your lover God will provide you with periodic times of emptiness; so that you will depend and trust on Him.  They will make you wonder if you are on the right track.  The time will be a test of your faith and trust.  Don’t fail – just trust and love Him.

Your body needs to be a temple.

The Holy Spirit in representing your BFF wants to reside in your body.  So we need to keep it in good condition.  That means going to the doctor when you should.  Taking the medicine that you should along with the vitamins and/or supplements.  You should have a exercise program.  It may be as simple as parking your car at the end of the parking lot and walking.  All of this will keep the body useful for your BFF on assignments and/or challenges.  And the smile of pride will no doubt be on the face of your BFF.

Waiting is part of the plan

God frequently puts us in a state of timeout.  While His plan further develops without our efforts.  This can cause confusion in our minds.  But it should not.  In regular earthly life, we look forward to periods of rest and peace (holidays, vacations, etc.).  God gives us these timeouts, so that we can rest and recuperate from the past challenges and assignments and also before the future assignments and challenges.  Use this time wisely.  Learn more about your lover, enjoy the peace, and develop your trust of your Lover-God.

Treating your BFF as your BFF.

If you are a God lover, have you been treating Him as your Lover and BFF.  Have you been making tine for Him in your life.  What about taking time to listen to Him.  And have you been getting to know Him better.  Have you been sharing with others, your relationship.  I know I am working on my patience with my BFF.  There is so much more that I can do to deepen my relationship with my BFF.

Not going the way you would like

Well who said it was suppose to go that way.  If God is in control of your life, it is suppose to go that way.  You may not see the reasoning behind it.  But God does.  He has the WHOLE world in His hands.  And what is happening is part of the plan for the whole world, not just your part.  And remember, the worst the world can do to you (take your life), is the best (because you will be graduating to an eternal love fest).  This is true, even if what isn’t happening, seems to be a good thing, for a good reason.  Remember He is in charge, whether we acknowledge it or not.  But when we do, and just concern ourselves with doing the next thing God gives us to do – the best we can.  We are pleasing our lover.

Love everybody-Like few

God expects you to love (want what is best for them) everybody.  But even Jesus did not like everybody (Pharisees, etc.).  You may not invite them to your birthday parties.  But you need to put their needs and desires above yours; but not God’s.  This mean that your parents  and others desires and needs should be more important than yours but not Gods (WHOLE heart, mind, soul and strength). 

Doing the next step

Each day when you have to make the decision of what to do next.  Well first, is the message of what to do a soft whisper or a loud yell.  If it is a soft whisper, it’s probably the right one.  Then ask yourself, is it something Jesus would do, if He was in your shoes?  If yes, then you are on the right path.  If you are still not sure, then check your Bible.  If that had not resolved it check with your Christian friends.  By now if you have not resolved what to do, you are probably not truly trusting your lover-God.  Work on that.  Then move on.

Waiting

Waiting for something to happen, is very challenging.  But when God is in charge of your life, there is no waiting.  You are simply doing the next thing God gives you to do.  Any time that He has not given you something to do, is meant for time provided to talk to your BFF, learn more about Him, time to thank Him for all He is doing for you, in you, through you, and a lot more.  He loves spending time with you.

It’s all about control 4

When we don’t turn over control of our lives to God, we need to feel like we are controlling the world around around us.  But we can’t and we become very frustrated by the lack of control we have.  No, we can’t control the bad environment, the terrorism, the crime around us, and all the rest.  We try to control everything around us, because we know it needs to be better; and somebody needs to improve it.  Yes there is only one.  The highest authority, God-the Creator and Controller.  And until we get that message, that He needs to be in control.  He will keep sending us the message, that we are not in control.  When will we learn.

Your human body needs God’s love

When you are sharing love with God, your human body receives many good benefits.  It receives the Peace of letting go and letting God.  The power to do the healthy things you need to do, to please your lover (e.g healthy food, exercise).  He will help you stay fairly healthy.  All of this and more when God is in control.

It’s all about control 3

When you turn over control to God, your relationships with other humans improve.  You only need to be concerned about doing what is best for them that God gives you to do.

When you retain control, YOU need to be concerned about all aspects of your relationship with them.  From what they might do that might harm you, to are you getting the best value from the relationship..  From are they doing things the right way to if they are wrong won’t that affect your reputation.  It goes on and on.  It’s a wonder, that you have time to live.

It’s all about control 2

If you don’t release control of your life to God, you alone will have to deal with all the issues of keeping control in your hands.

You will always have to decide what to do next.  And did you do the right thing.  Was it in the right way,  Was it done well enough,  Did it accomplish everything it should.  Should someone else have done it.  This is a small sampling of all the frustration you will have to deal with, by keeping control of your life in your hands. 

Or you can just do the next thing God gives you to do and let God be in control.

Treating your BFF as a Friend

We seem to have it clear in our minds on how we should treat our earthly best friends.  So, why don’t we do the same with and should be our “Best Friend Forever” in heaven the same.

Should we not look forward each morning to spending time with our BFF.  Time where we look forward to asking what we can do to please Him.  And listening for answers.  Also time to do those things that will please our BFF.  And can we overlook the help our BFF will provide us as we walk “hand-in-hand” with Him through the challenges we face.  And should we not be looking forward to the special assignments (smiling at others, etc.).  And, O the peace and joy we will have from knowing He is in charge.  All we have to do, is to do our best at what He gives us to do.  There is so much wonderful things we have to look forward to.  What a “Thank full” day ahead.

It’s all about Control/Love

When we are born, as babies, we find that our NATURE is that we want what we want, when we want it, how we want it, etc.  The world demands that we live under control of society, as a whole.  Almost all aspects of life works to change that nature (individualism-the best for me) to one of cooperation for the benefit of the whole society.  Living life is to fight the battle between these two approaches to living.  This battle causes much of the problems of life.  When we learn to change our nature to one of putting control of our life in other hands; we are ready for love (putting control of our life into other hands then ourselves).  Then we can live in the peace and freedom of enjoying all the benefits of love.

The good fight

One of the earthly battles, each of us, no doubt, have fought; has been do we keep our body in shape – by participating in sports or exercise.  Most of us do it because we see others who have better looking bodies then ours.  Well in the spiritual world we have a similar circumstances.  Our lover God, wants us to have a spiritual body, that is in the best shape possible – to share love with Him.  We need to build up our spiritual strength and dependence on Him.  He gives us a sparing partner (some people call him Satan/devil).  He also provides us with challenges (on earth we call it sports/exercise) to fight through.  These challenges help us realize that we can’t accomplish true love with our lover-God until we learn to depend on Him and trust Him.  And these challenges show us that we can’t do things on our own.  We need others and God.  And that’s a good place to be.

How do you treat your BFF.

I don’t know about how you treat your BFF (Best Friend Forever)?  But I look to do everything I can to please my BFF.  If it’s doing everything that my BFF wants from me without questioning why it should be done.  And completing it to the best of my ability.  No questioning, whether there is any value for me.  And to do all this, I must be listening to my BFF’s input and watching for opportunities to make my BFF happy and proud of me.  And the best thing I get out of this relationship is the pride and love I share with my BFF.

If God is your BFF, which He is supposed to be.  Are you doing this kind of things with Him?  I hope so.  Because He is expecting it.  And we don’t want to displease Him do we?

What is real love?

Real love is putting the best interest of the other party first.  We see this in the way God loves us.  He knows that we were created for the sole purpose, to love HIM with our WHOLE heart, mind, soul and strength.  He does everything He can to fulfill that goal.  Nothing, in that goal, implies anything that is earth bound – like good things on earth.  Anything we get that is good on earth should be considered a present from our lover, and is to be used to achieve our main goal of loving God.  This also implies that anything that is not good should be to help us love God.  That is our goal and we should be working to achieve that goal.  If we are not working to achieve that goal, God does not owe us anything here on earth.  He may offer something as a present to show His love of us.  But that is not what He owes us.  So let us work to share His love with Him and others.  So He may give us the best here on earth and with Him as a spirit/soul forever.

When did we praise God for Good Weather.

We constantly pray to God when weather is bad.  Help us to get through difficult environments.  But when He gets us through the bad weather and into the good; where are we.  Certainly not singing His praises for what He has done.  Just maybe someday He may not be there for us when we need Him.  Not likely, because He loves us too much.  So are we  sharing love with Him like the most important commandment requires us to: “Love God with your WHOLE heart, mind, soul and strength.”

Prayer of Trust and Hope

Prayer of Trust and Hope

My Lord God. I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I hope that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. Amen.

Getting Started

Getting started

Large Groups

Do not overlook large group gatherings such as worship services, special speakers, Christian concerts, and a lot more. These activities will give you a chance to share with others how much you are in love with your lover God. It will show your pride in the love affair you have. It will also give you opportunities to make commitments to your lover; through such things as communion, baptism, attempts to serve, lead and a lot more. All of these will deepen your relationship with your lover.

Hope

One of the most valued benefits provided you will be the spiritual gift of hope. Hope is knowing that your lover God will be trying to do what is best for you within His plan for the whole earth. He will be with you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually through whatever He needs you to go through. And you will always have the hope that the worst humans can do to you is to take your earthly life.. But that is the best that can happen to you, because you will be joining with your lover God in your reward- an eternal love-fest.

Personal Living

Just as with an earthly love affair, you will want to live with your lover. Well just as on earth, you need to invite your lover God to be involved with your life. Everything you do will be measured against how it will impact your lover God. You will find yourself talking with your lover-God when you get up and when you go to sleep. How you act and relate to everything else will be important. The friends you keep will be vital. The time you spend will be guided by what would please your lover. All of this will continue to deepen your love affair and improve the quality of your life.

The two worlds

At this point, you may be wondering why you cannot currently see your lover-God? Well that is because there is two different existences/worlds/universes. One is the physical world we live in currently called the earth and universe. The other is the spirit world, where God exists along with the eternal love fest. This is the existence that you will Join Him in; if you should choose to do. You can do that; because you were created in two parts: human body and as a spirit. The spirit is that part of you that will join Him. And is the part that has all the special capabilities that makes you different then the animals, like: creativity, reasoning, wisdom, love, etc. Your body exists only to help you make the decision. Once your body has completed the cycle of making that decision, it will cease to function here on earth or as we call it death.

The Example

One of the best ways we can learn how to function in this loving relationship with God is to look at the example He sent to earth. God knew that we humans were having a hard time understanding how we should live in that loving relationship. So He sent a part of Him down to earth to be an example of how we should live. And this example was documented in the Gospels within the Bible. So you need to make a special effort to study the gospels within the Bible. While there, you may notice that Jesus Christ, our example, also came to pay the penalties for doing the wrong actions that all people have done, hurting our loving God. This is called salvation, which has made it possible to have this loving relationship with God, even though we have completed actions that has hurt Him. That is what is called sin.

Our Guide

Once we make the decision to share love with God, He knew that we would need some special guidance on how we should live to fully enjoy the benefits we will receive. Well He sent another part of Himself that is called the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can be with us at all times if we should so choose to permit Him, and to listen to His guidance. He is the portion of God that walks hand in hand with us through our life if we want that help. He will be in our mind and spirit providing guidance and help dealing with the challenges we will face. These challenges will strengthen and confirm our loving relationship. The Holy Spirit will use the resources that God has provided us, such as: the Bible, the church, Christian friends, etc. All of these will be available through the Holy Spirit's help and our efforts to make use of them. So choose to use them.

Decision Time

On the earth, when we have fallen in love with someone and want to deepen that love relationship into a commitment to each other, we make that commitment official and binding by entering into the marriage arrangement. Well, in the love relationship with God, we also need to make a sign of commitment to our lover God. That sign of commitment is primarily the decision we make to place what our lover God's requirements for us first and foremost in our lives. This means that what He expects of us, is more important then what the world expects of us along what our desires are. It means trusting Him to guide us and to care for us. It means putting control of our lives in His control. It means, depending on Him for our lives. We need to make that decision and commitment, before we end our earthly life cycle.

Getting Going

You have the benefits and requirements of making the decision to love the Boss, the Creator, and the Controller, with your WHOLE heart, mind, spirit and strength. Now it is up to you to decide whether this is something you want to do, to get those benefits. If you should choose to take this step now, I encourage you to do so now. You never know how long you have to make that decision. Once you have made that decision, you will need to start to do what was covered in this app and required. After you have done that you may start studying the Bible for what else your lover God wants you to do. God loves you and wants to share His love with you. Make the decision and commitment and share that love.

Dealing with Life

Dealing with life

Independence

Happiness at any cost efforts lead us to focus on our desires and needs. This means that we will have to take it from someone else. If we are a lover of God, we focus on pleasing him. This means we get our pleasure from satisfying God not our-self. As a result we get our rewards now and mostly in the future as our eternal love fest. We are then freed to have peace in our life and how it is progressing. We can then also focus on being totally committed to our Godly love affair; instead of having weak commitments.

Payments

With all the benefits we covered, you would guess that there is something you have to pay. Yes, you have to change your attitude from things that satisfy your desires and are you oriented to an attitude of pleasing others. Love, is focusing on the other party in the love affair and is in direct opposition to such attitudes as Pride and personal independence. You still need to offer the best person you can be to the other party. But it is to please them, not yourself. This attitude is called poor in spirit. To achieve this you need to avoid the Power attitude.

Social Media

Social Media will allow you to keep in touch with your Christian friends and mentors. You will be able to share: coping with challenges, highlights of life, assignments, and a lot more. There will be opportunities to share such things as pictures, prayer chains, meeting times, and places, etc.. Also you can share videos on YouTube. There are countless web sites that offer everything from web small groups to online Bibles. Many of these sites are also available on your cell phones as applications. All of this will give you a sense of being part of a family of friends.

Christian Blogs

One of the ways you can get your questions answered is to access Christian Blogs such as mine. Quality of Life Ministries At my blog and others you will find additional material such as sample prayers, bio's of people who have dealt with the challenges of life, Questions and answers, topical papers, and a lot more. You will find that all of these will deepen your love relationships and improve the quality of your life.

Prayer for a Hopeful Day

Prayer for a Hopeful Day.

Christ, our hope, you have risen from the dead. Praise and glory be unto you! You show us there is a better quality of life before and after our “graduation.” We greet this day with a burst of new hope and faith in you and a fresh hope for life and fulfillment. We glorify you. We love you. We praise you. Amen.

Zechariah

Zechariah

Zechariah, a Jewish priest, was told before anyone else that God was setting in motion his own visit to earth. Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, were known for their personal holiness. They were well suited to doing a special work for God. But they shared the pain of not having children, and in Jewish culture this was considered not having God’s blessing. Zechariah and Elizabeth were old, and they had stopped even asking for children.

One day while on duty at the Temple in Jerusalem, Zechariah received an unexpected blessing. He was chosen to be the priest who would enter the Holy Place to offer incense to God for the people. Suddenly, much to his surprise and terror, he found himself face to face with an angel. The angel’s message was too good to be true! But the news of the coming Savior was eclipsed by doubts about his own ability to father the child the angel promised him. His age spoke more loudly than God’s promise. As a result, God prevented Zechariah from speaking until the promise became a reality.

The record of the prayer in Luke 1 is our last glimpse of Zechariah. Like so many of God’s most faithful servants, he passed quietly from the scene once his part was done. He becomes our hero for those times when we doubt God and yet are willing to obey. We gain hope from Zechariah’s story that God can do great things through anyone who is available to him.

@Strengths and accomplishments

w Known as a righteous man

w Was a priest of God

w One of the few people to be directly addressed by an angel

w Fathered John the Baptist

@Weakness and mistake

w Momentarily doubted the angel’s promise of a son because of his own old age

@Lessons from his life

w Physical limitations do not limit God

w God accomplishes his will, sometimes in unexpected ways

@Vital statistics

w Occupation: Priest

w Relatives: Wife: Elizabeth. Son: John the Baptist

@Key verses:

“Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and now they were both very old” (Luke 1:6, 7).

Zechariah’s story is told in Luke 1.