WHY GOD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING?

Understanding that God is doing what He pleases is difficult to see because we think that God is not doing anything. News shows as the turn of events and people act according to how they perceive each events occuring. Unaware, we also see the influence and control of other people towards others because we think God is not at work. But in all events occurring God is in control. The Bible is giving us a classic example when Joseph's brothers sold him to slavery... a deceitful and selfish action we perceived because we only see the front page of the screen but behind is God's hand working. So that when the right time comes, as Joseph say it, we also can say it; "So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God:and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout
all the land of Egypt" (Gen. 5:8).
It is not that God is not working. It is that we cannot recognize the hand of God in our lives. As it was with Joseph, God is directing all the events that bringing all the events according to best plan for his life. Q

Texas Baptist Theological Seminary (ASIA Satellite Campus)

Texas Baptist Theological Seminary (ASIA Satellite Campus)

HELPING PEOPLE SUCCEED

It is very important to first determine the ability in other people. Then to effectively convince them about the talent you see they have must take place. To be able to convince is an art, not a science. You convince because you want to broaden their horizons and it is not easy. People are not easy to follow you when you think of their obvious skills and competencies. Its like when you approach an employee. You see in them great potential for growth and development to become entrepreneurs. But their fear of failure might hinder them. Instead of being willing to try something new they will not. If you really want to help a person succeed, then, it is your responsibility to show him safe opportunities to discover the gifts he possess. This person might have talents he never realize he have. This is something you don't reveal. Don't tell him this is what you are actually doing; but give him some assignments aligned to the ability you wish to discover. Furthermore, when they perform well, pinpoint the basic and specific attribute that helped them succeed. Finally, encourage them to develop it.

"Financial freedom is possible to them who work for it."

We are looking for people who wants to be educated and wants to educate others about financial intelligence and personal growth.

Nothing will happen in our lives until we make it happen... Why not learn to look at each opportunity as it arises in your life, and say to yourself these ten words: "IF IT IS TO BE... IT IS UP TO ME". Then GO OUT, take immediate and enthusiastic action and conquer the moment.

For inquiry:

Elmer Quilas
President
LifeSmart Leadership Institute
Feed My Hungry Children
Gateway Christian Baptist Ministries Inc.
Texas Baptist Theological Seminary (ASIA)

Follow me on my tweeter -- coachquilas

BEHIND THE DARK IS FREEDOM

A story was told about a Persian General during World War II who allowed condemned prisoners to choose their fate. They could choose execution by the firing squad or could decide to walk through a "huge dark entrance." No one ever chose the entrance. Prisoners prefer the horror of what they did not know. After the execution, someone asked the general what lay beyond the mysterious dark entrance: He said: "Freedom. People are afraid of that which is not known and less certain. Behind the dark is freedom, but very few men are brave enough to take it." What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of dying in a plain crash? Did you know that you have greater chance to being killed by an automobile? Are you afraid of riding in a train? You must realize that you are more likely to be killed participating in a sport of some kind. View your fears on a better and helpful perspective. I like the man who said, "I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather than screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car." In many different times, I learned that I cannot waste my time worrying about things that will most likely never happen. I am called to do my job and I need to act them!
Becoming extremely rich is dreadful because you have not been rich. You are afraid to step your feet on the foot prints of the rich. You are dread upon hearing their stories of hardships and pain. You are afraid that you will be misunderstood when they hear you say "I want to become extremely wealthy". What are you really afraid for? Are you afraid of becoming rich or are you afraid of the price you have to pay in becoming rich? Are you afraid of money because you have no idea at all what money can do to you and your family? Are you aware that it is easier to find happiness when you have money? You don't have to be afraid of anything especially of becoming extremely rich just for the reason that you heard it being bad. Look at it on a more positive perspective because if you do then you won half of the battle. You are dread because you heard that the love of money is the root of all evil. Now change your look and miraculously, you will understand that the love of people is the root of all giving! You have to have to give! It is by having that you can give!

ESTEEMING OUR DAYS

"But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand." Psalm 31:14-15

Maybe we can be impressed with the shortness of time with this object lesson. Psalm 90:10 tells us that God's allotted life span is 70 years. "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." Let us take a yardstick and let each 1/2" represent one year, totaling 72 years.
<> Begin by cutting of 1". This will start us with 70 years.
<> If you are 45, cut of 22 1/2". This will leave you with 12 1/2".
<> You will sleep 1/3 of the rest of your life. Cut off 4" and you have 8 1/2" remaining in your life.
<> Your work hours will take up another 1/3. Cut off another 4".
<> Eating or preparing to eat will take another 1" from your yardstick.
<> Sickness, hospital & recovery time, vacations, recreation, and just bumming around all day will take another 1".

What at first seems like plenty of time diminishes when cut into small bits. Then we begin to realize how little time we really have to serve the Lord and to fulfill His goals in our lives.

No wonder the Bible says life is like a...
<> Shadow - Job 14:2
<> Flower - Job 14:2
<> Grass - Isaiah 40:6
<> Anecdote - Psalm 90:9
<> Breeze - Psalm 78:39
<> Vapor - James 4:4

Gateway Christian Baptist Ministries Inc.
3/F Sta. Cecilia Buss. Ctr. II, Nat'l. Hi-way, Parian, Calamba City

CAST NOT AWAY CONFIDENCE

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward." Hebrew 10:35

God wants us to live with confidence and approach life boldly. We must be decisive. Make a decision today to start being decisive. It will never happen to you if you don't.

Put your confidence in Christ and who you are in Him, not in what people think of you. We cannot depend our worth on what others are saying or how they are treating us. People who are hurting will hurt others. If you have come into contact with people who are hurting, they may hurt or reject you. They may have transposed their pain onto you, when in reality you are not the real problem at all.

Know yourself. Know your heart, and don't wait for other people to dictate to you the truth about your value. Don't assume you are wrong every time someone does not agree with you. Believe that God's wisdom dwells inside of you. Believe you can make decisions. There is no point at all in believing something negative about yourself when it is just easy to believe something positive - and it's certainly a lot more helpful and beneficial.

A believer without confidence is like a car sitting on the road with no fuel. It looks good but goes no place. People who are indecisive are the same way. They may have all the qualities needed to be successful, but if they refuse to make decisions, they go nowhere and accomplishing nothing. Progress begins with a decision.

LIVE UPON THE POWER BEHIND EVERY DECISIONS YOU MAKE

Almost everything that happens in your life is the result of a decision or lack of decision. "In your moments of decision, your destiny is shaped," – Tony Robbins. No doubt, it's an awesome tool we use hundreds of times a day, usually without giving much actual thought process.

The reality is making good, or a great decision, leaves us with a tremendous sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. While making bad decisions usually demoralize and reduce our self confidence.

As with most things, if we follow a few simple rules then we can greatly enhance the power of our Decision-Making skills and move closer to our desires and goals much, much faster.

However, before discussing these simple concepts or rules - there's some important things we need to understand about our decisions:

1. Be driven by your core values and beliefs within your subconscious mind. You cannot make a decision that violates your core values or beliefs.

2. You need to have a clear picture of what you want and where you are going (clearly know your goals and desires). Having that knowledge will help many areas of your life – Not just your decision making.

3. You have to make decisions. If you don't, someone else will. And it will most likely be favoring there's, and leading them towards their goals, not yours.

A common example of this is when you see an opportunity and can't decide to act on it. The next thing you know, someone else has made their decision to act on that opportunity and it's gone.

So, what are the simple concepts or rules that will make your decisions so much more powerful? This leads the RULES HOW TO MAKE POWERFUL DECISIONS AND GET WHAT YOU WANT (Hope to share them to you next time around). Q

STOOL FOR SUCCES

"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do.

Attitude determines how well you do it." Lou Holtz

There are three basic areas of your life that needs to be considered whether or not you are successful in your endeavors. Unless these three are evenly connected you will not be successful. If you have only one or two, still not be successful. You must have the entire tree working together. Consider them like the three legs of a “stool of success.”

First is ability

"If a man has talent and cannot use it, he has failed. If he has a talent and uses only half of it, he has partly failed. If he has a talent and learns somehow to use the whole of it, he has gloriously succeeded and has a satisfaction and a triumph few men ever know." Thomas Wolfe.

The ability you have is the level at which you are able to actually do things. And this is what I call your skill level. It is really good if you have a high level of skill. And the better you have it developed, the better it will be for you. The effectivity and efficiency of your performance is strongly dependent on your high skill levels. This will bring you success in your chosen field.

Even in the area of giving and helping, the Bible says that “every man according to his ability, determined to send relief…” – Acts 11:29. Whatever talent you have, develop it till it becomes a skill. If you have good attitude and motivation but poor skills, people will like you, maybe even stick for you, but go to someone else with the skills they need.

"The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts," - Booker T. Washington. And this is so true. People will judge you on what you accomplish, not what you know or what you talk about.

That truth is that if you know a lot or talk a lot but do not accomplish anything, people will wonder what happened. So the question is whether or not you will take the actions necessary to deliver on your best potential.

Second is motivation

“We exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all,” – 1 Cor. 5:14, emphasis included.

Paul in his word is motivating. He was in the level at which he was able to find a reason for action. This is the internal drive that you find that enables you to exercise your abilities. To the degree that you can find a way, or ways; to keep yourself motivated, you will see yourself right in the thick of things, carrying out your actions to the best of your abilities and succeed accordingly.

"If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astonish ourselves." – Thomas A. Edison. By doing what you are able to do that you know are right and timely, the more you can motivate and get motivated.

Third is attitude

"Whether you stay six weeks, six months or six years, always leave it better than you found it." Jim Rohn.

Your Attitude will always show.

Attitude is a mental state that you have while carrying out your actions to the best of your ability. It is the way you view the world around you and choose to see it, either positively or negatively. When you can maintain a positive attitude about yourself, others, and the circumstances you find yourself in, you will see yourself achieving greater things.

Attitude is very important. You can be the most skilled and motivated but with a rotten attitude, people will stay away and hinder your success.

Likewise, you may have great skills and attitude but no motivation; surely you'll be sitting on the couch like an idle slothful person while the best achievers are out there making money and make your dream their footstool. “Idleness is stupidity of the body, and stupidity is the idleness of the mind,” - Suetonius

To conclude this chapter, I want to share with you the three rules for success by Lou Holtz: 1) “Do what's right: Be on time, be polite, and be honest; remain free from drugs; and if you have any questions, get your Bible. 2) Do your best: Mediocrity is unacceptable when you are capable of doing better. “To do nothing is the way to be nothing,” – Nathaniel Howe 3) and treat others as you want to be treated: Practice love and understanding.” The most beautiful and wonderful in this life is not the once you see but the once you feel.

WISDOM PRODUCE GOOD CHOICES

"For the LORD giveth wisdom." Proverbs 2:6
There is a great need in our life for moral foundations. Our world has made the choices of moral purity into an absurdity. Adultery and fornication are almost taken for granted. It is assumed that people will live together before they get married, that they will experiment with drugs and alcohol and that no one is to deny himself any pleasure of the flesh for many reason.
The book of Proverbs personified and presented wisdom as a teacher. Wisdom comes from God. We do not get wisdom through observation or experience. By observing we can only be as wise as those we observe. Through experience we can only be as wise as our intellect and experiences will lead us. To be really wise, "let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" James 1:5. God does not penalize us for asking for wisdom. He gives it liberally to all who ask. This is a prayer that will be answered. Wisdom will lead us away from the way of the evil man. This "way" refers to a life-style or a philosophy. Behind every choice we make there is a philosophy. To change the choices we must change the person making them. Jesus said in Matthew 12:35, "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things."
Good choices naturally proceed from good heart, and evil choices proceed from evil hearts. This does not mean that bad people cannot do good things or that good people cannot do bad things, but it does illustrate that what is in the heart is vital to consistently making good choices.

ACCEPT YOURSELF FOR BEING UNIQUE

You need to realize that you are unique in yourself and will never be exactly like someone else. There is vast variation in creation and not boring sameness. As a matter of fact, if we look around we see how extremely creative our creator is. We enjoy different trees, flowers, birds, weather. We can all observe that all of what God created has many varieties, even people.
Never struggle to be a carbon copy of someone you admire. You are unique, and there is something you can do that no body else in the entire world can do exactly the way you are able to do. I need to learn the very important lesson of not comparing myself to any one and competing with them or their abilities. I must learn to be "what I am for what I am" before I can do the things I am originally created for.